Chapter 292: Not Chasing Stars

Chapter 292: Chapter 292: Not Chasing Stars

It was an overcast day.

A gentle breeze rustled across the lush green lawn. For midsummer, it was a rare, cool day.

A man in light-colored sportswear gripped a golf club with both hands, his eyes fixed on the hole ahead. Then, he raised his arms and swung—

The white golf ball traced a graceful arc through the air, and the man’s gaze followed it toward the distant green.

Despite the distance of several hundred meters and the obstruction of the bushes, the man’s brow furrowed. It was as if he already knew the ball’s landing wouldn’t be ideal.

’He was just starting to get the hang of this human recreational activity and wasn’t very skilled yet.’

"Hey! Did you see the news?!"

In the distance, a young man came running over, fuming. "That Feng Ling is actually coming to Jinnan City!"

Xing Guang turned around, displeased. "Are you trying to let everyone hear you with that loud voice?"

Gray Rat said irritably, "There’s no one around, what’s there to be afraid of!"

"Adapting to a new identity takes time and energy. I don’t want to be dragged down again," Xing Guang said calmly. "Think again. What should you be calling me?"

Gray Rat swallowed his anger. "...Cousin."

Xing Guang asked again, "What’s my name?"

"Cheng Shian," Gray Rat replied resentfully. "Satisfied?"

Xing Guang nodded slowly. "Yes. Memorize it. Don’t blow our cover if someone asks."

Gray Rat sneered, "You’re really keeping your cool. Don’t you know the Hidden Boss is coming?"

"She’s been all over the news for the past few days. How could I not know?" Xing Guang said unhurriedly as he walked forward, club in hand. "Humans are interesting creatures. When they run into trouble, they love to fantasize about some incorruptible official coming to save the day. The glory surrounding Feng Ling will backfire on her. This is just the beginning."

Gray Rat frowned. "I’m worried her presence in Jinnan City will affect our operation. We’ve already lost the Gu Insect Master, and we need to fill that vacancy as soon as possible. But after all this time, the other party still hasn’t shown up..."

"Then let’s put it on hold for now. We’ll make our move once that person lets their guard down," Xing Guang said flatly. "It’s also a good opportunity to observe what the Hidden Boss plans to do."

"It’s so inconvenient without a Gu Insect Master," Gray Rat complained. "We’re short-staffed, so I have to run around and do everything myself. I’m being worked to death every day. When can we get some people transferred over from Paradise? Oh, right, where’s Bai Mao?"

"Bai Mao has a new assignment," Xing Guang replied.

Gray Rat raised an eyebrow. "A new assignment? How come I didn’t know?"

Xing Guang’s steps faltered slightly. After a moment of silence, he said, "The Mazes on this land have either been conquered or sealed off by the military. There’s no reason for the players to stay here anymore. Bai Mao has contacted a group of them to arrange their evacuation. They’re all on the Inspection Bureau’s wanted list, so they can’t leave through normal channels. They have to be smuggled out."

Gray Rat’s expression turned ugly. "We haven’t even finished the last mission, and now there’s a new one. And the Hidden Boss just had to show up at this critical moment to stir up trouble. What rotten luck."

He asked again, "What route are they taking for the evacuation?"

Xing Guang replied, "They’re leaving from the port in Guangshan City. The Maze there was conquered not long ago, so security should be lax right now."

At the mention of Guangshan City, Xing Guang recalled some bad memories, and his expression darkened.

"It’s a shame... If we had managed to kill the Maze Administrator of Guangshan City first, we could have made the Maze there resonate with the one in Mogu Country, expanding the habitat for the Pollution Bodies. But now, our situation has become very passive..."

Xing Guang’s words resonated with Gray Rat, who said, seething with resentment, "Everything was going so smoothly. Then first a Ye Zheng popped up, and now a Feng Ling! I say we should take this opportunity while she’s in Jinnan City and kill her!"

"You still don’t get it." Xing Guang shot him a cool glance. "Feng Ling is just a coincidence. The fundamental reason for our obstruction is the biological security inspection system that’s been established here. Unless that entire system disappears, the forces opposing us will be endless."

Gray Rat was unconvinced. "Of course I know that! But Fisherman is dead, and we couldn’t retrieve the Gu Insect Master and Insect King Cards. Our ’bugs’ planted inside the Inspection Bureau will gradually become useless. It’s impossible to destroy the entire organization in one go anymore! The way I see it, we should just kill them one by one. Let’s get rid of Feng Ling first and then..."

"Stop. Say no more." Xing Guang turned to look into the distance. "Someone’s coming."

Gray Rat frowned and looked over, seeing a person walking across the lawn in the distance.

He was too far away to make out his features, but judging by his clothes, it was probably a Hunter that Xing Guang had hired from Hunting Star International.

’Isn’t he supposed to be waiting in the clubhouse? Why is he coming over here...?’

The person who arrived was Fang Ye.

He walked over with a smile, first greeting Xing Guang and Gray Rat before saying to Xing Guang, "Mr. Cheng, if you don’t have anything important this afternoon, I’d like to request two hours of leave. Would that be alright?"

Xing Guang casually stroked the club in his hand and asked with a smile, "Of course. If you have something to take care of, two hours might not be enough. Just remember to be back at the residence tonight."

Fang Ye said sheepishly, "Two hours is enough. I saw online that Feng Ling is arriving in Jinnan City today. Some people are organizing a group to meet her at the airport, and I wanted to go see."

Gray Rat immediately let out a snort. "You’re a grown man, and you’re still chasing celebrities?"

"Minghui, how can you say that?" Xing Guang gently chided Gray Rat. "Feng Ling is a powerful expert admired by all Hunters. It’s only natural she has many followers. It’s a rare opportunity to be in the same city, so it’s perfectly understandable that Fang Ye wants to go see."

Gray Rat’s snort had left Fang Ye feeling a bit awkward, so he couldn’t help but explain, "I’m not going to chase a celebrity. Actually, the reason I became a Hunter has a bit to do with Feng Ling. We knew each other in the past."

"You know Feng Ling?!" Gray Rat sized up Fang Ye suspiciously. "You’re bluffing, right?"

Xing Guang also raised his eyebrows in great surprise.

Although Gray Rat had accused him of bluffing, a smile appeared on Fang Ye’s face. This meant that Gray Rat would have to look at him in a new light for knowing Feng Ling.

Fang Ye suppressed the urge to show off and said to them, "When I knew Feng Ling, she hadn’t even entered a Maze yet. We were trapped in an underground cavern back then, so you could say we were partners who went through a life-and-death situation together. Even back then, I knew she was different... Seeing her get stronger and stronger now, I really admire her and feel inspired. I want to go to the airport because I cherish this connection, not to chase a celebrity."

Xing Guang smiled. "Then you should hurry. It would be a shame to miss her when she gets off the plane."

"Thank you, Mr. Cheng." Fang Ye smiled, then turned and quickly walked away.

Gray Rat stared at Fang Ye’s back, his anger flaring up, and cursed under his breath, "What kind of luck is this? We randomly hire a bodyguard and he turns out to be a fanboy of the Hidden Boss, even asking for time off to go meet her. What the hell... That Feng Ling is like a lingering ghost, such bad juju!"

"Isn’t it better that he’s gone?" Xing Guang glanced at him. "He Su is alone now."