Chapter Seventeen: Preparations on Both Sides

Soon, Gong Kui confirmed Qingxia’s basic information.
“Qingxia, a human ability user from District One, with 33% brain domain development. Her ability is healing. Second ability not developed.”
“Second ability not developed,” Xia Yan wasn’t surprised by this, but something felt subtly off—for instance, the second ability might already be developed but hidden.
“Wait a minute, I’ll look into her personal history, from childhood onwards,” Gong Kui said, investigating swiftly.
Half an hour later, she finally gathered the information.
“Qingxia grew up in District One, lived with her parents as a child, at the age of six…”
Gong Kui recited softly. Qingxia’s profile showed no suspicious points, just the ordinary growth of a human.
“Is it possible to fake this?” Xia Yan frowned.
“Not entirely sure, but investigating would take quite some time,” Gong Kui’s expression shifted, “at least a week, maybe half a month.”
“Verify slowly, I want a thorough investigation,” Xia Yan insisted.
“Alright, I’ll submit a request to the higher-ups,” Gong Kui nodded. “So, Xia Yan, will you be joining them for the time being?”
“We’ll see. When my mission’s done, it’ll be time to return,” Xia Yan didn’t answer directly.
“I actually think, if what Xia Yan says is true, we could draw out the people behind this,” Lan Xin said, unconcerned, her eyes moving thoughtfully.
Gong Kui watched their backs and smiled gently. She already sensed the situation had completely reversed.
Perhaps, from here on out, it would be Xia Yan’s turn to shine.
Westbins was a man in his early thirties, with a decent angelic lineage, and now a solid force among the Guardians. But Westbins’ greatest strength lay in assassination.
“There’s a mission,” Westbins frowned, reviewing the latest assignments. One of them, sent directly from headquarters, was meant only for him, and he was told to keep it secret from others.
“Assassinate a human prodigy, and cooperate with the insider,” Westbins laughed quietly, “A human prodigy, a sixteen-year-old child, and they still need me, and a collaborator? Ridiculous.”
Tasks to eliminate prodigies between the major races were not uncommon, and some Guardians carried out such missions solo. But there was one crucial rule: never reveal one’s identity.
On Earth Federation, the six major races maintained a surface harmony, not yet at open war. Individuals from different races might have personal feuds and could fight to the death without causing much trouble or inciting clan-level retaliation.
But missions like this, with no personal grudges and aimed at executing prodigies, would anger other races. If identity was exposed, judgment would follow. If found guilty, per inter-race agreements and Federation law, execution was mandatory—no one could prevent it.
Westbins was skilled at assassination, having carried out such missions at least five or six times without ever being exposed. But this mission was unusual—the target was just a sixteen-year-old child.
A child of that age—what could they possibly do? The higher-ups were truly overestimating the threat.
Westbins soon contacted Qingxia, asking a few related questions.
Qingxia said she would reach out soon, and asked him to stay ready in District Nine, which Westbins agreed to—orders were orders.
“The target’s name is Xia Yan. Please ensure success,” Qingxia said, her tone cautious.
“What? Just a sixteen-year-old human? I could kill him with my eyes closed,” Westbins said disdainfully. “Miss Qingxia, I’ve eliminated at least ten prodigies from other races. None have ever escaped my grasp.”
“That’s good,” Qingxia nodded. “I also have control over someone named He Changlou, a seasoned Guardian. He’ll join the action.”
“Miss Qingxia, your second ability is a bit special, isn’t it!” Westbins chuckled. “But you really are overcautious. All this for a sixteen-year-old human? Why not let me just kill him outright?”
“Absolutely not. If you act rashly and your identity is exposed, we’ll all be in trouble,” Qingxia’s face darkened.
“Don’t worry. How about this?” Westbins laughed. “When that sixteen-year-old heads out for his mission in the wilderness, I’ll kill him directly.”
“Better stick to my plan. It’s safer,” Qingxia frowned.
“Fine, fine, just hurry it up,” Westbins said dismissively. “All this effort for a little brat—what a waste.”
