Operation Start!

The teleportation array at the center of Crystal Bamboo City flashed and revealed two people. One was an average-height male while the other was a girl two heads shorter than him. They wore nondescript outfits with neutral colors of gray and tan. The guards around the array barely paid them any attention as they paid their entry fee into the capital city of Red Bamboo Province.

"Follow me." Chen Wentian said.

He took Jasmine's hand and led her toward the largest building adjacent to the city square. It belonged to the Zhou Clan and was the busiest place in the whole city. Hundreds of people streamed in and out with every passing moment. There were merchants, mercenaries, and disciples from local sects.

"I know where we're going… Don't have to hold my hand." She muttered.

She seemed to be in a strange mood or maybe she was just excited for the start of the operation.

"Why not, good daughter? Be obedient." He teased.

They looked like a father and daughter pair to others. Jasmine couldn't outright refute him and give up their ruse so she settled for squeezing his hand with all her might in an attempt to break a bone or two. He simply chuckled.

Chen Wentian and Jasmine melted into the crowd and entered the building. A short while later, a small horse carriage emerged from the rear and headed for the city gates to the south. They joined the thousands of other carriages that clogged the city avenues. They were completely unremarkable to anyone or anything that might have been on the lookout.

"Do you always sneak around like this?" Jasmine asked Chen Wentian.

She was sitting inside while he was at the front, guiding the horse.

He chuckled, "Always, but I would usually just use Chen Mo but he has to accompany the others to Beast God City."

She lifted a corner of the curtain and peeked out the carriage's window, "The city sure seems lively. I don't remember there being so many people."

"You're right. Given how recent the monster invasion was, it would have taken a few more years to recover to this level. It's actually because of the Zhou Clan's new initiative…"

Chen Wentian told Jasmine about the Eastern Wilderness Exploration Corps. It was an organization created and supported by the Zhou Clan. Zhou Ziyun wanted her clan to become a cultivation sect in the future and a proper branch sect of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. She knew how far they had to go. They had a lot of money but almost no experience with all matters related to cultivation.

This is where the Eastern Wilderness Exploration Corps came in. The Zhou Clan would post missions to the corps to hunt spirit beasts, search for rare herbs, or exterminate demon infestations. They would put up a monetary reward and also offer to buy whatever cultivation resources were gathered.

Loose cultivators, mercenary groups, and members of mortal sects could all join the corps and take on these missions. They would be paid well, better than what they could get from selling on the open market. As a result, this attracted a lot of people from the other provinces, drawing people back who had fled the monster invasion.

The Eastern Wilderness was a wild and dangerous land but it was also a place where one might strike it rich. One had to be strong enough and brave enough. Every day, people would return after completing missions and become rich overnight. This would motivate more and more people to attack the wilderness with enthusiasm.

And out of these missions, the Zhou Clan would identify those that performed the best or had the most promising talent and try to recruit these people into the clan.

Jasmine snorted, "So, it was just a ploy to recruit people in the end."

"Yes, but it is also a kind of trial. Ziyun has high standards. She understands her clan's background is too low. She will try to develop talented individuals in her clan but she also has to inject fresh blood to speed things up. With the corps, she will be able to identify the best of the best."

"Are you sure?" She asked suspiciously, "This corps definitely isn't cheap, since she's spending so much of your money, what's in it for you? Is she going to send the best beauties she finds to your bed?"

Chen Wentian laughed. Ever since Jasmine grow a fourth tale, she had become more loving but also more possessive. She was always looking for a reason to be jealous.

"Well, I am the sect master of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. Haha, if Ziyun happens to find someone really special… ouch!"

She pinched his sides from behind.

He pushed her away and glared at her, "Naughty girl, wait until we're out of the city. Watch how I deal with you!"

She blew her tongue at him.

The horse carriage eventually made it past the traffic at the gate. Emerging onto the open road, they picked up speed and galloped towards the south. After a half day's travel, they arrived at a deserted place. They had not seen another person for several hours.

Chen Wentian and Jasmine got off. He freed the horse and chased it away before burning the carriage to ash. It never hurt to be too careful. A large and bustling capital like Crystal Bamboo City always had members from rival immortal sects and even the Immortal Association collecting information. Even the three beast kings were capable of placing spies in human territory.

For this operation to succeed, absolute secrecy was the first requirement.

"Ready to go?" He asked.

"Wait."

Jasmine took off her outer coat and stretched her body. She hated being in disguise. Her four fluffy tails unfurled after being constricted for so long. A pair of triangular fox ears poked out of the silver hair on the top of her head.

He watched as she carefully groomed herself, combing her furry tail one by one. He had assumed in the past that her incomplete human transformation was some kind of mistake on her part. He later learned that it was intentional and that she had no intention of hiding these features. It was due to her arrogance and pride as a divine beast. She felt no need to turn into a complete human. Her ears and her tails were her trademarks as a Nine Tailed Moonlight Fox and she was never going to change that.

"Done… hey!" As soon as she looked up, he caught her in his arms.

Before she could protest, he leaned in and lightly kissed her. She was very receptive and returned his affection twice fold. He voiced his feelings with his touch and she replied wholeheartedly. Her small body melted into his. Her tails fluttered and shook with excitement.

After their lips separated, they continued to look into each other's eyes with deep emotion. He rubbed her furry ears and she giggled happily.

"Jasmine, are you ready? This is the first step towards getting revenge for your foster father. And retrieve the legacies your mother left for you."

She nodded, "Operation start!"

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