In the heart of the forest located in the northern part of City A stood a large building constructed from special materials capable of withstanding sudden attacks, natural disasters, and even powerful strikes from high-level cultivators. The surrounding area was enclosed by tall fences with watchtowers built at regular intervals, where a number of personnel worked to monitor the perimeter.
Inside the building, Jin Ling stood before a long table in the conference room, where high-ranking military officials sat in a circle to discuss the recent events.
"You're saying you didn't find the Tier 5 treasure expected to be at the Tang Clan house?" A middle-aged man wearing glasses in formal uniform asked Jin Ling critically.
"That's correct, sir. The only treasure detected was a Tier 3 item, which already belonged to the Tang Clan."
Jin Ling answered calmly, though from his eyes it was clear he didn't particularly care for this bespectacled man.
"Hah! What kind of work is the Black Hawk Unit doing?"
The man with glasses muttered disapprovingly. Jin Ling frowned, but his eyes caught sight of another man on the opposite side giving a faint smile and slight headshake, so he reluctantly held back.
"Besides that, you also said a Grandmaster-level being appeared, is that right?" Before things could escalate, an elderly man who looked authoritative chose to change the subject and ask what concerned him most.
"Bai Fanxian? Never heard that name before..."
"Is she someone's disciple?"
"Or perhaps one of those old hermits who just came down from the mountains?"
They debated heatedly, because a Grandmaster-level existence held power capable of single-handedly fighting an entire army of regular soldiers.
Even among high-ranking generals like themselves, some were cultivators as well, but only 4 had managed to step into Grandmaster level.
"No, sir... From her outward appearance, she's only about 20 years old."
Jin Ling hesitated for a moment before choosing to display an image. It was a picture of Bai Fanxian taken in the shopping district—a stunningly beautiful young woman with a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
The high-ranking military officials stared at the image in shock. Even the man Jin Ling had looked at earlier gazed at Bai Fanxian's face in astonishment for a moment.
But once they recovered, the conference room erupted with noise.
"This is impossible!"
"A Grandmaster-level cultivator in her twenties?"
"Is she some kind of monster..."
"Could it be disguised appearance? Some cultivators can reverse aging or change their appearance. Especially Grandmaster-level cultivators..."
Opinions and debates continued for a while, until finally the authoritative elderly man asked Jin Ling another question.
"Have you investigated her background?"
Jin Ling nodded and displayed another image—Bai Fanxian's profile, which aside from her name contained nothing but question marks.
"Is this some kind of joke!?"
The bespectacled man slammed the table loudly. But Jin Ling remained unfazed and explained with a calm expression:
"Her name is Bai Fanxian. The first sighting of her was yesterday at the city's shopping district. There's no record of her in the population database. Not even a similar photograph. You could say her identity is a complete mystery."
"This is..."
They began debating again. The bespectacled man turned to ask Jin Ling:
"Then just bring her in for questioning. With no name or information like this, isn't it suspicious?"
But his question made Jin Ling smile.
"In that case, would Major General Zhou like to go capture her personally?"
That question made the bespectacled man, or Major General Zhou, choke on his words.
Because even though he held the rank of Major General, he wasn't a cultivator. Thinking that the other party might be a Grandmaster-level cultivator, he naturally didn't dare take the risk.
"You Black Hawks should go yourselves. Don't make the military waste resources on you."
His words made several people in the conference room look displeased. Because while most of the military consisted of ordinary people, there were special units where nearly everyone was a cultivator, carrying out special missions that regular military forces couldn't handle.
Black Hawk was one of them.
Besides Black Hawk, the military had 3 other special forces stationed in each region, primarily to prevent damage and control cultivators within the country.
"General Liu, surely your Black Hawk Unit won't refuse?"
After finishing, Major General Ma adjusted his glasses and turned to ask another man in the room. This man was the one who had looked at Bai Fanxian with interest and whom Jin Ling had glanced at earlier.
The supreme commander of the Black Hawk special forces, General Liu Yianfei.
But Liu Yianfei looked much younger than expected. He had long hair covering his forehead and appeared to be only in his late thirties. On his shoulder rested a sword. Despite wearing military uniform, his body appeared frail, weak, and sickly.
If he wasn't wearing his full dress uniform, no one would think he worked as a soldier.
"Is that so..."
