Chapter 23 Reunion with Wei Ning

The instant Yan Shi threw the magic liquid bomb, Libertas drew his sword from his back and stepped forward to shield Yan Shi.

She quickly formed a complex starting stance with her left hand, and forcefully slammed her sword into the ground in front of her with her right hand, summoning a shield centered on the sword to block the oncoming aftershocks of the explosion.

A burst of fire tore through the smoke, and Liu Guang emerged with a dark expression.

Libertas warily stood in front of Yan Shi.

Yan Shi looked Liu Guang up and down with great interest. Liu Guang must have quickly summoned its spirit to form a protective shield the moment the bomb landed, to withstand the impact of the bomb's close-range explosion.

This can be considered revenge for the humiliation Liu Guang caused her at the previous auction.

It's a bit of a pity, the bomb's power was a little weak. Yan Shi thought regretfully.

"Fine, fine, fine," Liu Guang sneered.

"I don't know if the deputy commander would be interested in this small business," Yan Shi said, picking up the money bag containing the other two bombs and shaking it innocently. "I already said it's not convenient."

Liu Guang took a deep breath to calm down: "How did you get your hands on the magic liquid bomb and bring it in? As far as I know, the most recent batch of magic liquid bombs made by Master Meng were seized by the Bureau of Extraordinary Management at the Cloud Journey Tower security checkpoint."

Surely this wasn't imported from a foreign authority?

"It's because the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs seized it that she was able to run her own small business," Yan Shi thought silently. She gestured for Libertas to relax and stop blocking her way, then looked at Liu Guang: "So this is the secret of my small business. The vice commander shouldn't have a penchant for prying into other people's secrets, right?"

Liu Guang stared at Yan Shi for a while, then finally said, "No. The goods have been inspected and accepted. You can come with me now. But the people you bring are not allowed to enter."

Yan Shi: "These are the bodyguards I hired."

"You still need bodyguards?" Liu Guang couldn't help but mock.

"I don't recall any rule against bringing bodyguards to the black market," Yan Shi said, glancing at the dimly lit street behind Liu Guang. "Or is this not a black market at all, but rather a place where your Mithril Merchant Guild engages in shady dealings?"

Liu Guang paused for a moment, then said, "Come in."

As she spoke, she turned and walked into C5 Street.

Yan Shi followed behind Liu Guang, his gaze slightly lowered. Despite the huge explosion, the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs had not actually appeared.

Is it a selective abandonment of area C?

C5 Street was deserted, clearly indicating that it had once been a residential area but was now abandoned. Yan Shi followed Liu Guang through several streets and finally stopped in an alley.

There's a wall in front of us; we can't go any further.

Liu Guang took out three deep gold admission tickets from his pocket, handed two to Yan Shi, and took one for himself, sticking it to a broken brick on the wall. The admission ticket emitted a faint glow, and then Liu Guang and the ticket disappeared together in front of the wall.

It is an alchemical array.

But the Welly Hub itself is a huge alchemical product, and the Bureau of Alienation was unaware that someone had modified the Welly Hub.

Yan Shi stopped thinking about it and stuck the admission ticket on the wall. A bright light flashed before her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was in front of a very wide street.

The street was lined with stalls, almost all of which were occupied near the entrance, with only a few empty stalls a little further away. At the end of the street stood a two-story, circular building.

The people sitting at the stalls were all shrouded in black robes, obscuring their features. The street was quiet, with many silent figures in black robes moving about, examining the goods on the stalls.

Yan Shi looked down and found that he was indeed also shrouded in a black robe.

Liuguang had already disappeared. She waited in place for a few minutes and found that Libertas had not followed her in either.

"It might be a random teleportation," Yan Shi thought to himself.

Her gaze swept across the street and the buildings at the end of it, and without waiting any longer, she walked toward the nearest stall.

Let her see what interesting contraband items we have.

Although the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics also inspects these items, it's definitely more interesting to communicate with the seller in person.

Yan Shi walked to the nearest stall, where a group of people had already gathered.

This is a stall selling animal products.

Yan Shi looked on curiously and saw a cloak that flowed like moonlight—it was an invisibility cloak. Because the invisibility cloak was entirely woven from the fur of invisibility beasts, at least three invisibility beasts were needed to make one cloak, and with invisibility beasts being captured in large numbers and their numbers dwindling year by year, the Bureau of Exotic Affairs had explicitly prohibited the hunting of invisibility beasts to weave invisibility cloaks.

"Can an invisibility cloak really make you completely invisible?" a familiar voice asked from the side.

The stall owner's voice was hoarse: "In terms of simply covering one's body, yes."

