Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Enormous Secret

The person who appeared at this moment was none other than Ye Jin, the president of the auction house.

Lu Qingyun felt quite perplexed by her sudden appearance. Ye Jin looked at him with a faint smile and spoke lightly.

"Heh, I honestly thought you might die today. After all, Chu Batian’s strength is terrifying. It is truly a miracle that he didn't kill you instantly."

"It seems your mind is incredibly sharp. You must have seen through his intentions; otherwise, how could you have survived?"

Lu Qingyun knew this was a compliment, and this time, he accepted it gracefully. He replied calmly, "Indeed, one could say it was a stroke of wit in a moment of crisis. Staying alive is certainly not easy..."

Lu Qingyun did not press for more details. Seeing his composed demeanor, a smile touched Ye Jin’s delicate face. Based on what she knew, Lu Qingyun was an exceptionally calm individual; stirring any emotional fluctuation within him was no simple task. Knowing that trying to trick information out of him would be equally difficult, Ye Jin decided to be straightforward.

"What did Qian Yuhai want from you?"

Lu Qingyun knew this woman had come for a reason. The relationships between these people were incredibly complex, and it seemed they all had informants among one another, or they wouldn't know so much.

Lu Qingyun said coolly, "What he wanted from me—what does that have to do with you? If that is the purpose of your visit, I suggest you save your breath. I won't tell you."

"Everyone has secrets. Why pry into the affairs of others? If someone wanted to know about our business, I wouldn't share that either."

Having already learned of the connection between Ye Jin and the City Lord, Lu Qingyun knew he could not reveal everything. Especially regarding the tasks others entrusted to him, he had to keep them hidden; he could never betray their secrets.

Upon hearing his words, Ye Jin’s smile only deepened. Cultivation was truly miraculous; despite her advanced age, she still maintained such a beautiful appearance. Her smile had caused countless men to fall at her feet.

Ye Jin chuckled and said, "I was merely asking out of curiosity. Since you don't wish to say anything, so be it. I actually came to tell you something else."

"The Zhao family has decided to leave Bixiao City. Before they depart, they are planning a major move. As for what that move is, it remains unclear."

Lu Qingyun hadn't expected her to come and tip him off, and this was certainly an important piece of intelligence. That the Zhao family would go to such lengths to leave, abandoning all their foundations, showed how much courage they had summoned. But when he thought about it, it made sense: the Zhao family had incurred the City Lord’s wrath, and the City Lord could impose punishment or even destroy them at any moment. Leaving now had become a vital decision.

Lu Qingyun nodded earnestly and said with a smile, "It seems I have misjudged you. To come here for such an important matter—how should I thank you?"

As the president of the auction house, Ye Jin was accustomed to the entanglements of profit. She was, first and foremost, a merchant; if she couldn't gain any benefit, she wouldn't provide any favors. Hearing him, she nodded slowly.

"Speaking with a smart person is much more convenient; it wastes no time. I do, in fact, have a request. When you reach Hanhai City, could you help me find something?"

Lu Qingyun felt speechless. He hadn't encountered many people since arriving in this city, so why did everyone want him to do their bidding? He sighed long and hard before saying, "Fine. Helping one is the same as helping two. What is the reward?"

Though he wouldn't work for free, he was naturally interested in the benefits. Given that he might not see them again, securing more advantages was the priority.

Ye Jin paused for a moment before laughing. "Hearing such words from you is quite surprising. I will write you a list; bring these items back when you return, and your reward will certainly not be lacking!"

"Let’s leave it at that for now. You must be careful of the Zhao family. They were never good people to begin with, and rumor has it they have a very meticulous plan..."

After Ye Jin left, Lu Qingyun thought about how he would be leaving this city in three days—the Zhao family’s efforts were truly unnecessary. They were betting everything to oppose an existence that posed no threat to them, which left Lu Qingyun feeling quite speechless.

Meditating here was pointless, so he decided to return and regroup with his friends. He didn't mention what had just happened, merely saying he had stepped out for a moment.

They continued to wander the city. Halfway through, they heard that the City Lord was hosting a fireworks display that evening. It was a rare event, as the City Lord wouldn't organize such a thing unless there was a significant occasion, which suggested he was in a good mood. Lu Qingyun knew the City Lord was likely celebrating because of the task he had accepted.

But what of the Chu family? Was it really over for them? Did they simply go to the City Lord and everything was resolved? With this doubt, Lu Qingyun and his friends waited for nightfall.

On this continent, the scene was somewhat unexpected. Seeing everyone in such high spirits, Lu Qingyun finally relaxed. As he watched the fireworks bloom in the sky, he felt a genuine sense of joy. However, amidst the crowd, he sensed a wave of killing intent.

The aura was so terrifying that people around him stepped back. Lu Qingyun turned quickly to see Zhao Tuo, who was staring at him with a dark, gloomy face.

Zhao Tuo glared at him, his eyes filled with fury. "Lu Qingyun, do you dare follow me?"

