Chapter 39: Mission, Pursuit

Ten days later.

"I've seen the results of your training these past days with my own eyes."

"Although ten days consumed three months' worth of resources, it was worth it; the results are good, really good!"

Chen Haoxi stood in front of Yu Lin and the others, a smile on his face:

"ZhouYi progressed from Qi induction completion to the forging stage; Yu Lin and Qin Zhao, you two have completed Qi induction."

"Even Bai Xiaoxia, that lazy dog, has entered the later stage of Qi induction."

"In you I see the former look of the director and his crew! Keep pushing forward!"

His words fell silent.

Clap clap clap.

Bai Xiaoxia clapped and shouted, "Good!"

"Alright, stop," Chen Haoxi ordered him to halt, cleared his throat lightly, and continued:

"Today we won't discuss cultivation or conduct basic training."

"Let's do real combat!"

"No matter how impressive the data or performance, it can't beat completing a S‑level combat evaluation!"

"Then, how should you conduct the combat?"

He lifted the tablet in his hand, tapped a few times, and displayed the screen to the four of Yu Lin:

"In South Cloud City, there's a fugitive Yellow‑level wanted criminal; three days ago he murdered his own master and raped his senior sister!"

"This is his photo and basic information."

"You have two days to capture him."

"Within two days, if alive—S‑level; if dead—A‑level; beyond two days, regardless of life or death, B‑level; each additional day lowers the rating by one tier, down to the worst, F!"

"Of course."

He shifted his tone, saying gravely, "Prioritize your own safety; the rating may be low, but you must return alive!"

"I don't want any of you to come back missing limbs!"

"Group Two's Su Group Leader was only F‑level back then; one failure doesn't count for much!"

"Got it?!"

"Any other questions?!"

"Yes!" Yu Lin raised his hand to ask:

"As long as they're alive, that's fine, right?"

Chen Haoxi grinned, "Of course."

"As long as they're alive."

Yu Lin withdrew his hand and nodded:

"Alright, I have no problem then."

Qin Zhao and the other two echoed:

"We are as well!"

"Very well, then." Chen Haoxi pulled four tickets from his pocket and, with a 'pop', slapped them onto the table:

"The flight at 2:30 PM!"

"Prepare, then, depart!"

South Cloud City, evening, airport.

The glass doors slid open automatically, and the four of Yu Lin streamed out in single file, instantly drawing curious gazes.

Leading the group, Yu Lin wore a Black‑grade suit mimicking casual wear: a black T‑shirt, jeans, and a pair of canvas boots.

He slipped one hand into his pocket, twirled his phone casually with the other, his gaze lazily scanning the surroundings.

Half a step behind, Qin Zhao sported a neat crew cut; due to the heat, he wore only a tight vest, holding a booklet in his hand, scribbling something.

Bai Xiaoxia, the spotless fellow, had a lollipop in his mouth, his backpack festooned with various cartoon charms that jingled as he walked.

He was intently fiddling with his phone, occasionally letting out a goofy "hehe" laugh, as if chatting with someone.

The most eye‑catching was still ZhouYi.

His Daoist robe stood out in the crowd; every move made him look as if a Daoist had stepped straight out of a period drama set.

"Is this a film set?"

"Cosplay, right? Look at the one with a backpack full of charms; clearly an otaku."

"You wouldn't get it, would you? That Daoist belongs to the Quanzhen Sect, look at him..........."

"Wow! That crew‑cut girl is so cool!"

Passersby whispered continuously.

A few bold girls nudged each other, and finally one mustered the courage to stop them.

"Um... can we add each other on WeChat?" A pink‑haired girl flashed a friendly smile, handing her phone to Yu Lin.

Yu Lin shook his head, smiled faintly, "Sorry, I have a girlfriend."

He pointed at Qin Zhao.

Qin Zhao, realizing he was being used as a shield, nodded without raising his head, replying lightly:

"Mm."

"Alright, sorry for the intrusion," the pink‑haired girl said, looking disappointed, then pulled another phone from her pocket and handed it to Bai Xiaoxia:

"And this young gentleman?"

"Huh? Me?"

"Yes, indeed."

Sorry, I.......... uh.

Bai Xiaoxia looked around, pulled ZhouYi up from behind, and wore a shy expression:

I........ you know.

