Soaring the Heavens

Their face suddenly covered in spit, the white-robed person raised their hand and pulled off an Orb of Will drenched in saliva. They were a little lost for words. Who would actually sleep while holding Orbs of Wills in their mouth?

Even though the person had already examined Miao Yi's body and confirmed that he had lost the strength to even hurt a fly, the attack… had simply come too suddenly!

"You—" Miao Yi struggled to speak, but the white-robed person quickly subdued him and gestured for him to keep quiet. The latter then quickly took out a jade archive and handed it over.

With help from the other party, Miao Yi was somehow able to finish reading the jade archive, which allowed him to understand who this white-robed person was. He was also able to vaguely guess why they had come.

The white-robed person transmitted their voice over. "Why did you suddenly retreat?"

Miao Yi was instantly enraged. "You're asking me why? Look at how I am right now. What other choice did I have? I'm the one who should be asking what the hell is up with this mission? Some top secret operation this is. Someone hired the Hive Gang to come and kill me, and I was ambushed the second I set foot on the desert. Clearly, they were fully aware of our timing and route. And now, the assassins of Peony are after me as well. What kind of shitty top-secret mission is this?"

The white-robed person was shocked. They didn't even mind Miao Yi's tone and asked, "So the incident with the Hive Gang was actually under the orders of a third party?"

"Did you think they were just fooling around with me? I captured the Sixth Young Lady of the Hive Gang and forced the information out of her. Someone's put a ten million Gold Crystal bounty on my head!" Miao Yi didn't even bother hiding the anger in his voice. He couldn't care less who the other party was. After all, they were the ones who were acting all dark and mysterious. Since the other party wasn't proving that their own status was higher than his, then why should he give them any face?

The white-robed person asked solemnly, "Then why didn't you report it when you had the chance?"

Miao Yi glared back. "How could I? The details of this mission are of the highest order of secrecy. The person who leaked the information is surely someone with a very high status. I had no choice but to swallow this indignation and suffer in silence. I was afraid that if I revealed the truth behind this incident, the other party would stop at nothing to have me killed. Since I can't offend the other party, can't I just hide? But clearly, that's not enough for them. This time, they even got two Red Lotus experts after me. Since they're so insistent on killing me, then there's nothing holding me back anymore. Go back and tell this to Guo Shaohai—if you don't find out who the rat is, then I won't play your stupid game even if you kill me!"

The expression reflected in the white-robed person's eyes was a heavy one. They asked, "What about the other troops?"

"They're all dead!" Miao Yi didn't even bother being polite. This was a rather touchy subject even for him. What kind of a captain was he? All his subordinates always ended up dead.

"Then how did you make it back?"

"Just look at me. How do you think I made it back?"

"You were able to escape the two Red Lotus experts?"

"Like hell I escaped. I risked life and limb and killed those two bastards."

The white-robed person was shocked. "You managed to kill two Red Lotus experts?"

Miao Yi still wanted to keep this matter a secret. "Just yesterday, the Chamber of Commerce gave me a Third Grade Transcendent Artifact to protect myself. The only reason I was lucky enough to kill those two was because I threw caution to the wind and risked being reduced to this state just so I could activate the artifact."

'So that's why!' The white-robed person paused for a bit, before confirming all the details of Miao Yi's story. After which, they stood up and consoled Miao Yi, "Rest well. I will report this immediately!"

"Once you find out who the rat is, give me a heads up," Miao Yi said in frustration.

The other party didn't reply and simply left without a sound...

The radiance of dawn glowed brightly in the distant horizon. Within the isolated room on the third floor of the Chamber of Commerce, the white-haired old man was once again standing before Guo Shaohai, making his report.

"Top secret operation? Even a group of desert bandits know the full extent of our movements. What an utter joke. Do I even have any secrets left to keep?" With hands behind his back, Guo Shaohai stood before the window and calmly said.

