Chapter 288: Each With Their Own Thoughts

The battle saber was forged by a famous master.

The weapon models were so realistic they could be mistaken for the real thing.

And the bulletproof combat vehicle was something only the highest-ranking officials were qualified to ride in!

Qin Tianxuan cut them off, exasperated. “Do these guys from the Battle Department think my daughter is a little boy? Alright, leave the saber. Send the rest back.”

The gift bearer immediately stood at attention and saluted, offering no unnecessary words.

After the Battle Department’s gifts were set down, the presents from the Elders of the Celestial Hall arrived.

‘Those old men definitely don’t understand what young people like.’ They sent the most traditional items, like longevity noodles and golden Ruyi scepters.

Some even just sent a pile of solid gold jewelry.

Qin Tianxuan only accepted a pair of Ruyi scepters and sent the rest back.

Just then, the gift from Emperor Heaven of the Dragon Platform Phoenix Pavilion arrived.

Emperor Heaven’s gift was extremely simple, just a single small box.

Opening the box revealed a special black identification document.

Qin Tianxuan glanced at it and was stunned. “Uncle Huangtian, this gift is too valuable, and it’s against the rules.”

It was an exclusive ID for the Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall.

And written on the ID for Niannian was: Captain Qin Niannian of the Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall!

Niannian wasn’t even an adult yet, and she was being appointed to the position of Captain in the Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall. This was too outrageous.

The one who delivered the gift was his old friend, Geshudao.

Geshudao smiled. “This position was approved by a hand vote of all members of the Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall. It’s completely in line with procedure. Please accept it, Night Emperor!”

With that, he gave Niannian a military salute.

Niannian returned the salute in a practiced manner. Since the uncles and aunts around her were mostly from the Battle Department, she was very familiar with the gesture.

Geshudao was overjoyed. “Niannian, when you grow up, come to our Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall. Uncle’s position will be yours one day!”

After seeing Geshudao off, Qin Tianxuan held the ID, lost in silent contemplation.

‘This gift from Huangtian… is actually a way to bind the interests of the Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall to my own.’

‘Now that Niannian is a Captain of the Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall, if something happens on Uncle Huangtian’s side, she’ll be obligated to step in and handle it according to the rules.’

‘Worse, if the Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall ever faces a crisis, all its members must be prepared to fight to the death!’

‘The power struggles in the Imperial Capital are so complicated. How could I let my daughter wade into those muddy waters?’ Qin Tianxuan crushed the ID in his hand.

Taking Niannian by the hand, he prepared to go back inside.

Outside, a voice announced, “Prince Lanling congratulates Miss Niannian on her happy birthday!”

Huh?

Qin Tianxuan’s brow furrowed.

‘Prince Lanling, an imperial relative from the Imperial Capital… I offended him quite badly back at the Martial Arts Arena.’

‘He sent a gift too?’

Prince Lanling’s gift was very unique, completely different from the others.

It was a pair of small white ponies.

The ponies were perfect for a child to ride, with snow-white coats, gentle temperaments, and a decorative horn on their heads.

They were as beautiful and exquisite as unicorns.

Niannian couldn’t help but run over and stroke the little white horses. “They’re so cute! Wow, I love them!”

“It’s wonderful that Miss Niannian likes them. Our Prince Lanling said that if you like them, he will send a new pair every year!”

Qin Tianxuan had not wanted to accept this gift.

Once he accepted it, he would be entangled with Prince Lanling.

But seeing how much his daughter loved them, he smiled faintly. “Thank the Prince for me. Please relay a message: Tianxuan is extremely grateful for this gift.”

The gift bearer was overjoyed and turned to go report back.

By now, the neighboring couple’s legs had gone numb from standing, but they stared, their eyes wide and unblinking.

The faces of the friends behind them were pale, and they kept reminding them, “We just offended an incredibly important person! We have to go apologize, quickly.”

Only the little birthday boy stared with wide, envious eyes, stamping his feet. “I want one too! I want that!”

