A call from Fear Heavenly King.
Blood Drinking Mad Blade was pleasantly surprised, yet simultaneously gripped by resentment and anger. If only this call had come four or five hours earlier, the situation would have been completely different. He answered the phone, his voice low. "Heavenly King!"
"I just received the intelligence you sent to headquarters, but your stronghold in Chun City has been raided. The Chun City branch personnel have surrounded it three layers deep, inside and out." Fear Heavenly King's voice possessed a magnetic quality, carrying an unhurried elegance. After saying this, he clicked his tongue. "From that tone of yours just now, you're blaming me!"
Blood Drinking Mad Blade was startled. He unconsciously stood up, bowed his head, and adopted the posture of receiving a reprimand, saying in panic, "Your subordinate wouldn't dare."
"Don't be nervous. Blaming me is your freedom; I never restrict anyone's freedom. Even if you wanted to kill me, I'd give you a thumbs-up." Fear Heavenly King chuckled, then asked, "Who did it?"
Grinding his teeth, Blood Drinking Mad Blade said, "It was Yuanshi Tianzun! He killed Edo Swordsman and took the key to Takamagahara! Heavenly King, Takamagahara hides rare treasures—treasures that even the First Emperor yearned for."
Under the orange light, his face contorted in vicious fury. "You must kill him and reclaim the key!"
"Yuanshi Tianzun... him again. Is this brat naturally our Soldier Master sect's nemesis?" Fear Heavenly King sighed.
Li Xianzong, whom Demonic Eye had cultivated, died because of him; Demonic Eye was imprisoned because of him; Lust died because of him. To think a tiny bug could be so troublesome.
"Fine, I'll make a trip to Songhai to meet this little genius of the Five Elements Alliance. How long has it been since he retreated?"
"Nearly four hours. He might not even be in Chun City anymore," Blood Drinking Mad Blade said.
"The monk can run, but the temple won't go anywhere." Fear Heavenly King hung up with a chuckle.
***
Asano Ryo shut the narrow bathroom door, picked up the satellite phone mounted beside the toilet, and dialed the group leader's number.
The call connected immediately, as if he had been waiting by the phone all along. From the receiver came the group leader's deep, anxious voice: "Ryo-chan, is the mission complete? Has the key to Takamagahara been retrieved?"
Asano Ryo nodded vigorously. "Leader, Yuanshi-kun has already helped us retrieve the key. Edo Swordsman was personally slain by my hand."
Her tone was solemn and serious, yet tinged with a faint hint of seeking credit.
"Phew..."
Asano Ryo heard a long exhale from the receiver, as if expelling all anxiety, worry, and unease.
Then, the leader's voice rang out again, no longer heavy and somber, replaced by hearty laughter. "Very good! Yuanshi-kun is a warrior of noble character and exceptional ability; he fulfilled his promise. Ryo-chan, you have achieved great merit! When you return, the Thousand Cranes Group will throw a banquet in your honor. Now that the traitor Edo Swordsman is dead, I believe you are well qualified to fill the position of vice leader."
Asano Ryo's little heart pounded wildly, a flush of excitement rising to her cheeks.
A vice leader was a true high-ranking executive of the Thousand Cranes Group, able to mobilize the group's Spirit Realm walkers and freely command government resources.
Even her parents would have to respectfully address her as "Leader Asano."
"Thank you, Leader! I will certainly work hard and live up to the expectations of you and everyone!" Asano Ryo bowed repeatedly in the restroom, swearing with immense fervor.
"Is the key with you?!" Kobe Ichiro changed the subject sharply.
"The key... is being kept by Yuanshi-kun..." Asano Ryo's momentum immediately withered.
"I knew it..." Kobe Ichiro's tone inevitably darkened. "This Yuanshi Tianzun harbors designs on Takamagahara. I only hope he remembers his promise. Ryo-chan, we cannot let our guard down."
This was well within his expectations. The key was Yuanshi Tianzun's bargaining chip; there was no way he would hand it back to Asano Ryo. He only hoped this favored son of the Five Elements Alliance would keep his promise and send a yin corpse to Japan rather than hiking the price on the spot.
Now that the key was retrieved and the traitor eliminated, a new round of maneuvering was about to begin.
