"Qinfeng Academy? What does this have to do with Qinfeng Academy?" Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback, unable to help glancing at the veteran driver beside him.
Guan Ya stared at the totem for a moment, then raised her eyes toward the island girl and said casually, "This is a totem from the Qin Dynasty!"
Asano Ryo, who had been turning the words "Qinfeng Academy" over in her mind, snapped back to her senses and said somewhat bashfully, "Yes. That's one of the pieces of evidence we found in Huaxia's historical records. Takamagahara is indeed connected to the Qin Dynasty."
It seemed having Takamagahara linked to the Qin Dynasty made her feel slightly awkward.
*From the Qin Dynasty... so Sister Guan Ya saw it at the academy...* Zhang Yuanqing uttered an "oh." "Xu Fu, right?"
Although he was not particularly interested in mythical tales, he had read extensively on history. Back in the mountain god's temple with the old crone, it was precisely his deep background in classical texts and historical knowledge that had allowed him to decipher the temple's chronicle. Takamagahara, ancient cultivators, a Qin Dynasty totem—the famous fangshi who had sailed overseas to seek the elixir of immortality sprang to his mind immediately.
Asano Ryo nodded and let out a soft "mm."
Then, springing to her feet, she put the Japanese art of the deep bow to work, bowing low without rising as she declared loudly, "Takamagahara is of paramount importance to the Thousand Cranes Group. Lord Yuanshi, please aid us!"
Zhang Yuanqing did not reply at once. Pondering, he tapped the round table with a finger. "Step outside for a moment. Guan Ya and I have something to discuss."
"Hai!" Asano Ryo quietly withdrew from the screening room and closed the door.
Raising her water glass, Guan Ya asked, "That girl Xie Lingxi can eavesdrop on movements throughout the villa. She probably heard our conversation here."
Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. "I had Blood Rose keep an eye on her." It was not that Xie Lingxi could not know—after all, Little Green Tea was on their side—but since he had promised Asano Ryo confidentiality, he naturally had to keep his word. Letting Guan Ya in on it was already pushing the limit. "Sister Guan Ya, was there any issue with what she just said?"
"She wasn't lying," Guan Ya said.
Zhang Yuanqing leaned lazily against the back of his chair, fingers rhythmically tapping the round table. After quite a while, he said in a low voice, "This matter isn't simple. I'm considering whether to get involved." He paused, then continued, "You grew up abroad and know limited Huaxia history, but you must have heard of Xu Fu and the legends about him."
Guan Ya nodded. "I have some impression. Something about setting sail on the First Emperor's orders to seek the elixir of immortality, right?"
Zhang Yuanqing's gaze deepened, and he said thoughtfully, "If the Thousand Cranes Group's investigation is accurate, then the ancient cultivators living in Takamagahara were very likely Xu Fu, along with the virgin boys and girls and the ancient cultivators he took with him. The Qin Dynasty totem on that jade disc is proof. But there's a logical flaw here: Xu Fu was a fangshi, which should correspond to the Scholar class, specializing in alchemy, artifact crafting, Bagua feng shui, and the like. If the First Emperor wanted longevity, having Xu Fu refine pills to extend his life would have sufficed. Why go to the trouble of sending him overseas in search of an elixir of immortality? Think about it. The Qin Dynasty was rich in spiritual energy, teeming with extraordinary talents, while the island nation was a tiny speck of land, likely home to barely any ancient cultivators at all. Does it make sense for a landlord with world-spanning wealth to go begging at the empty hut of an impoverished tenant farmer?"
Guan Ya's brows arched, and she fell into thought. "You mean..."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Unless the ancient island nation possessed something that even the First Emperor coveted, prompting him to dispatch Xu Fu overseas to find it."
Guan Ya found that sensible. "In that case, we'd have to trace history back before the Qin Dynasty, all the way to the age of mythology. But while myths reflect the history of ancient cultivators to some extent, they contain a great deal of false and fabricated information, which might not offer us anything useful."
"That doesn't matter. It's enough to know there was a treasure in the island nation. We're just finding a plausible motive for Xu Fu's voyage." Zhang Yuanqing did not linger on that point, continuing, "Xu Fu set sail with the boys and girls, successfully reached the island nation, and found the treasure the First Emperor desired—maybe an elixir of immortality, or perhaps something else. But Xu Fu didn't bring it back to the Central Plains. Greed got the better of him, and he wanted to keep it for himself. So he stayed in the island nation, established Takamagahara, became a local sovereign, and ruled over the islands alongside the Spirit Realm walkers who accompanied him."
