348: Chapter 347 Picking Up the Girl at the Airport (Part 2)

Director Wang saw the group into the vehicle, added a few words about "poor hospitality," and then turned to walk quickly back toward the VIP channel to continue waiting for the next batch of Family scions.

Inside the car, the air-conditioned breeze carried a faint scent of leather. Chen Mohan had just settled in, his fingertips not yet touching his knees, when his gaze fell upon the round-faced man diagonally in front of him—the very same man who had been clamoring at the channel entrance to "seek guidance" from Ye Qingcheng.

At this moment, he was swinging his legs while playing on his phone, completely oblivious to the fact that the atmosphere was off.

"Chen Man, what you said earlier was very inappropriate." Chen Mohan's voice wasn't loud, but it was like ice dropping into warm water, instantly suppressing the faint noises inside the car.

Chen Man shrugged indifferently and leaned back against the seat, his crossed legs swinging even more vigorously. "Brother Mo Han, what's the big deal? Isn't it normal for Martial Artists to spar? This Ye Qingcheng is just a woman; why should she lead us? If she doesn't show some real ability, I won't accept it! Don't you guys agree?"

Chen Man's strength was second only to Chen Mohan's among this group. He had even taken second place in the Special Operations Department's internal Family selection competition, so he wasn't entirely subordinate to Chen Mohan in his heart.

Several Chen Family Disciples sitting in the back, never ones to shy away from a spectacle, saw the two clashing and immediately started nodding, chiming in one after another. "Exactly, Brother Mo Han! Brother Man is right! Even if Ye Qingcheng was the captain of the Sharp Sword Commando Unit before, her strength might not necessarily be greater than ours, right?"

"Everyone, shut up." Chen Mohan's voice remained gentle, but the end of his sentence dropped slightly, as if adding a layer of pressure to the air. As his gaze swept over everyone, the echoing voices from the back row were like snapped strings, falling silent instantly.

"Before we came, what did the Clan Chief instruct? He told you to put away that arrogance. Ye Qingcheng doesn't just represent herself; she represents the will of the upper echelons of the Dragon Kingdom. If you dare to disobey orders, you're going against the upper echelons—if you truly provoke the Clan Chief's anger, can you bear the consequences?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly dampening everyone's spirits.

Chen Man also scratched his head. He couldn't afford the consequences of provoking the Clan Chief. Not only would his dividends be docked, but if things got out of hand, he might even be expelled from the Family by the Clan Chief—it wasn't as if such things had happened before.

Thus, Chen Man's voice dropped an octave. "Brother Mo Han, I know I was wrong. When I see Ye Qingcheng, I'll just restrain myself a bit."

"It's not about restraining yourself; it's about mandatory obedience," Chen Mohan corrected him, his tone becoming more solemn. "Although our Chen Family is one of the Ancient Martial Arts Families, we have never caught the eye of the upper echelons. This Opportunity to serve the country is a chance for the entire Chen Family, and we must seize it firmly. If anyone dares to be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, don't blame me for being heartless. I will only say this once; think carefully about what you should do."

After speaking, he stopped looking at the others, opened WeChat on his phone, found the contact labeled 'Second Uncle—Professor Chen Qingjun,' opened the chat box, and composed a message: "Second Uncle, I have arrived in Modu."

After the message was sent, his fingertip hovered over the screen. He waited for a full half-minute, but the chat box remained empty.

Chen Mohan sighed helplessly, turned off the screen, and looked out the window with a slight frown.

Twenty minutes passed quickly. Orderly footsteps could be heard outside the car, interspersed with a few low conversations.

Director Wang led two groups of people over. The group in front wore uniform cyan Tang suits with a powerful "Li" character embroidered on the lapels. The man leading them had a tall, straight build and a tight jawline.

"Let me introduce everyone. These six are from the Taiji Chen Family of the capital, and their leader is Chen Mohan." Director Wang smiled and raised his hand, pointing at Chen Mohan.

Chen Mohan stood up calmly and nodded slightly. "Hello everyone, I am Chen Mohan." A faint smile played on his lips, his demeanor perfectly measured.

"These six over here are from the Longxi Li Family, led by Li Zifan." Director Wang turned to the other side.

Li Zifan stepped forward lightly, cupped his fists before his chest in a standard and humble gesture, and said in a gentle voice, "Li Zifan of the Longxi Li Family, leading the Family's Disciples to Modu. I hope for everyone's care in the future."

