Chapter 104: Songhai Third Primary School

Chapter 104: Songhai No. 3 Elementary School

The Lord of the Slaughter Palace lifted her gaze, glanced at him, and said with a smiling lilt:

"The Five Elements Alliance hunts Hei Wuchang for the Holy Grail and the Register. Why go to such redundant lengths? Let me guess—you want the Register for yourself, and you don't want the Five Elements Alliance to get it."

As she spoke, she tilted her head, looked toward the ceiling, and struck the pose of an innocent young girl:

"But you're just a small fry. Why would you want the Register? Oh my, how strange, how strange..."

Zhang Yuanqing's mouth twitched.

"Everyone has secrets. You don't need to know. Of course, you can also refuse. Whether we trade or not—the decision is yours."

Which is to say, the most annoying thing is dealing with psychopaths and yanderes, because their brains aren't quite right, and effective communication is nearly impossible.

And the worst part? You can't beat them.

At that moment, the Lord of the Slaughter Palace had finished brewing a cup of coffee. Her slender jade fingers pinched the handle, about to take a sip, when the rim bumped against her mask.

She suddenly let out an "Ah": "I forgot I was wearing a mask..."

Not just a psychopath—her brain's got issues too! Zhang Yuanqing cursed inwardly.

The Lord of the Slaughter Palace set down the cup and said with a radiant smile: "You're right. Everyone has secrets. As far as I'm concerned, as long as it doesn't threaten my own safety, I couldn't care less about other people's secrets."

Hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief and said in a low voice: "The transaction between Hei Wuchang and the Night Rose is tomorrow night. Possible locations: Laifu Hotel, Songhai No. 3 Elementary School, Songhe Park..."

He listed three locations in one breath, then continued: "Among them, Songhai No. 3 Elementary School has the highest probability."

The Lord of the Slaughter Palace flicked her voluminous sleeves lightly, amusing herself like a little girl, and asked casually:

"Because tomorrow is Saturday, students are on break?"

Zhang Yuanqing nodded: "That's one aspect. The other is that Songhai No. 3 Elementary School is in the city center, separated by just one street from a residential district—a place of 'quiet amid the bustle.' If anything goes wrong, he can slip into the residential area and use it to escape."

Laifu Hotel has guests staying there; a fight would leave a pile of corpses, and morality points would be deducted clean in minutes. Songhe Park is too desolate; if surrounded, there'd be no escape at all.

Based on the opponent's cautious and cunning nature, Fu Qingyang had designated Songhai No. 3 Elementary School as the primary target, the other two as secondary targets. Additionally, there were a few locations with low but non-zero probability.

"The five elders of the Songhai branch will lead their respective subordinates to lie in wait at the corresponding locations. The one responsible for Songhai No. 3 Elementary School is Fu Qingyang and an elder from the Hundred Flowers Society." Zhang Yuanqing said:

"I think once the two sides clash, you can seize the opportunity to strike and retaliate against the Night Rose."

The Lord of the Slaughter Palace propped her elbow on the bar, rested her chin on her hand, and her eyes curved:

"Good idea. To prevent the Register and Hei Wuchang's spirit form from falling into the Five Elements Alliance's hands, want me to kill Fu Qingyang while I'm at it?"

You want to drag me down with you... Zhang Yuanqing's expression turned serious: "Palace Lord, I'm a serious person. I don't like jokes."

The Lord of the Slaughter Palace giggled, trembling with laughter, "Xie Lingxi didn't say that. Oh right, after last meeting, I went to her hotel, strung her up, and gave her a beating."

Zhang Yuanqing froze. No wonder Little Green Tea hadn't contacted me for days—she was mad at me.

No good, I need to patch things up. I still haven't swindled her Dream-Entry Jade Talisman. Once the Hei Wuchang matter is settled, I'll go show Little Green Tea some care.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

Zhang Yuanqing asked to take his leave.

The Lord of the Cease-Killing Palace rested her chin in her hands, nodding with a smile.

Stepping out of the café, Zhang Yuanqing glanced back once more. Behind him lay only pitch darkness; the shop door was locked tight. Where, now, was the Lord of the Cease-Killing Palace and her lovely figure?

He withdrew his gaze and, as he walked toward home, began to simulate and analyze the situation for tomorrow night in his mind.

"According to official data, Black Impermanence stands at the peak of the Saint realm, and is one of the strongest classes. He cannot be regarded as an ordinary Saint. The Chief Guardian of the Night Rose is undoubtedly a Night Wanderer; his rank is unknown. If he is merely at the Saint realm, that is manageable. But if he is of the Sovereign rank, then it will be a clash of dragons and tigers. The Lord of the Cease-Killing Palace intervening is tantamount to buying a policy of insurance for myself, and for the officials."

"But that is still not enough. Because the Five Elements Alliance wants not only the Holy Grail, but the Register as well. If the Lord of the Cease-Killing Palace moves to seize the Register, she will almost certainly face opposition from Fu Qingyang and the elders of the Hundred Flowers Association."

Therefore, he had to engineer an even more chaotic situation, forcing the officials, Black Impermanence, and the Night Rose to prioritize contending for the Holy Grail.

He already had a method in mind: the Vice President of the Spiritual Ability Association—the Gu King.

This high-ranking Witchcraft Master cared nothing for the Register; he wanted only the Holy Grail. With his entry into the fray, he could compel all parties to focus their efforts on the Grail.

In this way, the resistance the Lord of the Cease-Killing Palace faced in seizing the Register would be drastically reduced. This woman had not shown an overwhelming desire for the Grail at present; her motivation lay in thwarting the Night Rose's conspiracy, and in killing the Chief Guardian or the Leader.

"The plan has no flaws, but actual execution will inevitably bring unforeseen variables. There is no helping it; reality is forever full of unknowns."

