After the Han Lihu incident came to an end, the confrontation between the Investigation Bureau and Divine Desire people seemed to reach a temporary standstill, but beneath this facade of tranquility, undercurrents were surging.

After the former drafted an operational plan based on Pei Yan's intelligence, the two Superpower Teams halted all vacations. All team members were gathered for a month-long joint combat training, some people in the Secret Prison disappeared and were never seen again, and special liaison officers sent to various dimensions by the Investigation Bureau quietly embarked on their journeys. Mei Simiao flew abroad to meet a few colleagues, while Gu Shenghui and Elder Lin secretly met with a few people and exchanged some words.

The latter secretly transported groups of ordinary people trafficked from domestic and international sources to various assembly points. All personnel within the country were proceeding in an orderly fashion to predetermined gathering points. Du Guangyuan offered sacrifices to his "master," Su Xiang, as usual, covertly observed his true target for this journey. Shitang Longsi was wiping his sword in his room, and after attending the highest-level Divine Desire meeting, Mu Fanchen boarded a luxury cruise ship returning from Europe to Huaxia with his plan and external assistance.

Everyone was baiting their hooks, waiting for the others to bite.

Meanwhile, the protagonist, Pei Yan, who triggered this series of chain reactions, found himself quite detached, enjoying a hard-earned seaside vacation under the company of beauties, sunlight, the sea, and the blue sky.

After two months of training and over a week of surveillance, following the handover of the surviving criminals from the Han Lihu case along with the operation video data to the Investigation Bureau, the higher-ups seemed to have a rare pang of conscience and granted the Upper Star Squad a four-day long leave, with all travel accommodation expenses specially approved for reimbursement by the Bureau.

Unlike Pei Yan, who had grown up inland, rarely seen the sea, and excitedly changed into swimwear to dive in, Jiang Feiyang lay on a beach chair with a big belly, fanning himself with a sunhat while complaining about the murky seawater in front of him, "The Bureau is so stingy, they approved a trip but said we'd go to the beach, thought it'd be Sanya, but turns out it's Beidaihe. We're going to the beach anyway—why can't we use the Teleportation Array to go anywhere?"

"You're so full of nonsense. It's good enough we can have a vacation. You've got a paid vacation and public-funded travel, but you still want more. Damn, we should throw you into the rainforest and lock you up for a few more days until you behave! Can't you just enjoy the trip and stay away from me!" Lying next to him, Peng Lang was enjoying the sea breeze, squinting his eyes and almost drifting to sleep, but his partner's blabbering mouth abruptly woke him up, making him take off his eye mask and throw it over in anger, shouting.

"As if anyone wants to stay with you!" Jiang Feiyang said, sneaking a glance toward Wang Wenze and Liang Qian sitting face to face, enjoying cold drinks in the refreshment area, and said with envy, "Look at them! And then look at you!"

"What about me? You sound like if I were swapped for a female team member, you could date her or something! There are still single people in our team, aren't there Xue Buli and the newcomer Zhao Yuanhu? Why don't you go after them? Who's stopping you—blaming society for being ugly and the toilet for constipation!"

Listening to Jiang Feiyang and Peng Lang bickering, Qi Hua, long accustomed to their banter, squinted at the three female colleagues playing in swimsuits by the beach and provocatively said, "I think Peng Lang is right. Look at Ye Jiumu always circling around Xia Yu, and see how enthusiastic Qi Weidong is! Old Jiang, I'm telling you, by the time they have kids, you'll still be here acting like Aunt Xianglin!"

"Get lost!" Jiang Feiyang, who had already sat up rubbing his soles, retorted irritably. He too squinted his eyes and turned his gaze toward the beach, smacking his lips for a long while before remarking, "Hey, I've just realized, hey, Zhao Yuanhu wears wide sleeves and it doesn't show, but now in swimwear, she's got the best figure among this group! That little Pei Yan, young as he is, has quite an eye!"

"What's the use of just looking? Go chase her!" Peng Lang, already teased wide awake and taking joy in teasing his partner, rolled over and urged.

Prodded by Peng Lang, Jiang Feiyang hesitated, "Isn't it inappropriate? Pei Yan likes her, doesn't he?"

"Fair maiden, gentleman's pursuit. I asked, and Pei Yan and she aren't even dating yet, not boyfriend and girlfriend. Fair competition—whoever wins, gets her!"

Qi Hua, all for the excitement, also joined in, whispering, "And didn't you notice? The girl often wears hanfu clothes. You've always dreamed of the Great Tang! You two surely have common interests and a common language!"

"Yeah! Exactly, I also have several sets of hanfu at home! I even have armor restored from ancient times in my storage ring!" Jiang Feiyang's eyes lit up, completely swayed by the two.

"What are you waiting for then? Early bird gets the worm! Go for it!"

On the beach, Ye Jiumu, who was showcasing his artistic talents by building an elaborate sandcastle for Xia Yu, watched as Jiang Feiyang marched spiritedly past him toward the sea, then looked up puzzled at the two who squatted down beside him, smirking mischievously, "What's got him so worked up?"

"Watch, there's a good show. Jiang Feiyang went to hit on a girl!" Peng Lang simply sat down on the beach, and upon hearing this, Ye Jiumu also got interested, putting down his little shovel and craning his neck to watch.

Not long after, seeing Zhao Yuanhu swim back into the sea and a dejected Jiang Feiyang return, the three of them laughed until they were nearly breathless. Seeing their reaction, Jiang Feiyang sat down heavily on Ye Jiumu's sandcastle.

Not bothered by the destruction of his artwork, Ye Jiumu patted Jiang Feiyang's shoulder, laughing, "I say Old Jiang, what did you say to the girl? It looked like you two were having a good chat!"

"Yeah, I saw Zhao Yuanhu all smiles! Come on, tell us what happened!" Peng Lang urged, trying hard to suppress his laughter.

"What else? Just some chitchat! Talked about stuff in the team, life, and missions! Then we started discussing hanfu and got happier and happier chatting!" Jiang Feiyang said, lowering his head in frustration.

"That sounds good! And then?"

"Then I asked if she's interested in seeing some of my cherished treasures that I've kept for years, and if she'd like to come to my room tonight for a look!"

"Pfft, pffft! Hahahahahaha!" The trio, hearing this, looked at each other and finally couldn't hold back, clutching their stomachs and laughing loudly!

At this moment, Jiang Feiyang also realized he had misspoken. It wasn't often that he, being relatively introverted, got to have such a pleasant conversation with a girl. In a moment of elation and excitement, he slipped up in his wording and was now regretting it. Seeing the three playfully gloating over his mishap, he angrily grabbed a handful of sand and flung it at them.

Amidst their banter, Qi Weidong walked over with a worried face and nudged Ye Jiumu, "Jiumu, you'd better go check on Pei Yan. He might be in trouble!"