168: Do I have to pick the lock to get home?

Back on Blue Star, when hiring, they even cut off those "old geezers" at 35.

But here you are, setting the cutoff at 25? What the hell?

Xu Shian just hadn't heard them; if he had, he would have surely cried out in protest.

He was setting the bar for management, okay? Is that the same thing?

...The guild was already unusually lively today. After all, a large legion was on a mission, and it was the collective [Bronze Trial] quest.

Many people in the entire guild were waiting for the results.

No one expected big events to happen one after another.

Now, this guild that had always been lax and free-range suddenly saw its leader step up. Not only did he lead the team to defeat the boss, but on this night where over two thousand people passed the Bronze Trial simultaneously, he was starting to seriously recruit management staff... If you're hiring, just hire!

What's with the requirement for young people?

Are us old geezers not worthy?

"Leader, don't be so strict with the age limit... Although I'm 31 this year, I'm a financial big shot from Xuhui Street!"

"Leader, look at me! I might be older, but I'm only 42! I'm the Secretary-General of the Municipal Government Office, bureau-level. I'm skilled in urban and system management, and of course, enterprises and guilds are no problem either..."

"Leader, look at me, I..."

...In an instant, Xu Shian's screen was flooded with messages like these.

However, Xu Shian didn't want to recruit these "old foxes" into his management team for the Time being.

They were far too good at playing mind games.

Xu Shian felt he might not be able to outplay them... Perhaps... he should remove the word "might."

He felt he definitely couldn't outplay them.

Honest college students who would "follow orders to the letter" were much more useful!

Although in this world, rules weren't as effective as raw power.

But since they joined [Time], as long as they didn't commit betrayal, they were considered his own people. He couldn't just physically eliminate them every Time there was a disagreement, could he?

So it was better not to use those who were full of schemes!

What if someone stole their territory and they advised him to be magnanimous or to endure it?

Young people wouldn't have such concerns; they'd probably just charge in together!

...With the message sent out, Xu Shian headed toward the village's teleportation array.

The Village Chief and Jia Hu were arranging for the villagers to teleport away one by one.

Xu Shian swapped his ring, then twisted the newly equipped [ring of deception], and his entire appearance changed!

"Pass... Pass... Pass... Where did you all come from? How did you sneak into our village?"

In a Novice Village, it was impossible for Jia Hu to know everyone.

But he believed he definitely knew all the experts!

But now, look at this. Out of so many "dragons and phoenixes among men" who passed the [Bronze Trial], he didn't recognize nine out of ten!

How could this be?

It was practically a challenge to his control over the village... but he also knew what kind of world he lived in; anything was possible, so he could only sigh helplessly.

Just like that, Xu Shian easily slipped past the two of them.

After a flash of light and shadow, Xu Shian returned to Qixia Town.

The teleportation array was in the North Plaza, not far from the Red Maple Forest where Xu Shian often took photos.

It was just a few kilometers past the city's North Gate.

It was even closer to his new home, [Qinghan Garden]!

[Qinghan Garden] was in the northeast corner of the city, only about four or five li away... Although Xu Shian said he supported guild players choosing the three border cities.

But adults knew they needed to stay close to the heart of their organization.

And with Qixia Town as Xu Shian's chosen base, it would surely be the future hub.

So, many players with ambitions for the future chose this as their first stop.

Of course, many pure players chose Iron Spine Fortress and Feiyun Pass.

Xu Shian hadn't even been waiting at the teleportation array for five minutes before An Xixi, Liu Lili, and the others stepped out.

"Is this Qixia Town? Where is that Red Maple Forest? I want to see it..."

As soon as An Xixi stepped out of the teleportation array, she immediately wanted to see the [Wanxia River] and the [Red Maple Forest]!

"Hey! Let's go home and check it out first. No one has lived in my big courtyard yet! Don't you want to take a good look?"

"True... Let's go to your place and get settled first!"

"What do you mean 'my place'? You put in money when we bought the house... Don't you want it anymore? I'm telling you, after seeing this garden, I feel like I was a pauper back on Blue Star..."

