It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

What the hell are these bastards looking for? They are just bored, right?

Bai Lin also didn't understand this situation at all. She couldn't understand why Sakura wanted to leave Qianhong, and she couldn't understand the certain mysterious forces in the lower city that instigated all this, but this was not what she needed to worry about at the moment.

"As for evidence, is the only witness just now?"

After briefly digesting the information, Bai Lin immediately began to organize his thoughts and began to seek the information he needed. Before the negotiation began, the clearer the ideas, the better.

Chapter 350 Negotiation Preparation

Mr. Long was about to answer when the young man on the other side interrupted him and said,

"Hey Bai Lin, don't rush to ask this. I have something to ask you. Assuming that this is the only evidence, how would you negotiate?"

Looking at the young master's interested eyes, Bai Lin smiled in response, but in her heart she wanted to kill him. She hated being interrupted by irrelevant people while working. Preparation work is also work. But due to the situation, she still answered calmly,

"It's actually very simple. All I need to do is apply pressure. I'll put Yamamoto's head in a gift box, then tell the other negotiating representative some gossip. Once I'm absolutely certain of everything, I'll ask him to open the gift box."

Bai Lin's eyes suddenly became sharper. She sat upright, with a serious expression and deep tone, and said slowly,

"You know, they are the ones who are guilty. Qianhong is a big place. You allowed me to go on a mission, even though you can't give me any open help. But they must have anticipated the hidden backers behind this. Therefore, they will be uneasy from the moment they come. Unless -"

The young master listened with increasing interest, nodding his head in satisfaction, but was interrupted by Bai Lin's sudden change of attitude, so he also asked impatiently,

"unless?"

"Unless they're not selling Le Tian Xiang at all, I can't help but panic. Of course, even if they're shameless enough, I'll resort to sting operations or other tactics. If any negative rumors about me get out, I'm sure you guys will suppress them, right?"

It might sound complicated, but Bai Lin's intention was simple: to disrupt the other party's mentality and position. She had no intention of using formal negotiation methods to deal with the Sakura representatives.

As the one who already had evidence and was ready to take the initiative, she didn't need to follow any rules. The more panicked and anxious the other side became, even if they were desperate enough to attack Bai Lin on the spot, it would be in her favor.

If the exposed flaws were to be spread even slightly, then Sakura would be completely "defeated".

The young master seemed very satisfied and praised Bai Lin repeatedly after hearing what he said. Mr. Long coughed twice and said to Bai Lin seriously,

"Miss Bai Lin, since you are here as a bridge between the two sides, you will definitely be in Sakura when the negotiations begin. Although you have already given me the answer, I still need to tell you something. If we really want to fight, the followers we send will definitely not be able to protect you. If you die, the news may..."

Mr. Long's point was clear. While Bai Lin's death was enough to prove Sakura was in the wrong, that was their territory, and they could easily make up stories. At that point, Qianhong would have a chance to intervene, but there was no guarantee they could uncover the truth about Le Tianxiang. After all, Sakura had some foreign influence behind her.

Of course, Bai Lin is not an ordinary person. In response to this question, Bai Lin just smiled.

"Don't worry, as an adventurer, I have my own way to escape."

What a joke! Even if she died, she could be resurrected. If the other party showed any flaws, the reborn Bai Lin could directly intervene and expose their disguise.

Seeing Bai Lin's confidence, Mr. Long agreed with some hesitation, and then began to tell Bai Lin about other evidence. In addition, Mr. Long also talked about some cherry blossom etiquette, but before Bai Lin left, she only remembered the words that the young master raised his chin and looked at her.

"Never mind all that. If that's what you want, just despise their culture as much as you want."

Yes, it's all right to despise their culture. Bai Lin herself wasn't one to care about so-called scandals, not to mention Qian Hong would help her suppress them. So, Bai Lin set out on her return journey. Before leaving, the young master slipped a red jade token into her hand. Bai Lin naturally declined, then unceremoniously put it in her arms.

Wearing a Qianhong-style outfit, Bai Lin walked out of the mansion. Fei'er and Long Yuesi certainly wouldn't sit idle at the door. When Bai Lin came out, he saw them drinking tea in a pavilion not far away, so he walked over.

