Another mission? I haven't finished drawing my Evil-Breaking Talisman!
Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Boss, I haven't finished drawing my Evil-Breaking Talisman…"
"Only you and Guan Ya are free in the Songhai Patrol Team." Fu Qingyang blocked his excuse and then explained, "It's not a matter of utmost urgency. You can handle it in a couple of days. One of the protagonists is your companion from the Slaughter Instance."
Companions from the Slaughter Instance are his connections and base within the Five Elements Alliance. Zhang Yuanqing immediately stopped making excuses and proactively asked:
"What exactly is it? Who's in trouble?"
Fu Qingyang said:
"Bai Hu Wansui from Jinghai City, a 'loose province,' was assassinated two days ago, and is heavily injured and unconscious. The Jinghai City branch is short-handed and hopes the Songhai Patrol Team can assist in the investigation and apprehend the perpetrator."
"Bai Hu Wansui was assassinated?" Zhang Yuanqing frowned. He still had a strong impression of Bai Hu Wansui. Among the official members who followed him in the Slaughter Instance, Bai Hu Wansui was an elite.
Mainly, he knew how to brown-nose him.
Fu Qingyang continued:
"According to the investigation by our colleagues in Jinghai City, the attacker has been targeting Bai Hu Wansui for a long time. His surrounding neighbors have been subtly influenced and have become the attacker's eyes and ears."
"After the first attack failed, a second assassination was quickly carried out in the hospital. This time, it almost killed 'Bai Hu Wansui.' He remains unconscious to this day."
"I suspect that the attacker will attempt a third time. Currently, I've dispatched two Songhai garrison teams to protect him around the clock in the hospital under the guise of a business trip, but guarding against thieves is only a temporary solution, and the garrison teams can't leave their jurisdiction for too long. After you finish making the Evil-Breaking Talisman, go there as soon as possible."
Zhang Yuanqing frowned and asked, "Why not seek help from the Pang City branch?"
Jinghai City is just a prefecture-level city with a limited number of experts, so a shortage of manpower is understandable, but the 'loose province' is a large province, and the Pang City branch should have ample manpower. It shouldn't be in such a state of disarray.
Fu Qingyang said blandly, "The Jinghai City branch refuses to bow its head to the Xie City branch. They believe everyone is on an equal footing, and that requesting assistance should be done through a higher-level branch."
…Zhang Yuanqing thought, "I have nothing to say."
He immediately recalled the organizational structure of the various branches in the 'loose province.' Typically, the branch located in the provincial capital leads the official Wayfarers of the entire province, commanding the smaller branches based in each prefecture-level city.
The provincial capital branch is their headquarters, and it has the most experts in the entire province.
But the 'loose province' is different. The capital of the 'loose province' is Pangxie City, but the overall strength of the Pangxie City branch is not much stronger than the other smaller branches in the province.
Because the official Wayfarers of the 'loose province' are distributed relatively evenly among the various prefecture-level cities, with little difference in strength. None of the smaller branches in the province are willing to submit to each other, and they all believe they are on an equal footing.
"Understood." Zhang Yuanqing ended the call, turned around, and entered the bedroom.
……
3:30 PM.
Zhang Yuanqing received a call from Li Chunfeng, immediately put down his brush, stepped over the discarded yellow paper that covered the entire room, left the bedroom, and drove the Queen's car towards the entrance of the residential complex.
A few minutes later, the white car arrived at the gate. Through the car window, Zhang Yuanqing saw a young man with black-framed glasses and a weak, intellectual demeanor standing calmly beside the guardhouse.
He had delicate features, was well-mannered, and looked like a high school math teacher.
It was none other than Li Chunfeng.
Honk honk~
Zhang Yuanqing honked the horn and then stuck his head out the window and shouted at the gate, "He's my friend, please let him in. I forgot to bring my access card."
If anyone else had said that, the gatekeeper would have ignored them. But as soon as he saw it was Zhang Yuanqing, he immediately let him through.
Since acquiring the villa in Fujuawan, Zhang Yuanqing had been buying batches of fruit and sending them to the property management every few days. The gatekeepers also had special treatment; he had put a box of Huazi cigarettes in the guardhouse.
Now, when the gatekeepers changed shifts, the first thing they did was sit under the air conditioner and light a Huazi cigarette, feeling like they had become office-sitting leaders.