Asano Ryo hesitated, mumbling, "Leader, there is one more thing I must report to you."
"Don't stammer. Speak clearly." Kobe Ichiro's tone grew stern.
"Hai!" Asano Ryo responded loudly, then immediately reported the details of the ambush to the leader. She added rather uneasily, "We are currently flying toward Songhai and will arrive shortly, but everyone is terrified. If Fear Heavenly King personally descends on Songhai, given the strength of the Songhai branch, it will be completely unable to stand against him."
After saying this, Asano Ryo heard heavy breathing on the other end again.
"Leader?" she probed softly.
"Baka!" Kobe Ichiro roared in rage. "Edo Swordsman deserved worse than death! He actually colluded with the Soldier Master sect and leaked the secret to reviving the Thousand Cranes Group to the Soldier Master sect's Fear Heavenly King! Baka, baka, baka—!"
*The leader has lost control of his emotions...* Asano Ryo kept her head down, too frightened to speak.
After a good while, Kobe Ichiro calmed down and asked urgently, "What did Yuanshi T— Yuanshi-kun say?"
Asano Ryo said quietly, "Yuanshi-kun said he will report the situation to his superiors, but he won't reveal anything about the key to Takamagahara. He will only say that he provoked Fear Heavenly King. Additionally, he hopes to complete our cooperation as soon as possible, lest complications arise from delay."
Kobe Ichiro had already prepared himself to report everything to Heaven's Punishment. Hearing this, he felt slightly relieved. "Yuanshi-kun is right. We cannot afford to delay; we must enter Takamagahara as soon as possible, or else Fear Heavenly King will come knocking at our door. Tell him that tomorrow, at the Thousand Cranes Group headquarters, I will eagerly await his arrival."
If Yuanshi Tianzun truly concealed the existence of Takamagahara and sought aid from Five Elements Alliance headquarters as he claimed, the price he would pay would be immense.
If he reported the secret of Takamagahara, the Five Elements Alliance would intervene, meaning settling Fear Heavenly King would not be cleaning up Yuanshi Tianzun's mess; on the contrary, far from being blamed, Yuanshi Tianzun would receive credit.
Conversely, concealing Takamagahara's existence meant Yuanshi Tianzun had provoked Fear Heavenly King on his own initiative and then forced the Five Elements Alliance to wipe his ass. With a demigod-level enemy, the risks and crisis involved were self-evident.
As the instigator, Yuanshi Tianzun would definitely face disciplinary action from the authorities.
Ending the call, Asano Ryo set down the receiver and walked out of the restroom.
Glancing around, she noticed Yuanshi-kun was not in the cabin. The others looked calm, so without asking further, she returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.
Just as she sat down, the girl sitting opposite her said with a grin, "Congratulations on the promotion, Vice Leader Asano!"
Asano Ryo froze, then fumed, "Y-You eavesdropped on my phone call?!"
Xie Lingxi playfully mimicked Asano Ryo's tone: "'Thank you, Leader! I will certainly work hard and live up to the expectations of you and everyone!' ...You shouted so loudly that anyone could hear."
Li Chunfeng calmly twisted the knife. "Even an ordinary Scholar like me with normal hearing caught bits and pieces."
Xie Lingxi laughed teasingly. "Your secrecy work is so terrible. Did the Thousand Cranes Group lose their minds, entrusting such an important mission to you?"
"..." Asano Ryo's face flushed crimson. Listening to the girl her age dressing her down, she felt both aggrieved and mortified, sulkily turning away to ignore her.
*Compared to Xie Lingxi, this Asano Ryo is simply too naive. Though she possesses some petty cleverness and small schemes, she still lacks experience. Yuanshi deliberately told her he could handle Fear Heavenly King so that she would relay it to the Thousand Cranes Group and ramp up the pressure, but it will probably take her a long time to realize that...* Guan Ya shook her head.
*A silly Yamato nadeshiko poses no threat at all. Brother Yuanshi would never like a stupid woman,* Xie Lingxi thought to herself.
*Seems this girl isn't a threat after all. Although she's a Saint, she's far too green. For a second, I thought she was another rival...* Queen leisurely sipped her drink, mentally crossing Asano Ryo off her list of enemies.
