Lingmeng Mountain in Chaoge City was a forbidden place for those with extraordinary abilities.
It, along with Kunlun and the West Sea, were known as the world's three great forbidden zones!
Even ordinary people in Great Xia had heard countless legends about Lingmeng Mountain.
Legends spoke of ten-meter-tall Bigfoot creatures, winged tigers, and talking crows... Since Great Xia designated Lingmeng Mountain as a wildlife reserve and set up military guards around it, these legends only grew more terrifying.
Take Chaoge, for example, a super metropolis where all urban legends were somehow connected to Lingmeng Mountain.
Not long ago, there were rumors circulating in Chaoge City about monsters that specifically targeted women in the pleasure quarters at night, draining their blood.
Qin Yexuan rubbed his forehead, "Old man, what exactly are you up to? Have the demons and monsters of Lingmeng Mountain broken through the seals and emerged from the deep mountains and old forests to wreak havoc on the urban areas?"
"Boy, you are indeed the successor I chose. You're sharp. Hmm, how much do you know about the urban legends of Chaoge?"
Besides the cliché of blood-sucking monsters, Qin Yexuan could rattle off a dozen cases off the top of his head.
The legend of the 977 bus.
The zombie legend of the Line 7 subway.
The human flesh bun shop on Tianyang Street?
Or the secret triangular area in Xihemen.
Or perhaps the case of the Lin family mansion massacre by mountain ghosts...
The old man's voice was peculiar, "So many? Hurry and open your phone, I need to access the internet and take a look."
This old man's soul consciousness was parasitic within Qin Yexuan, able to enter his phone's network at any time through a strange sensation, browsing through its almost infinite data.
"Boy, one thing I need to clarify: I cannot directly help you deal with those demons and monsters. I can only help you gather information on them. And this time, the monsters of Lingmeng Mountain are probably not what you think. With societal changes and technological advancements, they are also evolving."
Qin Yexuan sneered, "What's in it for me?"
"Once this thousand-year pact is resolved, I will teach you the method of soul manipulation. While I can't bring back Su Qing's soul, Su Xueqing and Shen Bingmei can still be restored."
Qin Yexuan was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Alright, anyway, I have nothing to do after leaving the Su family manor."
"Then let's focus on the most important thing now: finding a place for me to reconstruct your physical body. After losing my Golden Core, part of my power has been activated, but your body has reached a point of rebirth again."
Qin Yexuan raised his hand and looked at his palm, which already showed signs of wrinkling.
With a casual swipe, a layer of skin peeled off.
Without his Golden Core, his body could not withstand the "old man's" power.
"It's fine, I've gone through this kind of rebirth countless times. But the same rule applies: don't change my appearance. I don't want to see my old friends and have them not recognize me!"
After saying that, he picked up the herbal tea and drank it down in one go. Qin Yexuan finally arrived at the lively banquet.
The Lord of the Imperial Capital was flushed with drink, while Su Bingyan and Jun Mengyao occupied the two chief seats, with everyone else toasting them.
"Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin... Brother Qin!" The Emperor was too overjoyed and began to stammer, "You, you've arrived at just the right time. We are discussing what position Bingyan will take next."
As he spoke, he personally poured wine for Su Bingyan and said proudly, "I have just adopted Bingyan as my goddaughter. Mr. Qin, you won't blame me, will you?"
Hmm?
Qin Yexuan smiled slightly, "Bingyan can decide what she wants to do. As long as she's willing, I'll be very happy."
Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.
Jun Mengyao, however, got up to take her leave.
Her role was to operate in the shadows, handling sensitive missions that Great Xia couldn't openly acknowledge; in essence, she was the black glove!
The Emperor and others personally escorted her out. Upon returning, they surrounded Bingyan again, treating her like the center of attention.
"There are many options for Bingyan's next position, but I feel they are all too low," the Lord of the Imperial Capital said, having drunk a bowl of hangover soup, making his speech more coherent.
Qin Yexuan said indifferently, "Doesn't the Supervisory Heaven Institute need a director?"
The Lord of the Imperial Capital rubbed his forehead, "Indeed, how did I not think of that? Since Bingyan has recognized me as her godfather, she is half the master of the Imperial Capital. I can rest assured entrusting the Supervisory Heaven Institute, which monitors heaven and earth, to her."
The dignitaries of the Imperial Capital gasped.
Places like the Elder Council and the Heavenly Pavilion didn't truly intimidate them; they were all equals.
But the Supervisory Heaven Institute! That was a place specifically for investigating powerful families and officials.
It could be said that with Su Bingyan in this position, all the powerful families would lose sleep.
Now, their gazes towards Bingyan were filled with apprehension.
Everyone wanted to object, but Su Bingyan's contributions this time were too great. How could they possibly object?
An old man coughed, intending to offer some counsel, when Qin Yexuan's gaze swept over him sharply, "Liao Wuji, what do you want to say?"
The foremost dignitary of the Imperial Capital shivered and immediately bowed to Su Bingyan, "Director Su, we will definitely cooperate with your work from now on. There is nothing to discuss."
Su Bingyan smiled faintly.
Qin Yexuan then snorted, "Who else is not convinced?"
No one spoke; they dared not even breathe loudly.
The Emperor smiled, "I heard you intend to retire, sir? Alas, you have shown me great kindness. No matter where you are, you will always be the person I am most grateful to."
Qin Yexuan looked out the window. The mountains and rivers of Wanliu Mountain Villa were the vast landscape of Great Xia.
The magnificent land, so resplendent.
He coldly stood up, "Everything I have done is because I liked it, and it made me happy. It was not because you are the Lord of the Imperial Capital, nor do you have that much influence!"
With that, he leisurely departed.
The Lord of the Imperial Capital bowed, not daring to look up until Qin Yexuan was out of sight.
Li Tianhang and others stood behind Su Bingyan, silently protecting her, concerned that she might be taken advantage of at such a banquet due to excessive drinking.
In reality, with Bingyan's current cultivation, once her Golden Core was integrated, she would possess top-tier cultivation at the Dao Integration stage. A mere bit of white wine would cause no harm.
After the banquet dispersed, Su Bingyan left anxiously. She first contacted a few of her sisters and then, before her official appointment, returned to the Su family manor.
Mingyue and Ning Shuang returned together, along with Su Yuluo. The sisters were reunited, but Xueqing was missing.
What hurt the most was that they would never see Brother-in-law Qin Yexuan again.
Qin Yexuan's room remained as it was, even his combat knife was left behind, as if he had left with nothing.
"At least, at least wait until after my college entrance exams, right? Why?" Su Yuluo cried uncontrollably.
Bingyan sighed, holding back her tears, "There are no banquets that last forever. We can now stand on our own, can we not? We can't keep dragging Brother-in-law down forever, can we?"
Though she said this, tears were already streaming down her face.
Time could not dilute this longing.
Afterward, the Su sisters became busy with their own lives, but each girl thought of Qin Yexuan, who had disappeared from home.
One day, with the college entrance examinations about to begin, Su Ning Shuang sat alone in the empty house and wrote a letter. Su Dan Novel Network
"Brother-in-law, I am the only one left in the Su family manor..."