Chapter 215: Does the Board of Directors have a new mission?

The air inside the Qu Jia villa was heavy and oppressive. In the study, Chai Yan stood straight, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. As a subordinate of Qu Tong, he knew the importance of this mission, and even more so, the price of failure.

"Please rest assured, Miss," Chai Yan's voice was steady and powerful, "The elites I have carefully selected this time are one in a hundred. Every single one has undergone at least three rounds of practical combat assessment; not only is their strength solid, but more importantly, they possess absolute loyalty to you."

Qu Tong stood before the window, the moonlight outlining her elegant and aloof silhouette. She did not respond immediately, instead gazing quietly into the distance. As the person in charge, she understood too well that in this ever-changing world of Outsiders, any confidence could become a fatal weakness.

"I hope so," she finally said, only faintly, her tone containing both trust and a warning.

Just as Chai Yan was preparing to take his leave, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. Ma Xianhong, having already changed his appearance, pushed the door open and entered. His face was now so ordinary it was almost forgettable, but the persistence and fanaticism in those eyes remained as they were. This made Qu Tong's heart tighten; no matter how his appearance changed, the paranoia in her younger brother's bones seemed impossible to ever change.

"Sister," Ma Xianhong looked straight into Qu Tong's eyes, his voice filled with pleading, "Let me participate in this operation. I am no longer the reckless person I once was. As I am now, no one will recognize me."

Qu Tong turned around, the moonlight casting cold shadows on her face: "No." Her tone was beyond question.

"Why?" Ma Xianhong stepped forward, his emotions somewhat agitated, "In this state, even if I run into an acquaintance, they wouldn't recognize me. Besides, this operation might even be related to my plan..."

"Enough!" Qu Tong interrupted him, her voice carrying a hint of severity, but more of concern, "The most important thing for you right now is to keep a low profile and wait for the right opportunity. Trust me, when it is time for you to act, I will naturally tell you."

Ma Xianhong wanted to say more, but meeting his sister's eyes, which held deep worry, he sighed in the end and retreated silently. Watching her brother's lonely back, a trace of bitterness welled up in Qu Tong's heart. To protect him, some things simply could not be explained too clearly.

At the same time, in a luxury private room of a five-star hotel in the city center, a dinner that appeared relaxed but actually hid mysteries was underway. Xu San, Xu Si, Zhang Chulan, and Feng Baobao sat around a sandalwood round table, the table filled with exquisite dishes, yet undercurrents surged amidst the clinking of glasses.

"Little Zhang," Xu Si put down his chopsticks, his expression suddenly becoming serious, "You really need to give some serious thought to this matter of your studies. If things go on like this, never mind a diploma, I'm afraid you won't even be able to keep your student status."

Zhang Chulan's movement of picking up food paused, a trace of annoyance flashing in his eyes: "I have thought about this problem, but given the current situation..." He put down his chopsticks helplessly, "I really can't pull myself away."

"Zhang Chulan, why can't you graduate if you don't go to school?" Feng Baobao tilted her head and asked with an innocent face, "Isn't it enough to pass the exams?"

Xu San smiled and shook his head: "Schools nowadays aren't that simple. Roll calls, assignments, lab classes—missing any one of them could affect your graduation."

"Then I'll go to class for you!" Feng Baobao suddenly suggested excitedly, causing everyone to be left between laughter and tears.

Just as Zhang Chulan was about to say something, Xu Si's phone suddenly vibrated. He glanced at the screen, his expression instantly becoming heavy: "The Board of Directors has new developments." This sentence made the atmosphere in the private room suddenly tense.

At this moment, in front of an abandoned commercial building in the city suburbs, Lin Xuan stood with Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai under a wall covered in graffiti. This place was once one of the city's most prosperous business districts, but now only broken walls and ruins remained, telling of the ruthlessness of time. In the decaying air, one could vaguely still feel some residual Qi.

"A heaven-shaking battle occurred here back in the day," Lin Xuan said thoughtfully, his fingers gently brushing over the cracks in the wall, "The traces of that Qi have not completely dissipated even now."

As he was speaking, a disheveled figure suddenly walked out from the shadows. Lv Liang's appearance seemed sudden, but Lin Xuan knew that all of this was within someone's plan.

"True Person Lin Xuan," Lv Liang stepped forward quickly, his voice filled with urgency, "Please stay!"

Xiao Qing immediately became alert, the Qi in her body ready to be unleashed, but Lin Xuan raised his hand slightly, signaling her not to act rashly.

"Something the matter?" Lin Xuan's tone was flat, as if he were not facing a mysterious person, but an ordinary passerby on the street.

Lv Liang took a deep breath and took out a primitive Jade Slip from his bosom: "This contains the truth of the Jiashen Rebellion from back then. I wish to offer this memory to the True Person; perhaps it will be of some help to the doubts in your heart."

Lin Xuan looked at that Jade Slip, a trace of amusement flashing in his eyes. He could feel that the Jade Slip indeed contained a certain special power, but it was not the kind he wanted.

"Do you think I would believe such a clumsy trick?" Lin Xuan's voice remained calm, but his tone already carried a hint of warning.

Just then, over a dozen black shadows suddenly surrounded them from all directions. Each person wore a strangely shaped mask, and their bodies emitted not-so-weak Qi. Under the moonlight, their figures were like ghosts; they were clearly experts with extraordinary skills.

"Lv Liang!" the masked leader shouted sternly, "Your flight ends here! Surrender!"

"Save me!" Lv Liang suddenly changed his composed posture from just a moment ago, his voice filled with panic, while he began to resist, though he was clearly no match for this group.

Lin Xuan stood where he was, not moving an inch. This play was truly ridiculously clumsy, but he did want to see just how far these people intended to act.

However, some of the masked men clearly misunderstood his identity.

"Looks like Lv Liang's accomplice," a masked man hissed, "Take them together!"

Before the words had even faded, several figures had already lunged toward Lin Xuan. Yet before they could even get close, Xiao Qing had already moved. Her figure was as fast as lightning, and her movements were incomparably sharp. In the blink of an eye, several masked men were sent flying back with screams, crashing heavily to the ground.

"This... what kind of strength is this?" The remaining masked men retreated in terror, their voices filled with disbelief.

Xiao Bai stood to the side, a hint of disdain in her eyes: "Ignorant of the heights of heaven and earth."

The masked men finally realized what kind of existence they had provoked. They couldn't care about anything else, grabbed the already heavily injured Lv Liang, and fled in a panic. Under the moonlight, their figures appeared exceptionally disheveled.

"Benefactor, shall we pursue?" Xiao Qing was eager to try, clearly not yet finished with this farce.

Lin Xuan, however, shook his head: "No need." He watched the direction in which Lv Liang was taken, his eyes deep, "Some people always want to use such clumsy means to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, they will never understand that in front of a true powerhouse, these tricks appear so ridiculous."

"Is there really any secret in that Jade Slip?" Xiao Bai asked thoughtfully.

"Even if there is," Lin Xuan stepped away, "it would only add more trouble."

The night grew deeper, and the city lights remained bright. On this seemingly calm night, everyone was running for their own goals. Some were seeking the truth, some were covering up the truth, and some were observing the changes in all of this, waiting quietly for the moment when the winds and clouds would meet.