Xiao Yuan rested with her eyes closed, not uttering a word.
Outside the window, pitch-black darkness stretched out; neither stars nor moon were visible.
***
In the lounge, Zhang Yuanqing sat by the edge of the bed, gazing at Commandery Princess Yinyao, who sat cross-legged recuperating.
"Commandery Princess, the crimson glow in your eyes has dimmed. You've depleted quite a bit of lunar energy," Zhang Yuanqing said with concern. "I'm very worried about your condition, Princess. I want to channel lunar energy into you, yet I am powerless to do so."
The blade cuts on Commandery Princess Yinyao's body had already healed, and her severed arm had been reattached, but she had paid a heavy price for it.
Her level had dropped.
Her profound lunar energy had been drastically drained, falling from Level 5 to Level 4.
Commandery Princess Yinyao sat with closed eyes, remaining silent.
Guilt covered Zhang Yuanqing's face, his voice dripping with heartache. "Her Ladyship entrusted you to my care, yet allowing you to suffer such grievous injuries is entirely my dereliction of duty, my responsibility. Princess, I wish to make it up to you."
Commandery Princess Yinyao opened her eyes, their red pupils dimmed, and picked up her small megaphone, exposing him in a single sentence: "You want to refine me into a yin corpse?"
Zhang Yuanqing nodded with deep sincerity. "This is the only way. You cannot cultivate in the real world; every battle wears you down, which is unsustainable in the long run. If you become my yin corpse, we can share the power of lunar stars. I am a Spirit Realm walker, so my spiritual power regenerates on its own."
Commandery Princess Yinyao replied indifferently, "You can purchase materials rich in lunar energy for me. I can refine and absorb them through secret arts; I can recover just the same."
*Ah, this... I hate yin corpses with brains...* Zhang Yuanqing almost froze. He hurried to sigh and lament, "Princess, my pockets are shallow! As you've seen, I'm already poor enough to risk life and limb for mere worldly silver and gold. Materials of Saint grade are exorbitantly expensive. Restoring you to your peak alone would cost an astronomical sum, not to mention the future...
"Please don't think I'm being stingy with money. I, Yuanshi Tianzun, am not that kind of person! It's just that I have elders to support and little ones to feed."
"You are unmarried. Where would you get little ones?"
*Does Little Doubi count?...* Zhang Yuanqing cried in anguish, "I have an intellectually impaired aunt at home, as senseless as an infant!"
Commandery Princess Yinyao fell silent, giving no indication of whether she had listened. After a long while, she held up her small megaphone, her mature voice cool: "No need to say more. I know you have long wanted to claim me for your own use, only finding it awkward to force me. My master's intention in having me return to the real world was the same; it was merely my own reluctance."
Pausing briefly, she continued, "Yet this day would come sooner or later. Knowing my master, she will surely inquire the next time you enter the Spirit Realm. If she learns I disobeyed her orders, she will not spare me. Over the past days, staying at your residence has been fairly pleasant. I can agree to become your yin corpse, but you must agree to three conditions."
*Fine, you see right through me. That works too, saves me the breath...* Zhang Yuanqing said, "Speak, Princess."
Commandery Princess Yinyao raised her megaphone slightly. "First, you cannot force me to do anything. Second, I can fight for you, but I am not your servant; we treat each other as equals and keep things as they are. Third, without my permission, you may not take control of my body. I know of an overseas profession capable of signing contracts; you must find such an item."
Zhang Yuanqing pondered this carefully and frowned. "Not forcing you to do anything is too vague. Please be specific, Princess."
For example, if he faced a grave crisis requiring his yin corpse's assistance in battle, but Commandery Princess Yinyao saw the danger, refused to fight, and turned tail and fled, that would never do.
Commandery Princess Yinyao was quiet for a long time, seemingly reluctant to speak. Only after a protracted silence did the megaphone transmit her mature voice: "You... cannot make me... warm your bed!"
