137.
While the entire world was boiling with the upheavals caused by the news of many cities changing their allegiance, a different scene played out in Mehull.
"Found anything!?"
Inside the family hall, the current patriarch of the Xia family, Xia Wen was gritting his teeth in anger. Two days ago, during the celebration, someone was daring enough to break into the Martial Alliance, beat up the guards and protectors, and steal all their martial arts. This was a direct provocation toward the three families and a slap in their faces.
Needless to say, it didn't fit well with the three families who in their anger, poured all their resources and intelligence trying to find out the identity of this person. However, even after two days passed, there were no leads. the only thing they know about the thief was that he was a man at the peak of the Qi Guiding realm and strong enough to trash someone in the same realm without much problem.
As for the thought of him being in Innate!? What a joke!? Which Innate powerhouse would be so free to rob so many martial arts!? This seemed like the work of a large group. After all, to move so many books, you needed a number of people. And as for using Storage bags, only someone from the bigger sects like Xuanwu Sect was eligible to use them. It was impossible for some no-names to get their hands on these many storage bags.
So, at this time, their best bet was the bandit gangs in the vicinity.
"Find them... Do everything you need to do." Gritting his teeth Xia Wen ordered further. Although all those books were copies of the original which were still stored in their family safely, they just couldn't digest the fact that someone robbed them.
"Should we tell ancestor!?" One of the elders suggested after some hesitation. It would be much easier if the Ancestor took matters into his own hands.
Xia Wen didn't immediately reply but looked at him with eyes that were almost spitting out fire. "If we need to inform the ancestor every time something bad happens, then what is the use of all of us!? Isn't it better for all of us to give up everything we have and become farmers?"
"Don't engage once you find him, be sure to report me. The opponent is in the same realm as me, perhaps stronger."
The discussion went on for a long time. While the elders were busy making a plan, many of the previous guards found this situation to be somewhat familiar.
"Didn't a similar thing happen a while ago!?"
"Now that I think about it..."
"Could it be... The same person who stole from Young master Xia Pang!?"
This was already the third time someone stole from the family. The first time was from the shop, the second time from the family's treasure house, and now the Martial alliance. It seemed like someone was purposefully targeting the big families.
Needless to say, the first suspect that came to their mind was that seemingly innocent kid who was then once interrogated by their squad leader.
"What!? Got anything to say!?"
Glancing at the guards, Xia Wei shouted loudly. He was already having a headache trying to come up with a solution and now there were guards under him that instead of looking for the culprit were busily gossiping amongst themselves. Anyone in his position would be furious.
"Patriarch..." One of the guards took a step forward before bowing respectfully.
"Some times ago, there was this similar case of theft from one of the shops of the Xia family ran by Young Master Xia Pang. At that moment, we suspected Hua Ji was the culprit. But after orders from you, we didn't look more into that matter."
"Go on..." Narrowing his eyes, Xia Wen gestured for him to speak further.
"Similar theft happened when we lost a lot of resources from our treasury. After checking the list of the items that went missing, we found out that almost all of them were useful for constructing runes and formations."
"A few days after our treasures were stolen, the very same Hua Ji started his own business by the name of Vault of Heaven. And the only thing he sold there were Runes. It is very likely that he was using items stolen from our family."
Listening till here, Xia Wen felt a headache coming. He was already aware of the two thefts that took place in the family and one of them was carried out by none other than his prodigious son.
"So... What are you suggesting!?"
"We should look into this matter. Due to the past events, I think he is our prime suspect."
"I see..." Xia Wen took a deep breath and slowly nodded. "I am going to have a talk with him personally. You guys should look for other clues."
"But sir..." The guards hesitated. In their eyes, this was a rash decision that their patriarch was making. Going alone to meet the possible culprit who has people around him capable of beating down a Peak Qi-Guiding realm was nothing more than suicide.
"No buts..." Xia Wen rejected their intention in a stern voice. "I will be back."
With these words, Xia Wen stepped out of the hall before walking in the opposite direction.
"Sir..."
Looking at Xia Wen walking away, a guard shouted at the top of his lungs.
"WHAT THE HELL IS IT NOW!?" Xia Wen was getting increasingly annoyed by people interrupting him.
"You are going in the wrong direction...
He has changed houses."
Both the guard and Xia Wen looked at each other in silence.
"Lead the way."
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In the newly bought cabin, Yang Ze was still immersed in the martial arts books taken from the Martial Alliance. Other than the occasional muffled shouts of Yao Xiang, there wasn't any other sound.
