Chapter 153: Recruitment and Poaching

Soft jazz and violin melodies drifted through the cavernous banquet hall, blending with the dim lighting to impart an air of aristocratic elegance to the vast space.

Near the banquet tables, small clusters of people swirled long-stemmed wine glasses, chatting amongst themselves with low, gentle laughter.

Among the attendees were company employees, members of the Fusang diplomatic delegation, and disciples of the Tang Sect.

Tomorrow, having concluded a friendly exchange, the Fusang delegation would depart the Dragon Kingdom and return to their homeland.

This was a farewell banquet.

"It has been a great honor to witness such a remarkable sparring exchange between practitioners of the anomalous arts. I hope the ties between our two sides will grow ever stronger, building a sturdy bridge of friendship... I wish everyone a wonderful evening."

As the regional director for the Southwest, Hao Yi took to the stage to deliver a concluding speech, offering his blessings to the final moments of the exchange tournament and bringing it to a successful close.

Hao Yi's speech was followed by a scattering of polite applause.

Afterward, Bashan, Kawasaki Saburo, and others took the stage in turn to share their reflections.

Between the standard official rhetoric and the formulaic smiles plastered across their faces, just listening and watching was enough to induce a sense of drowsiness.

"When on earth is this banquet going to end?"

Hiding in a corner, Ye Yan clutched a glass of watermelon juice and sucked on the straw vigorously, a trace of minor grievance in his tone.

Had this occasion not been entirely impossible to decline, Ye Yan would have long since returned to his hotel room to sleep soundly.

As soon as the words left his mouth, no one responded for a long while. Puzzled, Ye Yan turned his head, only to discover that Liu Han, who had been standing beside him moments before, was now leaning against a marble pillar, holding a yellow-covered book and grinning stupidly to himself, completely oblivious to Ye Yan's voice.

"Brother Han, what are you reading?"

Curious, Ye Yan poked his head forward, dragging Liu Han back from the dog-paddling depths of the ocean of knowledge.

"Ah?!"

Startled back to reality by the voice, Liu Han froze, his face flushing bright red as he stammered hastily, "N—nothing much! Just found some casual reading."

Flustered, Liu Han scrambled to hide the book behind his back. Though his movements were fast, Ye Yan had already caught a glimpse of the title on the cover.

*The Pinnacle of National Studies... The Plum in the Golden Vase*.

Well, fair enough. It was a good book.

Ye Yan shook his head and chose not to pry into another man's privacy—after all, he was a man; he could understand.

Leaving Liu Han undisturbed to his reading, Ye Yan held his glass of juice and wandered aimlessly around the banquet hall.

"Brother Yan, flying solo?"

"Care to grab a drink?"

"..."

As he passed the outer tables, quite a few people who recognized him waved and greeted him. Ye Yan responded to each with a warm, amiable smile.

Though he didn't know who all these people were, he could roughly guess that a good eighty percent of them belonged to the Tang Sect.

Ever since he had rescued Tang Qingshui from the combat arena, Ye Yan's stature in the hearts of the Tang Sect disciples had grown immensely, and his popularity naturally soared alongside it.

Feeling rather bored, Ye Yan scanned the banquet hall once more. Before long, he spotted someone he found genuinely interesting—Li Lianxing.

This fellow, who was not yet thirty but dressed like a forty-year-old uncle, sat alone at a table, drinking milk while stifling a yawn. His listless demeanor made him look entirely out of place in his surroundings.

Passing by the bar, Ye Yan casually requested two glasses of wine before walking over to Li Lianxing's side.

"Is this seat taken?" Ye Yan asked, looking down at Li Lianxing, who was fiddling with his phone.

"Nope!"

Li Lianxing replied without even lifting his head.

"Great."

Hearing the answer, Ye Yan pulled out the chair beside Li Lianxing and sat down.

He separated the two glasses of red wine in his hands, pushed one across the table toward Li Lianxing, and asked with a smiling expression, "Care for a sip?"

Staring at the suddenly appeared wine glass before him, Li Lianxing refused without a second thought.

"Sorry, I don't drink..."

Before he could finish, he froze entirely, staring blankly at Ye Yan's face, a hint of confusion flickering in his eyes.

Holding his glass, Ye Yan took a small sip of wine before smiling and saying, "A grown man who can't drink won't get very far, you know."

"I really don't!"

Li Lianxing let out a wry chuckle and shook his head. "Alcohol impairs one's judgment. As an assassin, that sort of thing is a major taboo..."

"Fair enough."

Since Li Lianxing's reasoning was sound, Ye Yan didn't press the matter. "Mind if we chat for a bit?"

"With me?"

Li Lianxing's heart was filled with confusion.

He genuinely couldn't understand what a big shot and favored son of heaven like Ye Yan could possibly want to talk about with a nobody like him who lacked both fame and fortune.

Ye Yan's tone remained as mild as ever. "It doesn't look like there's anyone else around."

