Chapter 174: Trouble Brews at the Qin Family Gate

"This is…" Lin Xue examined closely, her brows knitting together, "Like some kind of action log, or a draft plan?"

The two moved in for a closer look.

The content on the paper was fragmented, with many parts consisting of code names and slang.

……"Supreme One" has been laying plans for years……Capital City……Dragon Vein Node……the opportunity……is near……

……Black Judge……mission……seize the "key" (Yin Yang Jade Pendant)……coordinate……activate the "Formation Eye"……

……Qin Family……Shennong Cauldron……of utmost importance……if necessary……spare no expense……

The information was scattered, but when pieced together its meaning made both of their hearts leap!

"Dragon Vein? What the hell do these bastards want?" Zhang Jun's face darkened, "They're not just after our Medicine Sect!"

"Could the 'Medicine Demon' that Master Shouyi mentioned be the 'Supreme One'?" Lin Xue's face turned cold, "Their goal seems to also involve the entire Capital City's Earth Qi Dragon Vein."

"The Qin Family and the Shennong Cauldron are the key……" Zhang Jun stared at those words, his heart sinking.

Only the flickering shadows of lamplight remained in the room, along with several pages of paper filled with shocking content.

Zhang Jun stared at the phrase "Qin Family, Shennong Cauldron, of utmost importance," feeling a chill rise from his soles: "These bastards have a huge appetite! Not only do they want the jade pendant, they're also eyeing the Qin Family's Shennong Cauldron!"

He turned to Lin Xue: "Should we give the Qin Family a heads‑up on this? They're sitting ducks right now—if they fall, we won't fare well either."

Lin Xue frowned slightly, her fingertips lightly brushing the cold metal box: "The Qin Family's stance is unclear. Master Shouyi once said that when the Medicine Sect split, various factions became intertwined—who's friend or foe isn't clear now. If we rashly hand over such vital information, what if the Qin Family has internal trouble, or they try to use us as pawns?"

"But we can't just stand by and let that old dog Black Judge move against the Qin Family!" Zhang Jun grabbed his hair in frustration, "Lips gone, teeth cold! If the Qin Family is really taken out by the Shadow, and the Shennong Cauldron falls into whatever 'Supreme One' hands, plus their lousy Dragon Vein Formation Eye, the Capital City will surely be turned upside down!"

Lin Xue fell silent for a moment, her icy gaze meeting Zhang Jun's: "Speaking outright definitely won't work. But we can test the waters."

"How do we test it?" Zhang Jun pressed.

"Qin Yueyao isn't an idiot. After suffering such a big loss, the Black Judge's next likely target is the Qin Family." Lin Xue analyzed, "We can anonymously warn her to be careful of the Shadow organization's upcoming big moves, especially those aimed at the Qin Family. Seeing her reaction would also be doing our duty."

Zhang Jun thought it over and felt this was the safer bet: "Alright, let's do that. Still, that Black Judge won't let it go after taking a loss—we'll also have to keep a close eye on any movements from the Qin Family side."

The two had settled on their plan.

Meanwhile, in a dim corner of the Capital City, inside a residence temporarily serving as a stronghold,

The Black Judge stood amid the wreckage, the bloody stench from the unlucky messenger who'd delivered the report still not cleared. Black qi roiled around him, showing his master's extreme anger.

"That bunch of good‑for‑nothings from the Lin Family can't be trusted! They even lost a small outpost!" The Black Judge's voice sounded like it was squeezed from between his teeth, icy and bone‑chilling: "Zhang Jun, Lin Xue—these two little brats are growing faster than expected!"

A subordinate completely shrouded in shadow knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.

"Hah, you think hiding will save you?" The Black Judge snapped around, his gaze beneath the hood seeming to pierce the walls toward the Qin Family manor: "The Medicine Sect's brats are murky with the Qin Family, and that broken cauldron is just stirring trouble. Since we can't catch the small fry, let's go pay the old ones a visit!"

He said grimly: "Pass the order—gather the troops! Follow me to 'visit' the Qin Family! I want to see whether that little miss Qin Yueyao dares to hand over the person!"

"Yes!" The shadowed subordinate acknowledged and withdrew silently.

Night deepened; outside the gate of the Qin Family ancestral manor, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

The usually imposing stone lions, now cast in the gloom of a few dim lanterns, looked especially ferocious. The Qin Family guards, several times more numerous than usual, were grim, hands on their weapons, as if facing a great enemy.

Because just a short distance down the street from the gate, several inconspicuous black carriages had stopped. Their curtains were lifted, and seven or eight people stepped out.

The leader was thin, draped in a voluminous black robe, his hood pulled low enough to nearly cover his whole face. Yet the chill, dark, abyss‑like aura he emitted made every Qin Family guard feel a pang of panic, as if a venomous snake had fixed its gaze on them.

It was the Black Judge! Behind him followed several subordinates radiating the same gloomy aura, their eyes sharp, temples bulging—clearly all top‑notch fighters.

"Who goes there? This is a vital Qin Family area—clear out at once!" A guard captain, forcing down his fear, stepped forward and bellowed.

The Black Judge seemed not to hear, his steps unceasing as he slowly advanced. The invisible pressure grew heavier, making the Qin Family guards' breathing labored, their palms slick with cold sweat where they gripped their weapons.

Just then, the Qin Family's tightly shut vermilion gate creaked open.

Clad in an elegant plain dress, Qin Yueyao emerged calmly, escorted by several Qin Family Elders. Her face showed no expression, her eyes clear as water, as if the figure standing outside were not the dreaded Black Judge of the Shadow organization, but merely an ordinary visitor.

"I don't know what brings the Black Judge to call at this late hour," Qin Yueyao said, her voice clear and pleasant yet carrying an untouchable distance. She stood inside the gate, a few paces from the Black Judge, facing him off.

The Black Judge finally halted, his gaze beneath the hood falling on Qin Yueyao as he let out a hoarse, unpleasant laugh: "Heh heh, Miss Qin truly is a dragon among phoenixes—young yet in command of the Qin Family, your gallantry impresses this old man."

"You flatter me, Lord Black Judge," Qin Yueyao replied, neither humble nor arrogant. "If you've come at night with no urgent business, pardon the Qin Family's poor hospitality—I won't invite you in for tea." She issued the order to leave directly.

The Black Judge's smile vanished instantly, his tone turning icy: "Miss Qin, you're blunt—I'll skip the pleasantries. I've lost two very important people; clues suggest they might be with you. Please be so kind as to let me come in and search."

"You're joking, Lord Black Judge," Qin Yueyao replied coolly. "The Qin Family is no den of filth, and we certainly don't harbor any 'very important person.' You've probably come to the wrong place."