To fish in troubled waters

“This is the intelligence we currently possess.”

Féng Yè rotated the computer screen on his desk a full 180 degrees, turning it to face Mù Qīngyǔ and Xǔ Tiānlí.

“If Qiao Yíng is still alive, she’s likely being held in this western suburban area.”

“The western suburbs?”

“That certainly is a suitable place to hide someone.”

Having grown up in Wufeng City, Xǔ Tiānlí knew the city like the back of his hand.

The west side used to be the old urban district, but as the city’s development shifted eastward, it naturally transformed into the suburbs.

Féng Yè explained that after discovering Qiao Yíng’s disappearance, he had sent people to search the local minor gangs, but they found no trace of her.

“Is it possible they’re lying?” Xǔ Tiānlí asked, finding it hard to trust the integrity of those gangs.

“No,” Féng Yè shook his head.

“With the Wolf Fang Gang recently decimated, the remaining smaller gangs are too weak to cause trouble.”

“They wouldn’t dare provoke the Heaven’s Will Bureau.”

The commotion at the back mountain had been immense, especially with the activation of the Heavenly Thunder System.

The minor gangs had nearly wet themselves just witnessing it, terrified that such a lightning strike might one day descend upon them.

Thus, when confronted by the Heaven’s Will Bureau, demanding answers, they naturally dared not conceal anything.

“An outside Spirit Wielder?” Xǔ Tiānlí could only conceive of this one possibility.

“It’s definitely not a loose organization like the Wolf Fang Gang.”

“This was a premeditated kidnapping.”

“But for what reason?”

“Wealth or lust?”

“That, I do not know.”

‘Could it be for that secret manual?’ Xǔ Tiānlí had considered this possibility.

If it were true, and the matter wasn’t resolved quickly, the orphanage would likely be implicated once more.

“Master, what do you think?”

Hearing Xǔ Tiānlí’s voice, Mù Qīngyǔ, who had been staring at the screen, finally snapped back to attention.

She extended a finger, pointing at the red circle displayed on the screen.

“Is this where you intend to search?”

“Precisely.”

“The branch has limited manpower, but I’ve marked all the suspicious locations,” Féng Yè nodded emphatically.

“Master Qín, where do you think Qiao Yíng is most likely to be found?”

Both men’s gazes fell upon her, watching as her fair finger moved, then tapped one particular spot.

“I’ll go here.”

Xǔ Tiānlí and Féng Yè were stunned, for that location did not fall within any of the red circles.

In other words, she had chosen a spot outside their planned search area.

“This…” Féng Yè blinked.

“Master, what do you mean by this?”

“It’s simple.”

“Your preparations aren’t thorough enough; you’ve missed this place.”

“You should proceed with your original plan, and I’ll go here.”

“But…” Féng Yè had many objections, yet he couldn’t voice a single one.

‘Was she truly not trying to muddle the waters?’

Indeed, Mù Qīngyǔ intended to muddle the waters, but without being discovered.

That was why she had put on a casual performance.

From the moment she heard about this incident, she knew it wasn’t as simple as it appeared on the surface.

The kidnappers must have known Qiao Yíng’s identity, and also her close relationship with Féng Yè.

Kidnapping her was tantamount to offending the Heaven’s Will Bureau and the powerful forces behind Qiao Yíng.

Despite this, the kidnappers had still acted, which could only mean they weren’t afraid of being targeted by two major powers simultaneously.

They, too, must have a formidable backer.

‘So, who could it be?’ There were only a handful of top-tier forces in the Sacred Dynasty Nation.

The Heaven’s Will Bureau was immediately ruled out; it shouldn’t be an inside job.

The Four Sacred Courts were also highly unlikely.

Wufeng City wasn’t within their jurisdiction; otherwise, it wouldn’t be Qiao Yíng who was taken, but Mù Qīngyǔ.

The Martial Alliance and the Alchemical Pact were also minimal suspects.

Both were partners of the Heaven’s Will Bureau; it made no sense for them to stab their allies in the back.

As for the remaining Tuōhǎi Agency, Century Star Agency, and the like… they had no motive either.

All the aforementioned were legitimate organizations with business licenses, prominent powers listed among the Sacred Dynasty Nation’s top agencies.

However, the kidnappers could also be from large gangs operating in the gray areas—“underground organizations” without licenses, who enjoyed operating outside the law, and thus weren’t eligible for ranking.

Regardless of the enemy she faced, Mù Qīngyǔ wasn’t particularly keen on getting involved in this matter.

She did want to speak with Qiao Yíng again, but it wasn’t to the point where a meeting was absolutely necessary.

At worst, she could abandon the Return to the Void One-Strike Decapitation and let Xǔ Tiānlí learn something else.

This was a contest between major powers.

Even with the Four Sacred Courts backing her, Mù Qīngyǔ was still only a Tier-2 practitioner whose full strength couldn’t be exerted.

Encountering Tier-3 or Tier-4 experts would mean being casually crushed.

Even if she miraculously survived and rescued Qiao Yíng for the Heaven’s Will Bureau, she would still have offended the opposing faction.

If they changed their target and pursued Mù Qīngyǔ instead, she would only have two choices:

Flee endlessly, or seek protection from the Four Sacred Courts.

