Qin Ruqing and Tang Zifeng watched Tang Biao’s execution at the central square of Xiling City.

The people of Xiling carried baskets of rotten eggs as they gathered to watch.

They once idolized Tang Biao, but now they despised him, especially after learning about the various crimes the Tang family had exposed.

The extreme punishment decreed by the Tang family was to use 108 bone-splitting nails to crush Tang Biao’s meridians, and then beat him to death with a rod.

Qin Ruqing averted her eyes as soon as the executioner swung the first blow.

Tang Zifeng glanced at her. “Are you afraid?”

Qin Ruqing just smiled. “I’m not like Tang Biao. I don’t have that kind of sadistic fetish. Watching scenes like this only dirties my eyes.”

She then looked at Tang Zifeng. “How do you feel?”

Tang Zifeng’s gaze was calm, and he didn’t speak. Qin Ruqing elaborated, “Seeing Tang Biao, who caused you so much suffering when he expelled you from the family, receive the punishment he deserves—what do you feel?”

Tang Zifeng replied, “I don’t feel anything.”

He was honest. “I don’t feel relieved or like a weight has been lifted. It’s even a bit complicated. After all, my mother felt guilty about him in the past.”

Seeing him still influenced by his mother’s views, Qin Ruqing clicked her tongue twice, then turned away from the execution ground. “Honestly, your mother wasn’t exactly a qualified mother. Don’t let her cloud your judgment.”

“What?” He didn’t understand.

“Nothing.” Qin Ruqing quickened her pace. “It’s time to go to the Celestial Bureau.”

As the champion of this year’s alchemy competition, Tang Zifeng was personally invited by Grandmaster Minghua to participate in the spaceship construction project.

Naturally, there were matters to discuss.

Meanwhile, Qin Ruqing was off to meet the Director.

Grandmaster Minghua and the other invited foreign judges naturally resided in the Bureau of Celestial, so Tang Zifeng and Qin Ruqing were headed in different directions.

At a fork in the road, Qin Ruqing prepared to go to the Director’s meeting room. Tang Zifeng hesitated and stopped in his tracks.

“You…” Tang Zifeng hesitated.

“Yes?”

“Are you very familiar with the Director of the Fifth Bureau?”

Qin Ruqing blinked, puzzled by his question. “Not really. It’s just a working relationship.”

She pondered for a moment, rubbing her chin in thought. “But it’s indeed different from the business dealings with the Yang family. My relationship with the Director is more like… a fabricated investment relationship?”

Tang Zifeng didn’t quite understand, but he sensed that this relationship was likely part of Qin Ruqing’s “operational plan.” He nodded and didn’t inquire further.

When the Fifth Lingyu saw her approaching, he was delighted.

He even straightened up in his large chair, leaning forward to greet her. “Have you come to your senses?”

“Do you realize how remote Nangling is compared to Xiling, a place full of talented people?”

“Haha, Director, let’s not indulge in regional bias. Besides, I remember you’re not a local of Xiling either. There are rumors in the outside world that you come from a direct line of a Celestial noble family. If that’s true, your hometown should be Penglai Immortal Island in the Central Region.”

Qin Ruqing first courteously bowed, not giving others a chance to catch her off guard, then straightened up and smiled as she asked, “Is Director manages not Xiling, but our Nanling?”

Oh? Daring to challenge him?

The Fifth Lingyu casually tugged at the loose sleeves on his arms and smoothly changed his tune, “Of course, Xiling is hot and dry, while Nanling is the ideal place with beautiful mountains and clear waters.”

Tsk, shameless.

Qin Ruqing sighed and shook her head, “Exactly. Director, you’re now the Director of Xiling, while I am a born and bred person of Nanling.

Regrettably, we didn’t meet when we could have; by the time we did, you were already here in Xiling.

If you were the Director of Nanling, I would have immediately come forward to support you. It’s a pity that I feel uneasy now, having missed your good intentions and expectations.”

Upon hearing these words, Fifth Lingyu felt as if feathers had gently brushed his heart.

He even deliberately glanced at the recorder/scribe standing beside him, silently conveying:

Look at her, she really knows how to speak! No wonder she’s already an Elder at such a young age.

The scribe’s solemn eyes twitched.

He thought to himself, thankfully the Xiling Bureau of Celestial doesn’t have someone like Qin Ruqing, otherwise, with her and the Director together, Xiling would be turned upside down.

Feeling gratified after being comforted by Qin Ruqing, Fifth Lingyu asked with a pleasant expression, “What brings you here?”

“I’m here for the matter of the Small Floating Island.”

The scribe’s gaze shifted towards her, and Fifth Lingyu raised an eyebrow, “Hmm, considering that the Secret Realm is about to open, the Bureau of Celestial has been preparing for this. With your abilities, solving a few quota issues for you and your clan shouldn’t be difficult. Is there a need to ask me?”

“Director, you misunderstand,” Qin Ruqing calmly explained, “The quota issue, hehe, has already been resolved. I’m here today for another matter.”

Fifth Lingyu was curious about what she meant. “How did you resolve it?”

Qin Ruqing rubbed her hands. “Well, it involves the Tang family.”

Fifth Lingyu nodded knowingly, “Ah, I heard Tang Biao has already been executed. Tang Zifeng seems to be your little follower now. It shouldn’t be difficult for you to pull a few quotas from the Tang family.”

Qin Ruqing corrected him firmly, “Friend, he is a sincere friend, a pure and loving friend, not a follower!”

It was a relationship like that of a kind shepherd and an endearing little lamb. Calling him a follower would demean Tang Zifeng.

