As the BMW glided into Changjing City, it pulled up to a hotel that had already been sealed off. Only then did the taxi following closely behind overtake and pass it.

This deliberate action had been instructed by Qiao Yihong, who feared alerting the occupants of the BMW.

Only after they had driven a considerable distance did Qiao Yihong tell the taxi driver to stop.

Casually handing over a banknote, Qiao Yihong patted the back seat and said with a smile, "Old Wang, thank you!"

"Don't mention it. But I have to say, you're not getting any younger. You should stop doing this sort of thing. What if you manage to offend some rich and powerful person? No one would be able to protect you then."

It was clear the taxi driver and Qiao Yihong were quite close. The driver knew Qiao Yihong worked as a private investigator and had tracked people before, which is why he felt comfortable offering this unsolicited advice.

Qiao Yihong understood Old Wang meant well. He gave a slight smile, offered no reply, got out of the car, and shut the door behind him.

Walking back for about five minutes, Qiao Yihong located the spot where the BMW had parked, relying on his memory, but the car was gone.

Qiao Yihong glanced around and realized this location was directly behind the Jingyang Four Flowers Hotel. Since the incident where the Japanese and Korean guests died violently, the hotel had remained closed, typically deserted.

Zhang Yang knew neither the Japanese nor the Korean side would let the matter rest easily, so he had constantly urged Qiao Yihong to monitor the movements of those affiliated with Japan and Korea remaining in Changjing.

Yet, strangely, after that incident, both sides had maintained an unusual silence, as if genuinely accepting the absurd explanation provided by the Chinese police: mutual combat resulting in death.

For the past few days, Qiao Yihong had been staked out near the entrance of the Jingyang Four Flowers Hotel. Today, he had finally trailed two bodyguards emerging from the hotel all the way to the Changjing airport, witnessing the moment they picked someone up.

This was precisely the news Zhang Yang needed to be informed of.

On the other side of town, Zhang Yang had been silent since unexpectedly receiving Qiao Yihong's call.

"What's wrong?"

Mi Xue, standing beside him, was the first to notice Zhang Yang's distraction and quickly inquired.

"Nothing."

Zhang Yang certainly didn't want Mi Xue worrying about him. He immediately tucked the matter away in his mind, offered Mi Xue a slight smile, then turned his gaze out the car window, a subtle upward curve at the corner of his mouth, letting out a silent sneer.

They've finally arrived...

The Jingyang Four Flowers Hotel had long been closed for renovations and was no longer open to the public. However, many people were still residing inside—those who had followed Kim Hyun-chul to China.

Now, these individuals stood in the main hall of the Jingyang Four Flowers Hotel, lined up in two rows, clearly waiting for someone.

Standing at the very front was a delicate woman—this was Park Young-joon's sister, Park Ae-young. Since Kim Hyun-chul and Park Young-joon were both dead, she had been in charge here, the one communicating directly with contacts back home.

Park Ae-young’s clasped hands tightened into fists, her jaw locked. Head bowed, the mask of ferocity on the young, beautiful girl’s face went unseen as she endured the wait with sheer willpower.

The deaths of her brother and master had struck her deeply. She absolutely refused to believe they were killed by Ishikawa Kotaro and his bodyguards from Japan. Although Kim Hyun-chul had never revealed the true purpose of inviting Ishikawa Kotaro, she knew perfectly well they had no conflict with him, certainly not to the point of mutual destruction.

The main doors of the Jingyang Four Flowers Hotel were firmly shut; nothing could be seen from the outside, nor could anyone enter. But then, footsteps finally sounded.

Two bodyguards in black suits entered the hall first. Hearing the sound, Park Ae-young snapped her head up, but upon seeing only the two guards, a fleeting disappointment crossed her eyes. Just then, a middle-aged man wearing a long trench coat walked in slowly.

"Father!"

The moment Park Ae-young saw the middle-aged man, she could no longer restrain herself. Her eyes immediately filled with tears, and she rushed toward the man with a choked cry.

She crashed solidly into her father's embrace. After maintaining a brave facade and refusing to weep since the deaths of her master and brother, Park Ae-young finally broke down into loud sobs.

"Alright, stop crying."

The man who had traveled to China alone was Park Seung-eun, the father of Park Young-joon and Park Ae-young, and one of the presidents of Korea's Park Group.

"Father, have you come to avenge brother and master?" Park Ae-young wiped her tears and eagerly pressed him after hearing his words.

Having asked, Park Ae-young noticed something amiss. She peered around behind her, then stared at her father, Park Seung-eun, in shock. "Father, why are you alone? Where are Uncle and the others?"