"Right! We definitely have to go home and see the house!"

As Qixia Town experienced a massive influx of people, Xu Shian was standing at the entrance of [Qinghan Garden] with An Xixi and the others.

[Qinghan Garden] was located in the northeast corner of the city, with its main entrance facing Liumo Street.

There was a side gate on the west side facing a north-south alley called 'Qingtang Alley.' At the end of the alley was another bustling street, Fenglin Street.

An Xixi, her mother, and the others invited by Xu Shian—Hu Beiyu, Li Zhiwei, and the rest—were standing at the main gate of [Qinghan Garden], dazed.

"Why aren't we going in? Do you not want to?"

Uh... Xu Shian fell silent.

When I bought the house, did they give me the keys?

It seemed that when he entered the house before, the brokerage had led him in. Later, because he was in a hurry to go to Lin Yue Country, he only finished the paperwork... "So, we can't get in now?"

"We can!"

We definitely can!

Xu Shian couldn't afford to lose face like this, so he quickly summoned Sink.

"What do you need Sink for?"

Xu Shian pointed at the lock on the side gate of [Qinghan Garden], his finger trembling slightly.

"Hurry up and open the door..."

Sink looked at the lock, somewhat speechless.

"I mean, Boss, you're an engineer too... Just throw a [Small Salt Explosion Bomb] at it, and won't the door open?"

"Bullshit! This is my house, my house... This is my damn house! I paid two hundred thousand gold coins for it, and now you want me to blow up the door? Do you think I don't want my house anymore?"

Sink curled his lip.

You can lie to others, but don't lie to yourself!

Others might not know how many gold coins you have, but how could I, Sink, not know?

As an elite individual of the goblin race, I'm constantly watching your wallet... "One gold coin!"

Xu Shian took a deep breath and gave him a gold coin!

Sink pocketed the gold coin!

He walked up!

[Lockpicking]

Fortunately, the lock wasn't complicated; it was just a simple padlock.

After all, Qixia Town was still firmly in the hands of the City Defense Force, and the public security was quite good.

So, there was no need to worry about home security for now... After opening a side door next to the main gate, Xu Shian finally returned to his home!

"I'm not one to look for trouble!"

An Xixi observed the garden while looking at Xu Shian speechlessly.

"But big brother, is it appropriate to have such a large garden and not even hire a gatekeeper? You actually had to pick the lock to get home? What kind of decent person has to pick a lock to get into their own house?"

Liu Lili glared at her daughter.

"Hush. Wasn't Shian in a hurry to go back and get you? If he hadn't gone to the Novice Village to pick you up, this house would have been ready long ago!"

"Right... Sister Lili is right!"

Liu Lili roared internally. Who are you calling Sister Lili? Are you no longer interested in my daughter?

Unable to do anything about the young man, Sister Lili could only shift her focus!

"What are we eating tonight?"

"Uh..."

"Where is the kitchen?"

"Uh..."

Liu Lili looked up at the sky; she might as well not have shifted her focus.

She was about to have a heart attack from frustration.

"Where are we staying tonight?"

The boss fight started at 6:30. Less than half an hour after it ended, everyone had already arrived at Qixia Town.

Now they were just standing in [Qinghan Garden] in a daze.

"In other words, our great guild leader excitedly invited us to his BIG HOUSE as guests, but there's nothing to eat or drink, and he doesn't even know where we're supposed to sleep?"

Xu Shian looked down at the ground... "If you have to put it that way... you're not wrong!"

Liu Lili sighed deeply and waved her hand.

"Where is the furniture market or somewhere similar? Let's go buy some bedding, pots, and pans... Since we're already here, we can't exactly go stay at an inn..."

Xu Shian remained seated and didn't move!

Seeing Xu Shian get shut down and Liu Lili's speechless state!

An Xixi laughed until she was doubled over.

Hu Beiyu was also having a great Time, while only Li Zhiwei, not being very familiar with them, was forcing herself to hold back her laughter...