"Wow, what a beautiful lady! Will you marry me?"

As soon as she stepped into the pavilion, Long Yuesi's eyes widened and she stepped forward to grab Bai Lin's sleeve. Bai Lin naturally let go immediately, after all, she couldn't ignore Fei'er's slightly narrowed eyes behind her.

"I'm not into that, lesbian, don't mess around."

Long Yuesi smiled and sat back. She slapped her head and said as if she had suddenly realized something.

"Oh, yeah. I just remembered I'm not a man, so I'm embarrassed. So, have you gathered enough information?"

Long Yuesi looked very calm, and her smile reminded Bai Lin of Runfa pretending to be stupid. However, since she always acted like this, Bai Lin couldn't figure out whether she was pretending or not. She took a step forward, sat down on the pavilion very naturally, took the tea that Long Yuesi had poured, and drank it all.

"Well, communicating with these people is still a bit exhausting, but it's still much better than fighting monsters. I have no problem with the information. They said they can arrange for me to go to Sakura to negotiate the day after tomorrow."

"Is that so..." Long Yuesi took good care of Bai Lin and poured her another cup of tea. But halfway through, she suddenly seemed to realize something and asked,

"Go...go to Sakura to negotiate?!"

The hand holding the teapot was trembling slightly, and Long Yuesi did not hide his exaggerated expression at all. Bai Lin glanced at Long Yuesi as if nothing had happened and said,

"Don't worry, I'm going only after I've made all the necessary preparations."

It was rare to see Long Yuesi's unreserved loss of composure, so Bai Lin also explained it this way. The former put down the teapot, placed his hands on his legs, and said to Bai Lin very seriously,

"This isn't a question of whether or not to prepare. Given our current stalemate with Qianhong, it's very likely that an outsider like you could cause a loss of life."

Bai Lin no longer leaned back in her chair, but sat up, a faint smile playing on her lips. Outside the old pavilion, sunlight streamed through, brushing against Bai Lin's cheeks. Her confident and assured demeanor, coupled with her beautiful appearance, elevated her persuasiveness to a new level.

The bustling voices on the street became the background, and Bai Lin, dressed in this outfit, seemed to blend into this golden land.

Chapter 351: Too Tired at Work

This was clearly a land completely unfamiliar to Bai Lin, yet it had such an impact. Rather, it was in Long Yuesi's eyes that the flowing hair, the slightly raised chin, and the calm profile of her face fully revealed the woman's beauty in her clothing. Furthermore, Bai Lin's sunny and confident image was also fully revealed.

A stranger from a foreign land, yet someone who felt incredibly reliable... In a trance, Long Yuesi even briefly doubted whether Bai Lin was actually Qianhong's man. But she didn't dwell on this thought too much.

"It's okay, trust me."

Just seven words showed Bai Lin's firm thoughts and successfully calmed Long Yuesi's uneasy heart. She nodded obediently, stretched out a hand, patted Bai Lin's shoulder and said,

"Be careful on the road."

This time, Fei'er didn't cast any murderous glances. These two men seemed like men, expressing their concern for their brothers.

With an attitude of "since we're already here," Long Yuesi dragged the remaining two to Qianhong's restaurant. Honestly, while the dishes they ordered were all ones Bai Lin missed, the seasonings and other ingredients were definitely not up to par with modern times. Besides, Kong had cooked this style of cuisine before, so Bai Lin didn't have any particular ideas.

Inside the restaurant, there were elegant conversations, and some dressed like martial artists feasted on food and drank from large pots. It wasn't much different from the taverns she was familiar with in downtown, but it also had its own unique flavor. Human nature was not drastically different, no matter where you lived. Everyone was striving for a better tomorrow, and in the tavern, they boldly displayed their cheerfulness and individuality.

Bai Lin ate and looked at all this, thinking the same thing in her heart. She later stared at the old candlestick on the wooden table and added to her thoughts,

…Those who sell Le Tianxiang are completely inhumane.

This was why Bai Lin was willing to go on this mission. It wasn't just a sense of righteousness, but rather a fundamental aversion to inhumane behavior. Furthermore, if Camelan were to suffer a significant loss of vitality, she would be even further away from saving the world.