To him, killing a sixteen-year-old was as easy as slaughtering a chicken. No difficulty, no risk of exposure. Secretly, he blamed Qingxia for being far too cautious.
Two days later.
Xia Yan received Qingxia’s message—a mission to eliminate a level-three mutant. He Changlou and Qingxia were already there.
“Xia Yan, would you like to join?” Qingxia asked with a smile.
“A level-three mutant? You need me for that?” Xia Yan replied calmly.
He Changlou, standing beside Qingxia, looked displeased and said to her, “The two of us are enough for a level-three mutant. Why bring him along?”
Qingxia shot He Changlou a look and he could only force a smile and remain silent.
“We’re teammates, Xia Yan. Naturally, we should work together often—the more we cooperate, the better our synergy,” Qingxia’s tone was flirtatious. “Last time was just an exception. Neither He Changlou nor I hold it against you.”
“I’ll think about it,” Xia Yan hesitated, but his expression was crystal clear.
“What’s there to think about?” Qingxia laughed. “Just give me this favor—last time you refused me, surely you won’t reject this invitation.”
“Fine,” Xia Yan agreed.
“Good, we’ll meet in the wilderness. I’ll send the location to your neural link,” Qingxia said, smiling, her heart full of joy.
Oh, Xia Yan, you’re too naive.
Come out—there’s no escape, you’ll die this time.
Qingxia was certain she could kill Xia Yan on this mission.
A skilled angelic assassin, plus He Changlou—what chance did he have to survive?
Such a pity—a sixteen-year-old prodigy, someone who could be a great figure one day, would be snuffed out by Qingxia herself.
Poor Xia Yan—she couldn’t wait to see his expression of agony and terror.
Baihui City, within the Lan family estate.
Lan Xin closed her eyes, quietly attuning herself to sky and earth, her breath merging with them, her heart surging with something new.
For these two days, she had stayed here.
Suddenly, her eyes flashed, and an object appeared in her hand.
To be precise, it was a sword—a weapon radiating black energy, its form mostly stable but with some energy fluctuations, like boiling oil surging along the blade.
She gripped the sword and swung it lightly, immediately sensing something different. This black energy seemed to subtly affect gravity.
In other words, when she swung the sword, sand and earth nearby could be influenced by slight gravitational changes, causing shifts. In combat, opponents would also be affected, causing their movements to deviate unexpectedly.
This was a weapon-based ability, without a fixed name—she would have to name it herself.
Lan Xin frowned, gazing at the black sword in her hand, thinking for a long time before finally saying, “Well then, you’ll be called Nightshade.”
She had decided that the weapon would henceforth be named Nightshade. She was skilled with swords, and its shape resembled one, so it would be known as the Nightshade Sword.
“There’s someone,” Lan Xin thought, and the Nightshade Sword vanished from her hand.
Clearly, even in the Lan family estate, she remained guarded against anyone. Lan Xin’s inner barriers were exceedingly severe.
“Xia Yan,” Lan Xin saw him and relaxed a little, “What’s the matter? Heading out again?”
“Miss Lan Xin,” Xia Yan smiled back, “I’m about to leave for a mission.”
“Gong Kui wanted you to stay put for a while, didn’t she?” Lan Xin was puzzled. “You’re not going with Qingxia, are you?”
“Yes,” Xia Yan nodded.
He answered that way only to avoid arousing Qingxia’s suspicion. At the same time, he had been suspicious of Qingxia for some time.
He was not one to sit and wait for death—less than half a year remained before his battle with Ai You, the former chief. To hesitate now was just a slow death.
Conspiracy?
He had no fear of their plots.
Strength was what mattered.
Now, with the Judgment Pistol 402 in hand, his power had grown—he might not be inferior to a seasoned Guardian.
“Forget it, I won’t try to persuade you,” Lan Xin showed a rare smile. “Xia Yan, I’m coming too.”
“You’re coming?” Xia Yan frowned. “It could be dangerous.”
“No worries, I’ll follow behind you and only intervene if necessary!” Lan Xin smiled sweetly. “If things get too dangerous, I’ll abandon you and run for it.”
“Alright then, just be careful,” Xia Yan reminded her.