Seeing Hu Liena bristling as she stood in front of him, Qian Yun could only smile wryly and jerk his chin toward the space behind her.
Hu Liena turned around. Lina had already fastened her blouse, her face red enough to drip blood. But at some point, she had acquired a note-like object in her hand.
The note in Lina's hand was about the size of a palm, and uniformly beige. Symbols that could have been writing or doodles were carved across its surface.
"What's this?" Qian Yun examined the unremarkable note. His instincts told him it was something valuable, because he couldn't sense its existence at all.
His spiritual power passed straight through it, without the slightest response!
Lina gently stroked the note's surface with her warm palm, her slender fingers tracing its patterns. Her eyes were full of reluctance.
"This is called a Dharma Source Barrier. It's a family heirloom passed down for generations on my mother's side. It can conceal its wearer's presence, and when activated with Soul Power, it absorbs nearby attacks." Lina calmly explained the Dharma Source Barrier's functions.
"It really is a good thing." Qian Yun made no attempt to hide his admiration. If he could get his hands on it, both Hu Liena's and his own chances of survival would improve considerably.
"Do you know what the patterns on it do?"
"No. Maybe they're just decorative." Lina gazed intently at Qian Yun. "So, will you accept those terms?"
At her words, Qian Yun fell into deep thought. The Dharma Source Note could block attacks and conceal its wearer's presence. Either ability alone would make it an invaluable treasure.
At that moment, Hu Liena quietly tugged at his sleeve.
"Fine, I accept!" Qian Yun finally nodded. "When do we leave?"
Lina watched the Dharma Source Note slip into Qian Yun's pocket, reluctant to let it go. Then she forced herself to look away. "The sooner, the better."
"Then let's not waste time. We'll go now. Lead the way." He was free at the moment, so they might as well get it over with quickly.
Lina hadn't expected Qian Yun to be so decisive. Once she recovered, she hurriedly said, "Oh, all right."
Qian Yun and Hu Liena followed behind her. Looking at Lina's back, Hu Liena grinned. "Miss Lina gave us such a generous reward for doing just one thing. Don't you think she's getting a raw deal? If you ask me, we don't need to go get the person. We could just..."
As she spoke, she drew a finger across her throat. "It's not as if Suo Jie has ever done anything good."
Qian Yun shook his head with amusement. Hu Liena wouldn't kill someone for no reason; she was only joking.
Lina fell silent for a moment, her head lowered and her long hair concealing her expression. "No. Although no one in Fanhai City dares to provoke Suo Jie, I know he may have ties to other forces. He also has close connections with the Spirit Hall in nearby cities."
Listening to Lina's calm analysis, Qian Yun was secretly impressed. He hadn't expected this quiet, delicate-looking girl to have actually considered killing Suo Jie outright. You couldn't judge someone by appearances.
In the carriage, Qian Yun spoke first. "Miss Lina, let me make this clear: our commission doesn't include fighting. You can still change your mind."
Lina smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Don't worry. All you need to do is go to his residence, show something that proves your identity, and demand that he hand her over. I'll handle the rest."
Before long, their carriage stopped in front of a beautifully decorated, three-story building.
There were no guards outside the spacious courtyard. Only a tall, elderly man in a neat uniform came forward.
He clearly recognized Lina. He gave her an unhurried bow, then said, "Miss Lina, our young master isn't at home today. Please come back another day."
Lina gave him a cold look, ignored him, and strode forward. Her slender frame forced the old man to keep backing away.
"Miss Lina, please don't make things difficult for me. If you insist on barging in, I'll have to apologize for what I do next." The old man stepped in front of her, his sturdy body like a tall wall.
"Out of the way, you mangy cur! Leo, you'd better move aside. If Suo Jie really isn't here, then why are you, his personal bodyguard, here?" Lina couldn't get past Leo's wall of a body.
Leo remained unmoved by Lina's insults. Whenever she moved, he moved too, and the two of them were locked in a stalemate.
Lina clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. Last time, Leo had stopped her at the gate just like this. Was history going to repeat itself?
"Miss Lina, I'll handle this." Qian Yun stepped in front of her, standing between the two.
Leo glanced down at Qian Yun, who looked like a child, unsure what he intended to do.
Qian Yun knew Leo didn't take him seriously. He looked up at the towering man, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
"By order of the Pope Hall, I demand that Suo Jie come out and receive me!" Without wasting a word, Qian Yun pulled out the Pope Order.
The Pope Order carried the Pope's authority!
"What?!" Faced with the Pope Order, Leo could no longer remain composed.
"I won't repeat myself." Qian Yun grabbed Leo by the collar as the man stared in shock. He enunciated each word. "Go. Now!"
Leo finally tore his eyes away from the Pope Order and hurriedly bowed. "Y-yes! Please wait, sir."
He stumbled, then hurried into the building.
Qian Yun put away the Pope Order and smiled at the stunned Lina.
A moment later, a thin, elegantly dressed blond man opened the door. The instant he spotted Qian Yun, he hurriedly jogged toward the group.
