Upon hearing the word ’theft,’ Chen Moxiang’s eyes suddenly widened.

Her brows narrowed into slits, and she cast a cat-like stare at Lin Tian, smiling as she asked, "You’re talking to a Security Management Institute member who fights criminals every day about stealing something. Don’t you think you’re like a ’mouse licking a cat’s butt,’ asking for death?"

Lin Tian lowered his head, turned away, and glanced at Chen Moxiang’s backside, unsure of what he was thinking.

Of course, his gaze didn’t escape Chen Moxiang’s notice. Immediately, she extended her delicate hand and twisted the soft flesh on Lin Tian’s waist, first to the left, then to the right, using a lot of hidden strength, causing him to grimace in pain.

Seeing Lin Tian’s contorted face, Chen Moxiang burst into laughter, then quickly cleared her throat and stifled her smile.

As Lin Tian rubbed his aching waist, he said, "I knew you, Miss Chen, with your sense of justice, wouldn’t agree to such a plan."

"Nonsense! Do you even know what kind of place that is? Although I don’t know much about ancient martial arts families, I’m no match for almost anyone in there. I don’t want to see you get beaten to death before you even manage to steal the medicine."

"I didn’t expect you to care about me so much?"

"Get lost! I’m concerned about the medicinal herbs."

Lin Tian let out a faint smile and then explained Liou Qingcheng’s current situation to Chen Moxiang, which immediately moved her emotionally.

Her heart was a medley of emotions — envy, jealousy, and a touch of being moved.

Perhaps her teammates would also fight so desperately for her, but the feeling was completely different.

Chen Moxiang stood up, wrapped her robe tightly around her, and walked out, not turning back as she said, "Just pretend I wasn’t here tonight. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I advise you to be careful."

As her words fell, she had already exited the room, disappearing from Lin Tian’s view.

...

In the suburbs of Kanyue City, there is a mountain named Luoyan Mountain. In the valley there lies a cluster of interconnected houses called Luoyan Dock.

The houses of Luoyan Dock are all built with wooden tiles in ancient architectural style, with the thickest beams having a diameter of up to half a meter. There are four-meter-high red walls and golden glazed tiles. Underfoot are blue stones, each engraved by ancient craftsmen with hand-carved patterns.

At a glance, it looks as grand as a palace.

In fact, this place was built to mimic a palace, only smaller in size.

This is where the alliance formed by the ancient martial arts families is located, consisting of twelve such families, including the Wang Family from Kanyue City, the Xu Family from South City, and the Qu Family from Nanhai...

Each family has masters stationed here because there are things in the alliance headquarters that they vie for.

Like the rare herbs in the medicine vault, or things tied to political power.

These are what they vie for, because having them means the family can stand for much longer and thrive forever.

In the early 1930s, the entire country’s situation was chaotic. The ancient martial arts families were also affected, reducing from more than twenty families to twelve. Those fallen families now remain forgotten.

On the edges of Luoyan Dock, there is also an extraordinarily grand mansion, with two qilin statues at its entrance and a signboard with ’Wang Family’ written in bold calligraphy above the door.

At this moment, in the main hall of the Wang Family, a group of people wearing long robes sits on either side. The gold-embroidered ’Wang’ character on their robes signifies their noble identity.

Among these people, there are several middle-aged men wearing kimonos and holding Sakula Country’s swords.

If Lin Tian were here, he would surely be shocked and gape.

The Qingbai Wuchang he has been painstakingly searching for, along with others like Qingchuan, are all here.

Being in the Ancient Martial the Wang Family, it’s no wonder neither Wu Yong nor Miaoqiu could find any trace of them.

This place is already beyond their reach.

It is five in the morning, and the sky outside Luoyan Dock is still dark, with no hint of light.

Everyone present was gathered here by a piece of news.

That news, of course, is that the people transporting the virus and the virus itself have vanished without a trace.

This lack of news is the most terrifying news.

Even though Jin City isn’t the Wang Family’s territory, any disturbances can be reported to them immediately.

To seal off information so securely, it must be the work of the police.

The virus being intercepted by the police is not good news.

"Mr. Bai, I hope you can give me and Patriarch Wang an explanation as to why our people and goods have disappeared, while you, the person supposed to receive them, are now here and not in Jin City where you should be?"

In fluent Celestial Dragon Continent language, Qingchuan asked.

The lack of goods and the receiver being here naturally creates suspicion that he is the mole.

With Bai Wuchang’s intelligence, how could he not know what Qingchuan meant by this?

Instantly, his expression became grim and cold, "No reason. I just found waiting for the goods too boring. Who do you take me for? Your subordinate?"

Ever since Hei Wuchang had died, Bai Wuchang’s demeanor had drastically changed, becoming at times cold and at times irritable.

"You!" Qingchuan shot up from his seat, taking a deep breath, and slowing his tone said, "All I want to know now is what happened in Jin City. If our people fell into the hands of the police, it could lead to discovering some clues, and you know how much risk and trouble that will bring to us?"

Bai Wuchang replied calmly, "You want to know, and so do I. But I think, even if your subordinates fell into the hands of the Celestial Dragon Continent’s police, it wouldn’t be a problem?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don’t you always boast that the ninjas from your Sakula Country are the world’s greatest martial artists? That they have absolute loyalty, and even if they commit suicide, they won’t reveal the slightest secret?"

Qingchuan’s face clouded over, thinking, "Damn, you’re taking my bragging to heart, aren’t you? If they really spilled any beans, then we’re screwed."

Then, a seventy-year-old man seated at the upper table stood up, with a dignified, authoritative national face, thick brows, and big eyes.

This man is Wang Shi, the current patriarch of the Ancient Martial the Wang Family.

Even at seventy, his cultivation level remains unfathomable. It’s because of this prowess that the Wang Family has stood firm among ancient martial arts families for so many years.

"Alright, let’s not quarrel, the two of you. Mr. Bai Wuchang is right. I’ve seen your country’s practitioners, they’re all quite extraordinary young people, and I believe they can keep their mouths shut."

"Besides, even if some information is leaked, so what? It’s only insignificant details. Without solid evidence, the police wouldn’t dare to come to Luoyan Dock!"