As dusk settled over the city, the skies dimmed and the aerial highways filled with ships darting back and forth, their lights streaking across the skyline like shooting stars.
Han Ling sat in the front passenger seat, hands clasped on his knees, his gaze fixed on the black civilian airship ahead that was slowly descending. The moment he received Leander's update that Chen Qiyue had made a move, Han Ling immediately rushed to regroup and follow.
"No assistant. No agent," Leander noted as he glanced at the live surveillance feed on his optical screen. "He went alone to a high-end beauty salon. Looks like a last-minute appointment… or he deliberately tried to keep it quiet."
Han Ling let out a cold chuckle. "Chen Qiyue, suddenly keeping a low profile? That's not like him."
Especially not someone who managed to gain fame off the back of Ling Zhao's death—such people rarely knew what the word "low-key" meant.
After leaving the salon, Chen Qiyue changed clothes and disguised himself thoroughly: mask, sunglasses, a low-brimmed cap—he was nothing more than a shadow of a figure. The series of actions were far too suspicious, especially considering where he was headed next.
"This restaurant… private booths?" Han Ling lifted an eyebrow.
"Confirmed. He booked a VIP suite—no surveillance, no external audio links, and even skips identity verification," Leander replied briskly.
As Chen Qiyue's ship landed, Han Ling and Leander kept a low profile, touching down in a side alley to avoid being spotted. Before entering the restaurant, Han Ling flicked his fingers, releasing a faint spiritual glow from his palm—a paper figurine crafted from golden talisman paper. Enchanted with high-grade auditory sigils, it would transmit surrounding sounds as mental waves once it neared a targeted spiritual aura.
The paper figurine silently slipped into Chen Qiyue's collar, vanishing unnoticed.
Moments later, the duo settled into a neighboring private suite, connecting the light screen to the figurine's feed.
Laughter echoed through the device, filled with excitement. Han Ling quickly recognized the voices—three young women.
"It's really Chen Qiyue!!"
"Aaaah! I can't believe I'm actually meeting him!!"
"He's so nice! I never thought we'd win the lottery draw to have dinner with you!"
"Oh my god… My mom didn't believe I'd meet you in person—I have to record this for her!"
"Chen Qiyue!! You're soooo handsome!!"
The girls' voices were vibrant with admiration and joy. Clearly, they were lucky fans chosen through some event lottery. These kinds of idol meetups weren't uncommon, but the secrecy behind this one raised eyebrows.
After a few minutes of listening, Han Ling lost interest. While casually chewing on a light meal, he turned to Leander. "How's your training going?"
Leander shrugged. "Just started. Every time I draw spiritual energy into my body, it feels like my meridians are going to burst. Hurts like hell." He pouted theatrically.
Han Ling ignored the drama. "Thunder spiritual roots are hard to harmonize, but since I've guided you onto the path of sword cultivation, this is the best attribute you could ask for." Setting his chopsticks down, he turned with a serious look. "Do you know why thunder is suited for sword cultivators?"
"…Tribulations?"
"Exactly. The higher a sword cultivator's level, the more powerful the heavenly tribulations they must endure. Lightning is a force of judgment, and also a whetstone for the blade. If your body can withstand beginner-level lightning summons, you'll have hope of advancing to Spirit Condensation, then Voidbreaker—and maybe beyond." His voice lowered, darkening. "And if we truly end up facing opponents beyond the Void stage… if you don't have a sword to wield, you'll only drag us down."
Leander's expression shifted instantly. He nodded solemnly.
"We'll visit the antique market or a private auction soon,see if we can find a sword that suits you."
Han Ling thought briefly of Xiao Yun, the sentient spirit sword he had encountered on his first day in this world. He had planned to bring it along on this mission, but the little thing had defected—choosing instead to stick with Butler Liu. He had no idea what the sword wanted with the butler, and had no time to figure it out before meeting Leander.
Suddenly, the paper figurine transmitted new sounds.
"Full already? Let's continue this somewhere more private. I've cleared my schedule," came Chen Qiyue's smooth voice.
"Really? You're willing to hang out with us longer?"
"Of course." He chuckled, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The light screen dimmed.
Han Ling's expression turned grim. "He's taking them onto his ship."
Leander stood up at once. "Then we follow."
Back in their ship, they activated the invisibility array. Han Ling personally applied the concealment talisman on the hull, severing their aura. The ship blended seamlessly into the night.
They tailed Chen Qiyue's ship across city borders, over major transport lines, until he veered into a desolate hilly region.
Leander frowned. "Isn't this… the old wilderness hunting grounds?"
"Abandoned long ago. Only a few ruined hunter cabins left."
Chen Qiyue landed beside one such structure. Han Ling directed Leander to hover a few hundred meters above, staying out of range.
As the hatch opened, Chen Qiyue stepped out—alone, except for the metallic cart he pushed. Lying on it was an unconscious girl.
"…What the hell?" Leander's eyes widened.
