The next day.
"Thank god!" Hao Baiyun sighed in relief after he heard that the Golden-Haired Monkey Clan has left to hide. "It is really a good news. In fact, we should have had them do this sooner." He said and wryly smiled.
"But, if we did, the Golden-Haired Monkey would be displeased." Fei Xuli said.
"'displeased'… yet look how many of them are left now." Jing Yu muttered. "And, aren't they retreating back now to the mountains?" he asked.
"Shh!" Hao Baiyun looked at him before he sighed and shook his head.
Meanwhile, Fei Xuli smiled as he looked at Jing Yun. Then, he turned to Hao Baiyun. "Boss, as for the Sunflower Clan, I have already had them be transferred to a safer place." He told him.
Hao Baiyun heaved a sigh. "Good, good…" he muttered as he pinched the space between his brows.? "As for the other clans…" he said.
"I already have them retreat, those who can't protect themselves well." Fei Xuli answered as he gave a document to Hao Baiyun. "As for the ones who insisted to stay, this is the list. I told them that we won't be held responsible if something happens to them, as we have already warned them." he explained.
Hao Baiyun smiled. "As always, thank you." He said.
Fei Xuli is a meticulous person, to even include the other clans in retreating to the province to hide to protect themselves. In short, Fei Xuli is really competent in his job. Maybe it is about to time to give him another raise in his salary.
"Boss. What about young master Huo Ling?" Fei Xuli asked.
Hao Baiyun paused. Then, he wryly smiled. "He insisted to investigate on his own." He said as he massaged his temples. He really wanted to take care of Huo Ling since he had never taken care of the other.
How can he take care of him? He has never met Huo Ling before! And, even if Yi Bing has told him that he has really met Huo Ling, Yi Bing said that Hao Baiyun never had the opportunity to take care of Huo Ling because everything back then… is too chaotic. Also, Huo Ling has already died. So, what could Hao Baiyun have done? He has already missed the chance to care for his cousin.
"What?!" Fei Xuli exclaimed when he heard what Hao Baiyun said. Even Jing Yu froze. "But, boss… younger master Huo Ling is being targeted… he is in danger!" he said.
Hao Baiyun smiled. "Do you think I will let him leave if I am not assured of his well-being?" He asked them.
Fei Xuli and Jing Yu fell silent. Indeed, with how worry-wart their boss is, he definitely wouldn't let Huo Ling leave. Worse, he might have locked Huo Ling in the residence since Huo Ling is a big target of the enemies. But, Huo Ling left. This is a fact. That means…
"He has Yi Bing with him." Hao Baiyun told them.
Fei Xuli's brows raised while Jing Yu didn't react. "Isn't he from the UnION?" Fei Xuli asked. "Will this be alright, him acting as young master Huo Ling's bodyguard?" he asked.
Hao Baiyun chuckled. "What is wrong with this? Xiao Ling is also investigating the Golden-Haired Monkey Clan." He said.
Fei Xuli and Jing Yu were surprised. "Why is he investigating the Golden-Haired Monkey Clan?" they asked.
"I am not clear… but, xiao Ling said that it is a task given to him as a grim reaper…" Hao Baiyun's brows knitted, since he knows a little about Huo Ling's new 'life'.
"Well, this is good." Fei Xuli sighed in relief. "Young master Huo Ling won't be obstructing Mr. Yi's business." He said.
"En." Hao Baiyun nodded. "What about the cargo ship? Any leads?" he asked.
"Yes." Fei Xuli nodded as he handed a folder to Hao Baiyun. "We are currently tracking down what shipping company specifically it is, but we have already have the next schedule…" he said as he pointed the list on the paper.
Jing Yu just silently listened to them. He doesn't understand anything about logistics. Thus, he remained silent.
…
"Why did you go with us? You should have stayed back with Hao Baiyun. You will be safe there." Mu Li told Zhuo Xia as he, Zhuo Xia and Xiao Hualing walk down the street.
Zhuo Xia frowned. "Why are you speaking familiarly to me? I don't know you!" he told Mu Li.
