Chapter 508: Undercurrent (Part 2)

Chapter 508: Chapter 336: Undercurrent (Part 2)

“Get ready. When the time comes, your senior sister here will show you the world.”

He Xijun patted Zhao Xuanqi’s shoulder patronizingly.

…

…

「Meanwhile, in Rong City, Heqing Dao.」

Within Heqing Dao, Rong City was considered a mid-sized city, not nearly as prosperous as major hubs like South Mansion or Tang City.

On a street somewhere in Rong City.

“Qiufen, just back from the market?”

“Ma’am, when will those clothes be ready? It’s getting chilly, and autumn’s just around the corner.”

“Qiufen, has your Yuan come home yet?”

“…”

A plainly dressed, middle-aged woman walked down the street with a bamboo basket on her arm. Looking as if she had just returned from the market, she chatted with a radiant smile as neighbors greeted her.

Only when she was back home with the door shut did the smile vanish from her face, replaced by a cold indifference. She was like a different person. Head bowed, she seemed to be lost in thought.

Zhang Qiufen was a native of Rong City. She had been widowed at a young age and raised her son, Li Dayuan, all by herself. Thanks to some natural talent, Li Dayuan had learned a few martial arts moves and now worked for a security escort agency in the city. He traveled far and wide and was rarely home, but he regularly sent a good sum of taels of silver back with others, so Zhang Qiufen lived a comfortable life.

But now, the real Zhang Qiufen was in the custody of the Celestial Net Department. The person who had taken her place was Ning Qiyang, the “Si Snake,” one of the Twelve Earthly Branches of the Department.

Within the Celestial Net Department, the Ten Celestial Stems were chosen for their combat prowess. The Martial Artists selected for the Twelve Earthly Branches, however, were valued not only for their strength but more so for certain “Odd Skills.”

The skill “Si Snake” Ning Qiyang possessed was a peculiar Magic known as the “Transformation Technique.” This Magic allowed her to simulate another person’s form with near-perfect accuracy—physically, in her Primordial Qi, and in her Spirit. The greater the power gap between herself and the target of her impersonation, the more complete the simulation.

Two months ago, two of the Six Pillars descended upon Heqing Dao and began investigating the organization behind several recent incidents in the region. But this Evil Cultivation organization was exceptionally covert, making it difficult to find any leads. To date, the only connections they had uncovered were a few scattered Believers. No big fish had been caught.

Zhang Qiufen was one of these ordinary Believers. Ning Qiyang, using her abilities to impersonate Zhang Qiufen, was essentially lying in wait, hoping to bait her contact.

But so far, she had come up empty-handed.

‘The Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here, and so is the Emperor’s deadline. If we don’t make any progress soon, we’ll all be held responsible…’

Ning Qiyang sighed softly, put down her bamboo basket, and started lighting the stove to make dinner.

Before impersonating Zhang Qiufen, she had observed the woman for nearly a week, memorizing her habits and mannerisms to ensure a flawless performance.

Just as she was thinking today would be another dead end, a strange feeling suddenly bloomed within her. She was inwardly startled but dared not let it show. Maintaining a nonchalant expression, she continued lighting the stove to cook.

It felt like an observation, but the watcher was unable to find any flaw in Ning Qiyang’s nearly perfect simulation of appearance, Primordial Qi, Spirit, and habits.

After a full Quarter Hour, a strange voice suddenly spoke next to Ning Qiyang’s ear. It was impossible to discern its gender or age, and it was utterly indifferent. “Zhang Qiufen, proceed at once to Beiyuan Street, C-12. Let no one follow. Enter Room H-13 alone.”

After delivering the message, the voice fell silent. But Ning Qiyang could still feel that strange, unseen presence lingering around her; it hadn’t left.

Her face remained impassive, but inwardly, she felt a chill.

‘They’re ordering me to go at once, and I can still feel that strange observation. I have no way to react or pass on intelligence. In order to win their trust, we didn’t place any hidden sentries or other security. The other party is far more vigilant than anticipated; they’ll cut contact at the slightest unusual move.’

‘But it’s within the city, isn’t it? With the local City God present, the actual level of danger isn’t all that high.’

‘Has my disguise and stakeout finally borne fruit? I have to go. There’s no other choice.’

A dozen thoughts flashed through Ning Qiyang’s mind in an instant. She made her decision immediately: she could not let this lead go cold.

She immediately began gathering some things, picked up her basket, and walked out the door.

Beiyuan Street wasn’t far from her neighborhood. In less than half an hour, she stood before the location the voice had mentioned: C-12.

It was an inn called “Lucky Inn.” The decor was plain, ranking it as merely a mid-tier establishment in the city.

Upon entering the inn, Ning Qiyang specified she wanted Room H-13. The clerk looked a little surprised, wondering how she knew Room H-13 was unoccupied.

After paying for the room, she followed the voice’s instructions and declined the clerk’s offer to show her the way. Taking the key, Ning Qiyang went up to the second floor alone and began looking for the room number, her mind already racing.

‘Judging by the clerk’s reaction, he didn’t know I was coming. We’ve never met, and there’s no connection. He doesn’t seem to be a member of the organization.’

‘And from his reaction, Room H-13 really was empty. Why would the voice have me take an empty room? What’s the purpose? Did they leave a clue inside?’

Ning Qiyang wondered.

It couldn’t be helped; she had very few leads to go on. Even after the Celestial Net Department had secretly captured the real Zhang Qiufen, they hadn’t managed to get much information out of her.