Chapter 66: Heading to the Destination

Chapter 66: Heading to the Destination

I have to say, getting along with her really is comfortable... Zhang Yuanqing mused to himself.

He felt as if he were seeing a female version of himself—good-looking, capable, and pleasant to talk to.

He pondered for a few seconds, then slowly nodded:

"Since it's just delivering a message, I can take you there."

Though the girl seemed a bit like she was keeping tabs on him, after all, they didn't know each other inside out. Her concern in that regard was understandable. At the very least, it showed that Xie Lingxi, for all her scheming, was someone who repaid kindness.

"Thank you, Yuanshi Gege." Xie Lingxi gave a radiant smile, then withdrew it and said seriously:

"As I recall, you're supposed to find someone called Master Wuhen. Before coming to Songhai, I looked into this person—there's no relevant information."

Zhang Yuanqing hummed in acknowledgment: "There's nothing in the Five Elements Alliance database either. But if this Master Wuhen were an ordinary person, Ashamed of Fatherhood wouldn't have avoided you as an 'official.' I suspect Master Wuhen is an evil profession."

Both of them had thought of this point, so after going "offline," they each used their own channels to investigate the person.

Xie Lingxi's eyes sparkled with the joy of having her guess confirmed, and she said:

"I think so too, but I believe he and Ashamed of Fatherhood belong to the same category."

"Still, this carries risks."

"Yuanshi Gege, the danger should be within controllable limits. If the risk were great, Ashamed of Fatherhood wouldn't have entrusted this to you before his death. Since he did, he must have been confident."

Xie Lingxi had made a special trip to Songhai precisely because she realized that "Master Wuhen" might be an evil profession, afraid that he would be turned into KPI by "Brother Wang Tai." This was her way of repaying Ashamed of Fatherhood for saving her life.

And Zhang Yuanqing agreed because he figured the young lady of the Xie family would likely be protected by Spirit Realm Walkers. Having her along could offset some of the risk.

"When will you finish your business?"

"Tomorrow I'll visit that Palace Master. The day after tomorrow I'm free."

Xie Lingxi held a small spoon, scooped up a piece of after-dinner dessert, and while savoring the taste, propped her cheek on her hand, gazing at the young man across from her.

"Yuanshi Gege, you're really amazing, clearing two S-rank Spirit Realms in a row. I admire you so much."

She knows I'm a total newbie, yet she never mentions that I claimed to be an experienced traveler in the Spirit Realm. That's high EQ... Zhang Yuanqing took a bite of dessert too.

Thinking about her flattery and ingratiation, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly—this young girl, though young, was no lightweight.

A girl who constantly praises and admires you is actually the most troublesome, because it's hard to refuse her. An ordinary man would definitely be wrapped around her finger.

But Zhang Yuanqing was no ordinary man. He was a social butterfly.

"Sister Lingxi, look, the moonlight is beautiful tonight. Since you admire me so much, how about I stay and enjoy the moon with you? What's your room number?"

"Yuanshi Gege, I—I'm still a child..." Xie Lingxi blushed.

"What a coincidence, so am I."

...Xie Lingxi sighed inwardly. She liked to use the tactic of retreating to advance, to seize control. Who could refuse a girl who admires you and makes some not-unreasonable requests?

First, let the man get cocky, then he'd be easy to handle.

Though she had never been in love, she was well-versed in the ways of men and women. Her mother was a master of this art—the kind who could slap her husband and still coax him into feeling like the master of the house.

Xie Lingxi had absorbed seventy or eighty percent of her mother's essence through osmosis, using these techniques on elders and peers alike, always prevailing.

But with Yuanshi Gege, it didn't seem to work.

He would take your flattery and climb higher, turning the tables on you.

Of course, Xie Lingxi did admire this boy, who was only a few years older than her, to some extent.

"Let's exchange contact info. I'll come find you the day after tomorrow."

After exchanging phone numbers, Zhang Yuanqing left the hotel.

...

On the way home in the business car, Zhang Yuanqing dialed Li Dongze's phone.

"Squad Leader, I've left the hotel and I'm heading home."

