She's actually quite pleasant to be around, Zhang Yuanqing mused inwardly.
He felt like he was looking at a female version of himself—handsome, capable, and with a charming way of speaking.
After a moment's hesitation, he nodded slowly. "Since it's just delivering a message, I can take you."
While he suspected she was keeping an eye on him, he understood her caution given their limited familiarity. At least it showed that Xie Lingxi, despite her manipulative tendencies, was someone who valued loyalty and reciprocated kindness.
"Thank you, Brother Primordial," Xie Lingxi said with a radiant smile, which she quickly suppressed, her expression turning serious. "I remember you were asked to find someone called Master Wuhen. Before coming to Songhai, I researched him, but there's no information about him."
Zhang Yuanqing hummed in agreement. "He's not in the Five Elements Alliance's database either. But if Master Wuhen were an ordinary person, Ashamed Father wouldn't have avoided you, an official representative. I suspect Master Wuhen belongs to an Evil Class."
Both of them had reached this conclusion independently. After logging off, they had each used their own channels to investigate the man.
Xie Lingxi's eyes sparkled with the joy of having her suspicions confirmed. "I thought so too," she said. "But I believe he and Ashamed Father belong to the same kind of people."
"But there's still risk involved."
"Brother Primordial, the danger should be manageable. If the risk were too great, Ashamed Father wouldn't have entrusted this to you before he died. He must have been confident."
Xie Lingxi had rushed to Songhai specifically because she suspected Master Wuhen might belong to an Evil Class. Fearing he would be turned into KPI by Brother Wang Tai, she saw this as repaying Ashamed Father's life-saving debt.
Zhang Yuanqing agreed to help, reasoning that the Young Miss Xie would likely have Spirit Realm Walker bodyguards. Her presence would help mitigate the risks.
"When will you finish your business?"
"I'll visit the Palace Master tomorrow. I'll be free the day after."
Xie Lingxi scooped up a bite of dessert with her small spoon, savoring the flavor as she rested her cheek in her hand, gazing at the young man across the table.
"Brother Primordial, you're amazing! Clearing two S-rank Spirit Realms in a row! I'm so impressed!"
She knows I'm a complete newbie, yet she never mentions my boasting about being an experienced Walker in the Spirit Realm. That's high emotional intelligence right there. Zhang Yuanqing took a bite of his dessert.
Reflecting on her earlier flattery and ingratiation, he couldn't help but marvel at how this young girl, despite her age, possessed such a sophisticated level of social acumen.
A girl who looks up to you with such adoration at a moment like this is the most difficult to handle. It's hard to refuse her, and most men would be completely under her thumb.
But Zhang Yuanqing wasn't like most men; he was a social butterfly.
"Lingxi, look at the moon tonight—it's beautiful. Since you admire me so much, why don't I stay and watch the moon with you? What's your room number?"
"Brother Primordial, I... I'm still just a kid," Xie Lingxi said, her cheeks flushing.
"Funny, I'm just a kid too."
Xie Lingxi sighed inwardly. She preferred to use a strategy of retreating to advance, believing that no man could refuse a girl who worshiped him, especially when her requests were reasonable.
First, let the man's ego inflate, then he'll be easy to manipulate.
Though she lacked romantic experience, she understood the dynamics between men and women well. Her mother was a master of this art—the kind of woman who could slap her husband, then sweet-talk him into thinking he was the master of the house.
Having observed her mother's techniques, Xie Lingxi had mastered about seventy to eighty percent of her mother's skills. This approach had always worked flawlessly with elders and peers alike.
But with Brother Primordial, it seemed less effective.
He would use her flattery to climb higher, turning her own tactics against her.
Of course, Xie Lingxi genuinely admired this boy who was only a few years older than her.
"Let's exchange contact information. I'll come find you early the day after tomorrow."
After exchanging phone numbers with her, Zhang Yuanqing left the hotel.
On the way home in the company car, he called Li Dongze.
"Chief, I've left the hotel and am heading home now."
Li Dongze visibly relaxed, then chuckled teasingly, "So, should I start calling you the Xie Family's son-in-law? Guan Ya and I both noticed that young miss has quite the soft spot for you."
