"I know. They're targeting Chu Xiangxue because of business grievances with the Chu Family."

"It's not her they're after, it's you!"

Lin Xiao was taken aback.

"After me?"

"Right. To be precise, there are two groups. One is targeting Chu Xiangxue, and the other is targeting you. To be even more precise, they're after the Mountain and River Map."

"Let them come. They're just a bunch of trash anyway. They come in pairs, they'll die in pairs!"

"Don't be careless. There are top-tier experts from outside the region, too!" Third Master warned.

"I know, but my point is, I'm not afraid!"

Third Master chuckled.

"That's our Young Master. Since that's the case, I'll be blunt. They somehow found out you have a Mountain and River Map, and they're coming to take it by force!"

"What the hell? How do they know I have the Mountain and River Map? I don't even know for sure if the thing I have *is* the Mountain and River Map!"

"They don't care. Their plan is to snatch it first and ask questions later," Third Master said gravely.

"Alright, I get it. I'll make sure it's a one-way trip for them!"

"Kid, I'm not worried about you; I'm worried about the people around you, especially Su Qingning. You must protect her. If others find out that your cultivation is inside her Dantian, she'll become a juicy piece of meat that everyone wants a bite of!"

Lin Xiao's heart grew heavy.

What Third Master said was true. If word of this got out to other cultivators, there was no telling how many would come after Su Qingning. Although he wasn't afraid of trouble, it was always better to have less of it.

"I understand. I'll protect her."

"Honestly, the best solution is to get your own cultivation back as soon as possible. That way, you won't have to worry about Su Qingning being a target!"

"I'll do my best!"

Third Master gave Lin Xiao a few more words of advice before they hung up.

Shen Jingzhe hadn't left; she was waiting for Lin Xiao at the entrance. Seeing him end the call, she began to walk leisurely inside.

"Spit it out. Why did you really bring me to Jinhai City?" Shen Jingzhe asked coldly as they walked side by side.

"To protect my wife, like I told you!"

"Hmph. You'd better be telling the truth. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Just as Lin Xiao was about to speak, two staff members walked past, pushing a huge crate. Lin Xiao instinctively stepped aside to make way for them. After they had gone, he smiled and said, "Of course, while I did ask you to protect my wife, my real goal is to cure your poison!"

Obviously, Lin Xiao was trying his best to get on her good side. He had no choice. Most of his cultivation was currently inside Su Qingning's Dantian, and he feared it would be some time before he could get it back. With his enemies growing stronger, he had to build a good relationship with Shen Jingzhe.

"Hmph. I don't believe a word you say!"

Lin Xiao shrugged. "Shen Jingzhe, I'll give you a proper treatment session tonight. Then you'll know whether I'm telling the truth."

As they spoke, they arrived at the door to the lounge.

Lin Xiao pushed it open. Inside the spacious lounge, he saw everyone was there—everyone except for Su Qingning.

She must be waiting for me in the next room.

"You head inside and rest for a bit," Lin Xiao said. Anyway, Shen Jingzhe had already met Shao Mei'er and Pei Donglai, so Lin Xiao wasn't worried about things being awkward.

Without another word, Shen Jingzhe entered the lounge.

Lin Xiao hurried toward the adjoining room. When he pushed the door open, the large lounge was completely empty.

Lin Xiao froze.

He turned and went back to the previous lounge.

"Have you seen my wife?"

"Didn't your wife just go out with you?" Shao Mei'er asked with a smile.

Lin Xiao quickly stepped back out into the corridor and shouted, "Su Qingning!"

There was no response.

He raised his voice, and his shout immediately drew everyone's attention.

"Lin Xiao, what's wrong?" Shao Mei'er asked.

"Qing Ning is missing!"

"Could she have gone to the restroom?"

It was possible.

"Go check for me!" Lin Xiao said.

"Wow, you really love your wife, don't you? Can't bear to be apart for a single second?" Shao Mei'er teased, but she still hurried toward the restroom.

For some reason, a sense of foreboding welled up in Lin Xiao's heart.

He had a bad feeling that something had happened to Su Qingning. Still, he clung to the hope that she was just in the restroom. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her.

While Shao Mei'er was gone, Lin Xiao called Su Qingning's phone several times, but each call went unanswered.

Shao Mei'er soon came out of the restroom, her expression solemn. The usual coquettish charm on her face was replaced with deep worry.

One look at her was all it took for Lin Xiao's heart to plummet. He knew something had happened to Su Qingning. Something terrible.

He spun around and sprinted outside. As he passed the spot where he'd stepped aside earlier, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He abruptly remembered the large crate those two had been pushing. And they had both been wearing masks.

The summer in Jinhai City was a veritable furnace; even an idiot would know how unbearably hot it would be to wear a mask, let alone two perfectly normal people. He'd initially assumed they were staff and thought nothing of it, but now, he realized they were almost certainly the culprits.

With these details clicking into place, Lin Xiao broke into a run.

Just as he burst out of the stadium entrance, he saw a van tearing away from the stadium at breakneck speed.

His intuition screamed that something was wrong with that van.

Without wasting a second, Lin Xiao jumped into his car and gave chase.

The other party seemed to sense they were being followed and accelerated frantically. The roads were choked with pedestrians and traffic—hardly surprising, as it was the day of Chu Xiangxue's concert. The stadium entrance had been swarmed with fans and scalpers. This same crowd, however, hindered the van's escape. Coupled with Lin Xiao driving like a man possessed, he quickly closed the distance.

But his opponents were no pushovers. Perhaps they knew exactly what would happen if they were caught, because they drove with a madness that surpassed his own.

Lin Xiao wanted to ram them, to end this just like he had dealt with those four scumbags that morning. But he was terrified that Su Qingning was in their van. If she was, a collision would be disastrous. He couldn't care less if those two scumbags died, but Su Qingning would definitely be injured.

He had them in his sights. He would kill them and rescue Su Qingning eventually.

After a few more moments of pursuit, Lin Xiao's phone suddenly rang.

It was an unknown number. Lin Xiao answered without a second thought.

"Looks like you're quite fond of Su Qingning," an ominous voice crackled through the phone. "Since that's the case, bring the Mountain and River Map to the stadium rooftop. Otherwise, I'm going to push Su Qingning off this rooftop right now!"

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