Becoming a god starts with one certificate becoming eternal.

With the second-in-command falling, the entire escort team fell into chaos.

But Ye Xiao didn't relax at all; he knew that real danger was about to strike.

Although he saved Yan Quan in time, he still caused a commotion and delayed the time for picking up the goods.

Du Wanjun, standing in front of the bridge, only glanced at the bridge twice before realizing something was amiss... even before he had a clear understanding of the whole situation.

But that's enough.

Du Wanjun frowned slightly, showing no panic, and simply made a judgment.

He raised his hand, without shouting, and gave the order directly.

As soon as the order to gather the troops was given, the formation that had spread out on the bridge came together like iron plates closing up.

They moved quickly; once they were in formation, there was no way to slip through the bridge.

At the same time, Ye Xiao also moved.

He didn't pounce on the most conspicuous car, nor did he touch the box with the cleanest seal that looked most valuable.

That's bait.

Upon arriving on the bridge, Ye Xiao scanned all the boxes. Taking advantage of the fog and the interplay of shadows, he cut past the second car from the side and rear.

The car's seal was neither new nor old, and its placement was inconspicuous.

But he was certain that the wear on the corner nails was not right; it wasn't the wear and tear that came from the long journey of a genuine product, but rather the wear and tear from repeated repositioning and handling. More importantly, the second-in-command's gaze had repeatedly, intentionally or unintentionally, fallen on this corner several times.

In addition, the bodyguard next to the carriage, with his toes slightly turned to the side while protecting the box, stood as if he were pressing down on a corner...

He wasn't protecting the whole vehicle, he was protecting this box.

Ye Xiao placed his palm on the edge of the box and gently lifted it.

The corners of the box are hard, and the center of gravity is fixed. It doesn't wobble or make a sound when you lift it up or drop it, as if it's been stuck from the inside out.

Winter materials are susceptible to damage from impacts and moisture, so they are usually padded with soft materials and left with a little extra material. But this box is the opposite.

Even though he wasn't 100% certain, Ye Xiao was almost certain that the target was inside that box.

He didn't open the package or lift the lid; he simply rolled up the box along with the tarpaulin.

The car swayed slightly the instant the box left the vehicle.

The bodyguards reacted extremely quickly.

He moved sideways, his arm neither too high nor too low, not grabbing people or knives, but first grabbing the corner of the box to exert force, trying to forcefully press the box back to the side of the vehicle.

At the same time, he reached out with his other hand towards Ye Xiao's forearm, as if to grab his tendons and lock his wrist, dragging him back into the open.

This person had been hiding in the shadows by the side of the car, completely inconspicuous. But the moment Ye Xiao made contact, he could tell that this person was no weaker than the second-in-command, clearly a trump card that had been deliberately hidden.

He planned to intercept the box first, then the people, and finally call for backup.

Ye Xiao didn't give him a chance.

He raised his wrist and pressed down, and the power of the Crimson Blood Stake instantly erupted, firmly pressing down the opponent's outstretched arm. Regardless of the moves, he simply suppressed the opponent's strength and power.

The bodyguard felt a sudden weight on the box, his fingers went numb, and he couldn't grip the corners properly. The next moment, his throat tightened, clearly about to shout.

Ye Xiao moved closer, and the force of his Collapsing Mountain Fist exploded instantly, striking straight at the chest.

"Bang!"

The punch was like hitting a muffled drum. The bodyguard was thrown backward against the side of the carriage, his blood rushing to his head. He opened his mouth but could only exhale a breath of stale air, unable to make a sound.

Before he could catch his breath, Ye Xiao punched him directly in the chin with his second punch.

The bodyguard's mind went blank for a moment, his eyes glazed over, and he collapsed to the ground.

This time, his attack was faster and more ruthless, because from the moment Du Wanjun raised his hand, stealth was no longer possible.

The priority now is to act quickly; as long as no one shouts, everything else is considered minor.

He ignored the unconscious bodyguard, rolled up the cloth, and carried the box into the shadow of the low wall with swift and precise movements.

Meanwhile, Shen Sheng had already stopped.

He released the skinny bodyguard's wrist, and casually flicked the man's sleeve as if brushing against a fold of clothing, gently tapping the whistle ring.

The skinny bodyguard felt a numbness in his wrist. He touched his sleeve, only to find it empty. His face paled, but he dared not shout. The situation on the bridge was changing, and his shout would only make things more chaotic.

Yan Quan retreated even faster and successfully escaped to the outside of the bridge.

Du Wanjun had already given the order before the bridge, but forming ranks wasn't a simple action. Some received the order, some relayed it, some returned to their positions, and some filled in for others.

Even though they are not newcomers, it still takes some time.

Du Wanjun's eyes turned cold.

It wasn't panic, it was confirmation: someone was doing something on the bridge, and doing it very meticulously.

He changed his order and shouted:

"Stand in formation! Guard the wagons!"

First, calm people down, then take inventory. The fog on the bridge is heavy, and with the three carts in disarray, no one can say for sure which item is missing. If he leads his men to chase after them, the remaining goods and people may be in danger.

