Power and wealth bring fragrance

Mu Wan listened quietly, her expression growing increasingly serious.

She didn't care about explosions, drones, or even the crash of armed helicopters.

The only person she cared about was the middle-aged fisherman who appeared to be a martial arts master!

Mu Wanning was unaware that the middle-aged fisherman was one of the so-called Ouroboros, so due to the information gap, a wonderful misunderstanding suddenly arose.

Her expression changed drastically the moment she heard the words "master of internal strength".

It was a deathly paleness following extreme shock, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water over your head, chilling you from head to toe.

Her pupils contracted sharply, and for the first time, an undisguised fear and... hatred surfaced in her beautiful eyes.

It's been over twenty years.

She thought those people had long forgotten her, and that she could quietly spend the rest of her life in Shenhai City.

But now...

A martial arts master.

Hidden strength.

These two words were like two sharp knives, piercing her heart and tearing open the memories she had deliberately sealed away for more than twenty years.

……

It was a rainy night more than twenty years ago.

The Mu family is a renowned family in the ancient martial arts world, with a history spanning hundreds of years and profound heritage.

That night, a torrential downpour occurred, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

The entire Mu family, consisting of more than thirty members, was brutally massacred.

Her father, the current head of the Mu family, had reached the pinnacle of cultivation, yet he died exhausted amidst the encirclement, his eyes wide open in death.

Her mother, a gentle and virtuous woman, shielded her from the incoming swords with her own body and fell into a pool of blood.

The one who orchestrated all of this was none other than her father's most trusted junior brother, her senior uncle—Mu Cang!

That uncle, who was usually kind and accommodating to her and always ready to help, revealed his ferocious fangs on that rainy night.

He not only betrayed the Mu family, but also poisoned her with a rare poison called "Shattering Pulse Powder".

That kind of poison won't kill you immediately, but it will gradually erode your meridians, destroying your cultivation and severing your meridians, ultimately leading to your death in endless pain.

She remembered clearly that Mu Cang had squatted down in front of her, patted her face, and said with a smile, "Little niece, don't blame your uncle for being heartless. Blame your father for being too stubborn and refusing to hand over that thing."

"Don't worry, your martial uncle won't kill you. I'll let you live, live to experience the feeling of your meridians being severed, live to watch the Mu family completely disappear from this world."

That night, she escaped with the desperate cover of her loyal servant.

After a long and arduous journey, surviving countless near-death experiences, they finally made their way to Deepsea City.

She went into hiding, changed her appearance, and spent a full ten years barely managing to suppress the toxins in her body and make herself look like a normal person.

But only she knew that her meridians had long been severed, her cultivation was completely destroyed, and she was no different from an ordinary person.

They are even worse off than ordinary people.

Whenever it rains, the residual toxins in her body flare up, and the pain of having her meridians gnawed by thousands of ants makes her wish she were dead.

She thought that this was how her life would be.

In Shenhai City, I want to live out my remaining years as an ordinary woman.

Until a few months ago, she met Wei Yuan.

That ridiculously young man, using some unknown means, was able to spot the toxins in her body at a glance, and even helped her expel the remaining poison and repair her broken meridians.

At that moment, she could hardly believe her eyes.

It's been over twenty years.

She thought she would never recover in her lifetime, but Wei Yuan did it.

Not only did it detoxify her, but it also restored her cultivation, even allowing her to advance further than before.

From then on, she stayed by Wei Yuan's side.

Firstly, it was to repay a debt of gratitude, and secondly... she couldn't quite explain what she was feeling.

All she knew was that she felt at ease as long as Wei Yuan was by her side.

But now...

Wei Yuan was actually injured like this by a martial arts master!

Could it be that……

Are Mu Cang's men here after us?

Once the thought popped into her head, it grew wildly in her mind like weeds, and she couldn't shake it off.

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Mu Cang is ruthless and vicious, determined to eliminate any remaining members of the Mu family.

When she escaped, Mu Cang must have sent people to search for her everywhere.

