The Target

Lei Yun worked swiftly. In less than two hours, batch after batch of audio files had been delivered. The prominent figures standing at the pinnacle of Tiannan Province frequently attended various public events. While ordinary people had no way to search for recordings of such functions, uncovering them was effortless for the professionals of the Su family's External Affairs Hall. These audio files covered the three titans of Tiannan Province and over a dozen high-ranking deputies. Key departments further down the ladder were also within the scope of Lei Yun and her team's search. However, because there were so many department heads, compiling their audio would take considerably longer. For now, Yaoguang had to begin his search from the top down. Governor-General, Chief Prosecutor, Speaker of the Assembly, Deputy Governors-General, Provost Marshal... After only a short while, Yaoguang paused. He scrutinized the file Lei Yun had sent over. "Deputy Governor-General Zhao Sheng." He quickly clicked open a video. The image of an elderly man in his sixties, yet still brimming with vigor, appeared before him. Among the three Deputy Governors-General, Zhao Sheng oversaw the General Administration of Culture and Tourism, the General Administration of Transportation, and the General Administration of Publicity. Although the most coveted posts—the General Administration of Security and the General Administration of Finance—did not fall under his jurisdiction, holding the reins of culture, transport, and publicity gave him considerable weight in Tiannan Province. Crucially, the Zhao family backing him was also one of Tiannan's top aristocratic clans. To thoroughly suppress the local aristocratic families led by the Yue family, Governor-General Wei Kongming had heavily favored rival factions over the years, and the Zhao family had been the greatest beneficiary. "Culture and tourism, transportation, publicity." Yaoguang noted the scope of this Deputy Governor-General's authority... Every base was covered. He listened to more audio and video recordings of Zhao Sheng, verifying each against the voice in his memory, and felt nearly certain of his identity. Yet to be safe, he still listened through the remaining files one by one. Among them, he caught another similar voice. The Director of the General Administration of Innovative Technology. Having noted the two voices that best matched his target, Yaoguang summoned Lei Yun directly. "I need their detailed itineraries," Yaoguang said. "No need to meet them—I only need to set eyes on them." Lei Yun looked at the two names. Though she had no idea what he intended to do, she promptly passed down the order. She was not the only person from the External Affairs Hall assigned to work under Yaoguang; several specialized specifically in information retrieval. Before long, she returned with an answer. "Deputy Governor-General Zhao traveled to Haoyue Plantation in the neighboring province today for an inspection tour. However, Director Zhou is attending the Robotics Innovation Competition at Tiannan University tomorrow." "Haoyue Plantation? How long will he be gone?" Yaoguang asked. "He returns on the second." "That's the day after tomorrow," Yaoguang remarked. Two days was a wait he could afford. "Make arrangements for Tiannan University. I'll go have a look." "Understood," Lei Yun replied respectfully. Ever since learning that Yaoguang had achieved the Grandmaster realm at merely nineteen, she obeyed his every order unconditionally. Lei Yun withdrew. Yaoguang wasted no time either. After tempering his body for an hour, he returned to the bedroom. There, he visualized the Great Sun Spirit-Suppressing Diagram to nourish his spirit, only resting once his mental reserves were heavily depleted. Whether tempering his physique or practicing visualization, he never dared push himself to absolute exhaustion. Otherwise, should danger strike, lacking the capacity to respond would leave him in an exceptionally perilous spot. Even now, having joined the Su family and residing in Villa No. 49 with its solid security and Lei Yun's team stationed outside, he took no chances. To a Grandmaster like him, security of this caliber was practically nonexistent. Judging others by himself, if he could bypass such defenses with ease, his enemies could surely do the same. *** The following morning, Yaoguang awoke early, his mind clear and vitality replenished. A woman in her early thirties had already prepared breakfast and was waiting for him to eat. She was a housekeeper arranged by the Su family. After breakfast, Leng Jun arrived outside Villa No. 49 accompanied by several people. "Come in and sit," Yaoguang called out. "Have you eaten?" "We have." Leng Jun led the group inside and introduced them. "These are the elite of the elite from our External Affairs Hall." Yaoguang nodded. Aside from Lei Yun, there were four others, all possessing solid foundations in martial arts. One man in his thirties was burly with robust sinews and bones—evidently a Martial Master who had accomplished the Tendon-Transforming and Bone-Forging stage. "Any major domestic clan capable of maintaining a Grandmaster usually emulates the aristocratic families' Martial Saints by assembling a dedicated logistics team. Our Su family is no different," Leng Jun explained. "Such a logistics team covers several core areas: intelligence gathering, electronic support, equipment maintenance, firepower coordination, and medical logistics." Leng Jun pointed to Lei Yun. "You've already met Lei Yun, who handles intelligence gathering. This is Bai Ya, electronic support." A refined man with fair skin and spectacles stepped forward. "Young Master Yaoguang." "Su Yizhou, equipment maintenance." Standing under one meter seventy and somewhat slightly built, Su Yizhou bowed courteously to Yaoguang. "Pang Long, firepower support." This was the burly man standing over one meter ninety, the