"Hmm..." Old Master Tang narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. "Continue." "That's all," Tang Yuan said, suddenly anxious. "That's all?! You incorrigible fool, stopping right at the crucial part? Are you looking to die!" Old Master Tang erupted in fury, kicking the fat of his backside: "For such a small matter, how could you dare conclude that Qin Hu's North City Gang is involved in the theft? Tell me every single detail of how this unfolded, once more! If there is even the slightest ambiguity, I will flay the hide off you!" Tang Yuan sighed in resignation.

Seeing he couldn't bluff his way out, he began to recount the events as they truly happened.

Old Master Tang listened, eyes narrowed, and when he heard Jun Moxie suggest the North City Gang was heavily suspected, he interrupted to ask: "Doesn't that scoundrel Jun Moxie have a grudge against the North City Gang?" "Uh? No! If he truly held a grudge against them, given his nature, the North City Gang would have been wiped out several times over.

How could they still exist now?" Tang Yuan quickly denied it. "If that's the case, then Jun Moxie likely wasn't deliberately framing them.

Furthermore, with the Jun family's power, there's no need for him to drag us Tangs into this.

However, I still can't fully trust that boy Jun Moxie; it's unlikely he alone could concoct such a sophisticated plot to harm others." Old Master Tang stroked his beard, deep in thought. "But...

Grandfather, the Profound Pill is critically important to our Tang family.

This is a moment where we must believe it even if there's a slim chance it's true, rather than dismiss it entirely!" Tang Yuan said urgently, seeing his plan about to fail. "Indeed! Better to believe it, even with a small chance! Besides, it's just an underground gang; getting rid of them won't be a loss! Consider it a service to the people!" Old Master Tang suddenly stood up. "Still, basing the entire accusation solely on this evidence that the North City Gang is involved feels rather far-fetched.

However, these past few days, the major gangs in the capital have been acting outrageously, especially the North City Gang, which is said to have accumulated numerous evils.

And regarding the Profound Pill matter, these gangs were indeed overlooked.

Questioning the North City Gang first isn't an invalid path." Old Master Tang mused distractedly, not holding out much hope himself.

But when there was truly no other recourse, even a sliver of hope warranted investigation. "Issue my command: all Ninth-Rank Upper Profound practitioners in the estate are to assemble immediately.

Tonight, we strike when they least expect it.

Remember: until we have a clear outcome, do not kill indiscriminately.

Everyone must be taken alive! Interrogation will follow before we speak further." "Yes!" Tang Yuan was overjoyed.

Jun Shaoshao's method truly worked; Grandfather's view of me has already improved, hahaha...

In essence, Jun Xie planned this entirely because he couldn't stand the sight of the North City Gang.

Anything the Evil Monarch disliked, he naturally wouldn't allow to prosper.

But acting himself carried constraints, so he pushed the matter onto the Tang family.

Tang Yuan agreed to this plan simply to make his own life more comfortable, to stop living like a rat in his own home, hunted by everyone.

Old Master Tang accepted only out of a sliver of hope—any hope was better than none—and he could also operate under the banner of rooting out evil.

Regardless of the outcome, if they could compile and publicize the actual crimes committed by the North City Gang afterward, the Tang family's reputation would surely rise another level, gaining considerable public support.

Moreover, the North City Gang was the weakest of the six major factions, lacking any high-level backing.

Acting against them carried no worries! Of course, if they unexpectedly uncovered any leads regarding the pill, that would be an added bonus.

But neither Jun Xie, nor Tang Yuan, nor Old Master Tang knew that this operation was an accidental success, a genuine case of hitting the jackpot completely by chance! It was a true, unexpected blitzkrieg! All consequences would unfold this very night.

Meanwhile, Li Youran's calculated plan—to have Qin Hu send a gift as a probing maneuver against Jun Xie—had only just reached Qin Hu's ears.

But following Old Master Tang’s thunderous, decisive action...