She was just too well hidden and changed her appearance, which is why she has never been found.

But now, will Wei Yuan's act of helping her detoxify attract Mu Cang's attention?

Or perhaps Mu Cang's people had been secretly monitoring her, and only made their move after discovering that her cultivation had recovered?

wrong.

If they were after her, why would they target Wei Yuan?

Could it be that... they already know about Wei Yuan's relationship with her and want to find her through Wei Yuan?

Or perhaps, this is all a trap, a trap to lure her out?

Countless thoughts flashed through Mu Wanning's mind, each one making her heart pound.

Her face grew paler and paler, her lips trembled slightly, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her cheongsam.

Liu Xiangrong, standing to the side, keenly noticed Mu Wanning's unusual behavior.

She had known Mu Wanning for so many years, and this was the first time she had ever seen her with such an expression.

The deep-seated fear and chilling hatred made her shiver involuntarily.

"Wanning, what's wrong?"

Liu Xiangrong asked cautiously, her voice full of worry.

Mu Wanning did not answer.

Her gaze was fixed on the bright red light at the entrance of the emergency room, her eyes empty and deep, as if she could see through that light the bloody and turbulent night more than twenty years ago.

The corridor was quiet.

Qin Xiao lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Liu Xiangrong also quieted down. She could sense that Mu Wanning was thinking about something very important, and she didn't dare to disturb her.

Time passed, second by second.

I don't know how much time has passed.

Mu Wanning finally moved.

She slowly withdrew her gaze, took a deep breath, and suppressed all the emotions on her face.

When she looked up again, her face had returned to its usual calm, but deep in her beautiful eyes, there was a hint of determination and coldness.

She glanced in the direction of the emergency room, then at Liu Xiangrong and Qin Xiao, and slowly spoke, her voice calm and utterly emotionless:

"Take good care of Wei Yuan here."

"I have something to do, I'll be going now."

After saying that, she turned and left without waiting for their reaction.

Her steps were quick and steady, without the slightest hesitation, as if she had already made up her mind.

The hem of her cheongsam swayed gently with her steps, drawing a cool, elegant arc under the light.

Liu Xiangrong was stunned.

She opened her mouth, wanting to call out to Mu Wanning, but swallowed the words back.

Should we leave now?

Wei Yuan is still in the emergency room being treated, how can she leave?

Moreover, her expression was so strange just now, what exactly happened?

Liu Xiangrong was completely bewildered and had no idea what was going on.

Qin Xiao was also stunned.

He looked up at Mu Wanning's receding figure, his face full of confusion.

Madam, what's wrong?

They were fine just now, why are they suddenly leaving?

And at this critical juncture?

He didn't understand.

But he didn't dare ask any more questions.

He still vividly remembers the taste of that slap.

……

Just as Mu Wanning's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor.

"bite."

A soft sound.

The red light that had been on for a long time at the entrance of the emergency room suddenly went out.

Instead, a gentle green light was issued.

Immediately afterwards, the emergency room door was pushed open from the inside.

Several doctors and nurses in surgical gowns pushed a hospital bed out of the room.

Lying on the hospital bed was a person covered with a white blanket and wearing an oxygen mask; it was Wei Yuan.

Liu Xiangrong and Qin Xiao's attention was instantly drawn to it.

The two of them no longer cared why Mu Wanning had suddenly left, and hurriedly went to meet her.

"Doctor! How is he?"

Liu Xiangrong spoke first, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness.

Qin Xiao followed closely beside him, his eyes fixed on Wei Yuan on the hospital bed, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

The leading doctor took off his mask, revealing a tired but smiling face.

He glanced at the two of them and said slowly, "Don't worry, it's nothing serious."

"Most of the injuries on the patient's body were superficial and fleshy; although they looked frightening, none of them were fatal."

"The most serious injury is the gunshot wound to my left shoulder. The bullet has been removed, and it didn't damage any bones or nerves. I should be able to recover after some rest."

"There are also some abrasions and bruises, as well as a mild concussion, but nothing serious."

