Gotta say, it really feels comfortable being around her... Zhang Yuanqing muttered inside.
She was like a female version of himself—handsome, powerful, and with a pleasant way of speaking.
He pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly:
"Since it's just delivering a message, I can take you there."
Although the girl seemed a bit like she was tailing him, given they didn't know each other well, her caution was understandable. At least it showed that despite Xie Lingxi's bitchy demeanor, she was someone who appreciated kindness and remembered favors.
"Thanks, Brother Yuanshi," Xie Lingxi smiled sweetly before quickly adopting a serious tone.
"I remember you were asked to find someone called Master 'Wuhen.' Before coming to Songhai, I looked him up but found no records."
Zhang Yuanqing responded with a hum: "No data on him in the Five Elements Alliance's database either. But if this 'Wuhen' master were an ordinary person, he wouldn't avoid someone like you, an official. I suspect he's an evil-class professional."
They both had the same suspicion. After logging off, they each used their channels to investigate this individual.
Xie Lingxi's eyes sparkled, pleased her theory was confirmed.
"I thought so too, but I believe this person and 'Father of Shame' belong to the same type."
"But there's still risk involved."
"Brother Yuanshi, the danger should be manageable. If it was too risky, Father of Shame wouldn't have entrusted you before dying. Since he did, he must have confidence in this."
Xie Lingxi deliberately came to Songhai aware that Master Wuhen might be an evil professional and feared he might be turned into KPI by "Brother Wang Tai." She saw this as repaying Father of Shame's life debt.
Zhang Yuanqing agreed because the Xie family heiress likely had spirit realm walkers protecting her. With her by his side, he could offset some risks.
"When will you finish your business?"
"Tomorrow, I'm visiting that Palace Lord. The day after, I'm free."
Xie Lingxi played with a small spoon, scooping a piece of dessert while savoring it, resting her cheek on her palm as she gazed at the young man.
"Brother Yuanshi, you're amazing—clearing two consecutive S-level spirit realms. I really admire you."
Knowing she realized he was a complete newbie but never mentioning his self-proclaimed experienced walker identity inside the spirit realm—that's high emotional intelligence... Zhang Yuanqing took a bite of dessert.
Thinking about her flattery and sweet talk, he felt this young girl, though young, was quite savvy.
Girls who praise and adore you like this at moments like these are the hardest to deal with because you can't easily reject them. Most men get eaten alive.
But Zhang Yuanqing was no ordinary guy. He was a social butterfly.
"Lingxi, look at tonight's beautiful moon. Since you admire me so much, why don't I stay and watch the moon with you? What's your room number?"
"Brother Yuanshi, I... I'm still a kid..." Xie Lingxi blushed.
"Funny, me too."
...Xie Lingxi sighed inside. She liked using retreat to advance to control the dominant position. Who could refuse a girl who admired you and asked for some reasonable favors?
Let the man get a little high on himself first—that way it's easier to manage.
Though she had never dated, she understood the game between men and women well. Her mother was a master at it—able to slap her husband and still make him feel like the head of the household.
Xie Lingxi absorbed seven or eight parts of her mother's skills, making her unbeatable with elders and peers.
But it didn't quite work on Brother Yuanshi.
He'd climb higher by riding on your flattery and then turn the tables on you.
Still, Xie Lingxi truly admired this boy just a few years older than her.
"Let's exchange contact info. I'll come find you the morning after tomorrow."
After exchanging numbers, Zhang Yuanqing left the hotel.
...
On the way home in a business car, Zhang Yuanqing called Li Dongze.
"Chief, I've left the hotel, heading home now."
Li Dongze clearly relaxed, then smiled teasingly:
"So, should I start calling you the Xie family's live-in son-in-law? Both Guan Ya and I can tell that young lady likes you a lot."
Zhang Yuanqing sighed:
"Compared to being Xie family's son-in-law, I'd rather be Guan family's."
Li Dongze was momentarily stunned but spoke normally:
"Then you'll need to step it up."
Li Dongze sensed Yuan's probing of Guan Ya's identity. How did Yuan know Guan Ya was no ordinary person? So far, Yuan only knew she was special but not about her relation to Captain Fu Bai.
Zhang Yuanqing laughed off the topic, then got serious:
"The day after tomorrow, I'm going out with that Xie girl. Should be back in a day."
"She specifically asked for you. Take good care of her," Li Dongze didn't object.
Zhang Yuanqing felt relieved—no objection meant the Xie family had a good reputation.
He then asked about another matter:
"Chief, after clearing the Jinshui amusement park, I got promoted to level 2 and received a nice item as a reward."
A sigh from Li Dongze:
"One level per mission, your promotion speed really makes people envious. Hmm, just envious of your leveling. Getting matched with S-level spirit realms so often makes people pity you. So?"
"I want to join the operation to capture Black Wuchang—to contribute to Team Two's achievements and to hone myself," Zhang Yuanqing quickly explained.
Li Dongze didn't oppose but hesitated:
"The combat strength of a level 2 Night Wanderer is stronger than other professions of the same level. You do qualify, but the person in charge is an Elder; I can't decide. Tomorrow, I'll report to Captain Fu Bai for you and see what he says."
"Thanks, Chief."
After hanging up, Zhang Yuanqing glanced outside and noticed the driver was taking the elevated road incorrectly. He frowned.
"What's going on?"
The driver replied:
"Taking a detour to avoid being followed."
