160: The only male heir, the rich woman's paradise

Zhao Ya didn't give Lin Yuan much time to process.

She placed one hand on the desk.

A holographic projection unfolded.

"Here, the Nine Ring Archipelago."

Zhao Ya's finger traced over the scattered islands.

"Located at the junction of the East Sea and international waters, it was originally unclaimed land, later occupied by several factions, becoming a haven for smuggling and fencing stolen goods."

"But recently, things have changed."

As she manipulated the display, some red markers appeared on the sandbox map.

These were icons resembling temple buildings.

"Half a month ago, a belief called the 'Sea God Cult' spread across the islands."

Zhao Ya clicked on a photo.

The photo was blurry, taken covertly at night.

A group of shabbily dressed islanders were kneeling on the rocky beach, prostrating themselves towards the sea.

And in the waves, the huge silhouette of a shadow was vaguely visible.

"They claim the 'Sea God' has awakened and can protect believers from sea beast attacks."

"This was originally just a common tactic to fool the masses."

Zhao Ya's tone shifted, and her finger heavily tapped the desk.

"But our intelligence personnel discovered this on the island."

The screen switched.

It was a broken black kunai.

A cherry blossom was carved on it.

"Ninja tool?"

Lin Yuan leaned in to look, his eyebrows raised.

"The craftsmanship doesn't look like something mass-produced."

"Of course not."

Zhao Ya sneered.

"This is standard equipment for the 'Anbu' of Wa Country."

"Those rats in the gutter are using the 'Sea God Cult' as a front to cause trouble right on our doorstep."

"Establishing outposts in the Nine Ring Archipelago, setting up psionic disruptors, and even..."

She paused, staring at Lin Yuan.

"...secretly collecting genetic samples of high-level sea beasts."

Lin Yuan understood.

This was about to become a biohazard.

"Since the evidence is conclusive, why not just send a Dongfeng Express and wipe the floor clean?"

Lin Yuan spread his hands.

"Isn't our Dragon Shield Bureau known for being in the late stages of 'firepower deficiency phobia'? A small island like this, blowing it up would be perfect for land reclamation."

"If we could blow it up, would we need you?"

Zhao Ya rolled her eyes at him.

"There are over 30,000 civilians on the Nine Ring Archipelago."

"Moreover, it's disputed waters. Once the official government intervenes on a large scale, international public opinion will immediately explode. Those Western media outlets waiting to find fault are just looking for material."

She closed the photo of the kunai.

"We need a small, highly combat-effective, and 'flexible' team."

"To infiltrate and pull out this nail."

"And it needs to be pulled out cleanly, without leaving any evidence."

When she said the word "flexible," Zhao Ya deliberately emphasized it.

The meaning was clear.

The regular army couldn't handle this kind of dirty work.

They needed to find a scoundrel who didn't play by the rules.

Lin Yuan pointed to his nose.

"So, I'm the professional scapegoat?"

"You can understand it that way."

Zhao Ya was very frank.

"But risk and reward coexist."

She took out a golden card from the drawer and twirled it between her fingers.

"Old Zhou specifically applied for this for you."

"A month from now, the Secret Realm named 'Thunder Sea' deep in the East Sea will open."

"There's nothing else inside."

"Only thunder liquid accumulated for countless years."

Hearing the words "thunder liquid," Lin Yuan's uncooperative Adam's apple bobbed.

He muttered to himself, "Goodness... is this the 'guaranteed' reward that old fox talked about?"

"Deal!"

Lin Yuan slapped the table, not even asking if the card was an admission ticket.

"When do we leave? Can we go tonight? I feel full of power right now!"

As long as the money is there, even immortals can be crushed.

Lin Yuan's awareness was terrifyingly high now.

Zhao Ya was satisfied with this reaction.

She put away the card and looked at Lu Changfeng, who was leaning by the window drinking.

"Old Drunkard, I've taken over the person."

"You can scram."

Lu Changfeng chuckled, hanging his wine gourd on his waist.

"Alright, Captain Zhao has spoken, I'll scram now."

He walked in front of Su Wanqing.

He rummaged in hisHuai for a long time, pulling out a cyan jade pendant.

"Girl, take this."

Lu Changfeng slipped the jade pendant into Su Wanqing's hand, his tone unusually serious.

"It seals a Sword Qi of mine."

"If you encounter trouble you can't solve, crush it."

Su Wanqing held the jade pendant, nodding solemnly.

"Thank you, Senior."

This treatment.

Lin Yuan, who was watching from the side, was envious and couldn't help but lean over, extending his hand.

"Uh... Uncle Lu? Grandpa Lu?"

"What's seen is shared."

"I'm also half your Named Disciple, right? I'm not picky, just give me a hundred or so Sword Qi, or if that's really not possible, lend me your broken sword to play with for two days?"

Lu Changfeng looked at him sideways.

He scrutinized him up and down.