"Alright then."

Puzzled though he was, Li Lianxing didn't refuse. He slipped his phone back into his pocket, turned to look at Ye Yan, and maintained a natural expression.

He figured that a big shot like Ye Yan coming over to find him was most likely just looking for some amusement or a way to casually pass the time...

After all, this venue was quite tedious.

Setting down his wine glass, Ye Yan lowered his voice and spoke slowly:

"Li Lianxing, twenty-nine years old, native of Cidu, entered the Tang Sect Martial Arts School as an apprentice at seventeen, and has been graduated for three years now."

"Your public cover is as a security guard at Hongfu Homeland, but in secret, you are an assassin known by the code name 'Stinger,' doing dirty work for others."

Ye Yan reeled off Li Lianxing's personal profile and past background in a single breath, instantly sharpening the lazy man's gaze across the table. "You're investigating me?!"

Yet, beneath that vigilance, Li Lianxing's eyes harbored an even greater sense of bewilderment.

He simply couldn't fathom why a towering figure like Ye Yan would go to such lengths to investigate him. What could possibly be his purpose?

"No need to be so tense. I just wanted to understand you a little. No malicious intent."

Ye Yan merely smiled, paying no mind to Li Lianxing's guarded posture. Across from him, the assassin continued to stare intently, seemingly waiting for an explanation.

"Have you ever heard of the Night Department?"

Instead of answering why he had investigated Li Lianxing, Ye Yan shifted the topic directly.

"The Night Department? What's that?" Confusion remained thick in Li Lianxing's eyes.

Ye Yan chuckled softly. "The name of a faction—and a future apex faction at that."

"A faction? A *future apex* faction?"

Li Lianxing frowned.

He turned the name "Night Department" over in his mind a few times, but could find no trace of it whatsoever.

He was certain he had never heard of such an organization within the anomalous community.

Seeming to read the confusion in the other man's eyes, Ye Yan added, "Never heard of it, right?"

"That's completely normal... After all, it's a newly emerging faction, not famous yet."

"What does this Night Department of yours have to do with you investigating me?"

Faction or organization, Li Lianxing cared for neither.

Compared to that, he was far more concerned with why Ye Yan had dug up his personal records.

"Of course it has to do with it."

Ye Yan's smile persisted. "Because I want to invite you to join my faction—that is to say, the Night Department."

"Your faction... When did you go and build your own faction?"

Li Lianxing wore a look of astonishment.

"Just a few days ago."

"So *that's* why you investigated my background?"

"Exactly!"

Having taken such a winding path, Li Lianxing finally understood why Ye Yan had looked into him. As it turned out, the man wanted to recruit him.

Taking the opportunity, Ye Yan extended an olive branch: "So, how about it? Would you care to consider coming along and running with me?"

"Why me?"

Li Lianxing tilted his head, studying Ye Yan.

Even though he now knew Ye Yan's objective, deep down, he remained deeply puzzled.

From his perspective, since Ye Yan was building a faction of his own, he surely wouldn't lack for powerful experts.

A dignified Soul-Scutter had no business lowering his status to seek out a nobody like him and extend a personal invitation...

It simply defied common sense.

"I've read your file. It's very clean and quite satisfactory. Even though you take on dirty jobs, you only ever target wicked people, and your own strength isn't weak either. It's a very good fit for the Night Department."

"A fit?"

Li Lianxing remained hesitant. "Would you mind telling me what your organization actually does?"

"Funeral strike squad."

Li Lianxing: "???"

The bewilderment in his eyes grew even denser. Evidently, this was the first time he had ever heard such a bizarre term.

Ye Yan explained accordingly, "To put it simply, we provide a one-stop service covering both the execution and the burial."

Li Lianxing: "..."

"As things stand now, you aren't making all that much money each month. Come to the Night Department, and the compensation I offer you will only be higher than what you make now. What do you think?"

Ye Yan was well aware of Li Lianxing's situation and knew that he needed money.

Therefore, he directly deployed his financial superpowers, intending to poach Li Lianxing.

The assassin's gaze gradually returned to calm, devoid of any great fluctuations... It seemed he was weighing the pros and cons. Ye Yan didn't rush him.

After a moment, Li Lianxing raised his head and looked at Ye Yan. "Where is your Night Department located? How far is it from Cidu?"

"The specific location hasn't been finalized yet, but in all likelihood, it will be beyond the Shanhaiguan Pass."

"Beyond the Pass? Then that won't do."

Li Lianxing shook his head. "I'm not considering any place too far from my hometown..."

"There's still plenty of time. Don't rush to reject me just yet. Think it through carefully before you make a decision."

"If you come to the Night Department, your life will at least be a lot smoother than licking blood off the edge of a blade. Besides, aren't there still many people who depend on you?"

"..."

Hearing Ye Yan's words, Li Lianxing fell silent once more.

