Ji Yao hadn’t agreed to anything, but she couldn’t bring herself to outright refuse either Qiao Zixi had already used up all the sweet talk.
What else could she do, given how miserable her life was at the moment?
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder: Why her?
“Why else? Because you’re capable,” Qiao Zixi said matter-of-factly, opening the car door and stepping out briskly.
Uncle Ren, who had been sitting next to Ji Yao, also got out and made room for her to step down.
Ji Yao didn’t move, so Qiao Zixi pulled her out of the car.
“Uncle Ren won’t be coming in. Let’s go,” Qiao Zixi said, tugging her toward the courtyard.
The courtyard was truly run-down. From a distance, it looked uninviting, and as they drew closer, two red lanterns hung at the entrance dark, crimson red, eerily unsettling.
Once inside, things grew even stranger. A long corridor stretched endlessly ahead. Qiao Zixi, of course, seemed unfazed. She glanced back at Ji Yao and asked, “You’re not scared, are you?”
Ji Yao shook her head.
There really was nothing to be afraid of.
She was just a little surprised. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary countryside courtyard, but she hadn’t expected the inside to be like this.
“Honestly, the first time I came here, I was a bit scared. But after walking through it so many times, I got used to it.”
“Don’t you feel like there’s some indescribable vibe here?”
“No. If it’s indescribable, then don’t describe it.”
“You!”
Over a decade ago, the two of them had indeed sworn sisterhood. But they weren’t teenagers anymore they were pushing thirty.
For Ji Yao, getting reacquainted would take time.
Over the past few days, she had caught up on three years’ worth of information and reasonably suspected that Qiao Zixi was an extrovert.
After all, it was Qiao Zixi who had proposed their sisterhood oath back then, and even after more than ten years apart, she was the one who could still joke around as if no time had passed.
As for Ji Yao herself, she was somewhere between an extrovert and an introvert not fully one or the other.
She found Qiao Zixi’s style a bit overwhelming at times, yet she didn’t want to refuse her.
That was also why, back in the day, she had given in to Qiao Zixi’s pestering and agreed to that childish oath of sisterhood.
Of course, there was also the fact that Qiao Zixi had made an offer she couldn’t refuse. If this organization was really as good as Qiao Zixi claimed, it might actually be a great opportunity.
She remembered how, years ago, she had spent a whole year at home preparing for the civil service exam, only to fail in the end. In the end, she had happily gone for an interview at a television station.
She had been happy, but Zhuang Meiyan and Ji Hong hadn’t shared her joy.
Thinking about their current relationship, perhaps returning with this “respectable” job could win them over, help them let go of past grudges, and see her once again as their beloved daughter.
“We’re here.”
Lost in her thoughts, Ji Yao was led by Qiao Zixi to a room at the end of the corridor. It looked dark and somewhat dubious.
But as Qiao Zixi opened the door, Ji Yao was momentarily stunned.
It wasn’t at all what she had imagined not the rustic setup from her childhood farming lessons or the farmyard scenes from TV dramas. Instead, it was a hall filled with the latest technology, spanning over two hundred square meters. In the center was an enormous display screen showing maps of the entire Xijing region and Ningjiang Province.
Administratively, Xijing and Ningjiang were considered one unit.
“That’s right, this is the Xijiang headquarters. The address is in a village in Yuanshi,” Qiao Zixi said, no longer mysterious but beaming as she pulled Ji Yao inside by the arm.
There were quite a few people inside, most of them at their workstations. Only at what seemed to be the commander’s position sat an elderly man, advanced in years.
As she approached, Ji Yao could sense a different aura about him, but it was hard to pinpoint just as unclear as when she had first entered.
“Is this Xiao Ji?”
“Grandpa, this is Ji Yao.” Qiao Zixi’s smile faded, replaced by a respectful expression as she looked at the elderly man. The way she called him “Grandpa” stirred distant memories in Ji Yao.
The more she looked at the old man, the more familiar he seemed.
Grandpa Qiao smiled kindly, leaning on his cane as he stood up to face Ji Yao. “Xiao Ji, it’s been many years. Do you still remember me?”
Ji Yao didn’t really remember, but his words brought back fragments of her childhood.
She and Qiao Zixi had actually known each other before elementary school, they attended the same kindergarten. Back then, Ji Yao was frail and sickly, coughing after just a few steps, frequently taking sick leave. She had no close playmates.
