Chapter 336: Qi Yuan: You're Coming to Be My Bodyguard?

Chapter 336: Qi Yuan: You’ll Be My Bodyguard?

In the end, the Canary still put on the school uniform.

But when Qi Yuan sent her to school, she shot him an angry glare: “No one even wears it properly—totally useless!”

She looked rather adorable like this.

Qi Yuan stroked the Canary’s hair and said dotingly, “It’ll come in handy now and then.”

Indeed, when someone is petite, even their anger appears cute in others’ eyes.

The Canary’s face flushed crimson: “This young lady is off to school!”

She scurried away quickly.

Qi Yuan watched her retreating figure, his doting gaze never fading.

Only when her silhouette vanished completely from sight did Qi Yuan turn to head home for martial arts practice.

His phone screen flickered—a message from the Canary: “This young lady will NOT wear the school uniform at night!”

Qi Yuan grinned foolishly at the message on the screen: “Work hard, aim for a doctorate.”

After sending the reply, he turned to leave.

But just then, a hand suddenly gripped his arm tightly. The Canary, who had supposedly gone to school, appeared out of nowhere, looking up at him with pitiful eyes: “Blood Bead, this young lady… doesn’t want to go to school.”

She clung to his arm, holding tight, as if afraid that letting go would make him disappear.

The Canary now was like a kitten without a sense of security, exceptionally clingy.

“Indeed, no one likes school. Only after graduating and working might one miss those days,” Qi Yuan sighed softly.

Of course, what they missed more were certain people from their student years.

But for Qi Yuan, those people were no different from the NPCs of this world.

The Canary looked at him pleadingly: “This young lady will make a puppet to attend school in my place—what do you think?”

“Sure.” Qi Yuan reached out and clasped her cold little hand tightly in his palm.

When he played games, exploring unfamiliar maps, Little Jia had accompanied him.

The Canary, having left Nine Coil Mountain and Driftwind Realm, had only him as a close one.

“Great!” The Canary hopped with joy, her face beaming. “Bend down—this young lady rewards you with a kiss!”

“Why not stand on tiptoes?” Qi Yuan said dotingly, but he still lowered his head.

A gentle tenderness came, like a cool night breeze.

Qi Yuan lifted the Canary into his arms, and the two dissolved into the sea of people.

At the school gate, voices drifted over.

“Am I seeing things? There was a really good-looking couple here just now, one wearing a school uniform.”

“I saw them too, was about to sneak a photo, but they’re gone.”

“You two must have watched too much—your eyes are blurry?”

…

In the Yellow Springs World, inside the stronghold.

Qi Yuan scanned the stone chamber, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

These past days, he had been training hard—sometimes in martial arts, sometimes in immortal cultivation.

For him, progress was mediocre.

Between training sessions, he accompanied the Canary and Little Jia, using the earth as a bed and the sky as a blanket, roaming mountains, rivers, and the wilds.

Occasionally, he pretended to be a college student and attended lectures with the Canary.

After all, he couldn’t let the puppet keep attending classes and earning credits forever.

Finally, several months passed.

The mission in the Yellow Springs World arrived.

Inside the stone chamber, Qi Yuan suddenly struck out. A flash of red and yellow light shot forth, landing on the stone table.

This blow exerted the combat power of an ordinary Yuan Dan level.

Yet under the strike, the stone table remained utterly still.

“Indeed, I’m still too weak now—can’t even damage this stone table.”

Seeing this, Qi Yuan didn’t try again and walked out of his own room.

The stronghold was as before, with occasional glimpses of humans drifting about.

On the bamboo buildings, men and women in alluring dresses swayed their figures, teasing passersby.

Qi Yuan glanced at them, his expression calm and unruffled.

Not far away, An Qiao approached, holding the tracking hound on a leash, her face bright with joy: “I didn’t expect the two of us to go on this mission together.”

An Qiao was naturally delighted—missions had a high mortality rate.

