"What? Is this true?"
Xu Shenglong was greatly shocked, never expecting that Li Yang would possess three treasure maps.
Others struggled immensely to find even one, yet Li Yang had found three on his own. Was this truly fate?
"Yes, it's just that I haven't kept them on me. I was worried about accidents or theft. I plan to announce it to everyone and find the treasure only after all eight are collected, then turn everything over," Li Yang said seriously.
"Good, good. Alliance Leader Li's vision is grand. I, Xu, am deeply impressed. Entrusting this matter to Mr. Li, I am extremely at ease."
Xu Shenglong, greatly excited, folded the treasure map and personally handed it to Li Yang, saying, "Mr. Li, I have finished looking at this treasure map. Please keep it safe and absolutely do not let anyone else know."
"Rest assured, stealing this treasure map from me will be no easy feat. However, the whereabouts of the fourth treasure map remain unknown. Finding all of them might not be so simple," Li Yang sighed deeply.
"Mr. Li, I actually know where another treasure map is," Xu Shenglong looked at Li Yang deeply and said in a low voice.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Li Yang looked at Xu Shenglong in surprise, leaning closer. He whispered, "There is a treasure map hidden in Dengfeng Temple."
"This secret is known only to me now. I deduced it from two ancient texts. Before Shen Wansan was captured, he fled to Dengfeng Temple and entrusted a very important item to the temple's abbot."
"Later, I accidentally read some ancient texts written by that abbot. They mentioned the item Shen Wansan gave him, which was a sheepskin scroll with drawings and a route, exactly like this treasure map."
"President Xu, are you certain?" Li Yang asked, his face full of surprise after hearing this.
"Absolutely certain. However, because so much time has passed, I cannot be sure who possesses that treasure map now. But I suspect it is still within Dengfeng Temple, perhaps passed down to the abbot," Xu Shenglong said.
"Dengfeng Temple. It seems I need to find an opportunity to visit there to uncover the truth," Li Yang said profoundly.
"Yes, but Dengfeng Temple usually keeps its gates closed, and the temple's abbot is often away, traveling. It is very difficult to meet him."
Xu Shenglong said very seriously, "Tomorrow, Dengfeng Temple will hold a Buddhist prayer assembly. This assembly is held once every four years. Perhaps we can meet the abbot of Dengfeng Temple then. Alliance Leader Li, if you wish to go, I can accompany you."
"Alright, then tomorrow morning, you will accompany me to Dengfeng Temple to see if we can find the whereabouts of the treasure map," Li Yang agreed seriously.
As the two of them finished speaking, a cleaner outside the office sneered, then went downstairs with a broom, hiding in the shadows to make a phone call.
"Hello, Master Ma, I've heard some clues about the treasure maps from Xu Shenglong..."
The cleaner truthfully relayed everything Li Yang and Xu Shenglong had just said to Ma Peisheng, the head of the Ma family.
"Are you sure Li Yang has obtained three treasure maps?"
Ma Peisheng was greatly shocked. Not long ago, he had instructed his son, Ma Shihao, to do everything possible to obtain the ancient painting from the Long family. However, after obtaining it, it turned out to be a fake painting with no hidden compartments.
Now he realized that Li Yang had switched the fake painting long ago and had taken away the treasure map that rightfully belonged to the Ma family. This was outrageous.
"Yes, Master Ma. Furthermore, besides those three, I've also learned a clue about the fourth treasure map. It might be in Dengfeng Temple."
The cleaner took a breath and continued to relay the remaining information truthfully.
When Ma Peisheng heard this, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he grinned, saying, "Very good. You have rendered a great service this time. Once I accomplish what I need to do, I will bring you back and make you the chief steward of the Ma family."
"Thank you, Master Ma. I will definitely serve you," the cleaner said excitedly.
After hanging up the phone, the door to Ma Peisheng's office was knocked.
He let the person outside in. A middle-aged man with a large belly but a bruised and swollen face walked in.
Ma Peisheng was startled when he saw him and asked in surprise, "What happened to you? Who beat you up like this?"
"Mr. Ma, I... I'm sorry, I've disgraced the Ma family!"
The person was Wu Erlong, the general manager of the Ma Group, the one who had been punished by Li Yang at the service area.
He covered his swollen and bruised face and complained to Ma Peisheng, "The person who hit me was a young fellow, and he's also Young Master Ma's enemy, named Li Yang."
"It's him?"
Ma Peisheng slammed his hand on the desk in anger, stood up, his face flushed red, and said, "What audacity! Who gave him the nerve to bully my Ma family members?"
"Mr. Ma, you must teach that fellow a harsh lesson. It's fine if that fellow hits or scolds me, but he insulted the Ma family, saying that you and Young Master Ma are just dogs at his feet, to be trampled on as he pleases, and that you wouldn't dare to utter a sound."
"He said that beating me this time was a prelude to dealing with you two. I was furious and tried to fight him, but I was no match for him. It's all my fault for failing the Ma family. Please punish me, Mr. Ma."
Wu Erlong was a clever man. He deliberately returned to complain to the Ma family head to get revenge.
If he had taken responsibility himself, the Ma family head would not have bothered. But by blaming Li Yang, the Ma family head would personally intervene and teach Li Yang a lesson.
"Hmph, I have an irreconcilable hatred for this fellow. He angered my son, stole my Ma family's treasure, and now he dares to beat my Ma family's subordinate. This time, I will make sure he has nowhere to be buried."
Ma Peisheng's fury was immense. He regained his composure, looked at Wu Erlong, and said, "This has nothing to do with you. Go and tend to your injuries. Leave the matter of revenge to me."
"Alright, Mr. Ma. You must teach that fellow a harsh lesson and not give him any chance to survive."
After Wu Erlong finished speaking, he voluntarily withdrew from the office.
As he walked out, a look of great satisfaction appeared on his face, thinking that with the Ma family head personally taking action, that fellow wouldn't survive even if he had eight lives.
Not long after he left, Ma Shihao also returned from outside and went straight to Ma Peisheng's office, saying, "Dad, I've handled the matters you asked me to. I've arranged everything with those old clients, ensuring they renew their contracts with us."
"Those are minor matters. Shihao, your great revenge can be exacted soon," Ma Peisheng said profoundly.
"What do you mean? What great revenge?" Ma Shihao asked, not quite understanding his father's meaning.
"Don't you want revenge on that fellow Li Yang? He's in the provincial capital and has even beaten our people. I'm planning to personally deal with this lingering threat," Ma Peisheng said coldly.