I bought a secret manual of the Hehuan Sect for ten yuan.

"If it's not up to me, then is it up to you?"

Xiao Xinghe slightly raised his eyes, a hint of cold sharpness finally flashing in them. "You can touch anything here, but you'll have to get past me first!"

"To tell you the truth, my heart has been dormant for a long time. I thought I would grow old like this, but I never expected to meet someone who could stir up my heart."

"It would be a real pity for someone like you to perish like this, but you have already discovered the secrets of this place, and I cannot let you leave alive."

"If you are willing to stay here, I can spare your life. You will be free after I die."

"Otherwise, we'll only have ourselves to die here!"

"You've got quite the nerve!" Qin Ge wasn't angry, but rather stared at Xiao Xinghe with interest. "Don't think you can stop me; even if your sect leader came, I'd kill him without hesitation!"

"However, this place is well-designed; it's not too complicated, but it's safe enough."

"Here, pour me a cup of tea. Let's talk this over and see if I'm right."

"You're collaborating with the Li family on smuggling. One group is responsible for transporting the goods to the beach, while the other group is responsible for moving them into the cave up there. Each group is responsible for its own part and doesn't interfere with the other."

"That way, they can't leak information even if they wanted to, because they themselves probably don't even know what those goods are or where they ended up."

"And you people are responsible for leaving behind the gold and jewelry mixed in with the smuggled goods while the goods are stored in the cave, and moving them down to the bottom for storage."

"Afterwards, the Li family arranged for people to transport the goods from the haunted house and sell them, so that neither the gods nor ghosts knew."

"Even if it's discovered, what they'll destroy is just a transit point for smuggled goods. Liuguang Island is the territory of the Li family, and given the Li family's influence in Haicheng, they should have already gotten in touch with all the departments."

"Even if the smuggling is exposed, it can be easily downplayed and ignored, right?"

"With you, the previous Azure Dragon Heavenly King, and a host of other experts guarding it, this vault is practically impregnable!"

He took a sip of tea and continued, "What I'm more curious about is, although smuggling those things is quite profitable, the Li family is now very wealthy and shouldn't be interested in such paltry sums. How did you convince them to cooperate in this?"

"Did they even know about the vault?"

Qin Ge believed Xiao Xinghe's words were credible; he had just introduced himself to see Xiao Xinghe's reaction.

He had been fighting with Mo Yitang for so long, and Mo Yitang had suffered heavy losses. If Xiao Xinghe hadn't really stayed here for many years and ignored worldly affairs, he would have heard of him.

Xiao Xinghe nodded noncommittally, "The Li family has a long history of cooperation with us. How can their descendants break the promise made by their ancestors?"

"They might not care about the small profits from smuggling now, but the Li family started out with that. One shouldn't forget their roots!"

"Moreover, the Li family's cooperation with Moyi Hall has never been about the profits, but rather about Moyi Hall's resources."

"The Moyi Hall can kill for them, eliminate dissidents, and at the same time, indirectly protect their safety."

"Besides their perceived value, they also fear the Ink Robe Hall. If they don't cooperate, do they want to be wiped out?"

"Whether the Li family knows about the vault's existence is irrelevant; what matters is that even if they do know, they will pretend not to know, daring not to ask or pry!"

"Not bad, not bad, you all know how to have fun!" Qin Ge's smile faded. "Now it's time to get down to business."

"I want all the gold and jewelry here. I don't think you'll agree, and I don't think I can convince you."

"Then we'll have to kill them all!"

"But I have a good impression of you, old man. You're quite strong, and it would be a real shame to kill you. Why don't you join me from now on?"

"Me? Follow you?" Xiao Xinghe was clearly taken aback, his lips twitched repeatedly, and then he burst into laughter.

The laughter echoed and spread, leaving those waiting outside completely bewildered.

It's extremely strange that Xiao Tianwang hasn't taken action against that young man for so long and is still chatting so happily!

After a long while, Xiao Xinghe's laughter finally stopped, and he said with a sigh, "It's so good to be young!"

"You really dare to think and say things."

"To put it bluntly, even our sect leader can't command me, so why do you think I'd be willing to risk my life for you?"

"Besides, I only have a few years left to live. Do you really think I'm of any use to you?"

"What are you laughing at!" Qin Ge's face darkened. "What's so unthinkable about that!"

"What's so great about your leader? Is he as handsome as me? Is he stronger than me?"

"Comparing him to me, and even putting him above me, you're really rude!"

His expression was serious. "I'm not joking with you. Didn't you say you couldn't find meaning in your existence?"

"I'll show you a different way of life. Just live one day at a time, why think so much!"

"You've done so much for the Mo Yi Hall for so many years, there's no need to feel bad about it. Besides, the Mo Yi Hall will soon cease to exist!"

Xiao Xinghe was stunned again. "If I understand correctly, you mean you want to destroy the Moyi Hall?"

"No wonder there was no burning desire for treasure in your eyes, yet you went to great lengths to find this place. The treasure is secondary; your real purpose is to cause trouble for the Moyi Hall, isn't it?"

Qin Ge clapped her hands and praised, "You may be old, but you're not senile!"

"I have a good eye; you're actually quite useful. Don't hesitate, just come work for me!"

"Luxury cars, mansions, exclusive clubs, young models, the best of everything—I'll cover it all. How about it?"

"Cough cough cough..." Xiao Xinghe choked on the tea and tears welled up in his eyes. It took him a long time to compose himself.

"Do you think I'm the kind of person who would be interested in what you're talking about?"

Qin Ge said calmly, "You're not uninterested, you're just not capable, aren't you?"

"No problem. If you want, I'll concoct a few pills, and I guarantee you'll regain your virility!"

"Don't be ungrateful! Go ask around outside, when have I ever treated someone like this?"

"I wouldn't even look at people who would fight tooth and nail to serve me tea and water; you're the luckiest one!"

"Old man, should I thank you for your appreciation?" Xiao Xinghe was speechless when he saw Qin Ge speaking so seriously.

"Throughout history, the weak have always submitted to the strong. You dare say that because you're 100% confident you can beat me?"

Qin Ge replied without hesitation, "What are you saying? If I wasn't confident, would I just stand here waiting to die?"

"I value my life very much. If I realized I couldn't beat you, I would have made a run for it long ago. Do I look like I'm about to run away now?"

"You should know Sikong Xian, right?"

"Xuanwu Sikong has appeared. Judging from the aura you've been intentionally or unintentionally releasing, you should only be slightly stronger than him!"

Xiao Xinghe was astonished. "You've met Sikong?"