Xiang Laner immediately leaned in and whispered, "Is there something special in that parcel?"

Feng Chi: "It feels like an iron chest, but I don't know what's inside it."

In front of Shen Moming, she couldn't cast a spell to investigate the contents of the iron chest. It was too close, and the Mana fluctuations would surely be detected.

Xiang Laner nodded slightly, "We need to report this to higher-ups quickly."

Feng Chi paused, watching Xiang Laner walk away with a complex expression on her face, then quickly caught up to her and whispered in dissuasion, "Miss, if you report it to the higher-ups, they would first want us to clarify what's inside the chest. We might as well try to find out ourselves first. I think it's more appropriate to report it after we figure it out..."

On the streets of the East Victory Royal City, a letter carrier had just been dropped off by a carriage and hadn't walked far when he was suddenly grabbed from behind and dragged away by someone who passed by him, onto a carriage that coincidentally drove up and stopped by the road.

The carriage sped off immediately, and the letter carrier bizarrely vanished from the street.

The person was taken directly to a small courtyard, pulled out of the carriage, dragged into a house, and immediately interrogated.

The interrogation was effortless, and the letter carrier quickly revealed everything he knew.

It was learned that the sender from the so-called Fairy Sect had sent the item from the Western Ox Continent. An interrogator immediately left the scene...

At the Wuyu Inn, a carriage had just left and hadn't traveled far when the coachman urgently halted the horse.

Originally, most of the carriages in the Royal Capital were driven by spirit beasts, mostly without coachmen. In recent years, the Demon Path disturbances have interfered with the spirit beasts' direction, causing the coachman profession to gradually revive.

The carriage stopped suddenly, and the coachman turned back, calling out, "Sir."

The curtain of the carriage was pulled aside, and Young Master Nan stuck his head out to look, only to see a low-profile and luxurious carriage blocking the road, flanked by elite guards.

The curtain of the blocking carriage was slightly pulled open, revealing the face of an elderly man with gray hair and beard, who glanced over indifferently, then lowered the curtain again.

Others might not recognize who this old man was, but Young Master Nan shuddered, hurriedly jumped out of the carriage, and went over. Before he could salute, he was interrupted by a dignified voice from inside the carriage, "Keep it quiet, come up here and talk."

Young Master Nan didn't dare to disobey. He quickly climbed onto the other carriage and obediently entered through the curtains.

"Have a seat," said the elderly man seated in the primary position inside the carriage.

Only then did Young Master Nan take a low seat on the side, forcing a strained smile and saying, "Why have you come personally? You could have just sent someone to call for me if there was anything."

The old man said, "I have known your ancestors and received guidance from your elders. I didn't want anyone to embarrass you, so I came personally to ask you a few questions. I hope you won't hide anything from me."

Young Master Nan hurriedly nodded while sitting, "I wouldn't dare. Whatever you need, please just say the word."

The old man said, "I heard someone just delivered a parcel and a letter to you. Who sent it?"

Young Master Nan's expression froze, realizing he was being watched.

His trembling lips revealed his hesitant heart, but under the oppressive gaze of the old man, he immediately wilted and confessed honestly, "It was sent by Shi Chun through someone."

The old man: "I heard he's been causing some trouble lately?"

Young Master Nan cautiously replied, "I've heard a little about it."

He spoke the truth. Under the circumstances where information was often sealed off by those in the know, it was possible that ordinary people wouldn't be aware of Shi Chun's situation. But he was one of those who could guess Shi Chun's whereabouts, so he paid some attention to that side, knowing something went wrong and even the Demon Queen was alarmed.

When even the Demon Queen could be alarmed, it was not surprising that the person before him would show up.

But he really didn't know what exactly happened, nor what Shi Chun and the others were up to.

The old man inquired further, "I heard the items in a Treasure Shop over there in Juku State were all supplied by you?"

This statement was akin to a knock on the head, and Young Master Nan secretly lamented, realizing that the other party had even found this out. He reluctantly replied, "Yes, I was promised the payment for the goods. I was simply doing a friend a favor and really don't know what he's doing."

The old man's tone shifted back, "What did he send to you?"

Young Master Nan: "Apart from the letter, there was also a sealed iron chest that he asked me to keep safe. I used a spell to check, and it seemed like it was empty inside."

The old man asked, "Is it on you?"

"Yes."

"Can I see it?"

Young Master Nan's expression stiffened, but ultimately, he obediently retrieved the letter and the iron chest, respectfully offering them with both hands.

The old man, however, tilted his head slightly and reminded the outside world, "Don't block the way of others; it's not good to be domineering."

The people and carriages on Henglan Road immediately adjusted their positions, moving to the side.

Vehicles passing by moved unobstructed.

The old man also reached out for the letter and took out the correspondence inside to examine it.

However, the content of the letter, just like the one Shen Moming received, did not reveal any connection to Shi Chun even with the old man's analytical skills.

So the old man shook the letter in his hand at Young Master Nan, seemingly asking, how can you be sure it is related to Shi Chun?

Young Master Nan couldn't help but smile wryly, "I have frequented Shi Chun many times. This is his handwriting, and you might have heard about his background; his handwriting is terrible."

The old man immediately folded the letter neatly back with a decorous manner, then proceeded to scrutinize the iron box.

