The next morning, Yu Daochen groggily opened his eyes to see a middle-aged man talking with Biao Tao. Beside them, an old man in a yellow Taoist robe sat with his eyes closed, meditating.
"Boss Yu is awake," the old man slowly opened his eyes and said.
Biao Tao and the middle-aged man were interrupted by the old man and both turned to look at Yu Daochen.
Yu Daochen sized up the two men. The middle-aged man talking with Biao Tao was likely from the Supernatural Affairs Bureau.
Seeing Yu Daochen awake, Biao Tao began to introduce them. "This is Elder Zhao, the Grand Elder of the Tongtian Sect."
The Tongtian Sect was a branch of Taoism, the largest Taoist sect in the northeast. Rumor had it that its sect leader was the number one ranked on the Heaven List.
Yu Daochen nodded. Biao Tao continued his introduction. "And this is Shen Daoxiu, the general manager for the North China region."
Shen Daoxiu, seeing Yu Daochen observing him, offered a polite smile. "Rumor has it that six months ago, a peerless prodigy emerged in Jiangsu. At just seventeen years old, he secured the top position on the Earth List with his sorcery."
Yu Daochen shook his head. "I'm merely the owner of a small introduction agency."
Shen Daoxiu chuckled. "I didn't expect Boss Yu to be not only exceptionally skilled but also so humble."
Biao Tao glanced at the two military jeeps outside and lowered his voice. "Mr. Shen, time is almost up."
Shen Daoxiu nodded, stood up, and walked towards the door, leaving behind a parting remark. "I look forward to our next meeting, Boss Yu."
Yu Daochen watched the jeeps drive away and turned to Biao Tao. "Isn't this your territory?"
Biao Tao nodded. "They instructed me to hand the person over to them. You know I have people above me managing things."
The seven major regions of Huaxia were responsible for managing and coordinating the entire supernatural world of Huaxia, and Biao Tao's immediate superior was the general manager of the East China region.
Yu Daochen shook his head and was about to take out his phone to make a call when Biao Tao said mysteriously, "Master Yu, don't you find it strange?"
Yu Daochen frowned, his confusion growing. "You mean they're problematic?"
Biao Tao shook his head, his eyes fixed on the direction the jeeps had departed. "If that's the case, why didn't they let North China handle it from the beginning?"
Yu Daochen yawned. "It doesn't matter. At least this hot potato has been passed to someone else."
Biao Tao nodded and said he had other matters to attend to, then left.
Watching Biao Tao's receding figure, a trace of coldness flashed across Yu Daochen's face.
"The woman's heart is not beating," a voice came from the backyard.
Yu Daochen's brow furrowed. The first time he saw the woman, he felt no signs of life from her. Instead, she felt like a corpse controlled by a soul.
Time flowed by. Yu Daochen closed his shop and returned to his room to meditate.
When Yu Daochen came to, it was already seven in the evening. He casually prepared something to eat and then heated water, preparing to open for business.
Yu Daochen checked his phone. It was 11:40. He was just about to open the door.
"Someone's outside," a voice came from the backyard.
Yu Daochen stopped his steps towards the shop door, his eyes fixed on it.
A hurried voice made Yu Daochen's heart tighten. "Quick, possess me!"
Before Yu Daochen could react, the shop door was blasted open by a powerful force, and then a strong gust of wind swept into the shop.
Yu Daochen shielded his face with his hand. As the wind gradually dispersed, the shop lights suddenly went out, and a figure sat down on a nearby chair.
Yu Daochen felt someone next to him. The moment he turned his head, he felt a surge of force grip his neck, lifting him up.
Yu Daochen tried to pry it open, but it felt like being held by pliers; he couldn't budge it.
The figure turned towards the backyard. "He wasn't this weak before."
Then, he turned back to Yu Daochen. Yu Daochen, struggling to breathe, felt his eyelids slowly begin to droop.
Yu Daochen stared at the figure before him. He couldn't see the face clearly, but the pair of blood-red eyes made his hair stand on end.
The figure stared at Yu Daochen, slightly loosening its grip. It let out a cold snort. "It seems you'll never grow up if you don't go out and train."
With that, it released its hand and struck Yu Daochen's chest with a palm.
Yu Daochen was sent flying, crashing into the wall and losing consciousness.
The figure looked at the unconscious Yu Daochen, shook its head, and walked out of the shop.
The shop lights returned to normal.
In his dream, Yu Daochen dreamt he was bathing in a pool of clear water. He looked down and realized he had transformed into a woman.
Her enchanting figure and her eyes, which seemed to hold a depth of affection, were captivating.
Beside her, a young man leaned against a large tree, scanning their surroundings. "I really don't understand what's so great about that emperor that you like him."
The woman smiled faintly. "Him? I don't know why I like him so much, but he has an indescribable charm."
The man snorted coldly, stood up, and walked around the tree to the woman.
Just as the woman was about to speak, the man kissed her directly, clasping her hands. Under the moonlight, their figures appeared exceptionally enchanting.
Yu Daochen looked at the man's face, but no matter how he looked, a layer of white mist obscured it, making it impossible to see clearly.
However, those red eyes were unforgettable to Yu Daochen. Weren't they the same eyes as the black-clothed man who had tried to kill him?
Yu Daochen suddenly opened his eyes, his forehead covered in sweat. He looked around and realized he had been knocked unconscious by a palm strike.
As he tried to get up, a chill spread from his chest throughout his body, piercingly cold, as if all his blood had frozen.
Yu Daochen gasped for breath. Just as he was about to faint, the chill gradually subsided.
With great effort, Yu Daochen crawled onto the rocking chair. "What happened last night?"
"He struck you with a palm and then left," that voice sounded.
Yu Daochen lifted his shirt and saw a black palm print on his chest.
Yu Daochen looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "There's a cold energy in this palm print. I should get rid of it first."
"It can't be removed," the voice replied.
Yu Daochen's brow furrowed. He examined the palm print more closely. "It can't be removed?"
"I tried last night, and it couldn't be removed at all," the voice continued.
Yu Daochen's frown deepened. There were very few things in the world that even he couldn't resolve.
Yu Daochen hesitated for a moment, then picked up his phone, scrolled to a number, and dialed it.
"Beep, beep." After two rings, the call was answered, and an old man's voice came through. "Hello, who is this?"
A smile appeared on Yu Daochen's face. "Old man, it's me, Xiao Yu."
The voice on the other end chuckled. "Xiao Yu, what can I do for you today?"