"What's your name, and how long have you been in the lab?" Ye Tian asked.
"Huang Chengye. I've been at the lab for a year," the man replied.
"Where did you work before?" Ye Tian inquired.
"I was a professor at Haicheng Institute of Chemical Technology, and I still am, but it's part-time now," the man said.
Ye Tian sensed something was amiss. He emitted an inaudible sound wave, causing Huang Chengye's consciousness to blur and his thoughts to become uncontrollable.
"Did you, by any chance, tell anyone outside the lab about the data?"
Huang Chengye paused for a few seconds before replying, "Yes."
"Did they give you any benefits?" Ye Tian pressed.
"They gave me five million," Huang Chengye admitted.
"Why would you do this? Don't you know it's a crime?" Ye Tian questioned.
"My son needed to buy a house in a first-tier city, which costs over twenty million. I didn't have that much money, so I resorted to this," Huang Chengye explained.
"Besides you, was anyone else involved?"
"There were two others. They are both technical workers at the factory, and I was the one who contacted them," Huang Chengye stated.
Ye Tian meticulously gathered the details and then summoned the factory's person in charge, Dong Shiming, a trusted subordinate of Yang Shoucheng.
He explained the situation to Dong Shiming and simultaneously communicated with Lin Ziyi about the matter.
Dong Shiming immediately called the police. The three individuals who leaked the confidential information were apprehended and taken for interrogation. Lin Ziyi also rushed to the factory to assist Dong Shiming in strengthening security protocols.
Subsequently, Ye Tian traveled to the provincial capital, sensing that the matter was more complex than it appeared and required a face-to-face meeting with Yang Shoucheng.
Liang Zi drove, and Ye Tian sat in the car. He first asked Ren Ping to investigate Wang Lianbao and obtain his information. Upon receiving the data, Ye Tian was astonished.
Wang Lianbao was a ruthless individual who had harmed countless people throughout his life. His character was despicable, and he operated without any moral boundaries. Yet, despite this, he had prospered and become a wealthy magnate in the provincial capital.
Upon arriving at Yang Shoucheng's residence, Ye Tian found Yang Shoucheng waiting for him at the entrance. As soon as Ye Tian alighted from the car, Yang Shoucheng said, "Brother, a friend told me that Wang Lianbao is looking for someone to deal with me."
"This Wang Lianbao is incredibly audacious. Doesn't he understand that if he can deal with you, you can deal with him too?" Ye Tian remarked.
"At this point, he can't afford to worry about that. He'll only feel at ease if I'm dead. So, I'm planning to go into hiding," Yang Shoucheng replied.
Ye Tian said calmly, "There's no need to hide. If he dares to use underworld tactics, I will personally pay him a visit!"
"Brother, this Wang Lianbao is no simple man. He has a brother who is said to be a martial arts master, someone not to be trifled with. Otherwise, how could I have tolerated him living to this day?" Yang Shoucheng said.
"Oh? What kind of martial arts master?" Ye Tian inquired.
"I'm not entirely sure myself, but I've heard he's very formidable," Yang Shoucheng replied.
"It matters not. Let's wait and see," Ye Tian said.
Inviting them into the room, where Yue Qingning was also present, Ye Tian heard Yang Shoucheng say, "Brother Ye, why don't I mobilize the power of the Qingmen to eliminate this person directly? What do you think?"
Ye Tian waved his hand, "Such methods of direct confrontation are a last resort. It's not advisable to use them until the final moment."
He then produced Wang Lianbao's information. "This Wang Lianbao has a terrible character and has wronged many people. Among them are several individuals with considerable status in the provincial capital."
Yang Shoucheng took the documents and scanned them, exclaiming in surprise, "These big shots were also swindled by him?"
"Are these people particularly influential?" Ye Tian asked.
Yang Shoucheng chuckled, "Not just influential; any one of them possesses power no less than mine. Humph, this Wang Lianbao is truly courting death!"
"So, the reason you were reluctant to move against Wang Lianbao was actually because of his martial arts master brother?"
"Yes, it's because of him. After all, we are all businessmen. Harmony brings wealth, and no one wants to create a hidden danger for themselves over a moment of anger," Yang Shoucheng explained.
"What is his brother's name?" Ye Tian asked.
"Wang Lianhuan," Yang Shoucheng replied.
Ye Tian then asked Ren Ping to send over the materials for this individual. Ren Ping's response came quickly.
The documents indicated that Wang Lianhuan was a disciple of a reclusive master, Elder Songyang, and was proficient in fist techniques. A year and a half prior, he had challenged another martial arts master, at which point his cultivation had already reached the mid-stage of the Vajra Martial King realm.
Ye Tian frowned. "I didn't expect this person's realm to be comparable to mine. He's also a Vajra Martial King."
Recalling Ye Tian's formidable strength, Yang Shoucheng's face turned pale. "As strong as brother? That's terrible! We really can't afford to provoke Wang Lianbao then!"