Qiao Zixi occasionally gave her candy, but Ji Yao’s respiratory issues meant that eating sweets and running would only worsen her cough. Later, Zhuang Meiyan strictly forbade her from having sweets, abruptly cutting short the budding friendship between her and Qiao Zixi.
It wasn’t until she was nearly ten that her health improved enough for her to play with Qiao Zixi.
But the good times didn’t last. Before they finished elementary school, Qiao Zixi moved to Yunzhou.
Ji Yao went to see her off that day and caught a distant glimpse of Grandpa Qiao. Though she had visited Qiao Zixi’s home many times over the years, that was the only time she had seen him.
“My grandpa was always away on missions. Even before we moved, I hadn’t seen him for two or three years.”
“He’s a retired beast tamer, now honorably retired and overseeing operations at the unit.”
“See, this is his desk.”
Qiao Zixi pointed it out to Ji Yao, her demeanor less respectful now, even carrying a hint of teasing. Grandpa Qiao didn’t mind, his smile still gentle as he lightly patted her back. “No sense of propriety, and at your age?”
“Grandpa, no matter how old I am, I’ll always be your good granddaughter.” Qiao Zixi cooed, shedding her usual seductive and assertive alpha female persona entirely, acting just like a ‘good granddaughter.’
Ji Yao suppressed a smile, and though Qiao Zixi noticed, she pretended not to, clearing her throat before turning to Ji Yao. “Now you understand everything, right? If there are no issues, you can start next week.”
“Wait, what exactly have I understood?”
She had been brought here by Qiao Zixi, seemingly learning about some cutting-edge technology and that terrifying corridor. But aside from that, what else had she learned?
Oh, she’d learned a bit about Qiao Zixi and Grandpa Qiao.
“Zixi, take Xiao Ji inside for a look.” Grandpa Qiao gestured with his cane toward a door in the corner. Qiao Zixi hesitated for a moment before agreeing, “Alright.”
Just like that, the two of them decided, completely disregarding what the other party, Ji Yao, thought.
However, as she gazed at the vine-patterned door from afar, Ji Yao felt an inexplicable pull.
She followed behind Qiao Zixi.
Entering required a key. Qiao Zixi had a large keychain on her belt and fumbled for a while before finding the right one. As she went to unlock the door, she saw Ji Yao standing in front of it, reaching out to touch the vine patterns.
“Be careful!” Qiao Zixi whispered a warning, but to her surprise, Ji Yao wasn’t attacked.
These vine patterns were no ordinary things; they possessed a spiritual nature. In the entire unit, only her grandfather could enter without being attacked. Anyone else who wanted to go in needed a special key to avoid being targeted.
Like the key she was holding in her hand.
“I’ll open the door.”
“Ji Yao, step aside.”
“Oh, okay.”
Ji Yao also found it strange there was something about these vine patterns that seemed to make her forget the rules.
When in someone else’s territory, it was best to follow their lead.
So she took a step back and waited for Qiao Zixi to unlock the door. The unlocking process didn’t take long, but Ji Yao felt a sense of impatience building inside her. It wasn’t until the door swung open and she got a clear look inside that she finally relaxed.
“This place is usually kept locked all year round. Only during festivals does my grandfather open it. The last time it was opened was on New Year’s Day.”
“And then he told me to bring you here.”
“Why?”
Distracted by her shock, Ji Yao half-listened to Qiao Zixi’s words before asking why she had been sought out.
But deep down, she had some idea.
The layout here strongly resembled the Dark Hall of the Celestial Master Sect from another world.
On the day Ji Yao became a Celestial Master, she had received her initiation in the Dark Hall, kneeling for twelve hours while wearing the Celestial Master Crown. After that, she had to rest for several days before being sent out to gain experience.
It wasn’t a pleasant memory, and twelve hours was long enough for Ji Yao to memorize every detail of the Dark Hall’s layout.
This place was very similar, except for a few minor differences.
And there was an extra Celestial Master Crown.
“I’m not sure why either. My grandfather told me to bring you here, so I did.”
“Just like bringing you into this place.”
“What is this place called?”
“The Celestial Master Hall. The thing in the middle is called the Celestial Master Crown.”
Noticing Ji Yao’s curiosity, Qiao Zixi opened up: “I was brought here by my grandfather when I was twenty. Before that, I had no idea I had such a talent, nor did I know that there were other beings in this world besides humans.”