The homeowners in Fujuawan were all rich and powerful, but very few people would spend so much effort and money interacting with the property management. When they encountered problems, they usually went to the leaders of the property management company.
After Li Chunfeng entered the residential complex and opened the passenger door, Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Didn't drive?"
Li Chunfeng calmly asked in return, "I'm working for you, why should I provide the car? Shouldn't you provide it?"
…Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback. "Your work ethic is very similar to that of a former colleague of mine. We called him an Anti-Involution Fighter."
As he spoke, Zhang Yuanqing quietly opened his Star Eyes, examining Li Chunfeng's Palace of Life.
The Palace of Life is the core and foundation of the Twelve Palaces, representing a person's destiny. It's something that ordinary means cannot change.
Just to be safe, he wanted to see if there were any problems with Li Chunfeng. After all, this friend he met in the instance was backed by a hidden organization.
The Palace of Life matched his appearance, there was no disguise, no transformation, and it wasn't the kind that would blind my dog eyes with a single glance… Yuanqing breathed a silent sigh of relief.
At that moment, Li Chunfeng pushed up his glasses and said, "Congratulations on your promotion to Saint!"
Zhang Yuanqing laughed and said, "Speaking of which, you were already Level 3 during the Yin-Yang Town incident, and your experience points must have exceeded 50%. Why didn't you participate in the Slaughter Instance? I was even looking forward to seeing you there."
Li Chunfeng said seriously, "Because of you!"
"Huh?" Zhang Yuanqing didn't react. Then he heard Li Chunfeng say calmly:
"I guessed that you would participate in the Slaughter Instance, so I deliberately avoided it. Someone like you, a genius, wouldn't be allowed to advance smoothly by the evil organizations. They would definitely plot conspiracies."
"I spent two days building a model and analyzed that the probability of you surviving and clearing the Slaughter Instance was less than 10%, so I chose to give up participating."
"Unfortunately, I got this question wrong."
"No, you weren't wrong. If I hadn't had a cheat, I probably would have really died in the Slaughter Instance…"
Zhang Yuanqing gripped the steering wheel and joked, "A genius like me can't be measured by data."
Li Chunfeng nodded solemnly. "Indeed. I'll improve my thinking in the future!"
So serious. He doesn't even joke. He was too tense in the Yin-Yang Town instance. How didn't I notice he was a blockhead… Zhang Yuanqing muttered in his heart.
After a while, the white car parked outside a small villa. Zhang Yuanqing braked and turned off the engine, opened the door, and led Li Chunfeng into the villa while pointing to the house next door. He said:
"That's Elder Fu Qingyang's residence. I got a room for you there. You'll be living there from now on."
Li Chunfeng looked over. The villa next door was extremely grand, with a three-story main building and two annexes connected by corridors, like a palace.
The front yard was extremely spacious, planted with various expensive ornamental plants, and there was even a fountain in the center of the yard.
Compared to that, the 'mansion' where Yuan Shi Tianzun lived seemed less grand, although Li Chunfeng knew that it must also be very valuable.
Such a grand villa would naturally have no shortage of rooms, but…
"What are you talking about? Letting me live with a Five Elements Alliance Elder?" A sneer finally appeared on Li Chunfeng's calm expression. "You've mistaken me."
"Mistaken you about what?"
"You've mistaken my courage."
The two entered the villa's hall, and Zhang Yuanqing introduced the four female members waiting in the living room:
"Li Chunfeng, a Level 3 Scholar, our new teammate from now on. If you have any academic or technical problems in the future, you can ask him. Our team doesn't lack combat-type players, but we're very short on a highly educated talent like him."
He turned to introduce to Li Chunfeng: "Jiang Jingwei, Xie Lingxi. Jingwei is a Fire Fiend. Xie Lingxi is a direct descendant of the Xie family."
He didn't introduce the Queen and Guan Ya. Everyone was already familiar with them.
Guan Ya stepped forward, extended her hand, and smiled, "Long time no see!"
Li Chunfeng hurriedly extended his hand, shook hers, and nodded, "Long time no see. Congratulations on your advancement to Saint."
He then shook hands with the Queen as well.
Jiang Jingwei put her hands on her hips and laughed loudly, "Li Chunfeng, right? You'll be with me from now on. I'll watch over you!""
She walked up to Li Chunfeng and patted his arm generously, "Songhai is my territory. If you have any needs, just tell me. Yuan Shi Tianzun can't satisfy you, but I can. My family is very rich."
