CHAPTER 166: AN UNINVITED VISITOR

Ever since the first time Wang Sheng brought Mu Wanxuan home, his parents had stopped treating her as an outsider.

For once, that New Year's Eve, the four had gathered together for a rare and cozy reunion dinner. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed.

Wang Sheng's father had prepared two red envelopes. Mu Wanxuan felt a bit embarrassed to accept them, but Wang Sheng took them for her without hesitation.

As midnight approached, the four gathered in the living room to watch TV. Knowing that Mu Wanxuan loved snacks, Wang Sheng's mother had specially stocked up on a mountain of chips and puffed treats, which made Mu Wanxuan happy beyond compare.

Just minutes before the New Year countdown, Wang Sheng's father asked, "It's almost time. Anyone have a New Year's wish? I'll go first. This year, I want to take good care of my wife and prepare for the arrival of our new family member!"

The household's actual decision-maker looked quite pleased with his statement.

Wang Sheng grinned. "I wish for our whole family to stay safe and well. I also hope my master, senior sister, and junior sister will all make smooth progress in their cultivation."

Wang Sheng's mother laughed and nudged Mu Wanxuan gently. "What about you, Little Xuan? You can't wish the same thing as Little Sheng."

Mu Wanxuan thought for a moment, then typed away on her phone. She sent her New Year wishes into the family group chat that they had just created over dinner.

Mu Wanxuan: I wish my junior brother and his family peace, good health, and success in all things. May his cultivation continue to soar, never facing qi deviation. May Master defeat the corrupt cultivators soon and return to the mountains with Mistress to cultivate in peace. I'll also work hard in my cultivation to protect my junior siblings and become a responsible senior sister!

Wang Sheng nearly spat out his drink. He covered his mouth, shaking with laughter.

His father chuckled. "Little Xuan, you don't need to be this... professional for New Year's blessings."

Mu Wanxuan stuck out her tongue. Seeing Wang Sheng laughing so much, she reached out and poked his side where he was most ticklish. However, Wang Sheng didn't back down. He immediately retaliated with a light tap of his own, making the two break into playful laughter.

His parents exchanged glances, each smiling quietly. Qing Yanzi was right. Letting things unfold naturally was best.

Bzzz!

When the phone on the coffee table started vibrating, Wang Sheng surrendered immediately. "Senior Sister! I give up, I give up! Let me answer this."

Mu Wanxuan hmphed in satisfaction, happily settled back in front of the TV with her snacks, and fixed her gaze on the screen.

Wang Sheng glanced at his phone. It was Mou Yue, his direct contact in the Special Investigation Unit.

"Hello? Calling this late to wish me a happy New Year? How thoughtful."

—I apologize for interrupting your time with family, Daoist Master Wang, but we need your help... Due to the situation being a bit tricky, we're prioritizing contacting cultivators who are informed and can quickly reach the scene.

Wang Sheng frowned. "What happened?"

—That corpse we brought back from the moon... suddenly broke out of the institute.

What? The corpse is on the move again?

Wang Sheng immediately realized how serious the situation was.

There were too many unknowns about that corpse. If nothing else, she was able to summon primal qi from the moon. Who knew what other heaven-shaking abilities she might reveal?

Right now, the righteous and corrupt paths were locked in a tug-of-war, and Golden Core Realm cultivators were starting to appear. If the corpse began flying around unsupervised, it could easily draw the attention of powerful corrupt cultivators, leading to endless trouble.

Even if he wasn't sure what help he could offer, sitting at home and waiting for news wouldn't help anyone. "Alright, just tell me where to go. I'll head out at once."

—There's no need to chase after her.

Mou Yue took a deep breath and lowered her voice.

—Since leaving the research institute, the corpse has been flying in a straight line at an altitude of 2,500 meters. Based on the direction she's heading, she's going to pass right over your area. That's why we decided to inform you.

—Based on our current assessment, her target appears to be an archaeological site about ninety-five kilometers in a straight line from your location. She'll pass over your neighborhood in about twenty-five minutes. We've dispatched a vehicle, and it will arrive at the eastern gate of your community in roughly three minutes. We hope you can assist in bolstering the site's security.

"Understood. I'm heading out now."

Wang Sheng ended the call, then immediately summoned his sword case and the nameless treasured sword into his hands.

"Senior Sister, stay here and keep my parents company. I'm going out for a bit."

"This late? Where to?" his mother asked.

"Are you off to fight corrupt cultivators?" his father questioned.

Concern was etched on their faces.

"No, it's nothing like that. They found some artifacts at an archaeological site and need me to help stand guard. It's a confidential matter. I'm just going as a precaution," Wang Sheng answered with a light smile.

However, Mu Wanxuan was already frowning slightly. She had overheard his conversation with Mou Yue. Although she couldn't understand every word, it was clear the details didn't match what Wang Sheng had just told them.