Mu Li froze and his eyes narrowed with pain as he looks at Zhuo Xia.
Xiao Hualing heaved a sigh. "Now, now, kids… don't fight!" she told them. This is the nth time, for god's sake! She inwardly sighed in distress. "Come on, now… Zhuo Xia said that there were enemies who have escaped that night after they saw me arrived, and Hao Baiyun's forces, too. So, he is here to help." She explained as she looked at Zhuo Xia before she turned and smiled at Mu Li. "Who knows, he might recognize some people later? Wouldn't that give us more leads?" she asked him.
Mu Li frowned, but he suppressed his anger. He still feels nervous about Zhuo Xia's situation since, like Huo Ling, Zhuo Xia is currently being targeted. It is just that Huo Ling is a bigger target since he is a pure, nine-tailed fox. Thus, Zhuo Xia's pressure was lessened with Huo Ling there.
"And you?" Mu Li looked at Xiao Hualing.
Xiao Hualing didn't feel offended with Mu Li's glare. "I am here to look after you two." She answered.
Mu Li frowned. His gaze obviously says that he doesn't believe her. But, Xiao Hualing doesn't care and she just laughed.
"Let's go." Zhuo Xia spoke as he walked first.
Mu Li immediately followed after him. Meanwhile, Xiao Hualing heaved a sigh behind them before she followed them. It would be better if these two wouldn't fight. But, Xiao Hualing knows that it is impossible since, in not less than an hour, the two would bicker again.
She came here to investigate and not to be a nanny to look after two brats. But, how can she defy Yi Bing's order?! Yi Bing, this heartless guy! Does he thinks that she looks like a nanny?!
…
"Achoo!" Yi Bing sneezed and he almost slipped off the roof of a building.
Huo Ling turned and immediately caught him, pulling him back. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"En…" Yi Bing nodded as he rubbed his itchy nose. "Someone must be talking about me…" he said.
Huo Ling immediately retracted his hands and he looked away.
Yi Bing. "…" so it is you?! He thought as his face was covered in dark lines. Then, he helplessly sighed. As if. He is just joking. It couldn't be Huo Ling… then, it must be Xiao Hualing.
(Xiao Hualing: Yi Bing, you double-standard dog!)
They are currently in the wharf where Fei Xuli told them the suspicious ship was found. Huo Ling and Yi Bing are on the roof of the tallest building for a bird's eye view.
"All the cargo containers look the same…" Huo Ling muttered as he frowned. He looked at the people on the ground coming and going.
"Fei Xuli is already investigating which ship is it from his informant. He also has the list of the next schedules… and here is the schedule of that night the suspicious ship was spotted." Yi Bing said as he tapped on his communicator acting as his wristwatch.
A holographic screen popped out.
"This, this… this one and this, too…" Huo Ling muttered as he pointed the names on the list. "They are the ones who shipped outside the country." He said.
Yi Bing nodded. "En. They are the ones who should we observe." He said.
"But, the cargo containers…" Huo Ling frowned as he looked at the cargo containers below that are painted with various colors.
"Hmm…" Yi Bing hummed. "They are clever, indeed, to guise their cargo containers as ordinary cargo containers so that their deed won't be discovered." He said.
"But, they still won't be able to hide their track of shipping outside the country." Huo Ling said.
Yi Bing nodded. "En." He muttered as he looked at the ships sailing. "Huo Ling." he suddenly called.
"What?" Huo Ling answered.
"Try calling your soul assignment." Yi Bing said.
"Okay." Huo Ling nodded without asking any question. He took out his Death Note and flipped the pages to his current soul assignment, which is a Golden-Haired Monkey clan member. "There is no response." He answered.
Soul Summoning is another function of the Death Note, which makes you able to summon your soul assignment to where you are. But, this is risky in case your soul assignment is very vulnerable. If you call their soul, making them cross the distance for you, they might die.
"As expected." Yi Bing clicked his tongue.
"What is it?" Huo Ling asked as he kept his Death Note.
"Either your soul assignment is currently far from us, or – " Yi Bing's eyes narrowed. " – he is out of the country.." He told him.
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