Fatty Lin and the others were completely unaware that a dangerously noxious scent was slowly creeping toward them as they headed out for a meal.

“Big Brother, do we really have to do this? Won't this alert the enemy?” a man in black communicated via lip-reading.

“Baka! Think with your head! These three are Yang Yi’s brothers. If we can capture them, then whether Yang Yi is truly missing or only pretending to be, I don’t believe the three of them won’t draw him out.”

“Yes!”

“Go, let’s follow them and find the right opportunity to seize the three of them!”

“Yes!”

Undoubtedly, men who could conceal themselves in the air and communicate through lip-reading could only be the three Jōnin dispatched by the Black Dragon Society from R Country. Given their prowess, Fatty Lin and his two companions were clearly in for a rough time, as R Country’s Jōnin were roughly comparable to China’s beginner-level Grandmasters.

They also had names, though they seemed rather ridiculously severe, as each name contained the character Tàijiān (which closely resembles the word for 'eunuch'!). The eldest was named Taijian Hengjun, the second Taijian Linyi, and the third Taijian Fengchun. It was clear that the three carried the suspicion of being eunuchs, given how fitting those names were.

After leaving their academy, the three—Fatty, Xu Ming, and Ye Xiaohou—flagged down a small public bus heading toward a Western restaurant they frequented nearby. Xu Ming, preoccupied with his romantic troubles, remained sullen and silent throughout the ride. Ye Xiaohou, however, suddenly recalled something and turned to Fatty Lin, asking, “Second Brother, when exactly is that reception party happening?”

“Uh, the day after tomorrow, I think!” Fatty Lin replied.

“The day after tomorrow. So, are we going or not? After all, Big Brother…”

“Sigh, I wonder what’s going on with Brother Yi right now?”

“Then let’s not go,” Xu Ming immediately said upon seeing the other two sighing heavily.

“No way!” Fatty Lin and Ye Xiaohou exclaimed simultaneously.

“Damn it, the three of us attending? I just have a bad feeling about leaving Big Brother out,” Xu Ming shot them a disgruntled look; even his toes could figure out the ridiculous nonsense brewing in their minds.

“Here we go again, that look. Damn it, Third Brother, I really want to smack you,” Ye Xiaohou complained, clearly displeased by Xu Ming’s subtly contemptuous gaze.

“Exactly! You’ve got someone waiting to keep you warm and dry over there, but Fourth Brother and I are still miserable bachelors!”

“That’s why we must seize the opportunity, Second Brother! This time, we’ll head to that reception hosted by the stunning Miss Leng Yue and pick up a girl or two, hehe!”

“Mmm-hmm, it’s high time,” Fatty Lin said, returning the suggestive leer on Ye Xiaohou’s face with an understanding quirk of his eyebrow.

Time slipped away amidst the shameless banter of these three. After the bus stopped at the edge of the Western restaurant entrance and the trio alighted, Ye Xiaohou seemed to sense something. He instinctively glanced up at the restaurant’s second floor, where two graceful figures could be seen through the glass window. “Third Brother, I’m afraid you can’t escape this time either; look up there!”

Xu Ming followed his gaze and froze, his expression one of astonishment. “I didn’t expect to run into them in a place like this.”

“Haha, maybe this is an opportunity after all,” Fatty Lin chuckled.

“Let’s go in,” Xu Ming said, shaking his head as he disregarded the rest and walked inside.

Fatty Lin and Ye Xiaohou exchanged a look, both waving their hands dismissively. However, shortly after they entered, three shadows suddenly materialized in a dark corner of the Western restaurant, startling a small cat that was about to scavenge a crumb. “Meow!”

“Big Brother, what do we do now?” Taijian Fengchun asked his elder brother.

“Did you notice anything just now?” Taijian Hengjun inquired.

Taijian Linyi, who had remained silent until now, wore a grim expression, his eyes narrowed as he stared intently at the two beautiful figures on the second floor. “Big Brother, are you suggesting we capture those two women to lure the three of them over?”

“Yes. After all, this is Huaxia, and the way we are dressed now draws too much attention. Despite the minor hassle, I could see from one of those three men that they definitely have some connection to those two women,” a perplexing smile flickered across Taijian Hengjun’s lips.

“Then, Third Brother and I will go,” Taijian Linyi said, shifting his posture slightly.

“Good. Be quick!”

