AZI Volume 2 Chapter 3

"Let's put this way, I want you two to steal the map, then find this mysterious village for me."

"I'm not allowed to refuse, correct?"

"Our contract states otherwise."

"I see."

Prior to joining NPI, Long Hua had signed a detailed contract with Nian Yao Yao.

The process of signing that contract can only be described as unique and unusual, so Nian Yao Yao remembers it quite clearly.

"Jobs that are tied directly to the reason for NPI's existence must not be refused. So, this is one of those jobs, correct?"

"Correct."

"…"

Paying keen attention to their conversation, Zhui Yun narrows her eyes.

"…"

Closing his eyes, Long Hua exhales a deep breath before continuing—

"Though the Heavens may fall, our contract must be fulfilled."

Muttering these words, Long Hua reopens his eyes, and as if those words contained magic, a chill runs down Nian Yao Yao's spine.

(It's this exact feeling that I always get from those words that makes me hesitant to bring up the details of our contract. I wonder if I should ask him about it…?)

Rubbing her arms, Nian Yao Yao tries to rid herself of this ominous chill.

(Hmm. I don't know where I learned that ritual from, but…)

Being in possession of a cultivation base now, Long Hua can say for certain that—the person who had created the contract ritual that he had used with Nian Yao Yao can only be a practitioner, and a powerful one at that.

(Doesn't seem to be shizun. Still, that hardly matters. With this contract in place, I can be certain of her not betraying me outright.)

"You mind if I ask you something?"

Knowing what Nian Yao Yao is about to ask beforehand, Long Hua answers—

"If it's about the contract ritual that we went through, then I'd have to decline—since I don't know the full details of it myself. However, you should keep in mind that it ensures we are both incapable of betraying the other."

"So, it really is magic?"

"Can't say for certain. Still if Sinners and Immortals can exist… What's there to say that magic can't?"

"Then the question becomes—if it's related to a Sinner or… Is it related to an Immortal?"

(Sharp.)

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Long Hua answers—

"There's a line in the contract that states—should both sides be willing, the contract may be voided immediately. Or… You can choose to pay a heavy termination fee."

Understanding the hidden meaning behind these words, which contain a hint of gunpowder, Nian Yao Yao smiles, and answers—

"I'm not foolish enough to just let a good pair of helping hands leave me. Even if that pair of hands is a devil's—depending on the circumstances."

Her feud with her mother, Nian Tao Tao is far from over, so before she can officially claim, and redirect the Long Yue family's development in her desired course, Nian Yao Yao cannot afford to let a reliable ally go.

"So be it then."

"Out of curiosity, what exactly happens if one of us goes against the contract?"

"…I think, we're better off not knowing. Still, if I get a chance, I might set someone up just to see how it goes."

"Well, do let me know if you did. Also-"

"Move on already."

With a hint of irritation in her voice, Zhui Yun tells the two to redirect their focus on the given task.

Shrugging his shoulders, Long Hua asks—

"So, who are we stealing the map from?"

"The client we're visiting right now."

"…You're not only just doing business, but you're also going in to scout the area?"

"It's not me stealing the item, it's the people accompanying me during the visit. Individually speaking, I'm strictly there for business. What the people who are accompanying me does—is none of my concern, and if the object those people stole just so happens to bring me some benefits along the way, then who am I to refuse it?"

(Bullshit.)

Shaking his head, Long Hua is clearly not convinced by Nian Yao Yao's odd logic.

"Who is this person exactly?"

"A Sinner who served in the frontlines more than five decades ago. His name is Zhōu Chén. After getting his required hours of community service done, he went into the entertainment industry, and made it big there. Currently, on his fifth year of retirement from the industry."

"Huh? A Sinner who went into the entertainment industry?"

To Long Hua that just sounds incredibly odd.

But since the individual was serving on the frontlines, it makes sense for them to possess the blood of a practitioner in their hand.

"Amongst the injuries that he had sustained during that time, one of them cannot be healed with standard medical knowledge. And by entertainment industry, she means the underground fighting ring."

The person who clears up the confusion is Jing Yao, who goes on to explain about Zhou Chen's condition in detail.

"That last injury of his is quite bizarre. He describes it by saying that there seems to be an odd flow of air expanding and contracting in his chest. He says—he's felt this way ever since a fight against an Immortal. Tests done through machinery shows nothing unusual, which is why we deem it to be an unusual case."

(An injury given to him by a practitioner? Something of that nature can only be cured by another practitioner, or by swallowing a product of alchemy—such as a pill or elixir. Seems like he's come to the right place for a cure.)

The odd flow of air that is constantly expanding and contracting, to Long Hua that sounds like there is a bit of spirit Qi trapped within the body.

"Frequent visitor of the hospital, I'd assume?"

"I was the one to recommend the elixir to him when he mentioned that money isn't an issue."

"Makes sense as to why you know so much about his condition then. And…"