Zhang Yuanqing sighed, "Compared to being the Xie Family's son-in-law, I'd much rather be Guan Ya's."
Li Dongze paused, then replied casually, "Then you'd better work harder."
Li Dongze could tell Primordial was probing Guan Ya's true identity. How did the kid figure out she was no ordinary woman? So far, Primordial only knew Guan Ya's background was unusual, but he seemed unaware of her connection to Centurion Fu.
Zhang Yuanqing laughed it off, quickly changing the subject. "I'm taking that Xie Family girl out the day after tomorrow. We should be back within a day."
"She specifically requested you as her escort. Just keep her entertained," Li Dongze said without objection.
Zhang Yuanqing felt relieved. The Chief's lack of opposition meant the Xie Family's reputation was decent.
He then moved on to his second question:
"Chief, after clearing Jinshui Amusement Park, I successfully advanced to Level 2 and received a decent reward item."
"Level 2," Li Dongze sighed. "Gaining a level with a single mission... your advancement speed is truly enviable. Hmm, I only envy your leveling speed, though. Your frequent matches with S-Rank Spirit Realms are rather pitiful. So, what's your point?"
"I want to join the operation to hunt down the Black Guard of Impermanence," Zhang Yuanqing quickly replied. "Partly to contribute to the Second Team's achievements, and partly to hone my skills."
Li Dongze didn't object but hesitated. "A Level 2 Nightwalker's combat prowess surpasses that of other classes at the same level. You're certainly qualified to participate. However, this operation is overseen by a Deacon Level official, so I can't make the decision. I'll report your request to Centurion Fu tomorrow and see what he says."
"Thank you, Chief."
After hanging up, Zhang Yuanqing glanced out the window and noticed the driver was taking the wrong elevated route. He frowned. "What's going on?"
The driver in the front seat replied, "Taking a detour to avoid being followed."
Preventing surveillance... Hmm, my fame is growing. Quite a few people in Kangyang District Team Two know about me. I'll definitely need to be more careful about being followed when traveling between work and home in the future. Zhang Yuanqing mentally noted this detail.
An hour later, the driver dropped him off at his residential complex. Zhang Yuanqing took the elevator to his floor and was about to climb back into his bedroom through the hallway window when his ears twitched. He heard the sounds of intense fighting coming from inside.
Sigh... He sighed helplessly and chose to enter through the front door. He cautiously unlocked the security door, relieved to find his grandmother wasn't waiting in the living room to ambush him. He twisted the bedroom doorknob.
Inside, Jiang Yu'er sat cross-legged in front of the TV, furiously mashing the controller buttons as she played a game.
Hearing the door open behind her, Jiang Yu'er gritted her teeth and snarled, "The boss in this game is a boy who skips school to hang out outside. I'm going to kill him!"
"I'll help you kill him," Zhang Yuanqing said shamelessly, stepping closer.
"Get lost!"
Jiang Yu'er twisted her slender waist, keeping her upper body still as she continued playing. Her long legs swung backward in a series of powerful kicks, showcasing her astonishing core strength.
Zhang Yuanqing grasped her cold little foot and gently lifted it. With a startled "Aiya!" she tumbled backward onto the floor.
He casually sat down, picked up the other controller, and resumed the game.
Jiang Yu'er straightened up, rubbed the tear mole at the corner of her eye, and huffed, "Where were you gallivanting around?"
The two sat side by side, staring at the television, playing the game while chatting:
"I had lunch with a high school girl today. When she heard I was from Songhai University, she was so impressed she insisted on dragging me to a five-star hotel to tutor her with her homework. Ha! As if I could afford a room there."
"So you just came back?"
"No, I made her pay."
"Go die."
7:30 AM.
At the dining table, Jiang Yu'er chewed on a fried dough stick, her head nodding listlessly like a hen pecking at grain.
"Did you stay up all night again? I told you no late nights on weekdays! Does my word mean nothing to you?" Grandmother scolded her daughter as her grandson emerged from his room, yawning.
