Qing Linyun jerked his head up and gazed at Ya Li with burning eyes. He rubbed his hands together lightly and asked with curiosity,
"Sister Ya Li, what mission? You're giving me a hundred million for it? That generous?"
"Of course. But whether you can complete this mission depends on your abilities."
Ya Li smiled, her tone mysterious.
Hearing that, Qing Linyun patted his chest and assured her,
"Sister Ya Li, don't you worry. There's nothing in Shrek Academy that I, Qing Linyun, can't handle."
"I've spent all these years building connections, spent so much money, and kept so many people on my payroll. Wasn't it all for a day like this? Just give the word, Sister Ya Li, and I'll have Shrek Academy's thousands of troops march out."
Ya Li nodded with interest.
Beside her, Zhuo Shi pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly.
"Well, well. I had no idea our little Linyun was so impressive. Should we start calling you His Majesty the Emperor of Shrek from now on?"
Qing Linyun chuckled, neither agreeing nor denying it.
His Majesty the Emperor of Shrek? It's only a matter of time.
Qing Linyun thought to himself.
Seeing Qing Linyun smile without answering, Ya Li sighed inwardly.
She knew Qing Linyun truly had what it took to be Shrek's emperor. Even Yun Ming acknowledged that.
"All right, enough joking around. I have just one mission for you: go find Wu Changkong and bring him back. Get him to return to Shrek."
Ya Li spoke.
Zhuo Shi's expression became rather colorful.
Who was Wu Changkong? Everyone present knew.
He was Zhuo Shi's eldest disciple and the disciple he was proudest of, but because of what happened with Long Bing, he had been gravely injured and left Shrek.
The master was stubborn, and so was the disciple. Neither would bow his head, and they had remained at an impasse. Even now, Wu Changkong was still away.
"Ya Li, there's no need to bother with that wayward disciple..."
Before Zhuo Shi could finish, Ya Li waved a hand to stop him.
"Did you hear me clearly, Linyun? I know what you're capable of. Bringing him back shouldn't be much of a problem."
"Understood. I guarantee I'll complete the mission."
Qing Linyun smiled and looked at Zhuo Shi, whose expression kept shifting, as though eager to watch the show. Then he waved and turned to leave.
Of course, before he left, he also gave the still somewhat bewildered Na'er's little cheek a good squish.
"Be good, Na'er. Wait for me to come back."
Na'er nodded obediently and watched Qing Linyun walk away.
Ya Li and Zhuo Shi exchanged a glance and watched Qing Linyun's departing figure without a word.
The room remained silent for a long time before Zhuo Shi slowly spoke.
"Is it really all right to let that boy leave Shrek Academy just like that?"
Ya Li shook her head.
"Aren't you his master? Don't you have faith in him?"
"Of course I do, but that boy... he has too many secrets, and there are plenty of people outside who have their eyes on him."
"Don't worry. Your disciple does have plenty of secrets, but he's no piece of choice meat that just anyone would dare come up and take a bite out of."
Ya Li's words carried a deeper meaning.
Zhuo Shi fell silent. A moment later, his once-ramrod-straight back bent several degrees, as though he had aged a great deal in an instant.
"Yes, he's grown up."
Zhuo Shi stood there in silence for a little longer, then shook his head and turned to leave.
Na'er and Ya Li watched him go.
"Master's wife, big brother is still hurt from when you hit him just now. Can he really complete the mission properly?"
Na'er suddenly spoke up from the side, her face full of worry. It made Ya Li laugh.
"You silly girl, you don't really think an attack that small could hurt your brother, do you? Do you know what he did a couple of days ago?"
Na'er shook her head.
"He personally hunted down a level 92 Evil Soul Master wearing Three-Word Battle Armor. The whole fight lasted only ten minutes before that Evil Soul Master was playing ginseng in the ground."
"And that boy was even in the mood to hurry back and watch the lanterns with you. Do you think anything's wrong with your brother?"
Na'er shook her head, a light bursting into her eyes.
"Big brother is amazing."
Ya Li pressed a hand to her forehead and laughed helplessly, then could only rub Na'er's head.
"You, honestly. Your whole heart is set on your brother."
Na'er stuck out her tongue and smiled sheepishly.
At that moment, in Shrek City, inside a Heaven-Supporting Pillar that originally should not have existed.
A young, handsome figure stood before the one-way glass on the top floor, gently swirling a glass of red wine as he looked down over the whole of Shrek City.
"Boss, are you really going to that remote little place, Eastsea City?"
"A hundred million isn't much money to us. So many people out there have their eyes on you. Your safety..."
Behind the young man, a tall, beautiful woman spoke worriedly, her voice full of concern and anxiety.
The woman wore a long turquoise dress and carried herself with elegance. Her large eyes sparkled, and her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, giving her a delicate, pitiable appearance.
Her figure went without saying: voluptuous and shapely, with exquisite curves that could captivate anyone at a glance.
"Please, boss."
"Have a little pity on your secretary. You leave the running of the whole company to me every day. I'm practically worked to death."
The young man turned around with a smile.
He was none other than Qing Linyun.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"Besides, shouldn't the capable do more work? I pay you such a big salary every year so you'll work, don't I?"
"Be good. I'll get you a 10 Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone next time, all right?"
Qing Linyun stepped forward and gave his little secretary's head a good rub as he comforted her.
"Hmph, that's more like it."
The little secretary nodded in satisfaction, then studied Qing Linyun with interest.
"Boss, you've gotten even more handsome. And your presence has grown stronger too. You're already a Seven-Ring Soul Sage."
"Hmph, of course. Just look at who I am."
Qing Linyun spoke proudly.
The little secretary nodded, her gaze drifting downward of its own accord and settling on a certain spot.
"Hee-hee, boss, since you're about to leave, could you give me a reward?"
"Hey, mind appearances. Lingling, don't go getting all horny on me."
Qing Linyun warned her.
"Hmph, you cheapskate. I wonder who was the one who first... mmph..."
Before the little secretary could finish, Qing Linyun clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Let's talk business. Stop bringing up the past."
"Speaking of the past, wasn't it because I improved your Martial Soul that you became a Titled Douluo at twenty-five?"
"Your Soul Rings, Soul Bones, and Battle Armor-which of them didn't I painstakingly get for you? Do you know how much money it cost me? Is it wrong for me to have you do a little more work now?"
By this point, Qing Linyun's tone had involuntarily grown somewhat heavier.
Heavens above, earth below! To raise Ye Lingling into a Titled Douluo, he had poured billions into her, nearly ten billion in all.
Ye Lingling nodded. He playfully leaned close to Qing Linyun and planted a sudden kiss on his cheek.
"So, I love you, boss."
"I can only cling to you for the rest of my life."
Qing Linyun rubbed his brow helplessly, sighed, and sat back down in his boss's chair.
"Have all the Twelve Knights arrived?"
"They're all here. They're waiting in the conference room."
Lingling nodded.