Chapter 148

Chapter 148: Humiliating Qin Xian?

“The military?”

Wang Minghui was stunned. Based on the intelligence he had gathered, Qin Family’s relationship with the Military Department seemed harmonious. At least when it came to opposing the Eastern Army, the two factions appeared to be on the same page.

He could not have imagined that the Qin Family would turn its attention against the Military Department!

Qin Xian noticed the confusion on Wang Minghui’s face but chose not to explain.

Wang Minghui, understanding his position, quickly nodded. His role was clear—he was a loyal dog for Qin Xian.

Wherever Qin Xian pointed, he would bite.

Why he was biting wasn’t for him to question.

Once they concluded discussing official matters, Wang Minghui introduced his daughter.

“Young Master, this is my daughter, Wang Siyao. She has always admired you deeply, so she requested to join me in visiting today…”

As he spoke, Wang Minghui couldn’t help but feel a pang of nervousness.

Wang Siyao, on the other hand, was visibly tense. Ever since she had stepped into the study, her attention had been glued to Qin Xian.

Qin Xian’s appearance was far beyond her expectations—more handsome, more imposing, and more captivating.

From the moment she saw him, her gaze hadn’t left him for an instant. If not for fear of being rude, she might have outright stared without blinking.

Meanwhile, the conversation between her father and Qin Xian left Wang Siyao deeply shaken.

Qin Xian was her age, yet the aura he exuded was worlds apart from other young nobles she knew.

Wang Siyao had interacted with many “princelings,” heirs of various high-ranking officials and aristocrats. Yet those young men were primarily concerned with frivolities—chasing celebrities, grinding levels, and collecting gear.

In contrast, Qin Xian was moving pieces on the chessboard of the Empire, directly influencing its political landscape.

This was a completely different league of power and influence.

At that moment, Qin Xian seemed almost divine in Wang Siyao’s eyes, enveloped by a golden halo of supremacy.

“Young Master Qin, my name is Wang Siyao.”

Blushing furiously, Wang Siyao greeted Qin Xian with shy enthusiasm.

Qin Xian’s face softened into a warm smile as he nodded.

“Miss Siyao, please, feel at ease. I will inform my staff—if you ever wish to visit me in the future, they will ensure you are allowed in without delay.”

Hearing this, Wang Minghui was overjoyed.

This is my chance!

Of course, Qin Xian understood Wang Minghui’s intentions perfectly.

But Qin Xian didn’t care.

Accepting another woman into his circle was inconsequential to him. If doing so made Wang Minghui even more loyal and willing to serve, why not?

Time passed swiftly, and the long-awaited day of the Void Hunting Trial finally arrived.

The Void Hunting Trial was located in a flat expanse of land to the north of the Imperial Capital, over a hundred kilometers away from the city center.

This remote location ensured that if something went wrong, the impact on civilian lives would be minimal.

Over the millennia, no significant incident had ever occurred during the Void Hunting Trial.

The Trial took place in an independent dimensional space, but even as a controlled environment, the power of the Void was overwhelming and corrosive.

Even in its digitized form, the Void’s aura constantly seeped into the real world.

To combat this, the Military Department had fortified the plains with steel walls and stationed a regiment of Central Army troops—over two thousand combat professionals—to oversee containment and purification.

This region had come to be known as Void Plains.

As dawn broke, the Void Plains were already bustling with activity.

Though labeled as “plains,” the site resembled a massive military fortress, its towering steel walls a testament to the Empire’s resolve.

For years, this fortress had been under the Military Department’s direct control.

However, with the Eastern Army’s involvement this year, the stationed regiment had been granted leave, replaced by an equivalent force under Eastern Army command.

This move by Wen Yu was meant to ensure total control over the Void Hunting Trial.

The Military Department’s outrage over the substitution was palpable.

If the Eastern Army’s troops refused to vacate after the Trial concluded, the Military Department’s influence over future Trials would be nullified.

This could mean the Eastern Army poaching top talents who succeeded in the Trials, leaving the Military Department with little to gain.

In a world where talent equated to power, losing access to these rising stars was unthinkable.

At the entrance to the Void Hunting Trial, Wen Yu stood tall in her military uniform, exuding an aura of authority. Her expression was sharp, her presence commanding as she inspected the preparations.

“Have all key positions been secured?” she asked coldly.

Her adjutant, Sun, nodded.

“Almost everything is ready. However, the Military Department has stalled on transferring some Trial permissions to us, claiming it’s unnecessary.”

Wen Yu sneered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “And what of their other antics?”

Sun straightened, his voice firm.

“Rest assured, Commander. With the Special Intelligence Bureau’s assistance, we are monitoring all Military Department movements closely.

Should they attempt anything untoward, we’ll intercept them immediately and detain any involved personnel.

By the way, intelligence suggests that several Qin Family operatives were granted secondary-level access permissions to the Trial by the Military Department last night. They may be planning to infiltrate the Trial space covertly.”

Hearing “Qin Family,” Wen Yu’s lips curled into a cold smile.

“Good. Very good…”

Everything was unfolding according to her plan.

Nearby, Wen Xu stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

The intricate politics surrounding the Trial didn’t concern him.

His thoughts were singular.

He awaited Qin Xian’s arrival with bated breath.

He wanted to utterly humiliate Qin Xian.