"That sounds very reasonable." Guan Ya crossed one arm over her chest and rested her chin in her other hand, asking curiously, "What do you think that supposed treasure was? Could it really have been the legendary elixir of immortality?"
"Hard to say. It might have been the elixir, or seeking medicine overseas might have been a smokescreen to cover up his real objective. Either way, it was definitely an invaluable treasure. Back then, the First Emperor had united the world, with countless extraordinary figures under his banner. What kind of treasure didn't he have? For him to mobilize such resources to send Xu Fu overseas, the value of that item was probably far higher than we can imagine." Zhang Yuanqing added, "Sister Guan Ya, I intend to accept this mission, but I'll demand a higher reward and request entry into Takamagahara."
"Enter Takamagahara?" Guan Ya's brow furrowed instantly. "Yuanshi, if you could deduce all this in such a short time from a single totem, do you really think the Thousand Cranes Group—having investigated Takamagahara for nearly a century—wouldn't have realized it? The three sacred treasures are probably just a bonus. What they truly want is whatever drove Xu Fu to betray the First Emperor. That's also why the Thousand Cranes Group doesn't want Heaven's Punishment finding out. By the same token, they will never agree to let Fu Qingyang go to Takamagahara, but going alone would be far too dangerous for you."
Her subtext was clear: if Yuanshi insisted on heading to Takamagahara, the Thousand Cranes Group might very well kill him to keep the secret safe.
Zhang Yuanqing agreed with her assessment and asked, "Then you think it's better to give it up?"
"Letting an opportunity like this slip away would truly be a pity. Let me think..." Guan Ya muttered. "This requires leverage. If Fu Qingyang were here, he'd certainly come up with a solution. That brat is best at dirty political games." She knitted her delicate brows, pondering back and forth. After a long while, her eyes lit up, and she smiled. "I have an idea! Well, if we insist on going, we definitely can't send top-tier experts; otherwise, the Thousand Cranes Group will risk mutual destruction and leak Takamagahara's secret to Heaven's Punishment. If Heaven's Punishment intervenes, we won't even get leftover broth. But going alone is too dangerous, and I certainly won't let you. Yet don't forget, you're a Night Walker! You can dispatch a yin corpse or a spirit servant to go in. Letting 'pets' risk their lives while you watch from the sidelines—isn't that the proper way to play as a Night Walker? Besides, a yin corpse or spirit servant has limited combat strength and can never match its master, so the Thousand Cranes Group will lower their guard, making a compromise far more likely."
Her train of thought grew clearer as she spoke. "On top of that, they wouldn't dare kill your yin corpse or spirit servant to silence you, because doing so would be pointless. You can sign an agreement with them, negotiate how the treasures inside will be split, and make suitable concessions. I think the Thousand Cranes Group would agree."
"Brilliant idea!" Zhang Yuanqing cupped Guan Ya's oval face in both hands and planted a firm kiss on her cheek. Though she was a "piece of trash" singled out by Money Prince, she still hailed from a prominent Spirit Realm clan and was far more reliable than the silly, sweet aunt back home.
He turned and walked to the screening room door, pulled open the heavy soundproof door, and poked his head out.
In the living room, Asano Ryo stood ramrod straight, hands clasped in front of her holding her purse, looking every bit the well-behaved schoolgirl. Xie Lingxi, clad in a skirt, was pacing around her, scrutinizing her with burning eyes like a young hound sizing up prey—or an enemy.
"Asano Ryo, come on in!" Zhang Yuanqing called out, stepping back into the screening room.
Relieved, Asano Ryo hurried to escape the terrifying girl of her own age, trotting inside. "Lord Yuanshi, have you considered it?" She stared at him, torn between anticipation and nervousness. "Please, feel free to state your terms."
*Little girl, that's not how you negotiate a partnership. You're way too honest,* Zhang Yuanqing appraised silently. Maintaining a strictly businesslike tone, he said, "Answer a question for me. You mentioned finding the key to Takamagahara ten years after the Second World War. Why only bring this up now?"
"Because we hadn't found Takamagahara yet," Asano Ryo answered softly, her voice delicate and pleasant. "In mythology, Takamagahara is described as an island floating in the sea or among the clouds, a realm in the heavens. No one knew where it actually was. But not long ago, the Thousand Cranes Group finally located it. The leader planned to take the cadres inside to explore, but unexpectedly, the traitor Edo Swordsman stole the key." Speaking of this, the schoolgirl's face filled with righteous indignation. "He had long harbored discontent toward the leader, nursing wild ambitions to take his place. Stealing the key and sneaking into Huaxia this time means he very likely established contact with an evil organization."
