46: Chapter 46 Hiring Han Pei

Tianyun Tower.

Manager Chai Jie slumped into the soft-cushioned pear-wood chair, his body sinking halfway in. His arms rested limply on the armrests, and he didn't even have the strength to lift them. He exhaled a long breath, his tone filled with a mix of relief and irritation.

"Damn it, finally managed to send those plagues away!"

Manager Chai Jie rubbed his throbbing temples; just thinking about the frustrating events of the past month made his chest feel tight.

The Inspection Department from Tianyun Tower headquarters had suddenly descended without any prior notice, catching him completely off guard.

He had managed the Tianyun Tower in Pingjiang City for so many years and had accumulated quite a bit of illicit income. If not for his status as a member of the Chai Family and the fortunate fact that there was an acquaintance in the Inspection Department who had received favors from the Chai Family in the past, he would likely have been skinned alive this time.

To keep these high-and-mighty inspection officials satisfied, Manager Chai Jie had racked his brains.

Every day he treated them with spirit wine and spirit dishes, brought in the most famous theater troupes in the city, and offered the rarest spirit fruits and Spirit Medicines. Anything he could get his hands on was sent their way. Spirit Stones were spent like flowing water, costing him a fortune.

After over a month of turmoil, he finally coaxed that group into good spirits. Only when he watched their flying ship disappear into the horizon did the heavy weight lift from Manager Chai Jie's heart, at least for now.

Once the room quieted down, the fatigue on Manager Chai Jie's Face faded away, replaced by a trace of sinister coldness.

He straightened his posture and looked sharply at the Chai Servant standing to the side, waiting for orders, his voice dropping to a low murmur:

"Is there still no news from Huang Qi?"

Because he had been busy dealing with the inspection team, he had allowed that Li Qing to live for a few more days. Now that he finally had the time, the first thing he did was ask about Huang Qi's whereabouts.

The Chai Servant bowed his head even lower, his tone respectful yet tinged with unease:

"There is no news at all. Ever since he was ordered to capture that Li Qing, all contact has been completely cut off. I have tried communication talismans and voice transmission jade plaques, but it is like a stone sinking into the ocean."

"What?!"

Manager Chai Jie slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacup on it to jump, splashing tea everywhere.

His Face was filled with incredulous shock, his brows tightly knitted together.

"How is that possible? That Li Qing is merely a Cultivator at Qi Refining Stage 7. Huang Qi is an expert at Qi Refining Level 9, with combat abilities even stronger than mine. How could he possibly fall into his hands?"

Speaking of this, Manager Chai Jie couldn't help but curl his lips in self-deprecation.

He himself was at Qi Refining Peak, but his cultivation had been piled up using resources from the Chai Family. He was not a combat-oriented Cultivator; usually, he only managed trivial matters, took bribes, and threw his weight around. If it came to a real fight, he was definitely no match for Huang Qi.

Such a capable subordinate, going to deal with a Loose Cultivator at Qi Refining Stage 7, had actually gone and never returned. This simply defied logic.

"Could it be that Li Qing wasn't alone? Were there others helping him in the shadows?"

Manager Chai Jie stroked his chin, the more he thought about it, the more wrong it felt.

The fact that Huang Qi, who had been sent out, was completely missing only made him more convinced that this person named Li Qing definitely possessed methods he was unaware of.

Seeing Manager Chai Jie fall silent.

The Chai Servant saw this and cautiously suggested:

"Why don't... we send a few more people to probe him? We can figure out Li Qing's background and resolve this matter once and for all."

Upon hearing this, Manager Chai Jie's expression immediately became hesitant, and his brows furrowed even tighter.

He knew very well that while he, as a manager, seemed prestigious in Pingjiang City, his actual power was limited.

The reason the secret department Cultivators in the branch were willing to listen to his orders and send Huang Qi out was simply to give the Chai Family Face.

They had given him Face the first time, but if he went to order the secret department personnel around a second time, they might not necessarily play along.