"And these six, from Guandong—" Director Wang had just started speaking when he was interrupted by a sonorous voice that sounded like a sudden clap of thunder.

"Director Wang, I'll do it myself!" The man speaking was as burly as a small mountain, wearing a black short-sleeved jacket with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing solid muscles. His Guandong accent was full of heartiness.

He grinned at Director Wang, strode to the middle of the carriage, and slammed his cupped fists against his chest, his voice making the windows tremble. "My name is Shen Biao! Shen as in Shenyang, Biao as in brawny! I'm from the Shen Family of Guandong! I won't bother with pleasantries; from now on, we're all brothers in the same team, so we have to look out for each other! If you ever get the chance to go to Guandong, just look for me, Shen Biao. Drinking wine and eating meat—everything's on the table, I'll definitely make it happen!"

He patted his chest, the muscles under his short jacket tightening. That uninhibited energy formed a sharp contrast with Li Zifan, who stood straight and breathed steadily beside him.

Director Wang smiled and took half a step back. "Everyone, please take your seats. This car is full. Will you wait for the people behind or head to the Special Training Base first?"

Chen Mohan, Li Zifan, and Shen Biao looked at each other. Li Zifan scanned the Chen Family Disciples in the carriage, then looked at Shen Biao and asked softly, "May I ask, Director Wang, which families are in the next batch?"

Director Wang pulled out a list and checked it. "The Southwest Si Family and the Liu Family of Qingcheng. They should arrive in about half an hour."

"Since we're all coming together, let's wait," Chen Mohan chimed in. "It's more convenient to go together; half an hour won't make a difference."

"I have no objection! I'll go with what everyone says!" Shen Biao gave a simple, honest laugh, waved his hand, and sat down next to Li Zifan, even patting his shoulder with such force that Li Zifan's body swayed slightly. "Brother, I can tell you're a Practitioner; let's exchange some tips in the future!"

Li Zifan rolled his eyes internally and silently complained: Everyone here is a Practitioner; do you really need to state the obvious!

"Alright then, I'll have to trouble everyone to wait a bit longer," Director Wang said, adding a couple more reminders to "call me anytime if you need anything" before turning to leave the car, walking hurriedly toward the VIP channel.

After the car door closed, the carriage quickly became lively. Although they came from different families, they were all young people in their early twenties. In terms of Family background, no one was inferior to the others. After finishing their introductions, they began chatting about everything under the sun.

Some talked about the wonders of their respective Cultivation Techniques, some spoke of local delicacies from different regions, and others told funny stories about the internal Family competitions when they were drafted into the Special Operations Department.

Li Zifan sat down beside Chen Mohan, his hands on his knees with fingertips lightly overlapped. After a moment of silence, he turned his head and said in a low, probing voice, "Brother Chen, I've long heard that the boxing and sword techniques of the Taiji Chen Family are unparalleled in this world. Once we reach the Special Training Base, might I have the honor of seeking some guidance?"

Chen Mohan turned his head, his smile deepening, his tone humble yet hiding a sense of pride in his Family's techniques. "Brother Li, you flatter me. Although my Chen Family's Taiji is an orthodox Chinese style, I wouldn't dare claim it's the best in the world. On the other hand, the Eight Gates Boxing of the Longxi Li Family is unique in China. I've heard it originates from the Fuxi Bagua and Zhuge's Eight Arrays; I would like to seek some guidance myself."

"Hahaha, excellent!" Li Zifan's smile broadened, and a genuine sense of anticipation appeared in his eyes. "Then later, I shall experience Brother Chen's Taiji with my Eight Gates Boxing."

"Hey, hey, hey, how can a spar happen without me?" Shen Biao suddenly leaned over, his arms resting on the backs of their seats, his voice so loud that the surrounding conversations quieted down. "My Shen Family of Guandong also wants to seek guidance from you two brothers! With the three of us together, we can have a satisfying match!"

Chen Mohan looked at Shen Biao, a smile in his eyes. "The Shen Family of Guandong is said to have inherited their skills from Shaolin. Is that true?"

"How could it be false!" Shen Biao slapped his thigh, his voice growing even louder, causing the people nearby to instinctively Move away. "My Shen Family's ancestor was once a Shaolin lay Disciple, and his kung fu was solidly trained. He only moved to Guandong later because of the wars!"