"He knocked her out." Han Ling's voice was icy, and tinged with murderous intent.
With practiced ease, Chen Qiyue pulled a key from his pocket, opened the worn cabin door, and wheeled the cart inside. Five minutes later, he returned—this time with a second girl.
Then a third.
Three girls. Three trips.
After completing the task, Chen Qiyue returned the cart to his ship and stood at the hatch, pulling out his optical screen and calling someone.
Han Ling was about to extend his spiritual hearing when he sensed something peculiar at the edge of the field—a faint barrier, like a sound-dampening veil.
"…A barrier."
Just then, the cabin door creaked open from the inside.
A figure emerged quietly.
Han Ling's body went taut, eyes locked onto the person—
—Ling Ning.
His mind went blank.
The cabin door creaked again as a familiar figure stepped out, wrapped in an oversized cream-colored coat, long hair draping her shoulders. As she walked, she instinctively brushed a hand over her belly—
"Ling Ning…?" Han Ling murmured.
But the next second, his heart plummeted.
His gaze froze on her abdomen—flat and unremarkable.
He spun toward Leander, eyes wide. "Didn't you have people monitoring her around the clock? Why is she here?"
Leander's expression was already grim. He grabbed his optical screen and called the surveillance team leader.
The voice on the other end sounded puzzled. "We've been watching her all day. She never left her house—just had a short video call with someone who looked familiar. Nothing else unusual."
"You're sure she didn't step outside?"
"One hundred percent," the voice confirmed.
Han Ling's eyes narrowed.
—It's not her.
A chill ran up his spine. "Her stomach's flat. If it were really Ling Ning, she'd be at least six or seven months pregnant by now. No way a concealment talisman can fully hide that aura."
Leander caught on. "So… someone's impersonating her?"
"More than just a disguise." Han Ling's voice turned glacial. "She's using advanced cloaking techniques—her aura is built on Ling Ning's own. If I hadn't studied the real one's meridians and pregnancy signs, I might've been fooled too…"
He paused. His expression grew darker. "To mask aura and appearance to this extent… she has to be a cultivator beyond the Void stage."
Leander's pupils constricted.
Above the Void stage… was an echelon that surpassed the balance between modern tech and cultivation—a level classified as 'unconventional combat force.' Such individuals rarely appeared publicly. Most were under government surveillance, each with their own codename and file number.
"How the hell is Chen Qiyue connected to someone like that?" Han Ling growled.
"He's just an actor, an idol…"
"Unless he was introduced. Otherwise, people like that don't just appear."
"This isn't just about the entertainment circle anymore. Maybe someone connected them—those who dabble in ghost raising or dark arts," Leander suggested.
They both stared toward the barrier, where the fake Ling Ning waited. Soon, a black airship arrived from the east and parked before her.
She boarded without hesitation. Moments later, it disappeared into the night sky.
Chen Qiyue had already left a few minutes earlier.
The barren land fell quiet again—except for the old cabin door, still shut.
They waited in silence for nearly half an hour. No one came out.
"…Those girls are still inside."
Han Ling's brow tightened. He cautiously extended his spiritual sense toward the cabin, avoiding the edge of the barrier. The aura inside was chaotic—no trace of living vitality, only scattered remnants of spiritual fragments.
"They're… likely beyond saving," he whispered, voice cold and flat.
"What now?" Leander asked.
"We need to contact Hang Zhongxuan—see if anyone else went missing around the same time as Ling Zhao." But before he finished the sentence—
The three girls reappeared at the cabin door.
Pale-faced, their bodies twisted unnaturally. Their eyes were hollow, mouths slightly agape. They staggered a few steps—
—and then, with a flash of spirit light, shot into the sky, heading back toward the city.
"W-What the hell?!" Leander gasped. "They were dead… how did they just…?!"
"There's a concealed teleportation array beneath the door. Damn it—they've turned them into living corpses."
"These things only last a few days before dying again. Chen Qiyue and the others… they're trying to erase evidence!!" Han Ling's realization hit like a thunderbolt. Ling Zhao wasn't the only victim.
"This is serious. We need to report to the Special Division. And we need to find out if others have died… the same day Ling Zhao did."
Han Ling ordered Leander to set course for the Special Division. Leander entered the coordinates and took Han Ling's icy hands in his, warming them in silence.
They embraced quietly.
Neither of them could imagine what the enemy cultivators were planning.
Han Ling's mind was in turmoil. Not only were they up against cultivators beyond the Void stage—but ones who could control corpse puppets? That wasn't something an average rogue or demonic cultivator could pull off.
He turned sharply to Leander, voice low. "We need to move faster. This isn't just revenge. Ling Zhao's death… may have been just the beginning of a carefully orchestrated hunt."
"It can't be coincidence. Ling Ning and Chen Qiyue meeting that high-level cultivator… we missed something," Han Ling said.
Leander silently leaned closer, pressing his nose to Han Ling's hair. He, too, was deep in thought.
Something had definitely slipped past them.