Chapter 969: When It's Really Just Good Luck?

"Today we rest, tomorrow we set off." Lu Ye shook the mission jade slip in his hand.

"Understood!" Lin Yinxu cheerfully accepted the order and returned to her room to rest and recuperate.

Seeing her childlike nature, Xiao Xinghe chuckled, "Junior Brother, where did you find this girl? She acts like she hasn't grown up yet."

Lu Ye glanced left and right to ensure no one was around, then leaned in and whispered something into Xiao Xinghe's ear.

Xiao Xinghe looked utterly shocked. "No way?" he exclaimed. "She doesn't seem like it."

Lu Ye nodded solemnly. "If not for that, she and I were complete strangers before. How else would she have become a member of my team?"

Although he had been somewhat displeased when Qian Wudang assigned Lin Yinxu to his team, he had slowly gotten used to her presence over the past few days. Lin Yinxu was docile and gentle by nature, and as a captain, who wouldn't like such a team member? However, her identity was ultimately somewhat sensitive. Informing his Third Senior Brother now would prevent any awkwardness in their future interactions.

Xiao Xinghe, who was always disinclined to meddle in such complicated matters, asked no further questions. "I'm going to the Heavenly Secret Treasury," he said.

This was clearly to exchange for spirit talismans for cultivation. Normal cultivators usually operated this way: any combat achievements they obtained would be used to exchange for spirit talismans for cultivation, rarely accumulating. After all, for cultivators, transforming what they gained into cultivation was the best way to practice. Only Lu Ye, however, frequently accumulated large amounts of combat achievements.

While Xiao Xinghe went to the Heavenly Secret Treasury, Lu Ye returned to his room, immersing himself in his mind to reflect the origin of the Dragon Ascent Realm. Perhaps because his cultivation had once again settled, the time required to reflect the origin of the Dragon Ascent Realm was now even shorter.

The next morning, Lu Ye's vessel ascended from the large courtyard, and the eight-person team set off once again.

In a small hall of the Law Enforcement Division, Qian Wudang was handling official duties at his desk. Opposite him, a plump old man sprawled ungracefully in a chair, his legs casually crossed and propped up on the desk, humming a cheerful tune leisurely.

Qian Wudang's brow twitched, veins throbbing. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he slapped the table and said, "Old man, you're supposed to be on duty at the Hunter's Pavilion! What are you doing here? And if you insist on coming, must you look like that? What about my authority if others see you?"

The plump old man scoffed, "I live as I please, stealing a moment of leisure from this fleeting life. What does that have to do with your authority?"

Qian Wudang sighed, exasperated, and rubbed his temples. "What exactly do you want?!"

The plump old man sat up straight. "I'm just curious, are you really that optimistic about this kid from the Bloodflame Sect, that you'd be willing to put the girl Yinxu by his side?"

Mentioning that made Qian Wudang's heart ache. The old man, having no sons or daughters, couldn't possibly understand his worries. No matter how highly he thought of someone, he wouldn't act that way. Yinxu being by Lu Ye's side was entirely a result of her own making. Besides, he also knew he couldn't protect her forever; she needed to go out and experience challenges. In a way, it was simply going with the flow.

"Setting aside other things, this kid certainly has good luck. Last time he took a mission, he completed it in just four days, round trip. This time, who knows how long it will take."

Qian Wudang replied, "How long do you think it will take?"

"Who can say for sure? Last time, the mission target's last observed record by the Nightingales was ten days prior, so there were still traces to follow. This time is different; the target's last known whereabouts were recorded two full months ago. Even if the Division Head himself went to search, it would be pure luck. If luck is good, one or two months; if luck is bad, there might be no results for several years."

Qian Wudang immediately brightened. "That's not bad then."

"Why do you look so pleased?" the plump old man asked, puzzled.

"What do you know!" Qian Wudang couldn't be bothered to explain much. If the mission were completed too quickly, Yinxu wouldn't gain a sense of accomplishment, and without that, she'd stay by Lu Ye's side indefinitely. The current situation was quite good. Ideally, they would toil outside for several months with no results. Yinxu might then grow tired of the task, and he could persuade her with a few words. Why would he worry about her not changing her mind then?

At this thought, Qian Wudang's mood brightened considerably.

Four days later.

As Qian Wudang was handling official duties, he detected a message. A quick check left him utterly astonished. "The mission... it's completed?"

How could it have been completed so quickly? It made no sense at all. The previous mission was completed in four days, which could be attributed to good luck because the target hadn't moved from their last known location. But this time was different; the target's last recorded whereabouts were two months ago. In two months, who knew where the target might have gone? Calling it searching for a needle in a haystack wouldn't be an exaggeration.

This was also why such missions remained in the Hunter's Pavilion, with no teams willing to accept them. In fact, no team would specifically come to accept such missions. Most teams, when taking on other, more rewarding tasks, would carefully review these mission details, recording all the information about the targets. This way, while carrying out other lucrative missions, they could incidentally keep an eye out for these targets' whereabouts. If they were lucky, they could then apprehend the person. Once the person was captured, it would still count as completing the mission, and the combat achievement rewards would not be diminished in the slightest.

