"Boss, what's wrong? Is there an issue with the key?"
Even without being a Scout, Zhang Yuanqing could tell something was off from Fu Qingyang's expression.
Before Zhang Yuanqing could finish asking, Fu Qingyang had already reined in his surprise and shock. His demeanor returned to calm, but his gaze remained fixed on the jade plate as he said, "I've seen it in the literature at Qinfeng Academy. There was a hand-drawn illustration of this very object. It was during the intern introductory course—the history of the academy, if I remember correctly.
"That document was compiled by instructors researching Spirit Realm history, pieced together from materials at Qinfeng Academy and several Qin Dynasty instances. It recorded many suspected Dharma artifacts used and collected by the First Emperor."
Zhang Yuanqing probed, "It was originally given to Xu Fu by the First Emperor in the first place, wasn't it? So isn't it only natural that you'd see it in those records?"
Fu Qingyang nodded. "That part isn't surprising. But I've seen it somewhere else as well."
*Can't you just finish your thoughts in one breath?!* Zhang Yuanqing grumbled inwardly.
Fu Qingyang glanced at him. "Back when Lingjun and I finished our internships, we entered Qinfeng Academy together. He was captivated by the Jiaoren Queen's beauty and ended up cornered and besieged at the bottom of the lake by the Jiaoren clan. I was actually there that time too. Naturally, I went to rescue him. When the academy instructors engaged in a fierce battle with the Jiaoren Queen, the shockwaves cracked open a cliff face on the lakebed. I saw the rock crumble away to reveal two stone doors. In the seam between them was a circular hole—identical in size and pattern to this Takamagahara key."
He rarely spoke at such length, but whatever could make the Money Prince talk this much was bound to be a major affair.
"Afterward, I consulted the archives in Qinfeng Academy, but found no information regarding that stone door," Fu Qingyang said slowly. "It was only by sheer coincidence that I learned from that piece of trash that Qinfeng Academy harbored a hidden dungeon.
"Yet for some reason, Baihui has never completed that hidden quest."
*The Grand Marshal really treats you well, telling you everything...* Zhang Yuanqing almost failed to realize who the "piece of trash" referred to. Digesting the information, he felt both stunned and bewildered.
"So is this the key to Takamagahara, or the key to that stone door in Qinfeng Academy?
"Or is there a deeper connection between Qinfeng Academy and Takamagahara?"
"I cannot give you that answer. You'll have to explore it yourself." Fu Qingyang looked at the jade plate. "This might very well be why Baihui has never resolved that hidden quest."
Because they lacked the quest item.
"Then we definitely can't return this key to the Thousand Cranes Group," the noble and virtuous Yuanshi Tianzun declared.
Doing so would undoubtedly escalate the conflict, driving the Thousand Cranes Group to throw caution to the wind and leak the matter to Heaven's Punishment. From there, it would devolve into endless bureaucratic wrangling between Heaven's Punishment and the Five Elements Alliance, leaving the righteous Yuanshi Tianzun out in the cold.
Fu Qingyang pondered for a few seconds before offering his counsel:
"First, head to Takamagahara and see what's hidden inside. There are still two days before this session of Qinfeng Academy's training course commences. That should be plenty of time.
"Once you secure the treasures inside Takamagahara, borrow the key from the Thousand Cranes Group. If they refuse, concede some minor benefits, and then 'blackmail' them using the threat of Fear Heavenly King."
Once the treasures of Takamagahara were obtained, the key would hold little value to them, making the chances of borrowing it extremely high. Zhang Yuanqing marveled in disbelief, "Boss, you truly live up to your reputation. No problem can ever stump you. Everyone says I possess extraordinary wisdom and excel at clearing S-rank dungeons, but little do they know my intellect doesn't even amount to half of the Money Prince's! Alas~"
He sighed with theatrical admiration.
His words were half-truth, half-flattery. Given enough time, he could have devised a solution too, but he certainly couldn't match Fu Qingyang's ability to hatch a cunning scheme in the blink of an eye.
The Money Prince truly possessed an innate talent for political maneuvering and calculating human psychology.
