Worry was out of the question. As the head of a special department in China, Long Aotian had his confidence.
No matter what, he represented the nation, and national power was supreme.
Cultivators were still people living within China's borders. Although secular laws couldn't regulate them, they still had to abide by the cultivator's convention, or face death for violations.
"Get people to clean this place up. Once it's tidy, wake them up and let them relocate for a few days." Long Aotian gave his orders and prepared to leave.
"Master, if you leave, what will I do? What if another one like this shows up? I can't handle it."
Zhou Gangyi called out to Long Aotian, who was about to depart.
Having narrowly escaped death, he didn't want to go through it again.
"I'm not leaving, I'm just outside." Long Aotian tossed this sentence and turned to leave.
Subsequently, Zhou Gangyi called the Dragon Group in Modu, had the villa cleaned, and then woke up Jin Xiaochen and her agent.
As soon as Jin Xiaochen was awake, she saw the unfamiliar man before her and instinctively pulled her clothes tighter. Just as she was about to speak in fear, Zhou Gangyi spoke first, "Miss Jin, don't be afraid. We are police."
As he said this, he also took out an identification card and waved it in front of her. Then he continued, "The intruders who broke into your villa have been apprehended. However, you'll have to stay somewhere else for a few days as we need to investigate and collect evidence."
Seeing Zhou Gangyi's identification, Jin Xiaochen was still a little uneasy. Zhou Gangyi was in plain clothes and alone, which naturally made her feel scared, especially after the fright she had just experienced. She was least likely to trust strangers at this moment.
Jin Xiaochen asked worriedly, "Can we leave now?"
She intended to leave first and then call the police. If the person in front of her was still an intruder, what if her threat to call the police provoked him?
"Yes, you can." Zhou Gangyi saw that Jin Xiaochen was still somewhat unconvinced and nodded without room for doubt.
Jin Xiaochen and her agent breathed a sigh of relief after leaving. Looking at the police officers standing outside the door, the weight on her heart finally lifted.
Even if she were allowed to stay, she would still be afraid. It was better to leave for a while.
The police took a perfunctory statement from her and let her go.
...
The next day.
Pu Zaiye woke up in the hotel and hadn't seen Murong Chenggong return. He began to worry, pacing back and forth in the room.
He sensed something was wrong and quickly left the hotel.
In the evening, he specifically went to check near Jin Xiaochen's villa and found that no one was at the villa. He knew then that something bad had happened.
That same evening, he rushed back to the Laoshan Sect without stopping.
It had been three days since he returned to the Laoshan Sect. Pu Zaiye hurried to report the matter to the sect leader.
"Zaiye, are you sure Chenggong is in trouble?"
The sect leader of the Laoshan Sect, Gu Zhe, pondered for a moment and then confirmed with Pu Zaiye.
"Reporting to Sect Leader, I am sure my senior brother is in trouble. After he went out, I waited for him for two days, and he did not return," Pu Zaiye confirmed.
"Why did Chenggong go out?" Gu Zhe asked with a frown.
"This..." Pu Zaiye didn't know how to answer. He couldn't exactly say his senior brother went out to flirt.
"It's this time, and you still dare to conceal it?" Gu Zhe glared at Pu Zaiye and said angrily.
Frightened into honesty, Pu Zaiye quickly revealed the truth, "Sect Leader, my senior brother... he took a liking to a woman and planned to go out for some fun that night. He hasn't returned since."
Although these words were difficult to say, and Murong Chenggong would surely blame him if he returned, there was no other way now. Otherwise, he would be in trouble.
Just as Gu Zhe was about to reprimand him, someone outside called out, "Great Elder, Third Elder has arrived."
"Sect Leader."
The Great Elder of the Laoshan Sect, Murong Kui, and the Third Elder, Liu Chen, walked in and bowed to Gu Zhe.
"No need for formalities. Great Elder, Chenggong is missing," Gu Zhe waved his hand, signaling them not to stand on ceremony, and then said to Murong Kui.
"Missing? What happened?"
Murong Kui's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked Pu Zaiye.
Murong Chenggong was his grandson and his most beloved grandson, with the highest talent. Now that he was missing, Murong Kui was more anxious than anyone.
Pu Zaiye repeated what he had told the sect leader. Upon hearing this, Murong Kui angrily said, "He must have been captured by the Dragon Group. Otherwise, in the secular world, who else could capture Chenggong without a trace?"
He knew his grandson's strength best. He had already cultivated inner force, and bullets could not harm him.
It was just a flirtation. With Murong Chenggong's cultivation, he wouldn't have been discovered by the police. Only the Dragon Group would have such capability.
As for whether he was captured by other cultivators, Murong Kui didn't consider that possibility. After all, it was just about pursuing a secular woman, and there was no conflict of interest with other sects. Why would others bother themselves with such matters?
Murong Kui's guess was not wrong. It was indeed the Dragon Group that acted, and Long Aotian himself. However, the outcome was somewhat different. He wasn't captured but killed. He was already cold.
"It's highly likely," Gu Zhe agreed.
"Sect Leader, I want to go down the mountain. I'll go and demand the Dragon Group release him." Murong Kui quickly said.
"Great Elder, with your status, going down the mountain would break the rules," Gu Zhe said with a frown.
"Sect Leader, urgent matters require decisive action. I am only going down to pick up my grandson. My reasons are justifiable wherever I say them."
Murong Kui argued, insisting that he had to go down the mountain. His grandson was being held by the Dragon Group, and he had to personally retrieve him. Waiting even a day longer might mean his grandson suffering for a day longer.
The thought of Murong Chenggong possibly suffering made Murong Kui's heart ache.
Gu Zhe listened and pondered for a moment without speaking. Murong Kui going down the mountain had a legitimate reason and wouldn't invite gossip. Finally, he instructed, "Great Elder, your status is different. Once you go out, just bring Chenggong back. As for other matters, endure them if you can."
"Sect Leader, I understand," Murong Kui nodded in agreement.
His goal was to bring his grandson back. He wouldn't act rashly about anything else.
"How about this, Third Elder, you accompany Great Elder as well. At least you can offer some support," Gu Zhe then instructed Liu Chen.
Liu Chen accompanying him would provide some support. If Murong Kui acted impulsively, there would be someone to advise him.
"Yes, Sect Leader," Liu Chen replied.
Murong Kui understood Gu Zhe's intention and didn't think much of it. Having another person would also facilitate their actions.
"Sect Leader, we'll depart immediately." Murong Kui finished speaking and then said to Pu Zaiye, "You'll lead the way for us."
Pu Zaiye inwardly groaned. He had rushed back to deliver the news and hadn't even had a sip of water before having to go down the mountain again.
Crucially, he didn't have any room to object. He respectfully said,
"Yes, Great Elder."