"Hey, Xiao Yuan, are you free lately?"
Zhang Yuanqing dialed her number.
"Not free. Watching the shop," Xiao Yuan's calm, cold voice answered.
"Just have Kou Beiyue look after the hotel. It's not like there's much business anyway," Zhang Yuanqing said, taking charge as if he were anything but an outsider, before continuing, "I've got a job here. Two million once it's done."
For Xiao Yuan, whose financial situation had always been grim, this was an offer impossible to refuse. She asked, "What kind of job?"
"Hunting a Level 5 Swordsman and a Level 5 Mist Lord. Location: Chun City in Ji Province. Right now, we have four Saints and three Extraordinaries on our side." Zhang Yuanqing briefly laid out the mission location and numbers on both sides.
"You want me to take action with people from the official organization?" Xiao Yuan's tone instantly turned icy. "Do you think your life is too easy, or do you think mine is too comfortable?"
Zhang Yuanqing hurried to explain, "Even though they're with the officials, they're my dearest friends and loved ones—completely trustworthy. The main thing is that this operation isn't suitable for the officials to know about. How about this: I'll add another five hundred thousand."
Xiao Yuan fell silent for a long while before saying, "Fine! When?"
"We depart this afternoon and act tonight. We'll meet at Songhai Airport," Zhang Yuanqing said.
Hanging up the call, he walked out of the study and gathered everyone in the living room.
"We have a mission tonight. We'll be flying to Ji Province in a bit, so get ready, everyone." After speaking, Zhang Yuanqing looked toward Asano Ryo and said, "I've already found our targets. They're in Chun City, Ji Province."
"So fast? They really are in Ji Province." Pleasantly surprised, Asano Ryo stood up and bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Lord Yuanshi! Asking for your help truly was the wisest choice the Thousand Cranes Group could make."
Diving into the sea from the island nation and swimming to the mainland, Ji Province was indeed the closest in terms of route, which matched the Thousand Cranes Group's analysis.
Aside from Guan Ya, the others, who didn't know the backstory, were somewhat at a loss, but since Yuanshi Tianzun hadn't elaborated, they didn't feel it appropriate to pry.
Zhang Yuanqing added, "I've recruited a helper and will introduce her to you later. Her personality is a bit peculiar, so don't interact with her too much."
*Who is he—or she? Why does Yuanshi look a little guilty?* Guan Ya narrowed her eyes, discerning the emotion deep within her boyfriend's gaze.
*Guan Ya's suddenly staring right through me. Fuck, after just a few sentences, she already caught a scent? Having a Scout for a girlfriend is terrifying...* Trying his best to appear calm and unbothered, Zhang Yuanqing said, "I'll go make the arrangements right now!"
He vanished in an escape of dreamlike starlight.
The next second, he appeared in Fu Qingyang's sprawling villa and asked a bunny girl in the living room, "Is the boss in his study, or the training room?"
Fu Qingyang's life followed the simplest three-point routine: sleeping in the bedroom, working in the study, and practicing sword strikes in the training room, day in and day out, rain or shine.
"The young master went out," the bunny girl said softly.
"Went out?" Zhang Yuanqing nodded and said, "I need a private jet to fly to Chun City in Ji Province tonight. Can you help arrange it?"
The bunny girl offered a faint smile. "I can arrange the young master's private jet for you. It will take about four hours. Do you have any specific time requirements?"
"Notify me as soon as it's ready," Zhang Yuanqing said, heading straight upstairs.
A few minutes later, he came back downstairs. The previous bunny girl had gone to arrange the flight. Looking around, he happened to see the bunny girl in charge of the garden returning, so he asked, "Where is Lingjun?"
"Young Master Lingjun went out together with the young master," she replied.
"Went out together..." Zhang Yuanqing frowned. "Did something happen?"
Those two rarely traveled together; something must have happened that compelled them to go as a pair.
The bunny girl shook her head. "I'm not sure. The young master never discusses official business with us."
*True enough. In the Money Prince's eyes, bunny girls are personal assistants, akin to maidservants in ancient times. A maidservant's duty is to handle daily life and living arrangements, so why would he discuss official business with them? Mm, since he didn't tell me, it means it's not something I can help with...* Zhang Yuanqing had urgent matters of his own, so he left in a hurry.
Songhai International Airport.
A silver Gulfstream sat quietly on the tarmac. Compared to commercial airliners, it appeared petite, yet its pristine fuselage, sleek lines, and craftsmanship far superior to any airliner hinted that it was the Lamborghini or Bugatti of the skies.
The cabin was spacious inside, configured with only eighteen luxury seats and a dedicated lounge.
Attending to the passengers were three flight attendants with exquisite makeup, graceful manners, and proper smiles, each a standout beauty.
Yet today, the flight attendants stole glances at the guests in the cabin, their eyes brimming with awe and envy.
