Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Why Is the Hierarch of the Invincible Alliance Here

"The Alliance Hierarch?"

Ao Er’s expression changed. "The only one who can be called ’Alliance Hierarch’ is the Invincible Alliance’s leader, Ao Yin."

Feng Xuan frowned. "What’s he doing here?"

He didn’t have a good impression of this Ao Yin.

"Let’s go take a look first," Ao Er instructed. "If he’s here for me, remember to stay away."

A massive crowd of people filled the small plaza. Feng Xuan and Ao Er blended in, soon spotting Yu An, who was also mixed in with the group of supervisors.

They exchanged a glance, then watched as the mine manager obsequiously invited a man onto the high platform.

Ao Yin stood on the platform and scanned the crowd... Hmm, he didn’t see the person he was looking for.

He was looking for Ao Er, but the miners all had their heads down. Their faces were covered in dust from their recent shift, making them hard to distinguish.

So, Ao Yin ordered his subordinates to go down and search. Watching the men get closer and closer, Ao Er discreetly put some distance between himself and Feng Xuan.

"No, not him. Not this one either... Go check over there."

Finally, upon seeing Ao Er’s gaunt but familiar face, Ao Yin’s man breathed a sigh of relief. "You. Come with me."

Ao Er said nothing, stopping Feng Xuan with a look before following Ao Yin’s man out.

Having found his man, Ao Yin waved his hand at the mine manager, who immediately announced, "All right, everyone disperse! And another thing—without my orders, no one is to enter or leave the mining area!"

Seeing Ao Er being led away and hearing the manager’s words, Yu An’s heart sank.

After following the crowd back to Old Lin’s quarters, Yu An thought it over and decided to sneak over to Feng Xuan’s place to discuss a plan with him.

Feng Xuan was waiting for her. Ao Yin’s arrival had led to more guards on patrol outside. The manager had ordered that no miners were allowed to go out, lest they offend their distinguished guest. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The supervisors, however, had much more freedom. Yu An reached Feng Xuan’s place without any trouble.

As soon as she entered the room, she saw Feng Xuan pacing anxiously.

"An’an, Second Brother Ao was deliberately lured to the Underground Mine by Ao Yin’s people! He’s definitely going to harm him!"

Yu An took a deep breath. "Don’t panic yet. I’ll see if I can get close. If it’s dangerous, I’ll throw caution to the wind, pull you and Second Brother Ao into my space, and we’ll just bust our way out. Ao Wu is waiting outside, ready to back me up at a moment’s notice."

The problem now was how to get close to Ao Yin. He was the Alliance Hierarch, while she, disguised as Old Lin, was just a lowly supervisor. She had no legitimate reason to approach him and would certainly be unable to.

She’d probably be driven away before she could even get close.

Feng Xuan paused. "An’an, when the three of us arrived on the Beast God Continent, we landed in the sky above the Invincible Alliance. We also promised Ao Yin we’d do something for him..."

He quickly explained what had happened to Yu An, then said, "What if I use that as a pretext to request an audience with the Alliance Hierarch, and you take me to him?"

Yu An considered it, then said hesitantly, "You and Second Brother Ao have been living in the same room for so long. What if Ao Yin suspects you’ve been turned by him...?"

"Who says living in the same room means you have to be close?" Feng Xuan replied instantly. "To avoid suspicion, Second Brother Ao and I have always acted like complete strangers in public. Ask any steward or supervisor from the Underground Mine, and they’ll tell you we don’t get along."

Yu An thought for a moment. "Should we... give it a try?"

Given the depth of Ao Yin’s resentment toward Ao Jin, he certainly wouldn’t treat Ao Jin’s son, Ao Er, well. He might even resort to torture.

With that thought, the two of them sprang into action.

Yu An had used the excuse of collecting a debt from Feng Xuan to come here. When she tried to lead Feng Xuan out, a guard immediately stopped them. "Supervisor Lin, do you need to drag a miner out just to collect a debt?"

"No, no," Yu An said hurriedly. "This miner claims to know the Alliance Hierarch and has an urgent matter to report to him. I thought I should take him to see the Alliance Hierarch."

Seeing the guard hesitate, she added a touch of fear to her voice. "If it’s nothing, that’s fine. The worst that can happen is we get a scolding. But if it’s true, and we delay the Alliance Hierarch’s important business... we’ll all be punished!"

The guard shivered. "Then you’d better go quickly. You two, go with Supervisor Lin."

Yu An’s expression remained unchanged as she gestured for Feng Xuan to walk forward.

When they arrived at Ao Yin’s location, they were stopped again.

Yu An gave her practiced reason for seeking an audience with the Alliance Hierarch. The guards exchanged a look and decided to go inside to report it.

Soon, the guard who had gone to report returned. "The Alliance Hierarch said to let you two in. The rest of you can go back."

That last sentence was directed at the guards who had accompanied Yu An.

Yu An and Feng Xuan followed the guard inside. She kept her head down, trying her best not to let Ao Yin notice anything unusual.

Feng Xuan, on the other hand, swaggered in, looking for all the world as if he were coming home.

Ao Yin had just been about to interrogate Ao Er when the guard came to report. Curious about this so-called "old acquaintance," he had them brought in first.

The moment Feng Xuan stepped into the room, Ao Yin recognized him.

"You..."

"Alliance Hierarch!"

Feng Xuan immediately rushed forward, his eyes welling with tears. "I’ve finally found you!"

Ao Yin was a bit baffled. ’Although we’ve met, it was only once. We don’t have much of a connection. Is it really necessary to be this emotional?’

Feng Xuan was so emotional he looked like he was about to burst into tears, which successfully captured all of Ao Yin’s attention.

"Oh, Alliance Hierarch, you have no idea what a miserable life I’ve been living! If I had known the Underground Mine was Invincible Alliance territory, I would have told them my identity long ago and gotten out sooner!"

"Wait," Ao Yin gestured for him to shut up. "What identity?"

Feng Xuan said matter-of-factly, "My identity as a member of the Invincible Alliance, of course. You gave me a task, so naturally, I’m one of your people."

"I’ve suffered so much in this mine! Look at me, look how skinny I’ve gotten!"

"And the mission you gave me," Feng Xuan said with a tragic expression, "I can’t even escape the Underground Mine, let alone complete it."

Ao Yin understood.

The Death Abyss, the Underground Mine, and the Coral Maze City—the three main places that "sucked in" Beastmen for the Invincible Alliance—did not distinguish between friend and foe.

Any Beastman could potentially be pulled in, so members of the Invincible Alliance always carried their identification. If they were ever pulled in, they could get out by presenting it.

But Feng Xuan and the other two didn’t have any, which was why they had been trapped inside.

A flicker of understanding crossed Ao Yin’s face. "I see. I’ll take you with me when I leave and restore your freedom."

Feng Xuan was overjoyed. "Thank you, Alliance Hierarch! I’ll get right to the task you assigned me as soon as I’m out!"

"No rush, no rush," Ao Yin said, deliberately asking, "From what I understand, during your time in the Underground Mine, you’ve been living with the Beastman I just had brought here?"

Feng Xuan acted confused. "Yes, why?"

"Alliance Hierarch, did you take him away because there’s something wrong with him?"

Ao Yin sighed. "There’s something you don’t know. That person is actually named Ao Er. He’s from the Dragon Clan—the son of the Dragon Clan Leader, in fact."

Feng Xuan’s eyes widened instantly, and he blurted out, "Doesn’t that mean I’ve been living with one of my enemies all this time?"

"Whew, good thing we don’t get along. I never told him anything. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to sleep soundly at night."

Ao Yin paused. "You don’t get along with him?"