Qi Yuan, who could slay a Jade Blood realm great demon, was considered a strongman in this stronghold.

“Are there others for this mission? Where are they?” Qi Yuan asked.

The prompt indicated this was a group mission with over twenty participants.

“They’re probably from other strongholds. We’ll meet them when we reach the mission location,” An Qiao answered truthfully, then continued, “Mr. Qi, we need to stay alert around people from other strongholds!”

They executed missions cooperatively to earn rewards.

But human hearts are unpredictable—besides mission rewards, the other participants themselves were tempting targets.

“When we enter the game, do we replace other NPCs?”

Qi Yuan asked.

Last time, he had replaced a gambling butcher.

And ended up with a child bride born with a saintly marriage constitution.

“The first time, you replace someone. But later… we enter as members of the Demon-Slaying Bureau!”

An Qiao explained carefully.

“Interesting. So the Demon-Slaying Bureau is… an official organization spanning multiple worlds,” Qi Yuan murmured.

“Mr. Qi, if you’re ready, shall we start the mission?” An Qiao inquired.

She too wanted to finish quickly.

“Wait a moment—I need to pick up some things.” Qi Yuan said, then crouched down to gather soil, grass, and stones from the ground, storing them in his qi-blood space.

An Qiao watched, confusion in her eyes: “What are you picking those up for?”

“For my wife to study. She’s about to become a doctor—maybe she can figure out a way to enter here.

That way, she can accompany me into mission worlds.” Qi Yuan made no attempt to hide it.

The pebbles and soil he picked up here, he would give to the canary for study.

Upon hearing Qi Yuan’s words, An Qiao couldn’t help but want to laugh.

“All the world fears the Yellow Springs realm like a demon, yet you’re willing to let your wife come down to accompany you.”

“Separated from her for too many years, I always want to stay together.” Qi Yuan picked up a wooden stick from the ground, speaking casually.

A flicker of envy passed through An Qiao’s eyes: “I hope your wife quickly figures out how to enter and leave the Yellow Springs realm.”

Of course, An Qiao didn’t believe Qi Yuan’s wife could actually figure that out.

The Yellow Springs realm was utterly eerie.

Over so many years, countless talents had emerged in the Yellow Springs realm, encompassing nearly all the elites of Gongxing across ten thousand years.

Yet no one had managed to uncover the method of entry and exit.

Their comings and goings were entirely dictated by the Yellow Springs realm itself.

“Mm.” Qi Yuan nodded.

With the canary’s strength, plus his eyes that could see hidden information, he had a sliver of confidence in studying the Yellow Springs realm.

After about a few dozen breaths, Qi Yuan had collected quite a few samples, all stuffed into his blood-qi space.

“Alright, we can go complete the mission now.”

“Good,” An Qiao said.

The two arrived at the very center of the stronghold, where there was a stone mill platform, a full hundred square meters in size.

As long as one stepped onto it, they would receive the mission prompt and enter the mission.

Without any hesitation, Qi Yuan stepped onto the stone mill platform.

Instantly, space began to spin at that moment.

This spinning seemed to have no duration, completed in an instant.

Qi Yuan quickly listened intently, hoping to hear something.

Perhaps the time was too short; he heard nothing.

By the time he reacted, he abruptly appeared in a space emitting a faint glow.

This space seemed to be suspended in the air.

At that moment, he and An Qiao felt as if they were treading on clouds.

The game’s prompt sound also reached Qi Yuan’s ears at that moment.

[Feng Yuan ruled the world with filial piety, founding the state thirty years ago. The north fell into chaos, with the yao race running rampant, devouring humans for food.

The northern aristocratic families, suffering beyond measure, fled south one after another.

Zhenyang City, located in the north, was besieged by the yao race.

The scholar-official Tong clan had been single-son for seven generations. In the third month, the yao race launched a massive assault on the city, causing countless deaths and injuries. Tong Tianyou, the legitimate grandson of the Tong clan, was captured by the yao race.

