World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 410: Unfathomable Scheme

At the headquarters of the Special Investigation Unit, Chi Ling entered the meeting room with fatigue written all over her face. The room, which had been noisy moments before, fell silent at her arrival.

The over thirty people in the room rose to their feet. Chi Ling raised a hand to stop them and asked, "Still no contact with the Hidden Earth Sect?"

Mou Yue answered, "The Hidden Earth Sect has suddenly announced that they are sealing their mountain and withdrawing from worldly affairs, Chief. Something unusual probably happened in the Small Nether Realm." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Why haven't they reported the situation to us, then?" a middle-aged man questioned. "This abnormal behavior breaks the agreement we established."

"The Hidden Earth Sect's silence has to be a sign of danger. Without them, we have no way to reach the immortal of the Small Nether Realm," another said.

Chi Ling walked to the end of the table. Above the rising voices, she asked, "Still no trace of Fei Yu and Bu Yu?"

Silence swept the room. Mou Yue whispered, "We searched as best as we could, even with the chaos everywhere limiting our resources, Chief. We still haven't found Daoist Master Wang or the others... It's like they vanished into thin air."

Chi Ling nodded slowly. "From now on, mobilize as many surveillance satellites as you can. Scan the entire country, especially the border regions. What are you waiting for? Go!"

"Yes, Chief!" several people answered in unison and hurried out of the room.

Chi Ling rubbed her temples. She covered her eyes for a moment, her expression showing a flicker of pain.

Before the door had closed, several young women burst in.

"Our satellite network is under cyber attack, Chief! An assault coming from both internal and external servers has half-paralyzed the system. We are doing everything we can to restore it!"

The meeting room went quiet for several seconds. Half the people's expressions then darkened as they connected the cyber attack with the Hidden Earth Sect's closure.

"What on earth is the technical department doing?" someone shouted.

A young technician immediately explained, "External attacks are not the main problem. The core control system of our satellite network has been infected with a large number of viruses!"

"You're still giving excuses?!" another snapped.

"Enough!" Chi Ling commanded, instantly silencing everyone. "Switch to combat mode at once. Activate the backup systems and start a full primal-qi scan across the nation. I want everyone else in the main command hall.

"If our enemies are moving under our radar, they're probably planning something big. Get help from the Special Warfare Unit, Special Affairs Unit, and Cultivation Research Institute immediately. Report the situation to higher authorities as well. Get moving!"

"Yes, ma'am!" the thirty or so members answered in unison. The more impatient had already dashed for the doors and were sprinting down the corridors without regard for their formal attire.

"Mou Yue, Old Xing, both of you stay back," Chi Ling instructed.

Mou Yue stopped, turned, and stepped aside. Meanwhile, Old Xing frowned and reached for a cigar out of habit. Glancing at Chi Ling, who had grown even thinner, he slipped it back into his pocket.

Soon, only the three were left in the meeting room. Mou Yue and Old Xing stepped forward. Chi Ling then removed the badge pinned to her chest and pressed it lightly. A beam of light expanded into a circular barrier that was about two meters wide, enclosing them.

After a brief silence, she asked, "Who do you think the enemy is?"

"It has to be the Special Affairs Unit, but I wouldn't call them enemies," Old Xing replied. "They're idiots blinded by greed."

Mou Yue ground her teeth. "It's that Qin Yishen guy."

"Don't let anger cloud your judgment," Chi Ling calmly reminded. "Anger solves nothing. Remain rational. Mou Yue, I have always had high expectations for you, but since you married and settled down, your performance hasn't met my expectations.

"The situation has deteriorated to this point partly due to my hesitation. An order to investigate me will likely come from above. Based on our usual pace, it'll be issued in two hours."

"What? Why?" Mou Yue asked.

"My mistake was overestimating the Hidden Earth Sect's loyalty. They've now cut off one of our main combatants," Chi Ling said. "From now until the Fourth Immortal Dao Conference, I need you two to do three things.

"First, no matter what happens, even if it affects me or you, you have to endure. Use whatever means necessary to protect your positions in this unit at all costs. Second, Xi Lian and the ancient cultivators—"

Mou Yue frowned. "What does this have to do with her?"

In a deep tone, Old Xing said, "We're short on time. Just listen."

"Second, don't let personal feelings interfere with matters related to Xi Lian and the ancient cultivators. Stay professional and handle the case impartially. Remember every word I am saying.

With a solemn expression, Mou Yue nodded. "Yes, Chief. I'll commit it to memory."