It was destined to be aborted inexplicably once again, a completely senseless, unforeseen blow, all because two pampered wastrels—one seeking to cause trouble, the other seeking to escape his own awkward predicament—with selfish motives, had unwittingly ruined yet another meticulously planned maneuver by the ever-calculating Li Youran...

Could this be the will of Heaven? Jun Xie walked slowly down the road; the storefront of the Divine Weapon Register was now directly ahead.

However, parked right at the entrance was an exceptionally luxurious carriage draped with embroidered curtains and tassels.

The pattern emblazoned on the carriage was two crossed swords! This was the exclusive family crest of the Dugu Clan—people from the Dugu Clan! Jun Xie paused slightly but remained unconcerned, continuing his unhurried pace inside.

If it were the wastrel Jun Moxie, he might feel a degree of apprehension towards the Dugu family, but why would Jun Xie concern himself with them! "Esteemed young master, what manner of weapon are you looking to purchase?" As soon as he entered, a middle-aged man approached.

Young masters like the one before him were numerous in the capital, and such youths often sought exquisite swords and blades, usually for decoration rather than actual combat, meaning their practicality was greatly diminished. "I'm not looking to buy a finished weapon.

I just want to ask if you have any Cold Iron here.

Price is no object!" Jun Xie smiled, projecting an air of immense wealth.

The man's eyes lit up.

He thought, this young master carries the swagger of a profligate, could he actually be an expert? I must not misjudge him.

He appraised Jun Xie again from head to toe. "So, the young master is an expert.

Unfortunately, this humble shop is temporarily out of Cold Iron; that material is exceedingly rare.

Might I interest you in Hundred-Refined Fine Steel instead?" Jun Xie chuckled, "If it's truly refined a hundred times...

that might suffice.

But this Hundred-Refined Fine Steel you mention...

is it genuinely steel refined a hundred times?" The middle-aged man showed a flash of awkwardness. "The young master is indeed knowledgeable.

I certainly wouldn't dare deceive you.

Most of the refined steel in our shop only reaches a few dozen refinements, but the quality is certainly excellent—among the best in the realm, I dare say." "Only a few dozen refinements...

I see." Jun Xie sighed. "Then, do you have Profound Iron?" Damn it, was this place a million years behind Earth? Relying on their forging skills was clearly hopeless; he could only hope for some special metal! And when talking about metals, Profound Iron was the undisputed choice. "We don't have that either..." The middle-aged man wiped his brow.

Why was this gentleman asking for things that are only found by chance? Then he suddenly recalled something. "However, we did receive a piece of Meteor Iron a few days ago.

I wonder if the young master would be interested?" "Meteor Iron?!" Jun Xie's eyes brightened. "Take me to see it!" He had only asked about Profound Iron on a whim, expecting none, but to unexpectedly hear of Meteor Iron now—while Profound Iron was rare, Meteor Iron was even harder to come by.

His luck was holding out well! Following the middle-aged man, Jun Xie walked past the main shop area towards the storeroom in the back.

Before he even reached the warehouse, he heard a clear voice from inside: "...Excellent! I'll take this piece of Meteor Iron." The owner of that voice was one of the very few people that the contemporary Jun Moxie feared most—Dugu Xiaoyi of the Dugu Clan! How could he run into this girl everywhere he went? This was utterly bizarre! Jun Xie felt a surge of urgency, strode through the doorway, and before anyone could speak, he cut in first: "Hahaha...

Miss Dugu, what a coincidence! We meet again even here." "It's you? Jun Moxie?" Dugu Xiaoyi turned her head, her beautiful eyes sweeping over him, puffing out her chest slightly: "Jun Moxie, you are too perverse! How can I run into you, you profligate wastrel, everywhere I go? You're like a persistent shadow, truly bizarre!?" Suddenly, she sprang forward with a soft poof, leaned in close with her pretty face, and demanded viciously: "Jun Moxie, are you following me deliberately!?"