Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Jiang Shuxuan had not replied, which made the uneasiness in Butler Jiang’s heart grow.

“Butler, go and do something for me…” Suddenly, Jiang Shuxuan raised his head, his cold, piercing eyes on the butler.

Being the recipient of Jiang Shuxuan’s icy glare, Butler Jiang felt his heart jump to his throat. Oh my word, what kind of outrageous thing was the young master up to now?

Before the shock completely settled, a cold voice spoke through his mind, making him even more stunned and rooted to the spot.

Gu Xiqiao had intended to take a shower after she went upstairs, but then her steps paused when she stepped into the room, then turned around to check something on the computer in the study. After she was done keying in some instructions, her gaze fell on the wooden box beside her.

The box was at its usual place, even the top was still uncovered.

She looked towards the computer, where the codes were still scrolling through. The computer in the study was not as good as her own one. Her string of instructions had already been inserted, but the computer hadn’t fully processed it yet.

Thinking of this, she stood up, walking to the wooden box and opening it.

With Jiang Shuxuan’s attitude, she thought that there should be some ancient texts that were damaged and placed here for preservation, but what she found was not books, but… some documents and information, as well as her household registration.

Gu Xiqiao was stunned when she saw the documents. When she was taken from Baixing Village, Master Gu had taken away her household registration. After she had left the Gu family, she had thought that it was gone with the wind. She had severed ties with the Gu family at that time, so it wasn’t like it mattered whether or not she had it with her anyway.

She didn’t expect to find it here. Gu Xiqiao touched her chin thoughtfully, the cloud in her heart finally clearing up.

The computer made a beeping sound, indicating that it had finished processing her string of commands. Closing the lid, she went back to the computer, inserting a USB drive into the socket.

Various screens had popped up after the string of commands had been processed, and it was moving at a fast speed. There were tons of information and large images, and even some insignificant news. Gu Xiqiao read them with undivided attention, up till the end, when all the image turned into snowflakes, slowly condensing into two big words on screen—Game, start!

Beauty Qiao. Jiji’s voice rang out in her mind suddenly. There’s some problem with the network, I’ll fix it immediately!

Gu Xiqiao reached out to unplug the USB drive, the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Game? Who’s playing a game with you?”

Obviously Jiji could hear the words she spoke.

Butler Jiang saw Jiji shiver suddenly, and couldn’t help but ask, “Master Jiji, what’s wrong? Are you cold?”

Jiji: “…” Asking a robot whether it’s cold, Butler Jiang, are you okay?

Jiji raised its head, looking at the handheld computer in its hands, lamenting. Look at those politicians in America, none of them even dare utter the name of their Beauty Qiao, because they were afraid that she would harm the country. Why were the politicians in China so bold?

Gu Xiqiao obviously didn’t know Jiji’s thoughts at this time, and she put the USB drive into her pocket, sending all the data on the internet to Jiji.

Just as she was going back to her room to take a shower, Yu Ning’s call came suddenly.

“Miss Gu, something has happened.” Yu Ning also knew about Peace Manor and the Peace Squad, but he was only interested in the things on the internet, so he had been nesting in Nine Heavens headquarters these days, only interested in collecting news from all the world online.

Ever since he had heard about the calamity that Peace Manor had mentioned, his daily interest had been to collect news about weird events around the world. The search tonight allowed him to find tons of videos that had been taken by the ordinary folk. “There’s been many strange happenings all over the world, and some people are even preaching about how the end of the world is near. Usually, the majority of the people wouldn’t believe these things, but after these people finished speaking, a bunch of god-knows-what monsters suddenly appeared. Guns couldn’t bring them down, and the ordinary folks have been thrown into a panic right now. I’m guessing that the government is in a mess right now. I’m sending you a few videos so you’ll see the situation for yourself.”

Gu Xiqiao’s face sank. “Their actions are fast indeed.”

“Miss Gu?” Yu Ning didn’t understand what she had meant.

“Let Luo Wenlang know about this matter, he’ll know what to do.” Gu Xiqiao narrowed her eyes, then hung up and gave a call to Zhu Yuan.

It had taken Zhu Yuan five days to figure out Joyner’s illness, and as he lamented about the wonders of the world, he held a syringe as he went to look for Zhuge Yan. But when he walked into the room, he didn’t see the man.

“Where’s your young master?” Seeing Wei Xi and Wei Xu playing games was a sight that he was already used to.

“Bro, is this person really Jiji?” Wei Xi was doing a quest, and when she saw that the leader of the team turned out to be Jiji, she almost went nuts.

Wei Xu had wanted to reply, but then he heard Zhu Yuan’s voice, and he immediately turned to stand. “Mr. Zhu, the young master should be in the courtyard.”

The corner of Zhu Yuan’s mouth pulled down at the answer, and he walked towards the mentioned location as he muttered, “Watching the night sky again?”