"Okay!" Li Chunfeng nodded, examining the red-haired girl with some surprise. He didn't expect that this little Saint would like him so much.
The joy that overflowed from the corners of her eyes and eyebrows was definitely not just generosity and courtesy, it was from the heart.
As a scout, Guan Ya raised the corners of her mouth and said, "Don't be too happy too soon. She just thinks someone can do her homework for her."
Li Chunfeng: "???"
Zhang Yuanqing sternly rebuked, "Li Chunfeng is a Scholar, please don't insult him with middle school homework."
Li Chunfeng's expression had just improved when he heard Yuan Shi Tianzun add, "I won't insult him. I'll just have him write my thesis for me."
…Li Chunfeng suddenly wanted to resign.
……
Two days later, in Fu Qingyang's study.
Zhang Yuanqing, with dark circles under his eyes, handed a thick stack of Evil-Breaking Talismans to the desk. "All fifty are here. I have fulfilled my mission."
Fu Qingyang glanced at them and nodded in satisfaction:
"It's a day earlier than expected. I've said that you're the type who becomes more proactive when under pressure. Adversity can stimulate your potential, while a comfortable life will only erode your edge."
"Go deal with the Jinghai City problem."
Zhang Yuanqing left the study and turned around to knock on Ling Jun's door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me!"
"Yuan Shi Tianzun and dogs are not allowed inside."
"Teacher, I have something important to discuss, very important."
Only then did Ling Jun open the door and hummed, "Spit it out."
Without saying a word, Zhang Yuanqing took out a 'Peach Blossom Talisman' and said:
"Actually, I did use evil magic that day. This is a Peach Blossom Talisman made from spiritual inscriptions and the materials of a Musician profession. Using it will make people entangled in romantic affairs."
"This is my filial piety to you, Teacher."
"Good brother, please come in!" Ling Jun said sincerely and silently pulled open his trouser pocket.
Zhang Yuanqing tactfully stuffed it in, and as he walked into the room, he said:
"Teacher, I slept with Guan Ya-jie last night. I think it's only a matter of time before I bid farewell to my virginity, but she's still a little resistant, so I came to ask for your advice."
Ling Jun quickly unfolded a barrier and said in astonishment, "You've already slept on her bed, and you haven't scored?"
Zhang Yuanqing said, "I wanted to, but she wasn't ready. You have to respect women."
"If she didn't want to, she wouldn't have let you on her bed. Women are reserved, and they'll never say it proactively. At this time, you have to coax them. You, you're such a fool. Get out of here. I don't have a disciple like you." Ling Jun took the talisman and immediately turned his back on him.
……
Jinghai City is next to Jinshan City, an hour and a half away from Songhai.
At 6 PM, Zhang Yuanqing led his team in a business car and arrived at Jinghai City People's Hospital.
The two captains of the Songhai garrison team and a captain from Jinghai City were waiting outside the hospital building.
Fu Qingyang sent Bai Long and Tang Guoqiang to protect Bai Hu Wansui. They were all old acquaintances.
"Wei Yuanzhou, a Level 4 Plague God, is the captain of the third team in Jinghai City," Bai Long introduced.
This Jinghai City captain was about thirty years old, with sword-like eyebrows, a high nose, and a handsome, upright face. He had a gentle and steady temperament, giving a very good first impression.
"A Level 4 Saint, and a captain? Uh, are you also an Anti-Involution Fighter?" Zhang Yuanqing complained inwardly and politely shook his hand and asked, "How is Bai Hu Wansui?"
"He's seriously injured. A Wood Sprite item from the Extraordinary stage, combined with medical treatment, stabilized his condition, but he's still unconscious," Tang Guoqiang said.
"Why not use the Life Elixir?" Zhang Yuanqing frowned.
"He doesn't qualify yet," Wei Yuanzhou explained. "According to the regulations, only executives can apply for and use the Life Elixir. And Bai Hu Wansui's condition is now stable."
"Not every leader is Fu Qingyang…" Yuanqing sighed inwardly. He was used to enjoying the organization's resource allocation, getting whatever he wanted, and even if he didn't qualify, Fu Qingyang could smooth things over for him.
But that's not the norm.
"If he's still being targeted by evil professionals, every extra day he spends in the hospital is a greater risk. Take me to the ward immediately." Zhang Yuanqing strode into the hospital building.
ps: Fixing the typos, updating now then amending later.