Zhang Xiaoqiang covered his mouth, remaining silent, while extending his thumb with his other hand.
Beside him, Yu Daochen offered an awkward smile and said nothing.
"Idol, Strong Ye, you two go ahead with your business. I'll wait here," Ma Danna said.
Just as Yu Daochen was about to speak, Zhang Xiaoqiang placed a hand on his shoulder.
Yu Daochen turned his head in confusion. He saw Zhang Xiaoqiang looking at him with sheer terror, whispering, "Let her go, let her go, let her go, let her go!"
Seeing Zhang Xiaoqiang like this, Yu Daochen found it both amusing and exasperating.
Ma Danna, observing their exchange, looked puzzled.
Yu Daochen coughed dryly, his expression turning serious. "To be frank, the matter we're here to handle is extremely dangerous. You'll only get caught up in it."
Gazing at Yu Daochen's solemn face, Ma Danna felt a pang of fear.
Yu Daochen was considered a top talent among the younger generation. If even he deemed it dangerous, then the situation was likely perilous.
Ma Danna nodded, understanding that her presence would only hinder the idol's affairs.
Ma Danna nodded seriously and said, "I understand. I'll drive away now. Call me when Idol is done, and we'll pick you up."
Yu Daochen grunted and nodded. "Be careful on the road."
Ma Danna executed a beautiful drift and sped away.
"Did she leave?" Zhang Xiaoqiang asked from the side.
Yu Daochen grunted and turned to Zhang Xiaoqiang. "I was about to say."
Before Yu Daochen could finish, Zhang Xiaoqiang grabbed his shoulder and vomited.
"Damn it, don't puke on my shoes, hey," Yu Daochen quickly moved his feet away.
After a good while, Zhang Xiaoqiang finally recovered. He wiped his mouth and grumbled, "How can that girl drive so aggressively? Even veteran drivers aren't as wild as her. How many years has she been driving?"
Yu Daochen shook his head helplessly and gave a wry smile. "What if I told you she's only been driving for a year?"
"A year?" Zhang Xiaoqiang was stunned. After a moment, he took out his phone.
Seeing Zhang Xiaoqiang pull out his phone, Yu Daochen asked, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to report her for driving on the highway before she's had three years of experience. Report her, I must report her." Zhang Xiaoqiang was thoroughly terrified by Ma Danna's driving skills.
Yu Daochen was speechless. Did this guy have some kind of superiority complex?
"Let's go inside first," Yu Daochen said, turning towards the inn.
The Daohuaxiang Inn wasn't very large; it was more of a farmhouse-style establishment. The decor was entirely wooden, giving it a simple and rustic feel.
"Hey, did your sect leader tell you what the contact person looks like?" Yu Daochen asked Zhang Xiaoqiang.
Zhang Xiaoqiang shook his head. "No, but the sect leader said he'd recognize me."
Yu Daochen nodded and scanned his surroundings, his gaze finally settling on a middle-aged man drinking tea.
"Look, is that him?" Yu Daochen nudged his chin towards the middle-aged man.
Zhang Xiaoqiang followed Yu Daochen's gaze.
The middle-aged man, noticing Yu Daochen and Zhang Xiaoqiang looking at him, stood up and walked towards them.
Yu Daochen scrutinized the middle-aged man. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit. There were three claw marks on his left eye, clearly the work of a fierce beast or a demon. Although his face showed no killing intent, he possessed an invisible aura.
The middle-aged man reached them and smiled. "Elder Zhang, you've arrived."
Zhang Xiaoqiang nodded. "You must be the contact person the sect leader mentioned."
The middle-aged man nodded and then looked at Yu Daochen. "This must be the renowned Young Master Yu of Jiangdu in the martial world."
Yu Daochen cupped his hands. "I am Yu Daochen, the owner of the Midnight Spirit Shop in Jiangdu."
The middle-aged man also politely cupped his hands. "I am Zhang Yilin of the Yan Shu Sect. Please, have a seat, gentlemen."
Zhang Yilin led them towards the table where he had been sitting.
Trailing behind, Zhang Xiaoqiang muttered, "I don't see any aura on his face. Is he not from our line of work?"
Yu Daochen shook his head, his eyes fixed intently on Zhang Yilin's back. "He's a master!"
"A master?"
Zhang Xiaoqiang was puzzled. People in their line of work, no matter how profound their cultivation, always had an aura on their face.
This was something that couldn't be hidden and was the most reliable way to determine if someone was in their profession.
Yu Daochen nodded. "That's right, he is indeed a master."
Zhang Xiaoqiang asked again, "How are you so sure?"
Yu Daochen smiled faintly. "Because he looks like someone!"
"Who?" Zhang Xiaoqiang frowned. Could it be that Master Yu had met this person before?
Yu Daochen smiled faintly and said, "Shanks from One Piece!"
Zhang Xiaoqiang: ...
Zhang Xiaoqiang was utterly speechless and had no desire to exchange another word with Yu Daochen.
Although Yu Daochen's last remark was a joke, he was inwardly certain that the man was a master.
Even though Zhang Yilin's face indeed lacked any visible aura, his presence was extraordinarily powerful.
People in their line of work, even hardened gangsters adorned with tattoos, wouldn't feel the slightest bit of aura from them.
Yet, he had clearly sensed the man's aura and felt a sense of nervousness.
This was not something an ordinary person could achieve.