Mission: Please find Tong Tianyou and investigate the cause of death of his father, Tong Youwei.

Reward: Ancestral Return Pill.]

“It’s actually the Ancestral Return Pill!” An Qiao couldn’t help but exclaim, clearly aware of the mission reward.

“Oh, is this pill very powerful?” Qi Yuan asked, while scanning this space with a glance.

He saw over a dozen people nearby, all blood warriors, exuding not-weak auras.

However, most were at the Blood Qi realm, with only a few at the Jade Blood realm.

These people were all those executing the mission alongside them.

Before An Qiao could answer, a bald-headed man spoke: “The strength of us blood warriors depends on our bloodline concentration.

The stronger the ancestor’s bloodline, the higher our bloodline concentration, the greater our talent, and the larger our potential.

The Ancestral Return Pill allows us to vaguely glimpse a trace of our ancestor’s true intent, thereby enhancing bloodline concentration.”

Seeing the bald-headed man, An Qiao’s eyes showed a hint of wariness.

She continued: “The higher one’s bloodline talent, the greater the effect of the Ancestral Return Pill.

Conversely, if bloodline talent is very low, the Ancestral Return Pill is even inferior to a single Body-Tempering Blood Pill.”

The bald-headed man looked at the two and continued: “If you survive the mission, I am willing to purchase your Ancestral Return Pills at a high price.”

“There’s no need for that; the Ancestral Return Pill is also of great use to us,” An Qiao quickly refused.

The bald-headed man smiled, then turned his gaze to Qi Yuan with interest: “I heard that Brother Chen Fan died in the last mission, and his belongings… were obtained by a newcomer named Qi Yuan.

I wonder, could you be that person?”

Within the stronghold, there were also special means of communication.

Even more so, those with great strength could cross the Mist Sea to reach other strongholds.

“Oh, what of it?” Qi Yuan looked at the bald-headed man, feeling he resembled a boiled egg.

“Would you be willing to transfer the Genius Alliance entry token to me?

If you give it to me, during this mission, I will protect your life!” the bald-headed man said earnestly.

He had always wanted to join the Genius Alliance, but unfortunately, his talent had not caught their attention.

If he obtained the Genius Alliance token, he could join that powerful organization.

He could then leave this backwater place for a major stronghold, no longer worrying about when the stronghold might be devoured by sea beasts.

“Protect me? Your strength… doesn’t seem up to it,” Qi Yuan said with a look of disdain.

He didn’t care for the Genius Alliance entry token, but he wouldn’t easily give it away.

He didn’t believe this man would protect him.

“I am, after all, at the mid Jade Blood realm, only a step away from the late stage. Protecting you completely is no problem,” the bald-headed man asserted confidently.

Just then, a ferocious voice rang out.

“Yang Guang, I want that Genius Alliance entry token!” A big-bearded man walked over, exuding a bloody aura.

Seeing the big-bearded man, the expressions of the men and women present all shifted slightly.

“Blood Demon Hand Zhou Yuan!”

“It’s actually him! This bastard is in our team.” “Damn it, they say he often attacks his teammates!”

These mission participants, upon seeing Zhou Yuan, all looked extremely wary, instinctively stepping back to keep their distance.

Bald-headed Yang Guang’s eyes showed caution: “Zhou Yuan, in business, it’s first come, first served. Besides, this young brother hasn’t yet agreed to trade with me. If you want to trade, you can offer a high price, and we’ll compete.”

A flicker of disdain passed through Zhou Yuan’s eyes: “He’s not worthy of trading with me. If it weren’t for you… I’d have already taken it by force.”

At these words, everyone present witnessed Zhou Yuan’s arrogance.

Still, Zhou Yuan had the qualifications to be arrogant.

His strength was the highest present—late Jade Blood realm.

Beside him, Qi Yuan saw this and a smile spread across his eyes: "Yang Guang, didn't you want to be my bodyguard? Chase Zhou Yuan away first, and let me see if your strength qualifies you to ensure my safety."