The man and his wife’s faces had turned ashen. They awkwardly pulled their son back.

With his spoiled personality, the little boy threw himself on the ground, kicking his feet. “Buy me one! I want a little white horse! I want a little white horse!”

SLAP! The woman smacked her son across the face. “What are you shouting for? Do you think your dad can afford that?”

A pair of pedigreed miniature ponies… anyone with the slightest knowledge knew they would cost at least ten million, and you couldn’t even buy them without the right connections.

The couple’s hearts were pounding. They had no idea how to apologize.

They were completely terrified by the scene that had just unfolded.

Outside, Chen Haobei, the head of the Celestial Brocade Financial Group, appeared, walking quickly.

He seemed to have urgent intelligence, so his expression was grave.

The neighbor, Fatty Zhao, was instantly stunned. He scrambled recklessly over the fence and came jogging over.

“President Chen, President Chen, hello! I just joined the Celestial Brocade Financial Group yesterday. I’m in charge of marketing. My surname is Zhao.”

Chen Haobei frowned and barked, “Halt! Is this a place you can just enter as you please? Believe it or not, a Guard could shoot you dead on the spot!”

Ah!

Fatty Zhao turned in horror and saw the cold, stern Personal Guards appearing around the villa’s perimeter.

He looked down and saw more than a dozen dots of light on his body!

The light from laser sights, all aimed at his vital points.

‘Oh my god!’ Fatty Zhao was so scared he dropped to his knees with a THUD.

“Trespassing here! How many lives do you have to spare?” Chen Haobei slapped him twice across the face. “You’re lucky you called out my name. Otherwise, you’d already be lying here meeting Yama.”

Fatty Zhao trembled all over, almost wetting himself in fear.

Only then did he understand. He stammered, “That… that little girl whose birthday it is… is she a relative of yours, President Chen?”

A relative?

Chen Haobei was speechless. “She is my master’s daughter. She is my, Chen Haobei’s, Young Master! You don’t need to know any more than that!”

THUD. Fatty Zhao collapsed to the ground, paralyzed with fear.

‘What just happened?’

A nearby Personal Guard came over and explained what had happened earlier.

Chen Haobei froze for a moment, his face instantly flushing red with anger. He lifted his foot and viciously kicked the fat man back over the fence.

He looked up at the group on the other side. “Anyone who is an employee of the Celestial Brocade Financial Group, go pack your things tomorrow. You’re all fired!”

The faces of the people on the other side turned deathly white.

“Haobei, today is my daughter’s birthday. It’s a happy occasion. We won’t punish this group of morons.”

After Qin Tianxuan spoke calmly, the group of neighbors nearly jumped for joy, bowing and apologizing one after another.

The little episode passed. Han Biwei took Cang Bingyan and the other girls to sort through the massive list of gifts. Qin Tianxuan led Chen Haobei into the study.

“You came in such a hurry. Has something happened in the Southern Domain?”

Chen Haobei was filled with admiration. “Your foresight is godlike, Sir. The Southern Domain is in crisis. All three defense lines have been broken, and the Ten Thousand Ghosts are less than a hundred meters from Da Xia Territory. The Imperial Capital has issued a battle order. Lord Wutian and the others are holding an emergency meeting at the temporary base. Here is the report!”

Qin Tianxuan snatched the document with a SWISH.

After flipping through it for a few minutes, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back. “Even without a battle order, as a member of the Da Xia Battle Department, I cannot shirk this duty. Go to the base at once. Order Wutian and the others to bring out the prisoners we captured from the Ten Thousand Ghosts. Interrogate them now. Remember, all I want is the location of the Ten Thousand Ghosts’ lair!”

Over the past few days, Qin Tianxuan had repeatedly reviewed the battle reports from the Southern Domain.

He already had an astonishing plan in mind!

A shocking scheme that no one could have predicted, but one that could solve the problem in the fastest way possible!