Chapter 170: Everything Is Under Control (Please Subscribe)
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Lin Xi had descended onto Tianji Star 8 hours ago following the instructions of the Body Management Bureau.
However, in the following 8 hours, her host body remained in a paralyzed state, intermittently injected with a small dose of anesthetic.
Her vision was pitch black, her limbs immobile and it was very likely that someone had sealed her senses with True Qi.
But Lin Xi's spiritual power was exceptionally gifted; even in such a condition, she could still sense the situation outside.
She sensed that there were two people speaking beside her.
"What do we do now? It's already so late, and she's been here for 8 hours. I've temporarily sealed her consciousness, but we can't keep it sealed for too long. She might complain to the Management Bureau."
"Let her complain. We can't do anything about this situation. The original host has already been eaten, and right now, just within this room and its surroundings, there are three demons. The Zhou family is practically a demon den. For now, we can only wait for the right opportunity to place her."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xi felt stunned. She guessed that these two were staff from the Body Management Bureau, responsible for settling her host body.
But what did they mean by the original host being eaten? The woman she was supposed to replace had been eaten by a demon?
Lin Xi felt a chill rise in her heart, her hair standing on end.
"No! What I mean is, leaving her here like this, isn't that a crime? She will definitely be eaten, with no chance of survival. This girl must have offended someone in the company; who knows who shoved her here, it's too cruel, most likely sending her to her death on purpose."
"This is none of our concern. Our only responsibility is to send people down to replace identities, and we've also issued a risk warning. Maybe someone else in the company needs this identity, thinking the risks here aren't a big deal."
Lin Xi's spirits sank slightly.
She had indeed seen the risk warning from the Body Management Bureau.
For a Midshipman-level Martial Cultivator like herself, the environmental risk level around Wang City Prefecture was S-, but the risk index for her host identity was (unknown).
Generally, 'unknown' indicates that the Body Management Bureau, for some reason, cannot accurately investigate.
The Body Management Bureau usually would not list such unclear risk identities in their database unless they are of particularly high value.
Lin Rui had even highlighted this identity for her, leaving a special message that the risk was very low, but the benefits were extremely high.
So, what exactly was going on with the Zhou family?
If there are three demons inside and outside this room, then what is the situation with the entire Zhou family?
At that moment, Lin Xi received a message from Lin Rui.
Gu Ying Tiandao (Lin Rui): Sister, have you woken up?
Gu Ying Tiandao (Lin Rui): I've had a rough understanding of your situation. It seems there was a minor issue when you descended. The girl you were supposed to replace has been eaten by a demon. The people from the Body Management Bureau, to prevent you from seeing their shapes and faces, which could lead to identity exposure, have given you a few shots of anesthetic. They said the dosage is very small and won't affect your consciousness, so don't panic, it's not a big deal.
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Lin Xi, moved to the point of wanting to cry, saw her brother's message.
Lin Rui had finally thought of her.
She had been anesthetized and was unable to effectively control the quantum communication chip; she hadn't been able to send a message to her brother.
Gu Ying Tiandao (Lin Rui): "After you wake up, you may find that the situation at the Zhou family might be a bit off, but don't worry, the risk there is actually very low. Rest assured and stay put after you see my message, everything will be fine."
After reading this, Lin Xi was somewhat baffled. Did Lin Rui really understand the Zhou family?
And what did he mean by not a big deal? The girl she was supposed to replace had already been eaten!
At this moment, she heard someone sigh, "The situation in Wang City is getting more and more chaotic. Incidents like the one at the Zhou family would have been suppressed by the government within three days of occurrence, but now the authorities are turning a blind eye."
"Huh! You think too much. The situation inside the Zhou family is not simple. Do you think the Prefectural Governor doesn't know? He simply does not want to get involved! As for the situation in Wang City, there is nothing that can be done. The Capital's Office has yet to recover, and the county soldiers have been stationed along the riverbank outside the city. Inside the city, only the Prefectural Governor and the Assistant Prefect along with a group of constables are maintaining order. It's already quite an achievement that they can maintain the current situation, but things should gradually improve."
"That new Capital Commandant of Wang City is a formidable character. He had just taken office and suppressed the Prefectural Governor without resistance, and even wiped out Yuan Ji and the eunuch supervisor from the Jinggang Merchants Division. Now he is recruiting and buying horses in the city, and his power is growing. There will definitely be moves soon. Remember, didn't he eliminate an over-king fifth level Ice Claw Demon a few days ago? He also brought back the remains of several fifth level monsters and made the prefectural government award him in spite of their reluctance."
Lin Xi briefly paused in thought.
The serum brought back by Wang Sen was said to also come from an over-king fifth-level monster? Just like the Ice Claw Demon, primarily ice-type with additional water and wind attributes. Was this a coincidence?
"What a pity for Yuan Ji! I heard his real identity was an extraterrestrial walker? That Capital's Office's lackey has killed another one of our kind and seized Yuan Ji's amassed fortune."
"Hmm? The fourth-level monster has temporarily left, so let's hurry and take her into the bridal chamber before the demon returns—quick!"
A fourth-level monster?
Lin Xi's heart tightened. Did these two really intend to throw her into a den of monsters?
Not long after, Lin Xi finally regained control over her body.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying in an ancient and elegant, quietly arranged lady's chamber.
Underneath Lin Xi was an extremely delicate step-up bed, draped with silks as soft as clouds and water, the outer candles marked by teardrop stains, with warm yellow light casting spots of gold on the intricately carved rosewood furniture inside the room.
She blinked, and with a 'whoosh,' she leaped from the bed, grabbed a sword hanging in front of the step-up bed, and rifled through a jewelry box beside her before stepping out like a shooting star.