Li Dongze was clearly relieved, then smiled teasingly:

"So, should I call you the Xie family's live-in son-in-law? Guan Ya and I can both tell that young lady has a good impression of you."

Zhang Yuanqing said worriedly:

"Compared to being the Xie family's son-in-law, I'd rather be the Guan family's."

Li Dongze paused, then said in his usual tone:

"Then you'd better step it up."

Li Dongze sensed that Yuanshi was probing Guan Ya's identity. How did he know Guan Ya was not ordinary? For now, it seemed Yuanshi only knew Guan Ya was special, but not her relationship with Centurion Fu.

Zhang Yuanqing laughed it off and changed the subject, then said seriously:

"I'm going out with that little Xie girl the day after tomorrow. Should be back within a day."

"She asked for you by name to host her. Take good care of her." Li Dongze didn't object.

Zhang Yuanqing felt relieved. Since the squad leader didn't object, it meant the Xie family had a decent reputation.

He then asked about the second matter:

"Squad Leader, after clearing Jinshui Amusement Park, I successfully advanced to Level 2 and got a pretty good item as a reward."

Level 2... Li Dongze sighed:

"One mission, one level. Your advancement speed is really enviable. Well, I envy just the speed. The fact that you keep matching with S-rank Spirit Realms is pitiable. So?"

"I want to join the operation to hunt down Black Impermanence. On one hand, to contribute to the Second Squad's achievements, on the other, to hone myself." Zhang Yuanqing said quickly.

Li Dongze didn't object, but hesitated:

"A Level 2 Night Wanderer's combat power is stronger than other professions at the same level. You do qualify to participate. But the person in charge of this matter is at the executive level, so I can't decide. Tomorrow I'll report to Centurion Fu and see what he decides."

"Thank you, Squad Leader."

Hanging up, Zhang Yuanqing glanced out the window and noticed the driver had taken a wrong elevated road. He frowned:

"What's wrong?"

The driver in front replied:

"Taking a detour to avoid being followed."

Avoid being followed... Hmm, my reputation is growing now. Quite a few people know I'm in Kangyang District's Second Group. In the future, commuting between work and home, I really need to watch out for tailing... Zhang Yuanqing kept this detail in mind.

An hour later, the driver dropped him off at the complex. Zhang Yuanqing took the elevator to his floor and was about to climb back into his bedroom through the hallway window.

His ears twitched—he heard intense combat sound effects from the bedroom.

Sigh... Helpless, he let out a sigh, chose to go through the front door, carefully opened the security door, and saw that his grandmother wasn't lying in wait in the living room. Greatly relieved, he twisted open the bedroom door.

In the bedroom, Jiang Yuer was sitting cross-legged in front of the TV, holding a controller and playing a game with rapid tapping.

Hearing the door open behind her, Jiang Yuer gritted her teeth and said:

"The boss in the game is a boy who doesn't come home after school, just out messing around. I'm going to kill him..."

"I'll help you kill him." Zhang Yuanqing shamelessly walked over.

"Scram!"

Jiang Yu'er twisted her slender waist, her upper body remaining still as she continued gripping the controller and gaming, while her long legs swung behind her, kicking wildly, showcasing astonishing waist flexibility.

Zhang Yuanqing grasped her cold, petite foot and lifted it gently, causing her to cry out, "Ah!" and tumble backward onto the floor.

He took the opportunity to sit down, picked up the other controller, and restarted the game.

Jiang Yu'er sat up straight, rubbing the tear mole at the corner of her eye with a finger, and snorted, "Where have you been fooling around?"

The two sat side by side, gazing at the TV, talking as they played:

"Today I had dinner with a high school girl. When she heard I was from Songhai University, she was totally in awe and insisted on dragging me to a hotel to tutor her homework. She even booked a five-star hotel. Hah, as if I'd have the money to rent a room."

"So you came back?"

"No, I made her pay."

"Go to hell..."

Half past seven in the morning.

At the dining table, Jiang Yu'er bit into a fried dough stick, listless, her head nodding bit by bit like a little hen pecking at rice.

