Chapter 169: Deal Completed

Jian Tui Zhi inhaled a breath of cool air, his face showing a look of difficulty.

"Mr. Jiang, not to hide it from you, Yitian Pavilion has indeed recently gathered some scattered information about Ling Zhaixing."

"That woman is a major celebrity; after stealing the Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman she vanished without a trace. Not only is the Dragon Group hunting her throughout the city, we also discovered that a fairly large mysterious faction in the Jiangnan Territory is also after her."

Jiang Feng's gaze tightened.

"What mysterious faction?"

Jian Tui Zhi shook his head.

"That part is unclear. After all, Jiangnan is merely a branch of Yitian Pavilion, its influence doesn't reach that deep, and we didn't treat this as a priority investigation. The matter of Ling Zhaixing involves the Dragon Group and the Tiger Talisman, which is too sensitive; we don't want to get involved lightly. Moreover, that mysterious faction operates extremely low‑key, leaving only a trace, making it impossible to pinpoint its origins."

Jiang Feng was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"I want all Yitian Pavilion's information on Ling Zhaixing, plus every clue about that mysterious faction. As long as you can locate Ling Zhaixing accurately, I will give Yitian Pavilion an extra twenty Bone-Tempering Pills."

"Twenty?"

Jian Tui Zhi's eyes widened instantly, his breathing becoming rapid.

What treasure is a Bone-Tempering Pill? It's a rare elixir that can forge a martial artist's tendons and bones.

Even a single one can make Nine-Grade Martial Artists scramble for it; twenty is literally an astronomical number!

But on second thought, this matter is too big.

Twenty Bone-Tempering Pills are tempting, yet he is only a branch Grandmaster and has no authority to decide.

"Sorry, Mr. Jiang, investigating Ling Zhaixing and the mysterious faction is too risky; I must report immediately to the Pavilion Master and let her decide."

Jiang Feng nodded, said nothing more, and waited for his reply.

At that moment, a calm female voice came from the entrance of the Banquet Hall.

"No need to report, I accept."

The two turned their heads and saw Duanmu Ya appear, dressed in a black suit‑skirt.

She was carrying Duanmu Hongjie, looking like a dead dog, and hurried inside.

Duanmu Hongjie was being lifted by the back of his neck; his hair was disheveled, the five-finger bruises on his face still clearly visible, and he dared not even struggle.

"Pavilion Master!"

Jian Tui Zhi quickly bowed in salute, secretly surprised that the Pavilion Master had come in person.

Jiang Feng looked at Duanmu Ya, his face showing little expression.

"The Duanmu Pavilion Master did arrive rather quickly."

"Mr. Jiang is an esteemed guest of Yitian Pavilion; that brat Hong Jie behaved improperly and offended you, so I naturally must come personally to make amends."

Duanmu Ya threw Duanmu Hongjie onto the ground.

"I didn't make it clear over the phone before, and I felt uneasy, so I hurried over. First, to apologize to you; second, to hear your demands in person. I heard everything you and Jian Tui Zhi said earlier; we will investigate Ling Zhaixing's information for you, no matter the cost, and will definitely find her whereabouts and the clues about that mysterious faction for you."

Duanmu Hongjie on the ground, seeing his aunt treat Jiang Feng with such respect, was completely stunned.

He now realized that Jiang Feng's standing in his aunt's heart was far beyond his own.

He truly hit a brick wall this time.

He dared not harbor any resentment any longer, scrambling with hands and feet to Jiang Feng's side, crying with snot and tears, he shouted.

"Mr. Jiang! I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! I shouldn't have been blind to Mount Tai, shouldn't have provoked you, shouldn't have threatened the Su Family! Please, great sir, forgive me once more!"

Seeing his disheveled state, Jiang Feng felt no particular ripple in his heart.

He hadn't really intended to make a true hardship for a prodigal son; he only wanted to give him a lesson.

"Considering the Duanmu Pavilion Master's face, I'll let it pass this time."

Jiang Feng said lightly,

"Thank you, Mr. Jiang! Thank you, Mr. Jiang!"

Duanmu Hongjie knelt repeatedly.

Duanmu Ya's face darkened as she looked at his demeanor.

"Get up quickly! Shameful! Starting today, you are to be locked at home for a month, not allowed to step out of the house a single step, and reflect properly!"

"Huh? A month of confinement?"

Duanmu Hongjie's face collapsed instantly, his expression mournful.

"Aunt, could you reduce it by a few days? A month is too long; I'll suffocate to death!"

He has always been carefree; keeping him at home for a month is more painful than killing him, an immense torment.

"Enough talk!"

Duanmu Ya's gaze hardened.

"This is already because of Mr. Jiang's face; otherwise I would expel you from the Duanmu family directly!"

Duanmu Hongjie trembled in fear, no longer daring to bargain.

"I will obey, Aunt; I accept confinement, I will reflect properly!"

Duanmu Ya stopped paying attention to him and turned to Jiang Feng.

"Mr. Jiang, rest assured, I will issue orders immediately, mobilize all Yitian Pavilion personnel in Jiangnan, and investigate Ling Zhaixing's whereabouts and that mysterious faction with full force. As soon as there is news, I will inform you at once."

After speaking, she took out her phone and dialed several numbers on the spot.

"Notify immediately; open all intelligence networks of the Jiangnan branch, focus on locating the great thief Ling Zhaixing and the mysterious faction active in Jiangnan recently. No related clue may be missed; once found, report to me at once!"

She hung up and said to Jiang Feng.

"Mr. Jiang, it has been arranged; at most three days, I will certainly give you a preliminary answer."

"Good. Contact me when there is news."

"No problem."

After speaking, Duanmu Ya glared once more at Duanmu Hongjie beside her.

"Hurry up and come with me!"

Duanmu Hongjie, as if he had been granted a pardon, hurriedly got up, lowered his head and followed behind Duanmu Ya, dejectedly leaving the Banquet Hall.

Jian Tui Zhi also made a bowing gesture toward Jiang Feng, then hurriedly followed.

On the other side, in a secluded private room of the Jiangcheng Tianxing Club.

The room was dimly lit, with only a lamp on the table shining, illuminating the silhouettes of two people.

A young man sat on the sofa, his complexion a bit pale; it was Chen Chujiang, a member of the Dragon Group.

Opposite him on the sofa sat a mysterious person wearing a black mask, his whole body shrouded in shadow.

"Lord."

Chen Chujiang lowered his voice.

"Recently Lu Xiao has been watching us senior members very closely; after Mu Laoyue died, she concluded there was a traitor inside and began to control our movements. I can barely get a chance to see you, and even transmitting messages is inconvenient."

The mysterious person said nothing, but stared at him with a cold gaze, making Chen Chujiang feel a chill in his heart.

After a while, the mysterious person finally spoke.

"I don't care how you investigate internally; I want the whereabouts of the Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman. Ling Zhaixing's mouth is very hard, refusing to reveal the talisman's location no matter what. We need intelligence from the Dragon Group."

"I understand, Lord!"

Chen Chujiang quickly replied.

"I've been trying to find a way to inquire, but Lu Xiao watches too closely; I can't get access to the Core information at all."

He knows in his heart that if he fails to handle this matter, the mysterious person will definitely not let him go.

The mysterious person let out a cold snort.

"I'll give you three days; if you still can't find useful information, you know the Consequence."

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll do it as soon as possible!"

Chen Chujiang hurriedly nodded, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

At that moment, the room's door was suddenly pushed open from the Outside.

Lu Xiao, dressed in a black trench coat, had an icy complexion, his eyes filled with disappointment.

"Chen Chujiang, I never expected you to be that traitor!"