Qi Yuan had entered the game world with quests to complete and the substitute for his white moonlight to meet.

Having an extra helper was, after all, a good thing.

As for the token for the League of Geniuses, exchanging it was just an exchange.

His only regret was that he had not given Luo Bufan any benefits.

In the real world, Luo Bufan's family had also failed to pass down their legacy.

Hearing Qi Yuan's words, a look of joy surfaced on Yang Guang's face, and a powerful aura erupted at that moment, incomparably overbearing: "Zhou Yuan, I am protecting this little brother now. Please leave, otherwise..."

Zhou Yuan grinned and licked his lips: "Hehe, I'll leave right now."

After saying that, Zhou Yuan walked straight away.

An Qiao watched this scene, her face entirely bewildered: "Is this guy sick in the head?"

Yang Guang quickly raised his hands and said: "He's not my shill. Zhou Yuan has always had this kind of personality, he's suspected of having a major illness!"

He was afraid Qi Yuan would misunderstand that he and Zhou Yuan were putting on a coordinated act.

"He does indeed have a major illness; his mind is abnormal," Qi Yuan's eyes flashed with a peculiar look.

[Zhou Yuan, a martial artist in the late stage of the Jade Blood Realm. He has consumed too many Ancestor Returning Pills, and his bloodline is too deeply influenced by his ancestor, which led to a drastic change in his character and erratic behavior.]

"It's a pity Zhong Niao isn't here, otherwise we could issue him a mental illness certificate," Qi Yuan murmured, and then asked Yang Guang, "Does consuming too many Ancestor Returning Pills cause one to be influenced by their ancestor?"

"Generally no," Yang Guang replied, but remembering something, he said with a serious expression, "A small portion will. After all, some bloodline sources merely treat their descendants as nourishment.

If one encounters such a situation, they must undergo a complete blood exchange to change their destiny."

"So that's how it is," Qi Yuan said softly.

To be honest, he now wanted to see who the bloodline ancestor of this body of his was.

He looked at Yang Guang and continued, "Entering the quest this time, I plan to hunt some demons to obtain demon race essence blood. Your strength... is enough to keep me safe, right?"

"Enough, absolutely enough! With me around, I'll definitely ensure you return with a full harvest!" Yang Guang patted his chest in guarantee.

Demon race essence blood could increase strength, but the amount each person could absorb was limited.

Even with Tranquil Blood Pills, one could not consume too many.

Yang Guang believed that with Qi Yuan's strength, the demon race essence blood obtained from hunting a single demon at the early stage of the Jade Blood Realm would be far more than enough for his needs.

"That's good, then I shall trouble Brother Yang Guang," Qi Yuan smiled very happily.

Entering the game this time with a hired thug meant he could slack off.

Yang Guang nodded, his face full of confidence.

It seemed that the entry token for the League of Geniuses would definitely be his this time; the only thing he needed to be vigilant about was Zhou Yuan.

He might strike from the shadows.

After the few of them chatted a bit more, the light of the clouds in the sky flashed.

The nearly twenty people present finally arrived at the world where the quest was located.

...

The Tong family, situated in the center of Zhenyang City, was a well-known aristocratic clan in the city.

The deceased Old Master Tong had once served in the Secretariat, holding the position of the Grand Director of the Secretariat, a high-ranking official of the third rank, possessing great power and influence.

However, after Old Master Tong retired, before his political legacy could be utilized, the Northern Lands fell into great chaos.

Countless aristocratic families and clans fled south one after another.

Yet Zhenyang City occupied a peculiar location, with Mount Shu Yao standing right before it.

The terrain of this mountain was steep and treacherous, making it unsuitable for large-scale migration.

More importantly, Mount Shu Yao swarmed with demons, and among them was even a Demon Hero.

This Demon Hero harbored great ambitions, unifying the three thousand demons of Mount Shu Yao, establishing a demon fortress, and training demon soldiers.

