Xin Yifei's strength had reached the intermediate level of the Profound realm, and he was no match for so many people at once. Escaping was no problem for him. He knocked over a few bodyguards and rushed out of the manor, quickly disappearing at the end of the street.
Long Nian felt a burning sensation on his face. Xin Yifei was his father's disciple and a trusted subordinate, yet he had betrayed him.
Iriguchi Gorō's face darkened as he looked at Long Nian and said, "Long Nian, do you owe me an explanation?"
Although Long Nian cooperated with Iriguchi Gorō, he did not fear him as much as Ji Tianhu did.
"An explanation? What explanation do you want?"
"My men were killed within days of arriving in Donghai. The assassin was in league with your men. Don't you owe me an explanation?"
Long Nian sneered and said, "Killed because you were outmatched, and you come to me for an explanation? You islanders have always bullied the weak and feared the strong. Why don't you go ask that assassin for an explanation?"
Seeing that the two were speaking increasingly sharply, Ji Tianhu feared that their argument would escalate and be detrimental to him.
"Gentlemen, this matter requires further investigation. We'll discuss who is right and who is wrong after the investigation is complete," Ji Tianhu said with a hurried smile.
Iriguchi Gorō glanced at Ji Tianhu and said, "Alright, I'll give you ten days to find out who did this. I want blood for blood."
Originally, Iriguchi Gorō had mobilized over a dozen samurai from his home country, preparing to make a move on Donghai's pharmaceutical industry soon. Half of these samurai were masters of the Profound realm, and the rest were at the peak of the Yellow realm.
He had thought that this group of samurai could sweep through Donghai's pharmaceutical industry upon their arrival, allowing him to firmly grasp control of it. He never expected that they would be inexplicably killed within days of arriving.
According to their plan, Iriguchi Gorō would control Donghai's pharmaceutical industry, using it as a foothold to expand Iriguchi Pharmaceuticals across China.
Long Nian would primarily deal with the Four Great Underworld figures, while the other two would assist Ji Tianhu in dealing with San Long and the wealthy businessman Luo Meng, as well as Bao Erhu.
Upon success, the Ji family would become the foremost family in Donghai, Long Nian would be the emperor of Donghai's underground kingdom, and Iriguchi Pharmaceuticals would dominate the Donghai pharmaceutical market, gradually conquering the Chinese pharmaceutical industry.
The plan had been obstructed from the very beginning, leaving all three of them feeling very uneasy.
Without the help of Long Nian and Iriguchi Gorō, Ji Tianhu dared not make a move against the other families.
These families had risen to prominence in Donghai not only through their own strength but also because each family had the backing of top Chinese powers and formidable experts.
Long Nian was in the same situation. Without the men from Ji Tianhu and Iriguchi Gorō, he dared not rashly attack the Four Great Underworld figures. The Four Great Underworld figures had established their dominance in Donghai's underworld through combat.
Each of them had a group of loyal followers and skilled experts. Without eliminating their experts, the men Long Nian had brought would not be enough.
The three felt dejected for a while. They exchanged glances and then walked out of the restaurant.
The Ji family began to clean up the restaurant, while the three, with their men, rushed to the hospital. They found the injured subordinates of Xin Yifei and inquired about the attack on Xinglin Pharmacy.
Soon, the three realized that the most powerful person in Xinglin Pharmacy was indeed not Mi Tianfu, but Long Xiao.
Long Xiao had easily killed Xin Yifei's two junior disciples and injured another, yet he had left Xin Yifei unharmed.
When the assassin broke into the manor, killed most of the Japanese Onmyoji and samurai, and even some of Xin Yifei's subordinates, they had also left Xin Yifei unharmed.
Xin Yifei was from Donghai, and during the attack on Xinglin Pharmacy, an old man had called Xin Yifei an unfilial son. That old man was likely Xin Yifei's father.
Connecting these few events, it was easy to infer that Xin Yifei was the mole.
Although Long Nian also suspected Xin Yifei was the mole, he did not admit it directly.
