There's no way, once life offers a shortcut, who would still think about taking the long way?

I wonder if there's been any progress since I asked someone to help gather news...

[Beep~Beep~]

[Hello~]

As the call connected, Wang Zhao Ping greeted warmly.

"Haha! Brother Meng, how have you been recently?"

[Hmm... I'm fine, it's just the living environment has become a bit harsh...]

"Uh..."

Living environment? What do you mean?

Su City is one of our top ten livable cities, I've never heard of any serious environmental pollution issues?

Before Wang Zhao Ping could process the unconventional response, the other side spoke again.

[You're calling to ask about the Buddha head, right?]

Wang Zhao Ping immediately cleared his throat.

"Brother Meng is insightful, you must have heard we're not making progress on our end.

But that's our national treasure, losing it like this really leaves a bitter taste for me..."

[Captain Wang is diligent, it's truly admirable.]

Wang Zhao Ping let out a wry smile, "Brother, no need to flatter me. To be frank, the trail on the Iwazaki family's side has gone cold, and I'm at my wits' end.

If it were just an ordinary artifact lost, it wouldn't be so bad.

But with the Iwazaki family repeatedly trying to seize it at all costs, I can't help but feel their motives are about more than just coveting our Huaxia treasure."

[Haha! You're wrong there; this bunch really is just coveting our Huaxia treasure...]

It's just that this "treasure" is not that "treasure"...

Wang Zhao Ping didn't catch Meng Lang's implication, but the words brightened his eyes.

"Oh? How can Brother Meng be so sure? Did you find any leads?"

The person on the other end seemed to ponder for a moment.

[I did hear some rumors. It's said that the current family head of the Iwazaki family, Iwazaki Hanzo, is infatuated with Huaxia culture, and these actions aimed at the Buddha head were instigated by his secret instructions.

As for the reason... it seems this Tang Dynasty Buddha head has some historical connection to Master Si Tuo.

Oh! Master Si Tuo was a disciple of Jianzhen and supposedly an ancestor of the Iwazaki family...]

"Uh... this..."

Wang Zhao Ping's initial excitement turned to bewilderment.

He imagined Meng Lang would uncover some leads, but didn't expect them to trace back to genealogies?!

He asked with a peculiar expression.

"Brother Meng, didn't you say last time that you could look into domestic rumors, but foreign information was beyond reach?"

[Hmm... so, I just realized my limitations and decided to expand into the international market, to broaden my global perspective!]

Wang Zhao Ping's mouth twitched.

Should I say, as expected of the "Chaoyang People"?

Recognizing shortcomings one minute, and addressing them the next?

The self-improvement and execution ability is unmatched by any intelligence organization!

"Iwazaki Hanzo..."

Wang Zhao Ping wrote down this crucial name in his notebook.

But knowing who's behind it doesn't seem to help the current situation...

"Brother Meng, aside from this, is there any other news?"

[Yes, according to my source, that Iwazaki Yuhei who returned to the country isn't exactly an easy character, and it's currently a crucial time for him competing with Iwazaki Hideyoshi for the family head position.

Personally, I'd advise you to stay away from Iwazaki Hideyoshi, to avoid getting caught in their conflict.]

"Uh..."

Hey, hey! Isn't this insider knowledge of a financial conglomerate's family?

You call this a rumor?

Did this information come straight from their bedroom?

After a flurry of inner ridicule, Wang Zhao Ping thought it was just Meng Lang's wild speculation.

"Um... I meant, is there any underground news regarding the location of the Buddha head?" he asked cautiously.

[Well...]

How could Meng Lang respond?

Saying the Buddha head was smashed into pieces long ago and is likely reduced to ashes by now?

[Ahem! In truth, the coming and going of all things has its own order, and things sought intentionally are often hard to find.

It often hides in an unintentional gaze, a glance back, a moment yesterday when feeling inspired...]

"Stop! Stop, stop!" Wang Zhao Ping interrupted Meng Lang with a bewildered look.

I came for intelligence, why are you turning this into an essay?

"Brother Meng, my cultural appreciation level isn't high, just say it simply, can the Buddha head be retrieved?"

[Sigh~]

A long sigh slowly exhaled, Wang Zhao Ping already knew the answer.

Just about to feel disappointed, the conversation on the other end took an unexpected turn.

[Although I can't help with the Buddha head, I did stumble upon another clue here, which is somewhat related to the case, I wonder if Captain Wang is interested?]

"What?" Wang Zhao Ping was instantly stunned.

Another clue?

This familiar feeling... so you've gone off track again, haven't you?

"I'd love to hear the details!" He quickly perked up his ears.

After all, losing a watermelon but getting back a sesame seed is still something...

[...]

Yet, after hearing Meng Lang's description of the "sesame seed" over the phone, Wang Zhao Ping's eyes gradually widened.

He said in shock.

"Brother Meng, what you said... is it true?"

[Certainly not guaranteed!]

"Uh..." Wang Zhao Ping was momentarily stunned, only then did he realize, the person on the other end never guarantees the truth of his "insider info."

"Oh, oh! I get it, I get it!" Wang Zhao Ping nodded excitedly.

Although never guaranteed, how could this frequent customer not know, as long as it's intel from Meng Lang.

There's only mistakes, never fails!

At worst, he misunderstands a few times, which is really amusing!

"Brother Meng, I won't say more, you're so righteous every time, I don't even know how to thank you..."

[Haha! We're old friends, no need for such politeness among us.

However, I do have a favor to ask of Captain Wang...]

"Oh?" Wang Zhao Ping instantly became spirited.

"What is it, Brother Meng, feel free to say, even if it's a mountain of swords and a sea of flames, I'll brave it for you!"

[Haha! You're exaggerating, really, it's nothing major, I just mentioned, my surrounding living environment... has become a bit harsh...]

Wang Zhao Ping's face suddenly turned serious, if it involves environmental issues like industrial pollution, that's usually not a small case...

If the level of involvement is on the higher side, even if he's the chief detective, sometimes he has to get instructions before taking action.

But after Meng Lang gave a rough description, Wang Zhao Ping was left feeling both crying and laughing.

"Just this?"

...

That afternoon, before the sun had fully set, the neighborhood of First-class Residence had returned to chaos once again...

"No! No! You can't do this, Erbao!"

"Woof! Woof woof!"

"Let go of me, give me back my Erbao!"

"Woof woof!"

"Erbao~"

"Woof woof!"

In the slightly shrill screams, Mrs. Zhang fiercely clutched her dog's paw, eventually slipping bit by bit from the dog's grasp amid the pulling of numerous enforcers...

At the moment fingers parted from dog paw, tears brimming in the woman's eyes, her heart nearly breaking...

"No! Erbao~~~"

In this world, what is love...

The scene of a person and a dog being forcibly separated inexplicably reminded people of the classic scene of Xu Xian and Lady White Snake parting ways beneath Leifeng Pagoda.

An indeed heartbreaking sight, indeed...

"Ka-chak~" "Ka-chak ka-chak~"

Meng Lang and Xiao Yu laid on the balcony of the 11th floor, eating watermelon, watching the farce below.

The central area of the neighborhood is wide open, and Mrs. Zhang's voice is loud, the echo effect is simply 360° surround sound live broadcast for the residents...

"Pfft~ Uncle, is this what you call affairs of the martial world?" Xiao Yu spat out a few watermelon seeds with a face full of admiration.

Meng Lang just took a sighful bite of watermelon.

"Ah, the martial world isn't just fighting and killing, it's all about human affairs... ka-chak~"

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