Bu Lian's profound demonic cultivation took effect, rendering any first aid unnecessary as her injuries rapidly healed.
While her cultivation might not have matched her opponent's, demonic arts were always unconventional, boasting dozens of methods for rapid recovery of stamina and injuries.
However, Bu Lian felt uneasy.
In the past, Qin Ye Xuan possessed unique abilities that made her utterly helpless. While serving as his damnable secretary, he had mostly taken care of her, and she could only perfectly follow his commands.
Now that spiritual energy had revived, and Qin Ye Xuan's abilities had vanished, shouldn't it be her turn to stand tall?
Yet, she still found herself being directed by him and protected by him.
"Am I destined to be consumed by him?" Bu Lian lamented.
Across from them, Liu Yuan Tai struggled to sit up, his expression a mix of shock and uncertainty.
As Qin Ye Xuan withdrew the "All Beings Equal" aura, his injuries also healed at an astonishing pace.
With a few clicks, the bullets fell out.
Liu Yuan Tai grew even more terrified.
"They were just ordinary bullets? Then how did he do that just now?"
Expert-level cultivators not only possessed protective spiritual energy but also reaction times far surpassing bullets. Liu Yuan Tai, who cultivated the Xinluo Sword Technique externally and the Luotian Grand Qi Scripture internally, had achieved perfection in both. There were at least a hundred ways he could have dodged those bullets.
Looking at Qin Ye Xuan, he sensed no aura of cultivation.
Thus, there was only one grim truth: the opponent's cultivation was at least three levels higher than his own, placing him near the Grandmaster realm, a super expert.
Reaching the Master realm already made one a regional overlord, while Grandmasters stood at the apex of the food chain.
Liu Yuan Tai was young and did not wish to die. He cherished his cultivation even more. He was a rising star, destined for great achievements in the new world.
The more he feared death, the more he trembled.
Liu Yuan Tai suddenly prostrated himself on the floor, his palms pressed against the bottom of the cabin. "Senior, Great One, please forgive my insolence. Please spare my life."
Qin Ye Xuan chuckled and asked in fluent Korean, "Which gang are you from in Seoul?"
Liu Yuan Tai was startled. "I, I am a Xinluo Swordsman..."
"I asked what gang you were from in reality!"
Liu Yuan Tai trembled, feeling as if nothing could be hidden from this "Grandmaster."
He gritted his teeth and confessed, "I'm from a company under the Seven Stars Society. I was just a valet before. After the spiritual energy revival, my cultivation grew rapidly. My boss sent me to study at the Xinluo Sword Sect. I emerged within three months and was appointed as the head of Puyang, Incheon, and also the executive director of Puyang Seven Stars Corporation."
Oh...
The Seven Stars Society had gone legitimate and started a corporation.
According to Korean corporate hierarchy, below the Representative Director were usually Presidents, and below Presidents were various Executive Directors.
This Liu Yuan Tai had risen from a subordinate to the third-in-command of a branch company; what a meteoric rise.
Qin Ye Xuan pondered, "If I'm not mistaken, you're primarily responsible for the smuggling routes in Puyang?"
Liu Yuan Tai swallowed and shook his head vigorously. "Senior, I cannot reveal company secrets. If there's no other way, I can only die here."
Oh ho, he was suddenly being rather bold.
Bu Lian stirred restlessly. "Leave this person to me. I have many demonic sect tricks that can torment him!"
Qin Ye Xuan shook his head. "There's no time for that. He's afraid of retaliation if he speaks. Heh, based on that reaction alone, I can deduce that Puyang Seven Stars has a higher-level expert overseeing them. Furthermore, the Seven Stars Corporation has placed a restriction on him that will make his life a living hell! If it weren't for that, he would have revealed everything without hesitation to save his life, as he's no hard-liner."
Liu Yuan Tai was aghast.
He deduced the truth solely from his reaction?
This person was too terrifying.
Qin Ye Xuan smiled faintly. "How about this: I'll make guesses, and you can nod or shake your head to confirm. This way, it only shows how intelligent I am, not that you've betrayed the company."
Bu Lian almost burst out laughing.
But Liu Yuan Tai across from them was ecstatic and nodded repeatedly.
As expected, he was a coward, completely at Qin Ye Xuan's mercy.
Qin Ye Xuan began to question, "In your Puyang company, you are specifically in charge of the smuggling business line, correct?"
Liu Yuan Tai nodded.
"You just told the ship captain that this route was newly opened. So you must have at least four or five routes and a dozen ships?"
Liu Yuan Tai first nodded, then shook his head.
Qin Ye Xuan uttered an "Oh." "So, that's over ten routes and a hundred ships?"
Only then did Liu Yuan Tai nod.
Bu Lian was shocked.
A hundred smuggling ships, each capable of transporting thousands of people, could they possibly need that many?
Qin Ye Xuan, however, frowned in thought and then said sternly, "Smuggling doesn't require that many ships. I calculate that five or six ships would be sufficient for you. The remaining ships have other uses. What are you transporting? From Goryeo to Da Xia, or from Da Xia to Goryeo?"
This time, Liu Yuan Tai spoke directly. "It's from Da Xia to Goryeo, but I don't know what is being transported. Most of the time, I'm just responsible for ensuring the safety of the smuggling ships."
Qin Ye Xuan asked several more questions, such as the company's office address and the size of its personnel.
Liu Yuan Tai seemed to have given up all pretense and revealed everything clearly.
Qin Ye Xuan finally nodded and placed his finger on his shoulder.
Liu Yuan Tai trembled all over.
Qin Ye Xuan whispered, "I am removing the restriction placed by your company."
Liu Yuan Tai's eyes widened in disbelief.
But with the "All Beings Equal" ability, removing a restriction was as simple as a flick of a finger.
Inside Liu Yuan Tai's body, something like steel cables snapped at his dantian. He felt a sense of lightness. The terrifying company restriction had truly, truly been lifted?
At this point, Liu Yuan Tai even suspected the person opposite him was a genuine immortal.
But Qin Ye Xuan began to sneer. "Your company isn't foolish. They check your restriction periodically and re-lock it, so your time is limited!"
Liu Yuan Tai smiled. "The next check is in two weeks. That's enough time for me."
Qin Ye Xuan chuckled. "But are you willing to be a good person? To completely leave the Seven Stars?"
Liu Yuan Tai's gaze flickered, clearly reluctant to part with the wealth and status he enjoyed among the Seven Stars' higher echelons.
"Every two weeks, I will help you lift the restriction!" Qin Ye Xuan patted his shoulder. "The condition is that you occasionally do some small favors for me. Don't rush, and don't be afraid. I won't ask you to betray the organization or assassinate high-ranking officials. Absolutely trivial matters."
Could such a good thing exist in this world?
Liu Yuan Tai was somewhat incredulous.
But for some reason, Qin Ye Xuan possessed an aura that inspired unwavering loyalty and a willingness to serve.
"What is your esteemed name, Sir?"
"Heh, I don't have a Goryeo identity yet."
Liu Yuan Tai scratched his head. "Then please take my yacht to Puyang. Give me a day, and I'll create a real identity for you, not some fake rubbish. It will be made from the identity of a deceased person, one that even the intelligence agencies won't be able to trace."
Qin Ye Xuan casually nodded. "Have your subordinates prepare some fine tea and clothes. And, the beautiful lady beside me needs a bath or something."
Liu Yuan Tai now regarded him with reverence, calling him "Big Brother" with honorifics and Bu Lian "Sister-in-law," then boarded the luxurious yacht with them.
Bu Lian, having heard Qin Ye Xuan's words, indeed felt an itch all over and realized it was time for a hot bath.