CHAPTER 478: CHAPTER 478 HOW DID YOU KNOW_1

Jing Ke!

This man, who appeared in the state of Qin two thousand years ago, left one trace after another on Earth. Jing Ke was looking for a key to the Nine Kings’ Palace. And this key, presumably, was within the Quasi-Emperor’s Tomb on Earth.

Xu Lai knew Jing Ke was involved with the Moon Clan, but he hadn’t expected this woman, Ji Jie, to state it so directly.

Xu Lai’s face remained calm, his gaze like that of a man looking at the dead.

Ji Jie, however, was still not worried.

She sat back down, seemingly unaware of the murderous intent in Xu Lai’s eyes. Propping her chin on her hand, she smiled with childlike innocence. "Jing Ke wants to return to the Nine Kings’ Palace, and for that, he needs the support of our Ji Family. Our family serves one of the palaces in the Nine Kings’ Palace, but our line, well... is a side branch. We were driven here for various reasons."

"So, you want to betray Jing Ke," Xu Lai said.

"It’s not really a betrayal. The Ji Family’s relationship with Jing Ke is one of mutual exploitation," Ji Jie said with a smile. "There’s a saying in Hua Country: the world runs on profit. There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests."

He had always thought the Moon Clan was full of fools, but it seemed there were rational people among them after all—ones who knew to sue for peace and even betray their allies.

"As for me, I am the eldest daughter of the Moon King, and my younger brother is the current Crown Prince of the Moon Clan." Ji Jie maintained her nonchalant air. "I can tell you where Jing Ke is, but you have to agree to one condition."

"To leave the Moon Clan alone?" Xu Lai asked.

"No, no, no. I’m just an ordinary person; I can’t control the life and death of others." Ji Jie wagged a slender finger, her beautiful eyes shimmering with allure. "What I want is very simple. I want you... to become my man."

BANG!

A soft thud sounded from outside the door, followed by a yelp. Clearly, Liu Nanwei, tense from eavesdropping, had bumped into it.

Xu Lai frowned at Ji Jie. "You?"

"What? You think... I’m not good enough for you?" Ji Jie leaned forward, a fragrant scent wafting from her.

"Mm." Xu Lai nodded, stating bluntly, "You’re very self-aware."

Ji Jie was taken aback, but she didn’t get angry. Instead, her smile grew even wider.

She said enticingly, "Are you sure? Marry me, and you can rightfully become the king of the Moon Clan. The entire Solar System will be yours for the taking."

"Sorry." Xu Lai yawned, bored. "I have a wife and daughter."

"My father has twenty wives. I don’t care how many women you have."

"But my wife does." Xu Lai spread his hands. "If you have no other conditions, I’ll consider this deal canceled."

As he spoke, Xu Lai remained as languid as ever, but Ji Jie’s pupils contracted sharply.

For the first time in years, the upper hand in a negotiation wasn’t hers. She dropped her coquettish and flirtatious act. Because Ji Jie could vaguely sense Xu Lai’s growing impatience.

What might an impatient man do? Especially a powerful cultivator suspected to be in the Divinity Transformation Realm!

Ji Jie slowly sat up straight, her tone serious. "Then I want one promise. Jing Ke is looking for a tomb. You know that, right?"

Xu Lai remained silent, gesturing with his eyes for her to continue.

"Besides the key, there should also be a sword in the tomb. I want that sword!" Ji Jie said. "Of course, there’s no rush to fulfill this promise. For us to enter a Quasi-Emperor’s Tomb at our current cultivation realm... is still something of a pipe dream."

"Agreed," Xu Lai consented.

"Then, here’s to a pleasant cooperation." Ji Jie smiled radiantly as she tidied her hair. "If possible, I’d like to discuss other collaborations with you as well."

"Such as?"

"Matters concerning the moon."

***

Liu Nanwei paced back and forth outside the door, at times pressing her ear to it to eavesdrop, at others looking terribly anxious.

