MEANWHILE IN THE MEETING ROOM
"Li-Jie, they have gone out. What did you want to discuss with me?" Xue Yang said after a moment of silence.
"A-Yang. I have a classified mission for you. You must not tell A-Cheng or A-Xian what the mission is about." Jiang Yanli said in a serious tone.
"Jie. What is the mission? Could it be related to the attack of the Second Prince of Lan? Do you also think that the attack is strange?" Xue Yang asked as he sat on the chair.
"Yes. I hope I am not thinking too much about this, but I want you to gain intel on the Wen and Jin clan." Jiang Yanli said after a moment of thought.
"Hmm. Got it. But can I ask why specifically only the Wen and Jin clans and not the other clans?" Xue Yang asked.
"A-Yang. Before the peace happened, the Wen and the Jin clans always thought of themselves as superior, and humans were just inferior to them. Compared to common belief not all vampires attacked humans. Jin and the Wen clans were the main acting force of the war between the two species. If it wasn't for the Supreme Queen back then, we would still be at war. As for the Lan and Nie clans, they were the only clans that stayed away from all that conflict and helped to enforce the law. I feel that it's strange because after so many years of peace, suddenly there are vampire attacks and not to mention the attack on Hanguang-Jun. I am afraid it's not that simple. They might be planning something big, perhaps starting another war." Jiang Yanli said.
"Hmm okay, Jie. I am on it. I will leave immediately." Xue Yang said and started walking out of the room.
"Be very careful A-Yang. The Jin and Wen clans...Please don't underestimate them." Jiang Yanli said in a worried voice.
"Don't worry Jie. I will be careful and will come back in one piece." Xue Yang said with a smirk and a glint in his eyes that screamed danger.
After a moment of silence, Xue Yang got up from the chair and walked out. Xue Yang walks into his room and starts to pack for his trip. After making sure he had everything he needed, he grabbed his bag and made his way to the entrance. As he walked through the hallway, he unexpectedly met Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian halfway through.
"Guys, I am taking a break for some time." Xue Yang grinned as he announced it to both of them.
"What?" Wei Wuxian exclaimed.
"Well, it's about time you took a break. Where are you planning to go?" Jiang Cheng asked him as he ignored Wei Wuxian's outburst.
"Is it just me or are you not offended by the fact that he's not taking us on his little adventure?" Wei Wuxian shot his question to Jiang Cheng while hooking his arm around Xue Yang, refusing to let him go.
"Can't you understand that he's taking a break? He is probably taking a break from you and all your stupid pranks" Jiang Cheng said with a sigh while rolling his eyes.
"What?! NO! A-Yang please tell A-Cheng that is not the reason! "Wei Wuxian whined out and started chasing Jiang Cheng around Xue Yang like three-year-old kids. With both of them running around, Xue Yang felt that his headache had somehow returned.
"You are right. I am not only taking a break from Wei Wuxian but instead, I am taking a break from both of you." Xue Yang said as he threw his bag over his shoulders and walked away.
"I intend to see the headquarters in one piece when I return. And Wei Wuxian, you are not allowed into the kitchen!" Xue Yang yelled without turning back.
"You still haven't told us where you are going, you dumb ass! '' Jiang Cheng shouted while head locking his brother in his arms at the same time.
"Well, either gather some peonies or dine in a city that never sleeps. I haven't thought about where to go first. I guess I will decide along the way." Xue Yang said with his infamous smirk.
And thus, the journey for Xue Yang has just begun.
LANLING CITY
After three days of journey, Xue Yang has finally arrived at Lanling City. Lanling City is known as the City of Peonies but to Xue Yang, it was more like a city of hard-headed bloodsuckers. For the past few days, Xue Yang had scorched every corner of Jin City but still didn't find any clues of any illegal activities that were going on.
"I have to be fast. My scent blockers are running out soon and I haven't charged my sonic noise disturber. What are these suckers hiding that made Jie Jie so anxious to send out the organization's top hunter?" Xue Yang murmured under his breath as he fiddled with the small rectangle black box that is inside his coat pocket.
START OF FLASHBACK
This device is one of the new inventions of Wei Wuxian. As he was about to leave for his "vacation", Wei Wuxian pulled him aside at the outside of the gates of Yunmeng, the amnesic vampire in tow whom he had left with a bunch of street brats while enjoying playing defeat the beast games with the still vampire which is just poking the guy.
"For your little vacation." Wei Wuxian said beaming at him while giving him a shaving kit.
Xue Yang was confused as he took it and opened the shaving kit. Inside the kit, it was full of various familiar-looking items.
"What in the world are these things now?" Xue Yang asked as he took out the items while frowning.
"Glad you asked. These are my new inventions that can help to distract the vampires during your journey." Wei Wuxian said.
Wei Wuxian took out the athlete's foot cream tube while unscrewing it and taking out some clear gel substance as he showed it to Xue Yang.
"This tube may look like what it says on the outside but in reality, it's a scent blocker. It is tested and proved. This will help to cover our blood scent and make you smell nothing like a human." Wei Wuxian said as he put it back into the shaving kit.
