47: Chapter 47: Even a novice dares to come

"What is this thing?"

Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo leaned in, eyeing the object in Director Zhao Lixin's hand with curiosity. Just as he reached out to touch it, Zhao Lixin sidestepped to avoid him.

"Don't touch it recklessly," Zhao Lixin said in a heavy tone. "These characters were imprinted using internal energy. It's easy for an ordinary person to get hurt by touching them."

"Internal energy?"

Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo and Chief Engineer Wang Heshan stared at each other in disbelief; this sounded like something out of a storyteller's tall tale.

Zhao Lixin didn't have time for a detailed explanation. He spread the handkerchief on the table and pointed to the characters, telling the two chief engineers, "This is a 'visiting card.' The sender is a power called the 'Dongfang Family.'"

"Dongfang Family? Never heard of them. Which department are they from?" Wang Heshan asked.

"They aren't a department." Zhao Lixin shook his head. He felt he needed to give these two a bit of background; after all, they would be dealing with more than just construction crews from now on.

He tapped a few times on an encrypted terminal, pulling up an archive codenamed "Shanhai."

"Outside our national system, there has always been a group of special 'Hidden Family.' They practice martial arts passed down from their ancestors, known as 'Ancient Martial Arts.' Once they develop 'Internal Breath,' their strength becomes terrifyingly great."

Zhao Lixin casually opened several blurry videos.

In the video, there was an old man with a white beard. Without even using a hammer, he struck down with his palm, and a half-meter-thick concrete slab instantly turned to rubble.

There was also a person in black clothes darting through a hail of bullets. Their speed was like a ghost's shadow; the bullets simply couldn't catch them.

Wang Heshan and Wang Jianguo watched with their eyes nearly popping out of their heads. Having spent their lives in construction, they thought they understood their country well, but it turned out everything they had seen before was just the tip of the iceberg.

"Is... is all of this real?" Wang Jianguo stammered.

"It's real," Zhao Lixin nodded. "The Ninth Bureau was established specifically to keep an eye on these people. This Dongfang Family holds the top position among them, with a heritage spanning over a thousand years and a very deep foundation."

"Then what do they want? What's the meaning of sending this handkerchief?" Wang Heshan got straight to the point.

"They most likely mistook the commotion caused by the Chief Consultant for the legendary 'Spiritual Energy Revival,'" Zhao Lixin explained, pointing at the handkerchief. "They sent someone over because they want to find the 'expert' who triggered all this, hoping to learn the 'Great Dao.'"

"Learn the Great Dao?" Wang Jianguo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What era is this? Still into feudal superstitions?"

"To us it's superstition, but to them, it's their lifeblood." Zhao Lixin said with a stern face. "These martial artists have been declining with each generation because natural energy is becoming scarcer. They've been dreaming of a Spiritual Energy Revival to restore their family's glory. Now, they think the opportunity has come."

"This is troublesome." Wang Heshan's brow furrowed into a knot. Being an experienced man of the world, he caught the key point immediately. "These people aren't under regulation and possess martial skills. If they find out the source of the spiritual energy is our Chief Consultant, will they have ulterior motives? For example... taking it by force?"

Zhao Lixin nodded; this was exactly what he feared.

The rules of the Jianghu were those of the jungle—the one with the bigger fist is the one who is heard. The technology in Jiang Ning's hands was like the flesh of Tang Sanzang in their eyes.

"I need to report to the Chief Consultant immediately." Zhao Lixin put away the handkerchief and turned to walk toward the high tower.

His mind was a mess. Things with Chairman Qian Boan weren't even settled yet, and now a group of even more difficult people had emerged. He felt like his role as a liaison was turning into that of a firefighter constantly putting out fires.

At the top of the high tower, Jiang Ning's temporary domain.

She had just finished her cultivation and was leaning over a large blueprint, sketching and calculating how to develop the next stage of the ecosystem for The Oasis.

Hearing footsteps, she didn't even look up.

"Speak."

Zhao Lixin walked up to her. Seeing her unshakeable demeanor, he felt inexplicably more at ease. He handed over the handkerchief and poured out everything about the Ancient Martial families and his concerns.