"Hope I can pass through this crisis of exposed identity smoothly. Old Stick, bless me."

...

Morning. The baby-faced Ren Xue Mantou had just finished delivering breakfast, emerging from a residential building.

As a Witchcraft Master, he possessed inexhaustible energy, delivering from day into night, occasionally pulling overtime, delivering from night into dawn.

The food delivery industry allowed one to roam everywhere, facilitating intelligence gathering and covert meetings with comrades, and the pay was quite good.

Ren Xue Mantou rather liked this job.

These past few days, he had kept his line of communication open, waiting for that guy claiming to be a member of the Night Rose to make contact.

Drawing on his previous experience, Ren Xue Mantou realized this might be an opportunity—a chance to curry favor and earn merit before the Vice President.

As long as that guy provided sufficient intelligence, a calculated risk was necessary.

He had just straddled his e-bike when the other phone in his pocket chimed with a text notification.

Ren Xue Mantou's spirits lifted instantly; he hurriedly fished out the phone to check:

"Transaction location for Black Impermanence and the Night Rose: Songhai No. 3 Elementary School. Time: midnight tonight. If the target is not found, wait for my further notice."

Songhai No. 3 Elementary School, midnight tonight? The baby-faced deliveryman's mind went "buzz," unable to process it for a moment.

Intelligence this critical, given just like that?

Directly pinpointing Black Impermanence's transaction site?

One had to know, the Vice President had searched for Black Impermanence for nearly ten days, with meager results, utterly unable to locate that cunning, cautious fox.

Then, wild joy surged onto Ren Xue Mantou's face, a joy he could not suppress.

If the intelligence was true, he had just rendered a supreme merit. The Vice President would reward him handsomely, and his standing within the Spiritual Ability Association would skyrocket.

If the intelligence was false, it didn't matter. These past days, the Association had received no shortage of false leads.

"Report to the Vice President immediately..."

A steamed bun kneaded with human blood fired up the electric scooter, vanishing into the night like wind and lightning.

……

Time: 23:50.

The night lay heavy and deep. Outside the Songhai No. 3 Elementary School, inside the 24-hour convenience store by the road, Zhang Yuanqing sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, slurping a bowl of instant noodles. He raised a hand, pressed the wireless microphone, and murmured low:

"Target has entered the elementary school. Everyone, attention. Everyone, attention."

Seconds later, Jiang Jingwei’s crisp, clamoring voice crackled through the channel: "Fu Qingyang went in? Why can't we join the fight, stuck out here on stakeout duty? This is boring."

Zhang Yuanqing: "To keep you from an early grave. Also, the one who went in isn't Fu Qingyang. It's Tiandao Bugong."

Jiang Jingwei: "I really can't go in? I want to go in and brawl, blow the school sky-high."

Little girl, your thoughts are dangerous... Zhang Yuanqing: "Why?"

Jiang Jingwei: "I went to primary school right here, you know. Mountains of homework, stern teachers. It left a giant psychological scar. But back then, I hadn't gotten my Character Card yet."

Zhang Yuanqing: "Well, well. 'Don't bully the young because they're poor,' huh? In that case, can you help burn down my alma mater too?"

At that moment, Teng Yuan’s voice came through, weak but grave:

"I don't mind you two doing crosstalk, but please spare a thought for the feelings of everyone else in the channel."

Jiang Jingwei and Zhang Yuanqing fell instantly silent.

For tonight's operation, Fu Qingyang had summoned his trusted lieutenants, dispersing them into shops and intersections near Songhai No. 3 Elementary. Their task: keep civilians away; intercept fleeing enemies; handle emergencies.

They weren't needed for the frontal assault. Going in would just be feeding the enemy kills.

Zhang Yuanqing focused on his noodles, but his mind churned over one thing. Fu Qingyang had said in the daylight he suspected Hei Wuchang dared trade with the Night Rose because he had other backing.

Backing usually meant a trump card. And a twist.

……

Songhai No. 3 Elementary. The teaching building stood sentinel in the pitch-black night. The entire structure was dark, save for the office on the far left of the first floor, where a light burned.

The office held six desks, surfaces buried under books, teaching aids, computers, clutter.

At the desk by the window sat a man, gaunt-faced, horse-long, eyes fine and narrow, skin deathly pale. He wasn't handsome by any measure, yet he was anything but ordinary.

A face this ugly—it branded itself on the memory.

Hei Wuchang drummed his fingers on the desktop, listening to his subordinate "Young Wife Very Smooth" report:

"Boss, I've confirmed it. Night Rose successfully borrowed the Contract Book."

Hei Wuchang drawled: "How did you confirm?"

Young Wife Very Smooth smiled: "I grabbed a woman and tested it myself. Once the contract was sealed, she became my most loyal slave. She cannot refuse any demand I make."

Hei Wuchang "Hmm"ed, nodding in satisfaction.

As the head of an evil organization, he knew dealing with Night Rose was bargaining with a tiger.

The odds of a clean transaction were near zero; the probability of a double-cross was far higher. So, during his lurking in Songhai, Hei Wuchang had been waiting for one specific piece of news.

The Night Rose borrowed the "Contract Codex" from foreign powers.

It is an item of the "Knight" class, its function to forge contracts; those who breach them suffer severe punishment.

With this safeguard in place, Black Impermanence dared to treat with the Night Rose.

And the borrowing of the artifact from foreign powers by the Night Rose was one of Black Impermanence's conditions.

Knights are a Lawful class; to approach them as a Witchcraft Master would invite execution, yet the Night Rose faced no such trouble—their ranks teemed with Lawful professionals.

One need only pay a certain price to secure the loan of the "Contract Codex."

At that moment, the hands of the wall clock swept to twelve, and almost simultaneously, a knock sounded on the office door.

…