The air in the rest area seemed to freeze.

Beads of sweat formed on Li Chaoqun's forehead as he quietly glanced at Luo Xiu's profile. Suddenly, he felt his body grow heavy, and he found it difficult to breathe. He had already experienced the oppressive might of Luo Xiu's aura when the man had gone to warn Granny Miaoyu.

"Mister Luo..." Li Chaoqun swallowed hard and called out in a soft voice.

Luo Xiu took a deep breath, reined in the terrifying pressure, and reached out to close the box. "There are two possibilities," he said.

"First, you're playing me.

"Second, someone else took the fruit."

Li Chaoqun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said hurriedly, "I swear on the name of the Proud Sun Sect and on my very life that it is definitely not the first possibility!"

Luo Xiu's eyelids drooped. "The fragrance is still here, and it's quite rich," he said slowly. "This means it wasn't taken long ago."

He turned to look at Li Chaoqun and asked, "Sect Leader Li, when was the last time you saw this fruit with your own eyes?"

Li Chaoqun replied, "Last night. And I've kept this box with me the entire time."

Luo Xiu stood up, handed the box back to him, and turned to walk out of the rest area.

Li Chaoqun hurriedly followed. "Rest assured, Mister Luo, I will give you an explanation! Give me one week! Within a week, I will present the Scorching Sun Profound Purity Fruit to you with my own two hands."

Luo Xiu said, "I hope you can keep your word."

...

「In the blink of an eye.」

As dusk fell and the city lights began to glow, a scene unfolded atop the Hengyun Technology Building, inside an office.

Zeng Xin was kneeling on one knee before the handsome young man's desk, his eyes filled with indignation.

"I lost. Please punish me, Messenger Lord!"

The handsome young man simply stared at him with a dark gaze, saying nothing, seemingly lost in thought. Zeng Xin felt a chill run down his spine under that stare and lowered his head, not daring to make a sound.

After a long while, the handsome young man rubbed his temple with one hand. "Forget it," he said slowly. "You were just knocked off the Combat Stage and lost the match, that's all. If it had been a real fight to the death, it's still uncertain who would have come out on top."

Zeng Xin looked up at him and said gravely, "I'll go and kill Luo Xiu right now and bring you his head!"

The handsome young man rubbed his temple again. "No need. Put the matter of Luo Xiu aside for now; someone else will deal with him. I have a new task for you."

"Please give your orders, Messenger Lord."

"Kidnap Zhang Yi, the daughter of Zhang Shizun."

"Your subordinate obeys."

"Remember, we need her alive," the handsome young man said. "Don't make the same mistake as those fools last time, staging a car crash and almost killing Zhang Yi on the spot."

"Your subordinate understands!"

"You are dismissed."

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

Not long after Zeng Xin left, a middle-aged man entered the office. It was Red Bat.

"What are your instructions, Messenger Lord?"

The handsome young man said, "Su Shenyun has arrived in the provincial city. She must have taken the Soul-devouring Worm to Capital City before this."

Red Bat frowned. "And so?"

The handsome young man smiled faintly. "Let's leave her a gift. The Audit Bureau is a pack of mad dogs. If you give those dogs a big bone to chew on, they won't chase so fiercely."

Red Bat smiled. "Your subordinate understands."

...

...

Feiyun Villa was bustling tonight.

Several large wooden tables were set up in the courtyard, laden with all sorts of drinks and snacks.

Luo Xiu was bare-chested and drenched in sweat, a towel draped over his shoulder, busily tending to the barbecue grill.

He couldn't understand why, at his own victory celebration, he ended up being the barbecue chef. That damned Lin Xiyue! So what if she's pregnant? He had suggested celebrating at a restaurant, but she had insisted on having a barbecue here! And to make matters worse, she wasn't lifting a finger, just enjoying the ready-made food.

Watching Lin Xiyue chatting and laughing about family matters with his parents and grandfather, Luo Xiu suddenly felt like the foolish son-in-law.

Suddenly, a fragrant breeze wafted by. Su Shenyun approached Luo Xiu, holding a half-finished drink.

She bent over slightly, her slender fingers tucking a fragrant strand of hair behind her ear. It was a casual, simple movement, yet utterly alluring.

She looked at the mackerel sizzling on the grill and said, "Mackerel tastes best when the skin is charred, but not burnt."

Luo Xiu shot her a sideways glance. "You think you can do better?"

Su Shenyun held the drink to his lips, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "Darling, thank you for your hard work."

