Chapter 76: Reconciliation? Sending Your Entire Family on Their Way Is Even Better

November 3rd, Shanghai, light rain.

The leaden sky hung low, fine drizzle like silky threads falling upon the city below. Bai Yujing sat atop the ridge of the main building, gazing upward. Ten meters above Yashan, the rain was blocked by an invisible barrier, pooling into streams that traced the edge of the boundary, finally forming curtains of water that dropped down at the corners like natural waterfalls.

Bai Yujing disliked the sticky feeling the rain brought, and naturally would not allow it to fall within Qinyun Sect.

A gentle chime from his phone broke the quiet of the rain. He withdrew his gaze and fetched the device from his robe; the screen displayed a forced summons notification from the Demon Removal App.

This function was tailored for the wealthy, allowing them to spend money to remind sects that hadn’t logged in to accept orders. If a sect refused to go online, they’d only receive half the reward. Logging in would grant the full bounty.

“Class B order: locate the missing Zhang Xu. The last known location before disappearance was the VIP suite of Arena One at Shanghai Sports Center. Details to be discussed in person. Reward: five million.”

The order was issued by Mr. Zhang.

Bai Yujing stroked his chin and accepted the order, his status immediately changing to online. He glanced at Mr. Zhang's provided address: 79 Gathering Moon Pavilion, Shanghai.

A hollow sound marked his disappearance from the rooftop.

…

Inside a dazzling hall, crystal chandeliers scattered brilliant light, bathing the space in palace-like luxury.

A muffled thud sounded, and Bai Yujing appeared at the center of the hall. Two figures rushed to his side, front and back.

“Stand down!”

The two bodyguards, hearing their employer’s command, quickly sheathed their weapons and retreated silently.

Bai Yujing’s gaze went straight to the elderly man seated on the sofa.

Dressed in a refined suit, his hair dyed jet-black, the man appeared no older than forty, though his true age was sixty-one.

“As expected of Master Bai, slayer of the Eight-Headed Serpent, the eightfold mirrored boundary of my residence is useless before you. Remarkable, indeed.

I am Zhang Zeju, chairman of Changhe Industries.”

The elder rose, face alight with enthusiasm, and stepped forward, intending to shake hands with Bai Yujing.

Bai Yujing glanced at him indifferently. “Let’s discuss the order.”

Zhang Zeju felt a pang of irritation, but his face remained unflustered. He drew back his hand naturally. “My son Zhang Xu is a good man, often engaged in charity. He has no peculiar hobbies, save enjoying martial arts tournaments with friends. Last night, while watching the match between Du Yu and Tiger, he was kidnapped by criminals. I heard you were present at the event, Master Bai, so I’d like you to investigate who abducted my son.”

He paused, his tone resolute. “Of course, I know these matters are hard to resolve. If Zhang Xu truly suffered misfortune, it’s fate, but I must apprehend the culprit. I trust your abilities, Master Bai, to bring the perpetrator to me for judgment!”

Zhang Zeju deliberately stressed the word “culprit.” His eyes, sharp and clear, held none of the haze of age.

He knew his son was dead, perhaps even due to the man before him. The outcome last night should have been Tiger’s victory, after all. But in this sensitive period, Zhang Zeju had no wish to provoke further trouble. His son was not his only child; what was done was done, and it was not worth offending the powerful Bai Yujing.

He wouldn’t pursue the matter, but he needed to show he was aware, lest he appear weak.

Bai Yujing understood perfectly; this elder was ostensibly asking him to investigate Zhang Xu’s disappearance, but in truth, he was currying favor.

All that was required was to find a scapegoat so that the Zhang family could save face.

“Heh.” Bai Yujing smiled. Like father, like son. The whole family regarded human life as nothing.

“Very well.”

Bai Yujing agreed without hesitation.

Zhang Zeju was not surprised. In his view, he had already shown sufficient respect. Whatever Zhang Xu had done to offend Bai Yujing, now was the time to turn foe into friend, not to escalate matters with the Zhang family.

He waved to his steward to confirm the order, updating the status to “Spirit Master in Search.”

Bai Yujing vanished from the hall with a hollow sound.

…

Bang.

In the western bedroom atop the main building, Bai Yujing appeared out of thin air.

Outside, the leaden sky continued to drizzle against the barrier.

He approached the desk, swiftly inscribing scriptures onto two sheets of paper; the brush whispered across the surface.

Finished, Bai Yujing took the two sheets and flashed out the window.

He landed lightly in the stone plaza and called, “Gather here, I have a task for you.”

Soon, three figures appeared before him.

Tiya was the first to ask, “Master, what is the task?”

“Yesterday, I eliminated the Zhang family’s eldest grandson. Now they’ve come knocking. I want you to wipe them out. No need to kill their servants. And find out where their family head, Zhang Jiacheng, is.”

Rather than appeasing the Zhangs with a scapegoat, Bai Yujing preferred to send their entire family off for a reunion in the underworld.

He had dedicated himself to cultivation not to become adept at diplomacy, but to uphold his own principles and refuse anything he did not wish to do.

Tiya voiced no complaint. Bai Yujing had asked her to give up world domination—that was impossible. Killing, however, was trivial.

Tiya asked, “Master, what about the bodyguards?”

Bai Yujing answered without hesitation, “Their spiritual pressure reeks of corruption. Clearly, they’ve done much evil for Zhang Zeju. Leave none alive!”

Tiya teased, “Leave none alive—that doesn’t sound like something a righteous person would say.”

“To punish evil, decisive action is necessary,” Liu Shuangling explained with a smile.

Zhu Ying said nothing. She had no interest in such details; if Bai Yujing said kill, she would kill. In her mind, the more Bai Yujing killed, the better.

Unlike Liu Shuangling and Tiya, Zhu Ying had no desire for dominance. Her wish to become a god stemmed from her belief that the world needed an adversary. If Bai Yujing was willing to be that adversary, she would gladly act as his claw.

Kill, kill, kill!

Her eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

Bai Yujing handed over the two scriptures. “This ‘Hidden Cicada’ will conceal your spiritual pressure and tracks on the way. The ‘Octagonal Mirror Coffin’ is for setting up a boundary at the mansion at 79 Gathering Moon Pavilion—no matter how loud, it won’t matter.”

“What about you, Master?”

“I’m heading to Shanghai Sports Center to investigate Zhang Xu’s disappearance.”

Bai Yujing needed to show, publicly, that he had nothing to do with the Zhang family’s demise. As long as the authorities found no evidence, Qinyun Sect would remain a lawful, righteous order.

He wasn’t about to let a few sewer rats tarnish the sect’s reputation.

Zhu Ying infused spiritual pressure into the Hidden Cicada; the scripture shimmered, turning to mist that enveloped the trio, blending them into the surroundings.

Without delay, the three used the Yu Step and vanished from the stone plaza.