"Third, the Shu Sword Sect has an ancient sword with a very powerful sword spirit. It may serve as a way to keep the ancient cultivators in check, but do not place all your hopes on the Shu Sword Sect. The Hidden Earth Sect's actions should serve as a reminder that every sect will put its own interests first.

"After the Immortal Dao Conference, if I do not return, you two are to leave the investigation unit and transfer to the police system. Take care of your families."

Mou Yue was taken aback. Old Xing's frown deepened.

Bzz...

The light of the badge faded. Mou Yue was about to say something, but Chi Ling's gaze silenced her.

"Go and carry out your orders," Chi Ling said. "Do exactly as I told you. Find out who implanted the virus in our servers."

"Yes, Chief!" Mou Yue and Old Xing replied and strode toward the glass doors.

Chi Ling stood up, pinned the badge back on her chest, and left the meeting room with a calm expression.

People were running up and down the corridor. The Special Investigation Unit had come to rely on its monitoring network in place of manpower. With that network crippled, the organization was like a giant struck blind overnight.

Chi Ling took the private elevator to the top floor and returned to her office. She sat down, turned on the video conference equipment, and waited in silence.

After a moment, a thought crossed her mind. She took out a personal phone—an old-fashioned bar-type model—she rarely used and made a call.

The line quickly connected. Qing Yanzi's voice came through, accompanied by blowing winds.

—Hello? How is it going?

Chi Ling relaxed into her chair. Her tone softened as well. "Nothing serious. I missed you. Where are you now?"

—I'm on my way to visit Little Sheng's parents.

"Have Jingyun go instead. You should go to Mount Pingdu and see if you can negotiate."

—Mount Pingdu? Did something happen to the Hidden Earth Sect?

Chi Ling glanced at the clock. "They sealed their mountain forty-two minutes ago."

Silence followed. Even the wind on Qing Yanzi's end quieted down.

—All right. I'll contact Jingyun and head to Mount Pingdu now.

"If you can't enter Mount Pingdu, check on Fei Yu's younger sister instead," Chi Ling whispered. "Maybe, just maybe... No, never mind. It's probably too late for you to reach her."

—Xiaomiao? What happened to her?

"She..." Chi Ling hesitated, a trace of uncertainty flickering in her eyes. Even quieter, she continued, "She's sharp. I think she'll fit right in the Special Investigation Unit. Talk to her for me when you have a chance. That's all. I'll rest for now."

—Understood. I'll go to Mount Pingdu and then to Xiaomiao. It's on the way anyway.

When the call ended, Chi Ling stared at Qing Yanzi's avatar on her phone for a while. She then set the phone down, closed her eyes, and sighed wearily.

The villa had become like an abyss. No one could change what had already happened.

***

In a small Heavenly Dragon Temple courtyard that the young monks regarded as both sacred and forbidden.

Huai Jing, whose face had not aged for decades, removed his glasses and earphones. He then sat up cross-legged.

"Amitabha. Why is Big Sister not online yet?" he murmured. With a flick of his hand, a purple-gold alms bowl flew from a nearby table into his hand. "Amitabha. May the Buddha bear witness. I am only curious about this lady patron's affairs. I am not trying to spy on her..."

He chuckled. The alms bowl under his feet, which he often used as a flying artifact, began to stir, and a stream of water flowed up from its base. Within a few moments, the vessel was brimming with clear, rippling water.

Huai Jing tapped the surface and sharply exclaimed, "Open!"

The water shimmered like a mirror. Light rippled across its surface until the image inside became clear.

Huai Jing's smile disappeared, and his eyes widened. "What are you running from, Big Sister? Where is that sword energy coming from?"

He tapped his fingers in succession, making the scenes in the alms bowl shift rapidly. Above a lake, Xi Lian was flying with a young girl in her arms. Blood streamed down Xi Lian's back, and half her long hair had turned crimson.

No matter how she flew, two shadowy figures pursued her relentlessly. Dozens of people had formed a great array along the shore as well.

Bewildered, Huai Jing muttered, "Tribulation Realm cultivators? Are those the grand elders of the Daoist sects? Have those old fools gone mad? Of all the people, they had to provoke Fei Yu's fox fiend and little sister?

"Damn it! I finally understand why those ridiculous TV villains keep pushing the hero until they get themselves killed. They're all nuts, and every last one of them thinks they're the main character!"

Still cursing, he grabbed the alms bowl and sprinted to the main palace.

"Master, give me a piece of bone!"