If the bad handwriting were forgivable, the soldering marks on this box being crooked as well truly left little to be admired.

He directly used magic to probe the contents inside and found indeed nothing much, though there seemed to be a bag.

After a brief consideration, with a stroke of his finger like a knife, he sliced open the iron box as if it were tofu.

Young Master Nan hesitated to speak but ultimately dared not utter a word.

Since it was already open, he leaned in to see what was inside.

Indeed, lying inside the open box was a black cloth bag with a closed opening.

Being someone who had lived through the era of commonality with the Netherworld, the old man immediately recognized what the black cloth bag was and muttered, "A Soul Capturing Bag?"

His fingers touching it confirmed his suspicion.

After picking up the bag, he smoothed out its creases and read the two vertical inscriptions on it: Souls Captured Within, Do Not Release!

The old man's initial thought to tear open the bag was halted by these vertical inscriptions.

Young Master Nan, observing, muttered under his breath, feeling that the old brother was getting more and more sinister, even messing with soul captures now—what important souls could require such roundabout and mysterious methods?

After a moment's consideration, the old man ultimately did not open the bag lightly but pointed to the letter and the iron box, indicating, "I'll borrow these things first and return them to you later."

When exactly he would return them was not mentioned.

And Young Master Nan could only swallow his bitterness, clasping his hands in a bow, "At your command."

Old Man: "Then I won't disturb you any longer."

Consequently, Young Master Nan wisely took his leave.

Upon returning to his own carriage, Young Master Nan only dared to climb back onto his carriage after watching the old man's convoy leave, collapsing into the seat and sighing, murmuring, "Brother, they came prepared, personally applying pressure. I couldn't withstand it, so don't blame your brother for messing up your plan again..."

Deep underground, Wu Jinliang, who was lying down reading a book, suddenly sat up with a jerk, slapping the book in his hand.

Shi Chun, who was also reading, looked up at the disturbance and said, "Take it easy. That family guarded these books for generations, so unless necessary, we must return them in perfect condition."

Wu Jinliang waved the rolled-up book in his hand, "No, I still think that soul bag is unsafe. If it sneaks into the Netherworld and doesn't come back, that would be a big trouble. You see Lao Changtai, how he craves for a little bit of food."

Shi Chun replied indifferently, "Rest assured, those two soul bags won't have any issues. Even if there's an accident, both bags shouldn't be compromised."

"No." Wu Jinliang rolled and scrambled over the pile of books, sitting cross-legged in front of Shi Chun, "Chun Tian, you can't say it like that. Think about it. If those people can't catch us, won't they target our family or Young Master Nan's side? Even though the things sent over were covered up with intention, I'm afraid they can't withstand a meticulous investigation. I say, directly having the delivery person hold onto the items and wait for us somewhere would be the safest."

Shi Chun: "The danger I worry about most comes precisely from the delivery person themselves. That's the most uncontrollable risk. You can't truly know a person's heart just from their appearance. No matter how we select them, there's always a chance of misplaced trust. If the courier out of curiosity or greed opens the delivery to peek, it would be over.

That's why I want them to deliver it directly to the recipient. If they want to receive another payment, they must face the recipient's final scrutiny. It's an invisible constraint, quelling unruly desires.

The reason I also have someone else run empty-handed to and fro is to see if there's any obstruction from the outside world. Throughout the process, my concern is whether the courier will meet any accidents. As long as no accidents occur en route, nothing will go wrong."

Wu Jinliang couldn't help but scratch his head, "Chun Tian, haven't you understood my meaning yet? What I'm saying is, after the items are delivered, someone might have their eyes on them. I'm worried they will be snatched forcibly by others."

But Shi Chun withdrew his gaze and continued to calmly flip through his book, "As long as the items are delivered, it doesn't matter who watches them, because I don't care whose hands they end up in. As long as they're sent out, that's all that matters."

"..." Wu Jinliang paused, seemingly understanding, but then something felt off, "But, Chun Tian, as soon as someone opens it and the souls return to the Netherworld, it's over. All our efforts would have been for naught."

Shi Chun moved the book in front of him aside, eyeing him playfully, "Do you think what's protecting those two Earth Wolf souls is those two iron boxes you crafted? Do you think it's the cleverly disguised method of delivery? It's neither. What truly protects the souls is the two lines I wrote on the bags.

Once the items safely reach friendly hands, naturally, they'll heed the instructions on the bags and not tamper with them. If they fall into the hands of those with intentions and see the elaborate delivery process and again see the words on the Soul Capturing Bag, knowing not the significance of the souls captured, who would dare easily open it after getting their hands on it at such difficulty?

If they're not confident they can control the souls, they won't easily open the Soul Capturing Bag. If they're confident to open it, the souls can't escape either, so what difference does it make to you and me whose hands they eventually end up in?

Why worry whether it's taken by the Demon Path or the Extreme Fire Sect? Maybe we can even use it to test those around us.

Focus on reading, understanding more about the Netherworld is more pragmatic. Based on timing, we should be entering tomorrow, and Lao Changtai and the others should have arrived by now."

"..." After sorting through and fully comprehending this paragraph, the previously absent-minded Wu Jinliang brightened up with understanding, immediately beaming and throwing away his book to pound Shi Chun's leg with a fist, laughing, "No wonder you are Master, Master is indeed wise. I feel at ease now."

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