"Give it to you?"

He scoffed.

"You're so thick-skinned, what do you need a protective charm for?"

"Besides."

Lu Changfeng patted Lin Yuan's shoulder with such force that he almost knocked Lin Yuan into the ground.

"A scourge lives for a thousand years."

"Anyone in this world can die, but you, kid, even the King of Hell wouldn't dare to take."

After he finished speaking.

Without waiting for Lin Yuan to retort.

The window opened wide.

A cyan Sword Rainbow shot into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.

"Damn it!"

Lin Yuan gave the middle finger to the window.

"Differential treatment! This is blatant workplace discrimination! I'm going to sue you!"

"Alright."

Zhao Ya interrupted his antics.

"I'll take you to meet your teammates."

"After all, these are people you'll be entrusting your back to, so get to know them beforehand."

Lin Yuan immediately dropped his sullen demeanor and trotted after her.

His mind began to sketch out the image of his teammates.

Since they were called the "Sword Immortal" team.

They must be a group of experts, dressed in white, with an ethereal, immortal aura.

Or perhaps burly men with muscles, carrying giant swords.

Either way.

As long as they could take a beating and stand in front to let him safely output (steal kills), it would be fine.

Soon.

The three arrived at a semi-open training ground.

Before they even entered.

They heard bursts of shouts from inside.

"We're here."

Zhao Ya stopped at the door, swiped her card, and opened it.

Lin Yuan straightened his back, striking what he considered his coolest pose, ready to make a perfect impression on his new teammates.

However.

The next second.

His expression froze on his face.

Inside the training ground.

There were no muscular tough guys.

No white-bearded old Daoists.

Only six women in tight combat suits, with hot figures and beautiful faces...

Some were wielding long whips, some were controlling Flying Swords, and others were doing boxing training against sandbags.

Hearing the door open.

Six pairs of beautiful eyes looked over in unison.

"Captain!"

The six women stood at attention simultaneously, their voices clear and pleasant.

Zhao Ya nodded, then pointed to Lin Yuan and Su Wanqing behind her.

"Newcomers."

"Su Wanqing, C-rank Ice-type."

"Lin Yuan, pseudo B-rank Lightning-type."

She finished her brief introduction, then turned to Lin Yuan, a playful look on her face.

"As you can see."

"The Sword Immortal team is all female."

"You are the first male to be specially approved to join the team since its formation."

Lin Yuan felt the six gazes become even more intense.

In those gazes.

There was curiosity, scrutiny, disdain, and even a hint of... excitement at seeing a rare animal.

"Uh..."

Lin Yuan swallowed, shrinking behind Su Wanqing.

This script wasn't right!

What happened to the passionate shonen manga?

How did it suddenly turn into a harem anime?

And judging by this situation, this wasn't a harem, this was clearly a den of tigresses!

"What's wrong?"

Zhao Ya raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't you claim that as long as the money was right, you'd take any job?"

"Is working among women a hardship for you?"

"No, no, no!"

Lin Yuan shook his head like a rattle-drum.

"No hardship! How can this be called hardship! This is the organization's trust!"

He forced a smile and waved at the six women.

"Hi... hello, sisters."

"My name is Lin Yuan, and I don't have any special skills, I just... am especially good at enduring hardship."

"Pfft."

The red-haired woman with the long whip couldn't help but laugh out loud.

She flicked the whip in her hand, her red tight-fitting suit outlining her alluring curves.

"Good at enduring hardship?"

"Little brother, I'm afraid you can't handle the hardships of us sisters."

She licked her lips, her eyes like she was looking at a little white rabbit.

Lin Yuan only felt a tightening in his lower back.

This was a succubus!

"Alright, Honglian, cut it out."

Zhao Ya reprimanded her.

Honglian immediately reined in her flirtatious demeanor and stood properly.

"Today is just for introductions."

Zhao Ya looked at Lin Yuan's body, which was almost falling apart from bandages, and then at Su Wanqing's pale face.

"Going on a mission in this state is suicide."

She turned and pointed to a passage behind the training ground.

"Lin Yuan."

"Here!"

Lin Yuan stood at attention.

"Go to the Penglai Spiritual Pool."

Zhao Ya threw him a badge.

"That's the place with the highest Spiritual Qi concentration in the entire Penglai Branch, and also the most expensive recovery center."

"I've approved you for one night's access."

"Tomorrow morning at six."

Zhao Ya raised her wrist to look at her watch, her tone becoming stern.

"I want to see a 'Thunder God' in full condition."

"If you're still this half-dead state by then..."

She didn't state the consequences.

But Lin Yuan clearly saw the woman named Honglian making a "scissors hand" gesture towards his lower body.

"Mission accomplished!"

Lin Yuan snatched the badge and turned to run.

This place was too terrifying!

The Yin Qi was too heavy!

He had to find a place with abundant Yang Qi to replenish himself!