Li Zifan also looked at Shen Biao, his gaze falling on his solid arms, and asked gently, "Looking at Brother Shen's muscles, you must be practicing External Tempering Techniques, right?"

"Haha, Brother Li has a good eye!" Shen Biao grinned and proudly flexed his arm, making his bulging muscles even more prominent. "To tell you the truth, I practice the Great Strength Vajra Fist and the Vajra Zen Leg! Internally, I Cultivate the Golden Bell Shield; ordinary weapons can't even break my defense! If there's a chance later, I'll show you all a few Moves!"

"In that case, the country gathering us together this time is a good Opportunity to improve our skills." Li Zifan smiled. "Being able to compete with the ultimate techniques of Taiji and Shaolin at the same time is much better than bitter cultivation behind closed doors at home. Perhaps we can even learn some new things from it to make up for the deficiencies in our own Cultivation Techniques."

Chen Mohan nodded. "Brother Li is right. Each Family's Cultivation Technique has its own merits; only through mutual exchange can we progress together."

"Exactly, exactly!" Shen Biao chimed in. "In the future, we should exchange more and learn from each other; we'll definitely progress faster! If anyone tries to hide their secrets, that wouldn't be very friendly!"

The discussion in the carriage grew more and more heated as everyone shared their insights on cultivation.

Some talked about how to guide Qi when practicing boxing, some spoke about the variations in sword techniques, and others shared the Bottlenecks they had encountered.

Although the space in the vehicle was limited and they couldn't actually spar, just the verbal exchange was enough to keep everyone engrossed, with occasional bursts of agreement.

Li Zifan listened intently most of the time, occasionally interjecting with points that hit the mark, neither hogging the conversation nor letting it stall. Shen Biao was the most active, chatting about boxing power one moment and telling funny stories about practicing the Golden Bell Shield the next; his voice was loud and clear, keeping the whole carriage lively. Chen Mohan sat in the middle, occasionally joining in, leading the topic to deeper levels with just a few words.

...

Half an hour passed quickly, and by 11:00 AM, the last two groups had arrived.

Shen Biao was the first to poke his head out the window, shouting, "Hey, is the next batch here?"

Everyone looked out the window as Director Wang led two groups over.

The group in front wore dark, tight-fitting martial arts attire. Each person stood tall and straight, their presence as steady as a rock. The man leading them was expressionless, with a hint of killing intent between his brows; it was none other than Si Hongwu of the Southwest Si Family.

The group behind wore cyan robes embroidered with light bamboo leaf patterns. The leading man had a faint smile on his lips, but his eyes were unfathomably deep; it was Liu Qing of the Liu Family of Qingcheng.

The Southwest Si Family and the Liu Family of Qingcheng had landed at Modu International Airport almost simultaneously, despite being on different flights.

Compared to the other three families, the Southwest Si Family held a pivotal position in the Dragon Country today. Whether in terms of financial power or the strength of their Family Disciples, they were unquestionably the first among these five families.

As for the Liu Family of Qingcheng, their financial power was second only to the Southwest Si Family, but in terms of martial arts strength, they could only be ranked last.

"Hello there, I'm Shen Biao from the Shen Family of Guandong! This car is full, you'll have to take the one behind!" Shen Biao greeted them in a booming voice.

Si Hongwu looked up at Shen Biao and cupped his hands. "Southwest Si Family, Si Hongwu!"

Liu Qing nodded with a superficial smile, his tone flat. "Liu Family of Qingcheng, Liu Qing!"

Seeing the two return the greeting, Chen Mohan and Li Zifan also opened their windows and cupped their hands. "Longxi Li Family, Li Zifan; Taiji Chen Family, Chen Mohan!"

Since the first vehicle was full, Director Wang arranged for the Si and Liu families to board the second vehicle.

These two families had business dealings, and as the saying goes, those in the same trade are enemies. They didn't exchange much small talk, simply nodding before taking their seats on opposite sides.

Afterward, Director Wang counted the people, checked them against the list, and said to the driver, "Let's go to the Special Training Base of the Security Bureau Modu Branch."

Having said that, he got out and into an HQ official car marked with the Security Bureau logo, leading the way to the Special Training Base.

On the way, Director Wang dialed Ye Qingcheng's number.

The call was answered quickly, and he hurried to report, "Captain Ye, everyone has arrived and we are heading to the Special Training Base."

"Good. Please, Director Wang, follow the arrangements on the list and assign them their living quarters first. This afternoon, Director Xu Anguo from the General Bureau will personally come to inspect."