In the compound of the laboratory, Zhuge Yan raised his head slightly to look in the direction of the night sky. Zhu Yuan couldn’t help but look up. The skies in the Imperial Capital was foggy and surrounded by tall buildings, it was impossible to see even a speck of stars.

“With just this, what can you see?” Zhu Yuan asked, glancing at Zhuge Yan as he skillfully injected the medicine into his arm.

Zhuge Yan’s reply was soft, “It has begun.”

“Huh?” Zhu Yuan waited for a long time for the other to elaborate, but nothing came. He rolled his eyes at that. “I say, can you not be like Beauty Gu, speaking in half sentences. With the way you guys communicate halfway, only a high IQ person like Luo Wenlang would be able to understand you both.”

“It’s nothing.” Zhuge Yan turned, smiling at him. “How long before I can return to the ancient martial arts world?”

“You want to return to the ancient martial arts world?” Zhu Yuan thought about it for a while. “You can return any time you want. I’ll give you a preservation device tomorrow, you can bring these medicines back and let Wei Xi carry out the procedures for you.”

“It’s not that I want to return, but it will not be long before we will all need to.” Zhuge Yan pulled down his sleeves, then turned around and walked away.

Zhu Yuan stood where he was, a puzzled look on his face. “Talking in half sentences again, I really don’t understand a single thing you say!”

Putting away the syringe, he was also about to leave the place when his phone rang. It was the ringtone that he had specifically set for Gu Xiqiao, and so he picked up immediately. “Beauty Gu, what’s your command?”

“There’s something…” Gu Xiqiao’s voice was slightly heavy. She usually had a lazy and carefree tone, and this was the first time Zhu Yuan was hearing her like this.

“You mean the puppet?” Listening to Gu Xiqiao elaborate, Zhu Yuan was surprised for a moment, then slowly curled his lips. “Don’t worry, Beauty Gu. How could I not do well in the things that you asked for? Talking about the puppet, I’ve only seen it in ancient texts, so it isn’t a bad idea to pick it up for research.”

***

Two days later, in the Elders’ Pavilion.

“Miss Gu, Feng Jiu has brought news that the upper management has not agreed to publicize this matter.” The great elder looked pale as he relayed the information that he had gotten.

Gu Xiqiao sat next to Jiang Shuxuan as usual, playing a game on her phone, As soon as the great elder said those words, neither of the two reacted. The other elders were the ones who spoke instead. “They don’t agree? Have they not realized that the things happening in the capital are impossible to control?”

The second elder took out a few photos. “And these were given to me by Mr. Yi Tong last night. These people, their malicious aura is more terrifying than regular people, because they’re more or less immortal.”

“What in the world are these?” The photos were passed around, and each one of the elders grew more frightened as the photos passed their hands.

The great elder already had a general idea on the matter. “Leaving aside what has happened in the capital, the higher ups are now mainly relying on their military power, and their weapons which includes powerful nuclear weapons.”

“The ancient martial arts world has always been placed above the secular world. Those people are afraid that once the ancient martial arts world is exposed, it won’t only affect the regular folk, but that their positions would also be threatened.” Yi Tong flipped through a few photos, smirking coldly. These people with power in their hands still placed their own interest above all others. “The Peace Squad, and the youngsters of the ancient martial arts world have been all working non-stop. If this continues, we won’t be able to control the development of this situation.”

“Mark down the location of the problematic areas.” Jiang Shuxuan pulled out a map for Yi Tong to do so.

The job of Yi Tong and the others was to maintain the balance of the secular world, and they knew of the places mentioned very well. They immediately circled all the locations that incidents had happened. “These are all the places. If it wasn’t for the appearance of the Peace Squad, many more ordinary folks would have suffered.”

Jiang Shuxuan took the map that Yi Tong had circled, and handed it over to Gu Xiqiao.

Because of Yi Tong’s words, mutterings started up in the Elders’ Pavilion as they all looked at each other. Immortals, what kind of monsters were they? Heated discussions started up one by one.

The great elder glanced at all the elders that were seated. These people were discussing matters, but there was no fear or despair in their eyes, this kind of atmosphere would not have existed months ago. Those immortal monsters that appeared, they would have been invincible foes to the ancient martial arts world before this.

But now, even though there might be an abyss waiting for them in the coming days, there was not a single trace of fear or shrinking back on their faces.

The great elder then turned his gaze towards Gu Xiqiao. All of these changes naturally came from the girl in front of him, and he felt that this time, Gu Xiqiao would surely have something to say about this matter.

As expected!

Just as the discussions around them got even more fierce, a clear, calm voice rang out. “What are you all panicking about?”

Gu Xiqiao placed the map on the table, leaning back against the chair as the corner of her mouth lifted slightly. “I’ve said it before, the secular world needs to know of the existence of the ancient martial arts world.”

What she said would naturally come true in time.

Once her voice had rung out, the entire Elders’ Pavilion descended into silence, and the atmosphere changed to be lively the next moment.

