Of course, as a veteran staff member at the Yue Sheng Tea House, once she heard the news, she immediately delivered it to those who truly held sway there.

「And so,」

Within a hidden office on the fourth floor, a young woman dressed neatly, with an exquisite figure, rosy lips, pearly teeth, and a notably full bust, gracefully raised her head. She asked in confusion, "Isn't Five Levels just a Martial King who has barely reached the threshold? What does 'has something' mean, and what could possibly go wrong?"

In front of her, a fair-skinned youth, whose complexion was every bit as smooth and delicate as the woman's, knitted his brows slightly and spoke in a low voice, "I checked. That fellow sells fake medicine. The medicinal properties of the fakes are good; they only differ from real medicine in quantity. The problem is, he gave the agency rights to a complete novice, effectively cutting off the revenue streams of all the noble families in Quan State and reneging on all their deals. Now, everyone is looking for them. Who would have thought he'd show up here?"

Although he looked young and tender, the youth possessed a deep and profound gaze. The Yue Sheng Tea House was, after all, on its own turf; how could they not investigate Ku Zhu's background? So, when Ku Zhu entered the teahouse and triggered this chain reaction, the youth immediately dispatched people to uncover the truth.

The woman then nodded slightly. That explained it. No wonder the usually bustling Yue Sheng Tea House suddenly had so many empty seats today.

"In that case, let me take a look..." The woman was about to turn on the surveillance in Wang Zhan's Private Room to see for herself.

But just as his sister was about to act, the young man jolted in realization. "Sis, wait..."

He had also glanced at the surveillance feed moments ago. He couldn't shake the feeling that the young man with Ku Zhu was no simple character. If Ku Zhu was indeed a Martial King, who could command a Martial King to serve as a guide? This thought filled him with unease. If we're discovered, it won't just be a matter of being blamed. If word gets out that we spied on a Martial King, the Yue Sheng Tea House's reputation will be severely damaged.

Fortunately, as his sister reached for the remote, she also frowned slightly. After a moment of thought, she turned back to her brother and reassured him, "Relax, the system I'm using isn't ordinary. It's newly upgraded. Senior Brother said that even a peak Martial King couldn't possibly detect it. This is for our own safety. What if the person inside has ill intentions towards the teahouse?"

The brother knew about the surveillance system upgrade, of course, but he still felt it was too risky, especially since his sister was trying to spy on that young man who appeared to be an ordinary person. So, he persisted, "Sister, I trust Senior Brother's skills and abilities, but the fact that this fellow has a Martial King as an escort proves he's anything but ordinary! The consequences could be too severe…"

His sister merely thought he was being overly cautious and laughed. "Alright, alright, I understand your concern. But the Yue Sheng Tea House is our only source of income. If we're scared of this and that, and end up being implicated by this guy, how will we survive?"

And so, with a CLICK, the sister switched on the surveillance in Wang Zhan's Private Room.

The next moment, a projection materialized before them. It showed the spacious private room with its large window, offering a panoramic view of Quan State. Ku Zhu, the Martial King they were discussing, sat ramrod straight on a stool, eyes closed in meditation, as if awaiting a guest.

Unexpectedly, just as the remote activated the feed, the young man on screen, who had been facing away from the camera, suddenly lifted his head. He glanced towards an ornamental plant by the windowsill. His expression remained placid, but his eyes held a deep, knowing look.

This image, projected directly before them, made the siblings' hearts clench in shock. The brother snatched the remote and switched off the surveillance, then looked at his sister with a wry smile. "See? I told you he's no ordinary person! He spotted us."

For once, his sister didn't argue. She slumped in her seat, her body feeling leaden, a heavy pressure settling in her chest. Puzzled, she asked, "How could he have detected us? Was he bluffing? Senior Brother told me that unless someone is a Martial Emperor, they absolutely cannot detect our surveillance…"

The brother sighed in exasperation. "Sis, what era do you think this is? It's not as if everything has a set baseline or a predictable limit, you know. Even if Senior Brother is in the Martial Emperor Realm, does that mean he knows every secret? We should be thinking about how to handle the situation if our guest decides to cause trouble…"

The sister shook her head. "Deal with them? Nonsense. We haven't done anything wrong, so why should we worry? There's no need to panic. So what if he detected us? If he wants to prove anything, let him produce the evidence!"

Little did she know, her brazen attitude caused Wang Zhan, who had realized what was happening and had already extended his senses into their secret room, to chuckle softly.

Ku Zhu, perplexed, asked, "Young Master, what is it?"

