Supplies

The Sun Residence, study.

"Father is wise! These city foxes and scoundrels are indeed quite capable; they actually managed to find the hiding place of Gu Shan and the others!"

Sun Hu handed the slip of paper to Sun Ren, saying, "The address this person provided is exactly the same as the one we have."

Sun Ren took the document, glanced at it, and said, "This Xu Fang does have some skills, much better than Xu Ning. If she survives, we can offer her some support."

"Yes!" Sun Hu nodded, then asked, "I've already instructed him to report to the Embroidered Robe Bureau tomorrow. Should we inform Gu Shan and the others tonight?"

"Why bother informing him!" Sun Ren said in a deep voice, "Although the Embroidered Robe Bureau has taken our money, we still don't know their true attitude. This is a good opportunity to see Xiao Sheng and Xiao Ming's attitude. If they really want to arrest Gu Shan, then they are just playing along with us, deliberately taking money to lull us into a false sense of security. If they release Gu Shan, then we can continue to trade with the Hui Kingdom with peace of mind."

Sun Hu said worriedly, "If Gu Shan is really captured, won't this deal have to be canceled?"

Sun Ren laughed and said, "It's alright. Even if Gu Shan is really captured, Gu Yue will send other disciples. As I said, Gu Yue wants to make the deal even more than we do. Without our material support, how will Gu Yue maintain the royal family of the Hui Kingdom, and how will he withstand the Demon Beast?"

"Father is absolutely right!" Sun Hu replied.

Sun Ren looked over at this moment, "However, your concerns are not unreasonable. If Gu Shan is really captured, it will cause some trouble. Here's what you need to do: immediately notify the Winter Group to be ready at any time. If Xiao Sheng and the others really do capture someone, we will come to Gu Shan's aid. If we can't come to his aid, we can't let him fall into Xiao Sheng's hands alive."

"Yes!" Sun Hu replied, "I will give the order immediately."

*****

"Ooh ooh ooh..."

As the rooster's loud crowing came from outside the window, Fang Yu opened his eyes, sat up in bed, and patted Exquisite Jade's smooth back beside him.

"My beauty, hurry up and help me change my clothes!"

A moment later, Fang Yu got up and washed with Exquisite Jade's help. She then had breakfast brought into her room. After eating, Fang Yu went outside.

As soon as he stepped out of the room, he saw Sun Dongrong standing not far away, looking in his direction. Sun Dongrong looked like he hadn't slept all night and looked rather haggard, probably having spent the whole night in bed.

Fang Yu casually cupped his hands in greeting, then put his arm around Exquisite Jade's waist and went straight downstairs.

"Take care, Master Fang!"

Once outside the building, Fang Yu released Exquisite Jade's waist, kissed her on the cheek, and then left, walking briskly towards the Embroidered Robe Bureau's stronghold.

The Embroidered Robe Workshop's headquarters was located in the Hualiú Alley. He walked for a short while and arrived at courtyard number seventeen, where he knocked on the door.

"Squeak!"

The courtyard gate opened a crack, and a person looked at Fang Yu without saying a word.

Fang Yu immediately showed his token and said, "I have important business to discuss with Xiao Qi."

Upon hearing this, the disciple didn't say a word, but opened a crack in the door to let Fang Yu in.

Soon, Fang Yu met Xiao Qi, who was eating breakfast. Xiao Qi glanced at Fang Yu and asked, "You're here so early, did you find something?"

"Exactly!"

Fang Yu spoke, he took out a small notebook, turned to the page with Gu Shan's address, and handed it over, saying, "Sir, please take a look. I have found traces of one of the people in the portrait here. That person lives here."

As he spoke, he took out three more portraits from his pocket, then unfolded one of them, saying, "This is the person."

Xiao Qi took the notebook, glanced at the portrait again, and then asked, "Are you sure this is the person?"

"Confirmed!" Fang Yu nodded. "It is indeed this person!"

Xiao Qi immediately asked, "When was it discovered?"

Fang Yu said, "The information was gathered by my brothers yesterday morning, and I only confirmed its accuracy last night."

"Hmph!" Xiao Qi suddenly snorted coldly, "Why didn't you report such important news last night!"

"This..." A hint of panic and struggle flashed in Fang Yu's eyes, but after meeting Xiao Qi's sharp gaze, he cupped his hands and said:

"My lord, please forgive me. I intended to report this last night, but I encountered Sun Dongrong of the Sun Household, who forcibly took me to the Golden Branch Pavilion, where I met Sun Hu."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qi's eyes flashed even more sharply. "Sun Hu! What does he want with you?"

"This... this..." Fang Yu hesitated for a moment, then told the whole story.

"Sun Hu told his Sun Household to submit to the Sun family and obey their every Sun Household from now on... I dare not offend the Sun Household, nor dare I deceive Qi Ye. So, as soon as I came out of the Golden Branch Pavilion, I reported to Qi Ye."

Xiao Qi looked at the trembling Xu Fang before him, his mind wavering with conflicting thoughts.

'I didn't expect Xu Fang to be so capable. She found Gu Shan's residence in just a few days. It's a great achievement for me. However, a night has passed, and I don't know if the Sun Household has notified Gu Shan and the others. If they have, then this place must have already vanished without a trace. I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the two gentlemen.'

Thinking this, he looked at Xu Fang again. 'This man is quite straightforward; he's told everything. The Sun Household asked him to come out so they could deliver a message. So, the Sun Household probably didn't inform Gu Shan. Otherwise, why go through all that trouble? They could have just killed him to silence him.'

"Yes, we need to inform the two gentlemen of this matter as soon as possible and ask them to come and make a decision!"

He stood up and looked at Fang Yu, "You stay here. You're not allowed to go anywhere until I get back!"

"Yes!" Fang Yu replied immediately.

Xiao Qi then walked towards the door, whispered a few instructions to someone, and then went out.

Fang Yu guessed that the other party must have gone to inform a higher-ups, probably the Purple Robe Master Xiao Sheng whom he had encountered before.

*****

Xiao Qi hurried out and soon arrived at the back gate of a courtyard. After knocking on the door, he entered the courtyard and arrived at a training ground.

At this moment, Xiao Ming was slowly practicing stance training in the training ground, while Xiao Sheng was sitting in a shed next to the training ground drinking tea.

Xiao Qi entered the shed, bowed, and said, "My lord, my men have reported that they have found Gu Shan's address, but..."

After listening to Xiao Sheng Xiao Qi recount the events, Xiao Sheng stroked the teacup in his hand and said, "You mean Xu Fang was captured by Sun Hu and imprisoned in the Golden Branch Pavilion overnight, then released and sent to inform you?"

Xiao Qi nodded and said, "Exactly. I believe this might be the Sun Household testing us!"

Xiao Sheng thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Now that we have discovered Gu Shan's whereabouts, we must naturally capture him and bring him to justice. Gather your men immediately, and in one hour, come with me to apprehend the culprit."

"Yes!" Xiao Qi responded, then asked, "What should we do with Xu Fang?"

Xiao Sheng pondered for a moment and said, "Let him go back and continue searching!"