Putting the book down, Yang Ze rubbed both his eyes as he looked out of the window. Outside in the garden, under the shade of a tree, the figure of Yao Xiang was practicing a set of boxing.
Looking at her, Yang Ze had to admire the tenacity of this little girl as well as the effectiveness of the Three big families of Mehull. Two days ago, during the celebration of the Xia Family's ancestor, he stole all the martial arts from the Martial Alliance. And the very next day, they filled the empty library again with the same books. And after doing that, they opened their doors to all the people of Mehull city.
What Yao Xiang was practicing was a set of Martial arts that she borrowed from the Martial Alliance. For the past day, she has been trying her best to practice, but without proper guidance, it was as hard as climbing a mountain.
Without a proper master, the journey ahead for her was going to be filled with difficulties.
However, this has nothing to do with Yang Ze who was just sitting there lazily. With his understanding right now, he could teach her. It would be easy for an Innate master like himself to explain things easily to her. But...
But he has no reason to. His only job was to protect her for a month. He was not interested in babysitting or becoming someone's master. Not to mention, she wasn't even talking to him. And the last thing Yang Ze wanted to do, was to face her tantrums.
And just when Yang Ze was about to immerse himself in the martial book, he heard two sounds from a distance.
"Damn it... Wasn't this place supposed to be for the guests!? How and why is he staying here!? Who even sold this place to him!?"
"Sir..."
"Forget it. This is not important. Which one is he living in right now!?"
"That one." The guard pointed at one of the houses.
"Okay. You can take your leave now."
Dismissing the guard, Xia Wen walked straight towards the cabin Yang Ze was staying in.
"Haah... Haaah... Haaah." As soon as Xia Wen reached the front garden, he was greeted by a small sound. Looking at the source of the sound, he found the figure of a thirteen-fourteen-year-old girl practicing by herself.
Xia Wen looked at her for a moment, before making his way inside. There was nothing extraordinary about the girl. Even the forms she was practicing were full of errors. And at this time, he wasn't here to look for her, but for someone else. And sure enough, the moment he entered the house, he was greeted by the sight of a sixteen-year-old boy sitting on a chair.
"Wow... You really have nothing to do, do you!?" With a smirk, Yang Ze gestured for him to take a seat in front of him.
Listening to such a rude remark and looking at the lack of respect, Xia Wen furrowed his brows. The boy in front of him was slowly getting on his nerves. He was acting all high and mighty even though he was nothing more than a feeble mortal. One that he could crush underneath his feet.
"I am here to talk to you." Taking a seat, Xia Wen didn't waste time on any fancy words but came straight to the topic.
"Oh Yeah! And what is it!?"
"Someone stole all Martial Arts from the Martial Alliance. Do you know anything about it!?" As soon as he finished his words, his eyes narrowed as he looked at any changes in Yang Ze's expression.
"Why do you think I know something about it!?" Contrary to his expectations, he only noticed a puzzled expression on his face.
"Are you really asking why!?" Xia Wen didn't bother explaining to him. Both of them knew that in the previous two cases, he was the culprit. It was only natural for Xia Wen to think of him when a similar thing took place.
Yang Ze didn't immediately reply but reached inside his robe and took out a small token.
"Martial Alliance Token!?" This was the first time, Xia Wen came to know that the boy in front of him has joined the alliance.
"With how much money I am making, do you really think I need to rob things I could just buy!?" Yang Ze looked at him like he was looking at an idiot.
For a moment, Xia Wen was flustered. What this boy told him was absolutely true. He was already earning thousands of spirit stones per day. If he really wanted those martial arts, he could just buy them. There was no need for him to go to such lengths.
But what he didn't know was that due to the past few days' events, there was no business in his shop. At first, the outburst caused by the city lord destroyed almost half of the city, half of Yang Ze's customers died or were crippled there. And before people could overcome their grief, the sudden banquet from the Xia family along with the announcement threw all of them into chaos.
It would take them at least a few days before they remember their initial investments.
"Anything else!?"
"Nothing..." Just when Xia Wen was about to leave, his eyes paused on the bracelet on Yang Ze's wrist.
"Mmmm..." With a muffled groan, he glared at Yang Ze for a long time before his eyes flashed with a cold light.
Yang Ze who noticed all of this acted as if nothing happened. Stretching his arms, he stood up from his seat before making his way towards his room... Ignoring Xia Wen who was standing there with a grim expression.