"He's out of danger. With proper rest, he should wake up soon."

The doctor's words were calm, yet they were like a reassuring pill, finally putting Liu Xiangrong and Qin Xiao's minds at ease after a long period of anxiety.

"call……"

Qin Xiao let out a long breath, feeling as if all his strength had been drained away, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

It's good that you're alright.

It's good that you're alright.

He kept repeating it to himself, his eyes slightly reddening.

Liu Xiangrong also breathed a sigh of relief, a relieved smile appearing on her face.

She looked at Wei Yuan on the hospital bed, her eyes filled with heartache and concern.

"Thank you, doctor. You've worked so hard."

Liu Xiangrong nodded to the doctor and said in a gentle voice.

"You're welcome, it's what we should do."

The doctor waved his hand, "The patient needs to rest now. Let's take him to the VIP ward first. Please follow me."

"good."

Liu Xiangrong and Qin Xiao nodded quickly and followed beside the hospital bed toward the VIP ward.

……

In the VIP ward.

Wei Yuan lay quietly on the hospital bed, the oxygen mask removed and replaced with a regular nasal cannula.

His face was still a little pale, and his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were having a bad dream.

But his breathing had become much more steady, and his chest was rising and falling rhythmically.

Liu Xiangrong sat on a chair by the bed, carefully tucking the blanket around Wei Yuan, and then checked his forehead temperature to make sure he didn't have a fever before she felt relieved.

Qin Xiao stood at the door of the ward, guarding it like an iron tower, his eyes scanning everyone in the corridor with vigilance.

He vowed that this time, no matter what, he would never let anyone hurt his older brother again.

Even at the cost of one's own life.

Time slips away, little by little.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened and then gradually brightened again.

One night passed.

Everything is perfectly normal.

Wei Yuan did not wake up, but his vital signs remained stable, with his body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate all within the normal range.

Liu Xiangrong and Qin Xiao took turns staying in the ward, not daring to leave for a moment.

Those burly men in black suits also stood guard at the ward doors and various entrances and exits of the hospital, protecting the entire VIP floor completely.

Calm and calm.

It was so calm it almost felt unreal.

……

Meanwhile.

Deepsea City, Detective Bureau.

In the interrogation room.

The middle-aged fisherman remained seated in the iron chair, eyes closed, saying nothing.

His posture was exactly the same as when Wu Chao left yesterday; he didn't even move a finger.

Like a sculpture.

Wu Chao sat behind the interrogation table, his eyes bloodshot and his face exhausted.

He had been guarding this place all night.

That night, he tried every possible method: coercion, bribery, psychological warfare, and pressuring with evidence... he tried everything he could.

But the middle-aged fisherman was like a stubborn, unyielding rock, refusing to budge or speak.

In the end, Wu Chao even began to wonder if this person was mute.

But he clearly spoke.

"A detective agency? What a detective agency!"

Wu Chao still remembers those words clearly.

That sarcasm, that disdain, that... sense of looking down from above.

It was as if, in his eyes, the police department was utterly insignificant.

Who exactly is this person who has such confidence?

Wu Chao couldn't understand it.

He rubbed his throbbing temples and let out a long sigh.

Having not slept all night, his mind was starting to sluggish.

This can't go on forever.

He stood up, glanced at the middle-aged fisherman who still had his eyes closed, and his expression was complicated.

"Keep a close watch on him; no one is allowed to visit him or approach him."

"His food and water must be strictly monitored to ensure that he will not have any problems."

Wu Chao gave instructions to his subordinates, his voice hoarse.

"Yes, Chief!"

The subordinate immediately stood at attention and responded.

Wu Chao nodded, glanced at the middle-aged fisherman again, and finally turned and walked out of the interrogation room.

He needs to go back and rest to recharge before continuing tomorrow.

He refused to believe that this person could remain silent forever.

……

At the entrance of the police station building.

Wu Chao dragged his weary body out step by step.

The morning sunlight shone on him, somewhat dazzlingly.

