NOVPUB1128: First arrival
1128: First arrival
If he wanted to gain even the slightest insight into what had happened to Bai Chen and his disciple, he would have to retrace their steps—just as Bai Chen had done while searching for Jiang Hao and his ferry.
Fortunately, this was one of the few pieces of information he didn’t have to dig too deeply for.
The two surviving escort agents had already provided him with the travel route Bai Chen and Jiang Hao had followed before their disappearance.
Yang Qing could only hope that there was a clue—something, anything—hidden within that route.
But that part of the investigation would have to wait.
There were still matters to take care of first, such as officially signing off on the commission for the case, extracting information from Ming Wa, and gathering any supplementary details he might need before setting out.
Insight never appeared out of thin air.
It was born from careful accumulation, and Yang Qing intended to build that foundation as much as possible before proceeding.
Settling his thoughts, he turned his attention back to the third talisman.
This one contained information about the two treefolk tribes.
As expected, there was nothing new.
Everything it detailed had already been covered by Shao An and Ren Shu.
In fact, compared to what the two soul formation experts had shared with him earlier, the information in the talisman felt almost lacking.
Having already anticipated it, Yang Qing wasn’t too disappointed by how thin the information was.
It couldn’t be helped—both tribes were obscure for different reasons.
One had disappeared into hiding alongside the black tortoise race, while the other had suffered so much that they faded into near extinction.
It had been so long since anyone had cited their presence that all that remained were scattered, unconfirmed rumors.
There was, however, one detail in the Flying Shadow Hawks’ report that surpassed what he had received from Ren Shu and Shao An—this was information about places and treasures that produced nebulous yin qi.
Of course, every location listed had long since been stripped clean of nebulous yin qi, and many of the treasures mentioned hadn’t been seen or heard of in hundreds of thousands of years.
Still, Yang Qing appreciated the information, even if it wouldn’t directly aid him in finding Bai Chen and his disciple.
With all the gathered details filed away in his mind, Yang Qing swiftly moved on to the final talisman.
This one contained information about organizations with bases in the Turtle Lapis Lazuli Empire and the Ocean Vortex Shield Talisman Manor that possessed the means to help someone disappear.
To avoid an overwhelming list, Yang Qing had specified that it should only include organizations capable of hiding someone against a palace realm expert.
Ming Wa was an eighth-stage core formation expert with a blue-grade core, cultivated a blue-grade art, and had a talisman imbued with the strength of a palace realm expert.
Someone armed like that would only be running from someone far more powerful than herself.
That meant whoever—or whatever—she was escaping from had palace realm strength.
If her pursuer had been weaker, she could have handled it on her own with the strength and resources at her disposal.
She wouldn’t have been as flustered as she was.
At the same time, Yang Qing ruled out the possibility of a domain realm expert being the culprit.
No matter how well-equipped she was, if someone at that level had been after her, she would have already been caught.
That left the palace realm as the only reasonable option.
Because of these restrictions, the list of organizations wasn’t long.
It contained 19 names—11 merchant organizations, 4 escort agencies, and 4 underworld brokers.
“Do I threaten them, or do I pay them?” Yang Qing mused, his gaze settling on the four underworld brokers.
“Better to just pay them,” he muttered, shaking his head.
“Now, all that’s left is Ming Wa,” he added as he stood, preparing to leave his office.
She was the last remaining puzzle piece he had yet to unravel.
Her story might have had nothing to do with the disappearance—perhaps it was just a coincidence of circumstances—but he needed to hear it before making that judgment.
Just as he was about to step out, his communication talisman flickered to life.
“It’s only been four hours,” Yang Qing muttered, a hint of surprise in his tone when he saw who was calling.
“Fan Mei?
What is it?
Have they arrived?” he asked, firing off three rapid questions the moment he answered.
“One of them has.”
“Who?” Yang Qing asked quickly, then caught himself.
He realized he was being too anxious, as if those undertaking the commission already held all the answers he was looking for.
“Sorry about that…
Who is it?” he asked again, his tone softer and more measured this time.
“Dong Ping,” Fan Mei replied succinctly, her voice calm and steady throughout the exchange.
“He’s already agreed to the terms and wants to get started right away.
I figured you’d want to meet him before he does.”
“Thanks, you figured right,” Yang Qing said with a small smile, appreciating his teammate’s thoughtfulness.
“Where are you both now?
Your office?”
“Yes,” Fan Mei confirmed.
“I could bring him to your office if you’d prefer.”
“Ah, no need.
I was already heading out when you called.
I’ll just come to you.”
“Fine, that works too.”
As soon as the call ended, Yang Qing left his office, making his way to Fan Mei’s.
Since they were in the same building, it took only a few seconds to reach.
…
Fan Mei’s office.
“Fan Mei, I’m coming in,” Yang Qing announced as he stepped into her office.
Inside, he was greeted by Fan Mei, who wore a mirthful expression—no doubt amused by his sudden change in habit as he announced himself.
Fortunately, she chose not to comment, letting it pass with just a knowing smile.
Seated in one of the chairs was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his early sixties.
His long white hair was tied into a half-bun, with the rest flowing freely down his back.
He wore a plain sky-blue robe beneath a dark grey outer coat, which had branch-like patterns embroidered along the sleeves.
At Yang Qing’s entry, the man turned to face him, offering an amiable smile.
He had a gentle temperament but Yang Qing could sense a sharpness hiding deeply within it.
He was like a sharp sword that had been sheathed within an unassuming bamboo stalk, to the point that to the unassuming eye, there might as well not be a sword in there, just a bamboo stalk.
But Yang Qing knew, saw, and felt differently.
Though subtle, the elder before him was like the human embodiment of a sword.
His presence had a faint but unmistakable sharpness.
He had concealed his aura well, but Yang Qing could still feel a slight prickling sensation across his skin from the moment he stepped into the office.
Part of that sensation came from the refined sword intent locked within the man, which was sharp and tempered to the absolute tip.
The rest was due to the extreme sensitivity his Yin-Yang Jade Physique afforded him.
A sword cultivator, huh… Yang Qing mused, his gaze lingering on the elderly figure.
