In the central area of Dragon City stood the largest complex estate. It resembled a palace with its towering walls, and within, one small courtyard connected to another, interspersed with various miniature gardens and rare vegetation. This was the stronghold of the Oriental family, the foremost clan in Huaxia.
It was late at night. A figure moved swiftly through the estate. Had anyone been nearby, they would have heard the muttered words, "Damn it, which courtyard does Sister Mingyue live in..."
Indeed, the intruder was Ye Cangtian. After seeing Bai Zhenshan off, he had come to seek Oriental Mingyue to discuss strategies. However, fearing the leak of information, he resorted to a clandestine infiltration. Yet, the Oriental family's estate was vast, comprising numerous courtyards, and having never been here before, he was somewhat disoriented upon entry. What made matters worse was that he seemed to have attracted the attention of the Oriental family's guards; several tails were following him. Perhaps to avoid alarming the prey, they had not yet revealed themselves.
Wandering aimlessly, Ye Cangtian suddenly stopped. Under the moonlight, a figure appeared on the rooftop ahead. Clad in night-vision clothing, she stood with her back to Ye Cangtian, her long hair fluttering with a hint of desolation.
"Since I took charge of the Oriental family, you are the first to trespass!"
"So, is trespassing into the Oriental family fun?"
The cold voice reached him, and Ye Cangtian felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. He knew that voice intimately; it was none other than Oriental Mingyue. She had appeared at a most opportune moment.
"Sister Mingyue, stop playing cool. I have something urgent to discuss with you," Ye Cangtian said as he moved closer, speaking in a low voice.
"It's you, you scoundrel..." Oriental Mingyue was stunned. She had heard of an intruder in the Oriental family and was furious, determined to confront them herself. But who would have thought it was Ye Cangtian!
Oriental Mingyue regained her composure and, with a wave of her hand to several newly emerged dark guards, said, "You all may go. Today's events must never be mentioned!"
The next moment, the dark guards bowed to Oriental Mingyue and vanished into the darkness.
"Scoundrel, follow me!" Oriental Mingyue cast a glance at Ye Cangtian and then leaped to the ground, slowly walking towards her own courtyard.
As they walked, Ye Cangtian couldn't help but let out a wry smile. He had assumed Oriental Mingyue would reside in the main courtyard of the family head, the largest and most central dwelling. However, that was not the case. Oriental Mingyue lived in a relatively secluded small courtyard on the periphery of the Oriental family's territory. The courtyard was not large, nor was it decorated with elaborate scenery, but it was tidy and simple. To be honest, it was quite beyond Ye Cangtian's expectations. No wonder Oriental Mingyue wanted to purchase a new residence... Thinking this, Ye Cangtian felt a pang of discomfort, a sense of sympathy.
"Scoundrel, don't overthink it. This is where I was born and where I grew up. I have a sentimental attachment to it, so I've never moved out," Oriental Mingyue said with a smile, guessing his thoughts as he remained silent.
"Sister Mingyue, don't try to fool me. You're the granddaughter of Elder Oriental, how could you live in such a remote place?" As a direct descendant of Oriental Hongwu, she should be at the core of the Oriental family, residing near the family head's main courtyard.
Saying this, Ye Cangtian took out a key and handed it over, intending to return the property to her. Oriental Mingyue did not take it but replied, "I'm not fooling you. My father was naturally frail and not suited for martial arts, so he wasn't highly regarded..." Oriental Mingyue calmly explained the situation. The Oriental family was a martial arts-oriented clan, and one's status within the family was determined by strength. As his father could not practice martial arts, he could only live on the outskirts, and only after she had grown strong did their family's status see some improvement. However, not long after, his parents were assassinated, and in remembrance of them, Oriental Mingyue continued to live there.
Seeing Oriental Mingyue's mournful expression, Ye Cangtian apologized, "I'm sorry, I've brought up painful memories."
"Enough, let's not dwell on unpleasantness."
"If you consider me your sister, then accept this courtyard. Don't worry, with my abilities, acquiring a separate residence is simple," Oriental Mingyue glanced at Ye Cangtian, a smile appearing on her face, and then led him into the inner room. Pouring a cup of water, she asked, "Scoundrel, why did you trespass into the Oriental family in the middle of the night? What's so urgent?" She was not foolish; Ye Cangtian sneaking into the Oriental family to see her must mean he had something secretive to discuss.
"Bai Zhenshan came to see me earlier." Ye Cangtian concealed nothing, recounting the events of Bai Zhenshan's visit.
Oriental Mingyue's brow furrowed slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she finally understood. She looked at Ye Cangtian and hesitated, "You mean, Bai Zhenshan might go to steal Mr. and Mrs. Tang Qingshan's documents? And we can use this opportunity to set a trap?" Oriental Mingyue was not stupid; since Ye Cangtian had told her this, this was undoubtedly his intention.
"Precisely."
"Since the Bai family is digging their own grave, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it."
"It's also time to give him a warning. Otherwise, if other troubles arise later, it won't be good," Ye Cangtian nodded and said. The reason he agreed to Bai Zhenshan's request was precisely because he had thought of this. The absolute secrets of the Hidden Organization would surely be stored in a very secure location, known to very few. With Bai Zhenshan's status, it was indeed possible for him to steal them. And stealing the absolute secrets of the Hidden Organization would be a grave offense, likely resulting in severe punishment even for Bai Zhenshan. At that point, with leverage over Bai Zhenshan, would they need to fear the Bai family causing trouble?
"Heh, you truly are my lucky star!" Hearing Ye Cangtian's words, Oriental Mingyue broke into a smile and immediately began making arrangements with Ye Cangtian. Since they had decided to act, they would ensure it was foolproof.
...
For the next two days, everything proceeded as usual. It wasn't until the third night that Bai Zhenshan entered the Hidden Organization's basement alone. Passing through several checkpoints, he finally arrived at the deepest room in the basement. The security here was extremely tight; there was at least a squad of guards, all of them skilled in combat.
"Elder Bai, what brings you here so late at night?" The guard captain, upon seeing Bai Zhenshan's arrival, quickly rose and saluted, asking in a neutral tone. After all, Bai Zhenshan was an auxiliary elder, and the proper courtesies were necessary. As for his attitude, it was uniformly impartial. Without Oriental Hongwu's authorization, he would adopt the same stance even if Oriental Mingyue were to arrive.
"Have them stand down. I have something to discuss with you privately." Bai Zhenshan paid no mind to the other's attitude and spoke directly. Hearing this, Leng Xuefeng's brow furrowed slightly. After a brief contemplation, he finally waved his hand, and the surrounding guards retreated in the next moment.
Seeing this, Bai Zhenshan displayed a satisfied smile and said, "Leng Xuefeng, I wish to enter and retrieve a document!"
Leng Xuefeng extended his hand and replied, "Certainly. Please present your authorization."
"I do not have authorization," Bai Zhenshan said calmly. Upon hearing this, Leng Xuefeng snorted, "Elder Bai, you should know the rules. Without authorization, it's not possible."
"I have this!" Bai Zhenshan said with a faint smile and took out a jade pendant from his Qiankun bag.