Three days before the trip, I spent on thorough preparation and stocked up in advance on Red Eagle Grass, which according to canon managed to cure the plague that broke out in the city. I don't want, in the heat of the city's mages' battle against the Warlord and his entourage, to fly off for it on my own wings or, even worse, send a little boy on a bird instead of myself.
By the way, I prevented his death in my past life in a similar way – I just obtained this damned grass in advance. And for Senator Luo Mian, who brewed this whole mess, I can find other kompromat besides killing the boy to claim his merits for himself.
In general, I was very worried that the situation in Hangzhou would differ from the canonical one, and so, as I had decided long ago – I didn't take the girls with me on the trip. I'm not even sure that I'll get out of that mess unscathed myself, so involving people dear to me in this would be complete idiocy. I don't want to lose them because of the simple ambitions of some High-level mage who wants to take a higher position in the government.
Also, although three days is a fairly short time, I still managed to find and obtain an artifact containing three High-level first-tier healing element spells "Blood Renewal." Moreover, it could be recharged with healing element magic energy, which was simply a fairy tale for me, since thanks to this, I could hide my own healing element but still use its idle reserve usefully.
True, since it's only at my peak Middle level, I can recharge the artifact for at most one use. But even that could potentially save someone's life, including my own. So I don't complain. The artifact looked like a silver ring with a turquoise gem in the center.
By the way, such things appear for sale extremely rarely. Moreover, it's even rarer to find out who actually bought them. But for the umpteenth time, the "Time" magazine, which I helped create, came to my aid. Eh, founding it was still a genius idea. It's already helped me find valuable information multiple times.
As for the artifact, for a change, I didn't take it from a criminal. Quite the opposite! According to the historical reference, it was bought by a wandering healer with a very kind character who just wanted to have the ability to heal even more people. That's why he bought the artifact, emptying all his savings.
And my conscience doesn't torment me at all! According to the original story, he was killed by bandits who coveted the artifact's value and planned to sell it for a high price on the black market. But they didn't succeed, because such a selfless person as this healer had many influential patients to whom he had once provided help. I think it's not worth mentioning that the bandits' deaths were far from easy?
I just carefully knocked out this guy, took the artifact, and dumped his body to sleep it off in the nearest large trash bin. In general, I was truly his benefactor, saving him from imminent death! Now, upon waking, he can continue wandering the world and healing people, but without the artifact attracting attention to him. Eh, truly, knowledge is a virtue. Without it, this would be considered ordinary robbery, which would weigh heavily on my holy soul...
Having prepared the medicine for the artificial plague and a life-saving remedy, I finally calmed down a bit and, spreading my wings, flew straight to Hangzhou. The flight at a relaxed pace took me less than an hour. Heh, and Bey's wings are really something. As, indeed, are all his artifacts. They became an excellent replacement for my outdated equipment.
The "Huashen" hotel looked luxurious, being one of the most beautiful buildings in Hangzhou, but it couldn't compare to the place where Tang Yue and I dined together for the first time. After all, that hotel was Shanghai's calling card, the second largest city in the country. Though fairly large, Hangzhou lagged far behind it in population and significance.
Naming Tang Yue at the reception, I got a nod from the well-dressed man greeting me and followed him to one of the secluded VIP rooms. Inside, Tang Yue was waiting, dressed in a regular white shirt and black skirt.
Correction – Tang Yue in an extraordinarily great mood. Damn, did she really decide to feed me to her serpent? Good thing that, judging by the dates, he should already have started molting and his power had dropped sharply. Otherwise, I'd run from him at the first suspicion of a meeting until I checked his attitude toward me. A peak Warlord is no joke.
"Greetings, my dear Tang Yue! How are you? Not bothering you at work?" Pulling out a chair and sitting down, I decided to start the conversation with simple topics. She won't set the serpent on me in a city full of people anyway. This girl is too kind. And trusting... I involuntarily recalled our last meeting and couldn't help but smile.
"And I greet you. You can order whatever you want." Tang Yue's face fell a bit when she saw my smile, apparently understanding its reason. Hm, free food in an expensive restaurant? I won't refuse.
"So, why exactly did you call me here? And not as a friend, but as the guardian of another Totem?" Beckoning the waiter and ordering a few dishes I liked, I asked her. By the way, she ordered only the most expensive items on the menu. Hm, this girl isn't short on cash after the promotion.
"The Totem Serpent, which has protected Hangzhou for over a thousand years straight, has now entered its molting period, during which it weakens greatly. So I want to organize guards around it until it fully recovers. You understand yourself, such a delicate matter can't be entrusted to just anyone, and I'm confident in you... mostly. At least, you're also a Totem guardian and should understand how their preservation will help mankind." Tang Yue rolled her eyes, watching me eat the appetizers.
But seriously? Guards during the Serpent's molt from strong mages? Then why did you run around with Mo Fan in canon? In fairness, she now has far more opportunities to manage Magical Court agents. She can even send them to paint grass with brushes and they won't dare disobey. Tang Yue has a truly formidable reputation now. No one will react much to this, thinking the new boss is just trying to assert her dominance. Standard practice.
"Well, I'm not against helping. As soon as we finish eating, let's go for a walk to the Totem Serpent." Shrugging as if meeting this giant didn't concern me, I dug into the brought dishes, as did Tang Yue, who ate them with some sadistic pleasure. And I understood the reason when they finally brought the bill.
"Oops, I didn't bring any money with me. Mu Bai, you don't mind paying, right?" Winking triumphantly at me, she leaned back in her chair with a victorious expression.
Did this girl who believed there was a worm in her head blocking memories just screw me over? Damn the Totem, how low I've fallen...