What If I Really Died?

Hiss—

As Yue Wen carefully finished reading the words on the purple skin, the flaming letters that had existed for some time faded away one by one with the wind.

Only a few drifting embers remained in the air.

After a while, all that remained in Yue Wen's hand was another blank piece of purple skin. This time, even after he cast the spell again, he still couldn't see anything, because the information on it had already been read.

Those three brief sentences left Yue Wen deep in thought for a long time.

Judging from the meaning of the message, this "Demon Emperor Skin" had been gifted to the Purple Throne together with the "Snake Mountain Bronze Cauldron," and the one who had sent them was the letter's writer.

Without a doubt, it was this "Demon Emperor."

If it had sent someone else's skin, then the person who received it wouldn't be able to contact it either. It would be like taking the initiative to ask a stranger for their phone number on the street, then leaving them a fake number in return.

It was pure mockery.

A normal person shouldn't be capable of doing something like that.

There weren't many beings who could be called a "Demon Emperor," even among the Demon Race.

And among those related to Snake Mountain Tiger Tomb, there seemed to be only the "Demon Snake Emperor" who had descended six thousand years ago.

Wasn't that far too long ago?

Although the Demon Race had long lifespans, and its cultivation in the legends was comparable to the Ninth Realm... that had been six thousand years ago. The spiritual energy era had already gone through two cycles of change. Even the Tiger Heavenly Emperor who had suppressed it back then had become a vague figure from mythology.

Was it still trying to break free?

He could send a message back after obtaining this Demon Emperor Skin, but Yue Wen had no intention of doing so for the time being. This matter was too serious, and he didn't dare experiment recklessly.

This involved figures on the level of mythology. It could really cost him his life.

If possible, he really wanted to hide this skin away and mind his own business, or hand it over to the Supervision Bureau in exchange for some reward.

But the "Snake Mountain Bronze Cauldron" written on the skin had also caught his attention. He didn't care what the gift was, but the writer had said that it was the key to entering the Tiger Tomb...

Snake Mountain Tiger Tomb was precisely the place he wanted to investigate.

The card his father had mentioned before leaving had only one clue: the emblem of Snake Mountain Tiger Tomb. Sooner or later, he would have to make a trip there. Was that Snake Mountain Bronze Cauldron the key to entering?

What was this bronze cauldron, and where was it?

After sorting things out, it seemed that the "Demon Emperor" who had written the letter wanted to establish contact with the "Purple Throne." Perhaps it wanted to ask it to help free it? To show its sincerity, it had sent this Demon Emperor Skin and a treasure called the Snake Mountain Bronze Cauldron. That treasure could guide someone into the Tiger Tomb.

But now, this Demon Emperor Skin had fallen into his hands. He didn't know what accident had occurred in the meantime. Before he acquired it, the skin had already been sold to an antique shop.

The information on the skin would suffer varying degrees of damage as time passed. Judging from its wear, it should have recorded no more than half a year of information.

As for the cauldron that should have been with the Demon Emperor Skin, no one knew where it was.

After thinking for a while, Yue Wen decided to seal this skin away for the time being.

If he handed it over to the Supervision Bureau, there would be many things he couldn't explain, such as his failure to report what he knew about the Zhang Wei incident and how he had obtained the Method of Breaking Curses.

These matters involved his parents' disappearance and Big Dragon's secrets. He couldn't tell outsiders about them.

Moreover, the writing disappeared after being read, so he had no evidence to prove what he was saying. Even if the people from the Supervision Bureau believed him, could he completely trust them?

Not necessarily.

The Demon Race's influence in the human world was nearly everywhere. Who knew where their informants might be?

It was still safest to keep the secret himself.

That Snake Mountain Bronze Cauldron... if he encountered it in the future, he still had to make an attempt to obtain it.

Just as he was pondering this, Zhao Xing'er called out from downstairs.

"Boss, someone's here!"

Since the agency still didn't have much business, Yue Wen spent most of his time cultivating upstairs. His assistant, Zhao Xing'er, handled the front desk and called him down whenever something came up.

When Yue Wen went downstairs, he saw a young man in a white martial arts uniform standing by the entrance. His bangs covered half his brows and eyes, and his expression was icy. He held a colorful fruit basket in one hand and was waiting quietly.

"Brother Qi!" Yue Wen laughed heartily. "What brings you here?"

"Brother Yue." Qi Dian relaxed slightly and stepped forward to offer him the fruit basket. "I came to City Seven with my sect to carry out a mission. I had half a day free, so I came to see you."

"Oh, you only needed to send the fruit basket. Why did you come in person?" Yue Wen said politely as he accepted it.

Qi Dian froze for a moment. Huh?

Yue Wen knew that he must still be thinking about the favor of having his life saved last time, which was why he had come to visit. Qi Dian was an honest man. Although Yue Wen felt that asking him for two minor divine abilities should be about enough, Qi Dian clearly felt that it wasn't.

Yue Wen turned around and introduced Zhao Xing'er and Qi Dian to each other. Afterward, he had Qi Dian sit down.

"Brother Qi, have some yogurt." He took a carton from the drawer and held it out.

Qi Dian glanced at it, silently set it down, and looked up. "I don't like yogurt."

