Chapter 138: She

Jiang Feng led Ling Zhaixing and Su Xueyan toward the Underground Chamber.

"This is the place."

Su Xueyan stood before the refined steel door, reaching out to input the password.

Ling Zhaixing had already stepped forward, circled the refined steel door once, and gently shook her head.

"This door looks solid, but it's riddled with flaws. The lock core's structure is too ordinary; to a true expert, it's no different from having no lock at all."

Su Xueyan awkwardly withdrew her hand.

Ling Zhaixing raised an eyebrow, a hint of confident Laughter appearing on her face.

She used no tools, merely extended a finger, lightly tapped the password lock's keys a few times, blew on the fingerprint scanner, then grasped the door handle with both hands and gave it a gentle twist.

A soft "click" sounded, and that seemingly indestructible refined steel door was effortlessly opened by her.

The entire process took only a few dozen seconds, leaving Su Xueyan staring in astonishment.

"You... how did you do it?"

Su Xueyan asked in surprise, noting that only she and Su Lao knew the password.

Only their fingerprints had been recorded, yet Ling Zhaixing opened it without entering a password or recording a fingerprint?

Ling Zhaixing explained in a matter-of-fact Tone.

"The grease on it is from your earlier touch; I used Inner Force to gently guide it, simulating your fingerprint's vibration, so it opened naturally."

Su Xueyan was even more shocked, never expecting such a seemingly complex security measure to be so vulnerable before Ling Zhaixing.

Entering the Underground Chamber, Inside was empty, with only a few vacant shelves and a stone platform in the center.

Because the police had been investigating, the scene was preserved intact, with no signs of disturbance.

"The situation that day was like this..."

Su Xueyan walked to the stone platform, roughly briefed Ling Zhaixing on what happened that day and also relayed the police investigation's findings to her.

Ling Zhaixing said nothing, merely crouched and carefully observed the floor and walls.

Her gaze swept across the Underground Chamber's corners, finally stopping at the ventilation shaft in the wall corner.

"The problem lies there."

Ling Zhaixing pointed at the ventilation shaft, speaking with a confident Tone.

"The intruder didn't come in through the main door but slipped in via the ventilation shaft, and after the theft left the same way. Moreover, the thief should be a Su Family Member."

"Su Family Member?"

Su Xueyan turned pale with shock, her face full of disbelief.

"We also suspected it, even investigated everyone who came to the house that day, but found nothing. If they used the ventilation shaft, it's so narrow that even a girl would find it hard to get in, right?"

"The iron mesh being intact doesn't mean no one could get in."

Ling Zhaixing walked to the ventilation shaft, lifted her hand, grasped the iron mesh, and gave it a gentle twist.

The seemingly sturdy iron mesh twisted into a loop like soft noodles, revealing the ventilation duct inside.

"The iron mesh is made of ordinary steel; for a martial artist, sufficient Inner Force can easily twist it open, then restore it afterward—hard to notice unless you look closely. Moreover, this ventilation duct leads directly to the villa's outside greenbelt, wide enough for a slender person to pass through."

She spoke while demonstrating, returning the twisted iron mesh to its original state.

It looked exactly as before, truly showing no flaw.

"As for why we say it's a Su Family Member."

Ling Zhaixing paused briefly, then continued explaining.

"First, an outsider couldn't possibly know the villa's layout and the ventilation duct's route so well."

"Second, only Su Family Members can freely enter and exit the villa, giving them ample time and opportunity to observe."

"Finally, the surveillance captured no one, indicating the intruder knew the camera positions and blind spots like the back of their hand."

Su Xueyan felt a chill run through her body.

But according to Ling Zhaixing's words, there seemed to be no one left to suspect.

After all, the police had already summoned Su Shian and his son back for investigation.

They were suspected, but ultimately cleared.

Jiang Feng suddenly saw a figure flash through his mind at that moment.

Could it be her?

"The one who stole the Mysterious Warm Jade Essence either wants to sell it for money. The Mysterious Warm Jade Essence is a rare treasure that can fetch a sky‑high price on the black market. I'll have someone check the recent black market in Jiangcheng and across the nation for any transaction info on it; we should find some clues."

Jiang Feng nodded; he also found Ling Zhaixing's analysis very reasonable.

"Please, let me know immediately if you get any news."

"Don't worry, it's on me."

Ling Zhaixing patted her chest, her Tone brimming with confidence.

At that moment, a footstep echoed from the Underground Chamber's entrance.

Soon, Xiaonuan's voice came in.

"Sister Xue Yan, Brother Jiang Feng, you're here? I've been looking for you for ages. The weather's so nice today; shall we go shopping together?"

Su Xiaonuan entered the Underground Chamber.

Her gaze swept over Ling Zhaixing, a barely perceptible surprise flashing in her eyes before her smile returned.

"You must be the friend Brother Jiang Feng mentioned, right? Hello, I'm Su Xiaonuan, Sister Xue Yan's cousin."

Ling Zhaixing gave no reply, simply watching her quietly.

That gaze was too direct, making Xiaonuan feel an inexplicable unease; she instinctively averted her eyes, and her smile became a bit stiff.

"Xiaonuan, why did you come?"

Su Xueyan quickly smoothed things over, covering the odd feeling inside.

I, Jiang Feng, and Xiao Ling are discussing the Profound Warm Jade Marrow.

So that's how it is.

Su Xiaonuan smiled, but her gaze still flickered evasively.

Then you keep talking; I'll wait until you're done and then we can go shopping together?

No need, we're almost finished.

Su Xueyan glanced at Jiang Feng and Ling Zhaixing.

Xiao Ling, do you want to go shopping together?

No, I still have something to do; I'll go back to my room and contact my black‑market friends first.

Ling Zhaixing shook his head, turned, and walked toward the Underground Chamber entrance.

When passing by Su Xiaonuan, his Footsteps paused, and his gaze lingered on her for a few seconds.

Su Xiaonuan felt completely uneasy under her stare, and quickly grabbed Su Xueyan's arm.

Sister Xue Yan, let's hurry; I want to go see the newly opened clothing store.

Alright.

Su Xueyan nodded, greeted Jiang Feng, and then followed Su Xiaonuan out of the Underground Chamber.

Watching the two figures disappear into the entrance, Ling Zhaixing's expression instantly grew serious, and he turned to Jiang Feng, saying,

Jiang Feng, there's no need to investigate the black market.

Jiang Feng raised an eyebrow: "What? Got a lead?"

It's not that there's a lead; we already know who the thief is.

Ling Zhaixing's Tone was absolutely certain, his gaze fixed on Su Xiaonuan's silhouette.

That Su Xiaonuan just now is the thief you've been looking for.

When those words came out, Jiang Feng's eyebrows knit.

Are you certain?

I am certain.

Ling Zhaixing grinned: "On her, I smelled the scent of a kindred spirit…"