Chapter 256: Thousand Tribulations

Supplement: Based on energy coordination and agreement stability, the operation on Yingjie's side is limited to one participant.

Wei Er Wei: "... ah?"

Ailixiya covers her mouth and giggles: "Looks like we can't just rush in, Wei Er Wei. We need to be strategic~"

Kevin says succinctly: "Who goes?"

The eyes of the group meet. On Yingjie's side, Ailixiya and Kevin are excluded, leaving the remaining candidates...

"Let's set the target first."

Na Ke Xia speaks, clearly organized: "Different Golden Descendants are each distinct. Choosing the right Persuader yields half the effort for double the result."

He quickly analyzes:

"Bai E, Ke Lv De La, HaiSeYin, XiaDie—situations unclear, insufficient information, higher risk, not suitable for a first attempt."

"Wan Di, extremely aggressive, estimated strength very high, requires a strong breakthrough, but as a first battle target may be too aggressive."

"Feng Jin, according to its records, may be linked to the 'Sky Titan', high variable."

Na Ke Xia concludes: "Overall, A Ge Lai Ya is a suitable first battle target. Risk is relatively controllable, and the payoff after success is clear—we need her 'brain'."

Xi Lian nods in agreement.

Da Ti Bao looks half-understanding, but also nods.

"Target locked: A Ge Lai Ya."

Ailixiya claps, "Then, on Yingjie's side, who shall we send to Persuade this clever miss?"

The group's gaze scans the remaining members of Yingjie.

Mei Bi Wu Si? She's clever, but her research urge is excessive; she might turn Persuasion into dissection, PASS.

Pa Duo? Lucky but... this is fighting, not picking up trash.

Ge Lei Xiu?... let this kid keep drawing.

Qianjie?...

"In combat, Qianjie is more suitable."

Kevin suddenly speaks, giving a simple direct answer.

The air quiets for a moment.

"Qianjie..."

Ailixiya blinks, "Hmm... if force is the breakthrough point, Qianjie indeed... is very persuasive. It's just..."

She doesn't finish, but everyone understands.

Qianjie is still too explosive.

Wei Er Wei's eyes light up: "Qianjie is great! Intuitive! Efficient! I cast a vote for Qianjie!"

Xi Lian worries a bit: "Mr. Qianjie... could he be too heavy-handed?"

Ailixiya smiles: "Don't worry, little Xi Lian~ Qianjie may have a fiery temper, but his combat intuition is high, and we watch from outside, so we can remind him if needed~"

Though she doesn't know how to remind him across space.

In the end, the participant from Yingjie's side for the first operation is decided—Qianjie.

Dongmu City·Luxury Hotel Suite

Chang Ye Yue uses the funds "collected" from the Jiantong Family, sparing no expense to book this high-floor suite with excellent view.

A spacious living room, soft sofa, and a huge floor-to-ceiling window showing the glittering harbor and distant city lights under the night sky.

Sakura Matou has taken a hot shower, changed into clean pajamas, and now curls up on the largest sofa in a corner of the living room, covered with a soft blanket, holding a cup of hot milk prepared by Chang Ye Yue with hot water, sipping slowly.

Her gaze remains somewhat vacant, but compared to when she was in the Jiantong Residence, she shows less fear and more bewilderment.

The warm yellow light and comfortable setting seem to relax her tense nerves a bit.

San Yue Qi curiously wanders around the suite, runs a hand over the smooth marble table, looks at the abstract wall art, then runs to the floor-to-ceiling window and exclaims "Wow" at the night view.

"Sister, this place is awesome! It's bigger than the train's cabin!"

San Yue Qi turns, her pink ponytail swaying with the motion, "Are we really going to stay here? Isn't it a bit... extravagant?"

She likes novel experiences, but knows they're not here for a vacation.

Chang Ye Yue, checking the suite's facilities, hears this and calmly says: "Safe, comfortable, convenient for observation, and won't attract unnecessary attention. This investment is worthwhile."

To her, money is merely a tool; achieving the goal efficiently is what matters.

"By the way,"

San Yue Qi suddenly remembers something, runs to Chang Ye Yue's side, "You just mentioned Xing? Did Xing also come? Where is she? Why haven't I seen her?"

Her tone carries obvious anticipation and excitement; meeting a familiar companion in an unfamiliar world is always reassuring.

Chang Ye Yue's hand movement pauses.

(... Xing?)

(This is hard to explain.)

She keeps a steady expression and replies: "She... is a Tathagata."

"Tathagata?"

San Yue Qi tilts her head, confused, "What does it mean? 'Seems to have arrived'? Or 'as if arrived'? Or... some code?"

"..."

Chang Ye Yue, rarely at a loss for words, feels a hint of speechlessness.

She can't say "She arrived, but it's a copy of Xing who looks the same yet isn't the same person," can she?

That explanation would be more troublesome, and might involve Black Curtain Lady's scheme.

"It's just... she's in this world, but the situation is somewhat special."

Chang Ye Yue chooses to be vague, sidestepping, "When the time is right, you'll meet her. For now, focus on our own task."

San Yue Qi seemed to understand vaguely, but seeing Chang Ye Yue give no detailed explanation, they obediently stopped asking, only whispering, "So mysterious…".

At that moment, Chang Ye Yue's expression suddenly shifted, and the crimson eyes turned toward some direction outside the floor‑to‑ceiling window.

"Did you sense it?" Chang Ye Yue asked softly.

San Yue Qi, bewildered, replied, "Sense what?"

"A magical disturbance… a very strong fluctuation."

Chang Ye Yue walked to the window, her gaze fixed on the direction of the distant port district.

"Is it other Servants? Or the Master?"

San Yue Qi also leaned to the window, straining to sense, but her perception of magical energy was far less sharp than Chang Ye Yue's (?).

Chang Ye Yue did not answer immediately; she closed her eyes and sensed more carefully for a moment.

After a moment, she opened her eyes, and a flash of understanding passed through her crimson pupils.

"It seems the prelude to war has already been set in motion by others." She turned, looking at San Yue Qi, "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" San Yue Qi asked.

"To take a look."

Chang Ye Yue picked up the Black Umbrella leaning against the wall and headed toward the suite entrance, "Gather intelligence, assess the opponent, and meanwhile…"

A faint curve lifted the corner of her mouth.

"…see if there's a chance to eliminate some unstable elements."

San Yue Qi glanced at the already‑asleep Sakura, then at Chang Ye Yue's silhouette, quickly grabbed her own coat and trotted to keep up.

"Wait for me! I'm coming too!"

Perspective shift.

Qianjie stood on the damp sand, the grains beneath his feet baked dry and crisp by the involuntary heat radiating from his body.

He crossed his arms; his masked face gave no expression, yet the burning‑red eyes were locked onto the pale‑golden figure sitting in a wheelchair a short distance away, back turned to him.

"What the heck,"

Qianjie's voice came through the mask, laced with unabashed irritation and a hint of contemptuous anger, "You want me to go beat a wheelchair‑bound one?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a line of pink wavy‑lined text floated in the empty space before him:

【Ailixiya: Oh my~ Qianjie, don't underestimate the opponent! I heard Mr. Na Ke Xia say that Miss A Ge Lai Ya is really formidable! Seems she can even summon some 'Yi Jiang'~?】

Immediately another line followed:

【Pado Felice: Go, Brother Qianjie! You're the strongest! After the fight, could you ask her if she has any treasure? She looks pretty charismatic, maybe she's hiding something good!】

Qianjie: "…"

These onlookers who love a spectacle and aren't shy about causing trouble.