Clearly, Ye Yan had struck a nerve, shaking his newly hardened resolve all over again. Seizing the moment, Ye Yan handed his phone over to Li Lianxing.

"Alright, let's add each other on messaging. If you figure it out, you can contact me directly. The pay is negotiable."

Despite having met only a few times, Ye Yan held Li Lianxing in high regard.

This man was exceptionally well-suited for the Night Department.

"Alright!"

After adding each other as contacts, the two fell silent. Just as Ye Yan was about to use the opening to ask about Li Lianxing's situation back in his Cidu hometown, someone suddenly approached, interrupting their conversation.

The newcomer was a tall Fusang woman dressed in business attire. With thoroughly average looks possessing a charm of perhaps seven out of ten, she wore a genial smile and spoke fluent Dragon Kingdom Chinese.

"Pardon me for interrupting you gentlemen, but Miss Yagyu over there would like to invite Mr. Ye to sit with her. I wonder if Mr. Ye might have a moment?"

"Miss Yagyu?"

Ye Yan was momentarily stunned, then followed the direction of the woman's outstretched hand. Not far away, at a round table, Yagyu Aiko sat in casual wear, gazing toward them from afar.

"What does she want with me?"

Throughout the event, the Fusang delegation had been entirely looked after by the Ba brothers, and Ye Yan had not had much contact with them.

For Yagyu Aiko to issue such an abrupt invitation naturally struck Ye Yan as rather strange.

"I'm not certain..."

The Fusang woman's smile was radiant. "Miss Yagyu simply asked to invite Mr. Ye over for a chat. She didn't elaborate on anything else."

"Very well."

Ye Yan understood the situation well enough in his heart.

Since it was an invitation, he might as well go and see what she was up to, just to find out what cards the other side was holding.

"If you're interested in this invitation, just contact me directly. I have some matters to attend to now, so I won't stay here to keep you company any longer."

"Understood, please go ahead with your business. If I make up my mind, I'll give you a call..."

"Great."

After exchanging a few brief words, the two parted ways. Once Ye Yan left, Li Lianxing let out an involuntary breath of relief. Sitting across from a man like Ye Yan really carried a fair bit of pressure.

...

...

"Good evening, Miss Yagyu. I wonder if there's a particular reason you suddenly wanted to see me?"

Ye Yan sat down opposite Yagyu Aiko, while the woman who had guided him over stood respectfully by their side, acting as a bridge of communication between them.

Seeing Ye Yan arrive, the woman with the ice-sculpted face offered a faint smile.

"There isn't any particular matter. I simply wished to make the acquaintance of a brilliant young talent like Mr. Ye."

"You flatter me, Miss Yagyu. On the contrary, a woman possessing both such beauty and strength as yourself is a rare sight indeed."

"I pale far too much in comparison to Mr. Ye."

"..."

Yagyu Aiko sat upright in her chair, a cascade of smooth, raven-black hair draped over her shoulders.

Against the backdrop of the banquet hall's lighting, her frosty, exquisite visage and alluring curves were vividly displayed, making her look like a celestial maiden fallen into the mortal realm—so much so that even Ye Yan found himself lingering on her for a few extra glances.

In the years since his transmigration, Ye Yan had seen no shortage of beautiful women. Figures like Xia He, Feng Baobao, Tao Tao, and Li Ziyuan each possessed vastly different styles and charms of their own.

Yet a woman with a temperament as chillingly aloof as Yagyu Aiko's—resembling a proud, unapproachable snow-capped mountain—was a first for him.

After those few brief pleasantries, the atmosphere conversely grew somewhat stiff.

They were hardly familiar with one another, nor were either of them particularly talkative. Beyond the opening remarks, they found themselves at a loss for words. Ultimately, it was the host of the invitation, Yagyu Aiko, who broke the ice and steered the conversation.

"I wonder what Mr. Ye's thoughts are regarding our Fusang islands?"

"Thoughts?"

A trace of doubt stirred in Ye Yan's heart, though he kept it off his face.

He smiled and parried the question smoothly.

"Fusang... well, how should I put it? It's quite a decent country, I suppose. It gave birth to great sword-masters like Miyamoto Gusan and beauties like Miss Aiko..."

Yagyu Aiko smiled faintly, her lips curving. "Mr. Ye is too kind. Is that truly what you think in your heart?"

"I suppose... yes?"

"You suppose?"

"Right... I suppose."

Without knowing Yagyu Aiko's true intentions, Ye Yan wanted to probe the waters, so he simply picked some agreeable things to say to gauge her reaction.

"Since that is Mr. Ye's view, Aiko will speak frankly."

"Please go right ahead, Miss Yagyu."

Ye Yan took a sip of his juice, quietly waiting for Yagyu Aiko's next words.

"Very well."

The latter nodded, dropping any further pretense and cutting straight to the point:

"If I were to say that the Yagyu family wishes to invite Mr. Ye to Fusang as an honored guest elder, I wonder what your thoughts might be on the matter?"