Calamity Messenger

Chapter 439: Chapter 368: Thief’s House · Case Four

Shang Xinlei and Pharmacist’s Wish were stunned, and both looked at Ying Rushi.

"The Unity Lock triggered yesterday was—?"

"Just like you thought, White Fox and I encountered danger and triggered the Unity Lock." Yan Qing replied calmly, "Unfortunately, it was of no use, and we had to rely on White Fox’s Heaven-Swaying Sword to turn the tide."

"Weren’t you in the Demon Gathering Land? Was White Fox also there?" Shang Xinlei asked.

"We happened to meet by chance." Ying Rushi finally found an opportunity to join the conversation and hurriedly defended herself, "I encountered danger inside, and Yellow Dog recognized me and saved my life. To repay him, I assisted him in exploring the Demon Gathering Land. Besides me, there was my close friend in the group. The three of us teamed up temporarily inside, and we separated after leaving the Demon Gathering Land."

"Why do you seem a bit nervous?" Pharmacist’s Wish asked curiously.

Yan Qing said, "Oh, that’s because she and I—"

"That’s because I’m afraid you might misunderstand that Yellow Dog and I formed a private alliance!"

Ying Rushi quickly interrupted him: "The tasks of the Thief’s House are getting progressively harder. We should trust each other and work seamlessly. I don’t want doubts, conflicts, or rifts to arise between us. Although I owe Yellow Dog a favor, I will repay him elsewhere. I will not side with him because of it."

"Black Wolf, do you have the nerve to ask me?" Ying Rushi became more aggrieved as she spoke, "If it weren’t for the last mission where you had such a falling out with him, would I be this nervous? You know your temper, what if during the meeting there’s a disagreement and I agree with Yellow Dog’s opinion, and you misunderstand me as deliberately teaming up with Yellow Dog to suppress you?"

In truth, Shang Xinlei and Pharmacist’s Wish were just a bit surprised and didn’t think much of it. If Yan Qing and Ying Rushi had secretly hidden this matter, they might have suspected something. But Ying Rushi’s nervousness was reasonable, and Yan Qing’s honesty was so open and straightforward that they naturally accepted this teammate with whom they shared a secret and became closer.

"What kind of danger did you encounter? How could it even trigger the Unity Lock?"

"Do you need help? Whether I come over to help or you come over here to avoid trouble, it’s all fine!"

While chatting with them about the intelligence of the Demon Gathering Land, Ying Rushi used her eyes to plead with Yan Qing to stop speaking. Yan Qing scratched his head, thinking that women’s thoughts were truly complex. Clearly, Ying Rushi’s eyes were so pitiful earlier, and she was even too timid to greet anyone, so Yan Qing openly revealed that he and Ying Rushi teamed up in the Demon Gathering Land, gradually disclosing the contract between him and Ying Rushi.

He certainly wasn’t looking for a scene or to see women fight, nor had he thought of carefully maintaining the balance of the Thief’s House. He just didn’t have that ability — GALGAME hadn’t taught him. All he could do was question his own heart, naturally weave mutual feelings, not deceive others, and not deceive himself.

Yan Qing wasn’t very clear about his thoughts, he just felt that he definitely didn’t have the sophistication to navigate easily through a field of flowers, so he couldn’t be bothered to think so much. What’s the big deal? Enjoy the time when life is peaceful, endure with the storms, let what happens happen, let what can be saved be saved, allow everything to unfold, and just don’t regret it.

However, Ying Rushi wanted to hide now, and Yan Qing didn’t quite understand, but since her mood seemed better, he went along with it.

Suddenly, with a creaking sound, a large hole appeared as the circular stone table’s center lowered, and a sand table rose with a rumble from inside. Everyone stopped their small talk and looked over, revealing expressions of ’just as expected’ as the sand table constructed a giant city.

The three main cities of the Central Plains had already been two, both in reason and sentiment, it was now time for this city.

"This time’s theft target: Nocturnal Heaven, Glazed Dream Bead"

"Arrival location: Imperial Palace, in front of the Tai Chi Sect"

"Arrival time: Five days later at 1:45 PM"

"Escape location: Return to in front of the Tai Chi Sect to escape"

"Escape deadline: 2:45 PM"

"Successful theft: Obtains Magical Artifact: Glazed Bead"

"Failed theft: Deducts 300,000 Spiritual Jade, permanently loses qualification to enter the Thief’s House"

"Glazed Dream Bead!?" Shang Xinlei’s eyes widened, "I remember this isn’t..."

"In past times, Emperor Divine Martial rose as a slave, commanding the Central Plains, sweeping the six directions, defending against pharmacists in the west, and subduing Liang Shao in the south, relying on one sword, one flag, one bead." Pharmacist’s Wish stared intently at the golden shining bead in the sand table, "Could it be this is—"

"That’s correct."

Everyone was taken aback because Ying Rushi removed her mask, her black hair cascading like a waterfall. She looked at the sand table with a complex expression, melancholy hidden in her brows, yet a proud curve on her lips. Seeing her appearance, Pharmacist’s Wish and Shang Xinlei immediately glanced at Yan Qing, their eyes sharp and deep. Even though Yan Qing was mentally prepared, their gaze made him flinch.

"This is Emperor Divine Martial’s protective treasure during his lifetime, the Glazed Dream Bead." Ying Rushi said, "For a hundred years, it has been a royal family heritage within Qi Kingdom, thus the current holder is the current Emperor of Qi, who rules over millions in Qi Kingdom, a Foundation Establishment Zhenren—"

"Ying Le."

Everyone looked at the little figure wearing the bead in the Imperial Palace on the sand table. The resolution wasn’t high, but it was clear that the figure had a graceful, enchanting physique.

The palace was gigantic and magnificent, inside stood fully armed guards, and she lay wantonly on the highest throne drinking and smoking. Even though they were separated by the sand table medium, they could still feel the boundless loneliness and arrogance.

Shang Xinlei swallowed hard, and Pharmacist’s Wish’s expression was solemn.