Chapter 564 - 275: Bei’s Calamity

Chapter 564: Chapter 275: Bei’s Calamity

The next day.

The autumn sky was crisp and clear, and the ground was littered with withered yellow leaves.

The morning sun cast a golden glow upon the city’s leaves as shopkeepers swept the stoops before their stores.

A fast horse galloped through the sparsely populated streets, stopping before the Red King Mansion.

"I am Xi’er! Open the gates at once! I have an urgent matter to report to the Red King!"

The Red King had practically become a hands-off Shopkeeper at the Disaster Prevention Bureau, and the Eternal World Painting was unreachable. So, Xi’er had no choice but to rush straight to the Red King Mansion.

Having been a Gold Medal Undercover agent for many years, Xi’er was familiar with the layout of the Red King Mansion. After a servant opened the gate, she went straight to the reception hall, waiting anxiously for the Red King.

The Red King, wearing a loose, gold-threaded robe, emerged from the back with one hand on his lapel, looking languid and yawning. When Xi’er saw his somewhat haggard face, she couldn’t help but be taken aback. ’What was the Red King up to last night? He looks completely drained.’

"My Lord, where is your Eternal World Painting?"

Xi’er struggled to tear her eyes away from the Red King’s well-defined pectoral muscles, swallowing hard with a GULP before asking with feigned calmness.

"Uh..."

Zheng Xiu patted his waist, then slapped his forehead. He had left the Eternal World Painting in Feng Bei’s room.

He asked, "What’s the matter so early in the morning?"

Hearing this, Xi’er composed herself. Her expression turned serious, and she stated her purpose, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "My Lord, I suspect... there’s a mole in the Disaster Prevention Bureau."

"Oh? Explain."

Zheng Xiu sat down boldly in his chair, his back straight, his expression naturally imposing without any anger. At that moment, the ever-sensible Jing Xuemei, having already prepared fresh tea, emerged gracefully from behind a screen and placed it on the table.

The Red King blew across the surface of the tea, lifting the lid a few times to cool it. He glanced at the tips of the leaves floating on top before taking a light sip.

Full of worry, Xi’er recounted the "major incident" that occurred last night.

"My Lord, there was a terrifying disturbance in the outskirts last night."

"An eerie, bloody light shot into the sky, followed immediately by continuous, earth-shattering tremors."

Xi’er gestured vividly with her hands, describing the scene of it "WHOOSHING into the sky."

"As soon as I learned of this, I immediately SWOOSHED over to investigate."

"It was at the former residence of Pillar Phoenix."

"There used to be half a bald mountain there, but now it’s been completely leveled!"

"There are many mountains near the Capital City. Why would they destroy Pillar Phoenix’s old home and nowhere else? Something is definitely fishy!"

"Hmph! Not many people know about that original site. For Pillar Phoenix’s old home to be heavily damaged again, I suspect this was a premeditated Taunt!"

"Someone is targeting Pillar Phoenix!"

"This is a show of force! It must be the work of the mole in the Disaster Prevention Bureau!"

Xi’er rattled all this off in one breath, only for the Red King, seated in the main chair, to suddenly go "PFFT!" spraying a mouthful of hot tea all over her face.

Xi’er was completely baffled. She didn’t even think to wipe the tea from her face as her mind raced with wild thoughts. ’Huh? Could the Red King suspect that I’m the mole? No, that can’t be it, right? Or maybe he has a problem with me? Is this his way of warning me?’

"This matter..." Zheng Xiu coughed lightly twice and put down his teacup. "Pay it no mind."

Xi’er was confused. Wiping the tea from her face, she asked, puzzled, "Why should we pay it no mind?"

"When I say pay it no mind, you pay it no mind. Who would be bored enough to go destroy Feng Bei’s home? It must have been an earthquake, or perhaps a meteorite fell in the middle of the night and hit the mountain. That’s all. There’s no need to investigate further."

"My Lord... why do you look so awkward?"

"I’m not awkward. Not awkward at all."

It was because Xi’er suspected a "mole" that she had skipped the usual procedures and brought the case directly to the Red King Mansion.

The Red King closed the case at lightning speed. Right in front of Xi’er, he used the Eternal World Painting to issue a public announcement, openly praising Xi’er by name for her diligence and professionalism. He also promised to award her five hundred taels of silver as a performance bonus.

The Disaster Prevention Bureau was in an uproar.

To receive a public commendation from the Red King was a first since the founding of the Disaster Prevention Bureau.

Xi’er was overjoyed.

Zheng Xiu, however, didn’t think much of it. As a leader, occasionally giving a subordinate a sweet reward could stimulate the work enthusiasm of others. It was a move with all benefits and no drawbacks.

Just as Xi’er was about to leave, Zheng Xiu suddenly remembered something and called out to her. "That outfit Feng Bei was wearing last night, did you tailor it yourself?"

Xi’er nodded.

"Ahem, thin as a cicada’s wing, smooth as skin. Not bad." Zheng Xiu added, "With craftsmanship like that, you could try making a pair of stockings."

"Stockings?" Xi’er was taken aback. "What kind of stockings?"

Zheng Xiu lowered his voice and gave her a few pointers to spark her inspiration.

Upon hearing his words, Xi’er had an epiphany, as if she had been enlightened. Zheng Xiu’s suggestion made her realize a new possibility for her [Tailor] Path. Forgetting all pleasantries, she hurried away, apparently eager to return to her clothier’s shop to try the Red King’s idea.

She had a strong premonition that once the "stockings" the Red King spoke of were released, and if they were sought after by all the noble ladies and young maidens of the city, she would be able to take a huge leap forward in her Path.

One small step for stockings, one giant leap for her Path!

Xi’er left so quickly that Zheng Xiu didn’t even have time to mention the color he wanted or the fishnet design. Seeing that she was already gone, he could only give up on the idea for now. He’d have to see if she could even make them first.

As for who would wear them, that was not something Zheng Xiu needed to worry about.

Walking back to his chambers, Zheng Xiu nodded to himself. ’This is for the sake of Xi’er’s Path advancement, nothing more.’

’A Tailor, after all, needs to constantly innovate and bravely scale new heights to grow her craft.’

Recalling the fierce battle on the mountain last night, Zheng Xiu still felt a lingering fear.

He gestured with his hands in front of him, savoring the memory of his flesh and blood twisting and transforming into "electric saws."

If he hadn’t experienced it himself, Zheng Xiu would have found it hard to believe that the so-called [Abyssal Claw] actually turned both his hands into "electric saws"—two massive, nearly three-foot-long electric saws, spinning with a low WHIRRING sound.