Grandmother snorted coldly, still angry about yesterday's incident. But disciplining family members in front of others was inappropriate, so she maintained a stern expression as she went to the kitchen to bring her grandson a bowl of hot porridge—a final meal before his "execution."
A few minutes later, Grandmother, watching her daughter and grandson sitting side-by-side, pecking each other's heads, erupted in fury:
"What were you two up to last night?!"
"Jiang Yu'er insisted on coming to my room to play games," Zhang Yuanqing retorted.
"Zhang Yuanqing insisted I go to his room to play games," Jiang Yu'er countered in unison.
The two immediately turned on each other, Zhang Yuanqing yanking his aunt's hair while Jiang Yu'er clawed at her nephew's face.
Grandfather and Cousin, accustomed to these antics, calmly continued eating.
Two days later, at eight in the morning, Zhang Yuanqing, having arranged the meeting via text, arrived by taxi at the Huayu Hotel. He didn't have to wait long before Xie Lingxi emerged through the revolving doors.
She was dressed in black athletic pants, a white T-shirt, a white women's jacket, and white running shoes—a light, sporty outfit. Her black long straight hair was tied back in a ponytail that swayed as she jogged. Notably, she wore a pair of sleek white headphones, making her look like she was out for a morning run.
"Brother Primordial, I've asked the driver to bring the car around," Xie Lingxi said, stopping before him with a sweet smile.
"Did you meet the Palace Master?" Zhang Yuanqing asked curiously.
Xie Lingxi shook her head slightly, her voice tinged with disappointment. "She didn't see me."
"Plastic family ties," Zhang Yuanqing scoffed.
"Of course not!" Xie Lingxi puffed out her cheeks and glared at him. "It's because people from the Xiahou Family of the coastal region came to Songhai to cause trouble for her. She needs to prepare for a formidable enemy, so she couldn't see me."
"The Xiahou Family?" Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced, recalling the name.
Having cleared an S-rank spirit realm, his security clearance had been upgraded, granting him access to more confidential information.
In the world of Spirit Realm Walkers, the most influential official organizations within the Orderly Class were the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect. Following them were the Five Great Families: the Zhao, Liu, and Xiahou families, all of whom specialized in the Scholar Class; and the Xie and Zhu families, who specialized in the Musician Class.
The family of the Palace Master of the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter wasn't recorded in the official documents, likely because they had been removed from the records many years ago.
"The Xiahou Family's eldest son was crippled by the Palace Master last month, so they've come seeking revenge," Xie Lingxi said, her voice filled with worry.
"The Xiahou Family has been established for generations, with countless experts and an extensive network of connections. The Palace of Ceasing Slaughter, on the other hand, is merely a local organization in Songhai. If a conflict erupts, the Five Elements Alliance will undoubtedly side with the Xiahou Family."
The Palace of Ceasing Slaughter's strength paled in comparison to the Xiahou Family's. It seemed the palace was in serious trouble. Zhang Yuanqing noticed a luxurious business van approaching and said,
"That's not our concern. The car's here."
Their destination was Jinshan City, located north of Songhai. The journey was short, taking only 25 minutes by high-speed rail or about an hour by car.
They arrived at their destination around 9:30 AM—a small hotel on the city's outskirts. A sign above the entrance glowed with the words "Wuhen Hotel."
After the van parked, Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi stepped out and entered the hotel lobby.
"What kind of room are you looking for?"
The receptionist was a striking woman in her early thirties, her face framed by a professional smile. Her round, alluring eyes and full, shapely figure exuded a captivating charm.
"We're not staying here. We're looking for someone," Zhang Yuanqing said, cutting to the chase and lowering his voice. "Master Wuhen."
The receptionist's smile remained fixed, but her round eyes narrowed, her gaze sharpening like a blade.
"There's no one named Wuhen here," she said, each word deliberate.
The air seemed to thicken, and Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi both felt an oppressive pressure, as if they were being watched by a hungry wolf.
This can't be the kind of pressure someone in the Transcendent Phase can exert, right? Is even the receptionist this high-level? Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and said, "Ashamed Father asked me to deliver a message to Master Wuhen."