"Brother Wang Tai? Him?"
Li Dongze almost instinctively wanted to remind the eldest Miss Xie, the one tugging on the sleeve wasn't Wang Tai — the real Wang Tai was right there. How could she mistake someone like that?
Too awkward... But then Li Dongze's expression froze. He realized he was the one who hadn't figured things out properly.
The eldest Miss Xie was definitely coming for Yuanshi. She hadn't even glanced at the others from the second team. Her target was clear—no chance she'd mistake someone else.
So then, why say she wanted to meet Wang Tai?
Guan Ya's teasing smile instantly stiffened. She glanced at Yuanshi, then at Xie Lingxi. The charming, delicate face lost all expression.
Only Wang Tai quietly exhaled in relief.
"What are you doing in Songhai? Still want our Wang Tai to receive you?"
Standing 1.8 meters tall, Zhang Yuanqing looked down on the "little green tea" girl, his legs seemingly long but actually quite short.
"I told you, I came looking for you\~"
Xie Lingxi bounced on the spot happily.
No wonder she was a girl—light and nimble, unlike Guan Ya, who would lose balance when jumping.
"What's there to look for? I told you, we're not in contact anymore." Zhang Yuanqing's eyes showed some displeasure.
Xie Lingxi pouted, on the verge of tears, aggrieved:
"How can you be like this? Last time you were so caring and protective, even took my precious things... now you're acting like you don't know me."
Li Dongze, Guan Ya, and Wang Tai exchanged suspicious glances toward Zhang Yuanqing.
If it were Wang Tai facing such a green tea girl, his brain would probably crash on the spot. Anyone normal would feel awkward, stiff, and restrained.
But Zhang Yuanqing was different. He paused, then suddenly laughed loudly, wrapping his arm around Xie Lingxi's waist.
"Captain, she's here willingly, don't pin this on me."
Xie Lingxi froze, feeling the hot, strong hand on her waist. A tingling chill ran through her, her face instantly flushing red as she bounced away like a frightened rabbit.
"You—you..." she was at a loss for words, eyes watery, glaring at Zhang Yuanqing.
Seeing this, the scouts Li Dongze and Guan Ya exchanged meaningful looks.
Having diffused Xie Lingxi's act, Zhang Yuanqing explained:
"We met last night playing games together."
Li Dongze suddenly understood, recalling Zhang Yuanqing's impersonation of Wang Tai. If the eldest Miss Xie also entered Jinshui Amusement Park that night as a Spirit Realm Traveler, this would explain everything.
She wasn't actually looking for Wang Tai.
At this moment, the real Wang Tai glanced at the captain and said:
"Since you're not looking for me, can I leave now? Captain, I still have research to do."
Xie Lingxi finally noticed him, confused by this plain-looking man who showed no disappointment, no resentment, no bitterness.
Instead, there was even a hint of relief and happiness?
Her eyes flickered as she softened her tone, acting fragile and meek:
"You really are the real Brother Wang Tai, nice to meet you. Please don't be angry, I was tricked by Brother Yuanshi into mistaking you for him."
Wang Tai responded seriously, "I'm not angry. I'm actually a little happy."
Xie Lingxi: "???"
Li Dongze cleared his throat, "Alright, let the driver send you back first."
Wang Tai didn't like socializing; forcing him to stay made no sense.
After Wang Tai left, Xie Lingxi led the three inside and instructed the waiter to prepare dishes.
At the table, she kept calling everyone "sister" and "brother," her pure, sweet looks and soft voice made Li Dongze and Guan Ya strongly favor her.
"Brother Yuanshi, you belong to the White Tiger Soldiers, right? What about other groups?"
"White Tiger Soldiers. I like the White Tiger."
"Hmm, I heard from the ancestors that White Tiger Soldiers have the strictest discipline. Although their rules can seem rigid and inflexible, they're the most reliable in the Five Elements Alliance."
"You're just flattering us."
"Not at all! Brother Yuanshi, you always assume the worst about people," Xie Lingxi scolded him playfully, then continued chatting:
"Apart from White Tiger Soldiers, the purest is the Red Fire Gang. But the ancestors don't like them; they think they're too crude and fiery. Brother Yuanshi, do you know what emblem the Red Fire Gang had before the Five Elements Alliance was formed?"
"No."
"It was a bull-headed man."
"What?"
"The Red Fire Gang claims to be descendants of the Flame Emperor—Shennong—with a bull's head and human body. I heard before the Alliance was established, members of the four major groups often teased the Red Fire Gang with this. The best way to rile up a Fire Master was to shout in front of him: 'Bull-headed men must die!'"
Li Dongze coughed violently, looking at Zhang Yuanqing seriously:
"Miss Xie is joking. Let's not bring up outdated superstitions. Don't say such things lightly."
