Chapter 237 (The 236th Chapter of the Lantern Festival)

They replaced the damaged one with a perfectly intact one.

After careful consideration, Yan Shi realized that it was indeed highly feasible.

She looked up and met Yu Youguan's expectant eyes. Happiness was simple and pure, and Yan Shi couldn't help but smile, her lips curving slightly: "Okay."

Yu Youguan was secretly observing the young Yanju's every move.

At this moment, she saw the young Yanju brighten up again, the regret in his eyes disappeared, and his dark pupils swirled in the lights, revealing a vivid and vibrant life.

This is Yanju's "youth" from long ago, a time that no one knew about or had ever touched before.

Yu Youguan stared at her blankly for a while before she came to her senses: "Then, Ah Shi, it's settled!"

Yan Shi nodded slightly.

Yu Youguan smiled, her eyes crinkling: "As for now, let's go to the villa to rest first. Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, and the main street of Baiyujing will be even more beautiful."

The Yu family's villa was not far from the main street, only two streets away from the management bureau.

Near Baiyujing Main Street, land is extremely valuable, and although the Yu family's villa is not large, its design is exceptionally exquisite.

The entrance is a winding corridor paved with bluestone. Beyond the corridor lies a pond that encircles the house. Lotus flowers float half-open in the pond, and lamp beads drift on the water, reflecting ripples like scattered gold.

The main house in the center of the pond is a two-story building with a rustic wooden structure. Wind chimes hang from the eaves of the main house, tinkling softly.

Yu Youguan pushed open the door of the small building, and the spirit lamp inside sensed someone's arrival and automatically turned on.

Yu Youguan: "Director Yan, the servants change the daily necessities in the villa every three days. The Yu family also has another villa not far away, where I live."

She paused for a moment, then said seriously, "If you suddenly have any orders or needs, be sure to call me. I can be there within three minutes."

Yan Shi nodded: "Will Aska come to find you after completing his mission?"

“Yes,” Yu Youguan said. “Aska knows the addresses of these two villas.”

Yan Shi: "Okay. Then you can go back now. Good night."

Yu Youguan bowed slightly and left the villa with a cheerful gait.

The entire building fell silent immediately.

Yan Shi went up the stairs to the second floor, opened the window, and looked into the distance.

The area around Baiyujing's main street is mostly comprised of courtyard houses, with no tall buildings. The Yu family's two-story building is considered extremely tall, allowing them to see everything at a glance.

Not far from the window was a desk with Xuan paper spread on it.

Yan Shi hastily tore off a map, found a charcoal stick, and roughly drew a topographical map of the main street and the nearby streets and alleys, then lowered his head in deep thought.

If Aska and Yu Youguan believed what the Bureau of Foreign Affairs said today.

Yan Shi gestured on the paper.

Tomorrow night, most of the security personnel will be concentrated on the east side of the city. The main street will be located further west.

With insufficient security, the students of Changning Academy started to riot, and since they were mostly privileged children, the patrol teams left behind couldn't control them.

The weather is dry, so be careful with fire. This isn't just something our ancestors said.

To welcome the Lantern Festival, the entire Baiyujing (White Jade Palace) was adorned with lanterns, hanging from the eaves to mid-air, connected by strings. The main thing was that if one lantern caught fire, the whole area would naturally be ablaze.

As for the second generation, most of them are not skilled enough and may need tools to assist them in committing crimes.

Yan Shi took the large plastic bag out of the small wooden box.

She dumped the contraband she had taken from the branch office of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics on the ground with a clatter.

If they're all prohibited items, then there must be a reason why they're prohibited.

Yan Shi swept the pile of contraband into a corner.

Although she doesn't know them, the second generation will eventually. Two will be sent to each person tomorrow; how they use them is up to them.

The plan is in place.

Yan Shi put the charcoal sticks back on the table, folded the Xuan paper and stuffed it into his pocket. He then sent a notification in the spiritual communication group that Aska had created, already looking forward to tomorrow.

---

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival.

