Chapter 235: The Guide Uproar

At two in the afternoon, Zhang Yuanqing woke to a shrill ringtone.

I should've left it off, he thought to himself, annoyed.

Having had his sleep rudely interrupted, he grabbed the phone in a huff and was about to reject the call when the caller's name caught his eye. It was Fu Qingyang.

Zhang Yuanqing's whole demeanor flipped. 

"What can I do for you, Centurion?" he asked earnestly, his voice brimming with patience.

Fu Qingyang's voice was rich and cool.

—You haven't written up the dungeon guide?

The higher-ups care a lot about the Mute Village dungeon guide. There's probably some curiosity in it too. This is the dungeon that had Demon Lord, even after reaching the Saint tier, still sighing that he only made it out alive because of sheer luck…

Zhang Yuanqing countered with a question of his own. "What's going on?"

If anyone else had spoken to him like that, Fu Qingyang would have told them coldly that this was no way to address a superior. But Yuanshi Tianzun was another matter entirely.

Fu Qingyang offered a terse explanation.

—The Taiyi Sect is asking Elder Teddy for the guide.

So Elder Teddy came to you to reach out to me again? 

Zhang Yuanqing thought it over for a moment, then said, "Centurion, about the Mute Village guide… I don't know whether I should submit it to the database. Personally, I'd lean toward holding it back and not selling it to the Taiyi Sect."

Fu Qingyang's tone turned serious.

—What do you mean? You need to understand, the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect are both official organizations. There's competition and friction, true, but our stances are the same, and we advance and retreat together. A guide, however precious, cannot be allowed to shake the alliance. And I don't believe one Transcendent-tier dungeon guide is enough to shake up organizational policy.

"I know that," Zhang Yuanqing replied.

Hearing his response, Fu Qingyang understood he had his own reasons.

—Then come over. Tell me in person.

Zhang Yuanqing hung up, yawned, and finished scrolling through the forum. Drowsiness came welling up from within, so he slept for a while.

Daytime sleep helped a Nocturnal Specter recover, and having gained experience, his energy and stamina had increased along with it. Two hours of sleep was all it took to scrub off the exhaustion he'd accumulated in the dungeon.

Awake, Zhang Yuanqing pulled on his running shoes and headed to the living room. There, Grandpa sat by the computer wearing his reading glasses, leisurely playing poker.

Seeing Zhang Yuanqing emerge, the old man picked up the thermos of goji tea at his elbow, unscrewed it, took a casual sip, and looked his grandson over, smiling but saying nothing.

Grandma sat off to the side, watching Grandpa play. At the sound of footsteps she turned to look.

"You're up," she noted, her tone gentle. "Hungry? I saved you some food."

With that she went into the kitchen and brought out the meal she'd kept warm for him.

Zhang Yuanqing wasn't actually hungry, but it was rare for Grandma to save him food, and it touched him.

"Perfect timing. I'm starving. Thanks, Grandma…"

The words were barely out when he watched her set a small tureen of soup in front of him. It was dark but clear, and steeping in it was a squab[1], a few goji berries, a few slices of ginseng…

Zhang Yuanqing looked up, face stiff, and fired three question marks at Grandma.

"You're young, but you've still got to look after your body," Grandma said, pleased as could be. "Oh, and remember to bring that girl home for dinner. I heard from folks in the complex that she came looking for you again yesterday? And she drove a different car from the last time. She must be so rich…"

That said, Grandma patted her grandson on the shoulder and went back to watching Grandpa's card game, thoroughly satisfied.

I was out all night, then came home and went right to sleep, so she figured I was slaving away till dawn? And so she made me special soup for it?

Zhang Yuanqing's expression grew pained, and in his head he mimed reaching out to drag her back. No, that's not it, Grandma, let me explain, you have to hear me out… 

***

Zhang Yuanqing's mind ran off the rails as he sat in the cab. It feels like my lifelong good name was ruined overnight. It’s so awkward. This is all Jiang Yu'er's fault. Of all the lies to tell, she goes and invents a girlfriend for me.