If he truly angered the people in the secret department, it would be good enough if they didn't turn around and trip him up, let alone do things for him.

Thinking of this, a fire of anger welled up in Manager Chai Jie's heart, and he couldn't help but curse under his breath:

"Damn it, that woman doesn't even pay me any mind!"

The woman he referred to was the true top combat power of the Tianyun Tower Pingjiang City branch, a female Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

She had a mysterious background, and her cultivation was unfathomable. After entering the branch, she had focused solely on closed-door Cultivation and never bothered with the mundane affairs of the building, yet her status was exceptionally high.

Let alone a small manager like him who came from a Chai Family Disciple background, even the inspectors from headquarters were respectful toward that woman.

It was not just because of her cultivation as a Foundation Establishment Master, but also her mysterious background.

It was fortunate that this female Cultivator did not concern herself with worldly affairs, which allowed Manager Chai Jie to dominate the Pingjiang City branch and abuse his power.

But precisely because of this, he was able to manipulate things within the Tianyun Tower in Pingjiang City and line his own pockets.

As for that woman, unless the Tianyun Tower faced a life-or-death crisis, she would never show herself.

The Chai Servant noticed Manager Chai Jie's dilemma, stepped forward, and said in a firm tone:

"How about I go?"

Manager Chai Jie raised his eyes to look at the Chai Servant, his gaze shifting slightly.

The Chai Servant before him had cultivation firmly at the Qi Refining Peak, only one step away from Qi Refining Perfection, and was significantly stronger than Huang Qi.

With cultivation at the Qi Refining Peak to deal with a Li Qing at Qi Refining Stage 7, in Manager Chai Jie's view, it was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It would definitely be an easy capture, and there would be no accidents whatsoever.

Manager Chai Jie stared at the Chai Servant for a moment, weighed the pros and cons repeatedly, and finally refused.

If he went and something happened, there would be no one left to protect him in the future.

"You cannot go. The matter at Xiuchun Market still requires people from the Houtu Sect to step in."

Looking at the distant Houtu Hall, Manager Chai Jie was lost in thought.

"I heard that Deacon Han Pei is in urgent need of a Spirit Recovery Pill. Go meet him and tell him that if he helps us capture one person, we will give him one Spirit Recovery Pill."

The Spirit Recovery Pill was a Medicinal Pill that gently nourished a damaged Origin and repaired cracks in the Foundation.

During the struggle at the ruins, Deacon Han Pei had damaged his Origin.

Injuries to the Origin were not easy to heal, mainly because the Medicinal Pill to treat the Origin was not only rare but also not cheap.

"Yes!"

Hearing Manager Chai Jie's words, the Chai Servant silently retreated. In his mind, there was only the concept of executing orders.

Taking a flying ship, the Chai Servant arrived at Xiuchun Market.

Xiuchun Market.

The top floor of Houtu Hall.

"Is what you said true?"

Looking at the Chai Servant standing before him, Deacon Han Pei's voice was a bit excited.

Now that his internal and external injuries had all recovered, the injury to his Origin had always been a headache for him.

It wasn't that there were no Medicinal Pills; it was just too expensive, and he couldn't afford it right now.

Unless he sold that foundation establishment pill in his possession.

But this foundation establishment pill was something he had risked his life to snatch from the ruins; he was unwilling to sell it!

He hadn't expected Tianyun Tower to bring him such good news.

As long as his Origin recovered, he would be able to attempt... Foundation Establishment again.

"My master is a direct Disciple of the Chai Family of Tianyun Tower; his word is worth its weight in gold!"

Facing an injured Cultivator at Qi Refining Perfection, the Chai Servant remained very respectful.

Although exchanging a Loose Cultivator at Qi Refining Stage 7 for a Spirit Recovery Pill clearly had some issues.

But for Deacon Han Pei, as long as there was a Spirit Recovery Pill, he didn't care about anything else.

"Good, I accept this job."