Litchi [This chapter is sponsored by the fans of the Ying Ling CP from Star Spirit Jade~]

Lizhi didn’t dare to look up at the distinguished guest from the Tianyan Sect.

Damn it, she’d already made it clear to her team leader—she was a purebred wild child born and raised in the Western Ox Continent, utterly clueless about how to handle formal receptions.

Let alone one for a big shot from the Tianyan Sect, the highest authority in the Central Continent.

But her leader wouldn’t take no for an answer—

"If I were a big shot from above, I’d definitely want a pretty woman to greet me."

"In our squad, there aren’t many women, and even fewer who are pretty."

"You’re not drop-dead gorgeous, but you’re somewhat decent-looking, so you’ll do."

"Besides, if a woman screws up, they might just let it slide out of courtesy. They won’t dig too deep."

At first, Lizhi tried her best to remember not to swear, to use elegant language, and to sound at least a little refined.

She even spent days practicing for it.

But!

This big shot from the Tianyan Sect stood her up for five whole days.

Five days!

What kind of nonsense was that?

If someone stood Lizhi up for even fifteen minutes, she’d punch them in the face.

If they made her wait an hour, they’d never get another chance to meet her.

But then again, a guest from the Tianyan Sect was a guest from the Tianyan Sect.

Five days of waiting, and she couldn’t even complain.

Lizhi wasn’t the patient type, but while Chu Xingchen could afford to keep her waiting, she couldn’t afford to leave.

She had no choice but to stay put in her room. The longer she waited, the more her scalp prickled with frustration.

No eating, no drinking, no chatting, no seeing anyone.

For a moment, she felt like she was in solitary confinement.

What kind of reception was this? It was just a fancy prison!

But even if it was prison, Lizhi probably wouldn’t have quit.

The Sky Patrol Division’s benefits were too good to pass up. Not only did they provide a steady monthly supply of spirit stones, but they even handed out elixirs.

In the Western Ox Continent, perks like these were practically unheard of!

Countless people across the Northern Wastelands would kill for a spot in the division.

Plus, being part of the Sky Patrol Division carried serious weight in the Western Ox Continent. No matter which sect—famous or obscure—they all had to show some respect.

After all, the Sky Patrol Division was backed by the legendary Eighteen Immortal Sects!

Lizhi had never actually met a single disciple from the Tianyan Sect, but that didn’t stop her from using their name to boost her confidence.

A free-spirited, untamed woman of the Western Ox Continent, Lizhi had bent under the weight of such incredible benefits.

But opportunity came with risk, and now she was facing her biggest crisis yet.

Damn it, was she really about to get fired from the Sky Patrol Division over one slip of the tongue?

She hadn’t even been home to brag about her job yet. Now it was all over.

Lizhi’s mind raced, scrambling to figure out how to salvage the situation.

But before she could speak, Chu Xingchen sighed softly and said in a slightly exasperated tone:

"Damn it, why’d you stop mid-sentence?"

Lizhi froze. She straightened slightly, her eyes darting to the handsome man before her, then asked tentatively:

"You… are you from the Western Ox Continent too?"

"No, but since I’m here, I might as well follow local customs."

Chu Xingchen could tell Lizhi was nervous and embarrassed. Clearly, the curse had slipped out instinctively.

It wasn’t malicious, so there was no point making a fuss.

Besides, he was new here—it wouldn’t hurt to make a few friends.

Lizhi wasn’t stupid. At least, not by her squad’s standards. Her captain often praised her for being sharp.

So she immediately recognized this as Chu Xingchen throwing her a lifeline.

Damn, people from the Central Continent were smooth. They really knew how to handle social situations!

Lizhi relaxed and straightened fully. "My apologies, sir. I’m Lizhi, your liaison for this assignment."

"Lizhi?" Chu Xingchen sounded puzzled. "Who named you that?"

"My dad did," Lizhi replied with a genuine smile. "He said it was the best fruit he’d ever eaten. The day my mom gave birth to me, he said he was as happy as if he’d eaten a lychee, so he named me Lizhi."

Chu Xingchen gestured for her to sit. "Your father must adore you."

Lizhi didn’t refuse. Maybe because Chu Xingchen seemed easygoing, she sat down without hesitation.

"My dad’s always loved me, and I’ve never let him down."

"Do you like lychees?"

"Never had one. My dad ate them in the Eastern Victory Continent. He said they don’t grow well in the Western Ox Continent."

"Then next time, I’ll treat you to some."

Lizhi chuckled and shook her head. "I’ll get to try them someday. No need to trouble yourself, sir."

Chu Xingchen nodded, then smoothly shifted the topic:

"Any recent rumors about demons in the Western Ox Continent?"

"Demons?" Lizhi hesitated, mentally reviewing her duties before asking cautiously,

"You mean the ones from the great calamity thousands of years ago?"

"Yes. Any whispers lately?"

Lizhi coughed awkwardly. "The most recent rumors about demons date back over a thousand years. These days, even their graves are hard to find."

Chu Xingchen wasn’t disappointed. The Eighteen Immortal Sects were still keeping demon-related intel under wraps to prevent panic before any real threat emerged.

The Sky Patrol Division’s current mission had shifted from its original purpose, so it made sense they wouldn’t know.

Still, Chu Xingchen had come prepared. He’d picked out key locations from ancient records.

"There are a few places I’d like to visit. Are you familiar with them?"

As he spoke, he pulled a sheet of paper from his spatial ring and placed it before Lizhi.

She glanced down, expecting obscure, dangerous sites.

Instead, they were fairly common locations with minimal risk.

Except…

"I know them, but some are now under the Buddhist sects’ control."

Lizhi phrased it carefully.

Much of the Western Ox Continent was Buddhist territory, and she wasn’t naive enough to think Chu Xingchen was here just for sightseeing.

The Tianyan Sect was one of the Eighteen Immortal Sects, but so were the Buddhists.

She added, "If it’s just observation, it shouldn’t be a problem. But it’s best to avoid contact with the locals."

Chu Xingchen replied:

"It’s just a quick look. If I were here to fight, I wouldn’t have come alone."

Lizhi relaxed slightly. That made sense.

"If you’re not in a hurry, sir, I’ll prepare by reviewing records of these locations so I can explain them during our trip."

Chu Xingchen looked surprised. For someone who seemed rough around the edges, Lizhi was unexpectedly thorough.

Maybe she really did have what it took to be a liaison.

Tianyan Sect, Tianyan Peak.

Bai Xuanling’s expression was grave as she read Chu Xingchen’s letter.

After a moment, she tucked it away and turned to Lv Xuan:

"The situation is dire. Prepare for the worst."

Lv Xuan lowered his gaze slightly and gave a faint nod.

The great hall fell into silence once more.

Just as Bai Xuanling rose to his feet, ready to leave the Tianyan Sect and continue pursuing the clues in his possession, Yanyun entered from outside.

She clasped her hands in greeting to the two men before speaking:

"Chen Baiqing has arrived. She says she’s looking for Chu Xingchen."

Bai Xuanling acknowledged the greeting with a slight nod, ignoring the news as he strode out of the hall.

Lv Xuan, however, let out a quiet sigh.

That girl isn’t easy to fool—she’s sharp as a tack.

After all, not everyone is Chu Xingchen, whom Chen Baiqing trusts unconditionally.