Chapter 443: Beichen Star
“Replaced? What do you mean?” Ning Xuan asked, her brow furrowing.
“He had a tragic past and was always alone, with no close friends. However, he once privately asked me to look into some rather secret matters, so I know a bit about his personal life. A while back, his behavior became erratic. I tested him covertly and discovered he knew nothing about those matters. That’s how I know he’s been replaced,” Liu Linfeng said, his expression grave.
After discovering this, he immediately realized there was likely a deeper conspiracy at play and began a more thorough investigation.
Liu Linfeng compiled the information he’d secretly gathered into a booklet. Not daring to transmit it over the Star Network, he planned to deliver it directly to Ning Xuan.
Yu Mingche motioned for Feng Linran to take the booklet. After inspecting it, Feng Linran handed it to Ning Xuan. As Ning Xuan flipped through its pages, an expression of unconcealable shock appeared on her face.
“It seems you were targeted a long time ago,” Ning Xuan said, her voice strained.
Ning Xuan had thought she could secretly cultivate and expand her own forces, but she never expected to be exposed so early. Thinking back, she realized the tasks she had given to Liu Linfeng and the others had proceeded without error only because their enemies had a grander scheme in mind and didn’t want to tip their hand too soon.
“Yes. It is all my fault for my incompetence. I don’t know where I slipped up,” Liu Linfeng said, kneeling in self-reproach to ask for punishment.
“This isn’t your fault. Fortunately, you discovered the problem in time. Ming Che, send people to assist Liu Linfeng and clean out the traitors and spies as quickly as possible. Also, conduct tiered identity verifications for all major auction houses, merchant caravans, and company members at every level. Weed out every single suspicious individual,” Ning Xuan said to Yu Mingche.
“Yes, Contractor. I’ll see to it at once.” Yu Mingche nodded and glanced at Feng Linran, who immediately withdrew to silently carry out the orders.
The reason Liu Linfeng’s team, secretly supported by Ning Xuan, had problems was because they had grown too quickly. They recruited too many members in a short time, which inevitably led to oversights in background checks. Besides, such untested members were extremely easy to bribe or turn.
In contrast, the chances of this happening to the teams under Yu Mingche and Ying Yaoshi were much lower. Even if one or two bad apples appeared, it wouldn’t be enough to affect the overall situation.
However, since Ning Xuan had ordered a full review, Yu Mingche immediately sent official notices to Ying Yaoshi, Yun Han, Lin Mo, and the others. Although their industries had already been transferred to Ning Xuan’s name, it was still proper to inform them before taking such action.
Ying Yaoshi and Lin Mo quickly responded, stating they would have their people cooperate with the investigation.
The unfolding situation greatly vexed Yu Mingche. One by one, the various industries transferred to Ning Xuan’s name began experiencing problems. Outside of Central Star, primary mining sites on B-level, A-level, and even S-Class Resource Stars were hit by Mutant Beast attacks. Both the production and transportation of mineral resources were disrupted, forcing him to dispatch personnel to investigate and quell the incidents.
With problems popping up in so many places, his manpower was stretched thin.
Ning Xuan was in the Alchemy Room performing Alchemy. Just as she finished preparing the medicinal herbs, she felt her Light Computer vibrate. Ning Xuan activated it and saw an incoming video call from Chen Nan.
A while ago, Ning Xuan had given him a three-month leave to visit his family. Chen Nan knew Ning Xuan disliked being disturbed and would normally only send greetings in their group chat. ‘For him to request a video call now,’ she thought, ‘something must have happened.’
Ning Xuan accepted the call and saw Chen Nan looking at her with panicked eyes. “Contractor, please, you have to save my brother and father!”
Just as Ning Xuan was about to ask what was wrong, the screen shifted, and Yu Mingche’s face appeared. “Xuanyuan, I’m handling it. Don’t worry.”
“Everyone to the small conference room. Notify Lin Mo to return for a meeting.” Ning Xuan put away her medicinal herbs, rose, and immediately left the Alchemy Room.
The moment Ning Xuan moved, Qinghe, who had been lying on a ceiling beam, leaped down with a SWISH and followed behind her.
When Ning Xuan arrived at the small conference room, Yu Mingche, Di Youlin, Chen Nan, Nine-tailed, and Yan Fuzhen were already there.
Yu Mingche was seated in the first chair to the left of the head seat, with Nine-tailed standing behind him. Chen Nan and the others stood to the side. Seeing Ning Xuan arrive, Yu Mingche rose to greet her. “Xuanyuan, it wasn’t supposed to be a major issue. Chen Nan’s worry is getting the better of him; he’s just too anxious.”
Ever since Liu Linfeng discovered the infiltration and the large-scale purge began, Yu Mingche hadn’t had a moment of peace.
“You’ve worked hard lately. Tell me what happened; I might as well hear it too. Everyone, sit.” Ning Xuan’s second Companion Spirit had been showing unusual fluctuations recently, forcing her into secluded Cultivation for over twenty days. Her condition had only just stabilized yesterday, and today she had been preparing to perform Alchemy on some urgently needed Elixir Pills.
“Lord Contract Master, my brother and father have been kidnapped! They’re threatening to torture and kill them unless I find a way to lure you to Beichen Star within three days,” Chen Nan said, his eyes red as he looked at Ning Xuan.
Ning Xuan noticed a white letter placed in front of Yu Mingche. On it was writing in blood-red ink, along with two crimson fingerprints.
“Beichen Star is in a strategic but perilous location. It connects to the Ten Great Secret Realms and hides many jump points. All the major powers have garrisons there. It’s a place beyond the reach of Federation law, a lawless den where all sorts of people gather. It is extremely dangerous.” As Yu Mingche spoke, he stared coldly at Chen Nan.
“Contractor, my mother refuses to get involved. I have no other choice!” Chen Nan pleaded, kneeling on the floor as he looked at Ning Xuan.
He didn’t want to lure Ning Xuan to Beichen Star, but he couldn’t just stand by and watch his father and brother in danger.
“Chen Nan, a month ago, I reminded you to tell your family not to leave Central Star. Did you not warn them?” Yu Mingche asked, staring at Chen Nan.
Among Ning Xuan’s Contractors, Lan Xin and Nine-tailed had no family, while the clans of Lin Mo, Yun Han, and Di Youlin were all powerful. Only Chen Nan’s family was weak, making them a likely target. That was why Yu Mingche had sent people to the Chen Family long ago, specifically to ensure their safety and prevent the enemy from finding an opening.
“I did warn them, but…” Chen Nan started to explain.
“Enough. When did you receive the threatening letter?” Ning Xuan asked, cutting Chen Nan off.
“Half an hour ago,” Chen Nan answered quickly.
“Ming Che, prepare dossiers on all the major powers on Beichen Star. We’re going there tomorrow,” Ning Xuan said to Yu Mingche.
“No, Ning Xuan! The forces hiding in the shadows have undoubtedly laid a trap there, waiting for you to walk right into it. It’s too dangerous. You can’t go. I’ll find a way to rescue Chen Nan’s family,” Yu Mingche said.