Wang Zhan shook his head with a smile. "It's nothing." He rose gracefully and walked over to the small ornamental tree. As he ran his palm, suffused with mental energy, over the leaves, counting them, his curiosity grew. The fluctuation just now… it seemed to come from this leaf, didn't it? Hmm, no, something's not quite right. It's as if the entire tree is… like this…

The siblings could never have guessed that Wang Zhan, with his unique sensory abilities, had perceived their every move and word. Naturally, he also understood the remarkable nature of the surveillance device before him.

What an ingenious device! he thought. If he hadn't sensed that faint ripple of mental energy just moments ago, he might not have detected it at all. An ornamental tree that doubles as a surveillance camera? If this technology were brought to the Star War Battlefield, what chance would the Beast Clan have? So what if you could communicate with all flora and fauna? The Federation could probably gain a view of most things with just a bit of moss.

Of course, Wang Zhan knew this had to be the core technology from the Federation's Martial Arts Academy that the siblings had mentioned. And since their "Senior Brother" was a Martial Emperor, it indicated just how advanced and restricted this technology was.

So, after the surveillance was deactivated and he could no longer detect any trace of it, Wang Zhan shook his head slightly. He had no choice but to instruct Ku Zhu, "When we leave, take this plant with us. Pay whatever they ask for it."

Ku Zhu was momentarily speechless. Is this really appropriate? he hesitantly wondered. Although he had a rough understanding of Wang Zhan's past and knew something of his temperament, since when did he become interested in a random plant by the roadside, ready to dig three feet deep for it? Is it because he's been away from the company of beautiful women for too long, deprived of their soft, fragrant embrace, and is now preparing to find solace in nature…?

「Just at this moment,」

CREAK.

The door opened, and a waiter entered, followed by an elderly man with greying temples. Accompanying the old man was a robust, middle-aged man in formal attire, his uniform adorned with medals. They appeared before Ku Zhu and Wang Zhan.

The old man immediately beamed with a hearty laugh and greeted Ku Zhu without any ceremony, "You must be Lord Ku Zhu, I presume? It is truly said that meeting in person surpasses a mere reputation. I've long admired your name!"

However, the formidable middle-aged man behind him was not as affable. He remained silent, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, sweeping a quick glance over Wang Zhan before fixing his attention on Ku Zhu.

Ku Zhu rose and returned the courtesy, saying apologetically, "Forgive me for disturbing you, State Governor. Please pardon our uninvited arrival. Please, do take a seat."

Jin Botao waved his hand. "Haha, though this is our first meeting, it feels as if we are old friends. Come, let me introduce you. This is Guan Shan, the Director of our Quan State City's Martial Management Bureau.

"Though his strength may not compare to yours, Lord Martial King, he is a respected figure in Quan State City! Guan Shan, why are you just standing there? Hurry and greet Lord Martial King."

Guan Shan understood, but his expression remained solemn, his demeanor strictly military as he said in a deep voice, "I have long heard of your esteemed reputation, Lord Martial King Ku Zhu!"

In an instant, the atmosphere tensed. Guan Shan's gravity didn't bring cheer, but rather an oppressive silence, as if from his swift and stern authority.

Wang Zhan, witnessing this, felt a slight smile play on his lips. Interesting, he thought. A State Governor, ostensibly here for a simple meeting, brings a Grandmaster with him. It seems this State Governor isn't too pleased about our uninvited visit. For now, Wang Zhan couldn't be sure if Jin Botao was merely putting on an act, so he decided to observe further.

However, Jin Botao, as a State Governor, possessed keen perception. How could he fail to notice the young man quietly observing him, even if that young man was oddly preoccupied with an ornamental tree? Curious, Jin Botao asked Ku Zhu, "Lord Martial King, might I inquire who this young gentleman is?"

Ku Zhu smiled. "This is my Young Master. It was he who wished to meet you, esteemed elder."

Wang Zhan chose this moment to speak, also smiling. "Forgive my manners, State Governor. I am Wang Zhan, a junior."

After respectfully addressing Jin Botao, Wang Zhan leisurely glanced at the Grandmaster, then turned back to Ku Zhu, a faint smile on his lips. "Ku Zhu, it seems our Director here wishes to spar with you. If that's the case, you should indulge him. Don't disappoint him. Coincidentally, it will give me a chance to chat with the State Governor."

Ordinarily, such a suggestion would be a prelude to open hostility. Yet, Wang Zhan looked at Jin Botao with utmost sincerity and asked, "I wonder if the State Governor would mind?"

Immediately, Ku Zhu, disregarding the presence of the State Governor and the Grandmaster watching him, readily accepted the command as if it were a welcome task. "Yes, Young Master!"

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