Fu Qingyang's expression remained stern, but Zhang Yuanqing, knowing him well, could tell the young master was rather pleased.
Everyone enjoyed flattery because it fell pleasant on the ears, particularly when it came from the exceptionally gifted Yuanshi Tianzun.
With business settled, Zhang Yuanqing recalled another matter. "Boss, did you and Lingjun go on a mission today?"
Hearing this, Fu Qingyang let out a quiet breath. "Three Night Walkers in Soup-Brewing Province were murdered. Preliminary assessments point to Sect Master Chunyang."
*This...* Zhang Yuanqing's pupils constricted in a knee-jerk reaction, his expression changing slightly. "In theory, the Taiyi Sect notified the Night Walkers stationed across the various branches who weren't recalled to the sect. How could they still be so careless?"
Fu Qingyang shook his head. "It wasn't carelessness. They were killed in their own homes."
That made even less sense. A Spirit Realm walker's residence was always kept strictly confidential—far more discreet than their office locations—and Night Walkers had abundant anti-reconnaissance methods. Zhang Yuanqing instinctively sensed something was amiss.
Fu Qingyang continued, "The Taiyi Sect's Grand Elder has already convened a meeting and will dispatch a special operations unit to capture Sect Master Chunyang. Elder Gao Feng of the Hang City branch will assist in the investigation. This matter no longer falls under our Songhai Branch's jurisdiction."
Having the Taiyi Sect take charge was certainly better than leaving it to Earth Monsters. Hopefully, they could put an end to Sect Master Chunyang once and for all; otherwise, the thought of that lunatic growing stronger was enough to make anyone shudder.
Having suffered at his hands before, Zhang Yuanqing harbored deep wariness toward him.
Just then, Fu Qingyang recalled something and asked, "When did you kill Edo Swordsman?"
"Around seven or so, I think," Zhang Yuanqing replied.
Then, he watched as Fu Qingyang unplugged his laptop, picked up the thirteen-inch device, rose to his feet, and strode toward the door with an imposing gait, saying in a deep voice, "Let's move!"
"Where to?" Zhang Yuanqing blurted out in confusion.
"It's currently two-thirty in the morning. Six hours have passed since you seized the key. If Fear Heavenly King has already received the intelligence, he could arrive at any moment." Fu Qingyang said coldly, "If we don't leave, are we staying here to wait for death?"
*Uh, anyone who didn't know better would think you were heading out to assassinate Fear Heavenly King...* Zhang Yuanqing hurried after his boss's back. "Wait for me, I'm coming!"
The two exited the villa. Fu Qingyang climbed into his luxury vehicle and sped away.
Zhang Yuanqing returned inside briefly to grab the keys to Guan Ya's sports car, then floored the accelerator, rocketing toward the community gates amidst the engine's roar.
Inside the commercial vehicle, Fu Qingyang sat with his back ramrod straight. The built-in folding tray table unfolded before him. He booted up his laptop, opened a document, and his slender fingers danced across the keys like flying shuttles.
Based on Yuanshi's earlier description, he fabricated a cover story on the fly, claiming that a patrol team had unexpectedly tracked Blood Drinking Mad Blade in Songhai and utilized specialized techniques to pursue him.
Following him all the way to Chun City, team leader Guan Ya grew overly ambitious in pursuit of merit, bypassed the Chun City branch, and led the team in an assault on Blood Drinking Mad Blade's stronghold.
Though they ultimately failed, the patrol team inadvertently uncovered a piece of intelligence: Blood Drinking Mad Blade had infiltrated Songhai to gather information on Demonic Eye.
Craving boundless freedom, Fear Heavenly King intended to rescue Heavenly King Demonic Eye and had specially dispatched subordinates to gather intel in Songhai.
Having finished the report, Fu Qingyang transmitted it to headquarters.
Falsifying intelligence of this nature would normally incur severe disciplinary action if uncovered by headquarters, but the Money Prince was unconcerned.
First, Fear Heavenly King's arrival in Songhai was an indisputable certainty. Second, Fear would never voluntarily reveal information regarding Takamagahara to any Alliance Master who intercepted him.
