After waiting for three days, Zhou Cen finally emerged from an SUV, his face square and weary, but his eyes alight with an unusual brightness, as if they contained flickering flames.

"My lord, we’ve arrived," Zhou Cen announced as he walked around to open the car door, his smile ingratiating. The other members of the Special Affairs Bureau, who had come to meet the dignitary, strained their necks to catch a glimpse of the person inside the vehicle.

"Thud." A black hem of cloth floated out first, catching the sunlight and transforming the otherwise mundane black into a dazzling display.

Not far away, a handsome young man approached, dressed in a white shirt, black trousers, and white sneakers. Despite the simplicity of his attire, the young man exuded an air of elegance.

The young man yawned, covering his mouth with one hand while his other hand idly pushed a tuft of hair from his forehead. He paused as he saw the crowd gathered, his eyes narrowing. Then, his gaze landed on the figure in the center and stayed fixed.

"Shark gauze!" The young man’s eyes widened as he exclaimed, rushing into the crowd with the speed of an Olympic sprinter. He pushed past Zhou Cen, dropping to one knee before the girl revealed from the car. Trembling, he grasped a small piece of the fabric of her dress, his cold face showing a rare look of reverence. "Ah, it truly is shark gauze. I never thought I’d see such a fine example in my lifetime!"

The Special Affairs Bureau members collectively grimaced at the familiar sight.

"Oh no, our research chief Lin is at it again, wasting his good looks on his obsessions!"

Their gazes shifted from the girl’s delicate face to her luxurious black dress, eyes gleaming with an unspoken heat.

Shark gauze, also known as dragon gauze, is translucent and light yet incredibly durable. It is water-resistant, flame-retardant, and dust-repellent.

Ling Ji’s dress, completely black and with an elegant drape, showed faint shimmering patterns, clearly made from a rare variant of shark gauze.

"What materials did you add?" Chief Lin finally tore his gaze away from the fabric, directing it to its owner. "Can you sell me some?"

The collective intake of breath from the surrounding agents expressed their astonishment and admiration.

Truly fearless.

Zhou Cen’s ever-present smile wavered as he briskly stepped forward, slapping Chief Lin’s hand away and lifting him by the collar. "Chief Lin, our esteemed guest, Lady Ling Ji, must not be treated so rudely!" He cast a pleading glance at Ming Ying.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Ming Ying wiped the cold sweat from his brow and swiftly stepped forward to escort Lin away. "Chief Lin, I have a near-dragon demon core for you to examine."

Chief Lin’s struggles ceased instantly. "Really?"

"Yes, really."

"...Let’s go, then." After a brief hesitation, his curiosity won over his fascination with the fabric, and he followed Ming Ying towards the lab, still glancing back longingly.

Zhou Cen turned to Ling Ji with an apologetic smile. "Please forgive him. Chief Lin is dedicated to researching new materials and loses control when encountering rare specimens. But he only reacts this way to exceptional materials. Your robe is truly unique and exceptional."

His words were a subtle compliment, drawing nods and murmurs of agreement from the others.

"Indeed, it’s an honor to see such rare shark gauze."

"Yes, I've been here for years, and it's my first time seeing this exquisite fabric."

"You truly embody elegance and grace, your attire is unparalleled."

Xing Miao, following Ling Ji, listened to the usually aloof Special Affairs Bureau members showering her with praise. She couldn’t help but step back to check the plaque at the entrance.

—Special Affairs Bureau, Peng City.

No mistake.

"Deputy Director Zhou," Xing Miao interjected, "Have you prepared the house and money?"

"Lady Ling Ji has traveled a long way and is tired."

"I..." Ling Ji started to deny her fatigue but changed her mind upon seeing Xing Miao’s signal. "Yes, I’m tired and need rest." She paused, then added, "And food."

Zhou Cen’s group: "..."

It was clear where her priorities lay.

"Food has been prepared, awaiting your arrival," Zhou Cen said warmly. "We’ll eat first, then take you to see the house."

Ling Ji looked at Xing Miao, who nodded slightly.

With that, refusing would seem petty.

Ling Ji happily followed Zhou Cen to the dining hall, Xing Miao trailing behind, while Jin Hong, a newcomer, gawked at the surroundings.

Turning a corner, they passed through a shaded path, and a tall black tower came into view. Jin Hong’s body stiffened, and she struggled to breathe.

"What is that?" she asked aloud.

A staff member eagerly explained, "That’s the Demon Sealing Tower, used to imprison heinous demons."

"Demon... Sealing Tower?" Jin Hong felt her body go cold, instinctively gripping Ling Ji’s sleeve.

She had heard tales of this tower when she was young, warnings from elder demons about its terror.

Ling Ji glanced at the black tower, then smirked, "Nothing to fear."

It looked impressive, but compared to her celestial prison, it was nothing.

"Yes," Jin Hong nodded firmly, her fear dissipating, though she continued to cling to Ling Ji’s sleeve.

Ling Ji didn’t mind, letting her hold on as they walked.

Behind them, a young staff member with dyed yellow hair felt indignant at Ling Ji’s dismissive comment about the tower. He nearly stepped forward to argue but was stopped by Zhao Jiong’s quick intervention.

"Where is Elder Ming Qi?" Zhao Jiong asked, surprised not to see him. Peng City’s Special Affairs Bureau had four elders: Kong Jing, Ming Ying, Ming Qi, and Wan Qiu. Wan Qiu, being nocturnal, wasn’t expected during the day, and Kong Jing was on a mission in the west. But Ming Qi’s absence was unexpected, given Ling Ji’s arrival.

"He’s in Jing Garden," the young staff member replied. "He said he wanted to spend time with Master Jie Zhi."

Zhao Jiong’s eyes narrowed with understanding. He patted the young man’s shoulder, "Be very respectful to her. Treat her like a deity."

"Why? Is she very important?" the young man asked, puzzled. They had only been informed that a powerful demon who had greatly assisted the deputy director was visiting, but not much else.

"You’ll understand eventually," Zhao Jiong replied cryptically.

Ling Ji appeared young, but her age was ancient. Few who knew her true identity were still alive, and those stories had faded into legend, known only to a few ancient families and powerful demons.

Seeing Zhao Jiong’s seriousness, the young man adjusted his attitude, regarding Ling Ji with newfound respect.

In Jing Garden, Ming Qi nudged his friend lying under a pear tree. "Ling Ji has arrived. Are you ready?"

The man opened his eyes, brushing petals off his face to reveal a refined, gentle appearance. Jie Zhi’s lips curved into a smile, "Don’t worry, I have a plan."

"Oh, you’re confident?" Ming Qi glanced at his friend’s calm demeanor. "I just fear..."

"Shut up," Jie Zhi jumped up, covering Ming Qi’s mouth. "Don’t jinx it."

He had painstakingly gathered everything; nothing could go wrong now.

"Then return to your garden," Ming Qi suggested, pushing him out. "I need to reinforce this place."

"Didn’t you just reinforce it?"

Ming Qi waved him off, "This time it’s different."

As the gate closed, Ming Qi began casting protective sigils over his garden, ensuring it would withstand any potential conflict from Ling Ji’s visit.

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