"This is outrageous! The Tai Cang Sect, as one of the seven great Xuanmen sects, how can they be so shamelessly brazen?"
"Who would have thought? The Director negotiated so well earlier, but after we sent the person over, they actually went back on their word! They even demanded some evidence from us – evidence, my foot!"
"What's the use of cursing? The one suppressing us is a Seventh-tier Guardian Elder, and we... we can't defeat him!"
Amidst a torrent of curses, someone unknowingly spoke the core issue. After this remark, the entire room fell silent.
The words were unpleasant and grating, but it was the undeniable truth of the situation. In the past, the Xuanmen had indeed exerted pressure through their might, but never to such an excessive degree as today.
Those with well-connected sources heard that the Tai Cang Sect Elder's intervention was actually due to a personal grievance with the Director.
Originally, this Elder had also been stuck at the Sixth-tier, and his status within the sect wasn't particularly high, so the Director could still exert influence over him.
But who would have thought this Elder would have a stroke of luck, actually breaking through and stepping into the Seventh-tier? After that, his status soared.
This incident with the rogue cultivator was merely a fuse. Even if it hadn't happened, given the Elder's vindictive nature, he would surely have sought retribution once he wielded significant power.
So, whether it was a blessing or a curse, there was no escaping this time.
The Director hadn't emerged from his office for the past two days. Passing by, they could feel the bone-chilling low pressure emanating from within.
"How about we go ask the Master for help?" someone couldn't help but suggest.
The Seventh-tier, like a towering mountain, truly pressed down on them, leaving no room to struggle. In their minds, the only person they knew who could contend with a Seventh-tier cultivator was the Master.
But this was clearly inappropriate!
After all, strictly speaking, this was the Director's private matter. To involve the Master even in this—if it left a bad impression, the loss would far outweigh any gain.
Just as the discussion yielded no results and the department members in the room fell silent, a figure rushed in frantically.
"The... the... Master is here!" She couldn't even catch her breath, shouting with a hoarse voice.
At this, the entire office erupted.
"Holy crap, speak of the devil, and the Master truly arrives!"
"We're saved, we're finally saved, h-h-hooray!"
"Quick, quickly go invite the Director!"
Though they weren't sure why the Master had suddenly appeared, at this critical juncture, whatever the reason, it was great news for them.
...
A while later.
In the innermost office, Chen Qiushi thoughtfully poured a glass of Wangzai Milk for the Master. This was something he had noticed last time; the Master didn't care for plain tea.
On the contrary, she preferred these types of milk tea beverages, so he made a note of it and kept them stocked.
"Master, what brings you here today? Has some demon given you instructions?"
Chen Qiushi felt a little uneasy. He was afraid the Master knew he hadn't handled things well and had come to reprimand him.
"Great Uncle, I wanted to come and ask you to dispatch some people to go with me to Changbai Mountain."
Yaoyao took a sip of the sweet milk, speaking softly.
She had thought Great Uncle would agree quickly, as it wasn't the first time she had asked for people.
However, Yaoyao noticed that he paused, a flicker of struggle passing through his eyes.
But he quickly suppressed it. Chen Qiushi forced a smile and asked, "I wonder if there are any cultivation requirements?"
Yaoyao paused, then said, "Great Uncle, please try to arrange for Fourth-tier cultivators, or at the very least, Third-tier ones!"
It wouldn't be long before Changbai Mountain experienced snowfall, and then the environment would become much harsher.
For those below the Third-tier, whose spiritual power hadn't fully permeated their bodies, resisting the cold would be a major problem, not to mention inspecting the Heavenly Lake's seal and timely sending her updates.
In that case, their presence guarding the Heavenly Lake would lose its practical meaning.
"Great Uncle, are you facing some difficulty?" Yaoyao, by now, had put down her milk and looked over.
She had noticed Great Uncle's abnormal state earlier. However, since he hadn't responded, she hadn't pressed him.
"To be frank, Master, if you had come yesterday, there would have been no problem at all."
Chen Qiushi saw the doubt in the Master's eyes. He thought for a moment, and finally decided to explain the reason.
After all, the Master had personally come asking for people, and if he couldn't provide them without explanation, that would be an even greater trouble.
Yaoyao listened carefully, and when she learned that the reason he couldn't provide people was because they had been detained by the Xuanmen, her delicate brows involuntarily furrowed.
"There aren't many Fourth-tier and Third-tier cultivators in the department to begin with. I also wanted to handle that rogue cultivator incident cleanly."
"Originally, they could have returned today, but who knew it would be so ill-timed, running into Cang Ming interfering?"
Chen Qiushi spoke with a hint of bitterness.
He could roughly guess why the latter had intervened; he must have seen that those detained department members were the backbone of their organization.
Their talent could even reach the upper-middle ranks of the sects. If they were cut off, it would mean a severe blow to the Special Operations Group.
In the short term, it would take a decade or more; in the long term, several decades for the Special Operations Group to recover its vitality.
The Special Operations Group and the Xuanmen already had a long-standing grudge, with countless large and small frictions occurring between them. Neither side wanted to see the other grow.
The Tai Cang Sect used such an absurd reason to detain their core members, also showing their intent to nip the Special Operations Group's development in the bud.
Because of this, the remaining six great sects surprisingly offered no opposition, directly condoning the latter's actions.
"In the end, I misjudged people. I never expected the Xuanmen sects to be a bunch of conspiring snakes and rats!"
Chen Qiushi's chest heaved with anger, and his eyes were bloodshot.
He bowed deeply to Yaoyao, "I apologize, Master. It's not that this old man doesn't want to help you, but rather, I am truly powerless."
Currently, the entire Special Operations Group, from top to bottom, was in a state of unease. Even if he could find a few people, most would probably be unwilling to obey orders, after all, they were all afraid.
The room fell silent for a moment, with only Chen Qiushi's long sighs remaining.
"Great Uncle, if I bring these people back, will they be able to go to Changbai Mountain with me?"
Just as the latter was filled with worry, a crisp, clear voice rang out.
Chen Qiushi instinctively froze. He turned his head and saw the Master's large, dark, piercing eyes staring directly at him.
"You... you mean, you're willing to help us get our people back?"
"Yes! They haven't done anything wrong. I caught that rogue cultivator. The Tai Cang Sect wants proof, don't they? Then I'll personally go to their doorstep and provide it to them!"
"And if they still don't release them, hehe, then Yaoyao will beat them until they have no choice but to!"
Yaoyao clenched her soft little fists, her brows unfurled, and she even revealed a pair of sharp little canine teeth.
This threateningly adorable expression instantly thrilled Chen Qiushi. Others might not know the Master's methods, but he was well aware.
A Seventh-tier cultivator was formidable; he couldn't defeat one. But there was more than one Seventh-tier cultivator who had fallen at the Master's hands.
Although Seventh-tier cultivators also had their strengths and weaknesses, Cang Ming was definitely among the weakest, and the Master could completely subdue him.
At the thought of the latter possibly being beaten black and blue, Chen Qiushi trembled with excitement.
He finally saw the hope of vindication.
Heaven knows, he had been so suppressed these past days, he was almost going mad!
🚨 Note : Consider to Support this Story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access +300 advance Chapters & 2 Chapters Daily and To Support The Daily Update