"You all stay hidden in the headquarters. Even if they want to make a move, they can’t. But if you go out, it’s hard to say."
"The President is right. It’s better to be cautious. For the next few days, let’s stay in the headquarters. Besides, we exchanged for quite a few True Qi Pills this time, so we can focus on cultivation."
"That’s right. Everyone should stay put and train. Every improvement in our strength will increase our safety when the Beast Tide arrives."
"That’s right."
Everyone had no objections.
"Alright then,"
Shen Si nodded with a smile, "Let’s call it a night. It’s getting late. You all head back, train if you need to, rest if you need to."
"Hmm."
Everyone stood up, smiling as they walked to the door.
Shen Si breathed a sigh of relief.
If things go this way, nothing should go wrong.
Even though the President has left, and only Elder Wang is in the headquarters, he believed that even without Elder Wang, the Song family wouldn’t dare cause trouble here.
As they left the President’s office, they chatted and laughed but tacitly avoided mentioning what had just happened.
"It’s only just past seven. How about we head to the training room for some sparring?" someone asked with a smile. "I’ve felt my strength grow a lot these past few days."
"Really? Alright, I’ll spar with you. Anyone else want to join us?"
"Count me in. My fists are itching for some action."
"Let’s all go. Opportunities like this don’t come often. Who knows how long we’ll have to wait for the next chance, perhaps until the Beast Tide arrives."
"True."
The mood suddenly turned heavy.
Everyone knew that when the Beast Tide hits, people would die.
The ones you see today might be gone tomorrow.
"Jiang Tao, are you coming? We’re just one short without you."
"Next time,"
Jiang Tao smiled and said, "I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll go back and get some sleep to recharge."
"Really?"
His friends sighed in disappointment upon hearing this.
"Alright then, go get some good rest."
"Take care of yourself. Don’t wear yourself out."
"We’ll head over first. If you feel better, you can come find us. But it’s best to call ahead, so you don’t waste a trip."
"Alright, I’ll give you a call if I head over," Jiang Tao smiled, bid farewell to his friends, and walked to his dormitory.
Unbeknownst to him, a man in a lab coat, disguised as a scientist, was watching them.
As he saw them part ways, he glanced at the departing figures, then quietly followed Jiang Tao.
Jiang Tao was unaware, yawning and rubbing his eyes as he walked forward.
After passing a few intersections, he arrived at the dormitory door, pulled out a card, swiped it in front of the sensor, twisted the doorknob, and walked in.
Just as he stepped inside and was about to close the door, a figure quickly approached, tapping a few points on his back, and with a click, closed the door.
Jiang Tao jolted awake, realizing the danger. He tried to resist but found his body paralyzed. He intended to shout but couldn’t move.
In the next moment, his assailant pulled out a white bag, large as a potato sack, and covered him from the head down. In an instant, the sizable man disappeared as the bag shrunk to the size of a palm.
The man’s mouth curled up as he muttered to himself, "This treasure works perfectly. If it weren’t for this special situation, I wouldn’t have gotten it from the ancestor. What a pity."
His eyes gleamed with greed.
If only such a treasure belonged to him.
But such thoughts could only remain in his mind.
"This isn’t a place to stay. I’d better leave first."
He tied the bag’s string, put it in his pocket, and walked out openly.
"Where am I?"
Jiang Tao felt enveloped in darkness.
There was no light, no sound.
"Is anyone there? Can someone tell me what’s going on?"
He called out loudly.
But his shouts were swallowed by the void without a trace.
After an unknown period, a blinding light flooded in, making him feel like he was going blind.
It took a while before he gradually adjusted and opened his eyes to survey his surroundings.
It seemed like he was in a basement. There was a damp smell in the air, and the ceiling’s incandescent light shone brightly. The earlier dazzling light was from it.
"Looks like you’re awake."
At this moment, a strange voice sounded in his ear.
Jiang Tao was startled, realizing there were others around him, more than one.
Speaking was a man on his right, who looked gentle and had a smile on his face.
Yet any fool could tell that the situation wasn’t right.
After all, he had been in the Jiangnan Sub-district Martial Arts Association Headquarters, and now, suddenly, he was here.
He tried to move but found himself unable to budge.
"No use trying."
Song Wu said with a laugh, "You’ve been hit by our family’s secret Acupoint Technique. You won’t be able to move a finger for twelve hours."
"You’re from the Song family!"
Jiang Tao was shocked, his face filled with alarm.
The three people in the basement exchanged glances.
"Second brother, looks like we caught the right one this time."
"Indeed, his intense reaction upon hearing we’re from the Song family means he’s hiding something."
The other two spoke with excitement.
"Indeed."
Song Wu was also thrilled.
He hadn’t been hopeful about this plan.
But there was no other choice—a desperate move to grab someone and ask. If it wasn’t Jiang Tao, then someone else. If they didn’t learn anything, they could kill the person, leaving no witnesses.
Even if Jiangnan Sub-district Martial Arts Association was alerted, what could they do? It was just a Meridian Refining Realm Martial Artist.
But even before questioning, Jiang Tao was already panicked.
"Tell me, how did my brother Song Gang die? Who killed him?" Song Wu asked.
"What are you talking about? I don’t know."
Jiang Tao denied it and then aggressively questioned, "How dare you kidnap me? Do you know this is a provocation against our headquarters? If you know what’s good for you, let me go immediately, or the Jiangnan Sub-district Martial Arts Association won’t let this go!"
"Hahaha."
Instead of being intimidated, the three men burst into laughter.
"This kid is quite amusing."
The man with a fierce face on the left said.
"Indeed, it’s been a while since I heard such a good joke."
"You! You!"
Jiang Tao was furious.
He wanted to kill the three men in front of him, but he couldn’t.
His fate was now in their hands.
"Why so silent?"
The fierce-looking man said, "Go ahead, threaten us with your President’s name."
"Yes, your President recently reached the Celestial Human Realm and condensed a First-grade Martial Arts True Pill. Not bad, not bad."
"What do you want?"
Jiang Tao was sweating profusely.
"What do we want?"
Song Wu’s smile faded as he said, "Didn’t I already say? Tell me how my brother Song Gang died, and who killed him?"