The white-haired old man could feel the fury behind the other party's calm tone, and couldn't help shivering a little. He cautiously replied, "There is a very suspicious point about this incident. If there really was a leak, then the other five nations should have long gotten word of it by now. There's no point in doing such a thing just to kill a mere Miao Yi."

"It doesn't matter who they're after. I just want to know how those desert bandits managed to know about our operation prior to its execution." With a blank face, Guo Shaohai continued to state calmly, "I want you to go and tell Huyan Taibao to give me an explanation!"

"Understood!"

"And send out a few trustworthy people to investigate this whole affair!"

The white-haired old man was aghast. Was this a sign that Guo Shaohai no longer trusted Huyan Taibao? The old man acknowledged respectfully. "Sir!"

"Nine more days!"

Miao Yi placed ninety thousand Gold Crystals before the counter; he planned to add another nine more days to his stay.

There were a few reasons why he was extending his stay. Firstly, his body had yet to fully recover even though ten days had already passed. His transcendence energy had been fully replenished in just one or two days, thanks to the help of Orbs of Will. However, his mental strength was still in a very weakened state. That said, it was almost fully recovered as well. Another reason was that he had made another report to Traversing Water Palace and was currently awaiting their reply. Once again, he mentioned how his life had been targeted. This time, he was very insistent in his desire to return. There was simply no way for him to continue on with this mission. All he could do now was wait for Traversing Water Palace's reply.

How could his current situation even compare to the comforts of his own territory? Back home, he had Qian'Er and Xue'Er taking care of his every need. Back home, there were beautiful women taking full care of him and waiting on him in bed every night, plenty of subordinates under his command, and a bounty of riches at his disposal. But what did he have here?

The scholar asked curiously from behind the counter, "Why are you only staying nine days?"

Miao Yi blankly replied, "It would be my second month if I add on another day. Why should I just sit here and wait for you to rack up the accommodation fees? If you charge me at the original price, then I won't mind staying longer. I can even help bring in a few more customers for you."

The scholar was a little taken aback, but he quickly revealed a smile. It seemed that the other party had already figured out the situation here from his last journey out. The scholar shook his head. "There's no helping it. Rules are rules. It wouldn't be right if we gave you face but not to anyone else. Nine days, right? Got it. Are you leaving after that?"

Miao Yi ignored his question and just turned around and left. He had been hassled nonstop by these bastards over the past few days. Otherwise, his body might have already made a full recovery by now.

Right as he got up to the second floor of the rear courtyard, a voice transmission echoed in his ear. "Come up here!"

He turned to the source of the voice and saw the Lady Boss standing at the rooftop, beckoning him over.

Miao Yi had no choice but to comply. He climbed up to the rooftop and made his way just outside the little house.

The Lady Boss tossed a flask of wine over to him, then turned around and sat down on a large round log on the floor, the hems of her skirt twirling behind her. Sitting with one foot tucked underneath her, the Lady Boss reached for another wine flask to the side, then took a heavy gulp. After which, she turned to Miao Yi and smiled. "Wine's on me."

The setting sun painted the vast desert in a resplendent golden hue, while the rolling clouds up above the sky slowly dissipated. There was a somewhat liberating feeling in seeing the sky open up.

Miao Yi glanced around, then slapped open the seal on the flask and downed a mouthful. He sat down next to the Lady Boss, her gentle fragrance making its way to his nostrils. He asked, "I've noticed you tend to sit here and drink wine around this time every day. Why is that?"

Showing off her white teeth, the Lady Boss revealed a gentle grin, the setting sun casting a slightly yellow hue on her beautiful face. "It's a force of habit!"

"A force of habit?" Miao Yi took another sip of wine. He wiped the alcohol off the edge of his mouth, then placed the flask down and said solemnly, "I heard about what happened to you the last time I went out."

The Lady Boss revealed a self-deprecating smile. "Well, it's not like it's a big secret to begin with. To fall in love with the son of the murderer of one's parents—Do you think that's something wrong or right?"