“Miss Gu, what would you like to do?”

“Miss Gu, should we catch Feng Jiu and bring him here?”

“Miss Gu, can I go on a mission with the Peace Squad tomorrow?”

“Miss Gu…”

Gu Xiqiao merely graced them with a faint smile. “The most important thing right now is for you to improve your own strength. As elders of the ancient martial arts world, none of you can be weak.”

As soon as she said that, all sounds in the room stopped instantly. All the elders were looking at Gu Xiqiao with disbelief in their eyes, and even their fingertips and feet were trembling.

All these elders were already having one foot in their graves, and they were different from those youngsters. Their lifetime achievements would end here, but they didn’t expect Gu Xiqiao would say something like that. Making these old farts to be even stronger than now?

If this was in the past, these words would be treated as jokes, and they would let it slide over them once they heard them.

But now, it was Gu Xiqiao who had said those words!

Gu Xiqiao, the person who single handedly created the Peace Manor that was unparalleled in the world, and also the person who had created an existence that was similar to a second Peace Manor, as she had said she could!

Thinking back to the documents that America and Japan had sent over recently, again, she had obtained the worship and admiration of the people of America and Japan single handedly!

Gu Xiqiao, her name had already become some sort of religion in the ancient martial arts world. Everything she said would come true, when had she ever broken her promise?!

The hearts of all the elders present thumped wildly in that moment, and they sat blankly in their seat, staring blankly at Gu Xiqiao. Even after she left, they still didn’t recover, and they didn’t even hear a single word that she said after that announcement. At this time, they finally understood why the youngsters as well as the leader of America could respect and admire her to such an extent.

Because, she really had that ability.

With just a single sentence, she could ignite everyone’s blood!

Even old men like them had the sudden urge to shout ‘Long live Miss Gu!’ at the top of their lungs!

“M-Mr. Yi Tong, what did Miss Gu say after that?” The second elder was the first to gather himself, and his head snapped to Yi Tong, his eyes bright.

Yi Tong rolled his eyes. “Weren’t you listening to Miss Gu when she was speaking?”

“It was just too much of an exciting shock.” The second elder smile was a little silly as he scratched his head.

When have you seen the second elder like this? Yi Tong didn’t have anything to say to that. “Miss Gu wanted you to watch a show first, then wait for Luo Wenlang’s news.”

Having said that, he quickly left to look for Jiang Shuxuan.

The elders still remained in their seats, looking like they had no intentions to leave. The second elder suddenly seemed to think of something, then raised his head just to find that the great elder was actually reciting scriptures once again. But no matter how collected the great elder pretended to be, he was unable to hide his trembling hands!

“Do you think those people behind the scenes, pulling the strings are a little depressed?” The great elder suddenly said, a bright look on his face.

The seventh elder finally shook himself out of his daze. “Huh?”

The great elder picked up the pictures. “These immortal monsters were likely used in order to discourage us and bring us down, but now, not only have they failed in that, we’re all in such an enthusiastic state insead. Don’t you think those people would be depressed when they learn of this?”

The other elders laughed at his words.

Depressed? Of course!

“Fortunately, we have Miss Gu.” One of them said. “Otherwise, it would be a real catastrophe.”

“Actually, come to think of it, it’s been so long, but have you ever seen the people who provoke Miss Gu to have a good life after that?” Another elder said, looking up.

Everyone thought long and hard about it, and there really wasn’t any. From China to America, then to Japan… it seems that every single person who had provoked or offended her, they all ended up…

The second elder’s heart jumped up to his throat once again as he thought about this, and immediately took out his phone to call Feng Jiu.

***

Feng Jiu was currently struggling with matters between the secular and ancient martial arts world when he received the call, and he was having a terrible headache. “Second Elder, why are you calling me now?”

“Feng Jiu, I specially called you to let you know something.” There was a skip in the second elder’s steps, which made the guards who caught sight of him have a conflicted expression on their faces, but the second elder didn’t feel anything from that at all, the smile still wide on his face. “You better get your higher ups to agree as soon as possible, otherwise you won’t even have the time to regret when it’s too late.”

“What’s going on?” Feng Jiu stood up with a bang, his face contorting.

“You’ll know soon enough.” The second elder’s voice remained unchanged, calm and cool. ” Say, how can your higher-ups be so clueless? If Miss Gu really wanted to play, all of you together wouldn’t even be enough to satisfy her boredom. We’ve been friends for so many years now, and as an old friend, I’ll let you know something else. She’s already impatient, and her methods have always been aggressive and violent. Don’t wait for her to make her move, it’ll be too late to regret your decisions then.”

“What do you mean?” Feng Jiu could feel the anxiety overflowing now.

The second elder laughed lightly. “What do I mean? Even the political and power circles of the United States are obedient towards Miss Gu. Meanwhile you guys, where did such bold courage come from?”