There were seven distinguished guests in the cabin. Aside from the bespectacled man who had buried himself in his laptop the moment he boarded, radiating the aura of an otaku and a bookworm, the other six were all women.
They possessed flawless good looks, but most striking of all was skin as delicate as an infant's and an extraordinary temperament.
An adult's skin invariably had some imperfections, yet when the attendants poured water and looked closely, they realized these women's skin was even softer and smoother than a baby's.
As for temperament, something that had to be cultivated over time, it was an elusive dream for many beauties.
Thus, what the flight attendants wanted to know most was how they cared for their skin.
Xie Lingxi reclined in a plush, spacious luxury seat, a pair of over-ear headphones resting around her slender, snow-white neck. Turning to look out the window, she said, "Has Brother Yuanshi's friend not arrived yet? Who did he invite to help? Did he tell any of you?"
Out on the tarmac, Zhang Yuanqing stood rod-straight, gazing into the distance.
"Who knows? For the captain to wait for them in person, they must be an expert," Queen said.
Just as she spoke, a shuttle van drove up quickly and pulled over beside the silver Gulfstream. The door slid open, and a tall woman stepped out.
She wore a brown, Hong-Kong-style midi skirt accentuating a mature elegance, paired with a black, V-neck, short-sleeved blouse. Her soft, slightly curled hair fell naturally over her shoulders, and with every stride, her skirt swayed, revealing low-heeled sandals.
Her face was free of makeup—an oval contour, rounded eyes, and radiant, striking features that carried a cold glamour.
Elegant, icy, and formidable... The aura of a mature, powerful woman drew all eyes, something no young girl could match.
Xiao Yuan walked up to Yuanshi Tianzun and said with a faint, mocking smile, "Look good?"
"L-Looks good..." Zhang Yuanqing's heart fluttered wildly like a trapped deer. He stared at her, unable to tear his eyes away.
Accustomed to seeing Xiao Yuan in her hotel uniform, suddenly encountering her in this outfit made her look like a completely different person.
Xiao Yuan scoffed. "Do I look like your mom?"
Zhang Yuanqing's face darkened, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Deducting points. Suddenly I don't think you look good at all."
Zhang Yuanqing knew she was mocking the dating preferences he had once spouted: because he lacked maternal love, he yearned for a mature, formidable, yet gentle older woman.
Xiao Yuan ignored him, brushed past, and boarded the private jet.
Zhang Yuanqing hurried to turn around and follow, guiding Xiao Yuan to a seat.
*I can't look at Guan Ya first right now. Looking at Guan Ya means guilt...* Zhang Yuanqing looked around at everyone and introduced, "Xiao Yuan, Spirit Medium, a friend of mine."
The moment these words left his mouth, everyone present except Xie Lingxi wore a look of shock. Li Chunfeng, Queen, and Asano Ryo reflexively tensed.
An orthodox profession's vigilance toward evil professions was ingrained to the bone.
"My friend!" Zhang Yuanqing repeated once more.
Guan Ya watched her boyfriend without saying a word. When he said "my friend," his eyes were earnest and his expression solemn, as if personally vouching for this Spirit Medium.
*The guilt he showed earlier was because his collaborator is a Spirit Medium?* Guan Ya was deep in thought.
*In a sense, their wariness toward Xiao Yuan isn't a bad thing. That way, Xiao Yuan won't find out Guan Ya is my girlfriend, and Guan Ya won't realize things are ambiguous between Xiao Yuan and me...* Zhang Yuanqing thought.
Right then, Xie Lingxi said in a sweet voice, "No need to be nervous, everyone! Auntie Xiao Yuan is a friend of mine and Brother Yuanshi's. She's a very good person and never does anything bad."
Though she wasn't close with Xiao Yuan, because of Ashamed to Be a Father, the Little Green Tea harbored strong goodwill toward Master Wuhen's circle.
She also knew Brother Yuanshi had consistently stayed in touch with them and that they were trustworthy friends.
Queen and the others stared at her for a few seconds before slowly letting down their guard.
Zhang Yuanqing led Xiao Yuan to sit down, only to hear Xie Lingxi say behind them, "Auntie Xiao Yuan, they're all from the patrol team, our own people. And this Sister Guan Ya is Brother Yuanshi's girlfriend."
Heaven as witness, the Little Green Tea had said this with genuine sincerity to ease the tension and show everyone was on the same side.
Yet Xiao Yuan, who had been completely aloof and unperturbed by the official walkers' hostility and wariness, froze upon hearing this, subconsciously turning her head toward Guan Ya.
Two or three seconds later, she coldly retracted her gaze and gave Yuanshi Tianzun a profound, lingering look.
Then, without a word, she sat down.
*!!!* Guan Ya's heart instantly sank.
*Her look carried hostility toward me. Her micro-expressions just now were surprise and disappointment—does this woman have feelings for Yuanshi? She glanced at Yuanshi again, an interrogation tinged with anger... Dammit, Yuanshi's face froze completely! Did this dog of a man hook up with a woman behind my back?* Guan Ya's expression darkened, her chest heaving violently.
