Capturing Shopkeeper Tong in the Dead of Night

Late at night, Tongfu Restaurant began to close its doors.

Zhao Yun, the doppelganger observing from the shadows, saw Shopkeeper Tong return to the backyard.

After waiting another hour, the world fell into a deathly silence.

Utilizing his Legendary-level Breath Concealment Art, Zhao Yun slipped into the backyard of Tongfu Restaurant without making a sound.

The backyard of Tongfu Restaurant was quiet. There were three rooms; the two on the sides were likely where the staff lived.

The one in the center was presumably where Shopkeeper Tong resided.

Once inside the backyard, Zhao Yun utilized the Myriad Things Space trait shared by the doppelgangers to manifest Chen Fan right beside him.

Chen Ze's consciousness remained focused on the actions of both doppelgangers at every moment.

Zhao Yun and Chen Fan exchanged a glance, their minds perfectly synchronized as they followed the plan they had prepared long ago.

Doppelganger Chen Fan took the Short Blade given to him by Chen Ze and slowly pried open the center door.

Doppelganger Zhao Yun stood guard to the side.

The two entered the room quietly. Because they were using the Breath Concealment Art, they were completely devoid of presence, failing to alert the person inside.

Once inside, they confirmed the target's location and slowly crept closer.

Both had already prepared their Ignition Art, waiting only to get close enough to subdue Shopkeeper Tong instantly.

As they drew nearer to the bedside, their minds synchronized once more, and they simultaneously hurled two Fireballs at Shopkeeper Tong.

Shopkeeper Tong was caught completely off guard.

"Bang! Bang!"

With two sounds, the Fireballs struck their target.

The light emitted by the flames confirmed beyond a doubt that the target was indeed Shopkeeper Tong.

Suddenly struck by two Fireballs in his sleep, Shopkeeper Tong jolted awake, letting out a scream of agony.

His right hand and abdomen had each taken a direct hit, leaving him half-crippled.

"Who are you people?" Shopkeeper Tong bellowed in pain.

Though half-crippled, Shopkeeper Tong was not yet at the point of surrendering without a fight.

Seeing this, doppelgangers Zhao Yun and Chen Fan activated their Ignition Art again, hurling two more Fireballs directly at him.

Having tasted the power of the Fireballs, Shopkeeper Tong dared not be careless; he unleashed his full cultivation and exhausted every life-saving measure he possessed to defend himself.

The two Fireballs were blocked, but immediately after, several more flew toward him in rapid succession.

Shopkeeper Tong let out a cry of shock, realizing he could no longer hold them off, and turned to flee.

However, the incoming Fireballs still struck him in the back.

Shopkeeper Tong stumbled and collapsed to the ground.

Unable to stand, he roared with a hoarse voice, "Who on earth sent you?"

Receiving no response, doppelganger Zhao Yun rushed forward and knocked Shopkeeper Tong unconscious with a chop to the neck.

The sound of the Fireball explosions and Shopkeeper Tong's pained cries had long since alerted the people living in the rooms next door.

In an instant, the backyard of Tongfu Restaurant was ablaze with light.

"Let's go," doppelganger Chen Fan whispered.

Doppelganger Zhao Yun nodded.

The two brought Shopkeeper Tong into the Myriad Things Space, and when they reappeared, they were already inside Chen Ze's mansion.

This had all been planned from the start; as long as they succeeded, they would bring Shopkeeper Tong into the Myriad Things Space, which cost nothing more than 1 Point.

Meanwhile, the commotion inside Tongfu Restaurant had also alerted the Patrol Team from the City Lord's Mansion.

When the staff of Tongfu Restaurant followed the noise into Shopkeeper Tong's room, they found only scorched marks; Shopkeeper Tong had vanished without a trace.

When the Patrol Team arrived, they found nothing either.

The Patrol Team quickly cordoned off the scene, and someone had already returned to the City Lord's Mansion to report.

For someone to dare take action privately in Wannan City was a violation of the city's rules.

Furthermore, the disappearance of the manager of Tongfu Restaurant was a major incident, naturally requiring the City Lord to investigate in person.

Because the mansion was close to the City Lord's Mansion, Chen Ze could hear the movement of troops and horses outside with perfect clarity.

However, it no longer mattered; no one would ever suspect that Shopkeeper Tong was currently inside Chen Ze's residence.

Chen Ze summoned Zhao Yun and Chen Fan out of the Myriad Things Space, the two of them still hauling the unconscious Shopkeeper Tong.

"Wake him up."