Fifth Lingyu sneered inexplicably and lifted his chin, “Alright, tell me your purpose.”

Qin Ruqing suddenly became hesitant, seemingly tactful but actually glaringly obvious as she glanced at the scribe, fearing that others might not catch her meaning.

The recorder twitched his mouth corner, having reached this position, voluntarily bowed to the Fifth Lingyu and said, “I recall that the Small Floating Sky opening is imminent. The Celestial Bureau still has much work to do. Let me check if there are any oversights with these people.”

The Fifth Lingyu didn’t even look at him, waving his hand. “Go ahead.”

After he left, the Fifth Lingyu stroked his chin with interest. “Speak.”

“Well, Director, do you remember the matter I asked you about that night?”

After pondering for a while, the Fifth Lingyu asked blankly, “Which matter? Many people come to see me every night, and I can’t keep track. Please be more specific.”

“More specific… Hah, your workload must be quite heavy.”

Qin Ruqing decided to be straightforward. “I came here to ask if the Fire Pool is really what level of seed it is.”

Qin Ruqing asked a string of questions, but Fifth Lingyu suddenly slapped his head in realization. “You’re the one who bombarded me with messages on the communication jade slip in the middle of the night!”

…You’re just remembering now.

Qin Ruqing couldn’t help but sarcastically comment silently.

Fifth Lingyu nodded to himself, “Yes, yes, it was you. I don’t usually answer messages from ordinary people.”

He raised his eyes and suddenly chuckled, “Why do you ask about this? Did you manage to get a high-level Spirit Fire seed?”

Qin Ruqing didn’t blink, “We Qin family are small and insignificant; where would we get a high-level Spirit Fire seed? If Director is willing to reward one to Ruqing, I would gratefully accept it.”

Fifth Lingyu laughed heartily.

He liked the way this girl blatantly told lies with her eyes wide open; it had a certain charm.

“Sure,” he said immediately. “As I’ve told you before, seeds of any level can be refined. The term ‘level’ naturally encompasses them all.” He casually added, “And… that Fire Pool is quite extraordinary.”

Oh? It sounds like a hidden treasure discovered by the Celestial Bureau in the secret realm?

Well, the West Ridge Celestial Bureau oversees Small Floating Island and probably has secretly entered to inspect several times.

Qin Ruqing rubbed her hands eagerly, “So… may I ask Director for guidance?”

Fifth Lingyu lazily reclined again, “Not interested!”

Hey, isn’t that refusal a bit too straightforward!

“How can Director be persuaded, then?” meaning, state your conditions!

Fifth Lingyu glanced at her, and Qin Ruqing instantly understood the look in his eyes—just the same old offer: represent me, West Ridge, at the Hundred Clans Assembly, and I’ll give you whatever good stuff you want.

Tch, don’t underestimate me.

Thinking this will stop me from getting you to talk?

Qin Ruqing thought for a moment and suddenly said, “How about this: I’ll tell Director a secret. If Director finds it satisfactory, then Director can instruct me on the specific location of the Fire Pool.”

Sure enough, Fifth Lingyu’s gaze shifted over, leaning on his elbow, seemingly calm as he said, “Tell me.”

Qin Ruqing smirked, not beating around the bush. “Director, have you noticed the changes in me?”

The Fifth Lingyu’s eyes lit up. “Your secret is this!”

Qin Ruqing affirmed, “Yes!”

Fifth Lingyu didn’t hesitate at all.

He extended his hand, palm up, revealing a scroll with golden edges. “This is a map… However, you must first tell me something. If I’m satisfied, then I’ll give it to you.”

Qin Ruqing wasn’t annoyed at all. “Sure!”

Leaning her hand near her mouth, she spoke in a secretive tone, “Director, have you noticed how my surging aura has been restrained?”

Fifth Lingyu nodded eagerly, “Mm-hmm!”

“That’s because I’ve completely mastered the Innate Perfect Body!”

“This is thanks to Director’s guidance. I didn’t even realize there was an issue before you mentioned it.

Once I understood, it became a huge concern for me, to the point where I couldn’t sleep at night.

So, I dedicated myself to intensive practice, and suddenly, I was able to restrain it. It’s truly miraculous.”

Fifth Lingyu looked skeptical. “Is that so?”

Qin Ruqing affirmed, “Yes, it’s very true, absolutely true, Director!”

Fifth Lingyu fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

After laughing to himself for a while, he threw the scroll to Qin Ruqing. “Well done, I’m quite satisfied with this secret. It’s worth the scroll’s value.”

Qin Ruqing replied, “I thought so.”

Communicating with someone like the Director, whether he believed her or not wasn’t important—his happiness and satisfaction were what mattered most.

In other words, having dealt with many oddities, she had now mastered the art of taming special oddities.

Truly troublesome.

When Qin Ruqing emerged from the Director’s office, Tang Zifeng was already waiting outside.

Seeing Qin Ruqing’s delighted expression, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s making you so happy?”

Qin Ruqing replied, “Of course, it’s because I’ve gained some benefits!”

She waved the scroll in her hand towards Tang Zifeng. “And this scroll is useful for you too… Let me think, hmm, it feels useful for Third Sister too, and oh, for Qirong!”

“I’m practically like a little magical genie!” Qin Ruqing beamed.

Tang Zifeng smiled inexplicably, “So now you can’t tell us because it’s confidential, right?”

Qin Ruqing turned to him, “Ah, you’ve figured it out already. Yes, it’s confidential!”

And so, it remained confidential until the day Small Floating Sky Island opened.