First Visit to the Liu Family

This mission is C-class? Not even a ghost would believe that.

Baal let out a flirtatious whistle in his mind: "Ooh, just finished with the young one, and now you're off to protect the old one. What a strange twist of fate."

An Changqing met Chen Guan's gaze, his expression unchanged, and took the initiative to explain: "Chairman Liu has been on edge lately, constantly saying someone wants to harm him."

He paused, then added: "He doesn't trust outside security companies, so he specifically requested top students from Huaqing Academy. His reasoning is that people fresh out of school are clean enough."

Long Ao curled his lip: "If you ask me, it's just a rich man being paranoid. What's the point of a mission like this? Who'd even bother assassinating him, and why doesn't he trust the security firms?"

Hong Yuan also found it boring, tossing her finished fruit pit accurately into the trash can: "I'd rather go to the training grounds and pick a fight with someone."

An Changqing ignored their complaints and focused solely on Chen Guan.

"I think you could use a change of scenery lately."

His tone remained gentle: "Being watched by us all the time isn't doing you any favors."

Chen Guan instantly understood what An Changqing meant.

This was a reasonable excuse to get out—a temporary cover to leave Huaqing.

It seemed An Changqing wasn't just thinking about his physical safety, but his mental well-being too.

This time, he had no reason to refuse. Even if he didn't go, An Changqing and the others would go anyway, and he didn't want them walking blindly into this mess unprepared.

"Alright."

Chen Guan nodded, his answer crisp and clean.

"I'll go with you all."

Long Ao and Hong Yuan both looked at him in surprise.

A knowing smile crossed An Changqing's face, as if he'd expected this answer all along.

"Then I'm in too."

Long Ao immediately declared: "Count me in."

Hong Yuan also stood up, instantly forgetting her own alma mater.

One week in the demon city was enough—Director of Student Affairs, I'm a Huaqing student now!

And with that, it was settled.

As they were about to leave the dorm to formally accept the mission at the student union, An Changqing seemed to remember something and added.

"Oh, right."

He stopped, turned back to look at Chen Guan.

"My father recommended this mission to the academy."

Chen Guan's body tensed slightly.

An Changqing's father, the president of the Superhuman Association.

An Changqing continued: "He said Chairman Liu is an old friend of his, and asked us to put in extra effort while we're there."

Light from the hallway filtered through the crack in the door—bright enough.

Yet Chen Guan felt the air around him grow heavy, as if the sky itself had darkened.

And there was An Changqing's old man involved too?

...

Inside the private car heading to the Liu estate, the silence was almost suffocating.

Long Ao leaned back in the leather seat, staring at the scenery rushing past the window, his face dripping with impatience.

"A C-class mission, protecting some old geezer—I still think it'd be more fun fighting someone back at school."

Hong Yuan, clutching her massive battle axe and taking up two seats, nodded in deep agreement.

"Exactly. Modu is so far away, the round trip alone eats up so much time. I hope the dean doesn't come chasing after us—I don't wanna go back to school."

An Changqing sat next to Chen Guan, holding a terminal in his hand, reviewing supplementary mission materials. He spoke in a warm tone.

"Just think of it as a little getaway. My father specifically recommended this mission, so we should at least go check it out."

As he spoke, his gaze briefly swept over Chen Guan.

Chen Guan sat with his eyes closed, feigning total disinterest in the trip.

Baal's voice echoed in his mind, tinged with schadenfreude.

"A getaway? Looks to me like you're just switching prisons—from the academy dorms to the Liu estate. Congratulations, your cell just got an upgrade."

Chen Guan ignored it.

The private car smoothly entered a heavily fortified zone and finally came to a stop before the gates of a grand estate.

This wasn't a mansion—it was a military fortress.

High walls pulsed with faint runic light, hidden gun emplacements dotted every fifty meters, and even the security guards at the gate carried themselves with the steady composure of trained superhumans.

"Whoa, now that's a setup," Long Ao raised an eyebrow. "Like a damn imperial palace."

A neatly dressed butler in a tailcoat was already waiting at the door, respectfully opening the car door for them.

"Young masters and miss, the trip must have been tiring. The master is waiting for you in his study."

Under the butler's lead, the four crossed a maze of gardens and winding corridors.

The interior of the estate was extravagantly luxurious yet radiated a cold, detached emptiness, like a museum without a soul.

Chen Guan could sense over a dozen pairs of eyes tracking them from the shadows, and several magical formations humming on the verge of activation.

Baal chuckled softly.

"Nicely built cage. Just wondering whether it's meant to keep outsiders out, or insiders in."

The study door swung open.

Sitting behind a massive desk was a haggard middle-aged man with sunken eyes—Liu Tiancheng, chairman of the Liu Corporation.

When he saw them enter, his eyes were filled with suspicion.

"You're the ones Huaqing Academy sent?"

His voice was hoarse, with a paranoid edge, a far cry from the man on the news.

An Changqing stepped forward, politely presenting the student union's mission confirmation letter.

"Chairman Liu, hello. I'm An Changqing. These are my companions: Chen Guan, Long Ao, and Hong Yuan."

Liu Tiancheng didn't take the letter. He just stared at them.

"Student IDs."

An Changqing showed no irritation, smiling as he produced his own student ID.

After all, this man was his father's old friend. As long as the demands weren't excessive, it wasn't a big deal to him.

Long Ao and Hong Yuan frowned slightly but complied anyway.

Chen Guan handed his student ID over as well.

Liu Tiancheng picked up a scanner on his desk and ran it over each ID one by one. Only after confirming everything checked out did his tension ease slightly.

"I don't need you to patrol the grounds," he said, leaning back in his chair, his voice weary.

"All I need is for you to be in the dining room when I eat, and outside my bedroom door when I sleep."

He lifted his head, his murky eyes sweeping across everyone.

"Remember, in this house, trust no one—not my family, not any of the servants."

Long Ao couldn't help but speak up: "Chairman Liu, if it's this dangerous, why not call the police, or contact the Association?"

Liu Tiancheng let out a cold laugh at that: "Police? The Association? You really think they're trustworthy?"

He waved his hand dismissively.

"Butler, take them to the guest rooms. They'll be needed again at dinner."

...

In the dining hall that evening, a long table meant for twenty people was suffocating under the weight of the atmosphere.

Chen Guan and the others were seated at one corner of the table, nominally as invited guests.

Liu Tiancheng sat at the head, with the impeccably made-up yet coldly expressionless Mrs. Liu on his left.

All three of the Liu sons were also present in full attendance.