Liu Qing walked ahead at an unhurried pace, but every step landed with absolute precision, and she showed no intention of speaking to Yi Yang.
Following behind, Yi Yang naturally had no desire to press his warm face against her cold backside. His gaze swept discreetly over the buildings on either side.
The Nether Spring Office compound looked much larger from within than from outside. A bluestone path wound eastward, flanked by unfamiliar black-leaved shrubs, all neatly trimmed to exactly the same height.
"You should already know something about what our Nether Spring Office does, but I'll only say this once."
Liu Qing, who had remained silent until then, suddenly spoke without looking back.
"Our office handles three things: external infiltration, internal surveillance, and assassination."
Yi Yang knew the broad outlines, but not the details, so he refrained from interrupting and continued listening.
"Once you join, you don't wear a uniform or display an identity badge. You use a code name on field assignments."
"Your position is Deputy Patrol Director, roughly a middle-ranking post within the office. You can lead a team of subordinates or accept orders and act alone."
At this, Liu Qing paused and turned her face halfway toward Yi Yang.
The meaning in her eyes was clear: first, he had to pass the cultivation art assessment.
Understanding her meaning, Yi Yang nodded and said respectfully, "Thank you for explaining, Lady Liu."
Liu Qing answered his thanks with a snort, then looked away and added without slowing her steps:
"The Nether Spring Office has never lacked people who failed to master the first level of hidden abyss within three months. The fastest record was eleven days. The slowest person to pass took the full three months."
Everything she said suggested she did not count Yi Yang among those