The auction proceeded without ripples, no great waves stirring. No treasures appeared that stirred Jiang Wang’s heart, nor did many buyers contend until their faces were red and their ears burned. Most merely weighed their own budgets in silence, bidding within their means and relinquishing when the price exceeded.

That particular, well-formed Cui Fang Luo finally sold for seven hundred Dao Yuan Stones, purchased by a man in black. Jiang Wang had already committed Wu Yi Yu’s appearance to memory; this was not the man.

Additionally, two individuals participated in the bidding process but did not express a strong desire to acquire the item, each raising the price only once. The buyer who secured the Cui Fang Luo, and these two participants, all warranted investigation. Jiang Wang planned to track the man in black himself, leaving the other two to Chong Xuan Xin’s people.

Halfway through the auction, the man in black rose and departed. It was evident he had come specifically for the Cui Fang Luo. Jiang Wang, having received the intelligence, was just preparing to follow when Lin You Xie spoke.

“Master Jiang,” she began, “Wu Yi Yu’s non-appearance suggests he is vigilant. He will not give up on the Cui Fang Luo; he must have chosen to have someone acquire it on his behalf. Tracking him rashly now would easily expose you.”

Her words held merit, yet she had remained silent until now, clearly relishing the spectacle. Jiang Wang cast a glance at her. “Then perhaps Captain Lin would prefer to go herself?” He had little confidence in his own tracking abilities. Regardless of Lin You Xie’s demeanor, the sooner this matter was resolved, the better.

“Why trouble yourself so?” Lin You Xie smiled. “I have already left a mark upon the Cui Fang Luo. We need only wait a few days, allow it to reach the final buyer’s hands, and then pay them a visit.”

Jiang Wang was secretly startled. This was the method of a seasoned Green Card Captain. He had carefully examined the Cui Fang Luo, even attempting to imprint some of its aura to see if his Thought Tracing Dao art could yield any effect, however minor. Yet, he had detected nothing of Lin You Xie’s mark. One must understand, he was a full two Mansion Realms above Lin You Xie, a Divine Through Inner Mansion cultivator far surpassing an ordinary Outer Building practitioner in combat power. In this aspect, one could only conclude that technique held its own specialization. Lin You Xie’s accumulated experience in this field was something his battle-hardened Green Card Captain self could not compare to.

“Captain Lin’s strategy is indeed prudent and seasoned.” Jiang Wang nodded, expressing his agreement, and thus temporarily settled back into his seat, patiently awaiting the auction’s conclusion. Time, of course, waited for no one.

As the auction neared its end, the buyers were bidding on an item called Lie Yao Stone, said to be the essence of fierce fire, a fragment fallen from the sun itself. This item seemed to ignite a fiercer competition, with many participating in the bidding.

It was at this moment that Chong Xuan Xin entered the private room. “Brother Jiang, have you found the person you seek?”

“Not yet,” Jiang Wang replied lightly.

“Then…do you still wish to track them?” He had been in another private room, waiting in vain for Jiang Wang’s instructions, and thus came to inquire.

“No need,” Jiang Wang said, glancing at Lin You Xie and receiving her confirmation. “In two days, we will go directly to apprehend them.”

Chong Xuan Xin naturally had no objections. He laughed. “In any case, our people are ready to act upon your command at any moment.”

“I appreciate your efforts,” Jiang Wang said after a moment’s thought. “Leaving one person to guard against unforeseen circumstances will suffice; you can have the others return.” Previously, he had asked Chong Xuan Xin to mobilize some personnel to watch over the assembly hall, fearing they might be outnumbered if too many people competed for the Cui Fang Luo. Now, with Lin You Xie able to pinpoint Wu Yi Yu, he was confident he could handle the matter alone. Having Chong Xuan Xin leave one person was merely a precaution against the unexpected. If any incident occurred, they could still leverage the influence of the Chong Xuan family in a timely manner.

