Jiang Wang, Zhao Rucheng, and Ling He gathered, meticulously compiling the information each had obtained.

“Alright!” Zhao Rucheng slapped his forehead. “The information everyone has is consistent, enough to prove its credibility. So, this Zhang Xizhi is exactly as we suspected.”

He added, “Regardless of what he’s like in secret, since he presents himself this way normally, he wouldn’t suddenly change in front of his fellow disciples during a mission.”

“Thorough,” Jiang Wang commended, giving a thumbs-up.

Zhao Rucheng rolled his eyes. “Zhang Xizhi’s character has one particularly prominent feature, mentioned by his family and friends alike: ‘cautious.’ In other words, ‘chicken.’ Everyone knows how dangerous the Qichang Mountain Range is. The only reason someone like him would chase up the mountain is if the target were within easy reach, if he judged he could succeed and get back down with minimal risk, with the danger within his control.”

He smiled. “What does this tell us?”

Ling He smiled as well. “It tells us they didn’t have time to discuss it. With the target within easy reach, their first instinct would be to pursue, not to stop and debate. Fang Heling’s suggestion of an ambush at the foot of the mountain, and Zhang Xizhi assigning tasks and insisting on going up himself, never happened.”

“Alas, Du Laohu isn’t here, so there’s not even a look of thirst for knowledge to be seen.” Zhao Rucheng feigned dejection. “I am so disappointed.”

“When Du Laohu returns for the New Year’s Eve, you can tell him face to face.” Jiang Wang patted his shoulder. “Even if you forget, I’ll help you repeat it.”

“Hey! Repeat what? What did I say? I don’t remember anything!” Zhao Rucheng looked at Ling He. “Brother, did I say anything just now?”

Ling He ignored their antics, lost in thought. “Why would Fang Heling lie?”

Zhao Rucheng chuckled. “Either he deserted, or he betrayed us to the enemy.”

The possibility of a premeditated conspiracy, of Fang Heling colluding with those of the Left Path, was unlikely because such a self-incriminating scheme was too foolish. Even if Fang Heling was dull, he wouldn’t be stupid to that degree.

Ling He said nothing, merely sighing.

He knew the Fang family was finished.

The nature of this matter was too grave. Once exposed, Fang Heling’s future would be ruined, and the entire Fang family could be implicated.

“There’s no need for us to inspect the scene of the incident; we can’t be more professional than the people from the Law Enforcement Division. The only lead to pursue now is Fang Heling. Whether he deserted or betrayed us, clearing that up is all we need.” Zhao Rucheng asked, “Who’s going?”

“I will.” Fang Heling might be involved with the Left Path, and Jiang Wang had the strongest combat power, making him the obvious choice.

Ling He and Zhao Rucheng agreed. They dispersed to carry out their tasks.

If Fang Heling had already turned to the Left Path, they might send people to watch them. So, they all acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

Ling He returned to cultivate, and Jiang Wang did the same, while also instructing Jiang An’an and Tang Dun in martial arts.

Zhao Rucheng went home to sleep.

…

As the saying goes, “While others cultivate, I do not train, high noon is the perfect time for slumber.”

Zhao Rucheng was accustomed to laziness. After enduring a day of diligent work, his excitement for deciphering secrets waned, and he felt weary.

Returning to his room, he threw back the covers, ready to fall asleep.

Deng Shu, wearing a silk robe, walked in slowly.

Zhao Rucheng watched him, waiting for him to speak.

“The Law Enforcement Division is investigating us,” Deng Shu said.

Zhao Rucheng was silent for a moment, then replied, “We won’t be staying long anyway, will we?”

Deng Shu tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Nothing gets past you.”

“You were bleeding that night. What else could it be, except those hounds catching up?”

“Not quite catching up,” Deng Shu corrected. “Knowing you liked this place, I deliberately took the long way around, leading them elsewhere.”

“How long can we stay, at most?”

Deng Shu considered. “New Year’s Eve.”

“Being able to spend one more New Year with them is good enough.” Zhao Rucheng simply lay down, pulling the blanket over his head. His voice was muffled. “Let the Law Enforcement Division investigate. If they go too far, deal with it as you see fit.”

Deng Shu smiled. “Alright.”

…

Late at night, after completing his evening cultivation, Jiang Wang quietly left his room, heading straight for the Fang family’s ancestral grounds.

After the door closed, a while later, Jiang An’an scrambled up, wrapped her brother’s thick coat around herself, and pulled out a chubby little cloud crane. Hunched over a small stool, she began to write a letter to that handsome older sister.

Her brother often peeked at her letters, thinking she didn’t know. She simply didn’t bother to object. But to keep her little secrets, she now wrote and read letters when her brother was away, taking advantage of every opportunity.

…

Under the cover of night, Jiang Wang smoothly infiltrated the Fang family’s ancestral grounds.

He was quite familiar with the place, carefully avoiding the patrolling Fang family guards.

He and Xiong Wen had done this before.

Compared to that night, the Fang family’s security was tighter, but the spirit of those guards felt weaker to Jiang Wang.

Soon, he reached the vicinity of Fang Heling’s house and began searching for the best hiding spot. Zhao Rucheng had already scouted the area during the day.

As Jiang Wang approached his target location, he found someone already crouching there. He could only see the side of his head from this angle.

Without a doubt, it was someone from the Law Enforcement Division.

Zhao Rucheng had suggested this possibility earlier.

If Jiang Wang and the others could discover Fang Heling’s problems, the Law Enforcement Division wouldn’t be blind. The fact that no investigation results had been released until now was probably just to lull the target into complacency.

Jiang Wang didn’t act rashly. He held his breath and moved to another position: near a tree by the back wall.

The branches of winter trees were sparse, not providing much cover. But the darkness of night was the best camouflage.

Jiang Wang curled into a ball in the branches, minimizing his exposure as much as possible, watching the Fang residence with only his eyes.

Holding his breath and concentrating, he waited for something to happen.

…

The wind stirred through the long night, and the moon hid behind heavy clouds.

The lights in Fang Heling’s room had been extinguished long ago, but now, he slipped out of the courtyard and onto the roof. After taking a brief look around, he silently dropped to the ground and disappeared into the distance.

From this series of silent movements alone, one could see the changes in his strength. Perhaps, he had already reached the Greater Zhoutian Stage, stepping into the Zhoutian Realm!

Jiang Wang did not act hastily, but waited patiently for a few breaths.

Sure enough, a black shadow emerged. But the position this person emerged from was not where Jiang Wang thought the Law Enforcement Division’s sentry was hidden.

There were actually three groups monitoring Fang Heling tonight!

Even stranger, this person didn’t follow Fang Heling, but instead turned and headed towards another location within the Fang family’s ancestral grounds. Jiang Wang remembered that was the direction of the Fang family’s ancestral hall.

Jiang Wang remained motionless, waiting for a few more breaths. Then, the Law Enforcement Division’s sentry emerged from his hiding place, tracking Fang Heling’s path.

Jiang Wang still didn’t move, waiting until the tracker was about to disappear before climbing down from the tree, silently following.

Only now could he be certain that there was no fourth group tonight.