Long Aotian excitedly reported the matter to Xia Feng on his phone.
Having just broken through to the陆地神仙 (Lu Di Shen Xian - Earthly Immortal realm), he was eager to test his new strength, and the news from the Xian Yuan Sect couldn't have come at a better time.
Long Aotian felt like a young man who had just turned eighteen, bursting with the irrepressible urge for forbidden adult pleasures.
Seeing Long Aotian's excitement, Xia Feng knew he was eager to go. He understood; everyone would feel the same.
"After finally achieving great power, is it too much to want to show off a little?"
"Alright, let's go. When?" Xia Feng asked.
"Next Saturday, five more days. Master, can we go over and explore first?" Long Aotian was impatient, not even wanting to return.
"Where?" Xia Feng inquired.
"Still in Sichuan Province, Mount Gongga," Long Aotian quickly replied.
"Okay." Xia Feng nodded. Everyone was too lazy to bother going back. Since they were out, they might as well stay and play for a few days.
Everyone's faces were beaming with the joy of success, and it was the perfect opportunity to show them around.
Besides Long Aotian, Du Lapi De, Zhou Gangyi, and Ying Lunpi De, the others had only recently begun cultivating. This cultivators' convention would be a perfect chance for them to see what other cultivators were like.
Upon hearing this, Long Aotian excitedly said, "Master, I'll go inform everyone."
After receiving Xia Feng's approval, Long Aotian scampered towards the crowd, shouting loudly, "Everyone, quiet down, I have some good news to tell you all!"
"Good news?"
The crowd perked up. Long Aotian had just come from Xia Feng's side, so the good news was definitely good.
Everyone instantly quieted down, preparing to listen attentively.
"You've all started cultivating now. Master plans to take everyone to Mount Gongga next Saturday to participate in a cultivators' convention. It'll be a chance for you to see what cultivators are truly like. So, we've decided not to go back for now; we'll stay in Chengdu for a few days and then head directly to Mount Gongga."
Long Aotian announced the good news with a smile.
"Yay! ✌"
"We get to attend a cultivators' convention too! Except for you few, we haven't truly seen what cultivators are like."
"Mount Gongga is the King of the Shu Mountains! Just the location alone sounds awesome."
"Where do you think these cultivators usually hide?"
Everyone chimed in with their own excited remarks, bubbling with anticipation.
Having just begun cultivating and achieving minor success, they all wanted to broaden their horizons.
Though referred to as minor success, in truth, they hadn't even grasped the fundamentals. Their current strength would be no match for even a janitor from any sect.
But these were not their concerns. All they knew was that they could attend a cultivators' convention, and that was enough to have fun.
"Alright, everyone, prepare to board. We're heading to Chengdu tonight." Long Aotian signaled for everyone to quiet down, and they began boarding one after another.
The hotel they were staying at in Chengdu was arranged by Old Wang, as it was more convenient to stay in their own establishment.
They hadn't expected to return to Chengdu so soon after leaving.
...
Qu Mingwei had barely fallen asleep when his phone rang:
"I admit, I once loved, once devoted my youth to love without regret..."
In the dead of night, Qu Mingwei turned on his bedside lamp and picked up his phone. It was a call from a leader in the Sichuan Military Region. Qu Mingwei had a good relationship with him, so he dared not neglect the call.
"Hello, Old Zhang, what is it so late?" Qu Mingwei mumbled groggily.
"Group Leader Long is in Chengdu again. You asked me to keep an eye out a couple of days ago. As soon as I saw them off, I called you immediately."
Old Zhang had mentioned Long Aotian's visit a few days prior, but Qu Mingwei hadn't expected him to leave on the same day he arrived.
Later, Qu Mingwei had asked him to help keep an eye out.
"Once bitten by a snake, one fears the well for ten years. I'm scared, I'm scared."
Hearing this, Qu Mingwei, who had been drowsy, instantly woke up and scrambled out of bed, even startling his wife who was sleeping beside him.
"Husband, what's wrong?" Qu Mingwei's wife, Lei Xia, also sat up groggily.
Qu Mingwei shook his head at her, signaling her to be quiet.
"Old Zhang, besides Group Leader Long, is there a young man, handsome, with a very distinguished demeanor, and whom Group Leader Long serves throughout their interaction?"
Qu Mingwei sat up and asked anxiously.
"I hope this big shot doesn't come, or I'll have to live in constant anxiety again."
"There is someone like that. I heard Group Leader Long call him Master," Old Zhang replied truthfully.
"Holy crap..."
"This is..."
"It's him, it's him."
Qu Mingwei felt like crying. Why did this big shot have to like Chengdu so much?
He hadn't been gone long before he was back. His son had just been discharged from the hospital. He had to quickly send his son back to rest for another half a month, lest he provoke this big shot again.
"Old Zhang, thank you. I'll treat you to drinks some other time," Qu Mingwei said gratefully.
"It's a small matter. Then I won't disturb your rest," Old Zhang replied.
"Alright, alright, you should rest early too." Qu Mingwei hung up the phone.
How could he possibly sleep now? Who wouldn't be restless?
"Husband, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Lei Xia asked again after Qu Mingwei hung up.
"Alas... a big shot has arrived. Never mind, I'm going out to call Secretary Hu." Qu Mingwei threw off the covers and walked towards the living room.
In the living room, Qu Mingwei directly dialed Hu Hong's number. At such a critical juncture, he didn't care how late it was.
"Hello, Mingwei, what's wrong?" Hu Hong asked with a groggy voice.
"Secretary Hu, he's in Chengdu again. Just arrived," Qu Mingwei said, his voice tinged with weariness.
"This 'he', Hu Hong understood perfectly well.
After a long pause, breathing could be heard from the other end of the phone, and Hu Hong remained silent.
After a period of mutual silence, Hu Hong spoke first, "In the next few days, keep a tight rein on those around you. Make sure they keep their eyes sharp. Also, have Director Gong initiate a crackdown and sweep operation."
"Okay, I'll call him right away." Qu Mingwei nodded in agreement.
Sharing the same predicament and sentiment, they bid each other goodnight.
Qu Mingwei didn't idle. He immediately called Director Gong, instructing him to launch a new crackdown and sweep operation to purge all these societal tumors.
That night, many people didn't sleep well.
Director Gong initiated the operation that very night, and some people were destined to lose sleep.
Qu Mingwei also suffered from insomnia. With Xia Feng in Chengdu, he felt a lump in his throat, utterly unable to sleep.
Hu Hong couldn't sleep either. He even considered sending his son away overnight, just to avoid the unpleasant sight.