“Very well, then I shall take my leave.” Chong Xuan Xin departed with great enthusiasm, going to dismiss his men.

Lin You Xie watched the door gently close and remarked thoughtfully, “It seems the Chong Xuan family holds you in high regard.”

Jiang Wang shook his head. “It is all due to Chong Xuan Sheng’s influence.”

Lin You Xie said no more. She was not foolish; even with Chong Xuan Sheng’s influence, it was impossible for him to direct family resources toward someone without value. He was not the family head, and still far from holding absolute sway within the Chong Xuan family. One could only conclude that the Chong Xuan family itself also recognized Jiang Wang’s potential future.

“Let’s return and wait. There’s nothing left to see.” With that, Jiang Wang stood up, opening the private room door just before the auction’s end.

As he was about to step outside, a person happened to walk by in front of the door, turning to look as they passed. Jiang Wang thus saw that beneath the hood was an extraordinarily ordinary face. Very ordinary, yet remarkably familiar. He remembered this ordinary face—from Yang Di, from Cang Feng City, from Tian Xia Lou, from Ah Ce.

Their first meeting: he had delivered news of the White Bone Dao, but it seemed the other party had not relayed the message to Yang Ting. Their second and last meeting: outside the battlefield of Qi Yang. Jiang Wang had informed him of the Yang army’s defeat. Since then, they had not met again. He had almost forgotten this unreliable assassin.

That seemingly unreliable killer organization called Tian Xia Lou—he had only encountered two members, one Su Xiu Xing and one Ah Ce, each more unreliable than the last. Even if the State of Yang had not perished, one could assume that killer organization would have eventually closed down. He had not expected to encounter this person again in the Near Sea Islands.

Jiang Wang opened his mouth, intending a casual greeting, but the other person had already turned and hurried away.

“Target?” Chong Xuan Xin, having just finished his arrangements, came over at this moment and asked Jiang Wang.

“No, just someone I’ve encountered before.”

“Friend? Enemy?” Chong Xuan Xin was eager to please, clearly wanting to impress Jiang Wang further to mend their previous “rift.”

“Neither,” Jiang Wang said, understanding his eagerness. “Could you help me check what this person just bought?”

“Certainly!” Chong Xuan Xin energetically went about the task.

“This person is extremely vigilant, their footsteps hurried. Any slight disturbance affects them. Either they harbor a guilty conscience, or they are a wanted criminal on the run.” Lin You Xie also stepped out, immediately offering her analysis. Then, with a knowing smile, she said, “Master Jiang, how is it that you know all sorts of people? Your connections must be truly extensive.”

“I believe you’ve been a Captain for too long, seeing everyone as a wanted criminal.” Jiang Wang retorted coldly.

Yet, despite his outward disdain, his heart stirred slightly. The State of Yang had completely surrendered to the State of Qi. This Ah Ce was not within Qi’s borders, yet here he was in the Near Sea Islands. Could he be a Yang national unwilling to become a Qi subject? A so-called remnant of the State of Yang… And his behavior just now had indeed been overly hasty.

Lin You Xie gave a cold laugh. “In the State of Qi, this type of person is one hundred percent a wanted criminal. But matters in the Near Sea Islands are outside my jurisdiction.”

Jiang Wang frowned with dissatisfaction. “With such arbitrary judgment, do you never apprehend the wrong person?”

Lin You Xie suddenly turned, staring intently at him. “You think you understand everything? Master Jiang, a green card doesn’t make you a Green Card Captain!” Without waiting for Jiang Wang’s response, she stomped heavily away from the area.

Jiang Wang felt utterly inexplicable.

“Brother Jiang, I’ve got the information!” Chong Xuan Xin returned with high efficiency. “That person just now—what he bought was the Lie Yao Stone, and he bid very high! His funds must be quite ample.”

Lie Yao Stone? Jiang Wang furrowed his brow.