The entire Kunlun Mountains were filled with joy and celebration.

When Kunlun Mountain Sect Leader Shu Yao woke up early, her right eyelid kept twitching.

According to old-fashioned beliefs, a twitching left eye means good fortune, while a twitching right eye means bad luck.

But it was the Lantern Festival, and Baiyujing was perfectly fine. What disaster could possibly be coming?

Maybe he didn't sleep well last night.

"I'm getting old, I'm getting old," Shu Yao murmured to herself.

As a result, after cultivating all morning, Shuyao ate lunch, handled official business, and took a nap, her eyelids were still twitching uncontrollably.

After thinking for a moment, Shu Yao decided to call in her prized student, Shu Zhijing, who was currently the head of the execution department at the Baiyujing branch of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs.

Tell Shu Zhijing to keep an eye on the junior sisters tonight, and make sure they don't go out and cause trouble.

Strangely, when the telepathic call connected, all that came on the other end was a noisy crowd.

Shuyao: "Zhijing, aren't you on the mountain?"

“I’m in the center of the capital.” Shu Zhijing said on the other end of the phone, “Teacher, the young master of the Yu family came to see me last night, saying that there have been major changes in Baiyujing recently.”

"The young master of the Yu family?" Shu Yao recalled for a moment, "That little girl Yu Youguan?"

Shu Zhijing: "Yes. The Yu family is known for its prophecy, and I'm a little worried that their young master would say such a thing. We're in the east of the city now, preparing for a routine check."

"You actually believed it?" Shu Yao shook her head with a smile. "Let me tell you a little secret: that little girl's ability has nothing to do with prophecy. It's just that Yu Xuewen is biased towards this youngest daughter."

Shu Zhijing: "Huh?"

Shu Yao: "That's how the old-fashioned ones are." Before she could finish speaking, there was a sudden, anxious knocking at the door: "Sect Leader, Sect Leader!"

"Fine, go ahead and check it out," Shu Yao said. "Come back early tonight to check the lanterns." With that, she hung up the phone.

The doorman outside was so anxious that he was about to push the door open and come in.

Shu Yao: "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry? That's impolite."

"Sect Leader." The disciple breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her: "Director Yan has arrived; he's at the mountain gate."

Shuyao: ...?

"Who?" she asked again in surprise.

Disciple: "Director Yan. The one from the head office of the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs."

Yan Shi entered the main hall of Kunlun Mountain and sat facing Shu Yao, the leader of Kunlun Mountain.

The servants respectfully served them tea, then quietly closed the door and left.

Inside the enormous main hall, only the two of them remained for a moment.

Yan Shi picked up the teacup and took a sip without any hesitation. Then, he tried his best to keep a straight face, swallowed the tea, and silently put the teacup back on the table.

This is real tea. Not milk.

Yan Shi could sense the high quality of the tea, but he couldn't appreciate all drinks that weren't sweet.

Shu Yao also picked up her teacup and took a sip: "Director Yan, I've long admired your name."

Yan Shi: "...Mmm." She responded dryly.

Shu Yao: "I wonder how you've been feeling in Baiyujing lately?" She was a little unsure of the purpose of this visit from Director Yan, whom she had only heard of before. Under the guise of drinking tea, she carefully examined the woman opposite her once again.

The only previous contact between Shuyao and Yanju was when Yanju forcibly intervened to investigate the accounts of the special pension fund for the Ju'e Plain. As a result, Bai Yujing incurred an exorbitant bill.

The compensation was personally drafted by Shuyao, and it would be a lie to say she wasn't heartbroken when it was given out.

Only when she met him in person did Shuyao realize how unfathomable Yanju was.

Anyone in the Underworld who pays even a little attention to the news knows that Director Yan of the General Administration is a Fire-type Grand Spirit Master.

However, as a Great Spirit Master herself, Shu Yao was completely unable to sense Yan Ju's spiritual energy at this moment.

It can only be that she has a very good ability to control her spirit, and her control over the spirit is even greater than hers.

Shuyao sighed inwardly.