"Understood."

Zhao Yun went outside to fetch a basin of cold water and splashed it onto Shopkeeper Tong's face.

The shock of the cold water instantly jolted the unconscious Shopkeeper Tong awake.

Shopkeeper Tong jolted awake, his consciousness still hazy, yet he immediately recognized the familiar face appearing before him.

"Why is it you?"

Upon seeing that face, Shopkeeper Tong seemed to grasp the reality of the situation in an instant.

"Isn't this what you've always wanted? To capture me? Now that you've been captured by me instead, what else do you have to say?" Chen Fan looked at Shopkeeper Tong with a mocking smirk.

"Are Wu Li and Zhang Tai both dead?"

Chen Fan nodded.

Shopkeeper Tong stared at Chen Fan in terror; he could never have imagined that Chen Fan, a mere Qi Refining Second Layer cultivator, could have killed his two Qi Refining Sixth Layer subordinates.

Shopkeeper Tong longed to resist, but his body was already pinned down by two men.

He glanced at his captors—one had his face obscured, while the other possessed an exceptionally heroic and martial appearance.

Furthermore, despite his own Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivation, he couldn't discern the cultivation levels of these two men at all.

Panic surged in Shopkeeper Tong's heart. Could they both be in the Foundation Establishment Realm? But they didn't look the part; he had seen Foundation Establishment cultivators before, and these two were far too young.

Regardless, whether they were Foundation Establishment or not no longer mattered; he was in no position to resist.

Shopkeeper Tong let out a disdainful laugh. "I never expected you to be able to hire such formidable helpers. However, I still advise you to release me early.

If I go missing, the City Lord's Mansion and the family behind me will surely search for me with everything they have.

You've caused such a massive commotion today; there is no way you will escape Wannan City."

Chen Fan, however, replied with a smile: "Who told you I wanted to run? Wannan City is perfectly safe right now; I'm actually hoping to stay here a while longer."

Shopkeeper Tong looked at Chen Fan, bewildered. "Are you not afraid of the City Lord's Mansion's investigation?"

"What is there to fear? Who would even know that it was I who captured you?"

Shopkeeper Tong had been unconscious when he was taken; he had no idea how he had even arrived at this location.

He had assumed that Chen Fan must have left a trail when bringing him here.

Ignoring Shopkeeper Tong's confusion, Chen Fan continued: "Enough, I won't waste any more breath. You surely know why I've brought you here.

Since you intended to harm others, you should have been prepared to be killed in return.

Tell me, where is your mine, and which family are you collaborating with?

Speak clearly, and I will grant you a quick death."

When Chen Fan finished speaking, Shopkeeper Tong became even more perplexed. How did he know all of this?

But this was no time for confusion. Chen Fan wanted the location of the mine and information on his collaborators—these were his only bargaining chips.

Shopkeeper Tong said, "Impossible. You must promise to release me first, and then I will tell you."

Chen Fan chuckled. "Heh, are you overthinking things? We've reached this point, so how could I possibly let you go? Release you, only for you to come back and seek revenge on me?"

Shopkeeper Tong realized there would be no easy way out today. "No, you cannot kill me. I have many Spirit Stones; I can give them all to you, just spare my life."

"Spirit Stones? How many?"

Shopkeeper Tong stammered, "One thousand."

Chen Fan shook his head. "Heh, do you think I believe that? Forget it, talking to you this much is just a waste of time."

After saying this, Chen Fan looked toward his doppelgangers, Zhao Yun and Chen Fan. "The two of you watch him; I'll be back shortly."

With that, Chen Fan closed his eyes, his consciousness entering the Myriad Things Space.

He had long ago seen a spell in the Myriad Things Shop, but since he hadn't needed it at the time, he hadn't exchanged for it.

Now was the perfect moment to put that spell to use.

Upon entering the Myriad Things Shop, Chen Fan didn't browse the shopping interface but spoke directly to the Green-robed Woman: "Exchange a Soul Searching Technique for me."

"Exchanging for one Soul Searching Technique will consume 30 points. Do you confirm the exchange?" the Green-robed Woman asked indifferently.

"Confirm."

Immediately, a spell manual appeared before Chen Fan, and 30 points were deducted from his total.

Clutching the Soul Searching Technique, Chen Fan did not linger.

He went straight to the Automated Training Room and tossed the Soul Searching Technique directly to the Phantom currently undergoing automated training.

A moment later, a new entry appeared under the spell section of Chen Fan's system interface: Soul Searching Technique (Entry) 1/100.