Chapter 875
The arrogance that had filled his eyes earlier had long since been burned away, replaced by lingering fear that still clung to him like a shadow he couldn't shake off.
"I really thought I was dead just now," he admitted, patting his chest as if confirming his heart was still beating. "When it was above us… that moment… I couldn't even move. If you hadn't shown up, Lord Fu, we wouldn't be standing here."
The man they addressed as "Lord Fu" stood calmly, his figure partially veiled by darkness, his expression unreadable except for the faint tightening of his brows, which hinted at something far less forgiving than relief.
This man—
Was Xiaofu.
The same Xiaofu who, within their covert group, held a position second only to He Anmin, a figure who did not merely relay information but influenced decisions, a shadow that moved behind the curtain yet held more weight than most who stood in the light.
He had come here for a far more… indulgent reason.
Shao Yushan had reported finding "exceptional beauties," and Xiaofu, who had long endured suppression under the weight of their mission, decided to make use of the opportunity.
A brief indulgence.
A moment of release.
That was the plan.
But instead of beauty—
He found chaos.
Instead of prey—
He found two subordinates fleeing like frightened animals from a monster they had no business provoking.
And not just any monster.
A Fire Scorpion Giant Frog.
Even for someone like Xiaofu, that creature was not something to face lightly.
So in that instant, left with no real choice if he wished to preserve his team, he had taken out something far more valuable than either of the men he saved.
A Beast Luring Pill.
A rare item.
A treasure.
Something that could bend the instincts of even powerful monsters, drawing them away with an irresistible scent.
Something that should never have been wasted on a situation like this.
And now, it was gone.
Xiaofu's eyes darkened.
The air around him seemed to cool.
"You two…" he said slowly, his voice no longer calm, but edged with something sharp enough to cut.
"You still dare to speak?"
The weight of his words pressed down like a silent storm.
"You abandoned your task, chased after women like dogs, provoked a monster you couldn't handle, and in the end, forced me to waste a Beast Luring Pill."
His gaze hardened further.
"Do you have any idea… what that costs?"
He took a step forward. "Do you have any idea… how you're supposed to repay it?"
Shao Yushan's smile stiffened instantly. "Lord Fu, we will compensate you," he said quickly, lowering his head slightly, his earlier confidence nowhere to be found. "You saved our lives. Whatever you need in the future, we will do it without hesitation."
Jiao Zhiming nodded rapidly, almost eager. "Yes, Lord Fu, anything you need—anything at all—we will not refuse!"
"Enough."
Xiaofu waved his hand dismissively, clearly uninterested in empty promises.
"I don't need your loyalty speeches," he said coldly. "What I need… is an explanation."
His eyes narrowed. "Where are the women?"
The question hung in the air.
Heavy.
Awkward.
Shao Yushan and Jiao Zhiming exchanged a glance, both of them suddenly finding the ground beneath their feet extremely interesting.
Neither wanted to speak.
Because the truth was humiliating.
Two Upper Exalts.
Chasing three female candidates who hadn't even reached the Exalt level.
And losing them.
Xiaofu's patience snapped. "What are you hesitating for?" he snapped. "Speak!"
Jiao Zhiming swallowed, then finally stepped forward, his voice lacking its usual swagger.
"I'll explain…"
He hesitated briefly before continuing.
"We were chasing them, and everything was under control, but those women… they ran straight into the territory of that monster."
He forced a bitter laugh.
"We didn't expect something like a Fire Scorpion Giant Frog to be there."
"We got intercepted, and while we were blocked… they escaped. And after that… you saw what happened."
Silence.
Xiaofu's expression darkened visibly. "So… you're telling me," he said slowly, each word colder than the last, "you let them escape?"
Jiao Zhiming lowered his head. "Yes."
"Useless."
The word fell like a hammer.
"You are both Upper Exalts," Xiaofu continued, his voice rising slightly, no longer bothering to hide his anger. "And yet you couldn't catch three weak female candidates? What exactly have you been doing all this time?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Do you think this is a game? Do you think our mission is a joke? If this is the level of competence you bring, then what exactly were you trained for?"
Neither Shao Yushan nor Jiao Zhiming dared to respond.
Because deep down...
They knew.
This was their fault.
If they had acted seriously from the beginning—
If they hadn't toyed with their prey—
If they had used their full strength—
Those three women would never have escaped.