"Stadium owner, you're playing word games," another male voice said from the side. "Besides not being able to conceal your figure and aura, what other shortcomings does it have?"

"It can only be used three times. This invisibility cloak isn't entirely made of the fur of an invisibility beast; instead, a magic circle is woven into the cloak with fur, requiring spirit energy to activate it. Each activation consumes some fur. It'll probably run out of fur after three uses." The stall owner finished speaking and scoffed, "If it could truly make you completely invisible without any usage restrictions, how could you see it on my stall outside? It would definitely be at the black market auction. You get what you pay for; a real invisibility cloak is just a dream."

"This formation is ingenious, making the most of the invisible beast's fur; there are actually no more than 10 hairs on it." It was another lazy female voice.

Yan Shi looked over at the sound. It was Lin Cai, Yu Junxun, and Gui Gemu, and next to them should be Shu Zhijing. What were they doing here?

---

Upon receiving the emergency transfer order, Gui Gemu, concerned for Sheng Chunqiu's safety, immediately set off with Lin Cai and others to meet up with Shu Zhijing at the Weier Hub.

To the disappointment of Guigemu, the nearest flight from Yuntu Airport to Emerald City is tomorrow at noon.

She tried to request a transfer of an airship from the branch office of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs at the Will Hub, but because it was Friday, the routine departments at the branch office had already closed by the time she arrived. Even if she submitted the application, it wouldn't be approved until Monday at the earliest.

It's better to take the flight to Emerald City tomorrow.

Emerald City, as the residence of the elves, is located on the other side of the Inner World, far away from the towns where humans live. Airships are the fastest option.

With no flights available, there's no use in Guigemu being anxious now. After buying tickets for tomorrow's noon flight, he and the others who traveled with him stayed at a hotel near the Yuntu Airport Tower.

Lin Cai was very excited as it was her first business trip to the Otherworld. After leaving Guigemu's room, she whispered to Yu Junxun, "Since we can't leave until tomorrow, can we go out for a walk tonight?"

Director Gui was so anxious that her mood was very low, and she didn't dare to ask the question just now.

Yu Junxun looked at her and smiled, "Of course. The Well Hub is one of the largest transportation hubs in the Inner World. The streets outside the Cloud Journey Tower are very lively, and you can find stalls selling all the famous snacks in the Inner World."

"Whether it's authentic or not depends on the individual." He shrugged. "The probability of it being authentic is relatively high."

Lin Cai: "I've never eaten here before, but everything here is authentic." She leaned closer to the window and looked down, "It's so lively!"

Shu Zhijing asked Yu Junxun, "Is this Lin Cai, whom I brought back from the black market last week? She just came into contact with the inner world, and Zhanzhou hasn't even started school yet. How did she end up in your General Bureau's Household Registration Department?"

“The director appointed an intern.” Yu Junxun looked at Lin Cai’s back as she peeked out the window. “You know what’s going on in the General Administration’s Household Registration Department.”

Shu Zhijing: "That's why I'm asking you." She lowered her voice, "What are you planning to do? Stop talking nonsense, this is a mess. You should hurry up and find some capable people to sort out the General Administration's Household Registration Department. I don't think Director Yan is easy to fool."

“I know.” Yu Junxun’s expression was cold, and Shu Zhijing did not say anything more.

"Director Yu, Director Shu, would you like to come along?" Lin Cai asked as she turned around, having finished looking around and preparing to go downstairs.

"Let's go together, it's been a long time since I've been to the Will Hub." Yu Junxun smiled again. "Senior Sister, would you like to come along?"

Shu Zhijing nodded.

Lin Cai skipped downstairs: "Is Director Shu Director Yu's senior sister?"

Yu Junxun: "That's just a way of putting it. Our generation all called her Senior Sister. She was the head disciple of the Kunlun Mountain sect leader and was always very serious."

He laughed again as he spoke: "There are even photos, with a stern face, almost exactly like the head of Kunlun Mountain."

They had just reached the first floor of the hotel when Lin Cai suddenly stopped: "Wait."

Yu Jun asked, "What's wrong?"

“I think I saw Wei Ning.” Lin Cai stood up two steps higher. “She’s the head of the merchant guild who lured me and Tiger Cub into the black market.”

Shu Zhijing immediately became serious. She was in charge of the black market incident last week. Lin Cai had seen Wei Ning, which meant that there were still some black market participants who had escaped the net last week who were involved in dangerous smuggling and trafficking of living beings.

"Which one?" she asked in a deep voice, her hand already on the sword hanging at her waist.