Avoiding surveillance—hmm, my reputation is growing, and many know I'm in Kangyang District's Second Team. From now on, coming and going between work and home, I have to watch out for tails... Zhang Yuanqing stored this detail in mind.
An hour later, the driver dropped him at his community. Zhang Yuanqing took the elevator to his floor and climbed in through the window from the corridor to his bedroom.
His ear twitched as he heard intense fighting sounds inside.
Sigh... he gave a helpless sigh and decided to enter through the front door carefully. Seeing his grandmother wasn't in the living room to trap him, he felt relieved and opened his bedroom door.
Inside, Jiang Yuer sat cross-legged in front of the TV, furiously mashing the game controller.
Hearing the door open, Jiang Yuer growled:
"The boss in the game is a boy who never comes home after school, always fooling around outside. I'm gonna kill him..."
"I'll help you kill him," Zhang Yuanqing shamelessly said.
"Scram!"
Jiang Yuer twisted her slender waist without moving her upper body, kept holding the controller, and suddenly kicked fiercely with her long legs, showing impressive waist strength.
Zhang Yuanqing grabbed her cold foot and gently lifted it; she let out an "ouch" and fell back.
He sat down next to her and took another controller to restart the game.
Jiang Yuer sat up, rubbed the teardrop mole near her eye, and grumbled:
"Where have you been fooling around?"
The two sat side by side, staring at the TV, talking while gaming:
"Had dinner with a high school girl today. She heard I'm from Songhai University and really admired me, insisted on dragging me to a hotel to tutor her with writing homework, and booked a five-star hotel. Ha, like I have money to pay for a hotel room."
"So you came back?"
"No, I made her pay."
"You deserve to die..."
7:30 AM.
At the dining table, Jiang Yuer bit on fried dough sticks, listless, her brain working slowly like a pecking hen.
"Did you stay up late again? I told you no late nights on non-weekends. Does Grandma's word mean nothing?"
Grandma scolded her daughter, then the grandson came out yawning.
Grandma snorted coldly, still angry about yesterday but not wanting to clear the air in front of the family, so she went into the kitchen to bring hot porridge for her grandson.
Minutes later, Grandma saw her daughter and grandson sitting side by side, heads bent together, and exploded in anger:
"What were you two doing last night?!"
"Jiang Yuer insisted on coming to my room to play games."
"Zhang Yuanqing insisted I go to his room to play games."
They spoke simultaneously.
Then they started bickering: Zhang Yuanqing pulling his aunt's hair, Jiang Yuer scratching her nephew's face.
Grandpa and cousin were used to it, calmly eating.
...
Two days later, 8 AM.
After contacting each other by text, Zhang Yuanqing took a taxi to the Huayu Hotel's entrance. Not long after, Xie Lingxi came out from the revolving door.
She wore black sweatpants, a white T-shirt, a white women's jacket, and white running shoes.
A light sporty outfit.
Her black straight hair was tied into a ponytail, swaying as she jogged along.
Worth noting, she wore a delicate white over-ear headphone, making her look like she just went out for a run.
"Brother Yuanshi, I sent the driver to pick up the car."
"Did you meet the Palace Lord?" Zhang Yuanqing asked curiously.
Xie Lingxi shook her head slightly, disappointed:
"She didn't see me."
"Fake friends."
Zhang Yuanqing scoffed.
"Of course not," Xie Lingxi puffed out her cheeks and glared.
"It's because the coastal Xiahou family came to Songhai to cause trouble. The Palace Lord has to prepare for a strong enemy, so she didn't see me."
"Xiahou family?" Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment, recalling the clan.
Because he cleared an S-level spirit realm, his clearance allowed access to some high-security info.
In the spirit realm walkers' world, within the orderly profession factions, the most influential are the Five Elements Alliance and Taiyi Sect, followed by five great families:
For scholars: Zhao, Liu, and Xiahou families.
For musicians: Xia and Zhu families.
The family of the Palace Lord of the Kill-Stopping Palace isn't listed, probably because it was removed many years ago.
"The heir of the Xiahou family was crippled by the Palace Lord last month and now came seeking revenge," Xie Lingxi said anxiously.
"The Xiahou family has many masters and a vast network, while the Kill-Stopping Palace is just a local Songhai organization. If they really fight, the Five Elements Alliance will definitely side with Xiahou."
The Kill-Stopping Palace's strength still pales compared to Xiahou family. Looks like they have trouble... Zhang Yuanqing saw a luxury business car arriving and said:
"That's not something we need to worry about. The car's here."
...
Their destination was Jinshan City.
To the north of Songhai, not far. By high-speed train, just 25 minutes; by car, about an hour.
They arrived at 9:30 at a small motel in the suburbs, with a sign reading: Wuhen Motel.
The business car stopped. Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi got out and entered the motel lobby.
"What kind of room do you need?" asked a glamorous woman around 30-35 years old at the front desk, smiling professionally. Her round, seductive eyes and impressive chest gave her a certain charm.
"We're not staying. We're here to see someone," Zhang Yuanqing said, lowering his voice. "Looking for Master Wuhen."
The glamorous receptionist kept smiling but her round, alluring eyes narrowed sharply, suddenly looking like a knife.
"We don't have anyone named Wuhen here," she said deliberately, word by word.
The air around seemed to freeze. Both Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi felt immense pressure, like being stared down by a starving wolf.
Could a receptionist really wield such pressure beyond the transcendent stage?
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yuanqing said:
"Father of Shame asked me to deliver a message to Master Wuhen."