Do I bring Guan Ya home, or ask Auntie Xiao Yuan? Hmm. Auntie Xiao Yuan doesn't look her age, but her whole vibe is mature and her presence is as strong as Mom's. She's not a great one to bring home, or Grandma will think some rich lady's keeping me as a boy toy and grow even more sour about society…

Before long, he reached Fu Family Bay.

He used the two different cards to get him through the gates. When he entered the grand villa, a bunny girl led him to the study.

At the end of the long red carpet, Fu Qingyang stood by the floor-to-ceiling window with a glass of red wine in hand, taking in the greenery in the courtyard. On the reception sofas beside him, Guan Ya, Ling Jun, and Li Dongze had each claimed a seat, sampling the fine wine and enjoying lavish desserts and finger food.

The three of them were there to lap up the gossip. "Let's find a place to have some fun tonight!" they had probably hollered to each other, and to no surprise, they all came roaring over to Fu Family Bay by car.

Of course, Guan Ya and Li Dongze were also keeping a close watch on Yuanshi's mental state. The solo dungeon had surely been dangerous and horrifying. Every year, some Nocturnal Specter came out of one warped in the head.

You lot are wallowing in luxury and indulgence all day, Zhang Yuanqing thought irritably as crossed the plush red carpet toward the group.

He settled in beside Guan Ya as if it were the most natural thing, and caught the scent of the mixed-heritage beauty's expensive perfume.

Fu Qingyang, wine glass in hand, turned around. "What's special about this Mute Village dungeon?"

At once, Guan Ya, Ling Jun, and Li Dongze turned curious gazes his way. They were dying to know what made Mute Village special enough that it nearly tripped up Demon Lord, and even more curious what had convinced Yuanshi that the Mute Village guide should not be sold to the Taiyi Sect.

Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment, then said, "Inside the dungeon, I ran into the same problem Demon Lord did, and nearly died. I'll put it plainly. Mute Village's difficulty is high-tier S-rank. It's on par with Sheling Tunnel."

On par with Sheling Tunnel? The others looked slightly stunned. Sheling Tunnel had been a bugged Spirit Realm, a dungeon that could not be cleared by normal means. It had been an issue for over thirty years, and Yuanshi Tianzun had been the first one to clear it.

Li Dongze shook his head. "That's not right. We don't know whether anyone besides Demon Lord ever cleared Mute Village, but if Demon Lord got through, it can't be like Sheling Tunnel."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Which is why Demon Lord and I both nearly died in there."

Guan Ya cut a slice of cake and set it in front of Zhang Yuanqing. "An A-rank dungeon shouldn't be like that. Quit drawing it out and tell us what happened."

Zhang Yuanqing swept his gaze over the rest of the group.  "If you follow the natural flow of the dungeon without a guide, then it's practically a bugged Spirit Realm. I can state flatly that no Transcendent Walker can clear Mute Village that way, because the dungeon's final boss is a high-level Saint."

A high-level Saint meant Level 5 at least, maybe even Level 6.

Ling Jun abandoned his languid pose. "A high level Saint…" 

Something like shock flickered through Fu Qingyang's eyes.

That boss was at their level. They genuinely couldn't believe a boss like that would show up in a solo Transcendent-tier Spirit Realm dungeon.

"However, with a detailed guide, the Mute Village dungeon is easy," Zhang Yuanqing said as he let the other shoe drop. "It wouldn't be much harder than a B-rank dungeon, though I've never been in a B-rank one myself."

This time, they all understood.  Li Dongze and Guan Ya both started to speak and stopped. 

"So anyone who enters is dead for certain, unless they're a figure like you or Demon Lord who's got a shot at clearing it," Ling Jun said soberly. "That makes a walkthrough especially valuable. You're thinking that a guide this important can't be sold to the Taiyi Sect. Is that it?"

Ling Jun's expression was grave, and it was easy to tell he was a little angry.

After all, when it came down to it, Ling Jun was the crown prince of the Taiyi Sect no matter how you sliced it. He was the Tayi Sect Master's own son, even if this particular sect master had a lot of sons.