"The one diagonally opposite the hotel, between the dessert stall and the barbecue stall, the one wearing a leather jacket," Lin Cai said definitively.

"Are you sure?" Shu Zhijing frowned slightly, locking onto the target.

Lin Cai: "Yes. Before Tiger Cub and I were drugged, I talked with her for a long time. I have a hard time mistaking someone."

Wei Ning seemed to sense Lin Cai and the others' gaze, quickly turned around, and hurriedly made her way to the corner through the crowd.

Shu Zhijing swept past the inn in an instant, chasing after Wei Ning. Wei Ning walked very fast, and Shu Zhijing grabbed her clothes just as she was about to turn the corner.

To Ling Shuzhijing's surprise, Wei Ning decisively took off her coat and disappeared.

Lin Cai and Yu Junxun followed.

"We didn't catch her." Shu Zhijing gripped Wei Ning's coat and said through gritted teeth, "There's an instant short-range teleportation array around the corner."

Lin Cai lost interest in shopping and they went straight back to the hotel.

“Wei Ning?” Gui Ge Mu was somewhat surprised. “And Shu Zhi Jing, the person you’ll lose track of?” she mocked.

Shu Zhijing turned her coat inside out; the pockets were all empty except for four dark gold admission tickets of unknown purpose, labeled "Vell Hub C5".

Shu Zhijing frowned, turning the admission ticket over and over: "What's this for?"

As she was pondering, Gui Gemu's phone suddenly rang. Gui Gemu glanced at the caller ID, then expressionlessly pressed the screen mirroring button.

"Guigemu, why didn't you say earlier that the director was with you too?" The video call connected, and it was a little girl with fluffy curly hair and many metal ornaments.

Lin Cai was somewhat surprised.

Shu Zhijing took the initiative to greet him: "Director Duan."

Yu Junxun whispered to Lin Cai, "This is Duan Yunchen, the head of the branch of the Weier Hub Bureau. She is an immortal witch."

Duan Yunchen ignored the others on the other end of the video call and casually asked Gui Gemu, "Why didn't you say the director was here earlier? Why did you ask me to write an application for airship permissions? Just have the director give special approval. It would take at most half an hour."

"Duan Yunchen, I'm really annoyed right now, don't joke with me." Gui Gemu said with a frown, "The director sent us an emergency notice and told us to leave immediately, why did we all come together?"

Duan Yunchen: "Huh? But the branch office gate just showed that the director entered the branch office. I'll show you the surveillance footage."

Gui Gemu opened the surveillance video of her arrival; it was the camera at the entrance of the branch office. It showed the chief of police surveying the branch office for a while before walking to the door, swiping his card to open the gate.

“I’ve never met the director before. The new director is quite special. She even smiled at Xiao Gan,” Duan Yunchen said. “She must be very satisfied with Xiao Gan’s service! As expected of me, the number one alchemy master of the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs. Even the director of the alchemy products is very satisfied.”

Director Yan, you went to the branch office of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs at the Weier Hub, and even smiled at the artificial intelligence at the entrance?

It looks really strange, doesn't it?

Gui Gemu: "Send me the surveillance footage recorded by Xiao Gan at the door so I can take a look."

Author's Note: This is today's update. There will be another chapter tonight, which is to make up for yesterday's double update, so it will be a little later.

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2024-05-27 22:30:30 and 2024-05-29 22:34:43!

Thank you to the little angels who threw the grenade: Xiaoshiwei, Geyiyongzhi, and Ziqing (1 each);

Thank you to the little angels who threw landmines: Xu, Xiaoshiwei, and Qingfengfumian (1 each);

Thank you to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: Tongxin Yuyi 183 bottles; Leng Lan 40 bottles; Milk Coffee Pudding 35 bottles; Ranjing, Qingyi 34 bottles; Jing 30 bottles; Xiaoshiwei 24 bottles; Artemis 22 bottles; Bixi, Mr. Sen and Ms. Mo, Bili, Ah Zhe 20 bottles; Banhu Yanyu 15 bottles; Narcissus Fanatic 11 bottles; Erciyuan, 66571752, Guihua Luo, Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mozhu, Xun'an, Zhuge Liang Nuhe Pansidong 10 bottles; Qingjiuba 3 bottles; Muzi, Capture a Little Cutie, 70472933 2 bottles; Yaobuqiyicongwenba :D, Landuo (Senior Slaughter Chef), Yunyan Yipian, Ye Zhirou, Geyu, Mingshan, evina, Jia+1, Manzhi, Shang'an Jinli, G., Geyiyongzhi, Muluomu 1 bottle;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!