He would test the waters with verbal probes first, and upon realizing the Alliance Master knew nothing, he would naturally play along with the misunderstanding.
However, doing so would likely make Fear realize that Yuanshi Tianzun had kept the official brass in the dark, and he might set his sights on Yuanshi down the line.
It was a double-edged sword.
As for whether the Alliance Masters would see through it, Fu Qingyang hardly cared. If whichever Alliance Master came to intercept Fear questioned it, the worst outcome was simply coming clean with the truth.
If they didn't ask, the matter would blow over.
Beyond that, Fu Qingyang harbored a sliver of personal ambition: he was testing the waters by treating the Alliance Masters as chess pieces, feeling out their bottom lines and discovering just how far he could manipulate them.
This was something he had wished to attempt as a Saint, but had never possessed the standing to carry out.
***
Compared to Fu Qingyang's intense intellectual maneuvering, things on Yuanshi Tianzun's end were far more sensuous.
A porcelain-white, graceful form lay quietly flat on the bed. Her dark-red irises hidden behind closed eyes, Commandery Princess Yinyao lay motionless. Without breath or heartbeat, she resembled a genuine yin corpse.
Zhang Yuanqing examined the princess's figure. Her skin bore a porcelain pallor bereft of blood, making her look like an exquisite porcelain doll.
Her neck was slender, her shoulders gently rounded, and her collarbones alluring. The softness upon her chest curved like inverted bowls—not overly large, but exceptionally shapely and proud.
Her taut abdomen bore a subtle white line leading down to her navel, exuding an aura both sensual and mesmerizing. Further down, the corner of the quilt shielded the scenery from view.
"I want to gouge out your eyes and feed them to the dogs," Commandery Princess Yinyao, eyes still closed, held up her little trumpet.
"Don't be upset, Princess. This is an indispensable procedure, and this Heavenly Master is quite experienced." Zhang Yuanqing felt like a blacksmith laying eyes upon a supreme piece of raw iron, thoroughly exhilarated.
He opened the faction warehouse and submitted an application to Fu Qingyang to use a prop.
[Ding! Your application has been approved! Please check the item in your inventory.]
He immediately opened his inventory and retrieved an ancient, weathered badge.
The front of the badge was engraved with a knight's longsword and a hammer of judgment, while the back bore simple geometric patterns.
This item had been acquired abroad by Fu Qingyang to help Lingjun flirt with Annie. Unfortunately, fate was capricious; Annie had shown no interest in the playboy prince, yet had fallen head over heels for the prince's student instead.
Gripping the badge, Zhang Yuanqing spoke in a low, solemn voice:
"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, swear an oath: I shall not force Commandery Princess Yinyao to share my bed; without Commandery Princess Yinyao's permission, I shall never proactively seize control of her body; I shall treat Commandery Princess Yinyao as an equal and never regard her as a servant."
As his words fell, the badge radiated a lucid glow. Somewhere in the unseen depths, the oath was witnessed by a mysterious force, and the covenant was sealed.
Commandery Princess Yinyao sighed softly. She sensed that this Dharma artifact was of Saint quality, meaning its restrictions applied only up to the Saint stage. Should Yuanshi Tianzun advance to Dominator one day, the covenant's power would no longer bind him.
Of course, if that day ever arrived, she would simply leave her fate to the heavens.
Stowing the badge away, Zhang Yuanqing held a bowl in one hand and a brush in the other, beginning to trace spirit runes across Commandery Princess Yinyao's curvaceous body.
*From now on, I'm a Star Official who possesses two high-grade yin corpses. Once I enter Qinfeng Academy, I'll have plenty of bragging rights in front of Zhao Chenghuang and Sun Miaomiao...* he thought in high spirits.
***
The following day, Commandery Princess Yinyao, carrying a backpack and sporting sunglasses, touched down at Edo Airport aboard a Gulfstream jet.