"Where is Takamagahara?" Zhang Yuanqing probed.
"I don't know." Asano Ryo shook her head.
*Makes sense. If you knew, your leader wouldn't have sent you here. If Yuanshi Tianzun were a ruthless man, you'd already be dead by now...*
Zhang Yuanqing said, "I can help, but the reward must be raised to five hundred million Fusang yen. Furthermore, once the job is done, I will enter Takamagahara. Don't worry, though—I'll only send a yin corpse inside, and your people get first pick of the treasures."
The implicit message was: *I want a cut!*
Asano Ryo immediately looked troubled. She was personally quite willing to share the gains with Lord Yuanshi, since this man was her savior and a comrade with whom she had faced life and death. Her attainment of Saint rank and her current status were entirely due to him. But the Thousand Cranes Group was not hers to command. Given the leader and cadres' determination to secure Takamagahara and their thirst for the rise of the island nation's Spirit Realm walkers, they would never willingly share with an outsider.
One look at the girl's expression told Zhang Yuanqing what she was worried about, and he smiled. "Tell the Thousand Cranes Group's leadership that if Edo Swordsman truly got involved with an evil organization, the longer this drags on, the less hope they have, leaving them no choice but to yield to Heaven's Punishment. Meanwhile, I can reclaim the jade disc within two days. By the way, did you bring Edo Swordsman's DNA?"
"I did." Asano Ryo nodded. "Edo Swordsman was injured during the siege by our cadres, so I brought his blood."
"Then there's no problem!" Zhang Yuanqing gave a nod. "Go contact your organization. Guan Ya and I will step out; we won't listen in."
With that, he led the veteran driver out of the room.
Once the heavy soundproof door shut, Asano Ryo dialed Group Leader Kobe Ichiro's number.
"Ryo-chan, how went the talk?" A deep, resonant voice came through the phone. "This concerns the grand enterprise of the Thousand Cranes Group. If it's botched, we'll all have to commit seppuku to atone."
Asano Ryo bowed instinctively and quietly conveyed Yuanshi Tianzun's terms to Kobe Ichiro.
"Baka!" A fury Kobe Ichiro could barely suppress erupted over the line. "Takamagahara belongs solely to the Thousand Cranes Group! No one else may lay a finger on it! Ryo-chan, is this how you negotiate?!"
Asano Ryo instinctively apologized over and over, then recalled Yuanshi Tianzun's argument and said softly, "B-but Leader, Lord Yuanshi said he could reclaim the key within two days."
*Within two days...* The line went dead silent.
After a moment, the leader's tone softened considerably. "If Yuanshi Tianzun can pull that off, I can agree. But he must honor his promise: only a yin corpse or spirit servant enters Takamagahara."
Relieved as if a heavy weight had dropped from her shoulders, Asano Ryo beamed. "Lord Yuanshi is a warrior of noble character; he will certainly honor his promise!"
Had she known his nickname was "Rogue Tianzun," she probably would not have thought so.
Hanging up the phone in high spirits, Asano Ryo pushed open the heavy soundproof door and found Yuanshi Tianzun, Guan Ya, and that pretty girl her age sitting silently in the living room. On Yuanshi Tianzun's head rested an exquisite, distinctly high-tech headset.
"From the look on your face, the Thousand Cranes Group agreed?" Zhang Yuanqing asked with a smile.
"Yes. The leader said that as long as Lord Yuanshi can recover the key and honor his promise, he can let you..." Asano Ryo glanced at Xie Lingxi, quickly clamped her mouth shut, and clumsily shifted the subject. "Lord Yuanshi, your headset is very pretty."
Xie Lingxi let out a dry "heh."
***
After obtaining Edo Swordsman's photograph, dossier, and bloodstains from Asano Ryo, Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room, retrieved the Daluo Astrolabe, and divined the operation to hunt Edo Swordsman down.
As astral energy surged into it, the silver stars on the dark disc lit up one by one, projecting a dazzling galaxy inside the room. The galaxy spun at high speed, forming a vortex that abruptly poured into Zhang Yuanqing's glabella.
A vision flared in his mind: an emaciated, middle-aged man wielding a katana leaped with a ferocious expression, frozen mid-slash. His bright blade condensed an incomparably sharp sword aura.
Seconds later, the scene shifted. This time, it was a powerfully built man whose muscles bulged with terrifying strength. His gaze was rabid, brows filled with bloodthirsty fighting intent, and his face was covered in twisted, blood-red runes. From his ribs sprouted two pairs of illusory arms.