The three cities of Zhenyang, Hengyang, and Qishui were all besieged by Mount Shu Yao.

The Tong family's grandson was precisely abducted by the demons on Mount Shu Yao.

At this moment, outside the Tong family estate, Qi Yuan wore the uniform of the Demon Suppression Bureau, yawning.

Yang Guang pulled out a token and looked at the trembling shop assistant in front of him, his voice majestic: "Where is Tong Youwei? Which year did he pass away?"

Upon entering the quest world, Yang Guang intended to start with the passersby to investigate the matters of the Tong family before entering the estate.

The shop assistant was a white-haired old man in his twilight years, his back hunched, looking to be less than one and a half meters tall: "Replying to the officer, Master Tong Youwei passed away three years ago, dying suddenly in the Tong family courtyard.

I heard his manner of death was extremely miserable; his entire heart was gouged out. Everyone says it was a demon calamity, what a sin!"

Mentioning the demons, the shop assistant's eyes were filled with resentment, as if the demons had swallowed his family.

"Heart gouged out?" Yang Guang frowned.

Then he heard the shop assistant say.

"Pity this Old Master Tong and Old Madam Tong; their Tong family has had a single son for seven generations, and they doted on Master Tong Youwei immensely.

On the day he died, Old Madam Tong's hair turned white overnight, aging her by more than a decade."

"Did the Tong family investigate which demon did this?" Yang Guang asked.

"How would the Tong family dare to investigate? Even if they found out, would they... dare to go to Mount Shu Yao to demand the culprit?" The shop assistant shook his head, a look of regret appearing on his senile face.

Yang Guang narrowed his eyes, wondering what he was thinking.

And at this moment, Qi Yuan spoke up: "Let's go, let's head to the Tong family to see what clues there are."

Yang Guang nodded.

An Qiao led the tracking dog, also heading towards the Tong residence.

At this time, quite a few of Qi Yuan and the others' peers had already entered the Tong residence.

Therefore, the arrival of the three of them and the dog was completely unimpeded.

Welcoming the three of them was an old steward of the Tong residence.

"The grandson was abducted by demons, and the Master fell ill from excessive worry. He is bedridden and cannot receive guests, so we hope for your understanding." The steward was somewhat elderly, walking with faltering steps.

"Where did Tong Youwei live? Take us to have a look," Qi Yuan swept his gaze across the Tong residence and asked casually.

The quests this time were respectively to find Tong Tianyou and to investigate the truth behind Tong Youwei's death.

Tong Tianyou had been abducted by the demon race; finding him... was simple and direct, just a matter of taking a trip to Mount Shu Yao.

The truth behind Tong Youwei's death, however, required them to conduct an investigation.

"This... after the Eldest Young Master passed away, a sudden fire broke out in the house where he lived, burning it completely clean, leaving nothing behind," the steward replied.

"What about his wife?" Qi Yuan asked again.

"Alas... she gave birth to the Little Young Master... difficult labor..." The steward's face was full of sighs.

"It is rumored outside that Tong Youwei was killed by a demon. Exactly what kind of demon was it?" Yang Guang asked.

The steward quickly shook his head: "This servant knows nothing of the matter. The county magistrate also sent men to investigate, but found nothing—they only say it's the work of some demon."

"Where is your eldest young master buried?" Yang Guang asked again.

It seemed they would have to open the coffin and examine the corpse.

"This..." The steward's face twisted in distress. "Are you gentlemen planning to inspect the body?

The previous officials had the same idea, but... I'm afraid you'll be disappointed.

After the young master was buried, the graveyard was plagued by demonic disturbances. The young master's corpse... was stolen."

"Ah?" An Qiao was astonished.

"This is very strange!" Yang Guang narrowed his eyes, something occurring to him.

Tong Youwei's death was by no means simple.

His residence burned down, his corpse stolen.

If it were just one coincidence, that might be acceptable, but one after another—that is no coincidence.

