"The item isn't here? No wonder we couldn't find it, what on earth is going on?"
Hearing Ning Fan say this, Qian Nengde immediately checked the boxes on the vehicle, only to discover they were empty.
The security personnel in charge of the escort said they didn't know anything either.
Ning Fan didn't show any signs of irregularity, and Qian Nengde didn't ask further. He just reported the incident to his superiors.
The military personnel didn't say anything either, so Qian Nengde came to Ning Fan to ask what exactly had happened.
"This was just a trap I set up. In reality, the item has already been secretly handed over to the military. By now, the exchange should be complete,"
said Ning Fan with a slight smile.
In fact, the box he had taken contained no genetic potion. While at the villa, he had planned everything with Xu Ruolan.
Apart from Xu Ruolan and the military officer she contacted later, nobody knew that the genetic potion wasn't actually in the vehicle. Instead, it was handed over secretly to the military by Xu Ruolan later on.
"I made a big show of delivering the item here just to draw out these rats. Now, it seems the effect has been quite satisfactory."
The trap Ning Fan set was to attract others to attempt a heist. In fact, the genetic potion had already been secretly handed over to the military by Xu Ruolan.
After receiving the explanation, Qian Nengde breathed a sigh of relief, then chatted with Ning Fan for a few more moments before arranging for someone to take Ning Fan back to Zhonghai City.
Two hours later, the Dragon Gate Martial Arts School in Su City received a message.
"What? The plan failed?!"
Long Tianze's eyes widened in disbelief.
According to the information he received, not only had the Fang Guild's plan to steal the genetic potion failed, but none of the five people who went on the mission had returned.
Among them, the most crucial piece of intelligence was that Ning Fan had been seen among those escorting the genetic potion.
Realizing that this affair was definitely related to Ning Fan, Long Tianze flew into a complete rage.
With a crash, Long Tianze flung a blue and white porcelain vase to the ground next to him.
"Ninth Master, you indeed have some tricks up your sleeve, but this time you've crossed the Fang Guild. I'd like to see how long you can keep smiling - next time, I'll make sure you have no grave to be buried in!"
Long Tianze snarled through clenched teeth.
Although furious inside, Long Tianze hadn't completely lost his senses. The plan had failed this time, but Ning Fan had now thoroughly antagonized the Fang Guild.
Perhaps in Zhonghai, Ninth Master is a formidable figure, but on the international stage, who knows what a Ninth Master is.
The Fang Guild holds a formidable reputation internationally. As one of the largest military organizations in North Africa, the Fang Guild is not something just anyone can provoke.
In Long Tianze's opinion, Ning Fan's provocation of the Fang Guild meant there would be no good end for him; he was sure to die with no place for burial.
"Ninth Master, enjoy the time you have left, because soon you won't have many opportunities to laugh anymore!"
After muttering to himself, Long Tianze watched the direction of Zhonghai City with a gloomy face, then headed toward the secret chamber.
In Zhonghai City, the night had already fallen when Ning Fan returned to his home, where Xu Ruolan had been waiting for a long time.
As soon as Ning Fan arrived in the living room, Xu Ruolan stood up and said to him, "The item has already reached the hands of the military. The plan you set up this time was perfect!"
This time, Ning Fan's setup was perfect; there were no slip-ups. As soon as Ning Fan's convoy was ambushed, Xu Ruolan contacted the military and divulged Ning Fan's plans.
Afterward, the military personally dispatched someone to Xu Ruolan to take charge of the Genetic Potion.
Now that the Genetic Potion had reached the hands of the army, their mission was also successfully accomplished. And if anyone were to be named the biggest contributor, it was certainly Ning Fan.
"I really owe you one this time!"
Xu Ruolan looked at Ning Fan and inexplicably heaved a sigh of relief. She had already heard about the ambush along the way; fortunately, nothing untoward happened to Ning Fan. She had been continuously worried about him while she waited at home.
Ning Fan shrugged his shoulders and looked at Xu Ruolan's beautiful face with a mischievous smile. "If you want to thank me, why not give me a kiss?"
Ning Fan was just speaking off the cuff, a habit of being flirtatious.
But, to everyone's surprise, Xu Ruolan's face turned red at that moment, and she became suddenly coy, her eyes also filled with bashfulness.
However, Ning Fan did not notice Xu Ruolan's unusual behavior; instead, he was looking elsewhere. There was only Xu Ruolan in the living room; Xu Xiaoqing was nowhere to be seen.
Originally, Ning Fan had wanted to ask where that little girl Xu Xiaoqing had run off to, but just as he turned to Xu Ruolan, a fragrant scent suddenly filled his nostrils.
Unbeknownst to him, Xu Ruolan had already approached Ning Fan. Her lips, as delicate as rose petals, trembled slightly, and her sparkling eyes shone. A hint of coolness brushed across Ning Fan's face.
Ning Fan was completely dumbfounded. He had only said it casually, but had Xu Ruolan actually kissed him?
By the time he realized it, Xu Ruolan had already turned around, too shy to face Ning Fan.
Still feeling the sensation on his face, Ning Fan was nevertheless without a true sense of reality because it had all happened so unexpectedly, without any preparation on his part.
Looking at Xu Ruolan's graceful retreating figure, Ning Fan took a deep breath and then shouted, "Wife, you took advantage of me; now I have to kiss you back!"
As he spoke, Ning Fan puckered up to chase after her, but Xu Ruolan was so frightened that she ran straight back upstairs.
Just as Ning Fan was about to follow her, his pocket suddenly vibrated; his phone was ringing.
The caller was Old Eagle from Dragon Eagle Hall.
Ning Fan instinctively frowned. He chose not to chase after Xu Ruolan, but instead confirmed she had entered her room before answering the call.
"Mr. Ning, are you busy right now?"
Old Eagle took a deep breath, his tone exceedingly polite and filled with profound respect.
"It's rare for you to call me; just get to the point," Ning Fan replied indifferently.
Old Eagle on the other side of the phone inwardly smiled bitterly at the response, then quickly stated the reason for the call: "Fan Zhongliang from the East District's Nine Arenas has asked me to invite you over!"
"Fan Zhongliang, he's inviting me?"
Hearing the name Fan Zhongliang, Ning Fan was initially surprised, then followed it with a cold laugh.
"He heard that you've returned and wants to throw a welcome party in your honor."
The cold laughter in Ning Fan's heart grew louder. He had been back for quite some time, and only now Fan Zhongliang was extending an invitation, purportedly to welcome him. It seemed a bit too late.
Upon his return, only Old Eagle and Kuang Tiexing from the Mad Sect had received him, and Fan Zhongliang was also one of the Four Good Generals under his command in the past.