Seeing her junior brother getting ready to leave, Mu Wanxuan quickly abandoned her snacks and followed him to the door to change her shoes.

"Senior Sister..."

Mu Wanxuan simply looked at him in silence. After two seconds, Wang Sheng was left with no other choice but to nod and agree.

Through voice transmission, he said, "Put on your down jacket and wrap up tightly. If corrupt cultivators are involved in this, do your best not to be recognized."

Mu Wanxuan immediately nodded and smiled faintly. "Mm!"

She dashed like the wind into the bedroom to change clothes. Soon after, she returned dressed the same way she had been when she first arrived: bundled up like a snowman.

Wang Sheng also found time to change into a Daoist robe. After reminding his parents to go to bed early, he and his senior sister put on sunglasses and rushed out the door together.

His father walked over to the balcony, still uneasy, but all he saw was the fleeting blur of two silhouettes vanishing outside. "Those two... why do they seem busier than the police? And what's with the sunglasses at night?"

"They have their own lives. Let's not worry about them," his mother replied gently, then sighed softly. Resting a hand on her baby bump, she murmured, "In the future, you'll have to be just like your big brother—someone others can trust and rely on. You'll find a master, learn the Dao, live forever, and maybe even bring home a fairy-like senior or junior sister."

Wang Sheng's father couldn't help but smile as he turned and stepped back inside.

This couple was among the rare few in the mortal world who had direct contact with cultivators.

After Wang Sheng's last visit home, they had quietly asked Qing Yanzi about cultivation. According to him, the innate essence within one's body would be nearly depleted past thirty years old unless one started from a young age. That made it difficult to achieve any success. Hence, they didn't pursue the path any further.

As long as Wang Sheng could live well, their lives would be full of hope and motivation.

Now that they were expecting a second child and had received considerable care from Qing Yanzi, they no longer had many extravagant desires. Even Wang Sheng's future marriage no longer felt like something to stress over.

If he dared not to marry, they'd just break his legs. It wasn't that big of a deal.

***

By the time Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan arrived at the entrance of the residential area, a police car was already waiting for them. A police officer and an investigator would be accompanying them.

After picking them up, the car headed directly toward the archaeological site with its siren on. The investigator—a slightly overweight young man with glasses—held up a tablet and started briefing Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan on the situation.

At the speed they were going, they were expected to spot the target flying through the sky in twenty-eight minutes. Celestial radiance now surrounded the female corpse, making her very easy to identify. After all, she now looked like a comet soaring through the air.

They would arrive at the archaeological site in an hour, at which point they'd begin protecting the female immortal.

"Are there any Golden Core Realm experts involved yet?" Wang Sheng asked.

"Yes. Three seniors from the righteous sects are already escorting the target, but they're struggling to keep up with her," the investigator quickly replied. "The Special Warfare Unit has already sealed off the site's perimeter. Three of their instructors are also en route and are expected to arrive at the same time as the target. As members of the Special Investigation Unit, our main responsibility is to minimize the impact of this incident as much as possible."

Wang Sheng nodded slowly.

Having left the city, the primal qi in the air was now cleaner. He immediately began regulating his breathing. His senior sister, however, couldn't resist tugging on his sleeve. On her phone screen was a meme of a little girl tilting her head.

Even if I don't understand anything, I'll still follow the experts and spam 666[1].

Wang Sheng smiled faintly. Through voice transmission, he gave his senior sister a brief explanation about the lunar mission of the Hua Republic, the discoveries on the far side of the moon, and how the lunar corpse and six celestial tablets had been brought back one after another. He specifically mentioned that the corpse's chant had summoned the primal qi of heaven and earth back to their blue planet.

Having spent two years traveling down the mountain, Mu Wanxuan had seen her fair share of the world. Even so, she couldn't help but be amazed.

She opened a classic panda-faced image, eyes filled with tears.

You guys were doing all these secret deals behind my back?

Wang Sheng sighed quietly and rubbed his forehead. One of these days, he really had to steal her phone and see just how many memes she had saved.

After regulating his breathing for more than twenty minutes, Wang Sheng reached peak condition. His senior sister had taken the chance to restore her true essence as well.

As the car sped down the highway and passed a wooded area, the investigator in the front passenger seat answered a call. The information that was relayed to him was so shocking that he nearly jumped out of the car.

"The target landed early? Where? Daoist Master Wang's residential area... and entered his house?! I-I... WHAT?!"

Wang Sheng's eyes widened. Surprise enveloped Mu Wanxuan's expression as well.

1. "666" is Chinese internet slang originally derived from gaming streams, where it numerically represents "awesome" or "skilled" because "6" sounds like "liu" 溜, which means smooth or competent. ☜