Ye Jin had just told him about the Zhao family's intentions, and it seemed they had already chosen to strike. Lu Qingyun merely shook his head slowly and smiled at Zhao Tuo.

"I won't go."

It wasn't that Lu Qingyun was afraid; he simply felt there was no point in following him when he could stay and enjoy the fireworks.

Zhao Tuo’s rage flared again. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! Just you wait!" With that, Zhao Tuo disappeared into the crowd.

The performance lasted nearly an hour, and even after it ended, Bixiao City remained bustling. Lu Qingyun decided to send the others back to the City Lord’s residence; it was, at the very least, safe.

As Lu Qingyun prepared to leave the residence, the City Lord’s servant called him over. The City Lord, still holding a large jar of wine, said with immense satisfaction, "Kid, your presence makes me very happy. You are about to solve a crucial matter for me. If you succeed, it will be a monumental achievement."

"Those chosen by the High Priest are truly different. I am in high spirits today; if you have anything you want to ask, feel free to do so. I will tell you everything!"

Lu Qingyun was puzzled by the City Lord’s sudden shift. His heart had been full of doubts, but after everything he had been through, his mindset had changed significantly.

A smile curled at the corner of Lu Qingyun’s mouth as he said lightly, "I have only one question: Do you all come from that 'Holy Land'?"

He didn't state the name directly, as he didn't know how many people were involved. The question sounded general, but that was precisely his cleverness.

The City Lord set down his wine jar and looked at Lu Qingyun with interest. "I have been in contact with you for some time now. Every time we speak, you bring me great surprises. This is truly magical."

"Anyway, you would have learned this secret sooner or later, so I might as well tell you: We did come from that place. We are, in fact, people of that land!"

Lu Qingyun had been somewhat prepared, but hearing it confirmed still left him shocked. That place had existed for many years and was supposedly destroyed; that they could still be alive was astonishing.

Lu Qingyun couldn't help but ask, "The High Priest’s power was so great, yet he was utterly obliterated. How did you survive? How was that place destroyed?"

"I am purely curious, I hope you don't misunderstand..."

Lu Qingyun was indeed acting out of pure curiosity; otherwise, he never would have asked. He had visited that place and knew its condition. He simply wanted to understand what had happened. He had no other agenda.

The City Lord fell into deep thought for a moment. He looked toward the distance, frowning. "What happened there back then is beyond your imagination, and it was something no one could have prevented. A mistake during a ritual destroyed everything."

"Of course, we couldn't have lived for thousands of years; we are merely the descendants of that place. But we share a common goal: to find a way to restore it."

"The destruction of the Holy Land was not simple. It reached a level we cannot fathom. Everything you are doing now is aimed at uncovering its secrets!"

Lu Qingyun never expected to be told something like this. The secrets involved must be staggering. He frowned, his expression darkening. "Very well. I never imagined I would be burdened with such a mission. If I fail, the hope that has waited for thousands of years will be extinguished, won't it?"

"I never thought I would have such an opportunity. I hope to do my utmost to complete it. That is all I wish to know. May I leave now?"

He had thought he was just helping them with a simple task, never expecting it to be a mission of such magnitude. Since he had chosen to help, Lu Qingyun would naturally do his best. Any previous misunderstandings had vanished. Moreover, he had gained many benefits, and every piece of the puzzle made him feel a sense of pride. Who else on this continent could pry into the secrets of that place?

The answer was certain: those secrets were not meant for just anyone to know.

As Lu Qingyun turned to leave, the City Lord called out to him. "Lu Qingyun, I know you didn't intend to take on this mission. If you truly succeed, I promise your rewards will be incredibly bountiful."

"But the process will be arduous. Hanhai City is far more terrifying than here, and they are staunchly opposed to the restoration of the Holy Land!"

Lu Qingyun was confused. He looked at the City Lord with suspicion. Now that the City Lord was willing to talk, he could learn many secrets. Previously, he hadn't cared, thinking he would just finish the task and move on. But as he delved deeper, he realized he needed to understand more.

Normally, the Holy Land was a place of longing for countless people. Why would anyone oppose it?

Lu Qingyun asked, "Why do they do that? Is there a conflict between you?"

He felt that understanding these reasons was crucial to his task in Hanhai City. Even if the City Lord was in a good mood, it didn't mean he would say everything. But since he had started, this was no longer a secret.

The City Lord said very seriously, "You guessed correctly. There is a conflict; we are, in fact, enemies. They know those two boxes are vital to us, yet they refuse to give them up."

"I only hope that through your wit, you can open those two boxes. I don't know what is inside, but the destruction of the Holy Land is inextricably linked to them!"

Lu Qingyun had thought he was just retrieving two boxes. He never imagined it would involve such grave matters. After a moment of thought, he narrowed his eyes.

"It’s hard enough to get this chance, and now you want me to open those boxes, but the hope of actually doing so seems slim, doesn't it?"

"We leave in two days. Are you still not going to tell me the truth?"