Dan Qing's ability in martial arts was something no one had anticipated. It seemed from the beginning Xiao Lin hadn't bothered to investigate her background, always associating her with a frail and sickly woman. Today's revelation surprised him a bit, but that was all; he didn't think much of it.

"Practicing martial arts needs proper technique, especially since you've just undergone surgery and aren't fit for intense exercise. So, take it easy." Before getting out of the car, Xiao Lin made sure to remind her, even though it was somewhat redundant; the kidney's latent period still required a considerable time.

"Got it!" Dan Qing grabbed everything from the car and headed into the farm, while Xiao Lin noticed Hua Qingyi's car parked by the roadside. He then went straight to the basement, where Miao Shaoqing and Xiao Lang were sparring on the boxing ring, but Hua Qingyi was unusually quiet, quite unlike his chatty persona.

"What's going on with you?" Noticing this, Xiao Lin approached and sat opposite him. "You're too quiet."

"Hmm, just a bit troubled?" Hua Qingyi didn't hide it, feeling pressured from the old man's side.

"Tell me about it."

"It's nothing, just some family matters." Hua Muyun requested him to go on a blind date for political benefits, which was so humiliating, he wouldn't let Xiao Lin know about it. "But you, how did you end up injured after a hospital visit?" He deftly shifted the focus to Xiao Lin, who had no reason to pursue this matter. Hua Qingyi's silence proved the matter manageable by himself, though his worried face still left it uncertain.

"Hmm, ran into assassins." Xiao Lin hadn't noticed the wound; Miao Shaoqing saw that he returned and came over with a medical kit, silently starting to bandage him. The basement stored various equipment and medicines leftover from last time, just lying there without handling, and Xiao Lin felt wistful. How come his primary job of being a doctor now seemed to be overshadowed by fighting? He was genuinely tired of such days.

"What kind of people were the opponents?" Hua Qingyi was very concerned about this.

"A few foreigners, and one old man who played with snakes, but they're all dead. The last one presumably got hit by their own kind; I received no information, but I'm sure it was 'Black Crow'."

"Isn't 'Black Crow' from the wing? He should not be targeting you since your old man founded it!" Hua Qingyi, upon hearing this result, was extremely astonished.

"Whether 'Black Crow' is actually the old man's creation, I truly don't know. The organization is peculiar, having an independent assassin system worldwide. The wing can only be said to lead the domestic 'Black Crow' organization. Presumably, when the old man had him assume the position, he killed quite a number of people. In the United States, it's not hard to figure out who runs 'Black Crow.' Considering this, the Xiao Family holds positions in two countries' 'Black Crow' organizations, giving them significantly greater power than other organizations in terms of assassin reach."

Xiao Lin looked at the wound on his arm bandaged with gauze and sincerely gave Miao Shaoqing a look, seemingly saying that his bow knot seemed to get more feminine and stylish. The latter noticed his gaze but ultimately ignored him, continuing the fierce sparring with Xiao Lang in the boxing ring, as combat skills dominated his mind.

"What are you suspicious about?" Hua Qingyi straightforwardly asked about Xiao Linxin's concern. "Are you thinking the Xiao Family is responsible?"

"I'm not sure, but judging by the assassins' habits, it's quite possible. After all, 'Black Crow's unique system exists to minimize mutual killings between countries. Cross-border tasks are directly assigned by 'Black Crow's upper ranks, and private acceptance is forbidden. If discovered, a thorough eradication ensues." Xiao Lin seemed very hesitant, sensing deeper complications the further he delved into the matter, looking at Hua Qingyi. "I don't want to doubt those people, but the fact is there's a chance they stem from the United States, which means I'd have to confront my kin."

Hua Qingyi understandingly patted Xiao Lin's shoulder. "My old man said to me, to stand at the top, you must learn not to recognize kin, and when necessary, you must be able to strike even against him. I'm passing this message to you now." Hua Qingyi had a more open view than Xiao Lin on this matter, less concerned with kinship. To him, born in such families, there was no affection or warmth. "Showing kindness to others means being cruel to yourself. You have to choose either death or life. It's a binary choice; I think you understand my point."

"Of course!" Xiao Lin nodded. He knew about those secretly eliminated by Hua Qingyi. Despite his playboy appearance, indulging in pleasures, Hua Qingyi never shirked from his duties. Hua Muyun's approach differed from his, and as for not recognizing kin, he couldn't match Hua Qingyi. Perhaps he cared too much about family affection, always craving it, since he never felt it. But glaringly, few shared his thoughts; those people seemed to wish him dead soon, increasing their chances for power. "How's the situation on your end?"

"No news yet, but my old man investigated. On the same day as Fourth Master's entry, a batch of contraband was seized. Among them were the silver boxes we've seen in the Middle East, but they were empty. I suspect they might be distributing goods domestically through other means." This news was tightly sealed, whereas Hua Qingyi, through various channels, couldn't access further developments. "I speculate that the goods haven't hit the domestic market yet; Fourth Master possibly entered for reconnaissance. Recently, your police chick got quite close to him."

"I know. They're investigating a murder case in the North District." Xiao Lin found the North District somewhat unfamiliar but learned from Hong that a squad from the urban government was dispatched to the local academy there. He had a gut feeling that something he sought might be found there. "Usually, the most deprived areas in a city harbor the most impurities; I think we should focus on these places. To circulate drugs quickly through the market, using underground routes is the most swift and certainly the safest."

"So, do you suspect Hong Lian might be concealed there?" (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote tickets and ballots at Qidian.com, your support gives me the greatest motivation.)

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