He subconsciously squinted and raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight.

Just then.

A young man in a detective's uniform walked out of the building and brushed past him.

The man walked very fast, with his head down, as if he was in a hurry.

As he passed Wu Chao, he paused slightly, bowed respectfully, and called out:

"Good morning, Director."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

Wu Chao subconsciously hummed in agreement and nodded, without giving it much thought.

This kind of thing is perfectly normal.

The police station has hundreds of employees, and every day when they encounter him on their way to or from get off work, they respectfully greet him with "Good morning, Chief."

He was used to it long ago.

After shouting, the young man continued walking quickly forward and soon reached the other side of the building.

Wu Chao didn't pay any attention and continued walking towards his car.

His car was parked in the parking space in front of the building, not far away.

But just as he walked to the car and reached out to open the door...

His movements suddenly stopped.

A strange, inexplicable feeling welled up from the bottom of his heart without warning.

It's hard to explain.

It's like... something's not right.

He frowned and looked back.

People were coming and going at the building entrance; there were police officers on duty and members of the public coming to do business. Everything seemed normal.

His gaze swept across the crowd and he quickly spotted the young man who had brushed past him.

The man had already reached the side entrance of the building, his back to him, wearing a standard detective uniform. His back view looked ordinary, without anything unusual.

Wu Chao stared at the figure for a few seconds, but couldn't figure it out.

He shook his head and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Maybe it's because I didn't sleep all night and my nerves were too tense.

He's just an ordinary police officer, what's the big deal?

He put that strange feeling out of his mind, opened the car door, and got in.

The engine started, and the car slowly drove away from the detective agency building.

……

What Wu Chao didn't know was...

The moment his car drove away from the detective agency.

The young man who had just passed him suddenly stopped.

He slowly turned his head, glanced in the direction Wu Chao's car had gone, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Those eyes held none of the naiveté or respect typical of ordinary police officers; only a cold, all-knowing indifference.

He withdrew his gaze, turned, and walked into the detective agency building.

His pace was neither hurried nor slow, and he seemed to know the place well, as if he had worked there for many years.

He walked through the lobby and down the corridor, encountering many police officers along the way. He was able to accurately call out their names and greet them with a smile.

Everything was so natural and flawless.

Soon, he arrived at the basement level.

This is where the police department detains important suspects.

The middle-aged fisherman was locked in the innermost interrogation room.

At the entrance to the interrogation room, two heavily armed guards stood ramrod straight, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

The young man approached and gave a gentle smile.

He was carrying a thermos and a plastic bag containing several breakfasts.

"Good job, brothers."

The young man smiled and handed over the breakfast he was carrying, saying, "This is breakfast that Director Wu asked me to deliver. You guys have something to eat first, and I'll bring something to the person inside."

The two guards exchanged a glance. One of them took the breakfast, looked at the young man, then at the thermos in his hand, and frowned. "Which department are you from? I've never seen you before."

The young man smiled and said calmly, "I'm new here, helping out in the logistics department. I was temporarily transferred here yesterday to be in charge of the suspects' meals."

As he spoke, he took out a work ID from his pocket and handed it over.

The guard took the work permit and examined it carefully.

The person in the photo looks exactly like the young man in front of me.

The name, department, and number are all included, and the stamp is clearly visible.

The guard glanced at the young man again, and after confirming that everything was correct, returned the work ID to him.

"Okay, then go in, and hurry up."

As the guard spoke, he took out his key and opened the door to the interrogation room.

"Okay, thanks bro."

The young man smiled and nodded, carrying the thermos, and stepped into the interrogation room.

The door slowly closed behind him.

The interrogation room was dimly lit.

The middle-aged fisherman remained seated in that iron chair, eyes closed, motionless.

The young man walked up to him and stopped.

The smile on his face gradually disappeared.

Instead, there is a cold, emotionless indifference.

He looked at the middle-aged fisherman and spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse:

"Why are you still pretending to be asleep?"

The middle-aged fisherman's eyes suddenly opened.