Strangely, he didn't refuse. He even glanced at Bai Fanxian's information once more.
"This is truly interesting..."
.
.
.
"Do you like it, Grandmaster Bai?"
On the other side at the seaside residence, Tang Tianjie was personally leading Bai Fanxian around the house. He showed an extremely proud expression while introducing various things to her.
With his new understanding, he concluded that Bai Fanxian must have very little knowledge of general matters and technology, which was extremely accurate. Even just the automatic door system had caught Bai Fanxian's attention.
In truth, the young woman was quite interested in the world of this era. Especially the strange technology she'd never seen before. When staying at the Tang Clan house yesterday, she'd wanted to explore many things as well, but due to courtesy and being a guest, plus all the chaos, she'd only observed quietly.
"Not bad..."
Bai Fanxian nodded in acknowledgment. Though it wasn't as grand as her Goddess Alchemy Palace or as large as the Tang Clan's main house, the convenience and technology of this house were incomparably superior.
The young woman walked to the wooden deck extending out to the beach. There, two small children were currently playing on the shore while Uncle Huang and Tang Xinlan watched to prevent any danger, smiling fondly.
Because one had grown up in the slums—never mind the beach, Hui'er had never even left the city.
As for the other one, Tang Yeye had been sick and confined to the house for many years. She'd barely had any chance to run around. Now with both energy and a friend her age, they played together with full enthusiasm.
When Hui'er noticed Bai Fanxian appearing on the deck, she quickly ran over.
"My lady, this place is so beautiful!"
The little girl spoke innocently, managing to bring out a beautiful smile at the corner of Bai Fanxian's lips.
"Do you like it?"
"Very much... Will we really get to live here?"
Hui'er asked uncertainly. For her, living in such a beautiful house felt like a dream.
"Mm..."
Bai Fanxian nodded gently, and at that moment the other little girl, Tang Yeye, came running after her friend.
"I want to live here too!"
Little Yeye said, her bright eyes gazing at Bai Fanxian pleadingly. But the young woman didn't refuse as Tang Tianjie, standing nearby, had expected. She walked back into the house, leaving behind the words:
"That depends on your grandfather..."
Bai Fanxian's answer made Tang Tianjie so delighted his body trembled. He jumped down from the deck in a way ordinary elderly men couldn't, but because this old man was a 6th-stage Martial Master, he landed on the sand below without leaving a trace. He even happily lifted up his granddaughter Tang Yeye.
"Hahaha! Grandmaster Bai has truly accepted my granddaughter!"
"What are you doing, Grandpa?"
Tang Yeye was still too young. She didn't understand what her grandfather was so happy about and could only look puzzled.
"From now on, you must call the great Grandmaster 'my lady,' alright?" Tang Tianjie set his granddaughter down on the ground and bent down to teach her seriously.
"But I already call her 'my lady'?" Tang Yeye tilted her head in confusion. She pointed to Hui'er, who was drinking coconut water that Uncle Huang had somehow procured and was serving.
"Sister Hui'er taught me."
"Oh! Right, right. This grandfather is forgetful." Tang Tianjie suddenly remembered. The old man rubbed his own head but still smiled happily.
The Tang Clan had gained a powerful backing!
"Father?" Tang Xinlan approached her father-in-law worriedly. As a mother, and with her daughter just recovered, she didn't want to be separated from her child.
"Xinlan, letting Yeye stay with Grandmaster Bai will be best for the child."
Tang Tianjie understood his daughter-in-law's feelings. But the opportunity to learn from a Grandmaster-level being—no amount of money could buy such a chance.
Especially a Grandmaster of Bai Fanxian's caliber.
"I understand, but I can't help worrying." She sighed softly. The more she watched her happy child, the more this mother's heart didn't want to part.
"Don't worry. If you miss Yeye, just come visit. That's why I gave this house to Grandmaster Bai, isn't it?" Tang Tianjie laughed, which made Tang Xinlan smile.
That's right. This house was only one kilometer from the Tang Clan house. If worst came to worst, she could just walk over to see her daughter.
"You're right..."
With nothing more to worry about, Tang Xinlan went to look after the two little girls. She treated Hui'er no differently from Tang Yeye—partly out of affection, and partly because she'd learned from Uncle Huang that it was because this child had pleaded with Grandmaster Bai that she'd agreed to treat her daughter.