Night deepened, adding a touch of tranquility to the bustling city. Outside, the wind whistled, snowflakes scattered, and inside the hotel lights blazed, no one seed sleepy, a hint of excitent lingered. Shi Feng led the major cris team waiting in the lobby. Upon hearing the elevator, he rushed over to et Luo Zheng and Shi Qian as they erged. Shi Feng quickened his pace and asked, "What exactly happened?"
Luo Zheng looked towards Shi Qian, who nodded and whispered, "Soone entered the ninth floor through the ventilation duct, first using sedative to knock out the guards at the door, which were your people. Then they used knockout gas on the people inside the room, directly entering to seize the Heavenly Pearl. Fortunately, the Elder Lama's master had profound power and wasn't knocked out imdiately, held on for about a minute. Had we arrived a little later, not only would the item be lost, but everyone inside would have perished."
"Are you sure?" Shi Feng's face changed dramatically and he glanced at Luo Zheng in disbelief.
"Believe it or not, that's what the middle-aged Lama told ; if you don't believe it, go upstairs and ask yourself." Shi Qian retorted displeasedly.
Luo Zheng was ditative while practicing the second half of Breathing Skill, overhearing part of Shi Qian's conversation with the middle-aged Lama at the door. He nodded to Shi Feng, who trusted Luo Zheng deeply and began to ponder, saying, "So how did the culprit infiltrate?"
"It's likely they infiltrated earlier, disguised as staff, ask the hotel to check the staff situation, see if anyone is missing." Luo Zheng contemplated and said.
"Makes sense." Shi Feng caught on and imdiately called soone over and instructed them briefly; the person hurriedly went off to find hotel managent.
"Anyway, thanks for this ti." Shi Feng turned to Shi Qian and thanked him unequivocally.
"Forget it, I dare not dwell on your favor." Shi Qian quickly responded.
Shi Feng wanted to say sothing more, but Luo Zheng intervened to smooth things over, "The person was already killed, right? Can you find any clues? Could the person be from the Twin Gate? If so, there must be another; they look identical, issue a wanted notice and find where his twin companion is hiding?"
"Makes sense, the body has already been taken by your people and mine. Such people likely have no roots, probably without identification, can't find any useful information; appearance is the sole clue, I'll handle it now." Shi Feng promptly agreed and summoned another person to whisper instructions.
"The Heavenly Pearl has been returned to the master, but the people remain under our protection. If anything happens to them, it's also unfavorable to us, potentially threatening the nation; this group will likely seek to kill for money next; should we take the initiative? Stir the grass to alert the snake, as long as we get through tonight, tomorrow's matters can wait till tomorrow." Lan Xue softly suggested from the side.
"That's a plan, give the photo to Little Dao, let him mobilize people to search overnight; soone must have seen that face. Also, issue a wanted notice in the morning; I refuse to believe they can hide in Beijing. The most troubleso isn't the Twin Gate but Sam Country's special agent; Jackson isn't easy to deal with, extrely cunning, when he strikes, it's bloody and turbulent, must preemptively stop him." Luo Zheng instructed Shi Feng.
"Okay, I'll make arrangents." Shi Feng agreed thoughtfully and made a phone call.
Luo Zheng gestured for Shi Qian and Lan Xue to sit on the lobby sofa. Lan Xue, concerned, looked at Shi Qian and asked, "Can the knockout gas be completely eradicated?"
"Rest assured, I'm confident with the sect's items, won't leave any aftereffects." Shi Qian confidently said, "However, the opponent could penetrate, avoiding guards, don't know if it's your people lacking or the opponent too strong; I can't judge, what do you think?"
"It's the opponent being too strong." Luo Zheng seriously said, seeing Shi Qian's skeptical face, he explained, "It's not praising my own people; the opponent and I have sparred, endured three of my attacks without falling, quite a good hand, but the middle-aged Lama was even stronger, actually killed him with one punch."
"The middle-aged Lama is the top master of their sect, also called the Dharma Protector Vajra, leader of the Four Great Vajra. That punch was diminished, if unhard, it could penetrate the opponent's body. Old-school martial arts, you don't know of the world, won't understand or believe. However, such a master is rare, reportedly trained since three years old, skilled in various combat tools, specifics unknown." Shi Qian seriously said.
"So formidable?" Luo Zheng pondered and asked, "How many of such masters exist worldwide?"
"As far as I know, few, no more than five." Shi Qian seriously replied.
"Five?" Luo Zheng sighed in relief; thankfully, only five; if there were more, it'd be troubleso; heroes violating rules with martial might would negatively impact society; five is manageable.
"Can they be persuaded to guide in martial techniques?" Lan Xue curiously probed.
"Forget it, I advise against such thoughts. Old-school world people aren't the reckless youngsters outside, follow strict rules and traditions, don't interact with authorities is the first rule. The world is full of skilled individuals, feared by the governnt, suppressed throughout generations, forming many feuds, hard to reconcile. Of course, so exceptions exist, like those cooperating with or recruited by authorities." Shi Qian seriously explained.
"Like your grandmaster?" Luo Zheng curiously asked, seeing Shi Qian nod, he smiled and said, "The world is truly a strange existence, yet when old-school people pass, the world will lose its flavor; how much of the old traditions can be passed on is unknown. Modern countries emphasize society and law, not the world; you must keep pace, going against the state is going against the people, a dead-end. It's the trend; what's your plan?"
"Us?" Shi Qian chuckled bitterly, "Once these matters here are resolved, I'll escape overseas; the sect's strength is abroad, not developing dostically. The Thief Sect remains a thief sect, mainly stealing; even with the flag of heroism, robbing the rich to aid the poor, it's sowhat self-deceiving, dying overseas spares ancestors' disgrace."
"You certainly have self-awareness." Luo Zheng laughed, gaining more understanding of Shi Qian.
"Tell about your friend, the expert who dug the tunnel." Luo Zheng smiled.
"Her? My fiancée, absolutely trustworthy, at least I trust her absolutely. Whether you utilize her is your decision; without her involvent, I likely couldn't assist you." Shi Qian seriously said.
"Your fiancée?" Lan Xue curiously asked.
"Yes, a colleague with , the Thief Sect steals living figures, they steal dead figures, specializing in tunnel digging, and skilled in various ancient languages, intelligence chanisms, Yin and Yang Five Elents, Ph.D. in Ancient Culture, cryptography expert, now teaching at a university in Sam Country." Shi Qian seriously said, his face beaming with happiness, words filled with pride.
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