Luo Xiu shuddered and glanced around like a thief. "There are so many people here," he hissed. "Can't you be a little more discreet? If someone discovers our affair..."

He quickly leaned in, bit the straw, and took a big gulp of the iced drink.

Seeing his cat-like stealth, Su Shenyun couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter.

"You know, I already drank from that."

"I don't mind."

"But I do."

"Oh, get lost."

"Hmph! Shameless couple!"

As the two were bickering playfully, Sun Li's disgruntled snort came from nearby. Luo Xiu turned to see her standing there, hands on her hips, pouting.

Luo Xiu suddenly felt a bit awkward.

Gritting her teeth, Sun Li snatched an eggplant from a basket and pointed it at Luo Xiu like a sword. "Spit it out," she demanded in a low voice. "Did you sleep with my aunt?"

Luo Xiu was speechless.

With a fierce expression, Sun Li jabbed Luo Xiu in the waist a few times with the eggplant. "Xiu, you scoundrel! You even went after my aunt! Today, this heroine will rid the world of a lecher like you! Take this!"

Knowing he couldn't argue his way out, Luo Xiu put on a shameless, wicked grin. "How about both of you, aunt and niece, join me?"

"Scram!" the two women shouted in unison, kicking him in the shin at almost the same time.

Sun Li's cheeks were flushed as she looked away and muttered, "That's just perverted. But on second thought... it does sound kind of exciting. I really want to see what my normally graceful and dignified aunt is like when she's turned on in bed."

Su Shenyun's expression turned frigid. "Sun Xiao Li, are you looking to die?"

Terrified, Sun Li quickly hid behind Luo Xiu. "Xiu, protect me!"

Luo Xiu chuckled and asked her, "Speaking of which, aren't you the young mistress of the Duan Family now? Shouldn't you be looking for Duan Feibai?"

Sun Li snorted, crossing her arms. "I'm certainly not looking for him. I came to the provincial city to divorce him. That bastard lied to me; he never had any intention of saving my aunt." She added, "Also, this heroine has joined the Audit Bureau. From now on, I'm sticking with my aunt."

Luo Xiu said, "That's great."

Su Shenyun's expression turned serious. "Alright, Xiao Li, go keep your grandpa company for now. I have something important to discuss with Luo Xiu."

Sun Li eyed them suspiciously, her cheeks puffed out. "You two had better not leave my sight!"

A short while later, after Sun Li had left, Su Shenyun asked, "That Zeng Xin today, did you notice anything?"

Luo Xiu replied, "He's all flash and no substance."

"Do you remember Black Mandala from before?" Su Shenyun asked.

Luo Xiu nodded.

"If I'm not mistaken," Su Shenyun continued, "that Zeng Xin has been injected with drugs, just like Mandala."

At her words, Luo Xiu's brows furrowed. "Now that you mention it, I remember Zeng Xin's healing ability was abnormally strong. At that time, I crushed his hand, but it recovered in an instant."

Su Shenyun said, "Then the power behind Zeng Xin is most likely the Holy Boi Religion."

...

As they were talking, the roar of an engine suddenly echoed from outside the courtyard, growing louder as it approached. Soon, a luxury car stopped at the main gate.

Yue Tianyang got out, holding a file folder, and strode into the courtyard. He looked a bit awkward when he saw how many people were there, especially when he saw Zhang Yong.

One was the Prefect of the provincial city; the other, the Dragon Head of the underworld. For two people of such different statuses to meet in a setting like this, the scene was certainly bizarre.

"Mister Luo, may I have a word?" Yue Tianyang said, ignoring everyone else and heading straight for Luo Xiu.

A moment later, the old and young men were inside the house.

Yue Tianyang sat on the sofa and handed the file folder to Luo Xiu.

"It's about Luo Ying. Take a look.

"During this time, I have not relaxed my investigation, but I didn't want to bother you, considering you were participating in the Grand Martial Ceremony.

"Now that the ceremony is over, it's time to handle some serious business."

...

With a sense of trepidation, Luo Xiu opened the folder. The first things he pulled out were several photographs.

The photos showed the naked corpse of a woman, submerged in a glass tank filled with some sort of medicinal liquid.

Observing Luo Xiu's expression, Yue Tianyang said, "That is Luo Ying."

Upon hearing this, Luo Xiu's hand, holding the photos, trembled. A chilling light filled his eyes.

"Where is she?"

...

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