"Di—Director Xu is coming? Okay, okay, I understand. Don't worry, Captain Ye, I'll make sure everything is properly arranged."

"Mhm, then I'll leave it to you, Director Wang."

After hanging up, Director Wang was incredibly excited. This was an Opportunity to show his face in front of a leader from the General Bureau; he had to seize it.

...

At the same time, Ye Qingcheng and the Modu Public Security Bureau were not idle either.

After waiting for Shen Zhendong in his office, Ye Qingcheng directly explained the matters that required the assistance of the Modu police.

Although Shen Zhendong was mentally prepared, his brow still couldn't help but furrow when he saw the names of fifteen officials and entrepreneurs on the list.

"Uncle Shen, these fifteen people have no connection to Hongmen and are locals of Modu, so I'll leave them to you. Additionally, the recording mentioned that Li Bing has a Swiss Federal Bank card. I've already sent Han Hao to lead a team to search his home; there should be results soon. Therefore, I'll need you to process these fifteen people as quickly as possible. Once that's done, we'll interrogate Li Bing—let him stay in there a bit longer first to wear down his temperament."

"I understand. However, for some people on this list, I'll need to consult the Municipal Committee, which might take a bit more time."

"I understand. Since the list has been given to you, the authority on how to handle it naturally belongs to the Modu Municipal Government."

"Then there's no time to lose; I'll go consult them right now."

"Mhm, let's head out together. I also need to return to the Security Bureau Modu Branch."

With that, the two left the office together and walked quickly downstairs.

After parting ways with Shen Zhendong, Ye Qingcheng drove toward the Security Bureau Modu Branch and dialed Director Xu Anguo's number on the way.

"Hello, Qingcheng. This is Xu Anguo."

"Director Xu, I have a situation to report to you. Is it convenient for you to talk?"

"It is, go ahead."

Ye Qingcheng then detailed to Xu Anguo the contents of the phone call between that General Bureau leader and Li Bing, which she had heard from the recording the previous night.

"Where is the recording now?" Xu Anguo asked immediately.

"In my hands. I've put away the other recordings concerning Hongmen, and the parts involving the bribery of Li Bing have been handed over to Director Shen for processing."

"Good. This is a matter of great importance. I will personally make a trip to Modu; keep the recording safe. Also, those Disciples from the martial arts families should have arrived, right? It's a good time for me to see them; it can be considered expressing gratitude on behalf of the organization, and I can support you while I'm at it."

"Mhm, I arranged for Director Wang to pick them up; they should have arrived one after another."

"Good, then let's leave it at that for now. We'll meet in Modu this afternoon!"

After hanging up with Xu Anguo, Ye Qingcheng called Han Hao to ask about the search.

"Han Hao, how is it? Did you find that bank card?"

"Captain Ye, we've searched Li Bing's residence thoroughly, but we haven't found the Swiss Federal Bank card you mentioned yet."

"What did Li Bing's wife say?"

"She insists she knows nothing, but she did reveal something—she and Li Bing have long been a couple in name only. It seems Li Bing has another home elsewhere."

"Oh? Then check Li Bing's call logs and dashcam records to see where he usually goes to and from work, and who he talks to the most! We must track down that bank card today!"

"Yes!"

...

On the other side, at Southwest International Airport.

Si Hongjun also received the message from Si Hongwu. After reading it, he immediately reported to his father, Si Zhengxiong, "Old Man, Hongwu has arrived in Modu."

"Mhm. Which families sent people over?"

"The Longxi Li Family, the Shen Family of Guandong, the Taiji Chen Family, and... the Liu Family of Qingcheng."

"Oh? The Liu Family of Qingcheng sent someone too? Who did they send?"

"It's Liu Chuanzhi's eldest grandson, Liu Qing."

"Heh, it seems the Liu Family of Qingcheng has truly declined, sending even their own eldest grandson."

"Indeed. The Liu Family now only has the title of an Ancient Martial Arts Family; all their focus is on business. I expect that Liu Qing is one of the few in their Family who has broken through to the Anjin Stage."

"Mhm. Don't laugh at them. If it weren't for our Si Family producing a good seed for martial arts like Yaoyao, we might have had to follow the same path as the Liu Family."

"Yes, the Old Man is right to lecture me."

As they were speaking, the Si Family's Bombardier 7500 aircraft had already appeared in their line of sight.