"Alright, sorry for the disturbance, you all must be happy! Bye."

ZhouYi pursed his lips.

Only after the pink‑haired girl left did he push Bai Xiaoxia's head that was leaning on him away in one swift motion:

"No more next times!"

"If it's not allowed, it's not allowed, okay? If Yu Lin hadn't been quick, I would have chosen the two of them!" Bai Xiaoxia pursed her lips, and her fingers tapped the screen again.

Not long after.

The taxi they hailed stopped right in front of them.

"What's the last digit?"

"1024."

"Alright, please fasten your seatbelt."

After saying that, the driver put on his headphones and had no intention of chatting with Yu Lin and the others.

Silence filled the car.

As the car drove from the city center into the suburbs.

The scenery outside the window gradually shifted from modern skyscrapers to old residential blocks.

It finally stopped in front of a six‑story tube‑shaped building, its mottled façade covered with climbing vines.

The navigation voice prompted:

【"Hello, you have arrived at your destination: Dongxin Road Le Man Community, please..."】

"We've arrived, take care."

"Mm, okay, thank you."

After Yu Lin paid the fare, the four of them stood in front of the building, surveying it.

The peeling exterior wall was crowded with air‑conditioner units, and a clothes‑drying line stretched from one end to the other, bearing a few garments that hadn't been taken down.

"Unit 3, 502," Qin Zhao confirmed the address:

"The place where the target was last seen."

"Later I'll go in first with Yu Lin; you two stay at the stairwell behind and guard, okay?"

"Okay." Yu Lin and the other two nodded in agreement.

The four slipped silently into the hallway, their footsteps not a whisper.

The air was thick with damp mildew and an indescribable fishy odor.

Just before reaching the 502 door, Qin Zhao suddenly halted, her brows knit.

She turned her head toward Yu Lin; the moment their gazes met, Yu Lin had already written two characters on her palm: "Blood Scent."

Qin Zhao's eyes hardened, and she nodded, signaling to move forward.

At the door, Qin Zhao raised her hand and knocked: "Hello, community water‑meter check."

No one answered.

Only the blood‑stained scent seeping through the crack grew stronger, almost nauseating.

At that moment, Lord Dragon's voice sounded in Yu Lin's ear: "Kid Yu, there's no one inside, just a corpse… it seems to have died this morning."

"Hm?!"

Yu Lin's gaze darkened; after a brief stare with Qin Zhao, he suddenly lifted his foot—

"Bang!"

The lock gave way with a clang, and the door slammed hard against the wall.

The sight that met their eyes froze both of them on the spot—

In the living room, blood splattered like a Hell painting.

Under the hanging fan, a slender figure dangled, skin torn, blood streaming from the toes, pooling on the floor into a dark‑red puddle.

The most striking thing was the words painted on the wall in blood:

"You're late, a bunch of trash. The mother of these two kids died because of you! Hahaha!"

Yu Lin frowned and said softly:

"Death occurred less than three hours ago; looks like someone reported it while we were on the plane…"

"Damned!" Qin Zhao growled, her tone full of rage.

She hurried forward, untied the hanging woman, confirmed she was dead, and her anger intensified.

"I will smash that damned guy, Bone by Bone!"

Her low growl prompted Bai Xiaoxia and ZhouYi behind her to rush over.

But the sight that met their eyes left them frozen as well.

Bai Xiaoxia unusually fell silent, the lollipop in her mouth crunching until only the stick remained.

"Fuck his mother." The usually composed ZhouYi cursed, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he stared at the tormented corpse.

"Run?! Did I let you run?!"

"You wait a moment, I'll calculate now!"

He pulled three ancient copper coins from his sleeve, stamping his foot heavily on the ground.

Divination Authority usage!

In an instant, a Taiji Bagua diagram two meters in diameter appeared beneath his feet, the yin-yang fish slowly rotating, emitting a faint WhiteLight.

"Divination!"

With a low shout, the Copper Coins were thrown high, tracing three arcs in the air.

At the moment the Copper Coins landed, they emitted a clear buzzing sound.

Until the moment they came to a complete stop.

ZhouYi wiped the blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, lifted his head sharply, and said word by word:

"Southeast, ten kilometers!"