It was impossible for him to escape. After Zhou Linlang spoke those words, the man chose to retreat underground.
He wanted to flee!
But Yao had already noticed the light web climbing beneath the ground. She realized that it was Zhou Linlang's blockade. Every action he took was meticulously calculated.
The man could not escape.
Yao felt a sharp pain in her eyes and immediately withdrew her perception—not due to a lack of mental energy, but because the level of battle on the other side was too powerful, surpassing her current capabilities. It could easily injure her eyes.
Yet, she had confirmed the situation inside and outside the Xie family.
Xie An had led his people to the site of the previous attacks, pulling all the martial forces away. Now, the Xie family was left unguarded.
Why was Xie An so sensitive?
Yao had her suspicions. If Xie An's legitimate eldest son wasn't home, and he had automatically ruled him out as a suspect, then her hypothesis was correct.
Originally, Yao could have concealed herself with her fusion with the little locust, easily bypassing Xie An's men, but Yao was cautious. She preferred to add another layer of assurance. Thus, she activated her Eyes of Insight once more, setting up dual fortresses and sending out spider silk to investigate, while simultaneously using her ocular powers.
After a while, she confirmed that her two "younger brothers" were absent—indeed, they had been sent out.
This was Xie An's true method of protecting the family and its next generation. Without capable heirs, the family would soon perish.
From this perspective, Xie An, though selfish and crafty, did show some foresight.
However, it was also clear that he harbored ill intentions toward Oaks. Otherwise, even if the illegitimate child was detestable, if the other party had a family to cultivate him, benefiting both himself and the family, why such hostility and suspicion?
He had been testing from the start at X5.
How far would this go?
While Yao was investigating the Xie family and pondering, Xie An was unaware that his "cheap son" was snooping around his home. He had arrived at the Xie family residence, where he saw a group of government officials had already captured seven assassins on the opposite bank.
When he arrived, they were openly interrogating the suspects.
The interrogation began with a direct approach.
"You seven were sneaky, first cloaking yourselves and then walking through walls. What were you planning to do at the Xie family residence?"
The leader of the seven still had some wits left and tried to argue.
"Sir, we don't know what you're talking about. We were just curious, admiring the majesty of the Xie family's green-blooded nobility, which is not something we get to see often."
The agriculture department's enforcers, who were all highly educated and trained, especially those mentored by Zhou Linlang, were quick to retort.
"I've heard this excuse before. Back when I worked in criminal investigations, death-row inmates used to say they were curious about the guillotine and prison cells, wanting to try them out."
The seven were speechless.
One of the enforcers added, "I have law enforcement surveillance and monitoring equipment here, recording everything as evidence. Moreover, with so many witnesses around, after we warned you, instead of stopping and cooperating, you actively resisted. This constitutes obstruction of justice. These three points alone are enough to send you to the trial."
"Now, shut up and answer my questions. If you keep silent, once you're in jail, we'll easily charge you with other more severe crimes that you never saw coming. I can't guarantee your safety then."
"Why did you infiltrate the Xie residence?"
This line of questioning left the seven no room to escape. Even just the act of breaking into a noble's private estate was a serious crime. According to noble law, they could face the death penalty.
They panicked, but just then, Xie An arrived.
"Respected law enforcement officers from the Agriculture Department, what brings you here tonight? I truly appreciate your efforts, or else these little thieves would have gotten away."
The head of the enforcement team gave Xie An a look, his demeanor softened.
"These people had ulterior motives. They're no mere thieves, Xie patriarch. You need not worry, we'll uncover the truth."
Xie An paused, "Not thieves? Then what were they trying to do?"
The seven suddenly burst into wailing, claiming they were desperate and starving. They had hoped to steal some antiques from the residence and sell them for money.
At that moment, a few women and children suddenly ran out of the crowd, clinging to the thieves, crying and shouting that they were poor and had been misled by the thieves.
Xie An, looking troubled, said to the leader, "If it's too difficult, let's treat it as illegal intrusion, but I am willing to grant them leniency. It wouldn't be right for their families to fall apart."
His words surprised the onlookers, who praised Xie An's kindness.
The head of the enforcement team furrowed his brows, unconvinced but unable to criticize the patriarch of the green-blooded family. From a legal perspective, since the patriarch was willing to be lenient, the case would have to be transferred to civil court. The culprits would likely face six months of punishment or a fine.
"Since the patriarch is willing to show mercy, we'll proceed accordingly."
As he was about to consent, a mangled body was suddenly thrown down from above.
It landed with a thud on the seven thieves, and the blood splattered all over them. The crowd screamed in terror, and as everyone looked up, they saw a figure slowly descending from the air, wings vanishing as they landed in a simple black hoodie.
The figure glanced at the trembling seven thieves.
"Level 30 lackeys, level 40 leader. A mage of such caliber can easily amass billions of copper coins. Yet, this careful planning, using feints and splitting up to invade, makes me wonder: what kind of antiques could possibly be worth such effort?"
She turned her gaze to the women and children.
"Take them for genetic testing, check their lineage for three generations. If they're related, treat them as accomplices in obstructing justice. If not, they're guilty of false testimony and misleading the authorities."
"Xie patriarch is a kind man, willing to show mercy on moral grounds, but we are enforcers. If we turn a blind eye to the law, what happens when the next noble family gets invaded? Would we just do nothing?"
The onlookers were visibly uncomfortable. If it had been their own homes invaded by eight mages, they knew full well the outcome wouldn't have been this gentle.
Clearly, there was something off here. No one believed they were there just to steal.
Zhou Linlang was indeed ruthless. The thieves, especially the women and children, were frightened by the threat of being implicated and immediately confessed that they were hired by the assassins to play their roles. They had no idea what the thieves were actually planning.
Zhou Linlang knew they wouldn't get anything further from them, so she turned to the leader of the thieves.
The leader, eyes filled with malice, glanced at his trembling comrades.
The thieves seemed to remember something and fell silent, no longer willing to speak.
Noticing the strange atmosphere, Xie An squinted and said, "It seems they weren't here to steal. They must be enemies trying to assassinate someone in the Xie family. Since Lord Zhou has come to capture them, I ask that you investigate thoroughly."
Zhou Linlang responded with a calm smile, "It's not like I came specifically for this. I happened to be inspecting illegal farms and stumbled upon these people. But given their skill level, the Xie family has enough power to handle them. I've overstepped, my apologies."
Xie An naturally played along, "Not at all, it is an honor for the public to protect our family."
Zhou Linlang's smile didn't fade, "Since that's the case, would Xie patriarch allow me to enter and check who their assassination target was?"
"By examining the way they infiltrated, we can determine the layout of the residence. Of course, if you feel it's inconvenient or involves sensitive matters, I understand. But in that case, we would have no choice but to transfer the investigation to the Criminal Division's Major Crime Unit, where the case will be thoroughly examined according to noble law."
A battle of wits, with each word a deadly strike.
Xie An, clearly hiding something, didn't dare let the case escalate further. He lowered his head, "Of course, I will cooperate fully. Please, go ahead, Lord Zhou."
He stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter.
Zhou Linlang signaled her subordinates, who immediately dragged the assassins into the Xie residence.
They were going to investigate.
Zhou Linlang checked her watch.
Forty minutes left.
She couldn't help but wonder if little Yao was done yet. How much had she gained?
But tonight's events confirmed one thing: Xie An truly wanted to kill Oaks, and his intent was lethal.