Volume One, Chapter Ninety-Four: Yunmeng Marsh.

After soothing his subordinates for a while, Luoying climbed the stairs with the grim resolve of one who had already accepted death.

Upstairs, Jiang Chen had already started brewing tea on his own.

It had to be said: the Black Widow’s taste was truly refined. This top-grade Iron Goddess of Mercy tea went down smooth and comforting.

Her high heels clicked against the stairs, each step seeming unusually difficult.

Seeing Jiang Chen so at ease, Luoying went straight to the point. “What do you want?”

Jiang Chen had not expected the girl to be so direct.

He cleared his throat and said, “I want you. Is that all right?”

“Huh?” Luoying froze for a moment, then immediately understood what he meant.

“I... I’m not that kind of person.” She bit her cherry-red lip and avoided his gaze.

Jiang Chen poured himself a cup of tea. “You can be that kind of person.”

Luoying, dressed in a black trench coat, wore an unwilling expression. “I can... but you have to treat my people well. You can’t let them lose their jobs.”

“So kind of you, even worrying about employment rates,” Jiang Chen teased, then got to the point. “I have no interest in you, nor in your business. I came here only to make you listen to me. From now on, I’m the boss here. Aside from that, nothing else needs to change.”

Luoying stared. “You’re serious?”

Jiang Chen pointed at a chair. Luoying sat down, her eyes full of suspicion.

“Of course I’m serious. Nothing changes. You’re still their boss. I’m just your boss.”

She did not believe it could be that simple, but she could not tell where the catch was.

“And then? You don’t need money?” she pressed.

“Money? Why be so formal?” Jiang Chen took a sip of tea. “Like I said, to the outside world you’re still the boss. You handle the money. I don’t need any of that.”

After hearing his explanation, Luoying understood.

This guy wasn’t after money, nor power. Then wasn’t he after her?

But... he’s so strong, I can’t resist him anyway.

“No... I can’t do that with you... unless you’re my husband.” She lowered her head, with no trace left of her former air of command.

Jiang Chen let out a puzzled sound. “Uh... I think you’ve misunderstood. I already said I’m not interested in you. All you need to do is help me handle the underground forces. As for everything else, we can talk.”

As soon as he said that, Luoying’s face, having just been refused to her face, flushed red.

It made me look like I’m the one throwing myself at him...

Luoying grumbled inwardly.

“So you only want to control me and nothing else, acting like some hands-off boss, is that it?”

“Yes. I can’t be bothered.”

Luoying nodded thoughtfully. “Then if someone bullies me, will you step in?”

“Bullies you? Who would dare bully my people?” Jiang Chen took a sip of hot tea.

Luoying said, “Wang Chang. Lately he’s gathered a lot of experts and plans to make a move against us. Aren’t you going to do something?”

At that, Jiang Chen slammed his cup down and stood up. “Let’s go. We’ll visit their headquarters.”

“Huh? You mean it?”

“Do I look like I’m joking? I said we’re going, so hurry up.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll have a car prepared.”

Just as Luoying was about to leave, she turned back and asked, “How many of us are going?”

“Just the two of us. We’ll pick up one more on the way.”

Hearing that there would be a third person, Luoying finally felt a little more confident. If it were only the two of them, she truly would not have had any courage to go. No matter how strong he was, Wang Chang’s side was full of cultivators; they would not be able to handle them.

Soon, the car was ready: a rather exquisite Wuling Hongguang parked by the roadside.

Luoying knocked on the door. “Get in.”

Jiang Chen said in a low voice, “You... don’t have any better cars? Is this really your taste?”

Luoying gave the car a hard thump. “You! This is my taste. If you don’t like it, then don’t get in!”

“Fine, fine, I’m getting in. I really surrender.” Jiang Chen sat in the passenger seat, now seriously wondering whether Li Jingshou had bought up the whole brand of these cars. Why were they everywhere?

...

“The mist rises over Cloud-Dream Marsh; the waves shake Yueyang City.”

At Red Maple Dance Hall, Wang Chang held in his hands a cloud swathed in swirling vapor.

The cloud seemed to exist somewhere between reality and illusion, ringed by tiny stars, dazzling as the Milky Way.

“After I leave, you may use this thing as you wish. Once you have plundered these people’s fortune and blessing, come to Haikou Town. We will be waiting for you there. If you are not there by the appointed time, we will leave immediately.”

The man revealed half his body from the shadows, speaking in a cold, sinister voice.

Wang Chang was overjoyed at once and hurriedly nodded. “All right, rest assured. After I absorb all of this group’s fortune and blessing, I will meet up with you.”

The man in the shadows continued, “Once you succeed, I will have Leader Xiang introduce you to us. After you absorb the fortune and blessing of the people of Qingcheng, I believe your strength will break through to the Formless Realm.”

Beyond the Vajra Realm lay the Formless Realm. Wang Chang had been stuck at this level for a full ten years, unable to break through even a little. By now, even he could wait no longer. This opportunity, he had to seize.

“Remember, the sealed object, Cloud-Dream Marsh, Number Zero Ten, must stay with you at all times. Otherwise, you will be devoured as well, and by then you will become as dead as Qingcheng. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Wang Chang asked, “Will anyone be able to resist Cloud-Dream Marsh’s control?”

That was one of the points he feared most. If someone interfered while he was using Cloud-Dream Marsh, the consequences would be unthinkable.

“In Cloud-Dream Marsh, you are invincible. What if someone is not under its control?” The man’s voice grew impatient.

Originally, this mission had been intended for him, but in order to recruit new members, the organization had handed it over to Wang Chang instead.

So the cautiousness in Wang Chang’s attitude made the man extremely dissatisfied, because if this sealed object had been in his hands, Qingcheng would already have become a dead city.

“All right, figure things out for yourself. I’m leaving now. Half an hour after I go, you may activate Cloud-Dream Marsh.” Having said that, the man sank back into the shadows.

The moment the man was gone, the respectful expression on Wang Chang’s face vanished.

“What rubbish. We’re all more or less the same, and you still dare order me around? Pah.”

He carefully toyed with the sealed object in his hands, his smile impossible to restrain.

“Once I absorb Qingcheng’s fortune and blessing and ascend to the Formless Realm, all of you who looked down on me will have to kneel and beg me!”

Wang Chang set Cloud-Dream Marsh on the table, then dripped two drops of blood onto it. In the next instant, the sealed object known as Cloud-Dream Marsh began continuously exhaling mist, and within just a few seconds it had already enveloped the entire Red Maple Dance Hall.

“Then... let it begin!”