Everything that followed was the price of their arrogance.
After a long moment, Xiaofu exhaled slowly, his anger settling into something colder, more controlled.
"What's done is done," he said at last. "Scolding you further won't bring the pill back."
He paused.
Then asked, his tone shifting slightly.
"Those women… Are they really that beautiful?"
The question seemed almost out of place.
But it was enough to stir something in Jiao Zhiming again.
His eyes lit up slightly.
"Beautiful?" he repeated. "They're beyond beautiful."
He spoke with renewed enthusiasm, as if recalling something intoxicating.
"From a distance, they already looked like immortals, but up close… It's even more shocking. Fair skin, perfect features… each one is rare."
Xiaofu's gaze flickered, "All three?"
"All three," Jiao Zhiming confirmed without hesitation. "Each one is different."
"One is cold and ethereal."
"One is soft and pitiful."
"And the youngest…" he smiled faintly. "Sweet. Pure. Hard to resist."
"They're not just beautiful. They're… unforgettable."
"Hmm?"
Xiaofu narrowed his eyes slightly, casting a doubtful glance at Jiao Zhiming, clearly unconvinced by his overly enthusiastic description, as if suspecting exaggeration rather than truth, and after a brief pause, he turned his attention to Shao Yushan instead, choosing to verify the matter from another angle.
"So tell me," he said slowly, his tone measured yet probing, "how do these three compare to Junior Sister Hongyu?"
At the mention of that name, even the air seemed to shift slightly.
Shao Yushan straightened subconsciously, as if the comparison itself demanded a certain seriousness, and after a moment of thought, he answered with an unusually firm expression.
"Compared to Junior Sister Hongyu… two of them might still fall slightly short," he admitted honestly, "but I can guarantee this—there's not much difference at all. And the one with that ethereal, immortal-like temperament… she can absolutely stand shoulder to shoulder with Hongyu in terms of beauty."
His tone carried certainty.
No hesitation.
No embellishment.
Seeing this, and noticing that even Jiao Zhiming—who was usually loose-tongued—had fallen into an oddly sincere silence, Xiaofu's suspicion gradually faded, replaced instead by a quiet, rising interest.
He knew these two.
They were crude, impulsive, and often unreliable—but when it came to matters like this, they rarely lied.
Which meant—
Those three women were likely as extraordinary as described.
A flicker of thought passed through Xiaofu's mind.
If what they said was true…
Then perhaps the loss of a Beast Luring Pill was not entirely wasted.
Trading a rare treasure for three such women wasn't a bad bargain.
Not at all.
The thought settled deeper.
And with it, something else began to stir.
It had been a long time since he had allowed himself any indulgence, his life bound tightly by missions, discipline, and the constant tension of hidden identities, leaving little room for personal desire.
But now—
That restraint wavered.
A heat rose within him, subtle at first, then spreading like a slow-burning flame, igniting something that had long been suppressed, until even his breathing grew slightly heavier, and his eyes darkened with intent.
He was not a man who settled for the ordinary.
Common women held no appeal.
But beauty—
True beauty—
That was different.
That was something worth pursuing.
After a brief silence, Xiaofu spoke again. "Which direction did they run?"
Shao Yushan immediately pointed without hesitation. "Over there. They escaped in that direction."
Xiaofu nodded, then issued his order. "You two—track them down. No matter what it takes, find them."
He paused, then added, "Once you catch them, send word to me. I'll come handle the rest."
But almost immediately, he seemed to reconsider. "No."
He shook his head slightly, correcting himself.
"The moment you find them, notify me immediately. Don't act on your own."
Shao Yushan and Jiao Zhiming both froze for a brief moment.
Then—
Understanding dawned.
Their expressions shifted subtly, a shared look passing between them, followed by faint, knowing smiles that carried an unspoken message.
We understand.
"Don't worry, Lord Fu," Shao Yushan said with a grin, his earlier frustration already forgotten. "We'll follow their trail carefully, and the moment we have any news, we'll inform you immediately."
"Absolutely," Jiao Zhiming added quickly, nodding. "We won't let them escape again."
Xiaofu gave a short nod, clearly satisfied.
"Go."
"Yes!"
The two responded in unison before turning and disappearing into the forest, their figures swallowed once more by the darkness.
*