At the Dragon and Beauty Bar, Xia Hongyao sat at the counter, picked up her glass, and gulped down two mouthfuls of liquor. She then took out her phone and glanced at it.

Discovering that Lin Baici still hadn’t replied to her message, she felt a surge of impatience fill her heart. She grabbed her glass again and downed it in one go.

“Auntie Shu, another one, please!”

Xia Hongyao called out.

The bar was crowded today, with most conversations revolving around the provincial museum.

The Mirage System was developed by the Jiuzhou Security Bureau. It could create illusions over an area, concealing the God’s Ruins. Even divine hunters couldn’t distinguish it, but society is formed by circles within circles, and there are always those with well-informed sources who manage to get their hands on the latest intelligence.

Since no meteor had fallen on Haijing City, everyone believed that the museum incident was a terrorist attack, perpetrated by the Lost Coast.

“Has the Black Sea Emperor gone mad? Daring to cause trouble in Haijing? And on National Day, no less? He’s really asking for it!”

“It must be someone who paid a hefty sum!”

“This kind of money, you can earn it if you’re alive, but you can’t spend it if you’re dead!”

This was the general consensus because divine descents were too rare. Aside from a few high-ranking individuals, it was impossible for anyone to know.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Instead of pouring another drink for Xia Hongyao, Nangong Shu switched it with a glass of juice.

She was dressed in a short purple cheongsam today, with bare shoulders and a fist-sized diamond-shaped cutout at the chest, revealing a portion of her cleavage.

Combined with her long black hair coiled up behind her head, she exuded an air of elegance.

The success of the Dragon and Beauty Bar, becoming a regular haunt for divine hunters, was inseparable from the voluptuous beauty of Nangong Shu.

The beautiful proprietress was a living signboard, and countless people came here just to say, “Auntie, I don’t want to work hard anymore!”

“I’m afraid Xiao Linzi and my sister have had a falling out!”

Xia Hongyao anxiously tugged at her hair.

When Lin Baici left, Xia Hongyao wanted to follow, but Xia Hongmian stopped her.

“What did Baici do?”

Nangong Shu was curious: “When you have time, bring him over for a drink!”

The proprietress was also frustrated. The men would come to the bar for leisure, but Lin Baici was nowhere to be seen, making it impossible for her to foster a closer relationship.

“…”

Xia Hongyao fell silent and took a swig of her juice.

“Can’t say?”

Nangong Shu was astonished. Many people in front of Xia Hongmian were like rabbits facing the king of beasts, not even daring to breathe heavily, let alone cause a conflict.

It seemed that Lin Baici was quite bold.

“Mhm!”

Xia Hongyao nodded. What could she say? That Lin Baici had devoured a deity?

“Hongyao!”

A middle-aged man came over, clinking his glass against the juice glass in front of Xia Hongyao: “What’s the situation at the provincial museum? Can you give us a hint?”

“Yeah, tell us!”

“Aren’t you keen on exploring the God’s Ruins? Why didn’t you go this time?”

The crowd was buzzing with questions, and those flirting with the high ponytail were regulars here, familiar faces to each other.

“How do you know I didn’t go?”

Xia Hongyao raised an eyebrow.

“…”

Nangong Shu was speechless. Clearly, they were provoking her, but she also knew that what Xia Hongyao craved most was to make a name for herself in the circle of divine hunters.

“What’s the actual situation? I heard that the divine hunters from Haijing Security Bureau have all gone there!”

The middle-aged man inquired.

“The Black Sea Emperor was causing trouble, but it’s over now!”

Xia Hongyao replied nonchalantly. This was a divine descent, a matter of great importance. Once revealed, it would certainly cause a sensation, but due to confidentiality agreements, she couldn’t possibly tell these people. It was incredibly frustrating.

“It’s over?”

“Really? The Black Sea Emperor is said to have the strength of a dragon!”

“Even a dragon-level is no match. I heard Xia Hongmian personally took action!”

The guests were abuzz with discussion. The bar was so crowded today because many had come to gather information.

Ding-dong!

A WeChat message arrived, and Xia Hongyao’s spirits lifted. She quickly took out her phone.

Lin Xiayuegui: Thanks for your concern, all is well!

Phew!

Xia Hongyao breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed everything was fine, but she was still worried and hurriedly called Lin Baici.

As soon as the call connected, she bombarded him with questions.

“Where are you now?”

“How’s your health?”

“Do you need treatment?”

“I’m fine!”

Lin Baici’s crisp voice came through the phone: “On my way home!”

“You must have seen my sister, right?”

Lin Baici being able to contact the outside world meant that the restrictions on him had ended.

“Mhm!”

Lin Baici knew what Xia Hongyao was worried about and simply told her to ease her mind: “We’ve talked. I’m joining the Haijing Security Bureau!”

“Oh yeah!”

Xia Hongyao jumped up, her face, which had been filled with worry, now brimming with joy and excitement: “Auntie Shu, give me a glass of Happy Times!”

“Haha, we’re finally teammates now. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this day?”

Xia Hongyao’s voice was tinged with a sob. It hadn’t been easy!

“Hey, hey, we’ve only known each other for three months, tops!”

Lin Baici was speechless.

“But we’ve been through life and death together more times than some old buddies who’ve known each other for decades!”