Her traveling companion, Asano Ryo, bounded down the airstairs in excitement, throwing her arms open wide and exclaiming cheerfully in a crisp voice, "*Tadaima~*"
Zhang Yuanqing, currently in control of Commandery Princess Yinyao's consciousness, walked down the stairs at an unhurried pace, his black combat boots striking the steps with heavy thuds.
He wore practical camouflage trousers, a black tank top, and a cropped black jacket, paired with dark sunglasses—looking every bit like a top-tier cool beauty heading off to summer camp.
"There are many Heaven's Punishment agents lurking in Edo, so the leader and vice leaders cannot come in person to receive you, Yuanshi-kun." Asano Ryo bowed in apology, exposing the crown of her head for Yuanshi-kun to see.
"Doesn't matter. Where are we going now?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
"The leader originally planned to host you in Ginza, where the Thousand Cranes Group headquarters is located and the most prosperous district in Edo. But considering the need for discretion, he changed his mind and is already waiting ahead of time in Shizuoka," Asano Ryo explained.
*You could've just said he's waiting in Shizuoka Prefecture. Don't air your leader's dirty laundry, or he might force you to commit seppuku later...* Zhang Yuanqing said in a grave voice, "Foolish girl. The proper response is: 'You just need to follow me; the leader has already prepared a banquet at our destination.'
"Telling me outright that Takamagahara is in Shizuoka Prefecture—if I were a villain, I could kill you right now and head there alone."
Hearing this, Asano Ryo realized he was right, feeling both embarrassed and contrite. "It... it seems so... Yuanshi-kun, thank you for the reminder. You truly are a warrior of noble virtue."
Her face was brimming with gratitude; Yuanshi-kun was such a gentle soul.
Zhang Yuanqing nodded solemnly. "Not everyone in this world possesses noble virtue like me. Ryo-chan, you still have much to learn."
"Yes!"
Shizuoka Prefecture lay southwest of Edo, not far away—a distance of eighty-some kilometers.
During their drive in a commercial vehicle, Asano Ryo chattered incessantly, introducing the local customs and historical background of Shizuoka. Only then did Zhang Yuanqing learn that the renowned Atami was located in Shizuoka.
The region's greatest attraction was its hot springs, earning it the reputation of a hot spring peninsula, largely because the island nation's "Sacred Mountain" and national symbol, Mount Fuji, stood right here.
*A pity my true body didn't come along, otherwise I'd love to experience an authentic Japanese hot spring. I've watched no fewer than twenty educational films themed around hot springs, after all...* Flooded with memories, Zhang Yuanqing felt his DNA stirring.
Setting facts aside, he held a profound fascination for certain elements of this island nation. Looking back, on countless late nights, guided by scantily clad Japanese teachers, his hands had quietly composed hymns to his youth.
Along with a lingering guilt and sorrow for his lost children.
Asano Ryo suddenly noticed that Yuanshi-kun's expression had grown extraordinarily weathered and reflective...
An hour later, the two arrived at their destination.
The commercial vehicle pulled up before an antique, traditionally styled hot spring inn. Above the soaring roof ridge, the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji was faintly visible.
*Mount Fuji?* Gazing out the car window at the distant summit, Zhang Yuanqing thought, *Could Takamagahara be on Mount Fuji?*
Kobe Ichiro certainly hadn't chosen this meeting spot just to treat him to a hot spring bath.
If this were an ordinary business negotiation, Zhang Yuanqing would naturally assume the Thousand Cranes Group was trying to tempt him with beauties and hot springs.
Under current circumstances, however, that was clearly not the case. Everyone was pressed for time and racing against the clock; Zhang Yuanqing strongly suspected Takamagahara was situated on Mount Fuji.
Outside the inn's entrance stood two men in black formal suits, staring warily at the approaching vehicle.
The electric sliding door opened, and Asano Ryo stepped out.
"Captain Asano!"
The two men in black bowed in unison, though their gazes remained guarded as they eyed Yuanshi Tianzun.
Asano Ryo returned the bow, her tone unintentionally taking on an authoritative edge as she said with utter solemnity, "Please inform the leader that Yuanshi-kun has arrived."
Chapter 410