As long as the vehicle and the people are still there, there is still a chance to recover the goods; once the people are gone, the entire shipment is truly over.

In his view, this was the most correct approach.

It was precisely because he chose what he believed to be the most correct option that Ye Xiao and the other two were able to leave more cleanly.

As soon as he got the box, Ye Xiao immediately retreated.

Before leaving the bridge, he was blocked by other bodyguards. Instead of fighting, he unleashed his power and pushed them aside, disappearing into the distance in an instant.

He avoids crowded places, stalls, and gatehouses.

Instead, they retreated into the shadows of the stinkiest, narrowest, and least noticeable ditch beside the bridge.

When Shen Sheng caught up, he had a piece of thick hemp rope in his sleeve, with a knot tied at the end.

He didn't throw the rope near people's feet... that would look too deliberate.

He only took advantage of the moment he swept past the ruts during his retreat to loosen his grip, letting the end of the rope roll into the deepest mud, getting wet and soiled, with half of it sticking out, like a discarded rope end left behind by a porter in a hurry.

No one would examine the rope end closely on the spot.

But when they went back to take inventory and check the traces, the first thing they saw was that tightly sealed knot.

The rope was thick, fierce, and held on tightly; upon investigation, it first led to the Giant Shark Gang.

The traces remain.

But it's not eye-catching.

The three disappeared from the fog one after another, like three drops of water falling into the water.

On the bridge, Du Wanjun stood in the fog, his hand on the hilt of his knife, his face as cold as iron.

He didn't look at anyone; his gaze fell on the corner behind the middle car, and he paused for a moment.

"Go inspect the train immediately!"

He first needed to know whether the most important item in this shipment was still there.

……

In the fog, Ye Xiao carried the box on his back, walking slowly but steadily with every step.

The suitcase pressed against my shoulder blades, not just because it was heavy, but because it was firmly attached to my body. The center of gravity was heavy, and the edges were hard. When I carried it, it didn't wobble or make a sound. It felt like the contents inside were tightly secured, and there wasn't even the slightest vibration.

Ye Xiao didn't turn around, but whispered:

"go back."

Shen Sheng followed half a step behind on the left, his footsteps as light as a shadow in the mist. He was neither too close nor too far away, as if protecting him and watching over him at the same time.

Yan Quan was on the right rear. His breathing was heavier than when he came, but it wasn't from exhaustion; it was a forced effort to suppress his breathing.

The contempt in his eyes as he looked at Ye Xiao's back had long since vanished, replaced only by awe.

The further you go, the lower the fog gets.

The sound of wheels on the other side of the bridge hadn't faded yet, like the last clatter of a gong behind my ear. This matter was over, but the next trouble was just beginning.

The three of them did not walk on the main street.

Ye Xiao carried his suitcase along the wall and circled the alley. Occasionally, drunkards would shout curses through the fog, their voices coming from several layers of walls.

After turning two more alleyways, there was suddenly a section of collapsed wall ahead.

The base of the wall was covered with tattered burlap sacks and wet mud, and a stinking ditch flowed alongside the feet, leaving only enough space for one person to walk. To get through this section, you had to switch shoulders and pause for a moment, otherwise the corner of the box would hit the wall, making a sound, which would be dangerous.

Ye Xiao paused, then raised his hand and made a very light gesture.

Shen Sheng silently took a half-step forward to check if there was a tail at the alley entrance, while Yan Quan leaned back, blocking the alley's view angle, like a door panel nailed in the fog.

It happened during this brief lull.

Ye Xiao placed the box in the shadow of the collapsed wall, the cloth still covering it tightly. He didn't rush to lift the cloth, but checked the seal first.

The seal was intact, but there was a faint scratch on the corner, as if it had been scratched by a wooden nail on the bridge earlier.

enough.

With this scratch, any minor discrepancy later on can be attributed to tonight's chaos, preventing people from immediately suspecting that... the box had been tampered with.

Ye Xiao took out a small piece of pine resin from his pocket and rubbed it between his fingertips until it melted. This stuff wasn't unusual; people who ran errands at night or carried goods through dark alleys always carried it. It could seal seams, prevent moisture, and also cover up fresh scratches.

Without tearing off the seal, he very gently loosened the outer box latch a little bit along the edge of the scratch.

Once the outer box was opened, there was indeed an even smaller inner box inside.

The inner case buckle is even colder, with a thin layer of oil wax covering the edge.

The rules for pawning valuables include preventing moisture, odors, and theft. Once the wax breaks, it leaves cracks, and a quick inspection will reveal whether it has been tampered with.

Ye Xiao held his breath and used his fingertips to carefully pry open the thinnest line of the wax edge, just enough to lift the clasp. The wax cracked into fine lines, but didn't shatter into pieces, like an old mark that had always been there.

The next instant, two boxes were revealed inside the inner case.

The boxes weren't large, with thin iron bands around the corners, and the clasps were wiped extremely clean, as if someone had wiped them with a cloth every day. Even more meticulously, the two boxes were positioned precisely on either side of the chest, one on the left and one on the right... not for aesthetic purposes, but to ensure the entire chest wouldn't wobble or make any noise.

There was an extra box, contrary to the intelligence.