Neither option allowed her to remain in Wufeng City, nor could she take Xǔ Tiānlí with her.

Therefore, after much deliberation, she decided on her upcoming battle strategy: to muddle through!

‘An enemy the Heaven’s Will Bureau can’t handle won’t be helped by adding me to the mix.’

Although others consistently regarded Qín Yuè as a reclusive master, praising her to the heavens, at her core, she was still a novice.

Whether she could even defeat her own student was questionable.

‘As long as I don’t hinder Féng Yè and his subordinates, and don’t cause trouble, I’ll have done my best.’

Her own survival would always be her top priority.

Just as Mù Qīngyǔ felt quite pleased with her performance, Féng Yè had quietly approached Xǔ Tiānlí.

“Is Master Qín always so unfathomable?”

“While I’d like to say no, Master truly is like this,” Xǔ Tiānlí’s mouth twitched.

“However, Minister Féng, you can rest assured.”

“Although Master has some eccentricities, deep down, she is very kind.”

“Don’t be deceived by her appearance.”

“I hope so.”

Xǔ Tiānlí was also pondering why his Master was acting this way.

“Still standing there?”

“Let’s go.” Mù Qīngyǔ, who had stopped at the doorway, beckoned to him.

“Coming, Master.”

‘But even if I don’t understand, it doesn’t matter.’

‘As long as I do as Master says, things will always turn out for the best.’

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit cell.

“Hiss, my head hurts so much.”

Qiao Yíng, who had been unconscious for a long time, finally regained consciousness and sat up from the cold, hard floor.

“Hmm, who tied my hands and feet?”

She instinctively tried to activate the spiritual energy within her to burn through the ropes that chafed her wrists and ankles, but after several attempts, she suddenly realized there was no response whatsoever.

‘Where am I?’

It looked like the interior of some abandoned factory.

Someone had crudely assembled a makeshift cell from discarded materials on site, specifically to hold her prisoner.

‘I remember yesterday I wasn’t…’

Qiao Yíng recalled that she had been targeted by Spirit Wielders from an unknown force.

She had initially believed she could easily handle them, but instead, she had been outmaneuvered.

Qiao Yíng remembered she had held the advantage in the fight until the leader threw a rope, and then she found her spiritual power suppressed.

“A spiritual item specifically designed to suppress power?”

Qiao Yíng let out a heavy sigh.

“So those henchmen were just bait.”

“The real killer move waiting for me was this thing.”

“Oh, our lovely captive is awake.”

Hearing that unpleasant voice, Qiao Yíng looked up to see the leader approach the cell door with an arrogant smile.

“I thought you’d sleep forever.”

“If you kept sleeping, I couldn’t guarantee what my subordinates might do to you.”

“Does that mean I’m still pure for now?” Qiao Yíng’s lips curved into a smile.

“Are you really from a prominent family?”

“You’re not flustered at all.” The leader’s eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly bored by her reaction.

Anyone else would be weeping and begging for mercy by now.

But Qiao Yíng showed no hint of pleading; instead, her gaze at him was filled with disdain.

“What’s the point in panicking?”

“Will you let me go if I cry?” Qiao Yíng quipped.

“I’m well aware this isn’t a rehearsal or a film set; no one is secretly protecting me.”

So she could only rely on herself to survive.

“Hmph.”

The leader’s expression grew colder.

“We’ve searched your belongings and your residence.”

“Where is it?”

“Huh?” Qiao Yíng paused.

“Where is that secret manual?”

Blinking, Qiao Yíng then let out a scoff:

“So you’re after that secret manual.”

“Well, forget it, you won’t find it.”

“You destroyed it?”

“I gave it away.”

At her words, the cell door let out a pained groan under the leader’s fist, but Qiao Yíng didn’t even bat an eye.

“You’re lying to me.”

“Why would I lie to you?”

“I’ve been studying that manual ever since I got it, but I haven’t figured anything out.”

“It was a waste to keep it, so I gave it away.”

The leader’s eyes were tinged with obvious malice.

“If you use force on me, I’ll cry, and then I might even forget who I gave the manual to.”

Qiao Yíng immediately put on a pitiful, wronged expression.

“If you treat me well with good food and drink, maybe I’ll remember who I gave it to.”

“Hmph, don’t think we don’t know who you’d give the manual to.” The leader sneered.

“You’ve only recently interacted with a few people.”

“We can find that person by checking them one by one.”

“I believe it must be those two who were with you at the training ground that day?”

“…”

“A woman named Qín Yuè, and Xǔ Tiānlí.”

“They don’t seem like much, do they?”

“It’s fine if you target me, but you dare target a reclusive master?”

“Aren’t you afraid of her retaliation?”

“What’s there to be afraid of?”

The leader’s tone grew increasingly arrogant.

“Let her come if she has the guts.”

“I’m not to be trifled with!”

“A delicate woman and a good-for-nothing who was rejected from an engagement—even if I don’t act myself, my subordinates can tear them limb from limb.”

“Is that so? Then I’m truly looking forward to it.”

Qiao Yíng maintained her smile, but her heart was pounding within her chest.

She wasn’t worried that Qín Yuè would lose; she was only worried about when someone would find her.

‘Master, oh Master, I hope you can burst into action at the critical moment—come over, overturn their lair, and while you’re at it, rescue me.’