Chapter 683: Chapter 291: Traveling Together, Making a Bet!

"What?!"

"We have to go too?!" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Qingzi, what’s going on?!"

Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan exclaimed almost simultaneously in astonishment.

Jiang Wei’s red eyes widened slightly too.

Fang Qingyu explained simply, "We just received a long-term mission. The directive came directly from the Abyss Hunting Command Headquarters, requiring us to head to the City of Injustice urgently to carry out suppression and intelligence gathering tasks. There’s no way to refuse."

Because Lin Yu and the others were present, Fang Qingyu deliberately omitted information about the Luo Family.

He didn’t want Lin Yu and the others, who had just gained a new life, to bear such heavy burdens and potential dangers.

This matter no longer concerned them.

Chu Kuanglan immediately grew anxious, lowering his voice urgently regardless of Lin Yu’s presence, "Qingzi! Are we really going? What about here... the big fish behind the Ji Family... we’ve been investigating for so long, the clues we finally got..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but the implication was clear.

Once they leave the Arctic Great Wall, those behind the scenes would have enough time to erase all traces.

The previous efforts might be in vain.

Fang Qingyu stood up, his face no longer held the helpless smile, returning to his accustomed calm and confidence.

He patted Chu Kuanglan on the shoulder, "Don’t worry, these two things... don’t conflict."

His eyes were deep, implying something, "Alright, stop dawdling, hurry up and pack, the sooner we leave, the better. The City of Injustice... I’m a bit interested too."

Lin Yu, Zhang Meng, and Chen Shan were initially stunned after hearing Fang Qingyu’s words, but then their eyes lit up with joy.

The three exchanged glances.

Lin Yu suddenly stood up, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Fang Qingyu, filled with excitement and anticipation, "Captain Fang! How about... we go together?!"

Her suggestion was immediately and strongly supported by Zhang Meng and Chen Shan.

Seeing the anticipation in Lin Yu’s eyes for the new journey and the trust in their team, Fang Qingyu only thought for a second before smiling and nodding, "Sure. We will travel together and look out for each other on the way."

What he agreed on was traveling together, limited to watching out for each other on the road for a safe arrival at the City of Injustice.

This did not mean throwing the Dawn members into the vortex between the Luo Family and the King Species.

Once they reached the City of Injustice, they would naturally have their own paths.

"Alright."

Lin Yu was ecstatic.

Although Wei Banmeng and others still had many doubts in their hearts, such as why the sudden order and what Qingzi meant by "no conflict," their long-standing tacit understanding made them choose unconditional trust.

Since Fang Qingyu had decided, they would act.

"Pack up!" Wei Banmeng was the first to stand, swift and decisive.

"Yes, sir!" Chu Kuanglan also stopped hesitating and dashed back to his room immediately.

Lu Jiuyuan and Jiang Wei also stood up quietly.

Lin Yu and the other two couldn’t be happier, "We’ll go back and gather everyone right away! It won’t take long!"

With those words, the three quickly left the courtyard.

The courtyard suddenly became busy.

They packed resources, organized equipment, checked weapons...

Although they did not know the reason for all this, they were already accustomed to being swift and decisive.

And used to suddenly needing to move to a new place.

Therefore, they didn’t ask a second question, just started packing their luggage.

Meanwhile.

By an icy river far from the hustle and bustle of Spine City.

The cold wind swept over the frozen river surface, carrying fine snowflakes.

Two figures sat by a small hole drilled in the ice, each with a small folding chair, holding an ordinary-looking but extraordinary fishing rod.

A small tea table stood next to them.

On it, a pot of hot tea warmed, along with an unfinished game of Go.

It was Hong Qitian and the Nanji Elder.

Hong Qitian was wrapped in his signature old military coat, the brim of his hat pulled low, clenching an old pipe, his eyes half-closed watching the bobber.

The Nanji Elder wore a thick gray cotton jacket, his back slightly hunched, with a focused expression.

The Nanji Elder, as if sensing something, moved his cloudy gaze from the bobber, glanced at Hong Qitian beside him, his aged voice somewhat drifting in the wind, "Wujiu went to deliver the ’hush money,’ came back all happy thinking the matter is settled... Did you purposely send that kid away? Aren’t you afraid that crazy woman from the Luo Family will lose it and act recklessly?"

Hong Qitian grinned, revealing gums somewhat reddened by the cold wind, chuckled, and blew a ring of smoke, "Hey, old Nan, you can’t put it like that. How could it be on purpose to send him away? This is called going with the flow."

He shook his head, a bit smug, "That crazy woman Luo Qingyi, she doesn’t dare truly harm Fang boy. Although Jiu is temporarily held up, if she really wants to tear it apart, her Luo Family wouldn’t benefit either. If she wants Fang boy to ’disappear’ from before her eyes, but doesn’t dare to deliver a fatal blow, thinking it over, besides sending him far away to the City of Injustice’s dumpster, what better move does she have? All within expectation, within expectation!"

The Nanji Elder looked at his smug face, rolled his eyes in exasperation.

He picked up the teapot nearby, poured himself a cup of hot tea to warm his hands.

After a moment of silence, he couldn’t help the curiosity in his heart and asked, "Then why must you send him to the City of Injustice? Staying at the Arctic Great Wall, under your watchful eyes, with your protection, the resources of Abyss Hunting, and Jiu’s care, wouldn’t his growth be faster and safer? Why must he wade into that place full of dragons and snakes, crisis-ridden?"

The smile on Hong Qitian’s face slowly diminished some.

He picked up the fishing rod, slowly winding in a non-existent line, his gaze fixed on the snow-blurred outline of the mountains across the ice river, his eyes becoming deep.

"I originally... thought so too. Grinding him out steadily, how good would that be," he spoke, his voice slightly lower, carrying an indescribable sentiment.

After pausing, his lips curled into a strange smile with a hint of helplessness, "But... that crazy woman was unwilling, insisted on betting against me."

The Nanji Elder paused his tea drinking, confusion reflecting in his murky eyes, "Hmm? She was unwilling? She can control how you cultivate people? What’s the bet?"

"She bets that Fang Qingyu... can’t survive the City of Injustice."

Hong Qitian’s voice was soft, yet clear word by word against the wind and snow.

The Nanji Elder developed a glint of interest in his eyes upon hearing this, "Then... what’s the stake?"

With the mention of the stake, the last remnant of smile vanished from Hong Qitian’s face.

The old man paused.

He picked up the teapot, refilled both his and Nanji’s cup with steaming tea.

The rising steam veiled his weathered face.

"If I win..."

Hong Qitian put down the teapot, lifted his cup, looking at the tea leaves floating inside, his voice light as a sigh.

"That crazy woman... will die for me."