Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

As soon as Jiang Shuxuan drove the car to the gates, Xixi flew out of the house.

“Beauty Gu! Beauty Gu!”

“Why didn’t you take Xixi with you today?” Jiang Shuxuan asked with slightly narrowed eyes. The flicker of frost in his eyes startled Xixi, who immediately flew to sit on Gu Xiqiao’s shoulder.

Gu Xiqiao saw it happening, and raised an eyebrow at him, reaching up to touch her nose. “I left Xixi at home to accompany Haha.”

In actuality, she felt that Xixi was a tad noisy, and had too much of a human-like personality. Bringing it out made her feel like there was no privacy, so she was lazy to bring it out with her.

“Remember to bring it along next time, there have been some ninjas coming into N City recently. I’d feel more assured if Xixi was with you.”

As the evaluation for the Ranking List drew closer, many foreigners were coming to inquire about China discreetly. The reason was because China had produced someone like Jiang Shuxuan who had been sitting in the top spot for the past ten years, and thus igniting their competitive spirit.

After observing for a few days to find that they hadn’t managed to cross the boundaries, he relaxed slightly. However, they were still being kept under watch discreetly, since these people were no ordinary people after all. Being the rising new generation from Russia, their skills couldn’t be underestimated. As seeded players, they would definitely have some heavy protections on themselves, and if they were to use it would most likely lead to earth-shattering scenarios. And that was also the reason why Jiang Shuxuan was worried that she would meet these people, she had a lot of secrets after all, and sometimes even he couldn’t measure her true strength.

China had already occupied three spots among the top twenty in the Ranking List, and were already a thorn in the side of the other counties. If they were to add one more this time, they would be under even more scrutiny, and it was possible that the other countries would resort to more underhanded measures.

Hearing the new term, Gu Xiqiao’s interest was piqued. “Ninjas? Do those things really exist?” Thinking about it made her excited, she had never seen one before.

Jiang Shuxuan had wanted to correct her by saying that ninjas were not things, but then he paused. That wasn’t right, if they weren’t ‘things’, then what were they?

He couldn’t think of a more appropriate term, so he skipped that line of thought completely instead. “There should be some in the forum, you can go back and have a look through. Remember to take Xixi out with you next time.”

“I know.” Gu Xiqiao nodded, the shine in her eyes growing brighter as she thought about it. She had been in contact with ancient martial arts for so long, and still rarely encountered any other cultivators. And now finding out the existence of ninjas… she was really looking forward to it.

Seeing the bright sparkles in her eyes, Jiang Shuxuan could faintly make a guess at what she was thinking about. Feeling helpless at the situation, he could only give Xixi a pointed look, emphasizing for it to keep a careful eye on her. And to contact him should anything happen, no matter what the time.

Both of them entered the house together, and the first thing that caught their eyes was the figure of Yin Shaoyuan lazing on the couch. Once the man saw the two of them walk in, he jumped up immediately, suddenly full of life as he exclaimed, “You guys are back. Auntie Zhang, serve the dishes!”

Mrs. Zhang called back affirmative from the kitchen, and then started bringing out the dishes to the table.

“Aren’t you busy today?” Jiang Shuxuan suddenly asked, after seeing Yin Shaoyuan lean over to Gu Xiqiao to chatter in her ears.

Yin Shaoyuan straightened up in his seat subconsciously, a grave expression sliding onto his face. “What, I was actually very busy. A group of new, egg-headed recruits broke my heart. They got big-headed after completing one mission, so I wanted to borrow Qiao…ah, no. I want to invite the both of you to give them a scolding!”

“Is there a reason you can’t do it?” Gu Xiqiao replied, scratching the top of Haha’s head, her tone disinterested.

“Sigh, I need to maintain my cold and uncaring attitude!” Yin Shaoyuan said, a hint of a whine coming into his voice. “I’m not like Brother Jiang, who got the title of major general without needing to do anything. I’m just a poor commander, and I’ve only just been promoted!”

Grandpa had thrown him into the barracks at the age of thirteen, starting out from the lowest rank of a soldier. Twelve years later, Yin Shaoyuan had finally started to make his own achievements, slowly climbing up the ranks with his own strength. Grandpa had said that the Yin family was not his stepping stone, and no one in the barracks knew his background. How high he could climb would wholly be dependent on his own power.

Gu Xiqiao silently thought that Jiang Shuxuan had done more to achieve his status. Without his ancient martial art skills, how would he have the position he was in today?

“Don’t you have an entertainment company, how are you still able to become a commander?”

Could soldiers have their own businesses? Thinking back to the way he was so laid back, did all soldiers have so much free time? Wasn’t there any training to be done?

“Hehe, that’s because I was carrying out a big mission for Brother Jiang before this, and the top brass gave me a month’s leave after that,” Yin Shaoyuan said, kicking his legs up to place it on the coffee table, he looked at Jiang Shuxuan. “If you need help in any of your missions, don’t hesitate to find me, don’t be shy!”

“I fear that you will leave and not return instead.” Jiang Shuxuan shifted his gaze to him, with a thin line on his lips, and his graceful hands holding the porcelain cup. “After all, you’re very weak.”

Yin Shaoyuan, who has been stabbed in his heart by a few knives: What happened to the deep friendship bond between us? Belittling him in front of Er Qiao like this, he couldn’t believe that Jiang Shuxuan could be this petty! He had really judged him wrongly!

Yin Shaoyuan narrowed his eyes, turning to look deep into Gu Xiqiao’s eyes instead. “Qiao Qiao, don’t listen to Brother Jiang’s nonsense, I’m actually super strong, I’m not lying.”

