After the exchange groups in the Kyushu land brought them back to their respective rooms, they took a break under the guise of resting, agreeing to start learning and exchanging magical arts the next day.
Ye Bufan smiled. These were just pretexts. As cultivators themselves, Ye Bufan didn't believe they needed a whole day to recover from travel. They were likely planning something in the underground city.
"See you tonight," Ye Bufan said faintly to the ancient house before him, then vanished.
When night fell, the moon hung high in the sky, and the underground city was still bustling with activity. This posed some difficulty for the cultivators from the eight regions.
"Baka!" In one of the rooms, Noda from Sakura Island slammed his fist on his desk, cursing at his companion. "These damned Kyushu cultivators are watching us so closely. I just stepped out for a moment and used my spiritual power to scout, only to find six hidden sentries."
"What?"
Watanabe, who had come with Noda, turned pale upon hearing Noda's words.
"The ones watching us are from the sect that brought us in," Noda said. "It's pretty much the same for Ozu Alliance, the United Kingdom, and India." Noda, with a grim expression, took out his phone and sent messages to his allies.
"It seems the cultivators of Kyushu have become wary of our arrival," Rupa from India sent a message. There was a common group among the delegations to Kyushu, for convenient communication and information exchange.
"I suggest we all remain calm and observe the situation," Sam from Ozu Alliance also sent a message.
"Shuiski, can you people from Mao Xiong (Russia) do something? Since we've met, your people haven't reacted at all, just chatting about trivial matters with the Kyushu people," Johnsen from the United Kingdom directly @'d Shuiski from Mao Xiong in the group.
However, after waiting for a long time, no response came from Mao Xiong. Three minutes later, something unexpected happened: the Mao Xiong people actually left their group chat.
"Damn it! He wouldn't have revealed our plan, would he?" Sam from Ozu Alliance, seeing the six people from Mao Xiong leave the chat, furiously posted in the group.
"The people from Mao Xiong have always been uninterested in our affairs. Their participation this time is due to the 'Eagle' nation's influence," Johnsen from the United Kingdom said.
"What about the people from the 'Eagle' nation?" the others suddenly realized that the 'Eagle' nation's people hadn't expressed any opinions in the group.
"After discovering they were being monitored, they left the underground city," Sam from Ozu Alliance said in the group after a while.
"When did they leave?" Noda was somewhat surprised by the departure of the 'Eagle' nation's people.
"The people from the 'Eagle' nation have a sense of pride. Upon discovering they were being monitored, they immediately left the underground city and will re-enter for the exchange tomorrow."
A while later, Johnsen also stepped forward, explaining in the group. As soon as he learned of the 'Eagle' nation's departure, Johnsen had immediately contacted them, and they had given him two words: "information."
...
Ye Bufan hid on the roof of the City Lord's mansion, watching the accommodations prepared for the foreign cultivator delegations from afar, drinking a bottle of wine by himself.
"I don't think they'll make a move tonight," Ye Qingcheng appeared behind him silently. Ye Bufan turned to see Chu Mengyao, Ye Qingcheng, and Wang Xinyan standing behind him, each holding a bottle of wine.
"Hmm?" Ye Bufan looked at the three of them.
"Mengyao said it's boring for you to drink alone, so she invited Wang Xinyan and me to have some wine with you," Ye Qingcheng said.
Ye Bufan smiled slightly, waved his right hand, and the dust on the rooftop was instantly swept clean.
The four of them sat on the roof. Chu Mengyao noticed that Ye Qingcheng's eyes lacked the usual radiance they had when they first arrived at the underground city, replaced by a subdued pressure.
Chu Mengyao did this tonight to help Ye Qingcheng relax. As someone who supported the entire Chu family business, Chu Mengyao understood Ye Qingcheng's current pressure.
"Come, let's toast," Chu Mengyao proposed. Ye Qingcheng, Ye Bufan, and Wang Xinyan raised their glasses and drank the wine in one gulp.
"The barriers are about to disappear, and the ambitions of these foreign cultivators are finally being exposed," Ye Qingcheng took a deep breath. "I hope we can still sit here and drink like this then."
"Sister Ye, as the saying goes, enjoy today's wine today. We'll worry about the future later. Isn't the present meant for enjoyment?" Wang Xinyan said to Ye Qingcheng. "Too much restraint actually makes us uncomfortable. Look at Chu Chu and me; we had to take over our family businesses, but we've still found our own ways to live."
Ye Qingcheng turned to look at Wang Xinyan and suddenly laughed. "I've lived for so long, yet I'm not as open-minded as you two. I'm ashamed."
"Ye Bufan, don't get cocky. I believe your pressure is no less than mine," Ye Qingcheng "hmphed." "A lot of people are watching you now, either seeing you as a thorn in their side or trying to get close to you and understand you. I believe you must also find this constant attention annoying."
"It doesn't matter," Ye Bufan shrugged. "Since we are born into this world, shouldn't we leave something behind?"
What Ye Bufan said was something Lin Xiaoyao had once told him. Lin Xiaoyao didn't belong to this world, and knowing his time was limited, he put all his effort into leaving something behind.
At this very moment, Ye Bufan was the trace left by Lin Xiaoyao. Without Lin Xiaoyao, Ye Bufan wouldn't be where he is today.
Lin Xiaoyao's view of the world was largely passed on to Ye Bufan. Ye Bufan had been fortunate enough to glimpse the outside world through Lin Xiaoyao's descriptions.
Ye Qingcheng looked at Ye Bufan and asked, "Aren't you panicking?"
"Will panicking solve the problem?" Ye Bufan retorted. "Since it cannot be avoided, it must be dealt with."
Ye Qingcheng nodded. "Makes sense. I hope I can have your composure."
"Wait here for me," Ye Qingcheng said. While she was speaking, Ye Bufan noticed someone emerging from the residence of a foreign cultivator friend and instantly vanished, giving chase.