Xia Hongyao argued: “I think the closeness of a friendship isn’t measured by the length of time, but by the time spent together!”

“With our current relationship, if you can’t find a wife in the future, I can help you have a son!”

Xia Hongyao’s tone was dead serious, leaving Lin Baici at a loss for words.

“What do you mean I can’t find a wife?”

Lin Baici didn’t know how to retort, especially since the latter part made his heart race. When the high ponytail talked about having children, she meant the normal way, right? Not in vitro fertilization?

“I’m just hypothesizing!”

Xia Hongyao explained: “Let’s put it another way, if my husband is incapable and can’t have a son, would you help me?”

“…”

Lin Baici suddenly felt he was too good-natured; otherwise, the high ponytail would probably be pregnant by now.

With her way of thinking, he could easily deceive her.

“Wait a second, I need to ask, you’re joining my team, right?”

Xia Hongyao suddenly panicked. Lin Baici was so outstanding that her sister might pull him into her team.

“Otherwise?”

To be honest, Lin Baici only trusted Xia Hongyao. However, the performances of Zhang Heng and Fei Xiao at the museum had also endeared him to the organization’s members.

At least when they faced a crisis, they bravely faced death to give others a chance to live.

“Not bad! Not bad! I’m so glad I appreciate and trust you. Xiao Linzi, I formally invite you to join my team as my deputy leader!”

Xia Hongyao said, then realized it was too informal: “Where are you now? I’ll buy a ticket to find you!”

“No need, I’ll be back in Haijing tomorrow. Let’s talk then!”

Lin Baici chuckled. Being with Xia Hongyao was actually quite enjoyable.

“Okay!”

Xia Hongyao felt Lin Baici was too good. She couldn’t repay him unless she bore him twins.

“Help me find out about Jin Yingzhen’s situation!”

Lin Baici was worried about the Korean girl, given her nationality issues.

“Mhm!”

Because Jin Yingzhen and Hua Yueyu had witnessed a deity, even though they might not realize it was a deity or believe it, the Security Bureau’s scrutiny of them would be very strict.

Especially since Jin Yingzhen had a brother holding a key position in the Goryeo Sejong Institute, her troubles would be greater.

“Looks like good news?”

Nangong Shu asked with a smile.

“Mhm, Xiao Linzi will be my teammate from now on!”

Xia Hongyao’s smile was radiant.

“Congratulations!”

Nangong Shu had guessed the outcome. With Lin Baici’s excellence, how could the Jiuzhou Security Bureau not recruit him?

“I’m off!”

Xia Hongyao paid and ran out of the bar. Once in her car and sure no one was following, she called Xia Hongmian: “Sis, I need to ask you something!”

“About Jin Yingzhen?”

Xia Hongmian seemed to have anticipated the call.

“That’s right!”

Xia Hongyao wasn’t surprised by her sister’s prescience. After all, no matter what tricks she played in front of Xia Hongmian, she was always seen through.

“She saw some things she shouldn’t have, and she’s a foreigner. Honestly, I should arrange for someone to brainwash her, but for Lin Baici’s sake, I’ve decided to do it another way!”

Xia Hongmian knew about the relationship between Lin Baici and Jin Yingzhen and was worried that doing so would displease Lin Baici, so she gave up.

“What way?”

Xia Hongyao hoped it wouldn’t affect the harmonious relationship between her sister and Lin Baici.

“Trade her for a chance to explore the Busan God’s Ruins!”

Xia Hongmian took a sip of coffee: “Lin Baici was invited by Jin Xian, right? I’m worried that if those people can’t get him, they’ll take the opportunity to kill him, so I plan to send a seven-person team to assist him!”

Xia Hongmian didn’t trust the integrity of the Goryeo people. If Lin Baici got his hands on a top-tier Divine taboo, they might try to snatch it.

“Send me! Send me!”

Xia Hongyao was anxious: “He’s my deputy leader; I must go with him!”

A trip to Busan!

A decade-long God’s Ruins!

If we break it, we’ll make a name for ourselves among the divine hunters in one fell swoop.

“First, you need to fix your impulsive habits!”

Xia Hongmian hung up the phone.

She knew Xia Hongyao was asking for Lin Baici, so she explained so much. Otherwise, she would never have said more than half a word to her sister.

“Hey, hey, don’t hang up. Tell me when we’re going to Busan?”

Xia Hongyao felt she would lose sleep over the upcoming trip to Busan.

Ding-dong!

A WeChat message arrived.

Xia Hongyao checked it; it was from the Spirit of the Dragon group, where Crane Immortal was @ing her.

Crane Immortal: What’s the situation in Haijing? I heard two leaders died?

Eat Feast Brother: No way? Is it that serious?

Although Eat Feast Brother often mentioned feasting, he was still saddened by the death of colleagues.

A Wandering Red Specter: I heard it was caused by the Lost Coast, but that organization shouldn’t have the capacity or audacity for such an act, right?

The Lost Coast was infamous, and their team was strong, but challenging the Jiuzhou Security Bureau and committing a terrorist attack was beyond their league!

Victory Half-Child: Was it the Dark Corruption that made a move?

When this name appeared, the entire group fell silent for several seconds because if that was the case, it would be very troublesome.