She blinked, her long lashes fluttering with the movement, as a bright smile graced her face, her melodious voice floating out as she asked, “Then, can you beat me?”

Crack!

Yin Shaoyuan could practically hear the sound of his heart breaking. His domineering, intimidating, tall, and strong big brother image was in shambles in her eyes. ‘Jiang Shuxuan, I want to duel you!’

However, when he thought about it, there were many things that needed to be considered in dueling, if you weren’t careful, you could also lose your life!

“The military base is quite fun. Qiao Qiao, don’t you want to go?” Yin Shaoyuan was at his wit’s end, clasping his hands together. “You’re free tomorrow, right? Let’s go let’s go let’s go?”

Since it was Yin Shaoyuan, Gu Xiqiao had just been teasing him. She glanced over to Jiang Shuxuan, who was tapping his fingers against the cup, and knew instantly that he had also been teasing Yin Shaoyuan, “Then I’ll go with you to see tomorrow!”

With Yin Shaoyuan’s personality, he wouldn’t have raised the issue with them if it was something that he could resolve on his own, so the moment he opened his mouth, the two of them had already decided that they would go. However, they couldn’t help but give in to the urge to tease him when they saw his face.

With such sadistic habits, they really were birds of a feather.

Seeing the two of them agreeing, Yin Shaoyuan felt relieved. He hadn’t been sleeping well the past few days, and his eyelids slid shut before Mrs. Zhang had even finished serving up the dishes.

“Let him sleep, missing one meal wouldn’t matter.” Mrs. Zhang was about to wake him up, but Jiang Shuxuan stopped her. “Save some dinner for him later, and lay the sofa back down.”

The sofa can be unfolded, and with Yin Shaoyuan’s tall figure, sleeping on the sofa wouldn’t be comfortable. Once Mrs. Zhang extended the sofa, it looked better, and no different than a normal bed.

“Brother Jiang, what happened to him?” Gu Xiqiao didn’t expect him to fall into such a deep sleep in just a few minutes.

Jiang Shuxuan’s fingertips twitched. “It’s stress, and he hasn’t been sleeping well for a while. Let him rest.”

The two moved the dinner dishes to the other hall, so that Yin Shaoyuan could rest quietly. Though Gu Xiqiao felt that Jiang Shuxuan might know more than he was letting on, he didn’t look like he had any intentions to share. She would get the system spirit to look into it.

Ever since the system spirit was able to materialize and leave on its own, it would take any and all chances it could to head out to roam. It was even curious about the more shady sides, with places like the red-light districts. Without fail, it would always head out for at least five hours, just exploring. Hearing Gu Xiqiao’s words, it spread its wings and immediately flew out.

The system spirit had also started behaving like a normal person, not going through walls but floating down the stairs slowly to leave the house. When it was on its way down the stairs, it bumped into Jiang Shuxuan, who was heading upstairs.

His ink-black eyes seemed to have a considerable amount of light in it, and the system spirit shivered at it. It didn’t dare to look at Jiang Shuxuan, flying away as soon as it could.

Up till flying out of the house, the system spirit could still feel the chills on its back.

***

Early the next morning, even before the sun had risen, the eyes of a girl lying in the middle of a white bed fluttered open slowly, revealing a pair of bright, clear eyes. There was a faint flush on her pale flawless face, and she tilted her head to the side, seeing a cute spirit lying beside her.

Upon closer inspection, the spirit’s body was not actually touching the bed, but it was lying quietly with its eyes closed and sleeping, seemingly like any other ordinary person.

As the only person who could touch it, Gu Xiqiao reached out with a finger, rousing it. “Stop sleeping already, tell me what’s the situation?”

The system spirit opened its eyes, floating upward slowly. “I eavesdropped in the corner yesterday night for a long time. Recently, some soldiers in the military barracks suddenly became very powerful, and their attitudes also changed drastically. They cleared S rank missions easily, and their ranks have also risen rapidly. Apparently, it’s because of a cave behind the mountains. I heard that as long as you walk into it, you would come out powerful, and a lot of soldiers have been sneaking out to look for the cave.”

So that was what was happening, Gu Xiqiao rubbed her chin thoughtfully. After a while, she got up and headed for the shower, and once she was done she followed behind Jiang Shuxuan and Yin Shaoyuan toward the military barracks.

The only military district in N City was located in a hidden forest and was surrounded by mountains, there was only one road leading into it, and it was littered with guards. Nobody could just waltz into the place, and anybody without special permits would be caught once they step foot onto the path.

At the same time, there was a figure walking on the south side mountain, he was wearing a military uniform, a red star on his shoulder. He had tanned skin, and he was standing at the side of a dark cave, his face holding an expression of joy. He had finally found it after so long, the rumored mountain cave.

He was just a villager from a rural village, having never studied before, he entered the army relying on his physical body. After almost eight years, he was still just a lowly soldier, receiving the lowest amount of salary. There were also just a handful of times that he had returned home, and now his family wrote to him, informing him that his son was sick, and they needed money urgently. But, how would he have such a sum of money?!

In his desperation, he heard rumors of the mountain cave, and so he sneaked out in order to search for it. As long as he went in, he could be different when he came out, he would be able to carry out more missions, and receive more money.

Looking at the dark cave, he strode forward determinedly, but came upon an invisible barrier not long after.

A low voice came from behind him, somewhat clear and melodious. But before the man could hear what was being said, he pitched forward, falling down into a dead faint.