When Long Yuesi went out to the toilet, Fei'er suddenly sat closer, held Bai Lin's hand, and asked softly,

"What's wrong?"

Fei'er's tone was as calm as ever, perhaps more so because of her low voice. However, Bai Lin, who had become increasingly familiar with her, and her caring words, also made her feel a little warm. She was surprised by Fei'er's sudden handshake, but she didn't stop him. She simply rested one elbow on the table, slightly tired, to support her head.

"Hmm... I was just wondering, this is clearly humanity's last city-state, so why do the regions have to make things so complicated? This thing will undoubtedly endanger all of humanity. Don't the people selling this have thought about it?"

"Suppose there were a massive demonic attack in the future. The city guards, all emaciated and lifeless after inhaling Le Tianxiang, would be able to resist. Oh, I really don't understand."

Bai Lin was well aware of human desires, but she believed that no matter how great a desire was, it couldn't be greater than life itself. Just because the enemy wasn't in sight, they acted so recklessly? It was unbelievable that there were so many idiots in this world.

Fei'er still placed both her hands on Bai Lin's, was silent for a while, and then asked,

"You didn't seem to care about the dead before, but now you suddenly have a sense of justice?"

Bai Lin suddenly sat up, looked at Fei'er awkwardly and said,

"Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden? I was so tired last night..."

"You also know that you are too tired." Fei'er closed her eyes, but continued,

"You're obviously tired, but you still managed to carry this matter through. You're really becoming more and more like a hero, Bai Lin. But—"

Fei'er changed the subject, she opened her deep blue eyes that looked very ominous, and stared at Bai Lin's gaze with an extremely aggressive aura.

"You should also understand that your spirit isn't necessarily as strong as your body. Healing spells can't restore your heart."

Bai Lin couldn't help but feel nervous when she saw Fei'er's look. However, she didn't quite understand why Fei'er suddenly reacted so strongly to this matter at this time. She scratched her head and replied,

"I understand. I'll have a good rest after I finish this..."

"That's not the question, Bai Lin." Fei'er sighed and interrupted the words Bai Lin was using to fool people.

"Although you saved others, you were also fulfilling your duty. I can also see that you are not walking this path simply because of the so-called responsibility of the Son of God. But you are still human."

Fei'er thought for a moment, then continued

"For example, Grell likes to drink, and Norman works in a tavern because he enjoys chatting with the women who hit on him. What about you? Don't you have anything you're particularly interested in?"

Interested...? Bai Lin couldn't help but sink into deep thought. In the past, Bai Lin would have blurted out something like "playing games." But this world was far more exciting than anything else. Just wandering around the city would give her plenty of fun.

Unfortunately, there is no free time to go shopping.

However, what Fei'er said was indeed correct. "Saving the world" was simply too far-fetched; life needed more immediate motivation. If the hope remained too far away, she would never reach that day on her own.

What has supported me till today, besides the longing for the past, is my teammates, Kong, and Katie. After thinking about these people, Bai Lin was able to give Fei'er an answer. She let go of Fei'er's hand, put her hands on Fei'er's shoulders, and said solemnly,

"My hobby... is just wanting to do things with you all the time. Anything is fine, even just walking around the city. We can talk about our own worries, family matters, etc. Just being able to take a break like this once in a while is enough for me."

Fei'er blinked, looked at Bai Lin with clear eyes, and replied,

"But... haven't we always been like this? But you still—"

"That's why I said I've been too tired lately. Compared to rest, work accounts for too much of my time, so it's had some impact on me."

Bai Lin spoke in a cheerful and optimistic manner. She really wanted to make Fei'er feel at ease, or perhaps she was trying to make herself feel at ease.

Chapter 352 Contradiction Confirmed

Because Bai Lin herself is the most clear about what kind of changes have taken place in her mentality. However, even if she begins to become indifferent to human life, the most basic "moral sense" and "sense of justice" as a human being still keep her going forward.

This is Bai Lin’s current state. She has unknowingly developed a "conflict" with herself.

Fei'er glanced at Bai Lin with a complicated expression, then sighed. She was about to say something, but hesitated. This expression made Bai Lin feel uncomfortable, and her own self-doubt began to waver.