accomplished Martial Master among them. "Before Young Master Yaoguang, I wouldn't dare boast of firepower support; I can only offer auxiliary backup." Having learned of Yaoguang's true strength from Lei Yun, Pang Long spoke with genuine humility. Any martial artist held the utmost reverence for someone who had refined their internal organs to attain the rank of Grandmaster. "Pang Long is not only proficient in the Martial Path, but also well versed in many modern military weapons," Leng Jun remarked helpfully. "If Young Master Yaoguang wishes, you can work with Pang Long later on to get accustomed to countering modern weaponry." Yaoguang nodded. Countering modern weapons was indeed an essential discipline for any Grandmaster, and even for Martial Saints. After all, powerful as Martial Saints were, none could withstand modern heavy arms head-on. "And finally, Aili, medical logistics." Leng Jun indicated a woman whose presence felt as refreshing as a spring breeze. "Greetings, Young Master Yaoguang," the woman said with a warm smile. "Should you have any requirements regarding medical care or nutrition in the future, please do not hesitate to ask." She was not breathtakingly gorgeous, and appeared to be around thirty years old, yet her attire, posture, and every gesture conveyed an easy comfort that naturally inspired trust. A thought struck Yaoguang. "You've studied kinesics, psychological suggestion, and hypnotism?" Aili blinked in mild surprise, then smiled. "Young Master Yaoguang has a discerning eye. In addition to those, visual psychology, linguistics, and sociology are also within my areas of study." Yaoguang nodded. Hypnosis and manipulation in the fifth-rank Spirit Intent realm were far from crude applications of brute spirit intent; body language and emotional manipulation were integral parts of the craft. For instance, to strike awe through spirit intent, it was best paired with exaggerated physical movements, expansive, sweeping combat techniques, and thunderous, commanding shouts. A drastic transition from absolute stillness to explosive action yielded the greatest impact. If one could also pile psychological pressure onto the opponent beforehand through words, the effect grew exponentially. In other words, a contest between two Spirit Intent martial artists often began the moment they learned of each other's identity. One's prestige, battle record, and renown all bolstered their spirit intent, establishing an advantage long before blows were exchanged. "We should compare notes when time permits," Yaoguang said. "It would be my pleasure," Aili smiled. "Get acquainted for now," Leng Jun told the team. "When the unit expands in the future, each of you will oversee your respective department." Pausing, he added, "Of course, if your competence falls short and you fail to meet Young Master Yaoguang's expectations, being phased out later will be on your own heads." The team nodded with grave expressions. A nineteen-year-old Grandmaster! Someone with immense potential to reach the Martial Saint realm! Serving on the logistics team of a future Martial Saint was the lifelong aspiration of people in their line of work. To make that dream reality, they would have to commit one hundred and twenty percent of their efforts to earn Young Master Yaoguang's approval. "Young Master Yaoguang, let's create a group chat first for convenient communication," Lei Yun suggested. "A group chat..." Yaoguang's expression grew faintly bemused. Every line of work truly kept with the times. Even so, he scanned the QR code and joined the six-person chat group Lei Yun had set up. Leng Jun was the sixth member. While Yaoguang could approach Su Chiming directly whenever necessary, Lei Yun and the others could not; as Hall Master of the External Affairs Hall, requisitions for materials and funds had to pass through Leng Jun's hands. "This is my dietary regimen for the coming period. I'll be troubling you with it." Yaoguang forwarded the medicinal formula he used for body tempering to Aili. At the end, struck by a thought, he glanced over Pang Long and Leng Jun, appraised them for a moment, and made a few quick adjustments to the formula. "You two can try this simplified version. It should yield good results." Leng Jun and Pang Long's eyes lit up. This was direct guidance from a Grandmaster! Pang Long stepped forward eagerly. "Captain, would you like to examine my build more closely?" "Every person's constitution differs," Yaoguang said with a faint smile. "I can gauge the progress of your body tempering, but inherent constitution is difficult to evaluate in exact detail. Use this prescription for now, and I will adjust it as appropriate according to your cultivation progress." "Thank you, Captain!" Pang Long beamed. For the next hour or so, Yaoguang conversed with Bai Ya, Su Yizhou, Pang Long, and the others about daily procedures. During that time, Bai Ya also took his phone and modified it. Over an hour later, Bai Ya and the rest remained at the villa while Yaoguang and Lei Yun set off once more, heading toward Tiannan University. However, not long after they departed, Lei Yun picked up on something and spoke up: "Someone is tailing us." Relying on his sharp eyesight, Yaoguang quickly recognized the pursuer. Zhang Rufeng. "Lose him," Yaoguang said. Zhang Ya had called multiple times the previous evening. But remembering her temperament, he had no interest in entangling himself with the Zhang family. "Understood. Hold on tight," Lei Yun said, shifting gears in rapid succession. "I'm accelerating." With that, she floored the accelerator, and the vehicle surged ahead. Drawing on seasoned driving skills and reflexes far surpassing ordinary people, she threaded the high-performance luxury car through traffic. Before long, Zhang Rufeng was nowhere to be seen. Ten minutes later, the screech of tires resounded as the car slowed, pulling smoothly into the grounds of Tiannan University.