“You can probably tell my family comes from a line of beast tamers. But my father had no talent, which might be why I ended up so gifted?”
“With great power comes great responsibility. My goal is to become the top beast tamer of the younger generation.”
“Ji Yao, don’t compete with me.”
Qiao Zixi spoke with pride and confidence, her last sentence sounding like a joke, but Ji Yao could see the competitive fire in her eyes.
“If you’re afraid I’ll compete, why did you bring me back?”
“What else could I do? It was my grandfather’s order and I never expected to run into you on the street.”
“So, it wasn’t your grandfather who told you to seek me out and become my buyer?”
“What are you thinking? Of course not. It was only after I returned that my grandfather asked me who I’d met and brought you up. After that, he told me to keep an eye on you and bring you back if you were qualified.”
“So, what happened today proves I’m qualified, right?”
The two had been chatting back and forth in a calm tone, but Ji Yao’s words carried a sudden weight, her emotions far from pleasant.
Qiao Zixi froze, studying Ji Yao carefully before showing a complicated expression.
And Ji Yao’s retort that she didn’t need anyone to judge her was left unspoken.
Three years of living in another world had left their mark on Ji Yao. There, besides learning how to be a celestial master, she had also developed a certain pride that came with the title.
Whether this was good or bad, Ji Yao didn’t know, but it had been with her for so long that she couldn’t stand hearing such remarks now.
Yet Qiao Zixi’s expression seemed to hint at the facts she had overlooked.
During those three years, it wasn’t her living here. Since Qiao Zixi wanted to understand her, he would have inquired about her from all angles and the things she had done during the years she was transmigrated couldn’t withstand scrutiny.
She really needed to be thoroughly examined, not just for her abilities but also for her character.
Moreover, the path of the celestial master flourished in the other world, while it had clearly declined here. Qiao Zixi and Old Master Qiao were simply being cautious.
Her own temperament wasn’t the best, but at least she was capable of self-reflection. After adjusting her emotions, she motioned for Qiao Zixi to continue.
But Qiao Zixi had already said all he knew and could only take her out to find his grandfather.
“The Celestial Master Hall is saved!”
As soon as they stepped out of the vine-patterned door, before Qiao Zixi could speak and Ji Yao even less so, they saw Old Master Qiao, tears streaming down his face, stamp his cane and exclaim emotionally.
The two exchanged glances while Old Master Qiao continued, “It’s saved now, truly saved Senior Brother, I haven’t failed you!”
Qiao Zixi’s original intention had been to let his grandfather discuss things in detail with Ji Yao once they were outside, but the old man was in no state for conversation now.
“Let’s head back to Xijing first. We’ll handle your employment once my grandfather has calmed down. Also, you’ll need to resign from the TV station before we can transfer your social security records.”
Qiao Zixi’s reasoning was sound, and Ji Yao nodded silently.
It wasn’t until they had left the compound that Ji Yao belatedly realized when had she ever agreed to any of this?
Well, she hadn’t refused either.
After all, a base salary of 50,000, plus additional commissions, was too tempting. The pride she had learned in the other world was nothing compared to the importance of not drowning in debt.
Still, she needed to think it over.
On the way back, Uncle Ren drove while Ji Yao and Qiao Zixi sat in the back.
The atmosphere was much more relaxed, and Qiao Zixi shared many amusing stories from the time they had been apart.
He was talkative but knew his limits. Ji Yao could clearly tell he was curious about her past foolishness, but he didn’t bring it up at all.
They chatted all the way until, as they neared Xijing, Ji Yao’s phone rang.
The conversation halted as she looked down at her phone and saw it was her mother calling.
Her emotions surged after all, she had tried to contact her mother several times over the past few days, only to find herself blocked every time. Without a second thought, she answered the call, forgetting Qiao Zixi and Uncle Ren were nearby.
But within seconds, Zhuang Meiyan’s voice blared so loudly that she had to hold the phone away from her ear.
The voice continued, “Ji Yao, you’ve got some nerve! How dare you take out a loan from loan sharks? They’ve been calling your father and me!”
Besides Ji Yao, both Qiao Zixi and Uncle Ren clearly heard what Zhuang Meiyan said.
The silence was deafening.
Ji Yao lowered her head in shame and frustration, especially when Qiao Zixi stifled a laugh and asked how she was considering the job offer. She realized how bold she had been hesitating over a job with a monthly salary of 50,000.
And that wasn’t even counting the commission.