If Yuanshi meant to name an outrageous price to fleece the Taiyi Sect while the chance was there, Ling Jun wouldn't be angry in the slightest. He'd grin and help him do the fleecing, since the Taiyi Sect had money to burn. Who else to fleece if not the rich? And of course, a guide to such a dangerous Spirit Realm really was worth a fortune.

But Yuanshi's explanation for his refusal to sell the guide, when the Spirit Realm was one that Nocturnal Specters would walk into and die, was something Ling Jun couldn't accept, and it made him angry.

Fu Qingyang glanced at him, then looked over at Zhang Yuanqing. "I understand. But if that's all it is, there's no harm in selling the guide to the Taiyi Sect. We won't be shortchanged."

To his surprise, Zhang Yuanqing shook his head again. "Centurion, look at these three items first, then decide whether you want to reconsider."

In front of the four furrowed brows, he drew out three items from his inventory, one after another: a female doll made of pitch black yet crystal clear jade, a dusty phoenix bronze mirror, and a silver rouge box.

"Clear the dungeon using the guide, and you're guaranteed all three items," Zhang Yuanqing said.

Fu Qingyang, a touch curious, walked over to the coffee table, set down his wine glass, and took hold of the Yin Jade Doll.

A few seconds later the item's information appeared and Fu Qingyang's expression froze. He looked up, startled, and shot a glance at Zhang Yuanqing, but said nothing. He put the Yin Jade Doll down and picked up the Ghost Mirror.

This time Fu Qingyang's expression instantly grew serious. He set the mirror down quickly and reached for the rouge box with an air of impatience.

A few seconds later, having read the rouge box's info, Fu Qingyang sank into a long silence.

Through all of it, Guan Ya, Ling Jun, and Li Dongze bore witness to the full, colorful parade of expressions that made their way across the notoriously cold and aloof young master's face.

They stared at the three items on the coffee table, curiosity clawing at them.

A long while later, Fu Qingyang pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "This isn't my call. I have to inform the elders. The Songhai Branch may not be able to make the call either. Headquarters has to be informed."

"Um, can I, take a look?" Ling Jun ventured.

Fu Qingyang nodded. "Go ahead."

He, Guan Ya and Li Dongze reached out together, each grabbing an item and reading the information. 

Their eyes went wide, almost in unison. With odd expressions, they swapped the items around, rapidly reading through the descriptions of all three. 

Ling Jun was dumbstruck. "This, this, this… Well, it does seem like the walkthrough really can't be sold to the Taiyi Sect…"

That came from him thinking as a Five Elements Alliance man.

By Yuanshi's account, following the walkthrough would allow anyone to clear Mute Village unscathed, and clearing it always rewarded replicas of the three items. It was low risk and high return.

Mute Village was a Nocturnal Specter-exclusive Spirit Realm, so Five Elements Alliance Walkers couldn't get in. From this point forward, only the Taiyi Sect could obtain these items. What did that mean? A few years out, the Taiyi Sect's storehouse might hold a mass of these replicas. Ten years out, Taiyi Sect Nocturnal Specters might even average one replica per Walker.

And these three items were no ordinary things. A Transcendent-tier Walker wielding them could even go toe-to-toe with a Level 4 Saint.

From the viewpoint of the Five Elements Alliance, selling the dungeon guide was handing a nuclear warhead to your ally while keeping none for yourself.

The Taiyi Sect's low- and mid-tier forces would advance quickly, and down the line, no Five Elements Alliance Transcendent Walker could ever hold his head up in the presence of a Taiyi Sect Nocturnal Specter.

This guide was too special, much more special than any S-rank dungeon guide. In fact, it was beyond being just a dungeon guide. It impacted the contest between these two friendly yet rival organizations.

Ling Jun finally understood why Yuanshi was unwilling to sell the guide to the Taiyi Sect.

Fu Qingyang said nothing. He strode to the desk at the far end of the red carpet, snatched up the landline phone, and dialed Elder Teddy.

The call connected fast, and Elder Teddy's voice came through the receiver, warm and even.

—Has Yuanshi submitted the dungeon guide?

"Elder, on the matter of the guide, you have to come to Fu Family Bay yourself," he said, his voice low. "I cannot make the call."

1. A young pigeon.