Director Xu’s wedding is imminent! I’m so worried he’s going to do something reckless!

Ten minutes.

Half an hour.

The enchanting woman finally pushed open the door and walked out.

After taking a few steps, Ji Jie suddenly looked back over her shoulder with a smile. "Xu Lai, I’m very much looking forward to our cooperation."

Xu Lai didn’t speak, his head lowered as he read the geography magazine he had just taken out.

After Ji Jie left, Liu Nanwei entered the school infirmary, looking like she wanted to say something but was holding back.

"Don’t worry. I know my limits and won’t cross any fundamental lines," Xu Lai said softly.

"Then I’ll keep it a secret!" Liu Nanwei breathed a sigh of relief. "I won’t tell Ruan Lan."

"Ruan Lan?" Xu Lai raised an eyebrow. "What does this have to do with her?"

"..." Realizing her slip of the tongue, Liu Nanwei immediately pursed her lips and coughed lightly. "It’s nothing, it’s nothing."

Xu Lai rubbed his temples, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Did she ask you to keep an eye on me, her brother-in-law?"

"Well... not ’supervise,’ exactly." The normally straightforward Liu Nanwei was suddenly a bit bashful.

"It doesn’t matter. An upright man doesn’t fear a crooked shadow." Xu Lai was quite relaxed.

He hadn’t been in any ambiguous relationships with other women since meeting Ruan Tang. As for before that... Xu Lai’s mind drifted.

Liu Nanwei promptly pulled a pack of cigarettes from Zhou Feng’s desk and offered one to Xu Lai.

Xu Lai was baffled. "What’s this for?"

"Director Xu, you had such a world-weary look on your face. I thought you might want to light up and reminisce about the old days..." Liu Nanwei said earnestly. "I’ll be a quiet listener!"

Reminisce about the old days? So you can turn around and tell my sister-in-law, who will then embellish the story for Ruan Tang?

Xu Lai shook his head and flipped through the geography magazine, searching for a peak named Mount Haizi on the map of Hua Country. According to Ji Jie, Jing Ke was right there.

However, even Ji Jie wasn’t certain, because Jing Ke hadn’t actively contacted the Moon Clan in fifty years.

Xu Lai frowned. He hadn’t contacted the Moon Clan in fifty years, yet two years ago he appeared in the Eastern Desolate Domain of the Eastern Immortal Domain. He left the character ’Yu’—the surname of Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Guiwan—at the old Sect Gate of the Heavenly Court, then vanished without a trace once more.

What is he trying to do? Why imitate my senior apprentice-sister’s handwriting and deliberately leave her surname at the Heavenly Court’s Sect Gate? Jing Ke can predict the actions of Emperor Realm cultivators... so which power is backing him?

Xu Lai had many questions.

He checked the time. It was only one in the afternoon. If things went smoothly, he could be back before long.

Xu Lai stood up. "I’m leaving this to you. I have to go out for a bit."

"Mm-hmm." Liu Nanwei nodded.

"Heavenly Dao." Xu Lai stepped out of the school campus, his voice calm. "To Mount Haizi."

SWISH.

A little boy in a red bellyband, holding a stick of candied haws, appeared beside Xu Lai. The surrounding students and passersby, however, seemed completely unable to see him.

Heavenly Dao said respectfully, "Supreme Emperor, there are dozens of mountains named Mount Haizi in Hua Country. Which one... are we going to? There are seven more abroad."

"Which one? Do you really not know?" Xu Lai gave Heavenly Dao a deep look.

This guy is hiding a lot. When it comes to Jing Ke, Heavenly Dao has definitely left much unsaid.

"..." Heavenly Dao was silent for a moment before suddenly slapping his forehead. "Ah, is it the Mount Haizi where Jing Ke lives?"

Xu Lai gave him a smile that wasn’t a smile. "I never mentioned Jing Ke. How did you know?"