*Fuck, I want to string Xie Lingxi up and beat her right now...* Zhang Yuanqing suddenly felt prickles on his back—it was the death ray directed at him by his official girlfriend.
Pretending not to notice, he waved over a flight attendant and said in a low, sorrowful voice, "Take off!"
From Songhai to Chun City in Ji Province took about four hours. Because of Xiao Yuan's presence, everyone remained quiet throughout the flight.
Aside from the occasional trip to the restroom or ordering a light meal, most rested with their eyes closed.
Trapping an evil profession and a group of orthodox professions in the same cabin was like locking a lion and tigers in a single cage. The surface seemed tranquil, but underneath, daggers were drawn.
An orthodox profession's vigilance toward evil professions was ingrained to the bone, just like a person facing a fierce beast. Even if it had been tamed and the beast tamer was right there keeping watch, one couldn't help but tremble inside—what if it suddenly went berserk and devoured both the beast tamer and everyone else as snacks?
Furthermore, a Spirit Medium could fly, while most orthodox Saints could not. If this woman harbored ill intent, everyone would perish before the battle even began, wiped out mid-transit.
As for the turbulent undercurrent beneath that calm, only Zhang Yuanqing himself knew the bitter reality.
"The plane is about to descend. Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts and refrain from moving about."
The flight attendant's gentle reminder came over the intercom.
Before long, the jet broke through the sea of clouds, and a bustling city appeared below, miniature like a model on a sand table.
Xie Lingxi let out a breath. Having endured four grueling hours, a smile finally appeared on her little face. "I heard Ji Province is very cold. It's perfect for us to hang out here for a few days to escape the summer heat."
From the row behind her, Li Chunfeng said earnestly, "You won't escape the heat. Summer temperatures in Ji Province reach nearly 35 degrees Celsius, barely different from Songhai. On top of that, there's a large difference between day and night temperatures, making it easy to catch a cold."
Xie Lingxi turned around and huffed, "I'm a Spirit Realm walker! Why would I be afraid of catching a cold?"
"But you're an Extraordinary Musician. The physical constitution of Musicians and Scholars isn't much stronger than an ordinary person's," Li Chunfeng instructed patiently.
Xie Lingxi couldn't be bothered to respond and darted a glance at Guan Ya and Xiao Yuan across the cabin.
Just then, Xiao Yuan remarked faintly, "Evil professions are relatively active in the north. You had better have a foolproof plan to strike once and retreat immediately. Otherwise, be mentally prepared to be hunted in turn by the higher-ups of the Soldier Master sect. If things reach that point, I won't stay behind."
Guan Ya also replied coolly, "The Changchun Branch isn't weak. No matter how rampant evil organizations become, this world still belongs to the orthodox faction."
Xiao Yuan turned her eyes back and glanced at her. "Active in the northwest are the six Divine Generals of the Soldier Master sect, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the elders of the Nihility Sect. I hope you can still speak so tough if you run into them."
The atmosphere instantly turned fraught with tension.
Guan Ya sneered, "If you're scared, you can leave right now."
Xiao Yuan nodded. "A fine suggestion."
Zhang Yuanqing hastily tried to smooth things over. "Heroines, please, we've traveled a long way and are weary from the journey. Conserving our energy is what matters..."
Xiao Yuan and Guan Ya shot him an icy glare at the same time. Zhang Yuanqing quietly shrunk his neck back.
Just then, the descending plane hit air turbulence and jolted violently.
Xiao Yuan closed her eyes to rest, while Guan Ya cast her gaze out the window.
The plane touched down smoothly, and the group boarded a commercial minivan arranged by the hotel, leaving the airport and heading toward a five-star hotel in Chun City.
The hotel had been booked by the bunny girl, and the reservation included complimentary airport pick-up service.
For a little extra money, they could have added a tour guide, but Zhang Yuanqing hadn't come for sightseeing; he had come to kill.
The ultraviolet rays in Chun City were much stronger than in Songhai, but it lacked the oppressive humidity of the south. As long as one stayed out of direct sunlight and took shelter in the shade, it truly was suitable for escaping the heat.
Evidently, Li Chunfeng was a pedantic theorist lacking practical experience.
After checking in, Zhang Yuanqing said, "It's five o'clock now. I plan to gather intel first to track down the targets' address, and we'll take action at ten tonight. Everyone, rest up and get into condition."
He intended to use the Red Dancing Shoes first to pinpoint Edo Swordsman's location before drawing up the hunting plan.
Everyone went to their respective rooms.
Zhang Yuanqing brought Blood Rose and Commandery Princess Yinyao into his room. He had just washed his face when his phone chimed twice with notifications.
He received text messages from Xiao Yuan and Guan Ya at the same time, and their contents were uncannily identical:
"Come to my room for a moment."
Chapter 405