Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Liu Xingmo was too lazy to go through any more roundabout ways.

He got straight to the point: "Third Sister, you should know what I do. I'll be frank, I need the book you borrowed now. You decide what to do."

"Ah? Books!" Liu San Niang was taken aback, then covered her mouth. "Sir, I have never borrowed any books. I just asked an acquaintance to get some paper for kindling firewood."

"Bang!" Liu Xingmo slammed his hand on the table. "Are you trying to fool me? The books in the inner library are nothing but firewood in your mouth!"

"Sir, I really don't know! You can't just bully a weak woman like me like this... Waaah!" Liu San Niang covered her face with her hands, on the verge of tears.

If it weren't for the abundant blood energy within her and the enormous snake body beneath her, others might have actually believed her story.

"The library has stood for a thousand years, collecting books from all over the world. It is the culmination of countless predecessors' efforts," Liu Xingmo solemnly declared. "Third Sister Liu, if anything goes wrong with the books you borrowed, explain it to Steward Xu Yinxing! Humph!"

"This! This! This!" Liu San Niang's face finally changed, her mouth agape as if she wanted to swallow the person whole. "Liu Xingmo! You framed me! I see now, the way you delivered the book and now you're asking for it back, it was all your doing, wasn't it?"

"What nonsense! Don't make false accusations!" Liu Xingmo retorted sharply.

"I have nothing to hide! Even if this goes to the steward and elders, I'm not afraid of their soul-searching techniques!" Liu San Niang gritted her teeth and made a solemn vow.

Liu Xingmo was truly baffled this time.

Liu Yizhu suddenly stood up: "Is there a problem with the manual? Take me to see it quickly!"

Liu San Niang stood still, pointing her long, slender index finger back and forth at the two people in front of her: "Don't even think about teaming up to scam me! I still have connections in Falling Flower Lane! I know several elders and stewards!"

Liu Yizhu ignored her and got up to walk towards the back hall.

Liu San Niang reached out to stop her, but was brushed aside.

Liu Xingmo quickly followed.

Passing through a curtain, I entered a room filled with the smell of cooking oil.

Slices of cured meat were laid out on the cutting board, and a wine jar half the height of a person was placed in the wine cabinet.

A fellow dressed in coarse cloth shorts was silently chopping wood in a corner.

Liu Yizhu shouted, "Where did you hide the book? Tell me!"

The shop assistant sat on a stool, gripping his axe tightly. After recognizing the menacing-looking intruder, he swallowed hard and pointed to the flames spitting from the stove: "The paper's here..."

On the floor tiles in front of the stove, there was an old book, mostly torn off, with jagged edges.

Liu Yizhu frowned deeply.

Liu Xingmo exclaimed in surprise, "You really dare to burn books?"

The shop assistant scratched his head innocently: "Isn't this just useless scrap paper?"

Liu Xingmo walked to the stove, picked up the book from the ground, and quickly flipped through it: "This isn't some random book; it's a proper wood-cultivation technique! How can you burn something like this?"

Liu San Niang also entered the back room: "What's the point of keeping them if we don't burn them? I can't understand ancient language! When the old baboon gave them to me, he specifically said that these were old books to be destroyed."

Liu Yizhu clenched his fists, his blood surging: "There are special regulations for the management of cultivation techniques and secret methods, which means they must never be passed on to outsiders! Where did you get them from? Tell me now!"

Liu San Niang was truly frightened, but still maintained a fierce exterior while remaining weak inside: "I...I have my own methods!"

At this moment, Liu Xingmo realized that a big problem had arisen.

The curator said that "The Record of Snakes and Pythons" has been loaned out and will be returned in a while.

Liu San Niang said that the library had sent a batch of discarded books that could be used to start the stove.

The curator, Liu San Niang, and the library—one of them lied.

Liu Xingmo had a vague feeling that the problem lay in the library.

This situation is probably...

Collusion between insiders and outsiders led to the leak of secret techniques!

Liu Xingmo quickly grasped the key points, turned around and roared at Liu Sanniang, "Besides you, who else has read this batch of books? Tell me now, and you can still make amends!"

"What merits and demerits? You clearly framed me!" After saying this, Liu Sanniang felt guilty facing the two serious faces. "The bookstore owner on the next street, Manager Ma, always takes those unwanted books and glances at them..."

Liu Xingmo couldn't help but roar, "Huh? What do you mean, 'just glanced at it'? That guy is most likely a spy from outside, racking his brains to steal our Black Dragon Stronghold's heritage!"

"That can't be... The Ma family has lived here for three hundred years, they're practically family to us in Luohua Lane... How could they be spies..." Liu San Niang's voice trailed off.

Liu Xingmo felt a wave of dizziness wash over him: "Three hundred years? After being infiltrated for so long, the very foundation of Black Dragon Stronghold has been hollowed out!"

The atmosphere in the back room was unusually heavy, and some customers even peeked inside, overhearing most of what had happened.

However, they were also at a loss.

Heilongzhai has a history of thousands of years. From the time of our ancestors, we have always been one family, with harmonious neighbors and friendly relations between elders and juniors.

It's hard to believe that your neighbors are spies.

Liu Yizhu walked silently to the cutting board and picked up two large bone-crushing cleavers.

Liu Xingmo understood this guy's intention.

He snatched the axe from the woodcutter and prepared to set off together.

Still somewhat uneasy, he turned to Liu Sanniang and shouted, "Come with us! If we catch Manager Ma in the study, you might survive. Otherwise... hmph!"

"Oh dear, what did I do to deserve this!" Liu San Niang cried and wailed as she pulled a fine steel soft sword from the woodshed.

Then she whistled, beckoning two large, colorful snakes to follow behind her.

The three men and two snakes left the Koi Restaurant with murderous intent and rushed towards the next street.

After navigating the winding alleyways, I found an inconspicuous store.

However, thick smoke was billowing out of the door, and flames were shooting out of the window.

"Oh no, he's escaped! He probably has accomplices!" Liu Xingmo shouted urgently. "We must hurry and give chase! Every second counts!"

"I...I know where he might have gone!" Liu Sanniang twisted her snake body and slithered into the alley.

Liu Xingmo followed and saw a river appear ahead.

Just then, a chilling murderous aura erupted in the darkness.

"Clang!" The clang of metal striking metal rang out, accompanied by sparks flying everywhere.

Liu Xingmo felt a violent impact beside him.

Then, a tremendous force surged through my body. Then, the world spun before my eyes.

"Crackling and popping—!" The continuous explosions echoed through the alley.

Liu Xingmo slammed against the wall and fell softly to the ground.

When he finally managed to lift his head, he saw three figures quickly intertwined, and for a moment, it was impossible to tell who was stronger.

This Manager Ma is actually a third-tier expert! Even in human form, he possesses the strength of a hundred men!

The battle was fierce and the score remained deadlocked.

The fierce, immense force collided back and forth, destroying nearby houses and buildings.

Disaster struck the house unexpectedly, and people scrambled to escape their old home.

Liu Xingmo wanted to help, but he couldn't even make out the enemy's appearance.

He knew he was of little use in this struggle, not even in creating opportunities.

He forced himself to calm down and began humming a strange tune.