What was Lu Ye's secret? How could a mission that even the Division Head might not be able to complete be finished so easily by him? If it happened once, it could be called good luck, but a second time was suspicious.

As a Law Enforcement Division Head, Qian Wudang's mind was naturally very sharp. His first thought was of the exotic treasure, the Tracking Compass. However, he quickly dismissed that idea. Firstly, tracking compasses were extremely rare. Even if Lu Ye had one, he couldn't possibly have a second. Secondly, such an item was incredibly valuable. Using a tracking compass for a mission like this was clearly not worthwhile. For a moment, he couldn't figure out what method Lu Ye had used to complete the mission so quickly and efficiently. But the person indeed had been apprehended and sent to the Hall of Justice.

Meanwhile, in the Hunter's Pavilion.

The plump old man was also staring dumbfounded at Lu Ye, who had come to return the mission jade slip. Just days before, he had told Qian Wudang that this mission would take one or two months with good luck, or even years with bad luck. He never expected it to be completed in just a few short days.

"Kid, how did you do it?" the plump old man couldn't suppress his curiosity.

"Heavenly favor," Lu Ye casually bluffed. The plump old man naturally didn't believe his nonsense.

"Senior, taking only one mission at a time is too much hassle. Can I take several missions at once?"

For him, finding and apprehending people was incredibly simple. The only problem was the time spent traveling back and forth. If he could take several missions at once, his efficiency would improve.

"Normally... no, that's not allowed," the plump old man slowly explained. "Mainly, we're afraid you'll bite off more than you can chew. Besides, if you take all the missions, it wouldn't be fair to others. What if someone else wants to take those missions? So, the Hunter's Pavilion has always had a rule: only one mission can be accepted at a time."

"But no one else takes these missions anyway."

"Rules are rules. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished."

"Then, Senior, do you have any suggestions?" Lu Ye asked tentatively.

The plump old man chuckled. "You're foolish! The mission records are all here. Just remember the characteristics of these targets. You don't necessarily have to accept a mission to apprehend someone. When you bring someone back later, the mission acceptance process can be retroactively completed, and the rewards won't be less."

Lu Ye suddenly understood. "I've learned something new."

"But tell me honestly, kid, why do you think you can definitely complete all these missions? These people are hard to find; they're experts at hiding."

"Senior, aren't you aware there's an item called a Tracking Compass?"

"You ungrateful brat!" the plump old man huffed. "I just taught you a clever trick, and you're trying to fool me like that? That's not right."

A moment later, Lu Ye emerged from the Hunter's Pavilion, looking bewildered. He had spoken truthfully, so how had that become fooling someone? But he really had used a Tracking Compass to find people...

The next day, Lu Ye ascended into the sky, and the eight-person team set off once again.

Outside the Hunter's Pavilion, Qian Wudang watched Lu Ye depart, then turned and walked back inside.

The plump old man immediately grinned. "Well, if it isn't a rare guest! What brings the Division Head to my humble abode? Come, come, please have a seat."

Qian Wudang's eye twitched. "Old Division Head, can you please be more serious? Don't make fun of a junior."

The plump old man said with a smile, "What Old Division Head? There's only one Division Head in the Law Enforcement Division, and that's you."

"Do you think I *wanted* to be this Division Head? Wasn't it you who put me in this position?" Mentioning this filled Qian Wudang with indignation. Outsiders only saw the prestige of the Law Enforcement Division Head, but being the head of a division was no easy task. He had endless official duties to handle all day, with little time for leisure, and even less time to spend with Yinxu. If that old man hadn't tricked him back then, he would never have agreed to assume the position of Law Enforcement Division Head. And what was the result? Just days after he took over as the Law Enforcement Division Head, the old man, who should have been long dead, appeared alive and well before him, even taking charge of the Hunter's Pavilion. It was truly infuriating, right under his nose.

"Why bring up past events?" the plump old man chuckled. "So, Division Head, what brings you here? Do you have any instructions for me?"

Qian Wudang said, "That kid, Lu Ye, has he taken on that kind of mission again?"

"He has," the plump old man nodded.

"Didn't you ask him how he manages to find people so quickly?"

"I did ask. He said he used a Tracking Compass, which is clearly just trying to fool me. Items like Tracking Compasses are gifts from the heavens, not something anyone can just casually refine. Who would be foolish enough to use a Tracking Compass to complete a Hunter's Pavilion mission?"

Qian Wudang frowned. "Is there a possibility that he actually used a Tracking Compass?"

The plump old man looked at him, speechless. "Is he foolish, or are you?"

Qian Wudang certainly wouldn't admit he was foolish, so he said, "So, are you saying he completed those two missions merely out of good luck?"

The plump old man's expression turned solemn. "If a person's luck is *that* good, then it's extraordinary."

Qian Wudang's heart tensed, clearly realizing something. In the Nine Provinces, there was something called Heavenly Favor!

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