"You're just wasting your breath asking me. Ever since I was young, I've never received much education. To me, there's only the question of whether to do something or not. And if you do decide to do that something, you'll have to live with the consequences." Miao Yi shifted his posture a little, tucking one leg underneath him just like the Lady Boss. He asked, "Do you know Yun Feiyang?"

"He's the son of my Nineteenth Uncle. I'm older by my Nineteenth Uncle by at least a thousand years. What's the matter? You know Feiyang?"

"We became friends during the Subjugation Crusade. I guess you can say we're on pretty good terms." Miao Yi suddenly chuckled. "Lady Boss, did you know that we almost became in-laws?"

The Lady Boss was taken aback. She asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

"That rascal Yun Feiyang kept insisting that I become his brother-in-law, and was dead set on introducing his older sister to me. Fortunately, we belong to different camps. Or else, I might have really become one of your in-laws."

"So something like that happened? I'll be sure to ask him about it when I meet him." The Lady Boss couldn't help a giggle. She then shook her head and asked, "Which of my little sisters was he trying to set you up with, I wonder?"

Miao Yi sighed. "I want to know as well, but he wouldn't say a single word. And the more tight-lipped he was, the more scared I was of accepting his proposal! That bastard Yun Feiyang looks a little unreliable. What will I do if he introduces an ugly girl to me?"

The Lady Boss couldn't help bursting into laughter when she heard him. Slapping on Miao Yi's knee, she said, "You're absolutely right. From what I recall, that kid is indeed a little unreliable. However, you're mistaken about one thing. There is no doubting the appearance of our family's members. The women marry handsome men, while the men wed beautiful women. This has been the way of our family for many generations. So you can rest assured. No matter how incompetent the women of our Yun family may be, she will never be ugly."

"Of course you would have nothing but good things to say about your own family. I'll believe it when I see her." Miao Yi then swept a glance at the Lady Boss and teased, "However, if the older sister that rascal was planning to introduce to me was you, then I think I would have to oblige."

The Lady Boss narrowed her eyes at him. "What's the matter? Did I catch your fancy?"

"You're so beautiful. How could I not be tempted? What kind of man would hate a beautiful woman?" Miao Yi raised his wine flask and sighed. "Sadly, even if I have the intention of taking you, I don't have the guts!" He then took another heavy gulp from his flask. "If I really married someone like you, then I'd be rich. The Lady Boss of the Tempest Tavern. I can't imagine how loaded you must be!"

"So it seems I'm not the one who caught your fancy, but my money." The Lady Boss sighed. "Then I suggest you give up on that thought. I'm actually not as rich as the rumors make me out to be."

Miao Yi rolled his eyes. "You're not rich? I'm sure this tavern of yours earns quite a fortune every year, no?"

"We do make a lot every year, but half of it goes to my husband who is currently being locked up. The other half is used to maintain our connections. The scraps that remain are divided amongst the people in the tavern. Of course, whether I'm rich or not depends on who you're comparing me to. If anything, I'm definitely more wealthy than you."

"With your background, you still have to go out of your way to maintain connections?"

The Lady Boss replied with a gentle smile and waved her hand, no longer wishing to dwell on this topic. After which, she raised her flask again and took a few more gulps.

"Lady Boss, I have a question. But please don't get angry with me for asking you."

"What's the point in me getting angry with you?"

"What if, I'm saying what if, your husband ends up being imprisoned indefinitely? Are you going to wait like this forever?"

The Lady Boss gazed towards the sunset, her eyes a little hazy as she answered, "Now that I've already come this far, do I have any other choice?"

"What do you mean you don't have any other choice? With your qualities, the options are just lying right by your feet."

"Niu Er, to give up on some things, you must first have a good reason to do so. You will need to give the person you're hurting a proper explanation. You can't just give it up for no reason."

"There are way too many reasons for you to use. All you need to do is find a new love. Forgive me for being blunt, but why do you continue to wait like this?"

The Lady Boss looked at him and asked, "If I ask you to become my new love, would you dare to?"