At this moment, Long Yuesi's voice sounded from Bai Lin's ears again.

"Hey, what are you two doing holding hands and looking at each other? You're being affectionate as soon as I leave?"

This joke interrupted the two people's thoughts, and Bai Lin turned back to Long Yuesi with a smile again.

"No, it's nothing."

-

Since they had decided to go to the negotiation, Bai Lin and Fei'er decided not to stay in the upper city for too long. Before leaving, Long Yuesi pointed out a road that might have some information.

"Be careful, it's going to be messy."

It was probably a darker place, Bai Lin guessed. However, she didn't go there, but just kept it in mind. Because for now, her information was sufficient, and she needed to make some other preparations.

First, the person you should look for is—

"Oh my? There's such progress in just one day. Bai Lin, you're pretty good."

Just as Sora was about to step out of the shop to open the cat girl cafe after putting on his sunglasses, he met Bai Lin. Therefore, her way of speaking was slightly more teasing.

"That's fine. That's why I wanted to talk to you about the negotiation."

Sora put down the bag in her hand, bent sideways, and her sunglasses slid down to the bridge of her nose.

"The hero who saved the world really picked a good time to tell me this right when I was about to go out. But of course I'm willing to do so."

Bai Lin obviously realized the meaning behind the empty words, but the matter was urgent, so she could only apologize and follow her into the store.

Arriving at the familiar dining table, Bai Lin felt like he was back home. To be honest, although he usually slept in a hotel, Sora's place felt more like Bai Lin's home. Especially during training time, he could see Sora every day.

"Come, tell me a little bit about your information and ideas, and I'll sort them out."

Sora sat down, casually removing his sunglasses. The white hair on his head slowly faded back to its usual orange color. Bai Lin, naturally accustomed to Sora's strikingly beautiful face, naturally began to recount her morning experiences.

"Well, generally speaking, there's no big problem. However, you have to think about it. What will be the consequences if ugly news about you really gets out?"

Kong, who had entered the working state, returned to his usual professional tone. Bai Lin, on the other hand, asked with some confusion,

"Qianhong should be able to help me clear my name."

Kong shook his finger and said to Bai Lin,

"It's hard to say. Even if they do, this society is full of preconceived notions. You may not have been in the city for a long time, but you must have heard that it takes only one mouth to spread a rumor, but it takes a lot of effort to refute it. That's why you should let Qianhong spread good things about you first, so that you can be absolutely sure."

Bai Lin thought for a moment. What Kong said made sense. Living in the modern world, she often saw scandals like this spread everywhere, but when the truth behind the reversal came out, no one cared about the matter anymore.

However, after coming to this world, she hadn't heard of or experienced such things again, so Bai Lin didn't pay much attention to it. In this way... it was still a bit negligent.

There are still two days until the negotiations, so it's definitely still in time to go to Shangcheng District to discuss this matter tomorrow. I came to Kong today to confirm, intending to perfect my plan. I didn't expect Kong to deny my idea, but there was a slip-up in the rumor.

"Indeed... I've somewhat overlooked this aspect of the problem. But Sora, is there really nothing wrong with my negotiation approach? They're sending representatives from a whole region. Can this little trick really embarrass them?"

Kong listened to Bai Lin's somewhat unconfident words, turned his head and said to Bai Lin,

"This is a plan you came up with yourself. Where's your usual confidence? Even if the other party's rhetoric is powerful, on the one hand, Qianhong is stronger than them, and on the other hand, they are indeed in the wrong. As a fair participant, you can show such words, which is enough to defeat them."

"You've known me for a year, so your words shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Kong smiled at Bai Lin, who nodded naturally. Indeed, when Kong was with him, if there were any issues with his speech or thinking, she would always offer corrections. Such meticulous instruction, even though it was frequent, never bored Bai Lin. Consequently, Bai Lin's communication skills had improved considerably.

After all, there is a saying in school days that "you will learn well in the class taught by the teacher you like." It is obvious that Kong is Bai Lin's favorite teacher, and Bai Lin has really learned almost everything under her teaching.

…I just haven’t learned how to play pranks on people like Sora.