Chapter Twenty-Six: Iron Hand Pays a Visit

After reuniting with Qi Xiang, Bai Yujing signed a symbolic non-disclosure agreement, marking the successful completion of the assignment. He withdrew from the incident, and Qi Xiang did not continue his surveillance. The opponent was a formidable Grade Eight spirit pressure demon, so naturally, a Jin Yiwei of corresponding strength took over.

Bai Yujing returned to Azure Cloud Sect.

Bang!

A muffled explosion shattered the air, sunlight streaming onto the bluestone slabs as Bai Yujing appeared out of thin air, catching the attention of the three women basking in the courtyard.

Zhuying had already changed into a new, snow-white dress. Her chest was still prominently arched, yet no longer bore the twisted, Lovecraftian contours of before. The plain front of the white dress only accentuated her proud stature; her waist, too, seemed a shade plumper due to the rise of her bosom.

Bai Yujing beckoned, “Come here, all of you, and scan the QR code for my demon-slaying app with your phones. The app you download is bound to our Azure Cloud Sect’s exclusive account, making it convenient for me to assign you missions.”

“I told you, a phone is absolutely essential,” Tiya remarked, arching an eyebrow with a hint of exotic satisfaction on her face. Bai Yujing had instructed them to buy clothes but had not mentioned phones. Yet Tiya knew that in modern society, a phone was practically an external organ. To avoid the hassle of buying one later, she had thoughtfully purchased a phone for Zhuying.

Zhuying showed no sign of gratitude, remaining as aloof as ever. Secretly, however, she glanced sidelong at Tiya and Liu Shuangling, watching how they operated their phones before mimicking their actions. Having lived with her mother and sister in a remote mountain region, shunned by others, she had never had the chance to use a smartphone. Fortunately, her aptitude for learning was strong; by observing the other two, she quickly picked up how to scan QR codes and install the demon-slaying app.

“Once you’re online, fill in your personal information and submit it. I’ll then grant you permission to take assignments,” Bai Yujing continued. “For now, you’ll be working together on missions.”

He then emphasized seriously, “You don’t have to put on friendly faces for the clients, but remember—never threaten or intimidate them. Think of yourselves as cold, unfeeling order machines; just complete the task, understood?”

“Understood,” Tiya replied carelessly.

Watching their expressions, Bai Yujing felt a twinge of doubt as to whether they could carry out their assignments properly. Still, fledglings must eventually learn to fly. He decided to place some trust in them, believing their malice would not run rampant so long as they hadn’t overthrown him.

...

The three women completed order after order with impassive faces. Including Bai Yujing’s own assignments, they reached sixteen orders that day. Only one more was needed to break through to the C-rank sect. Yet Bai Yujing abruptly stopped.

He felt that the final order should carry a certain sense of ceremony. For instance, once all three were attired in the Azure Cloud Sect uniform, the four of them would complete the mission together.

Tiya and the others didn’t care in the slightest about his sudden fancy and offered no objection. In their eyes, such trivial matters were inconsequential. Whether or not they advanced to a C-rank sect was entirely up to Bai Yujing.

“In thanks for your efforts today, let me offer you a toast,” Bai Yujing said, raising his glass of cola.

Tiya, Liu Shuangling, and Zhuying perfunctorily raised their glasses of orange juice and clinked them together in a symbolic gesture.

Dusk shrouded the Azure Cloud Sect’s courtyard, the bluestone slabs seeming to shimmer with flowing light. The autumn wind rustled, stirring leaves beyond the courtyard with a whispering sound.

Bai Yujing drained his glass in one gulp, poured another, and looked at Zhuying. “Will you be staying in the Azure Cloud Sect tonight, or do you want to find a place outside?”

“I’d prefer to stay outside,” Zhuying answered without a trace of hesitation.

Bai Yujing did not press her to stay. “Very well. I’ll transfer fifty thousand to your Feixin account. Find yourself a place to stay. Remember, you must be at Azure Cloud Sect every morning by 6:30.”

