You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

"Since you're Brother Chen's friend, you're also a distinguished guest of mine, the Living Yama! What kind of behavior is it to stand here in this hall? Come, come, I have a private room in the back hall, it's quiet! Let's go in and chat! We'll have some good tea to enjoy together!"

His sharp gaze swept across the surroundings, as if dispelling something unclean.

"There are too many random people outside!"

Without further ado, the Living Yama warmly put his arm around Chen Yang's shoulder and, with Chen Tingting and Lina in tow, led them, under the respectful guidance of the waiters, straight to a luxurious VIP box separated by a large carved sandalwood door at the deepest part of the back hall.

The heavy wooden door closed silently behind them, shutting out all the noise from the outside world and also blocking out Xue Shao's gaze, which was almost murderous yet filled with suspicion and uncertainty, and dared not make a move.

Outside.

Xue Shao stared intently at the tightly closed rosewood door, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

He had naturally heard of the legendary underworld boss known as "Living Yama," but had never had any close dealings with him. The warm attitude Living Yama had shown towards Chen Yang just now was clearly reserved for someone extremely close and trusted!
Who exactly is this guy?! Did I just kick a titanium alloy steel plate that's harder than iron?!
The heavily made-up woman beside him was also dumbfounded. Her previous arrogance vanished completely, and her voice lowered, tinged with lingering fear.

"Young Master Xue... that... that was a living Yama just now...? Then... should we..."

"Shut up!"

Xue Shao interrupted her irritably with a wave of his hand, feeling as if a red-hot iron was stuck in his chest, both suffocating and painful. He had nowhere to vent his anger and was so frustrated that he almost suffered internal injuries.

He stared at the rosewood door, his eyes dark and shifting, and finally he could only stomp his foot angrily and growl at his two equally bewildered henchmen.

"Investigate! Find out exactly who that kid is and what Lina is!"

"Damn it, I'll get my revenge today! I refuse to believe the Living Yama can protect him forever! Keep an eye on them! Notify me immediately when they come out!"

He retreated helplessly into the shadows of the self-service area, his body radiating a menacing aura, like a venomous snake lying in wait to devour its prey. His gaze was fixed on the tightly closed door, his heart filled with frenzied resentment and an uncontrollable sense of dread.

Meanwhile, inside the VIP box.

The carved rosewood furniture exuded a calming woody fragrance, while an exquisite Suzhou embroidered screen and the gentle glow of sandalwood incense burning in a corner added to the tranquility. A waiter served the finest tea and then withdrew.

The moment the door closed, the hearty and enthusiastic smile on the face of the Living Yama vanished, instantly transforming into a chilling and solemn expression.

He walked directly to the head seat and sat down, his gaze like two cold steel knives piercing straight at Chen Yang.

"Brother Chen! Tell me quickly! What happened over there last night?! My heart was in my throat the whole time! You took your men in, and it's good that they came out safe and sound! What did they find inside?!"

Although his voice was low, the underlying urgency and impending pressure permeated the entire space.

Even Lina couldn't help but hold her breath, realizing that the conversation that was about to begin was anything but ordinary.

Chen Tingting looked at Chen Yang with worry in her eyes, clearly knowing some of the inside story.

Chen Yang's expression turned completely cold, without a single word of nonsense or pleasantries.

He met the gaze of the Living Yama, which seemed to penetrate one's heart, and used the most direct, concise, yet cruel language to reiterate the core discoveries of Kangping's underground laboratory and terminal pharmaceutical factory, including the shocking human source cell archive, the deprivation of cultivators' talents and genetic essence, and the refining of the Human Essence Pill.

As Chen Yang's cold, hard words fell, the spacious, luxurious private room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The rising smoke of sandalwood incense could not dispel the sinking, bone-chilling stillness.

The once weathered and rugged face of the Living Yama turned pale with shock, then flushed red like volcanic lava before an eruption! Veins bulged on his forehead, and his iron-like fists, resting on his knees, were clenched until they turned white. The violent trembling caused the heavy sandalwood chair beneath him to groan in a teeth-grinding manner!
His eyes were bloodshot red from extreme shock and rage, and from the burning fury that suddenly ignited within them! His eye sockets were sunken, and his pupils were like red-hot charcoal. The violent killing intent contained in his gaze seemed capable of tearing apart all the void before him!

An invisible, suffocating, terrifying pressure exploded from his body like a tangible tsunami! The temperature in the entire private room suddenly dropped several degrees! Chen Tingting was so shocked that her face turned pale, and she subconsciously took a step back.

"A living person...as a medicinal ingredient? Drawing blood and digging out bones...for practicing martial arts?!"

