Chapter 30: Ni Ximei's Thoughts (Part Three)

Listening to the account from the disciple of the Three Mountains Sect, and hearing about something like a water ghoul in the pool, Shuisheng could not help but think of Mei Yulang. When they first met, hadn't he acted just like a water ghoul, drawing strength from the flesh and blood of the three men who had attacked him to restore his vitality?

Mei Yulang... what did he have to do with this place?

At that moment, an elderly man with a shaved head and a lion-like nose approached from another direction and strode up to Yan Ruobing. "Eldest Miss, you have arrived as well."

"Uncle You." Yan Ruobing and Wen Fengxian greeted him together.

"Greetings, Mr. You." Yan Ning, Yan Tong, and the other guards also bowed to pay their respects.

This man was the powerful retainer of the Yan family, You Fengtian, an 8th-level fire-type ability user.

"Uncle You, have you discovered anything while on the island?" after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yan Ruobing asked.

"I bagged a few birds and a bear; they are all inside," You Fengtian said, gesturing to the two storage rings on his left hand.

Birds and a bear—he must be referring to the Ice Prison Eagles and the Ice Prison Bear, one of which Shuisheng had also fought, he thought.

"Uncle You is truly impressive," Wen Fengxian remarked. "You managed such a haul all by yourself. We have over thirty people here and have only managed to bag one bear."

When dealing with You Fengtian, she was not stingy with her flattery.

"I circled the island, and combining that with what we have already discovered, I believe this place was a prison used to hold specific inmates. That is why it is called Ice Prison Island," You Fengtian explained. "The prison was excavated into the mountain, and it appears the only way in or out is through this waterway. However, the water is too cold and movement is difficult. I have an idea."

"Please, Senior, share your brilliant plan," Zhu Qingtong said, stepping forward.

"You are Zhu Qingtong of the Wind and Fire Sect, aren't you?" You Fengtian looked him over and said, "I still remember that fourteen years ago, you were the most brilliant disciple of the Wind and Fire Sect, and you shone brightly during the Donghua State Youth Ability User Tournament."

Zhu Qingtong looked embarrassed. "You are too kind, Senior. My performance in that tournament was mediocre—truly mediocre."

"I visited your sect six years ago and had a long, wine-filled conversation with your master, Du Changfeng," You Fengtian continued. "You are at 8th-level now?"

"It is a shame," Zhu Qingtong replied. "I have been stuck at the 8th level for many years without a breakthrough."

"I am also at the 8th level, and I am much older than you. If you are ashamed, shouldn't I be looking for a hole to crawl into?" You Fengtian gave him a sidelong glance.

Zhu Qingtong was left speechless, unsure how to respond.

You Fengtian observed the waterway and changed the subject. "Your cultivation and mine should be the highest among all the ability users present. Let's do this: we will join forces, recruit a few earth-type users to manipulate the terrain, and divert the water from the channel into the sea. Once we drain the water from the cavern, it will be much easier to enter and more advantageous for combat!"

"An excellent suggestion, Senior!" Zhu Qingtong realized the brilliance of the plan. With their combined strength and the assistance of earth-type ability users, draining the icy water from this narrow trench should not be difficult.

No sooner said than done, the two immediately summoned several earth-type ability users and set to work. The level of the icy water in the channel was flush with the sea. The earth-type users raised the ground around the entrance of the cavern and lowered the area leading to the sea, creating a slope. They then used their abilities to continuously draw the water from the channel toward the elevated area, allowing it to drain into the sea without flowing back.

Many other ability users, eager for profit, joined in the drainage efforts.

During this time, Ni Ximei found an open space to continue teaching Shuisheng the basics of combat. She seemed to treat him like her own apprentice, putting her heart and soul into it.

It was the first time in his life that Shuisheng had learned from an ability user, and a fairly capable 5th-level one at that, so he was extremely diligent.

Wen Fengxian watched from the sidelines with a cold eye. "This Inspector Ni seems to be a very warm-hearted person. Someone with such a personality—how could she have let her relationship with her husband deteriorate to the point of being abused and seeking a divorce?"

"Good people don't always have good families," Yan Tong remarked with a sigh.

"Eldest Miss, it's mostly due to financial difficulties, isn't it? Could the Yan family help her out by giving her a large sum of money to solve her plight?" Wen Fengxian asked Yan Ruobing.

"No," the Eldest Miss replied.

Wen Fengxian was puzzled. "She is truly in a difficult spot, and the Yan family is not short of that kind of money."

"Fengxian, this is the reason I have never let you manage the security team," Yan Ruobing said. "The most important quality for a manager is to be convincing and to be fair. Yes, Inspector Ni's family is indeed struggling. But among the 67,000 members and employees of the Yan family, are there others in even worse situations? Yes, many. Some are even worse off than she is. Furthermore, she is a mid-level manager with a rank and salary equivalent to a captain. If the family corporation were to solve the personal financial woes of someone at her level, would others not expect the same? If everyone followed her example and complained that the family was being unfair, the regulations and the reward systems we have established would fall into chaos and lose all credibility."

"Then... could I donate some money to her personally?" Wen Fengxian asked.

"No, don't," Yan Ruobing said. "Your status is special; people outside will assume that your actions essentially reflect my intentions. If you donate to Ni Ximei, what about the difficulties of others? If you donate, given how many people need help, how can you ensure you are being fair? If you don't, won't many people curse you for showing favoritism?"

A few sentences left Wen Fengxian with a splitting headache. She had only felt sympathy for Inspector Ni and wanted to make a donation—how did it turn into such a complicated mess? She hadn't even thought about that... It seemed she should just stick to being a bodyguard and stay away from management.

An hour and a half later, following You Fengtian's method, the icy water in the channel was mostly drained, revealing a flat, accessible cavern tunnel.

Everyone gathered at the entrance, eager to rush inside.

"Remember what I told you," Ni Ximei finished her instruction to Shuisheng and whispered a final reminder.

"I understand. I will remember," the youth nodded.

Yan Ruobing and Yan Tong gathered their companions together.

"Everyone, remember: as I said before, caution is paramount," Yan Tong said. "No matter what is inside, we have already achieved our goal for this trip. First, protect the Eldest Miss's safety. Second, protect your own safety. Only thirdly should you seek rewards from the other world. Does everyone understand?"

"Understood!" the guards replied in unison.

Outside the entrance to the cavern.

"No more icy water up to our necks; it'll be much easier to get inside now," one ability user, who hadn't contributed much, rushed to the front and said happily. Blinded by greed, he had completely forgotten the dangers the man from the "Three Mountains Sect" had mentioned.

"Look out!" Zhu Qingtong suddenly roared to warn him.

No sooner had the words left his lips than a ferocious howl echoed through the drained cavern. A massive shadow lunged out and tackled the ability user to the ground. Everyone looked closely and saw it was a giant, dark-blue hound with a hideous appearance and blood-red eyes. After knocking the man down, it snapped its jaws, its sharp fangs tearing directly through the man's throat.

Blood sprayed like water from a ruptured pipe.

"Awoo!" the giant hound tilted its head and let out a long, howling cry.