"Did you stay up late again? Didn't I tell you no staying up on weekdays? Don't my words matter anymore?"

Grandma scolded her daughter. Just then, her grandson walked out of the room yawning.

Grandma snorted coldly, still angry about yesterday's events, but she didn't want to mete out family discipline in front of everyone, so she grimly went into the kitchen to bring her grandson a bowl of hot congee, a final meal before his execution.

A few minutes later, Grandma stared at her daughter and grandson sitting side by side, both nodding off, and erupted:

"What were you two doing last night?!"

"Jiang Yu'er insisted on coming to my room to play games."

"Zhang Yuanqing insisted on me going to his room to play games."

They said in unison.

Then they turned on each other—Zhang Yuanqing grabbed his aunt's hair, Jiang Yu'er clawed at her nephew's face.

Grandpa and cousin were used to it, eating their meals calmly.

...

Two days later, at eight in the morning, Zhang Yuanqing, who had contacted ahead by text, took a taxi to the Huayu Hotel. He didn't wait long before Xie Lingxi emerged from the revolving door.

She wore black athletic pants today, a white T-shirt, a white women's jacket, and white running shoes.

Light sportswear.

Her long black hair was tied into a ponytail, swaying as she trotted.

Worth noting, a delicate white over-ear headset sat on her head, making it look like she was heading out for a run.

"Yuanshi gege, I had the driver fetch the car."

Xie Lingxi stopped in front of him, her smile sweet.

"Did you meet that Palace Lord?" Zhang Yuanqing asked curiously.

Xie Lingxi shook her head slightly, disappointed. "She didn't see me."

"A superficial family friendship," Zhang Yuanqing sneered.

"Of course not," Xie Lingxi puffed her cheeks and glared. "It's because people from the Xia Hou family along the coast came to Songhai to cause her trouble. She's busy preparing for a strong enemy, so she didn't meet me."

"The Xia Hou family?" Zhang Yuanqing's mind turned, recalling what family that was.

Having cleared an S-level Spirit Realm, his clearance level had increased, allowing him to read some higher-confidentiality materials.

In the world of Spirit Realm Walkers, within the lawful occupation camp, the most influential were the two major official organizations—the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect—followed by the five great families: the Zhao, Liu, and Xia Hou families of the "Scholar" occupation.

And the Xie and Zhu families of the "Musician" occupation.

The family of the Stoppage Palace Lord wasn't recorded in the materials, probably because it had been removed from the roster many years ago.

"The Xia Hou family's legitimate son was crippled by the Palace Lord last month, so they've come to seek revenge," Xie Lingxi said worriedly. "The Xia Hou family has operated for years, has many experts, and their connections reach everywhere. The Stoppage Palace is just a local Songhai organization after all. If it comes to a fight, the Five Elements Alliance will definitely side with the Xia Hou family."

The Stoppage Palace was far weaker than the Xia Hou family. It looked like they were in trouble. Zhang Yuanqing spotted a luxury commercial van approaching and said, "That's not something we need to worry about. The car's here."

...

The destination for this trip was Jinshan City.

North of Songhai, not far—only a 25-minute ride by high-speed rail, or about an hour by car.

They arrived at their destination at 9:30. It was a small hotel on the outskirts, with a sign embedded in the top of the door reading: Scarless Hotel.

Once the commercial van parked, Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi got out and entered the hotel lobby.

"What room do you need?"

The front desk clerk was a seductive woman aged 30–35, wearing a professional smile, with round, flirtatious eyes and a high bust—quite charming.

"Not checking in. We're looking for someone." Zhang Yuanqing cut to the chase, lowering his voice. "Looking for Master Scarless."

The beautiful clerk kept her professional smile, but her round, flirtatious eyes narrowed, and her gaze seemed to sharpen like a knife.

"There's no one named Scarless here," she said, word by word.

The air around them seemed to freeze. Both Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi felt immense pressure, as if they were being watched by a starving wolf.

This doesn't feel like the pressure of the Transcendent stage. Even a front desk clerk is this high-level? Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yuanqing said, "A man unworthy of being called a father asked me to deliver a message to Master Scarless."