Chapter 257: Across the Star Sea

The two people at opposite ends of the interstellar communication stared eye to eye: one sat in a vast office with a computer before him and a floor-to-ceiling window behind him, beyond which lay a sea of fog; the other sat atop a mountain peak with a Lingxi Mirror before him and a Xiaoyao Pavilion behind him, two cranes flying outside the pavilion—yet these two with such vastly different styles were actually old acquaintances who had been dealing with each other for over a century.

"This account of mine is newly created, just to avoid being recognized and to seek some peace," the old man with an immortal air on the communication screen stroked his beard, looking utterly incredulous, "Even my closest disciples do not know of it. Director Bai Li, how did you find out? Could it be that the privacy statement on your border communication registration interface is a deception..."

"It has nothing to do with that; I deduced it. Your account has always been easy to guess," Bai Li said casually, "And if I tell you one thing, you will understand—today someone delivered a special 'sample' to the Special Affairs Bureau, a mysterious fragment of fabric of unknown origin."

The old man on the screen reacted instantly upon hearing this, stroking his beard with a look of sudden realization: "Oh—I see. He sent the thing to you so quickly? Yes, yes, yes. I recently made a new online friend. Although we are not yet familiar, he seems to possess a 'fortune' that ordinary people lack, obtaining strange objects twice in a row that even I could not recognize. How fascinating. The second such item was even very similar to the object my senior brother brought back in the past. It seems he also told you about my affairs. No wonder."

While speaking, the old man happily picked up a tea cup from the nearby jade table, took a sip at the rim, appearing quite pleased.

Bai Li looked at Yuan Ling Zhenren across the screen, remained silent for two or three seconds, then spoke again: "Do you remember the encrypted communication sent to high-level officials from all sides at the border yesterday? The unprecedented 'Fall of the Angel' incident."

Yuan Ling Zhenren immediately swallowed the tea in his mouth and nodded repeatedly: "Of course. When this news arrived, several old fellows almost could not sit still. The Fairy Shuanghua, who was still in seclusion, was on the verge of breaking her seclusion early, fortunately dissuaded by her fellow disciples through loyal remonstrance. Things are likely to get lively for a while. Even if this news is not spread, few high-level officials of the various factions will be able to sit still..."

Bai Li spoke calmly: "The 'online friend' you recently met—the one who delivered the sample to me early this morning—Ankara, the Dark Angel, was dealt with by him."

The old man spat out the next mouthful of tea before it even reached his lips.

The old man stared with wide eyes: "Is, is this true?!"

Then, without waiting for Bai Li to respond, he waved his hand himself: "It must be true. You would not joke about such things. This... this is truly fate, truly fate..."

While speaking, Yuan Ling Zhenren suddenly stood up again and walked a few steps quickly within the image: "I should go see him personally. Such a high master must have heavenly secrets hidden within him. It would be good to meet him. Yes, we should meet. I should pay a visit..."

He seemed to have made a decision, but a few seconds later he hurriedly walked back, shaking his head in regret as he walked: "No, alas. The Taixu Lingshu is at a critical moment of 'fixing the stars'. Precisely at this time, I cannot leave. Truly, I cannot leave..."

The old man returned to the Bai Yu table in three or four steps, flashed his body, and sat down again, his body moving with agility surpassing even a youth: "Here is the plan, Director Bai Li. I will send my most trusted disciple to go there, to meet that high master... Um, is that feasible?"

Only then did Yuan Ling Zhenren seem to realize belatedly that his self-acting decision was somewhat presumptuous, and he added with a slightly awkward expression on his old face: "I was rash, I was rash. May I ask if your place could grant a favor? I know that the matter of the 'Fall of the Angel' must have caused chaos throughout the border region, but I have some connection with that high master, so this matter will trouble you greatly... Of course, this also depends on the attitude of that high master. Fighting the Dark Angel must have caused great exhaustion. If he is inconvenient, then..."

Bai Li's face, which usually showed no expression, seemed a bit subtly difficult to maintain at this moment. She had to interrupt Yuan Ling Zhenren's string of polite remarks: "The 'high master' you speak of is very approachable. You have chatted with him so much; you should be able to feel it. His affairs are beyond the jurisdiction of the Special Affairs Bureau, so you need not ask me. Just leave a message for him directly. If he has no objection, send your disciple over. I can help arrange the reception."

Yuan Ling Zhenren pondered for a few seconds, looking as if he had frozen, then he raised his head and nodded to Bai Li with great solemnity: "Very well. I will discuss it with him. If this succeeds, I will trouble Director Bai Li."

"No need for courtesy. Qianfeng Ling Mountain is an old friend of the Special Affairs Bureau."

A thread of smile appeared on Yuan Ling Zhenren's face, then before ending the communication, he seemed to remember something and asked with a somewhat subtle expression: "... Is my small account really that easy to guess?"

Bai Li looked serious: "Very easy to guess."

Yuan Ling Zhenren stroked his beard and thought for a moment, then suddenly laughed, joyfully like a child: "Hahaha, this is also good, this is also good! I will create a new account later..."