The Living Yama's voice was deep, hoarse, and distorted, like the suppressed roar of a dying beast, each word carrying the murderous intent of scraping bone and cutting flesh.

"He's a cultivator?!"

He suddenly looked up, his blood-red eyes fixed on Chen Yang, his tone filled with unbelievable violence and a destructive impulse that swept everything, roaring out each word with deliberate force.

This is it!

Their hideout?! Tell me the location! I'll personally lead the team!

"Bring your men now! Destroy this den of beasts that deserve to be torn to pieces!"

"Dig three feet into the ground! Kill!"

One! No! Leave!

The roar of the Living Yama exploded like thunder in the luxurious private room!

Those blood-red eyes, burning with raging fury, were fixed on Chen Yang. His burly body trembled slightly from extreme rage, as if he were about to transform into a demon god who would destroy everything and crush the "beast's den" in his mouth into dust!
The terrifying aura that swept over them, forged over decades of bloodshed, made Chen Tingting's pretty face turn pale and her fingertips turn icy cold. Even the experienced Lina held her breath slightly, feeling the air as thick as congealed blood.

"No!"

Chen Yang's voice, however, was as calm as ice that had stood for millennia, yet it possessed an undeniable penetrating power.

He didn't back down an inch, his gaze like two invisible steel needles, fixed firmly on the depths of the Living Yama's pupils, which were almost consumed by rage.

"Brother Yan! Calm down!"

"calm?!"

The living Yama let out a beastly growl, slamming his fist down on the mahogany tea table, causing the precious purple clay tea set to bounce up with a thud.

"You want me to watch that hellish place where people are slaughtered like pigs and dogs, and where marrow is extracted for medicine... Calm down?! Brother Chen!"

That was no longer the human realm; it was a living, breathing, boundless hell! Now that you've discovered its lair, if you don't sweep it away now, when will you?!

Enraged, he even ignored Chen Yang's previous instructions and his concerns about Lina.

Chen Yang met that gaze that would terrify any ordinary person, slowly shook his head, his tone more solemn than ever before.

"You swept through Kangping Pharmaceutical Factory, and then what? What you saw was just the tip of the iceberg!"
This nest is nothing more than a tentacle extended by a deep-sea behemoth! If it is disturbed now, the demon lord behind it will be alerted. He only needs to cut off the tail and lie dormant, and sever all the connecting secret passages.

Those behind-the-scenes tycoons who truly control this inhumane business and reap the rewards will disappear into deeper darkness. The clues we risked our lives to obtain last night will become a kite with a broken string!
Who will end the grievances and suffering of those lives lost deep within countless undiscovered "pharmaceutical factories"? This will only breed more insidious and ruthless malignancies! Brother Yan, a reckless crackdown will only alert the enemy! It will only lead to the loss of all previous efforts and endless future troubles!

"Then what do you suggest we do?!"

The living Yama's eyes were bloodshot, veins throbbing on his forehead, and his suppressed growls echoed in the private room.

"Are we just going to let them kill and murder there?!"

"Precisely because we must eradicate it completely!" Chen Yang took a step forward, his voice resolute.

"We must plan carefully before we act! What we need is to cast a giant net, a net that can not only catch Kang Ping, this wicked fish, but also, along with its stinking blood, uproot all the giant beasts lurking in the deep sea!"
This requires time, patience, and above all, meticulous planning and absolutely accurate intelligence! Acting hastily for momentary gratification will only allow the true culprits to escape justice and plunge more innocent people into despair!

He took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as a drawn dagger, and spoke each word with crystal clarity.

"Brother Yan, I believe you! I believe the passion in your heart hasn't cooled completely! I believe you can suppress this raging anger for the sake of more innocent people! So—"

His voice suddenly lowered, carrying an invisible force, and his gaze slowly swept over the living Yama and Chen Tingting present, finally lingering briefly on Lina's face.

"I'm revealing my true identity to you."

The living Yama's blood-red pupils suddenly narrowed!
Chen Yang, facing everyone's gaze, spoke slowly.

"I belong to the Special Affairs Bureau. My code name is 'Lone Wolf'."

His voice was steady and firm, like a rock landing with a resounding thud.

silence!

An absolute silence instantly enveloped the luxurious private room!
The rage on the Living Yama's face suddenly froze. The raging flames that had been burning everything seemed to have been doused with a bucket of ice water, instantly freezing and turning into deep shock and disbelief!
His massive body swayed slightly, his eyes fixed on Chen Yang's young yet resolute face.

