"Do you have to be so timid? Even the authorities wouldn't dare approach this place easily."
"I've created many traces of snakes and wild beasts moving around the surroundings. Everyone will assume there's danger in this cave. Furthermore, no one would expect us to have moved a chest of jewels here, so it's absolutely safe."
Another man's voice followed closely.
Li Yang finally understood that this chest contained jewelry. It seemed these two were treasure thieves.
Perhaps these items were all dug up from a tomb.
"By the way, Big Brother, I just saw the authorities leave after arresting many treasure thieves, including some from Sakura Country. I really don't know what they're doing in the mountains. We're safe now, why don't we continue moving this chest of jewels?"
"As long as we get the jewels to the port, we can ship them out via cargo vessel," the timid man added.
"Yes, we really need to speed up. Otherwise, we won't be able to deliver the goods on time, and we'll be fired by our employer. This is all the property of the Long family, the wealthiest family in the provincial capital."
"As long as we deliver the goods, we'll have food and clothing for life!" another person nodded.
After confirming their departure, the two men approached the treasure chest to move it.
Li Yang carefully watched their movements. He hadn't expected this treasure chest to belong to the Long family. It seemed he had to intervene in this matter.
*Whoosh!*
Just as the two of them reached the treasure chest and were about to lift it, a dark shadow suddenly darted out from behind the chest. One of them delivered a palm strike, sending both of them flying!
"Who, who are you?"
The leading man, clutching his chest and enduring the pain, asked in surprise.
"That's a question I should be asking you. Who are you? How did the Long family's jewels end up in your hands?" Li Yang asked coldly.
"You heard everything, huh? If you have the guts, kill us. If you want to know who our employer is, you won't find out even if we die," the leading man stated resolutely.
Li Yang's lips curved slightly. He ignored the man and looked at the other man beside him, sneering, "I'm not asking him, I'm asking you. You'd better tell me honestly, what's the deal with this chest of jewels?"
"If you tell me the truth, I'll let you go. But if you're not honest, you'll die. Even an immortal couldn't save you."
"What? This..."
The timid man's eyes darted back and forth. He looked very scared, but he dared not betray his employer.
If he spoke, not only would his employer ensure he had no burial place, but the man in front of him would also kill him with his own hands.
Li Yang seemed to notice him observing the man beside him. He turned and struck the leader again, causing him to fall unconscious on the spot.
"Now you don't have to worry. Even if you reveal the truth, no one will know it was you," Li Yang continued.
"This... Alright, I'll tell you!"
The timid man, to protect himself, finally decided to betray his leader. After swallowing twice, he said, "Actually, the one who had us move these jewels was Master Ma San of the Ma family in the provincial capital."
"Someone from the Ma family?" Li Yang frowned, quite surprised. He casually asked, "Why would Master Ma San want the Long family's jewels? Is he short of money? Or is there another reason?"
"This..."
The timid man's eyes darted back and forth, seemingly afraid to reveal more.
Li Yang suddenly raised his hand and asked coldly, "I advise you to tell the truth. If you don't, I'll take your life."
"Don't, don't kill me!"
The timid man was so scared he wet his pants. He quickly shook his head and said, "I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything. Master Ma San had us move this batch of jewels to frame Xu Shenglong."
"Master Ma San wants to become the president of the Provincial Appraisal Association, so he specifically moved out a batch of the Long family's jewels and left evidence implicating Xu Shenglong at the scene."
"This way, the Long family will turn against Xu Shenglong. With the Long family's influence, dealing with Xu Shenglong will be more than enough. Once Xu Shenglong's matter is made public, Master Ma San will appear in time to help the Long family deal with Xu Shenglong."
"Then he can leverage the Long family to achieve his goal."
"So that's how it is!"
Upon learning the truth, Li Yang's mind was enlightened!
His thoughts raced as he considered that he absolutely had to help the Long family resolve this.
President Xu was truly unlucky. He did nothing, yet misfortune befell him.
Fortunately, the scheme of these two men was exposed today. Master Ma San's plan had no chance of succeeding.
"Big Brother, I've told you the truth. Can you let me go now?"
Seeing Li Yang's anger gradually subside, the timid man asked Li Yang timidly.
"Let you go now? You have a good idea. If I really let you go, you'll report back to me immediately. Why don't you stay here for a while and serve as my witness? As for him, he's a bit worse off. He won't have a chance to leave this cave."
After speaking, Li Yang immediately split the leader in front of him in half with a palm strike. The timid man trembled all over, sweat streaming down his face like water.
"You must guard this chest of jewels for me. If the jewels are missing when I return, I will hold you accountable."
With that, Li Yang broke his legs, leaving him permanently disabled and forced to stay there long-term.
Then, Li Yang went to the nearby mountains and picked some wild fruits, throwing them in front of him. He also tied his hands and said, "You will lie here and eat wild fruits every day. It's enough to keep you alive."
"If any danger approaches, you will bite and shatter this poison pellet with your mouth. It will release a large amount of poisonous gas, which no expert or beast, no matter how powerful, can survive. As for you, I've left you an antidote to ensure your safety."
"If you help me protect it, I will heal your legs once my mission is complete."
"Brother, when will you be back?"
Seeing Li Yang stand up to leave, the timid man quickly asked.
"Don't worry, it will take me at least ten days to half a month. As soon as I complete the mission, I will return immediately. You wait for me obediently."
After speaking, Li Yang stood up and left the cave.
The timid man lay on the ground pitifully, tears in his eyes, forced to remain there miserably.
Even if he heard someone outside, he dared not shout loudly. If someone came in and discovered the treasure chest, they would simply take it away, and his life would be over.