What do you mean by saying that the corpses I sew are all ominous creatures?

His eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had suddenly figured out all the key points.

Then he slapped his thigh and said with a sudden realization:

"Holy crap, you mean... this so-called military tally?"

"That's right."

I nodded, my tone very certain.

"This is what they are most concerned about, and it is what they are willing to pay any price to take back from Qiu Feng."

"These two items, along with the map that Old Man Huo has, are related to an unknown treasure trove."

I looked at the two items on the table and calmly analyzed the situation.

"In order to retrieve this item, the Qi family even went so far as to use the core power of a Dan Realm cultivator."

This shows that the contents of this treasure trove held a fatal attraction for them.

In the Qi family's eyes, the value of this military tally far exceeded the lives of a few peripheral henchmen, and even surpassed the effort they had put into hiding it for so long.

I looked up at Lu Yan:

"As long as this thing is still in our hands, the Qi family will never be able to behave themselves."

Sooner or later, even bigger flaws will be revealed.

At this moment, Lu Yan, who had been quietly listening to our analysis, finally spoke.

She slowly gathered the document together, then looked up at us and said:

"Chen Yang's analysis was very thorough; he almost saw through the situation."

Actually, when the technical department had just figured out the flow of funds and confirmed Qi Jia's identity, I had already asked my superiors for instructions through the encrypted channel.

The instructions I received from the provincial bureau completely coincided with Chen Yang's thoughts.

Lu Yan's eyes deepened, as if she could see through the undercurrents surging beneath the bustling metropolis of Jiangcheng.

"The provincial bureau's instruction consisted of only six words: 'Hold off for now.'"

Lu Yan said, word by word.

"You have to cast a long line to catch a big fish."

The Qi family has been quietly operating in Jiangcheng for so many years, with intricate and complex roots, even managing to infiltrate the former Folk Customs Bureau.

To eradicate this malignant tumor, we must uproot it completely and never give them the chance to revive or reignite it.

Investigating now would only alert the enemy.

She straightened up, glanced at the military tally on the table, then looked at me, a cold, sharp smile curving her lips.

"I was initially worried that if we remained inactive, we would be put on the defensive and vulnerable."

But now, the situation is completely different.

Lu Yan pointed to the bronze military tally, her tone serene.

"Now that we have this thing in hand, plus the three survivors you just brought back..."

We already have enough chips in our hands.

"This means that the offensive and defensive strategies are different."

We are currently in the shadows, while Qi Jia is in the light.

That leaves much more room for maneuver.

Lu Yan turned her head and looked at Li Qing and me, her eyes sharp as knives.

"They want the military tally, so I'll give them a chance to get it."

They want to rescue those three assassins, or they want to silence them; I can create openings for them.

"As long as they dare to make a move, I'll have the opportunity to follow the clues and wipe out the core of the Qi family!"

I nodded, my gaze returning to the document bearing the Qi family's name.

After a moment of contemplation, I met her gaze and spoke up to remind her:

"Lu Yan, be lenient in your assessment of the enemy."

If the Qi family is truly the mastermind behind all this, then they won't be so easy to deal with.

You can track the flow of funds and even find incriminating evidence against them.

But never underestimate a force that can lurk in the shadows for so many years and even use the former branch chief as a fig leaf.

It's best to be careful if you want to take action against them.

I spoke slowly, enunciating each word clearly and deliberately, without a hint of joking.

Along the way, whether it was the Butterfly Valley in the Southern Frontier, the various monsters and evil cultivators outside the pass, or the remnants of the Shadow Sect lurking in the shadows, I have seen too many so-called masters who have failed because of their arrogance.

Since the Qi family can casually send out two cultivators who have entered the Dan realm to investigate clues, and even has a well-organized team of tracking sorcerers.

This demonstrates that the resources and foundation of their family have far exceeded the scope of ordinary folk influence.

Before fully understanding the other party's true intentions, even if the authorities hold the moral high ground and heavy firepower, they must not let their guard down.

Upon hearing my reminder, Lu Yan's sharp glint softened, replaced by a clear and composed demeanor.

She nodded slightly in agreement and said:

"Of course, what I just said is only a preliminary action plan."

Moreover, whether those people you just sent over were actually assigned by the Qi family is still just speculation at the moment.

We need to wait for the interrogation department to provide specific testimonies before we can draw a definitive conclusion.

As she spoke, she turned around and turned her gaze back to the bronze military tally and the beast-headed short stick on the table.

"Moreover, obtaining these two items constitutes significant breaking intelligence."

Lu Yan's tone became serious, and her slender fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"I must immediately compile a detailed report and submit it to my superiors as soon as possible."

Whether or not to take action, when to take action, and how to take action all require a unified risk assessment by the expert group and decision-making body at the top.

She turned and glanced at Li Qing and me, her eyes clear and honest, and bluntly pointed out the current shortcomings of the Jiangcheng branch:

"After all, if the Qi family could really send out several experts at the Core Formation Realm so easily..."

With the current standing combat force of our Jiangcheng branch, it is indeed quite difficult to take them down steadily.

Forcibly closing in could result in large-scale casualties among special operations personnel, and even trigger uncontrollable urban riots.

To be on the safe side, the most reliable approach would be to have higher-level combat forces dispatched directly from the provincial or national headquarters to provide support after an assessment by higher authorities.

Therefore, how this matter will ultimately develop depends on the attitude of those above.

Hearing Lu Yan's clear and logical analysis, which showed no signs of greed or rashness, I felt completely relieved.

As the head of the branch office, her ability to maintain such rationality and a broad perspective at all times, prioritizing the lives and safety of her subordinates, is itself a trustworthy quality.

Since she has a deep understanding of the seriousness of the situation, there is no need for me to give her any more unnecessary advice.

I reached out and patted the wrinkles on my clothes, smiled at her, and said:

"Okay, if you know what's going on, I won't say anything more."

It's getting late, and you still have interrogations and report writing to do, so we won't disturb you any longer and will leave now.

"Okay, thank you for your hard work today."

Lu Yan nodded, neatly gathered the documents on the table, and prepared to immerse herself in the heavy workload ahead.