On Dragon's Coil Mountain, seven-year-old Qiu Hong met Ling Tian, who was only five at the time.
They were the only two children on the mountain, so they became playmates.
They practiced martial arts together every day, played together, and even bathed together when they were young.
Three years later, Ru Yan avenged her enemies and took Qiu Hong down the mountain.
When they parted, the two embraced and cried, reluctant to let go.
From then on, their lives became parallel lines, with no further intersection.
Qiu Hong followed Ru Yan across the country, learning skills and trying to take over Misty Rain Pavilion.
Meanwhile, Ling Tian absorbed knowledge from his various masters like a sponge.
There was no contact between them. He only later heard from Ru Yan that Qiu Hong was now in the capital, helping her manage Misty Rain Pavilion.
Unexpectedly, ten years later, they were reunited here.
Ling Tian had grown into a young man, and Qiu Hong had become a beauty with a face that could topple cities.
They gazed at each other deeply, a complex mix of emotions surging within them, evident on their faces.
Finally, it was Qiu Hong who broke the awkward silence with a charming smile.
"Stinky little brother, have you missed me all these years?"
This was the nickname Qiu Hong had used for Ling Tian when they were on the mountain, and Ling Tian felt an immense sense of familiarity.
"Sister Hong, why are you here?"
"Master said you need the help of Misty Rain Pavilion! So, I've come especially to help you!"
"Thank you, Sister Hong."
"Stinky little brother, do we need to say thank you to each other?" Qiu Hong looked at Ling Tian, her eyes filled with a hint of longing.
Ling Tian could feel that very complex emotion, a blend of many feelings.
The two of them composed themselves and then recounted how they had spent the intervening years.
They discovered that despite the passage of so many years, their feelings for each other had not faded.
However, being adults, they quickly regained their composure.
"Ling Tian, tell us, how can we cooperate with you?"
Qiu Hong was aware of Ling Tian's background and the deep-seated enmity he carried.
Ru Yan had told Qiu Hong about it when they were on the mountain.
Qiu Hong had long since vowed to help Ling Tian get revenge; his matters were her matters.
Ling Tian thought for a moment and said, "Revenge is still a long way off for me. My strength is not yet sufficient, and I need a long time to accumulate power.
I don't lack money, and I don't need influence for now. What I lack most is information and intelligence.
Sister Hong, you should know that this world is not very friendly, and there are always those with malicious intent. I need intelligence on these people!"
"Haha, collecting intelligence is what Misty Rain Pavilion does best..."
As Qiu Hong spoke, she pressed a button on the wall.
Soon, there was a knock on the door, and a woman entered.
She was in her thirties, wore glasses, and exuded an air of scholarship.
"Greetings, Young Lords!"
"Ling Tian, this is Ling Yin. She's in charge of intelligence gathering in Jiang Prefecture.
Later, you can exchange contact information with her. If you have any intelligence needs in the future, send her a message directly.
I've authorized Ling Yin. You can obtain any information that Misty Rain Pavilion knows through her."
"Alright, thank you, Sister Hong."
Next, Ling Tian directly told Ling Yin the intelligence he needed.
First, it was about the Bai family in Jiang Prefecture.
Although he had dealt with the Bai father and son severely, Ling Tian knew that Bai Guanghai was like a wolf licking its wounds.
At any moment, he might find an opportunity to strike back fiercely.
Ling Tian wasn't afraid of the Bai family, but he feared that the Wang family might be implicated.
Then, Ling Tian wanted intelligence on the Jin family in Jiang Prefecture.
Ling Tian had a vague premonition that even without the matter involving Han Yueyue, he would eventually encounter the Jin family, perhaps even engage in fierce conflict.
Rather than making arrangements then and reacting to whatever came, it was better to nip the danger in the bud.
For example, by making the Jin family disappear from this world!
The last piece of intelligence Ling Tian sought was about any unorthodox or malevolent forces operating within Jiang Prefecture.
Ling Tian was well aware of the harm and destructive power of such individuals. If any such forces appeared in Jiang Prefecture, regardless of whether they were the ones who injured Xie Chong, Ling Tian could not stand idly by!
Ling Yin noted down Ling Tian's requests one by one and turned to leave.
At this moment, Qiu Hong asked for Ling Tian's phone, and after exchanging contact information, she helped Ling Tian download a software.
This software, on the surface, looked like a mobile game similar to "Connect Matching."
Clicking into it, it automatically logged in, appearing as just a game with no discernible issues.
However, if one entered a password on the login screen and replaced it with a code of over a dozen digits before logging in, the software would transform into an instant messaging application.
This software possessed various functions such as positioning, file transfer, voice calls, video calls, and sending emails.
Furthermore, the sending and exchange of information were encrypted.
Qiu Hong personally demonstrated how to use the software and helped Ling Tian add three contacts.
One of the contacts was his sixth master, Ru Yan, and the other two were naturally Qiu Hong and Ling Yin.
Ling Tian used the software to send messages to both of them.
Before long, he received intelligence about the Bai and Jin families in Jiang Prefecture via the software's built-in email.
Ling Tian only briefly skimmed through it, and to his astonishment, the intelligence was far more detailed than anything he had obtained from the dark web or the Wang family.
It even included family secrets unknown to the outside world!
Ling Tian was overjoyed. With this intelligence, he could act with purpose.
After discussing business, they reminisced, their conversation growing more joyful and relaxed, the atmosphere even becoming a little intimate.
However, at that moment, Qiu Hong's phone rang. It was Ru Yan.
Qiu Hong hung up the phone with a look of helplessness.
"Stinky little brother, I originally wanted to stay with you for a few days, but Master called. He said there are some matters at our branch in the United States that require my personal attention.
It looks like we'll have to talk another time."
Ling Tian also felt a sense of regret. They had been separated for ten years, and there was so much they wanted to share.
But his rationality told him that they were no longer children, and they both carried many burdens.
"You go ahead and attend to your business, Sister Hong. There will be plenty of time in the future.
Besides, we've exchanged contact information. If you miss me, we can video call."
"Aren't you afraid your fiancée will get jealous!"
"Cough, cough..." Ling Tian almost choked on Qiu Hong's words.
This woman was truly a siren!