The five-hour journey came to an end. Nan Zhi concluded her cultivation and slowly opened her eyes.
The two little foxes, who had curled up on the floor to leech off her spiritual energy while cultivating, were so comfortable that they were almost lying belly-up. Sensing the change in their surroundings, they reluctantly rubbed against Nan Zhi's calves before leaping back onto the man and woman.
“!”
“!”
Suddenly sensing the weight returning to their shoulders, the pair were startled at first, then quietly drew in a breath.
Having worshipped fox immortals for years, they were accustomed to supernatural occurrences happening around them.
However, it was the first time they had ever directly felt such intense emotions radiating from the “fox immortals.”
As soon as the plane landed, like a relay race, members of the Hu family were immediately on hand to meet them. The group crowded around Nan Zhi and discreetly escorted her through the VIP passage straight to the parking lot.
Before long, several black Bentleys drove out of the airport in high profile. Cars lurking in the shadows immediately followed, pursuing them all the way into the deep mountains.
After waiting a full half-hour, a dusty, unremarkable minivan casually drove out from an inconspicuous parking lot outside the airport.
The little minivan weaved through traffic with flashy maneuvering, twisting and turning before merging onto the expressway. Far ahead, two black Land Rovers cleared the path, while an identical vehicle trailed behind to bring up the rear.
A red Chinese knot hung in front of the minivan's windshield for peace and safety, while the leaky speakers blasted a punchy, tacky DJ remix:
【...This is my awesome big sis; she's got a house and she's got a car!
Lovin' my big sis means no bumps in the road; smooth sailing ahead wherever we go!
Big sis, big sis, welcome to you! Lovin' you is lovin' ourselves too!
Big sis is heaven! Big sis is earth! Big sis holds up the sky and the universe!】
“...Turn that thing off for me.”
Sitting in the back row with a bouquet of flowers shoved into her arms, Nan Zhi wore a somewhat numb expression.
She had miscalculated.
She really shouldn't have reached out to Hu Manni.
Hu Manni, Lyu Dongfang, and Liu Guansheng—when separated, each was shrewd enough, but put them together, and the three of them couldn't scrape together a single whole brain.
...
“Little Aunt!”
The chubby Liu Guansheng drove while flashing a wide, toothy grin in the rearview mirror. “We meet again! Welcome to the Northeast! How about it—pretty lively tune, huh?
Those bastards from the Huang family spend all day plotting underhanded tricks; we can't even pick someone up in peace.
It took my clever Sister Manni to pull off that golden cicada shedding its skin trick.”
“We've already shaken them off. The decoy driver is one of ours; he's leading those dogs straight into the mountains.”
Lyu Dongfang glanced at the rearview mirror and sneered dismissively, “Those overgrown weasels from the Huang family only have this much skill.”
“Why are the three of you together again?”
Nan Zhi feigned ignorance and asked curiously, “Are you talking about the Huang family of the Five Families of Beidong? The Hu family might have conflicts with the Huang family, but what does that have to do with me?”
“Little Aunt, in the eyes of outsiders, you don't just represent yourself now; you represent the Demon Suppression Division.
People on the outside are practically obsessed with finding the Demon Suppression Division, but thankfully, your organization is too mysterious for anyone to know its exact location.
On top of that, Ma Guniang's movements are unpredictable, and no other demon suppressors have ever shown their faces in public, so they naturally set their sights on you.”
Hu Manni shook her head and added, “As soon as you called saying you were coming, I immediately began arranging preparations. But don't be fooled by the surface calm in Beidong; the metaphysical world here is already a total mess.”
“Is it because of that White Tiger Demon King in the Southwest?”
Nan Zhi raised an eyebrow. “That's certainly no small matter. I've heard rumblings about it too—the Mountain Lord proclaimed herself the Demon King of Qingmeng Mountain and broadcasted it far and wide.
Among your Five Families of Beidong, it seems only the Huang and Hui families refuse to acknowledge this Demon King of Qingmeng Mountain as sovereign.
If you want to know the Demon Suppression Division's stance on this... you're barking up the wrong tree. The Demon Suppression Division only eliminates evil demons and evil cultivators whose sins are full and intolerable to the Heavenly Dao. Someone declaring herself king has nothing to do with us.”
“There are too many entanglements involved; it can't be explained in just a few words.