The vision ended, and the divination concluded.
Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, brow knitted. "The Soldier Master sect..."
Without question, Edo Swordsman had indeed linked up with a local evil organization—and it was the Soldier Master sect, the most infamous among the three major evil factions.
*That figure just now should be a Mist Lord. If he were a Dominator, the bewitchment runes would cover his entire body rather than just his face. Sprouting two pairs of illusory arms indicates he's Level 5; at Level 6, there would be three pairs.* The skill 'Three Heads and Eight Arms' was Dominator-grade, but Mist Lords in the Saint stage could project arm phantoms. Upon reaching the Dominator realm, those phantoms solidified into genuine flesh and blood, accompanied by two additional heads.
Zhang Yuanqing turned on his computer, logged into his Yuanshi Tianzun account, and searched for "Soldier Master sect Level 5 Mist Lord."
He pulled up nineteen individuals, all fugitives wanted by the authorities and recorded in the database. Clicking through their Spirit Realm IDs one by one, he reviewed their personal profiles.
Zhang Yuanqing soon found the Mist Lord from his vision.
[Spirit Realm ID: Blood Drinking Mad Blade, Level 5 Mist Lord, active around Chun City in Ji Province. Brutal and bloodthirsty...]
Beneath it lay the crimes Blood Drinking Mad Blade had committed.
Zhang Yuanqing skimmed through them: pillaging, raping, and slaughtering with utter depravity. He had sexually assaulted and murdered over forty female official walkers and ordinary women. He served as an umbrella for several local criminal syndicates, though due to Morality Points restrictions, he was not their head. He controlled numerous merchants, helping them eliminate obstacles to rake in vast sums of wealth. The Chun City branch had encircled this villain multiple times, most recently two years ago, when they nearly eliminated him. After escaping, Blood Drinking Mad Blade had gone underground, leaving no further trace.
*The Northwest is the Soldier Master sect's territory, and the Northern Branch of the Nihility Sect is very active there as well. If I don't seek assistance from the Chun City branch, I must resolve this swiftly and avoid a prolonged battle. A Level 5 Swordsman plus a Level 5 Mist Lord is tricky. Guan Ya and I alone won't cut it; we need to pull in another helper.*
Zhang Yuanqing could not help feeling caught in a bind.
He did not lack potential helpers—official members never did—but whom should he ask? If Fu Qingyang or Lingjun got involved, the secret of Takamagahara would be impossible to conceal. He needed someone trustworthy who had zero interest in the matter.
Two people surfaced in his mind: Jiang Jingwei and Xiao Yuan.
According to Guan Ya, Jiang Jingwei had entered an instance a few days ago and gained plenty of experience points. Coupled with the traits of a Flame Fiend, she could hold her own even against a Level 5 Saint. Furthermore, Jingwei was simple-minded and would never pry into secrets; even if the secret were set right before her, she would just laugh it off. She was a comrade he could rely on completely.
*Still, from a safety perspective, Xiao Yuan is the optimal choice. She's Level 5 and an evil class with immense combat power, making her stronger than Jingwei. But... Xiao Yuan and I have an ambiguous relationship. Wouldn't it be awkward to have her meet Guan Ya? Besides, Guan Ya is a Scout; she'd definitely pick up on the ambiguity between me and Xiao Yuan. Maybe I should just go with Jingwei after all.*
He could face Queen and Xie Lingxi with a clear conscience without worrying about Guan Ya getting jealous, but he could not say the same when it came to Xiao Yuan. Before winning Guan Ya over, Zhang Yuanqing had indeed harbored longing for this mature woman—and that longing lingered even now.
Thus, he chose to dial Jiang Jingwei's cell phone.
The phone rang for a long time before finally connecting. A gentle, mature woman's voice came from the other end: "Yuanshi Tianzun? I'm Jingwei's mother."
"Hello, Auntie. Is Jingwei around? Our patrol team has an assignment," Zhang Yuanqing said.
"I'm sorry, Jingwei has entered the Spirit Realm," Jiang's mother said apologetically.
"Didn't she just complete an instance a few days ago?" Zhang Yuanqing was startled.
"It's the Scarlet Fire Gang's guild instance. Jingwei is inside the Spirit Realm undergoing special training with her brother. I'm terribly sorry, but she won't be able to participate in this mission."
*What special training? It's just fighting, fighting, and more fighting...* Zhang Yuanqing muttered internally, hanging up in disappointment.
*Sigh, looks like I can only turn to Xiao Yuan. In life, nine times out of ten, things don't go as one wishes.*
Chapter 404