Chapter 98 – Illusory Array! Li Qinghe Is Ready to Take Action!

“How did you do it, Old Qin?”

At the table, Xia He grinned at Qin Yang, winking mischievously. “Playing hard to get—you’ve really got skills! Looking at Li Zixuan’s reaction, I bet you’ve hooked her so thoroughly she’s practically gasping for air! Impressive!”

“Tsk, I’m not, I didn’t… Don’t spout nonsense.”

Qin Yang denied it outright, waving his hand dismissively. “She just came to ask me about some book locations. It’s a normal part of being a library guide.”

“Pfft~ As if I’d believe that!”

Hearing this, Xia He rolled his eyes, his face full of disdain.

“Once is a coincidence, twice makes it real… I don’t even dare imagine what’ll happen next time she comes looking for you!”

“Alright, enough of this idle chatter.”

Qin Yang pulled out a small jade bottle from his robe, changing the subject. “Got something good for you.”

As he spoke, he placed the small jade bottle upright in the center of the table. Under the direct sunlight, its glaze shone clear and bright, with ceramic patterns subtly visible.

“Whoa, you’ve come into some money lately, Old Qin.”

Seeing the jade bottle, Xia He’s eyes immediately lit up. He reached out, picked up the bottle, and held it to his ear.

He shook it gently.

Clink.

The hard objects inside collided, producing a crisp, pleasant sound that echoed softly in his ear.

“Where’d you get this bottle?”

Xia He continued shaking the bottle, tilting his head to listen to the sounds inside while staring curiously at Qin Yang. “What’s inside? Something good?”

“Just a cheap find from the antique street stalls. Didn’t cost much.”

Qin Yang smiled. “The bottle itself isn’t important—what’s inside is the key. These are some pills I refined in my spare time. They might have some effect on cultivation in the Acquired Realm. Take them and use them. Chew a few when you have time to calm your mind.”

“Pills?”

Hearing this, Xia He looked at Qin Yang with suspicion. “You actually know alchemy?”

As he spoke, he carefully pulled out the jade stopper, lifted the bottle’s opening to his nose, and took a light sniff.

The next moment.

A refreshing pill fragrance wafted into his nostrils, rushing straight to his brain.

The drowsiness from the midday heat vanished instantly, leaving him invigorated.

“Whoa, smells pretty good. Thanks.”

Xia He reinserted the stopper and tucked the small jade bottle into his police uniform pocket, sighing. “Things have been pretty hectic at the Police Inspector’s office lately.

Drills under the scorching sun every day—exhausting, sigh…

I really miss those days when we could slack off in the library, carefree and without worries.”

“Don’t dwell on the past. Focus on your job. I’ll enjoy the leisurely life on your behalf.”

Qin Yang chuckled. “You should hurry up and cultivate. I don’t want to hear one day that you’ve died at the hands of Heretical Cultists.”

“Pah!”

Xia He lifted his head and snorted. “Your buddy here is blessed with great fortune and a strong fate. How could I die so easily?”

As he spoke, he turned to look at a beautiful woman in black stockings passing by the door. “Heaven has entrusted me with a great mission. I need to keep this life of mine to help those girls in need…”

After he finished speaking.

Qin Yang was left speechless.

Rivers and mountains may change, but one’s nature remains the same.

This guy was still the same as ever, no different from when they were in the library.

How could someone like this even join the Police Inspector’s office?

He must have used his monetary influence!

“By the way, Old Qin, I heard someone recently came to take my place?”

Xia He scratched his head. “How are they? Getting along with you?”

“Not bad. As a senior, why don’t you go check on him?”

Qin Yang gave a thumbs-up and gestured toward the second section behind him. “I even passed on the little stool you left behind to him.””That guy can be considered your successor.”

“Damn, Old Qin! You’re even snitching on your bro’s rewards!”

Hearing this, Xia He abruptly stood up and quickly headed toward Sector 2: “Since you’ve taken my stool… then I’ll have to pass on some experience now.”

……

Behind the bookshelves in Sector 2.

Li Qinghe, who had been peeking all along, was startled upon seeing this. She hurriedly slipped the book back into the gap and pretended to be dusting the shelves.

Before long, Xia He arrived before her.

“Tsk tsk, young man, you look quite spirited! Not bad!”

Xia He patted Li Qinghe’s shoulder and said, “Just learn properly from Old Qin when you have time, keep working hard, and you’ll become more capable too.”

“Mm, okay.”

Li Qinghe put on a meek appearance and nodded in response, but inwardly she was dismissive.

He’s just a librarian, why’s this guy putting on such a big act…

And besides…

What is there to learn from Qin Yang?

Learn how to slack off and sleep on the job?

No way!

Someone as excellent and hardworking as me would never slack off!

Absolutely not!!!

……………………………

Time flowed like water.

At noon, Qin Yang and Xia He had lunch together, chatted about daily life, then Xia He left early to continue his patrol outside the library.

Meanwhile, Qin Yang leisurely returned to his spot holding Xiaobai, with several picked-up books tucked in his arms that he intended to reshelve.

But just then.

Suddenly!

A subtle fluctuation appeared in his mental domain, like raindrops falling on a lake surface, creating ripples.

“Huh? This is…”

“Someone’s inscribing an array formation?Qin Yang keenly sensed the fluctuations and immediately began to detect the source of the fluctuations.

The next moment.

Vast mental energy surged from within him, following the trail until it instantly locked onto the neighboring Sector 2, directly pinpointing the source.

“It’s coming from Li Qinghe…

After investigating the type of array fluctuation, Qin Yang roughly guessed the situation and understood what she was going to do.

“It’s an Illusory Array, meant to deceive minds.”.. It seems she’s preparing to make her move…”

…

…

Meanwhile, in Sector 2.

Li Qinghe sat on the Slacking Stool, hidden among the bookshelves, with several dark Starstones scattered on the ground around her.

Profound Star Power spreads, the surrounding ground twists, becoming dreamlike and ethereal.

“Inscribing an array formation requires full concentration.”

With this thought, Li Qinghe reached out and picked up one of the Starstones, following her memory as she released her mental energy.

Her fingers gently traced the stone’s surface, mysterious array lines being carved with her thoughts.

With each additional array line deepened, the scenery around her became more distorted and unreal.

As if in a dream.

A short while later.

“Phew…”

Li Qinghe let out a long breath, wiped the sweat from her forehead, her face somewhat pale and visibly fatigued.

Inscribing array formations was extremely draining on mental energy, and setting up this Illusory Array had clearly reached her limit.

“There are still some imperfections in this array formation.”

“But thankfully it’s finally completed, only the Array Eye needs to be placed now.”

Li Qinghe rubbed the cold Starstone in her hand, then tossed it into the air, guiding and releasing the Star Power within her.

The next moment.

The Starstones in the air dispersed.

Firmly anchoring themselves in the eight directions around her,Instantly, the scenery around her twisted into a dreamlike illusion, capable of morphing into all sorts of eerie scenes with just a thought, capable of beguiling the mind.

If an ordinary person were caught in this Illusory Array, they would immediately lose themselves within it.

Within the same realm, she was invincible in her array.

Thinking of this.

Li Qinghe’s lips curled into a faint, disdainful smile.

“With this Illusory Array by my side, a mere few Acquired Realm martial artists would never be able to detect me!”

(End of Chapter)