Three Quarters Past Noon

The man from yesterday had not been especially powerful, but he was adept at escape techniques. He had snatched the divine fruit and fled far away, leaving even Xiao Mei, a martial venerable, at a loss.

He had not expected the sect to work so efficiently, though.

They had uncovered the man's identity in such a short time.

The disciple said respectfully, "We found his identity plaque. He was from Three Quarters Past Noon, and he was an outlaw."

"Three Quarters Past Noon?"

Chen Ning frowned. The name seemed unfamiliar.

Xiao Mei seemed to notice Chen Ning's confusion and thoughtfully explained, "Sect master, this organization is a little unusual. It is made up of a group of people guilty of heinous crimes, an existence beyond the bounds of law and rules."

Xiao Mei waved the disciples away, then continued, "Most of its members are people who have committed serious crimes, outlaws. Some are rogue cultivators seeking freedom and ease. Because everyone here bears a heavy burden of sin, they named the organization Three Quarters Past Noon."

"Is that because people are beheaded at three quarters past noon?"

Chen Ning could not help asking with a laugh.

"Mm. This organization is not bound by any faction or sect. Its members act as they please, guided only by their hearts. It has grown stronger over the years, and it gives quite a few righteous sects headaches."

Xiao Mei handed Chen Ning a plaque.

He took a look and saw that it was a square piece of black wood, decorated with blood-colored patterns.

There was a number on it.

Yi fourteen.

"What does this mean?"

Chen Ning pointed at the number.

"Members of Three Quarters Past Noon are ranked by the Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng and Xin, with Jia being the most prestigious. This man's plaque should mean he was ranked fourteenth in the organization's Yi class."

"Oh, I get it. If they were a boy band, he'd be a class B trainee."

"Sect master, what is a 'hard band'?"

A puzzled look appeared on Xiao Mei's face.

Chen Ning laughed. "Uh... it's another name for a faction in a remote place, hehe..."

"Sect master brother, you're so knowledgeable!"

Su Ling'er stepped forward and took Chen Ning's hand. She had finally returned to Vermilion Bird Peak. Xiao Mei had bullied her the whole time they were away, and she had felt terribly wronged.

After untold hardships, she had finally made it home. Now sect master brother could stay away from Xiao Mei for a while.

After returning to his residence, Chen Ning felt much more relaxed.

In particular, after the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit had cleansed his marrow and strengthened his bones, his body was much tougher than before.

As for Three Quarters Past Noon, Chen Ning did not pay it much mind.

He had originally thought a hostile faction had intervened, but now it seemed an organization that acted on impulse was not much of a threat.

They had probably simply come for the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit.

If their skills fell short, they had no one to blame. When you came out to play, sooner or later you had to pay.

"Ding! An epic-level mission has been detected. Would you like to accept it?"

The system notification, silent for so long, had finally come. Not only that, this was the first time an epic-level mission had appeared. Chen Ning's heart burst into bloom.

He chose to accept.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on accepting the epic-level mission: [I Have a Promise with the Thief God]"

"Mission introduction: The Thief God, who once roamed unhindered across Spirit Province, is now missing. His last known location was the imperial capital of the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty. The Thief God is a direct relative of sect member Su Ling'er. As an unparalleled good sect master, how could you stand by and do nothing? Please investigate and determine the Thief God's whereabouts."

"First-stage mission requirement: Determine the Thief God's whereabouts and obtain information."

"Reward for completing all stages of the mission: Basic level reward: cultivation +3; one random piece of epic-level reward equipment; one rare-level reward."

"Mission time limit: 30 days"

"Mission restriction: The host must personally participate in the investigation and the series of subsequent mission stages."

After reading the mission details, Chen Ning could not help clicking his tongue. This was arguably the largest and most complicated mission yet.

Not only was it an epic-level mission, it also had several stages, making it seem very complicated.

The time limit was long, too.

He had thirty days.

That said a lot. With so much time allotted, it was obviously no simple mission.

He could not cheat, either, or use his authority as sect master to have his subordinates investigate.

He could only do it himself.

In that case... he would have to keep a low profile.

Chen Ning decided to ask the person involved first.

After all, no one knew more about the Thief God than Su Ling'er.

"Ling'er, let me ask you something."

Chen Ning strolled leisurely into the room. The little loli was counting the supplies in her spatial pouch.

That girl, honestly. A little treasure had her showing off, taking it out to count at every opportunity.

Did she really think I'd envy her?

Did she really think I'd be jealous?

What a joke!

Inside the room, Su Ling'er saw Chen Ning come in and answered with a smile, "Go ahead, sect master brother."

"Have you been in touch with your family lately? Would you like to take some leave and go home to see them?"

Chen Ning spoke with a smile, preparing to sound her out indirectly.

"Um... Ling'er hasn't been home for a long time. Grandpa is the only family I have left."

Su Ling'er looked a little downcast.

Her parents had died in a battle when she was little, and she and her grandfather had depended on each other ever since. He had treated her well and taught her everything he knew, holding nothing back.

She had lived up to his hopes, too. She was exceptionally gifted and had already trained the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand to the third realm at such a young age.

She was only two realms behind her grandfather.

But her grandfather had arranged for her to enter the Dragon-Seeking Sect as a spy, though he had said she was going there to temper her temperament.

She could also steal the Dragon-Seeking Sect's treasures and secret manuals to improve her skills.

But only she knew.

Her grandfather simply did not want to keep her with him anymore.

They had been in touch less and less over the past few years in particular, and for the past six months, no news had come at all. That had gradually confirmed what she suspected in her heart.

Her grandfather really had abandoned her.

Seeing the mist rise in the little loli's eyes, Chen Ning could not help panicking.

How had one question brought her to tears?

"Um, I was just asking."

Chen Ning knew that the only family the little loli had mentioned was undoubtedly the Thief God.

"Grandpa hasn't written to Ling'er in a long time, and Ling'er hasn't received any replies to the letters she sent him."

Su Ling'er's voice grew softer and softer.

Chen Ning, however, knew that the most likely reason she had received no replies was probably that the Thief God was missing and unable to write back.

"Ling'er, when was the last time your grandfather contacted you?"

Chen Ning asked seriously.

Su Ling'er thought for a moment, then recalled, "It was... half a year ago."

"Half a year?"

Chen Ning's gaze grew intent as he pondered for a moment. According to the information the system had given him, the last place the Thief God had appeared was the imperial capital. On top of that, the little loli said she had heard nothing from her grandfather for half a year.

At this point, the clues basically matched up.

It seemed it was time to set out for the imperial capital.

"Ling'er, let's pack up. We'll leave for the Great Yan Imperial Capital tomorrow."