Anyway, my grandma said that the long-standing status quo of Beidong's demon world is due for a shake-up. As for how it shifts, that has nothing to do with us juniors.”
Hu Manni let out a wry smile, dodging the topic. “Little Aunt, since you came here to collect Snow Essence, if there's anything else you lack or need, just say the word.
Beidong isn't huge, but there are plenty of outside powerhouses and local tyrants around. While normally no one would dare lay a hand on you, still—”
“—still, you never know when some half-baked, reckless nuisance whose brain is full of mush will go looking for trouble all day long!”
Hu Manni's gaze shifted abruptly. Her eyes slanted upward as Hu Cuiying took over. The fox twitched her nose, cast a disgusted look outside, and cursed, “They're really like stuck dog-skin plasters—why are they so damn annoying? If Little Aunt weren't here, I'd jump down and beat the hell out of them!”
“Is it someone from the Huang family?”
Nan Zhi suddenly stopped Hu Manni and patted the storage bag at her waist. “Since I'll be staying in Beidong for a while anyway, we might as well see what they're up to—I have Master's Green Beetle Needles on me at all times.”
The breath caught in the throats of all three inside the car, and Liu Guansheng nearly slipped off the pedal.
You actually brought such a dangerous thing with you?
Wait, the Huang family is just being annoying; there's no need to blast them with that weapon of mass destruction, is there?
They almost felt a bit sorry for the Huang family.
“Great, great, great!”
Hu Cuiying's eyes narrowed into joyful slits as she gloated, “Pull over ahead once we exit the highway! That foul weasel stench has carried two li away. Boy from the Liu family, stop the car! With Little Aunt here, I want to see what these bastards are trying to pull!”
Weren't they trying to be disgusting?
If they really run into this one, they can look forward to being poked full of holes!
Nan Zhi glanced at the unfamiliar vehicles appearing behind their convoy and mentally ticked off a box.
Her elaborate groundbaiting hadn't gone to waste after all.
Hadn't the fish smelled the chum and swum right up on their own?
...
The little minivan slowed down and exited the expressway along the fork. The Chuma disciples driving the Hummer followed, closely pursued by several sedans.
Screeech—
The minivan parked beside a dirt road bordered by neatly leveled farmland on both sides.
Across the black soil, winter wheat grew lush and robust, an expanse of vibrant green brimming with vigor.
The uninvited guests hopped out of their cars. Seeing Nan Zhi flanked by Hu Manni, Liu Guansheng, and Lyu Dongfang, their faces lit up with delight.
The leader was a young man in his late twenties, plain in appearance but dressed impeccably.
He had few memorable facial features, save for a lazy right eye and a pronounced limp. In his arms, he carried a redwood box.
“May I ask if you are Miss Nan Zhi of the Demon Suppression Division?”
The man tilted his head slightly when looking at her, his tone exceedingly polite. “I am Huang Shiduo of the Huang family. I have come on the orders of our Old Ancestor to deliver a meeting gift to Miss Nan.”
Hu Manni and the other two exchanged glances, unable to fathom what kind of game this was.
Who are you trying to fool?
First you stalk us, then you put on such a huge display, only to claim you're here to deliver a gift?
The demons of the Huang family were crafty and treacherous, even more cunning than foxes. Would they ever rush forward to do business at a loss?
“A meeting gift?”
Nan Zhi looked bewildered and utterly at a loss, appearing every bit like a gullible college student. “But I don't know anyone from your Huang family.”
“Every visitor is a guest. Once you accept the gift, we'll naturally get to know one another in due course.”
Huang Shiduo smiled, exuding a scholarly air. “There is no need for Miss Nan to be afraid. I am merely here to deliver a gift. As for whether you accept it or not, that is entirely up to your mood.”
With that, he handed the box to the person beside him, stepped back, and raised his hands to signal no ill intent.
Hu Cuiying looked at Nan Zhi, and upon receiving a subtle signal, immediately shot a look at the Chuma disciple behind her. Someone stepped forward at once and took the redwood box.
The two sides stood in confrontation with little to say, yet a faint scent of gunpowder hung in the air.
Nan Zhi opened the redwood box, only to find a palm-sized, entirely translucent, pale-yellow stone resting upon the yellow silk lining within.
“This is... century-old Snow Essence?”
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