A string of question marks flashed across Zhang Yuanqing's mind. He thought to himself: *Princess, it seems you haven't seen through me after all. Otherwise, how could you develop such a twisted misunderstanding of an exemplary young man? Do you think I'm Demon Lord? If I were Demon Lord, I'd probably demand a mile-high tryst with you right here on the plane! But I am the upright Yuanshi Tianzun!*
"Princess, please do not joke. I hail from a scholarly lineage, an illustrious clan of officials! Educated and courteous since childhood, how could I ever commit such an unconscionable act?" Zhang Yuanqing proclaimed with righteous indignation.
"Then that is well."
Commandery Princess Yinyao lowered the small megaphone.
***
At Songhai International Airport, after the Gulfstream touched down, the group dashed out of the plane in a whirlwind of motion, as if taking one second longer would cause the aircraft to blow up.
Without waiting for a shuttle bus, they sprinted across the taxiway and apron into the terminal. Only upon seeing the dense crowd did they let out a collective sigh of relief.
It was already late at night, but with flights coming and going, passengers were abundant and foot traffic remained heavy. Even Fear Heavenly King would not dare go on an indiscriminate slaughter here.
"Safe for now..." Xie Lingxi muttered.
"You guys find a hotel to stay at first. Don't go back to Fujia Bay. Wait until I finish talking with the boss, and we'll see how things stand," Zhang Yuanqing said, carrying his backpack. Bidding farewell to his teammates, he returned to Fujia Bay alone.
He had already contacted Fu Qingyang while on the plane, reporting that he had provoked Fear Heavenly King.
True to form, Fu Qingyang had simply said nonchalantly, "A minor matter. Come back first."
Zhang Yuanqing had instantly felt a wave of security.
When he returned to Fujia Bay and entered the study, he saw Fu Qingyang sitting behind the desk reading a book, his expression austere, radiating a calm unshaken even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him.
"Speak. What happened?"
Seeing his subordinate return after stirring up monstrous trouble, he wasn't angry in the slightest, his aura as steady as an old dog.
Zhang Yuanqing immediately told Fu Qingyang the secret of Takamagahara in full detail.
After listening, Fu Qingyang fell silent.
Seeing his pillar of support remain quiet for so long, Zhang Yuanqing whispered, "Boss, Fear Heavenly King definitely won't let this go. If he comes to Songhai, what do we do?"
Fu Qingyang exhaled softly, his tone remaining composed. "With Fear's strength, he could flatten the vast majority of branches, yet he has never done so. Do you know why?"
"Because that would be equivalent to triggering a decisive battle against the orthodox faction," Zhang Yuanqing said.
Fu Qingyang nodded. "It is just like nuclear weapons—ordinarily meant for deterrence, not deployment. Once used, it is world war, a fight to the death. The same goes for demigod-level combatants. Strong though Fear is, he is not invincible. We do not need to worry about him going on a massacre in Songhai, but we must guard against him targeting us specifically. This is easily handled: inform headquarters and have the Alliance Master keep an eye on Songhai."
Zhang Yuanqing hesitated. "Will the Alliance Master agree? After all, this is trouble I stirred up—unless I report the secret of Takamagahara to headquarters."
"If you report it to headquarters, chances are you won't even get a drop of the broth. Nor would the Thousand Cranes Group let the Five Elements Alliance intervene; they would report it to Heaven's Punishment immediately." Fu Qingyang shook his head.
*Then what do we do? I shouldn't have that much face,* Zhang Yuanqing thought.
Then, he heard Fu Qingyang say casually, "I will report to headquarters that Yuanshi Tianzun eliminated a Soldier Master sect stronghold in Chun City and learned from its members that Fear Heavenly King plans to gather experts to attack Songhai and rescue Demonic Eye. Trouble stirred up by Demonic Eye—what does that have to do with you?"
"!!!" Zhang Yuanqing bowed in deep reverence. "Boss, you are brilliant!"
Fu Qingyang nodded in satisfaction. He then picked up the landline, dialed downstairs, and instructed the bunny girl, "Pack up some things. We're going away to lay low for a couple of days."
With a tone that sounded as if he wouldn't flinch even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, he uttered the most cowardly words.
Hanging up the phone, Fu Qingyang said, "Let me see the key."
Zhang Yuanqing immediately unzipped his backpack, took out the bowl-sized jade plate, and presented it with both hands.
Fu Qingyang didn't take it. The instant his eyes fell on the jade plate, his pupils contracted.
Chapter 409