Park Seung-eun frowned, ignoring Park Ae-young for a moment. He addressed the assembled group: "Alright, everyone except Park Ae-young and those on duty that day may retire."

As soon as he spoke, more than a dozen unrelated people quickly left the hotel hall, leaving only the loyalists brought by Kim Hyun-chul—many of whom Zhang Yang had not fatally injured when he rescued them.

Soon, only a few remained in the hall. Park Seung-eun sat on a sofa in the lobby, frowning, then asked again, "I told you to constantly monitor the Japanese side. Any news?"

"The Japanese side shows no movement. Other than the Japanese Embassy in China steadfastly maintaining that the killer of Ishikawa Kotaro is someone else and demanding that the Chinese side find the true culprit, there have been no other substantive actions."

The one answering Park Seung-eun was naturally his daughter, Park Ae-young. After Kim Hyun-chul's death, she had immediately taken control of all personnel Kim Hyun-chul had stationed in China, obtaining this intelligence through those established channels.

Although Park Ae-young didn't understand why only her father had come, the fact that her father was here to seek vengeance for her brother and master was enough.

"No movement?" Park Seung-eun was displeased, murmuring to himself, "Impossible. They lost the national treasure, the Demon Blade Muramasa. They should be more anxious than we are. Their current quietness is illogical!"

"Father, why didn't Uncle and the other Uncle come with you? If they had, even if the killer had wings, they couldn't escape!"

Park Ae-young couldn't hold back and asked again. In her memory, her uncle, other uncle, and father were the most talented and powerful figures in the Korean cultivation world. If the three of them teamed up, they could completely overturn Changjing to find the true killer!

"Silence!"

Park Seung-eun suddenly snapped, fixing his gaze on Park Ae-young. An undeniable aura of authority involuntarily radiated from him.

Park Ae-young immediately clamped her mouth shut, biting her lip tightly. Though silent, her stubborn posture was a wordless protest against her father's silence. Gradually, she could no longer resist the imposing presence emanating from him, and her face grew pale.

In the hall, those standing behind Park Ae-young looked even worse; one man even sank onto the floor.

"Sigh."

After a long pause, Park Seung-eun let out a soft sigh, and the immense pressure weighing on everyone vanished. Only then did the complexions of Park Ae-young and the others begin to improve. The man who had fallen immediately stood up, trembling, but still managed to remain standing.

Park Seung-eun looked at Park Ae-young, not to reprimand his daughter for being tactless, but merely sighing that there were certain matters she could never comprehend. His being able to come to China this time was already extremely difficult. Park Ae-young’s uncle and the other uncle were Great Perfection realm cultivators in Korea; any movement from them already involved the stance of the Korean government. It would be impossible for them to enter China rashly without attracting the attention of the Chinese authorities. Furthermore, China possessed not only the government but countless renowned sects and aristocratic descendants. A slight misstep could invite immense trouble.

"The Chairman has already made a decision regarding this matter. None of us have the authority to change it," Park Seung-eun spoke slowly. "I came this time primarily to bring back the three spirit beasts discovered by Kim Hyun-chul, and secondarily, to invite Zhang Yang to our Korea."

"Father, that Zhang Yang is very likely the murderer of Master and Brother!"

His words shocked everyone present, especially Park Ae-young, who blurted out the accusation.

Park Ae-young stood up straight, staring at her father in disbelief, and repeated herself: "Father, much evidence suggests that Zhang Yang was the one who infiltrated the Jingyang Four Flowers Hotel and killed Ishikawa Kotaro, Master, and Brother. How could the Chairman possibly invite Zhang Yang to Korea!"

"Nonsense! Is the Chairman's decision something you or I can question!"

Park Seung-eun suddenly sprang up and slapped Park Ae-young across the face. A bright red handprint bloomed on her cheek. Park Ae-young cried out and fell to the ground, evidence that the blow had been delivered without restraint.

"That's enough. I am in charge here now. Next, you will each come to my room to explain the situation on the day in question. You must report to me if even a single fly crossed your path while you were on duty!"

After addressing the remaining personnel, Park Seung-eun gave a cold glance at Park Ae-young, who was still on the floor, and added, "You, immediately bring all the available documentation on that Zhang Yang to my room."

Then, Park Seung-eun walked straight to the elevator without looking back, returning to the room that had been prepared for him long ago.

Inside the room, a dark shadow suddenly darted out from beneath his cloak.

Looking at the shadow, Park Seung-eun murmured to himself, "At least I managed to sneak this little fellow out..."