The superluminal communication across the star sea ended. The misty light and shadow on the surface of the Lingxi Mirror gradually dispersed. The old man sitting before the Bai Yu table waved his hand, and the treasure mirror flew up into the air, flying into his hand.

He waved his hand again over the treasure mirror, and with a thought, new patterns and characters appeared on the mirror surface—a pattern bearing the Special Affairs Bureau insignia spread out like ink, transforming in the blink of an eye into a scene very similar to the border communication interface.

The words "Border Communication - Cross-Border Version" were still displayed at the top of the screen.

Yuan Ling Zhenren tapped and clicked rapidly, operating on the Lingxi Mirror for a while, then finally exhaled lightly, hid the mirror in his sleeve, and then raised his head to look outside the pavilion.

Winding mountain roads amidst the clouds, ethereal mountain peaks.

The old man gazed at that sea of clouds, steadied his spirit, and called out casually: "Xuanche!"

His voice was not loud, yet it seemed to resonate with the entire sea of clouds and mountain peaks, echoing through heaven and earth in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, a ray of rosy light rose from a distant mountain peak. That ray of rosy light crossed the clouds and mist in a moment, landing before Yuan Ling Zhenren. A handsome young man wearing a blue cloud-patterned brocade robe materialized from the rosy light and bowed to the old man: "What does Master call this disciple for?"

"Xuanche, did the passport and border crossing permit you obtained when you went out to handle affairs previously expire?"

The handsome young man called "Xuanche" was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted: "Not yet, Master." "Good. Prepare yourself these two days. You may need to go to the border region, perhaps stay there for a few days."

Xuanche blinked, somewhat curious and puzzled: "The border region? What does Master want me to do..."

Yuan Ling Zhenren looked solemn: "You will go to meet an online friend for me..."

Xuanche: "..."

On the attic at 66 Wutong Road, Yu Sheng sat beside the large table once used to create a body for Erin, fully focused on sewing a small piece of clothing.

This was not easy for a novice, but fortunately the structure of this small skirt was not complex, and only a small part of it needed modification. He felt he could still manage.

The only problem was someone chattering nearby.

Erin sat on the tabletop beside Yu Sheng, resting her chin on her hands, watching Yu Sheng sew and alter the clothes for her while muttering to herself—

"Hey Yu Sheng, can you really do this? If you really can't, just ask someone for help. I heard Rapunzel knows needlework..."

No mistake, one sentence, one release, one content, one look inside!

"That silly fox really eats so much! Did you notice the expressions of those two cafeteria cooks? They were absolutely desperate. Just serving her meals is a physical labor."

"Why hasn't my account been unblocked yet? It's already the second day... Hey, what if I secretly register a new account using Hu Li's ID number... If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Why are you glaring at me?"

"Make me a new body in a couple of days, okay? Didn't you get a huge pile of top-grade alchemy materials from the Special Affairs Bureau before? Use them for me. This time try to mold one that is one meter sixty-seven..."

"Let me tell you, my figure used to be great! Even better than Hu Li's!"

"Hey Yu Sheng, can you really do this..."

Yu Sheng raised his head and glared at this chattering spirit.

"If you talk nonsense again, I really won't manage it! Sew it yourself!"

Erin immediately shrank her head, muttering: "If you won't let me speak, I won't speak. Hmph."

Yu Sheng sighed and continued to sew and alter Erin's "doll clothes," which were not comfortable to wear.

Erin propped her head up and watched from the side. She finally fell silent, staring straight ahead with a pair of scarlet eyes, occasionally laughing foolishly, not knowing what she was laughing at.

And just then, the mobile phone placed on the nearby table suddenly emitted a buzzing vibration.

Erin stepped forward, picked up the phone to look, held it up with both hands, and handed it to Yu Sheng: "Here, a system notification from Border Communication. It seems you received a message from a stranger."

"Wait," Yu Sheng quickly finished the last few stitches, tied a knot, bit the thread to break it, put away the needle and thread, and only then reached out to take the phone. "A message from a stranger... Who would send me a message..."

While speaking, he had already unlocked the device and entered the Border Communication interface, and immediately saw a private message from a new contact pop up.

Yu Sheng looked and saw the stranger's name was "Disciple Four Thousand." Two messages had been sent. The first read: "Fellow Daoist, hello. I am Disciple Three Thousand. This is my new account."

Yu Sheng: "..."

Then he saw the content of the second message:

"I am extremely interested in the strange objects you have discovered consecutively. Moreover, I have recently heard some things about you and instantly felt regret at not knowing you sooner. I originally intended to visit personally to discuss matters of strange objects and secrets, but here mundane affairs are numerous and I truly cannot break free. Fortunately, recently one of my disciples is going to the border region to handle some matters. He is also extremely skilled in strange objects and matters of foreign lands. I wish to send him to visit you. Is this convenient? If I have caused any disturbance, please forgive me."

Yu Sheng broke out in a cold sweat instantly...

(End of this chapter)