"And this baby, it's a sonic noise disturber that can hide our heartbeats." Wei Wuxian said as he took out a small box, twisting it as it turned into a small machine.
"Besides this, this shaving cream sprayer is nothing much but just holy water and lastly this cream tube is a Core Melter. It can melt any type of metal, except of course plastic. But please be careful with that. Although it's not deadly, if it comes to contact with our blood, it will cause an itching sensation. Only with this much, I hope you enjoy your vacation" Wei Wuxian said as he emphasizes the word vacation.
Xue Yang rolled his eyes and swung his duffel bag at him but failed as Wei Wuxian successfully dodged it.
"Thanks, bro. And you, don't try to kill the Lan." Xue Yang said as Lan Wangji showed up near Wei Wuxian like a lost puppy.
END OF FLASHBACK
"That dense genius brat." Xue Yang thought ruefully as he took out his phone to call someone.
"Where are you? I need your help." Xue Yang said as soon as the call was answered.
In the bar outside the main city of Lanling, a man with dark green robes while holding a dull landscape painted fan was sitting and sipping his drink, seemingly not giving any attention to anything but nothing escaping from his eyes.
As he saw a black-clothed individual making his way towards him, he ordered another drink for him.
"What makes you come here suddenly? I thought you hate vampires and can't even stand near an actual one and now you are here asking for information to enter a tower full of them?" The mysterious man said.
"Sometimes I feel like Jie Jie is deliberately giving me these missions to keep me on my toes." Xue Yang said as he gulped his drink in one shot.
"Well, I can understand her reasons." The mysterious man said as he eyed Xue Yang's throat bob up and down, eyes narrowing at his Adam's apple while feeling the heat shot through his body which didn't come from the drink that he had just taken. He knew exactly where, so he turned his head away facing the front, to keep his sight away from the delicious scene taking place.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Xue Yang said.
"Well, that means that you are a big overgrown baby who doesn't let go of his idiotic ideas and his hatred towards the vampire race. And Yanli Jie Jie wants to keep you away from the amnesiac Prince" The mysterious man said as he also took a sip from his drink.
"How did you know there was a vampire in our headquarters? " Xue Yang asked in surprise.
"Well, I am not known as a Whisper for nothing. Don't worry though, I will make sure the news won't travel anywhere else" The Whisperer whispered into his ears as he chuckled.
Xue Yang took a deep breath. The smell of fresh rain and lavender filling his nostrils, making his throat dry. As the smaller man leaned away from his side, Xue Yang bit his lips to keep himself grounded.
"Well, as for your little trip. This contains the map of Jin tower, including all underground and secret passageways. It also includes all the information on the members and business transactions for the last decades till now. You will get a little help from Jin tower if things go wrong." The Whisperer said as he handed a small chip, a map, and a notebook.
"You have connections with a vampire? That's dangerous. I know you're well capable of taking care of yourself but it's still dangerous." Xue Yang exclaimed, suppressing his voice.
The Whisperer just stood up laughing, putting his hand on Xue Yang's shoulder giving a squeeze.
"Well, our transaction is over, and thank you for the drink." He said as he gave a wink and made his way to the door.
"That little brat." Xue Yang murmured under his breath giving one more look to the Whisperer, and eyes resting on the tight clasped pants that perfectly mold his ass.
As he downed the rest of his drink and paid for both drinks, he quickly sent a message to the headquarters.
'Going to have a stroll in the peonies garden.'
JIN TOWER
In the underground of Jin Tower, a group of chained people was caged in a big iron box. Sniffles and quiet sobbing can be heard. Five more cages can be seen, all filled with humans.
"Shut the hell up!" A golden-colored dressed man shouted as he kicked the iron cage.
"Do you want to starve or want to be our food? Well, I still have space for dessert. "The man sneered at them.
"Mr. Jin. This experiment is also a failure." A tall vampire wearing a white coat said.
"Another failure?! This is like the 10th time the experiment has failed. Uncle is going to be mad Su She. What went wrong this time?" Mr. Jin said in anger.
"As if you can understand all the technical aspects". Su She thought without showing any emotions outside.
"I think they can't handle the force of the conversion happening to them. They are too weak". Su She explained.
"So now what do we have to feed and bulk up all these worms?" Jin Zixun cried out.
"If we must have successful products, then yes we may have to and start today itself. Then by next week, we may continue with the experiment". Su She said as he looked at the specimens.
"Fine, do whatever you have to do. But fasten up with your work, Mr. Scientist. My uncle's patience is wearing thin." Jin Zixun said as he gave a last kick to the nearby cage startling the people inside. After kicking it, he went out of the secret chambers.
Su She snorted when Jin Zixun left.
"That fucking peacock" He muttered.
"You! Over there!" Su She called out to the nearby guard.
"Take the headcounts and start giving them meals three times a day, and no shady things. I want them plum and proper for my next experiment," Su She said as he took out his coat and handed it over to another guard.
"Now that I have some free time until next week, what should I do? I wonder what my little birdie is doing, he surely would have some time to spare for me?" Su She thought with an evil disgusting grin on his face.