After killing four assassins, Long Xiao casually walked down the stairs, picking his teeth as if the attack had never happened, as if he had just finished a meal and was heading home.
A commotion upstairs was followed by the sight of Long Xiao descending. The four assassins downstairs realized the assassination had failed and quickly retreated to the roadside, preparing to get into their cars and leave.
Worried that these people would drive away and Xiao Ming wouldn't be able to keep up, Long Xiao moved his feet rapidly and charged towards the two cars by the road.
Before the two Land Rovers could even start, the sound of tires bursting scared the four assassins out of their vehicles. They fled rapidly along the road.
The four men scattered in different directions. Long Xiao unleashed his "Chi Mei Xiao Yao Bu" (Phantom Free and Easy Steps) and pursued one of the assassins.
The assassin he was chasing had only run about fifty meters before Long Xiao caught up. With a roar, Long Xiao swung his fist towards the assassin's chest.
The assassin dodged Long Xiao's attack and thrust his short sword towards Long Xiao's neck.
Long Xiao tilted his neck to avoid the blade and slammed his right shoulder into the assassin.
With a bang, the assassin was sent flying more than ten meters, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Run!" Long Xiao chuckled triumphantly as he walked towards the assassin.
The assassin pulled a black object from his chest and threw it towards Long Xiao.
Long Xiao, startled, quickly moved sideways to avoid the black object.
With a boom, dirt flew everywhere. Long Xiao immediately hit the ground, dodging the flying dirt and rocks.
The injured assassin scrambled to his feet and stumbled away into the distance.
By the time Long Xiao got up, the assassin had vanished without a trace.
Shaking the dirt off himself, Long Xiao muttered to himself, "This time, it's up to Xiao Ming."
When the four assassins escaped from Luo Family Cuisine, Xiao Ming had already chosen his target. Coincidentally, it was the one Long Xiao was chasing.
The injured assassin stumbled away from the scene. As he chased, Xiao Ming changed his clothes. He packed his backpack into a snakeskin bag and carried it, then put on a hat.
Since escaping from that mountain, Xiao Ming had made it a habit to carry spare clothes. No matter how much food he packed, he always left space for a change of clothes and a hat. Normally, Xiao Ming never wore hats.
Half an hour later, in a courtyard not far from Xinglin Caotang, three uninjured assassins reported their situation to a middle-aged man.
"Third is not back yet. I fear the worst. We must leave immediately," the middle-aged man said after hearing the three men's report, standing up.
"Master, why don't I contact Third and ask about his situation?"
The middle-aged man nodded and said, "Alright. If you can reach him, tell him to go to the funeral supplies shop on Luosi Lane."
The injured assassin, evading pursuit, entered Donghai city and found himself in a small alley.
He was seriously injured and needed to find a place to treat himself, otherwise, he would die on the street.
The phone rang. The assassin hesitated for a moment before pressing the answer button.
Hearing his companion's voice, Assassin Third was extremely excited and immediately reported his location.
"Third, is anyone following you? Go to the funeral supplies shop on Luosi Lane. It's closer to your location."
"Big Brother, I'm in a small alley. Besides a few passersby, there's only a child scavenging."
"Be careful. We'll wait for you at the funeral supplies shop on Huajuan."
After ending the call, Third carefully observed his surroundings again. Confident he wasn't being followed, he stumbled forward again.
Xiao Ming had been following Assassin Third. When Third entered an alley and then a funeral supplies shop, Xiao Ming sent Long Xiao his location.
Long Xiao drove to the entrance of Luosi Lane. Xiao Ming quickly changed his clothes, discarded the bottles he had picked up, and then got into the car.
"Boss, their leader might be inside. Shall we surround them and charge in?" Xiao Ming said, shaking the Xuan Iron cleaver in his hand.
Long Xiao shook his head and said, "Let's have someone keep an eye on them for now. We'll see how things develop in a few days."
Long Xiao called Ye Xiao, sent her the location, and then drove back to Xinglin Caotang.
In the evening, Long Xiao received a call from Ye Xiao. Ten trucks of Chinese medicinal herbs from Jingkou Pharmaceutical Holdings Company were being transported into Donghai that night.
After ending the call, Ye Xiao sent Long Xiao a set of photos and the current location of each truck.
The ten Ouman trucks were divided into three teams. Long Xiao directly gave the photos and locations to Brother Hu of Xicheng, instructing him to immediately find ten similar trucks, load the Chinese medicinal herbs from the warehouse, and swap out these ten trucks.
Brother Hu of Xicheng, who was drinking with friends, received Long Xiao's call and immediately arranged for the loading. He also personally led a group to intercept the ten trucks about to enter Donghai.
After making arrangements, Long Xiao was about to return to the Lin family. Before he could leave the courtyard, Sun Sizu pushed the door open, holding a few sheets of paper.
"Long Xiao, have dinner here tonight. I have something to tell you."
The two went to Sun Sizu's room. Long Xiao sat on the sofa and asked, "What is it you need me for?"
Sun Sizu smiled, tossed the papers in his hand onto the coffee table, and said, "Long Xiao, take a look at this first."
The papers were paternity test reports, with no names of the tested individuals.
Long Xiao carefully examined the reports and, seeing the conclusion that the similarity reached 99% and indicated a blood relationship, smiled and said, "Grandpa Sun, are you looking for a grandson?"
Sun Sizu nodded and said, "I am looking for a grandson, but not for myself, for Old Master Long."
"Old Master Long, is that the Long family from the capital?" Long Xiao asked.
Sun Sizu nodded and said, "Yes, it is the Long family from the capital."
Long Xiao's expression turned somber, and he sighed, "It's truly fortunate he can find his grandson. I don't even know where my parents are, let alone if I can find them."
Sun Sizu sat opposite Long Xiao and asked, "Long Xiao, aren't you going to ask who this grandson is?"
"It doesn't matter to me who this grandson is. I've been without parents since I was young, and the possibility of finding them is minuscule."
Sun Sizu also sighed, pointed to the appraisal report on the coffee table, and said, "Finding your parents is indeed difficult, but your grandfather helped you find them."
Long Xiao looked at the appraisal report on the coffee table in surprise. "Are you saying this grandson is me?"
Sun Sizu nodded and said, "Yes, this grandson is you. I came to Xinglin Caotang to get your hair for the appraisal."
Long Xiao picked up the appraisal report again and read it. Sun Sizu said, "Long Xiao, to confirm further, we need to draw some blood for verification. Your Long family's blood is very special."
Long Xiao nodded and said, "I know that. I'm just curious, how did you think I was from the Long family?"
Sun Sizu smiled and said, "Long Xiao, your father and I have been good friends for many years. You look so much like your father, like twin brothers."
That night, Long Xiao stayed at Xinglin Caotang. Sun Sizu told him about the history of the Long family and his father's past, talking until past midnight before they finally retired.
Long Xiao was so excited that he couldn't sleep in the middle of the night, constantly thinking about the Long family and his parents.
According to Sun Sizu's account, over twenty years ago, Long Xiao left the capital on his full moon. His parents were preparing to take him back to his mother's hometown.
Three days later, the tragic news arrived: Long Xiao's family was attacked while passing through Jinling. The escorts died without exception, and the family of three disappeared without a trace.