The news of the explosion at the Pei estate was spreading rapidly across every major channel.

At the same time, reports about newly appearing rifts flooded the broadcasts, with Espers across the country being deployed for suppression missions.

Inside the CEA headquarters,which also housed the research facility, Director Shen Jue sat inside his office, calmly speaking on the phone when the office doors slammed open.

Doctor Shen Bowen stormed inside.

"Brother?" Shen Jue quickly hung up and looked over in surprise. "What’s wrong? Why do you look so furious?"

He rose to his feet and walked toward the older man, but Doctor Shen Bowen stared at him like he was looking at an idiot.

"You dare ask me that after what I just heard?" he snapped. "The Pei family estate exploded."

Shen Jue blinked. "The Pei family estate exploded?"

Doctor Shen Bowen’s frown deepened dangerously. "Does this look like a joke to you?"

Shen Jue laughed softly, patting his brother’s shoulder. "Calm down, brother, you’ll give yourself a heart attack at this rate."

He returned to his desk. "Apparently the family was having dinner together at the time. So they’re all dead. Except for the eldest son who is actually one of our new guides. A C rank."

Shen Bowen narrowed his eyes sharply. "You had nothing to do with it?"

Shen Jue looked genuinely amused. "Brother, you wound me."

He waved dismissively toward the door. "Now go. I’m about to have a very important meeting, and I’d rather not have you collapsing dramatically in my office."

But before Shen Bowen could respond, footsteps approached from outside and a voice spoke from the doorway.

"Your meeting has already arrived, Shen Jue."

Both men turned.

A tall Esper stood there with two suited escorts behind him.

He had black hair, a scar beneath one eye, a broad build and an overwhelming presence that instantly changed the atmosphere inside the office.

"You’re Shao Jingxin," Doctor Shen Bowen said in surprise as he stared at the man standing at the doorway.

"Oh?" Jingxin blinked before smiling. "You know who I am? I didn’t realize I was nearly as popular as my brother."

He casually walked past him. "Shall we begin, Shen Jue?"

Shen Bowen turned sharply toward Shen Jue. "What are you doing with the Old Blood Faction?"

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with," Shen Jue replied coldly. "Stick to your laboratory work, brother, and I’ll handle mine."

Then more sternly, "Leave."

Shen Bowen narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

His gaze flickered toward Jingxin, who had already seated himself comfortably across the office like he owned the place.

After a tense moment, Shen Bowen finally turned and left.

The office doors shut behind him.

Silence settled.

Shen Jue slowly walked toward the chair opposite Jingxin and sat down.

Meanwhile, Jingxin leaned back lazily with one leg crossed over the other.

"This office has quite the view," he remarked casually while glancing toward the massive glass walls overlooking the glittering skyscrapers outside.

Then his gaze shifted back to Shen Jue.

"You..." He cleared his throat. "You were the one responsible for the explosion at the Pei estate."

Jingxin’s dark eyes slowly shifted into a faint golden hue. "Yes."

His lips curled faintly. "I already told you that in the message I sent. That’s why I arranged this meeting."

Shen Jue tensed up. Which made Shao Jingxin smile in response.

"Relax. I’m not here to kill you." He leaned forward. "I only came to confirm something."

His smile widened. "Are you blind?"

Shen Jue blinked in confusion. "...What?"

Jingxin suddenly burst into laughter. "You really are blind."

His laughter slowly faded as he sighed dramatically. "Don’t you know your precious guide is still alive?"

The atmosphere instantly froze. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Jingxin tilted his head. "The Pei family were among the people hiding him. Treating him. Keeping him alive. You truly didn’t know?"

Shen Jue’s eyes widened sharply. "What?"

For the first time, genuine shock crossed his face. "No... that’s impossible."

He leaned forward. "The official reports from Shao Xinyuan and Commander Jiang Zhaohe confirmed his death. They said he was killed by an evolving S-Class monster alongside another guide. Besides... Shao Xinyuan has been unstable ever since his guide died. There’s no way..."

"Blind," Shao Jingxin interrupted and rose to his feet.

"Anyway, I’m not actually here to discuss that." His lips curled faintly. "I only found out he was alive today myself."

He casually walked toward the massive glass wall overlooking the brightly lit city below.

Behind him, Shen Jue’s expression had already turned visibly tense. "What does the Old Blood want?"

"Shao Xinyuan." Jingxin turned his head, glancing back over his shoulder.

"The guide... Lin Wenzhi," He paused thoughtfully. "Well, he seems to be a slightly difficult variable, but we’ll deal with that."

Shen Jue parted his lips. "The old..."

"To be honest, I genuinely thought you morons had already fried my brother’s brain beyond repair." A soft laugh escaped Shao Jingxin. "I thought you’d successfully turned him into some obedient, drooling monster."

His smile slowly faded. "But apparently not."

The atmosphere grew colder.

"You people failed to break him the way you were supposed to." Jingxin slowly began walking back toward Shen Jue. "So now I’m here to deliver a message."

Shen Jue stood up as Jingxin approached.

"You can pass this message along to every idiot sitting in your higher brass meetings. The Old Blood Faction is officially placing a claim on Shao Xinyuan and Lin Wenzhi."

Shen Jue’s face stiffened.

Jingxin’s golden eyes fixed directly onto him.

"Any contracts, restraints, or ownership agreements previously established by the CEA are now considered annulled. And if any of you bastards attempt to interfere..."

His smile returned. "We’ll kill you."

Silence.

"This is the message."

Shen Jue swallowed hard but didn’t move.

Jingxin casually tapped his shoulder before walking past him toward the exit.

The escorts followed behind him.

The office doors shut.

Only then did Shen Jue finally exhale shakily.

He grabbed his phone and dialed a number.

The call connected instantly.

"Sir," he said quickly. "Yes, sir. The Old Blood has officially declared their claim over Shao Xinyuan. And the guide is alive."

His grip tightened around the phone.

"It seems we were deliberately misled."

He paused.

Then quietly, "Yes, sir. Whatever it takes."

The call ended.

Shen Jue slowly lowered the phone before pressing a trembling hand against his chest.