Whether from overindulgence or some hidden ailment, he was already gasping for breath by the time he reached Qian Yun, despite the short distance.
"S-Suo Jie pays his respects to the emissary. Huff... huff..." Suo Jie panted as he managed a bow to Qian Yun.
Qian Yun and Hu Liena caught the strong smell of alcohol on him and openly fanned the air in front of their noses. "Suo Jie, my friend is at your residence, isn't she?"
Qian Yun's question left Suo Jie confused for a moment. He cautiously asked, "The emissary's friend?"
"The cat-eared girl!" Qian Yun added impatiently.
Suo Jie's heart skipped a beat. Only then did he notice Lina beside them, and realize things had gone badly.
"Uh, there doesn't seem to be any cat-eared girl here." As if to prove he was telling the truth, he turned to Leo and asked, "Leo, do we have a cat-eared girl here?"
Without waiting for Leo to answer, Suo Jie spread his hands. "We don't, do we?"
"Heh." Qian Yun sneered. It seemed he'd have to knock some sense into this fool.
"Smack!" The crisp slap finally knocked the last of Suo Jie's wishful thinking out of him. After slapping him, Qian Yun grabbed him by the collar and forced him to meet his gaze.
"Don't play games with me. This is your last chance... Hand her over, or become a dead man?" Qian Yun's icy words doused Suo Jie like a bucket of cold water.
Finally understanding the situation, Suo Jie nodded with trembling legs. "Y-yes. I'll hand her over. I'll hand her over."
"Hmph!" Qian Yun released his collar.
"Leo, you stupid mule! Hurry up and bring her out!" Relieved, Suo Jie immediately yelled at Leo.
"Yes, young master!" Leo didn't dare delay and hurried inside once more.
Watching him go, Suo Jie finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned around and bowed, his pale face breaking into a fawning smile. "Heh heh, what an unfortunate coincidence today. I'm sorry you had to see me in such a state, sir."
"Heh." Qian Yun sneered at Suo Jie, who still smiled ingratiatingly despite the handprint on his face.
Qian Yun's cold attitude left Suo Jie unsure what to make of him. He gave an awkward laugh. "Since you're from the Pope Hall, sir, do you happen to know Young Master Zhou from Spirit City? He and I are friends." He continued to ask obsequiously.
"Oh? Which Young Master Zhou?" Qian Yun asked.
Suo Jie was taken aback. He hadn't expected anyone in Spirit City not to know Young Master Zhou. "Young Master Zhou Qingtian of Rosen Bank."
"Oh, I don't know him." Qian Yun's expression remained indifferent. He clearly had no interest in the Young Master Zhou Suo Jie mentioned.
Suo Jie's eyes lit up. He hurriedly ingratiated himself. "If you don't know Young Master Zhou, that's perfect. I can introduce you two sometime. Young Master Zhou loves making friends, and I'm sure he'd be delighted to meet a promising young man like you! I..."
Before he could finish, Leo emerged from the house, leading out a girl with skin as pale as snow and a rather pretty face.
"A Xiao!" The moment Lina saw her, she could no longer hold back and rushed forward.
"Miss!"
A Xiao was overjoyed to see her too and hurried to meet her. They embraced tightly, tears of excitement streaming down their faces.
"Miss, I thought I'd never see you again." A Xiao buried her face against Lina's neck, her voice full of affection.
Lina patted A Xiao's back and spoke gently. "It's all right now, A Xiao. We'll never be apart again."
A Xiao's cheeks flushed. "Mm."
Watching the touching reunion between mistress and maid, Qian Yun felt relieved. Things had gone fairly smoothly.
With A Xiao in her arms, Lina passed Suo Jie and said coldly, "Suo Jie, A Xiao is unharmed today, but I'm telling you, this isn't over!"
At Lina's threat, Suo Jie curled his lip in disdain. The most important thing now was to build a good relationship with the emissary.
But when he turned around, Qian Yun had already gone. Qian Yun and Hu Liena had boarded the carriage with Lina and A Xiao, and after slapping Suo Jie, the group left while he watched them respectfully.
In the carriage, Lina held A Xiao's hand tightly and quietly said to her, "A Xiao, these two are the benefactors who saved you: Amiga and Boli. I was only able to bring you back safely because they stepped in."
A Xiao hid half her body in Lina's arms. At her words, she only peeked out with half her face and murmured shyly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Hu Liena looked from Lina to A Xiao in her arms and grinned.
Lina said a little sheepishly, "She's always been this timid. Please don't mind her."
Qian Yun examined the girl named A Xiao with curiosity. She lived up to her name, standing a head shorter than Lina. Her features were lovely and cute, and paired with her innocent expression, she really did seem pitifully endearing.
Of course, what drew the most attention were the pair of furry cat ears on her head. They weren't some kind of hair accessory. They were real cat ears!
Qian Yun had once read about cases like this in the Library of Spirit Hall. To be frank, it was also a kind of Martial Soul Mutation.
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