____
Pei Wenjiang listened carefully to Qi Yuan's account, his expression shifting from calm to surprise. Despite Qi Yuan's modest tone, the facts were undeniable — a cultivator at the middle stage of foundation building had single-handedly defeated two late-stage and one early-stage opponents. Such a feat was remarkable even among the elite of their factions.
Yan Mo and Shi Junyan were equally shocked. Their earlier annoyance at being addressed as junior brothers and sisters quickly faded. With strength like that, there was no choice but to acknowledge Qi Yuan's skill.
Afterward, Qi Yuan led them to confirm the identities of the fallen cultivators. He then handed over their storage bags to Pei Wenjiang.
"It's true," Pei Wenjiang muttered, retrieving identity tokens from the bags. His eyes widened with disbelief.
The three traitors had been stationed at a logistics point — a crucial position that gave them the power to manipulate resources and cover their tracks. If they had remained undiscovered, the six sects could have suffered severe losses.
"Junior Brother Qi," Pei Wenjiang said with admiration, "it's no surprise now that you're Fairy Hongfu's disciple. Your resourcefulness saved us from disaster."
He turned to Yan Mo and Shi Junyan. "Take the bodies and the storage bags back to headquarters. Report everything to your respective sects."
The two nodded, bowed, and swiftly departed with the remains in tow.
Qi Yuan watched them leave, his thoughts drifting back to his recent conversation with Nangong Wan. Her agreement still lingered in his mind.
Pei Wenjiang's voice broke his thoughts. "Junior Brother Qi, the higher-ups have approved your request. You're relieved from your duties as a logistics officer. You're free to pursue your other matters now."
A smile of relief spread across Qi Yuan's face. "Thank you, Senior Brother Pei. I'll leave everything in your capable hands."
By midday, Qi Yuan had finished the handover and departed on his Dragon Spirit Shuttle, heading toward Yuanwu Kingdom. Yan Ruyan, a foundation-building cultivator, accompanied him — a useful ally for the journey ahead.
---
In Yuanwu Kingdom, at the Nameless Hill, Xin Ruyin sat in a quiet room, deeply focused on her tea ceremony practice. Her calm demeanor barely wavered as Xiaomei rushed in, breathless.
"Miss," Xiaomei said urgently, "there are more people watching us outside."
Xin Ruyin's expression hardened. "Has there been any word from the senior cultivator I reached out to?"
"No news yet," Xiaomei replied, "but there's a letter from Master Qi." She handed over a folded note.
Xin Ruyin barely glanced at it before tossing it into the fire without a second thought. She resumed her tea brewing, her face cold and distant.
Over the past year, Qi Yuan had repeatedly visited in hopes of making amends. Yet Xin Ruyin's anger remained. She had distanced herself from him, not because of the canceled Chen family engagement — but because of his repeated visits to a brothel.
He claimed his behavior wasn't serious enough to warrant her frustration, believing her anger stemmed only from the failed engagement. Yet each time the topic arose, memories of Qi Yuan's warmth and their once-close moments clouded her mind, leaving her conflicted.
Instead of confronting him about his actions, Xin Ruyin chose silence. Letters went unanswered, and she eventually severed contact altogether.
Xiaomei sighed as she watched her mistress, unsure how to bridge the growing distance between them.
"Xiaomei," Xin Ruyin said quietly, "did the cultivator in the late foundation stage agree to help us?"
"Yes, Miss," Xiaomei confirmed. "Senior Xia Bing agreed, but his price is steep — he demands one set of formation equipment capable of trapping a Jindan-stage cultivator and three sets for foundation-building cultivators."
Xin Ruyin's brow furrowed. The cost was high, but she had no choice — the Chen family's threat loomed too large.
"Fine," Xin Ruyin said firmly. "Deliver two formation sets now as a down payment. The rest will follow later."
She retrieved two gleaming sets of formation equipment from her storage bag — polished silver plates and intricate flags inscribed with powerful runes.
Xiaomei carefully packed the equipment and nodded. "I'll deliver them right away."
Thanks to the dense poison swamp that acted as a natural barrier, Xiaomei could travel unnoticed. Armed with an antidote for the swamp's miasma, she departed.
---
In Golden Horse City, Xiaomei approached a secluded courtyard. Stepping inside, she called out, "Senior Xia, my lady has agreed to your terms. Here's half the reward in advance."
The door creaked open just enough for a flash of light to suck in the formation equipment.
"Miss Xin's talent in formations is improving," a hoarse voice remarked. "I'll intervene when the time comes."
"Please remember," Xiaomei added cautiously, "when the Chen family's ancestor arrives, we'll be counting on you."
"You're just a lowly maid," the voice sneered. "You have no right to lecture me. Now get out."
Xiaomei bit her lip, suppressing her frustration. She turned and hurried away.
---
The journey back through the poisonous swamp felt unusually tense. Xiaomei's steps quickened as she neared the dense forest. Poisonous insects clung to the trees, their clicking sounds filling the air. She knew this path well, yet something felt wrong.
A sudden flash of dark energy shot toward her — a powerful attack far beyond her abilities.
Xiaomei narrowly dodged, rolling to the side as a pair of hooked weapons embedded themselves in a tree, carving deep gashes in the bark.
"You're quick for a maid," a gruff voice sneered. A rotund man with a wicked grin emerged from the shadows. "But can you dodge again?"
Xiaomei's face paled. She recognized him — a cultivator at the peak of Qi training, leagues above her.
Summoning her courage, she channeled her mana. Two earth spikes shot forward, followed by a pair of fireballs. It wasn't much, but it was all she could manage.
The fat man laughed mockingly. With a flick of his wrist, his hooks shot forward once more, slicing through Xiaomei's spells with ease. The hooks whirled back toward her, closing in fast.
The man's grin widened. He knew there was no way she could escape this time.
(End Of Chapter)