Ultimately, she's gotten old and her skills have declined.

Director Yan seemed to have no urgent business. She merely glanced coldly at Shu Yao and said, "Baiyujing is quite lively."

Shu Yao: "Yes. The Lantern Festival is a day when every family gathers together to watch lanterns."

So please, Director Yan, don't be so sure that you've investigated some accounts again and decided to raze the main city of Baiyujing to the ground as well.

During the Lantern Festival, how many people in the main city are happily reunited with their families?

Seeing Shu Yao's reaction, Yan Ju suddenly smiled and her eyebrows curved slightly. "Sect Leader Shu, there's no need to be so nervous," she said. "I just happened to be passing through Baiyujing today and wanted to ask you for a cup of tea."

Following the incident at Novano Port, several powerful figures in the Underworld publicly announced their membership in the Bureau of Dissidents, agreeing to obey only the Bureau's orders.

At the same time, the General Administration has begun a thorough investigation of its branches, and has recently taken many significant actions.

Yanju was busy with official duties, yet he traveled all the way from the outside world to Baiyujing to ask Shuyao for a cup of tea?

Shuyao felt that if she believed this, she would truly be old.

But she couldn't figure out what Director Yan was thinking, so she could only smile and say, "Really? That would truly be an honor for Kunlun."

"These are spiritual herbs grown on Kunlun Mountain. If Director Yan likes them, I'll have my disciples pack some for you to take back with you."

Yan Shi: ...

No, she doesn't like it.

This bitter-tasting tea is probably only meant to be served to enemies, isn't it?

In fact, she is very nervous right now.

Because Yu Youguan was in the room of the sect leader opposite, "changing" the spatial gap.

Yu Youguan described this Sect Leader Shu as "an old geezer." As she spoke, she pouted and said, "I admit that Sect Leader Shu is the most capable among all the sect leaders in Baiyujing."

"But Director Yan, they've done far too many dirty things. They're just old fogies, and they still won't give up their place to Senior Sister."

Yan Shi turned his head curiously and asked, "Senior Sister?"

“Yes,” Yu Youguan said, “The senior sister of Kunlun Mountain, Shu Zhijing, is currently the head of the execution department at the branch of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs. She is truly an upright person.”

Yan Shi: "How do you know that after she takes over as the leader of Kunlun Mountain, she won't become the same person as the current leader?"

"Huh?" Yu Youguan's eyes widened.

Yan Shi shrugged: "After all, people change. Youth is the most carefree time. As you grow older, the greater the responsibility, the more boring you become."

"I've become a boring adult."

Yu Youguan seemed to be deep in thought and remained silent.

Yan Shi was equally unsure how to deal with the shrewd and experienced Headmaster Shu.

Yu Youguan only told her that she was Director Yan.

Yan Shi: ?

Yu Youguan said confidently, "You are Director Yan. As long as you sit there, everyone will believe you."

Yan Shi secretly glanced at the sect leader.

In retrospect, she did a very good job of portraying her future self. The sect leader truly didn't notice anything wrong with her.

As expected of her!

Sitting here like this is really boring.

The sect leader began to speak to Yan Shi, who could only nod stiffly: "Then thank you, sect leader."

Shu Yao smiled and said, "Director Yan, you're too kind."

She seemed to genuinely enjoy the tea; she picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

“Director Yan, it’s not very interesting for us to just drink tea. Why don’t I have my servants bring some snacks?” Shuyao asked.

Yan Shi nodded: "Okay."

Every little bit of delay counts.

Shuyao raised her hand and clapped twice.

A moment later, the servant who had poured the tea earlier respectfully returned and, after serving several plates of exquisite tea and snacks, quietly placed a piece of paper next to Yan Shi.

Yan Shi looked down.

I was immediately taken aback by the five million spirit stones in the first line.

Shu Yao smiled and said, "This is a small token from Kunlun to Director Yan. Please don't find it offensive."

Author's note: Is anyone still following this? QAQ

Red envelopes will be given out in the comments section today.