"By the way, it's almost noon. Brother Qi, you haven't eaten yet, have you?" Yue Wen called out, "Xiao Zhao, use my phone to order some takeout. Get something luxurious to entertain Brother Qi."

"Boss, I'll order it. I still have a coupon I haven't used."

"You haven't even gotten your salary yet. How can you use your own money?" Yue Wen immediately refused.

"Oh, I know you're not exactly well-off either." Zhao Xing'er spoke very generously. "I managed to get a fifty-off-forty-five coupon!"

"..."

Watching the two of them argue back and forth, Qi Dian felt somewhat embarrassed. He took out his phone and said, "Why don't I order it?"

"That would be too embarrassing." Yue Wen and Zhao Xing'er spoke in unison, then turned around and gazed at Qi Dian with eager eyes.

"?"

A question mark slowly rose over Qi Dian's forehead. It was only a meal, but why did he inexplicably feel like he had been set up?

While he began ordering, Yue Wen chatted with him. "Brother Qi, what mission brought you to City Seven?"

"There will be an auction in City Seven next week. Our Linjiang Gate was commissioned to handle part of the security. We just escorted a batch of treasures here today, and we'll be responsible for guarding them starting this afternoon."

Qi Dian answered honestly, without hiding anything.

"Is it the Treasure Forest auction?" Yue Wen asked.

"Brother Yue knows about it?" Qi Dian said.

"Heh heh, I've heard a little about it." After watching Qi Dian finish placing the order, Yue Wen continued, "You came at just the right time. I was actually hoping to ask you about something."

"What is it? Just tell me, Brother Yue."

"You Immortal Gate disciples have plenty of connections. Do you know of any jobs lately that can make a lot of money?" Yue Wen smiled awkwardly. "The agency only gets small commissions, and I urgently need money in a few days..."

"How much do you need, Brother Yue?"

Qi Dian was thinking that if he could afford it, he might as well pay Yue Wen himself. After all, Yue Wen had saved his life last time, yet had only spent a few hundred yuan on him in total, which had always made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

Yue Wen replied, "Ideally, around a million a week. Of course, there's no upper limit."

"This?" Qi Dian's pupils visibly trembled.

He didn't say anything outright, but his eyes seemed to convey the message clearly enough: Brother Yue, have you gone mad thinking about money?

Yue Wen gave two sheepish laughs. "Forget it if there isn't anything. I know it was a bit unrealistic."

But Qi Dian furrowed his brows and thought for a moment before suddenly saying, "If you want to earn a lot, I actually know of something. You only need to go for three days. A million isn't realistic, but according to what they told me, earning several hundred thousand should still be possible."

Yue Wen's eyes immediately lit up. "Really, godfather?"

Qi Dian hurriedly said, "I couldn't possibly accept that title."

Zhao Xing'er said from the side, "As expected of an Immortal Gate disciple. You really are eager to help others."

"Ahem." Hearing the beauty praise him, the corner of Qi Dian's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly before he quickly suppressed it. He cleared his throat and said, "It's only natural for cultivators of our generation to help one another. Miss Zhao, if you have any difficulties in your cultivation, you can come ask me too."

He wasn't saying this out of arrogance. He sincerely wanted to help her.

In his view, even if Yue Wen's cultivation surpassed his own, Yue Wen was far inferior to him in cultivation resources. After all, Yue Wen had previously needed to ask him to teach him divine abilities.

Zhao Xing'er was merely a little assistant Yue Wen had hired, probably just a cultivation enthusiast. This was even more true for her. Guiding her a little should be a considerable help.

Before he could finish speaking, a small car stopped in front of the agency's narrow entrance, crushing the yellow "No Parking" sign flat. The road in the busy district was already narrow, and this immediately blocked all passing traffic.

Zhao Xing'er shouted outside, "Can't you see? Parking isn't allowed here!"

Ten or so burly men got out of the car. The driver casually waved toward the agency. "We're going next door to eat. We'll only be parked here for a little while."

"You parked here and now no one can get through. Don't you have any manners?" Zhao Xing'er walked outside, planted her hands on her hips, and berated them from the steps.

"Tch." Relying on their numbers, the men sneered contemptuously. "So we don't have any manners. What of it? If you've got the guts, call the security station and have them tow us!"

"Tow you?" A red glow flashed through Zhao Xing'er's eyes. She pulled out a black-steel mace, stepped forward, twisted her waist, and gathered strength in both arms before swinging it upward from below.

Boom—

A flash of red streaked past. The blow sent the small car flying into the sky like a golf ball, spinning dozens of times before turning into a speck on the horizon.

The dozen or so burly men stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded for a long while. Then one of them shouted, "Oh no! My parents, my wife, and my child—six people are still in the car!"

"..." Qi Dian stared at the scene outside in a daze. Then he turned back to Yue Wen. "Miss Zhao... what was that red light? It looks a little terrifying."

"Simply put, Xing'er is an immature Innate Immortal Body," Yue Wen said. "And she possesses a rather mature martial arts system."

"..." Qi Dian was silent for a moment, and his face suddenly flushed bright red.

Heh heh.

Does that mean I just tried to instruct someone who possesses an Immortal Body?

I don't know why she came to work for you with those skills, but... I'm really quite the joke, aren't I?

He lowered his head and thought for a long time, recalling how he had brazenly offered his guidance. He only felt as though his back was covered in shadows.

What if I really died?