"What happens if I do?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
"You'll get beaten to death."
Then what if I say "Pure Love Warriors Show Up Uninvited"... Zhang Yuanqing took a bite of tender stir-fried beef, then seized the chance to ask a question he'd been wondering about for a while:
"I remember role cards were assigned randomly. Why do Spirit Realm Traveler families exist?"
Xie Lingxi sipped fresh coconut juice, tilted her head, and coquettishly explained:
"Brother Yuanshi, have you heard of 'professional habits'? Different professions have different traits. For example, Fire Masters are usually irritable, impulsive, and reckless."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
Xie Lingxi smiled brightly:
"Role cards are selective. People with explosive temperaments are more likely to get Fire Master cards; gloomy personalities are more likely to get Water Ghosts; and criminals often get evil roles.
"Also, professions influence personality—fiery people get more fiery, gloomy ones get gloomier. If two Fire Masters have a child, what are the odds of that kid being hot-tempered? Over time, this leads to the formation of clans.
"But even then, not everyone in a Spirit Realm Traveler family gets a role card."
Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood, wondering: then why was I assigned the Night Roamer card?
What traits define the Night Roamer profession—strange and noble?
The dinner ended quickly; the four ate well and chatted happily.
Li Dongze took the opportunity to say goodbye, but Xie Lingxi linked arms with Zhang Yuanqing, cooing:
"Captain Li, can I borrow him for a bit? I'll have someone send him back later."
Seeing Li Dongze hesitate, she clasped her hands and begged earnestly.
Who could refuse such a girl? Li Dongze nodded slightly:
"No trouble, Miss Xie. I'll have the driver wait downstairs at the hotel. Yuanshi, call me when you're done."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded, watching Guan Ya and Li Dongze leave.
Once the two disappeared through the revolving door, Xie Lingxi wrinkled her nose, snorting:
"Big boobs, round butt—obviously a seductress who specializes in tempting men!"
...
Inside the elevator, Guan Ya sneered:
"So young, yet so scheming. Are all the girls these days this thick with 'tea'?"
In front of scouts, any disguise was futile.
Li Dongze leaned on his cane, stroking his little mustache:
"She's a bit hostile toward you, but seems to have a good impression of Yuanshi. Also, she seems to have a favor to ask of Yuanshi and deliberately sidetracked us."
That girl kept praising Guan Ya's looks and figure at the table, looking up to her:
"Sister Guan Ya is so beautiful, she must have dated a lot of guys."
Guan Ya rolled her eyes:
"She can't beat Yuanshi. If we talk about schemes, Yuanshi is far deeper than her."
Guan Ya had been in Zhang Yuanqing's room, checked his computer—beneath the carefree and optimistic surface lay a lonely heart.
But as a scout, unless she examined private info, there was no way to see that from outside.
Xie Lingxi, however, she immediately saw the true nature.
There was a clear difference in levels.
...
"You called me Sister Guan Ya just now, very close and obedient."
Zhang Yuanqing dropped the act, frowning:
"What are you doing in Songhai? Not here just to see me, right?"
Xie Lingxi stuck out her tongue playfully:
"I'm here to visit an old family friend for my clan. Brother Yuanshi, have you heard of the Kill-Stopping Palace?"
The Kill-Stopping Palace? The crazy Kill-Stopping Palace? Zhang Yuanqing hummed:
"Of course I know."
"Well, the palace master's family is old friends with the Xie family. After a tragedy, the family declined, and the two lost contact."
Xie Lingxi sighed:
"Recently, the Kill-Stopping Palace master rose strongly, becoming a high-level Spirit Realm Traveler, and reconnected with the Xie family."
If memory served, the Kill-Stopping Palace had high-level musical instruments and many musicians in its ranks, and the Xie family was also a family of musicians. Zhang Yuanqing understood.
Xie Lingxi grinned:
"I came to Songhai for one more thing, but I need Brother Yuanshi's consent first."
"What is it?"
"You remember the dying request from 'Ashamed to be a Father,' right?" Xie Lingxi timidly asked:
"Can I come along too?"
"What's the reason?"
"I don't want to owe favors. He didn't tell me because he suspected my official background, but in reality, you're the official."
Xie Lingxi pursed her lips.
"So you want to keep an eye on me." Zhang Yuanqing glanced sideways at her.
"You actually knew I was Yuanshi Tianzun all along. Making a big show about meeting the second team and asking me to receive you was to give me a reason I couldn't refuse."
Ashamed to be a Father clearly feared the officials. He didn't want anyone from official organizations involved, but he didn't know Yuanshi Tianzun was with the Five Elements Alliance.
Could be inviting a wolf into the house.
... Xie Lingxi's thoughts were exposed. She looked admiring:
"Brother Yuanshi, you're amazing."