Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

"Come in."

Qin Yurou pushed open the door and entered, and saw that the charred wound on Lin Chen's left arm was healing at a speed visible to the naked eye—the powerful regenerative ability brought by the Nine Suns Burning Heaven Body.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly.

"It's alright." Lin Chen looked at the jade pendant in her hand. "Just now, did you use the jade pendant to help me?"

Qin Yurou nodded: "I don't know how to use it either, I just feel... that's how it should be done."

Lin Chen gave her a deep look: "Thank you. Your Yin-cold constitution is very sensitive to Yin-Yang energy. This jade pendant might be more effective in your hands."

He stood up and took out a USB drive and a booklet from his pocket: "This was obtained from the Zhao family. The third target is in Donghai City, named Ye Qingcheng, Tianji Star position."

Qin Yurou took the booklet and flipped through it, her face growing paler with each page: "They...they really want to take all seven women..."

"Sacrifice, or turn into a puppet." Lin Chen's tone was icy. "So we must hurry. Your body needs two more days to stabilize, after which I will head to the East Sea."

"I'll go with you," Qin Yurou blurted out.

Lin Chen shook his head: "Too dangerous. Donghai is Ye family territory, but it's unclear to what extent the Netherworld Sect has infiltrated. You'll be safer staying in Jiangcheng, protected by the Su family guards."

"But--"

"No buts." Lin Chen interrupted her, his tone softening. "Your current task is to master your constitution and learn to utilize the power of cold yin. This jade pendant can help you."

He walked to the window and looked at the gradually brightening eastern sky: "Moreover, Su Qingxue also needs support. The Zhao family's failure this time might put pressure on the Su family commercially."

"You need to help her maintain her connections in Jiangcheng."

Qin Yurou remained silent.

She knew Lin Chen was right; if she went along, she might be a burden.

"I understand." She raised her head, her eyes firm. "I will master how to use the jade pendant as soon as possible, and I will also contact all the Qin family's connections in Jiangcheng to support Sister Su."

Lin Chen nodded, about to say something, when his phone vibrated.

It was Su Qingxue's encrypted communication request.

The call connected, and her cool but slightly weary voice came from the other end: "Lin Chen, something has happened in Lin'an."

"explain."

"Early this morning, three warehouses of Su's Pharmaceutical caught fire simultaneously. Although the fire was extinguished in time, the damage was considerable. The fire department's assessment was 'electrical fault,' but I know that's not the case."

"In addition, the Zhao family, together with the Qian and Sun families, began to sell off the shares of the Su family's listed company at low prices, while spreading rumors that the Su family's capital chain had broken down."

Lin Chen's eyes turned cold: "The business war has begun."

"Hmm. But I can handle this." Su Qingxue paused. "What about you? Did you get the jade pendant?"

"I got it, but the Zhao family is desperate and resorting to desperate measures. I was hit by a tracking Gu, and I just had to force it out."

There was a two-second silence on the other end, and when she spoke again, Su Qingxue's voice held a hint of barely perceptible concern: "How are your injuries?"

"No problem. I also obtained information on the Netherworld Sect. The third target is the Ye family in the East Sea, named Ye Qingcheng."

"Ye Qingcheng..." Su Qingxue seemed to be recalling, "I've heard that the Ye family is a shipping giant in the East China Sea, and Ye Qingcheng is the only daughter of Old Master Ye. Her personality... is very special."

"What's so special about it?"

"She dislikes doing business and is passionate about extreme sports, such as mountaineering, deep-sea diving, and wingsuit flying... This gives Grandpa Ye a lot of headaches. However, if she has the Nine Yin Body, these behaviors may be unconsciously releasing excess cold energy from her body."

Lin Chen seemed to be deep in thought.

Indeed, vigorous physical activity can temporarily accelerate the circulation of qi and blood, relieving the pain of cold stagnation.

"I'll go to the East China Sea as soon as possible," he said. "Can you hold out there?"

Su Qingxue scoffed, "Don't underestimate me. The Su family's century-old foundation isn't so easily crumbled. But you... how long can the Ice Heart Pendant last?"

Lin Chen glanced at the jade pendant in his arms; its icy blue luster had dimmed by 30%. "Four days at most."

"Four days..." Su Qingxue pondered. "From Jiangcheng to Donghai, it's a three-hour high-speed train ride. You'll set off tomorrow, and I'll have my informant in Donghai meet you."

"Master Ye Zhenhai of the Ye family received a favor from my grandfather in his early years. You can try to visit him directly."

"it is good."

Communication ended.

Qin Yurou, who was listening nearby, asked softly, "Is Sister Su's situation...very troublesome?"

"She can handle it." Lin Chen put away his phone. "But we must speed things up. The more Nine Yin Bodies we protect, the more uncertainties there are in the Netherworld Sect's plans."

He looked at Qin Yurou: "In the next two days, I will teach you basic methods of circulating qi. With the help of the jade pendant, you should be able to control the cold qi to a basic extent."

"By the time I return from the East China Sea, I hope you will be able to protect yourself."

Qin Yurou nodded emphatically: "I will definitely try my best."

Outside the window, the sky was gradually brightening.

The struggle in the shadows has only just begun to intensify.

Two days later, at Jiangcheng High-speed Railway Station.

Lin Chen stood in the waiting hall with a simple bag on his back.

He had changed into casual clothes and was wearing sunglasses, looking like an ordinary passenger.

Qin Yurou came to see him off.

She was wearing a light blue long dress with a beige cardigan over it, and her complexion looked much better than it had been two days ago.

She tied the Yin-Yang jade pendant with a red string and wore it close to her body. The bone-chilling coldness around her had subsided, leaving only a faint coolness.

"Grandpa asked me to bring this to you." Qin Yurou handed over an envelope. "Inside is a letter of introduction from the Ye family patriarch, as well as contact information for several old acquaintances of the Qin family in Donghai."

"You can contact them if you need help."

Lin Chen took it; it felt slightly heavy in his hand.

There should be something else in the envelope besides the letter.

"In addition..." Qin Yurou took out a palm-sized sandalwood box from her handbag. "This is the key points about the cultivation of the 'Cold Yin Body' from the 'Mysterious Yin Records' that I copied overnight, along with some of my own insights."

"Take this with you; it might be helpful to Ye Qingcheng."

Lin Chen opened the wooden box; inside was a stack of neatly written manuscripts, still fragrant with ink. He carefully put them away, saying, "Thank you."

"I'm the one who should be saying thank you." Qin Yurou looked up at him, her eyes clear. "If it weren't for you, I might already be..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Lin Chen shook his head: "This is what I should do. Although the engagement was arranged by my sect, the choice is yours. After all this is over, if you want to annul it—"

"I didn't say I wanted to terminate the agreement." Qin Yurou suddenly interrupted, her ears slightly red, but her eyes were resolute. "I just... need time to think things through."

"After all, it all happened so suddenly."

Lin Chen paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."

An announcement came over the loudspeaker that boarding had begun for the high-speed train bound for Donghai.

"I'm leaving." Lin Chen picked up his luggage. "Remember the breathing technique I taught you, and practice it every day. The Su family's guards will remain in Jiangcheng; contact them anytime if needed."

"Okay." Qin Yurou nodded. "You... be careful."