It meant that behind it all, there was a hand hiding something.

"Brother Qi, what do you think?" Yang Guang looked at Qi Yuan.

"Based on my many years of watching TV, generally when a body can't be found, it's a fake death, a feigned death!" Qi Yuan replied seriously.

That's how it always goes on TV.

And also pushing the enemy off a ten-thousand-foot cliff, piercing the heart... well, the enemy still lives.

So when Qi Yuan killed someone, he had to grind the bones to ashes and scatter them, and see with his own eyes that the person was dead.

"But the game setting says he's dead, so he's dead, I suppose." Qi Yuan didn't want to argue about the setting with the game designers.

Yang Guang couldn't help but smile, quite agreeing with Qi Yuan's words. He continued asking the steward: "Did Tong Youwei have any enemies in Zhenyang City?"

"The young master was kind-hearted, never made enemies, rarely went out—he had no enemies!" the steward stated firmly.

Hmm, a kind-hearted shut-in, right?

Indeed... no enemies.

After all, there was no internet here, so they couldn't flame each other online.

"Then how was Tong Youwei's relationship with your master?" At this moment, Qi Yuan suddenly asked.

"The master and mistress doted on the eldest young master. When he fell ill with a fever and lay unconscious, the mistress herself went to Wangshan Temple to beg for holy water, kowtowing at every step up the seven hundred and sixty-two stone steps, until at last she obtained the help of a holy monk who cured the young master's illness.

This matter is widely known throughout the northern lands.

In Zhenyang City, ask anyone, and they'll tell you that our master and mistress loved the eldest young master most of all—they would have plucked the sun from the sky for him." The steward's expression grew bleak. "After the young master passed, the master and mistress's health has grown worse and worse.

If not for the young master's younger brother still being here, I fear... ah.

This time, if the younger brother cannot return, the Tong family's lineage... will be broken.

Honored officials, you must bring the young master back safely!"

The steward seemed to empathize deeply with the master, his old eyes growing misty.

At this moment, Yang Guang transmitted his voice: "Can the steward's words be trusted?"

"Hmm... the words are true, but whether he's hiding anything is another matter," Qi Yuan answered honestly.

Just now when the steward spoke, his nose hadn't grown longer.

That meant the steward hadn't lied to him.

"Then what do we do now?" Yang Guang asked.

"Go see their master," Qi Yuan replied.

After all, as the head of the Tong family, the master surely knew the most.

And since Qi Yuan could discern whether someone was lying, he wasn't afraid of Master Tong deceiving him.

Though everyone said Tong Youwei was killed by demons, it was also possible... that Master Tong was the culprit.

After all, anything was possible.

But just as they followed the steward toward Master Tong's residence, they heard a harsh voice.

"You're still wet behind the ears, and you dare to meddle in my affairs?

We of the Demon-Suppression Bureau have come here to investigate the Tong family matter.

A mere county magistrate—if he wants to see me, he must come and beg me himself!"

As the words fell, the man kicked out, sending a young-looking yamen runner flying.

The youthful runner lay on the ground, clutching his stomach, his face twisted in pain, but he dared not utter a word of protest.

"That runner is so young—he looks barely fourteen. That man struck so hard—how detestable!" An Qiao couldn't help saying.

Yang Guang also frowned, quickly going over to help the runner, who still seemed a child, to his feet.

He was a warm-hearted man.

Yang Guang looked at the man who had struck, his gaze unfriendly: "Though we are on a mission, they are still living people!"

The man who had struck, seeing Yang Guang, clearly feared Yang Guang's strength and immediately lowered his head: "That was my fault!"

In the Yellow Springs world, strength reigned supreme.

He dared not offend Yang Guang; admitting fault was nothing.

At that moment, Qi Yuan, standing not far away, looked at Yang Guang's head as sunlight poured down. Qi Yuan couldn't help saying, "His bald pate is really shiny."

(End of chapter)