“Yes!”

As the words fell, two figures immediately vanished into concealment. Their objective was simple: the two attractive women on the second floor.

Meanwhile, the three men seated in the Western restaurant seemed utterly oblivious, lacking any sense of impending danger. One sat nervously, while the other two were shamelessly poring over the menus.

“Okay, that’s enough for now. Oh, and bring a bottle of red wine,” Ye Xiaohou told the waiter with a smile.

“Certainly, sirs, please wait a moment,” the waiter replied with a polite smile.

“Damn it, you two!” Xu Ming pointed furiously at Fatty Lin and Ye Xiaohou, his frustration clearly evident. Although he didn't know exactly what they had ordered, hearing the mention of red wine—which surely wasn't cheap—made him cry out, “You two! Vampires! You’re vampires!”

“Tch, it’s only a few extra coins more than last time, Third Brother. You’re being unfair. You have so much money stashed in that card; treating your buddies to a good meal isn’t exactly extravagant, is it?” Ye Xiaohou fixed Xu Ming with a meaningful look.

“Blast it! Honestly, how many dishes did you order this time? What’s the estimated total? Damn it, you guys fleece me like a fat hog every time—heaven is unjust!” Xu Ming yelled loudly.

“Hehe, not much, probably…”

“Alright, Fourth Brother, stop the drama. After all, he’s worried about someone upstairs right now. Don't worry, Third Brother, I’m not one for wasteful extravagance. We only ordered a few dishes and a bottle of wine,” Fatty Lin said calmly.

“Really?” Xu Ming found it hard to believe the two had conceded so easily.

“Tsk, you’ll know when the bill comes!” Ye Xiaohou gave Xu Ming a scornful look. This guy wouldn't believe anything unless they used force.

“But, Third Brother, aren't you going up to talk to her? This might be a good chance. As for Big Sister-in-law, I’m sure she’s very understanding.”

“Second Brother is right, Third Brother, this is a good opportunity. You must grasp it!”

“Fine, fine. If it’s meant to be, then so be it!” Pressured by the bombardment from Fatty Lin and Ye Xiaohou, Xu Ming reluctantly stood up and headed toward the second floor.

“Haha! Go for it, brothers are backing you up!” Fatty Lin and Ye Xiaohou called out to Xu Ming as he slowly ascended.

Xu Ming glanced back at them without a word and continued upstairs, his heart a complex knot of emotions.

“Qianqian, aren’t you going to eat more?” Liu Qingqing asked Li Qian, who looked utterly dejected.

“Mmm, I’m not eating; I’ve lost my appetite,” Li Qian replied, dragging her cheeks, but just as she spoke, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes. She immediately stood up and shouted loudly toward the empty air, “Who’s there?”

“Uh! It’s me,” Xu Ming said, having just stepped onto the second floor, feeling utterly bewildered by Li Qian’s sharp rebuke. He was wrong. Although there were few patrons on the second floor, Li Qian’s shout, followed by Xu Ming’s foolish acknowledgment, immediately alerted the two figures concealed in the air.

“Swish!” A strange sound resonated instantly.

“Ah!” “Ah!”

After shrieking, Li Qian and Liu Qingqing fainted dead away.

“Crack—!” The entire pane of glass shattered. Two black figures snatched up Li Qian and Liu Qingqing and, without a second thought, jumped down toward the ground floor.

Xu Ming was stunned, his eyes glaring fiercely. He immediately cursed, “F*ck your ancestors, you dare abduct my woman? You’re really looking to die.” Saying that, his figure moved rapidly, and with a single leap, he chased after the men in black.

“Damn, what just happened?” Fatty Lin jolted awake. He saw two black figures leap from the second floor toward the exit, apparently carrying two people in their arms. Seeing Xu Ming follow right behind, he immediately jumped up and shouted.

“Second Brother, something happened! Hurry, chase after them!” Ye Xiaohou’s face changed drastically. He seemed entirely familiar with such figures. He cried out, slapped several red paper bills onto the table, and bolted out.

“Whoosh!” A figure appeared directly between the two men in black who had abducted Li Qian and Liu Qingqing. “Faster! There’s an open area in the suburbs; head over there!”

“Yes!” The two responded, immediately increasing their speed.

Xu Ming, trailing closely behind, felt a profound shock. Just who were these people? How could they run so fast?

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