"Xin Yifei is my father's disciple. Until I find him, I cannot conclude that he betrayed our brothers."
"He is the mole, Long Nian. What time is it? You're still protecting him."
"I'm not protecting him. I just want to know the truth."
The two began to clash again. Ji Tianhu quickly said, "Whether Xin Yifei is the mole or not, we'll only know when we find him. Additionally, I'll send someone to find Director Zhao and investigate if he is the assassin."
"It's best to hurry. My father is urging me to act, and I don't have much time left," Iriguchi Gorō sighed.
While Iriguchi Gorō and the others were preparing to search for Long Xiao, Long Xiao had already removed his human skin mask, changed his clothes, and had Zhang Eryong drive him back to the Lin family.
Back in his room, lying on the bed, Long Xiao began to recall the battle with the Japanese samurai in the Ji family manor's restaurant.
By replaying the fight multiple times, he identified his shortcomings during the battle.
In recent times, practicing martial arts in the morning and studying the "Dragon Scripture" at night, Long Xiao's strength had improved by leaps and bounds.
Long Xiao had always wanted to know what realm his strength had reached. However, because the descriptions of realms in the "Dragon Scripture" differed from reality, he had never been able to figure it out.
Early the next morning, after his morning practice, Long Xiao called Luan Jiping and asked to meet her at Xinglin Pharmacy, asking her to bring Elder Xiao along.
"Brother, it's only been a few days since we last saw each other, and you already miss me," Luan Jiping said, giggling happily.
"Sister, I had a fight with someone yesterday and felt my strength had improved. I just don't know what realm my strength has reached, so I want Elder Xiao to take a look."
"How disappointing. I thought you missed me," Luan Jiping said, feigning displeasure.
When Long Xiao arrived at the entrance of Xinglin Pharmacy, many people were already queuing. Although they all had appointments, they had arrived early.
As Long Xiao walked past the queuing crowd, he overheard them discussing something. Yesterday, the Japanese in the west of the city had opened a clinic, offering free consultations for three days. Because the two Japanese doctors were very skilled, the clinic's entrance was crowded with long queues every day.
Long Xiao was not surprised by the Japanese opening a clinic in Donghai. It was normal for the Japanese, who coveted Donghai's pharmaceutical industry, to open pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics. What was unusual was how easily they could obtain licenses.
Entering Xinglin Pharmacy, Mi Tianfu and the others were having breakfast in the courtyard, preparing to open for business after finishing. They were also discussing the Japanese clinic.
When Bao Tie saw Long Xiao enter, he quickly stood up, but a twinge of pain in his knee caused him to sway.
Ever since he had harbored ill intentions towards Lin Xuan and was beaten by Long Xiao, resulting in fractured bones, it had been over three months. Although he could move freely, he had not yet fully recovered.
Bao Tie had come to Xinglin Pharmacy to help, and Long Xiao had only watched without treating him.
In the past few days, Bao Tie had been working diligently and wholeheartedly, enduring the pain without complaint.
"Bao Tie, it's time to take your medicine."
Long Xiao tossed a small bottle of wound medicine he carried to Bao Tie.
Bao Tie caught the small bottle, his heart filled with emotion. This meant Long Xiao considered him one of his own.
Bao Erhu had analyzed the situation of the various powers in Donghai for Bao Tie multiple times. In Bao Erhu's eyes, Long Xiao would eventually become the foremost figure in Donghai.
After taking a pill, a warm current spread throughout Bao Tie's body, and his pain quickly subsided.
Bao Tie intended to return the small bottle of wound medicine to Long Xiao, but Long Xiao waved his hand and said, "There are only a few pills left. Keep them. I'll completely heal your lower injuries this afternoon when I have time."
Bao Tie understood what "lower injuries" meant. External and internal injuries caused physical pain. However, for a man, injuring that part of the body meant not just physical pain but also mental torment.
Bao Tie had thought he would never be a man again, but he never expected that Long Xiao, who could injure his root, could also heal it.