Lin Xi had just heard those two people say that there was a fourth-level monster in her chamber, which might return very soon.
And Lin Xi's keen perception clearly felt the room was indeed filled with Demonic Qi.
As she stepped out of the chamber and came to the staircase of the three-story building, she saw two heads pop up below.
They were two maids, both around sixteen years old, their faces whitened with powder, both looking surprised: "Miss?"
Lin Xi's mood sank. Not only did she sense a strong Demonic Qi from these two, but she also noticed faint bloodstains on the corners of their lips.
She remembered what the two agents from the Bureau of Anomaly Management had said: there were three monsters in this chamber.
Without hesitation, Lin Xi flipped out the window next to her and leaped outside the building.
Summer's Faint Thought (Lin Xi): Brother, is your anomaly in Wang City? My situation here is very dangerous, I might get eaten by monsters!
Gu Ying Tiandao (Lin Rui): You're awake? So the substitution is complete, huh?
Gu Ying Tiandao (Lin Rui): How could it be that severe? Just stay there, everything is under my control, it's not a big issue.
Lin Xi's face darkened slightly.
If it weren't for Lin Rui having spent tens of millions on her anomaly and now possessing immense martial skills, able to slay her with a single strike, Lin Xi might have suspected that Lin Rui was really possessed by a Yuan Ji star person, deliberately setting her up.
Lin Xi didn't dare to stay there any longer. When she had jumped out of the window, she had quickly assessed the surroundings and unhesitatingly headed north.
To the north was a courtyard wall about ten feet high; if she could climb over it, she would be on main street. Only there would she have a chance to save her life.
At this moment, the two maids pushed open the door from behind and asked, "Miss, where are you going?"
Lin Xi felt the two girls speak in a very stiff and awkward manner, pausing after every word, as if it took a great deal of effort to speak.
Without looking back, she increased her pace even more.
But just as Lin Xi was approaching the courtyard wall, she heard a hoarse and aged male voice: "Yun, Yun Xi, where do you plan to go?"
The identity that Lin Xi replaced for the being from Yuan Ji star was called Zhou Yunxi!
And following that voice, an incredibly powerful and chaotic will locked onto her, crushing down on her, making it difficult for her to even think and temporarily losing control over her body.
What followed was a dry and pale hand landing on her shoulder, "Go, go back!"
Lin Xi turned deathly pale.
The body she was in now, though it was only at the level of having opened its meridians and was a Warrant Officer class, Lin Xi's spiritual power had already reached 600 points.
As the memories sealed within her slowly awakened, the spiritual power hidden deep within her soul was rapidly recovering and growing day by day.
Therefore, this creature, which was using its Primordial Spirit to suppress her thoughts and prevent her from controlling her body, had to be a monster above the fifth realm and might even possess a bloodline surpassing that of a king!
Indeed, the Zhou family was nothing less than a den of demons.
"Go back!" the hoarse and ancient male voice emphasized again, "Listen, listen and obey!"
As he spoke these words, the man lifted the Primordial Spirit suppression, and Lin Xi felt her body relax, returning to normal.
She turned her head and saw an old man in white standing beside her, looking to be in his eighties.
His hair was completely white, his face covered in wrinkles, and his body hunched. Despite appearing frail and aged, the eyes that watched Lin Xi were a fierce crimson, not only brimming with malice but also sharp as blades.
Lin Xi's mood turned cold as ice, bordering on despair.
But this was Yuan Ji star, and even if Lin Xi felt a surge of despair, it wouldn't trigger her Dragon of Despair.
Lin Xi struggled to keep her composure and bowed to the old man in white: "Granddaughter understands, I will return at once."
The Bureau of Anomaly Management had provided her with some basic information; this old man in white should be her grandfather, named Zhou An.
Her scalp tingling, she walked under Zhou An's gaze towards her chamber.
At that moment, the two maids also came over and steadied her from both sides.
Not only did Lin Xi smell the blood on them, but she also saw the strands of flesh in their teeth, causing goosebumps all over her body.
Summer's Faint Thought (Lin Xi): Brother, are you sure you understand the Zhou family's situation? Do you know that the Patriarch of the Zhou family is a fifth realm monster, and might even be of king-tier level? Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire
Gu Ying Tiandao (Lin Rui): Yeah, I know. As I said, just stay calm. Your current situation is actually very safe. I assure you there's nothing to worry about. Spend the next few days calmly practicing martial arts, try to enhance your cultivation as soon as possible. Oh, and when you see the opportunity, try to inquire about family ledgers, deeds, and land titles in the Zhou household, get your hands on those.
Lin Xi felt a tightness in her chest, at a loss for what to say.
Just as Lin Xi was being escorted to her chamber by the two maids,
An aged crone, who also appeared to be in her eighties, suddenly appeared beside Zhou An, the old man in white.
She carried a lantern, her eyes a striking red as she gazed at Lin Xi's retreating figure, her voice also old and raspy: "No! We cannot allow, allow the granddaughter to go out, it's not safe."
"I, I know!"
The old man in white answered stiffly, and then, with a glance, he suddenly flashed onto the top of the wall.
The old man in white saw a group of armored soldiers coming down the distant street, carrying torches. There were about fifty of them, all strong-bodied, wearing helmets and armor, covered by battle robes adorned with fish and dragons.
The leading man rode a robust iron-scaled horse, dressed in the battle robes of a Capital Commandant of the seventh rank in martial virtue.
He rode to the outside of the Zhou family's backyard wall, looked around, and then pointed to an inn next to them.
"Clear out that inn, we are under orders and will need to be stationed here for the next month."
The old man in white frowned slightly upon seeing this.
He recognized the identity of these people; they were from the Imperial City, the Wang City Capital!