"Special...Special Administration Bureau? That...Dragon in the Shadows in Gyeonggi?"

Chen Tingting also covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes filled with astonishment and understanding as she looked at Chen Yang.

"Yes."

Chen Yang readily admitted it.

"Finding Tingting and resolving the conflict between this place and the Heavenly Dao Alliance is part of my mission."

My identity was sensitive before, so I couldn't explain. I hope Brother Yan will understand.

"Please forgive me..." the Living Yama murmured repeatedly, his eyes shifting with complex emotions. Shock, realization, and finally, a strange sense of awe and relief settled in.

He exhaled a long, heavy breath, as if it had been accumulating for ten thousand years, and his body, which was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring, gradually relaxed!
The terrifying, explosive force that nearly blew the roof off slowly dissipated like the receding tide.

He slowly sat back in the rosewood chair, a bitter smile on his face, his voice carrying an unprecedented weariness and a hint of barely perceptible reverence.

"So you're from 'Dragon's Nest'... Ha... No wonder... No wonder you have such methods, such meticulous thinking, and were able to obtain such astonishing evidence... So that's how it is... I, Old Yan, was just wondering when such a young talent as you appeared in the martial world... You're truly a powerful dragon crossing the river..."

The way he looked at Chen Yang was completely different now.

If before it was an appreciation for the brother's heroism and gratitude for his help, now there is a greater sense of caution and...trust towards the mysterious power that represents the deep will of the nation!
"My identity is sensitive, so I hope Brother Yan will keep it a secret for the time being, including my existence and the core details of what we investigated last night."

Chen Yang said solemnly.

"This is crucial for subsequent actions."

"rest assured!"

Without any hesitation, the Living Yama sat up straight, waved his hand, and his heroic spirit remained undiminished, but with an added sense of calm and power.

"I, the Living Yama, am not someone who doesn't know what's important! The Special Administration Bureau's affairs are of paramount importance! I, Old Yama, keep my mouth shut! Tingting!"

He looked at his daughter.

Chen Tingting nodded immediately, her expression serious.

"Chen Yang...no, Brother Lone Wolf, don't worry! I know what I'm doing!"

Her gaze toward Chen Yang was also full of solemnity.

Lina listened quietly, her expression shifting from initial shock to thoughtfulness. At this moment, she gave an understanding smile, nodded slightly to show her stance, and said nothing more.

The atmosphere instantly became subtle and tense.

A tacit understanding based on a larger goal and a deeper level is slowly being built in the invisible air.

……

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the private room. A waiter's respectful voice came from behind.

"Distinguished guests, the auction will officially begin in three minutes."

The Living Yama quickly composed himself, regaining his heroic demeanor, and laughed heartily.

"Alright! Let's go! We can't let this trip to 'Jade Spring Pavilion' go to waste! Let's see what good stuff they have! Don't worry, brother, I promise I'll keep my temper in check and treat it as a good show!"

He spoke with a pointed tone, his eyes calm, but the anger deep within was forcibly suppressed by an even greater determination and discipline.

Auction hall.

The heavy velvet curtain slowly opened, and the dazzling lights focused on the towering main auction platform. The audience was packed, with impeccably dressed tycoons watching intently. The auctioneer, dressed in an elegant suit, began the proceedings concisely.

The initial auction items were nothing more than dazzling gemstones, exquisite antique porcelain, and genuine calligraphy and paintings. Although they were quite valuable and sparked waves of bidding, they were nothing more than fleeting clouds to the few people in the private room.

Until... the seventh item was carefully brought onto the stage!
It was a small white jade bottle, no bigger than a fist, with no carvings or decorations on its body. It was simple and natural, yet it had a warm and gentle luster flowing from it.

"Please take a look, everyone."

The auctioneer's voice carried an unusual air of solemnity and allure.

"The jade bottle contains three 'Qi-Refining Pills.' The formula for these pills was passed down from an ancient temple deep in the mountains. They are made from the essence of spiritual plants that have been cultivated for decades and have miraculous effects on tempering one's qi and blood, strengthening one's foundation, and nourishing one's vital energy! They are truly rare items that nourish the foundation of martial arts and prolong life! Starting bid: ten million! Each bid must be at least five hundred thousand!"

"Qi Refining Pill?!"

"This Jade Spring Pavilion actually has such a rare item!"

A low gasp and commotion instantly erupted from the audience.

Several wealthy individuals, their auras deep and composed, clearly possessing some martial arts background, leaned forward slightly, their eyes gleaming with surprise. While cultivators are rare, they are not entirely extinct within the elite circles of the wealthy.

"Eleven million!" (End of Chapter)