"...Chief Consultant, I think we shouldn't meet them for now. These people are unpredictable, and we haven't grasped their full background. Direct contact is too risky. We should either ignore them for a while or let me go and deal with them using some Tai Chi diplomacy."

Jiang Ning picked up the handkerchief and glanced at it.

"The handwriting is passable; it has some strength."

After saying that, she casually tossed the handkerchief aside.

She didn't take any of the things Zhao Lixin was worried about to heart.

Ancient Martial families? The name sounded grand enough. Since Earth still had spiritual energy, it was normal for some cultivation heritage to exist.

However, based on Zhao Lixin's description, these people's practice was far too crude.

This so-called 'Internal Breath' sounded like a clumsy method of forcefully squeezing energy from one's own flesh and blood because there wasn't enough spiritual energy. The more they practiced, the more they depleted their bodies; a short life was inevitable.

As for smashing concrete slabs and dodging bullets, in her eyes, they hadn't even touched the threshold of immortal cultivation—the Qi Refinement Stage. At most, they were just 'mortals who could fight a bit better.'

A group of mortals who hadn't even entered the sect were coming to 'seek guidance on the Great Dao' from her, a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Jiang Ning found it quite amusing.

In contrast, she was more interested in these people themselves.

According to Zhao Lixin, these people had practiced martial arts since childhood, so their physiques should be quite sturdy. Since they were so hungry for spiritual energy, wouldn't it be perfect to recruit them as laborers?

She was currently lacking a group of hands who could perform heavy labor and adapt to a spiritual energy environment. Wang Jianguo and the others were loyal, but they were ordinary people after all and couldn't handle many of the delicate tasks involving spiritual power.

These people from the Dongfang Family had arrived just in time.

"I'll see them," Jiang Ning said.

"Ah? Chief Consultant, you..." Zhao Lixin grew anxious.

"Doesn't he want to see the 'Master of this Place'? Let him," Jiang Ning said calmly. "I also want to see what the 'cultivators' of this place are made of."

"But their skills..."

"Skills?" Jiang Ning asked back. "How strong can they be?"

Zhao Lixin thought for a moment and used an analogy: "According to The Ninth Bureau's assessment, a top-tier young expert like Dongfang Shuo has individual combat capabilities roughly equivalent to a special forces soldier wearing exoskeleton armor. They are fast, strong, and can even dodge handgun fire at close range."

"Oh." Jiang Ning nodded, having a clear idea now.

Just an enhanced version of a mortal. No threat.

She said to Zhao Lixin, "Don't worry. Go and make the arrangements. Just say I agree to meet him. I want to see exactly how he intends to 'seek guidance.'"

Zhao Lixin looked at Jiang Ning's calm and unruffled manner. Although he was still uneasy, he could only agree. Once this Chief Consultant decided on something, not even nine oxen could pull her back.

He sighed and turned to go make the arrangements. He only hoped that the kid named Dongfang Shuo would be sensible and not do anything stupid.

Otherwise, there was no telling what kind of mess would break out.

...

Outside the base, on a sand dune.

Dongfang Shuo sat cross-legged, eyes closed as he regulated his breath. He had been waiting here for nearly two hours.

He was incredibly annoyed. As the Young Master of the Dongfang Family, he was pampered wherever he went. This time, he had proactively submitted a visiting card, yet the other party actually made him wait so long. They were putting on far too much of an act.

Just as he was about to lose his temper and prepare to force his way in, a soldier walked over from a distance. The soldier placed a small box down dozens of meters away, then turned and left.

Dongfang Shuo frowned. With a wave of his hand across the air, he used his Internal Breath to pull the box toward him.

Opening it, he saw a slip of paper inside with only two printed words in bold:

"Please enter."

Dongfang Shuo snorted.

"At least you're sensible."

He stood up, patted the dust off his buttocks, straightened his robes, and put on that arrogant air again.

He strode toward the base gates. In his mind, since they had agreed, there would surely be a welcoming party lined up at the entrance, ready to receive a distinguished guest of an Ancient Martial family like him with the highest protocol.