“All right,” replied Zhuying, her tone still chilly.

Bai Yujing called out warmly, “This is a celebration! Eat heartily, don’t dawdle.”

The table was laden with sumptuous dishes: braised pork, steamed fish, sweet and sour ribs, garlic greens, and more—the aromas mingling in the air.

...

October seventeenth, morning.

In the main hall, the three women were locked in an intense battle. Zhuying’s gigantic spirit avatar swung a massive axe in midair, while Tiya and Liu Shuangling nimbly dodged with the Yubu step, the fight fierce and relentless.

Suddenly, Bai Yujing sensed a powerful spiritual pressure appearing at the archway of Azure Cloud Sect.

He immediately called out, “Stop for now, someone has come to visit.”

The translucent golden avatar vanished, and Tiya and Liu Shuangling ceased their rapid movements. Sweat beaded on Tiya’s brow like pearls as she asked curiously, “What kind of guest?”

“I’m not sure,” Bai Yujing replied. “The visitor is ascending the steps slowly and deliberately. For now, let’s receive him as a guest should be.”

He restored the hall to its proper order, instructing Liu Shuangling to greet the visitor at the door, and Tiya to prepare tea. As for serving the tea, he assigned the task to Zhuying, ensuring everyone had something to do.

Liu Shuangling exited the hall and stepped into the courtyard. Sunlight dappled the bluestone steps, casting mottled patterns. Soon, a burly figure appeared in her line of sight.

The man wore a deep blue uniform, tall and imposing, with a square jaw, thick brows, and striking eyes—his every step radiating an aura of righteous authority.

“Iron Hand Bao Long,” Liu Shuangling recognized the famed figure immediately. Recalling Zhuying’s identity, she surmised his purpose.

“Inspector Bao, the sect leader is waiting for you inside,” Liu Shuangling said, bowing with a respectful yet dignified tone.

Bao Long glanced at her, surprise flickering in his eyes—not at her beauty, towards which he was indifferent, but at her astonishingly high spiritual pressure for one so young.

“The depths of Azure Cloud Sect are greater than I imagined,” Bao Long mused inwardly, then strode proudly across the courtyard into the main hall.

Upon entering, his gaze immediately found Zhuying. The vivid red hair and the small horns confirmed he was in the right place.

Bao Long was here mainly because he had uncovered financial dealings between Yang Long and a man named Zhao Yi. He suspected Zhao Yi was a professional assassin. Yang Long had hired Zhao Yi to eliminate Bai Yujing, who had thwarted his plan to silence witnesses.

Bao Long’s confidence in this deduction stemmed from Zhao Yi’s online activity; prior to losing contact, Zhao Yi had investigated the location of Azure Cloud Sect. Now, Bai Yujing was alive and well. Clearly, Zhao Yi’s assassination had failed, and he had been captured, revealing Yang Long’s whereabouts—everything fit.

Thus, Bao Long had come to investigate. Yet the presence of Zhuying confirmed his suspicions.

“Bai Yujing,” Bao Long’s voice was low and commanding, “I now suspect that on October fifteenth, you killed Zhao Yi in self-defense, then went to Tianbao Pavilion to slay the Six Doors Inspector, Yang Long. Afterwards, you took away the murderer Zhuying, who caused trouble at Tianbao Pavilion. I ask that you come with me to assist in this investigation!”

The atmosphere in the hall instantly turned tense. The fragrance of tea curled in the air, but could not dispel the unease.

Just as Bai Yujing was about to speak, Tiya—who had spent the night poring over legal texts—interjected first, “Inspector Bao, please be mindful of your language. If you continue, you risk a defamation suit!”

Her tone was sharp, her expression proud. “The sect leader was clearly forced to counterattack and eliminate a threat. As for our junior sister, she can hardly be called a murderer—she’s an unfortunate girl who fell into the hands of human traffickers, traumatized into defending herself. There is a world of difference between legitimate self-defense and intentional homicide!”