Soon, news of someone breaking into the General's mansion at night spread throughout the entire estate.
The mansion immediately went on high alert, with all the guards and soldiers patrolling diligently and not daring to be careless.
Ling Feng and Aunt Lan pursued Ye Xingnan. Initially, Ling Feng could barely keep up using his Boundless Vision. However, Ye Xingnan eventually used a substitute puppet, so they only caught the puppet while Ye Xingnan's real body had long disappeared.
Members of The Shadow had endless tricks up their sleeves. Even in such a situation, they could escape unscathed.
In the end, Ling Feng and Aunt Lan returned empty-handed. Fortunately, Ye Xingnan didn't have time to steal the demonic shen crystal core, nor did he succeed in any other misdeeds, so the loss was minimal.
However, The Shadow never once gave up until they achieved their goal, so they were likely to return.
Afterward, Ling Feng returned to the Tianyi Pavilion, while Aunt Lan hurried to find General Deng and other senior figures of the general's mansion to report that the intruder was likely a member from The Shadow.
"You said the thief used the Light-Fleeting Shadow Technique?"
From the master's seat, Deng Xian frowned, his expression turning grave.
As the saying goes, it's not the thief you fear, but the thief's thoughts.
Moreover, The Shadow Organization was the biggest den of thieves in the Dongling Region!
"General Deng, I dare not utter a single lie," Aunt Lan said cautiously.
"Hmph, The Shadow Organization!"
In the hall, a middle-aged man with a full beard and clad in armor slammed the table, roaring, "What audacity The Shadow has targeting our general's mansion!"
"Jingzhong, don't be too impulsive!" General Deng squinted his eyes. He then analyzed calmly, "The Shadow Organization always works for money and avoids unnecessary enmities. This is likely the case this time as well."
"Father, you mean...?" Deng Jingzhong's eyes widened, a suspicion forming in his mind.
"Hmph, isn't it obvious!?"
Deng Yunzong's eyes flashed coldly as he said, "It must be those two from the Lieyang Sect causing trouble. Otherwise, why would The Shadow target Little Shi?"
General Deng stroked his long beard and said calmly, "You're right, but we have no evidence. What can we do?"
He paused before continuing, "The Lieyang Sect is the divine guardian sect of the Tianyang Empire, akin to our Cangqiong Sect in the Tianbai Empire. If we rashly act against the Lieyang Sect, they would have an excuse to provoke conflict, leading to a war between our nations!"
"Then let's fight! The Tianbai Empire isn't afraid of the Tianyang Empire!" Deng Jingzhong said while gritting his teeth. "Father, if they dare send The Shadow to steal from our mansion, next time they might send assassins. We should take this chance and kill them!"
"Kill them?" Deng Xian glanced at Deng Jingzhong and shook his head with a sigh. "Jingzhong, you're too reckless. You may be a brave general in battle, but you lack the wisdom to lead the army!
"You can kill Helian Kuang, but Madam Jinyun has imperial blood from the Tianyang Empire. Without solid evidence, how can you justify killing her? Jingzhong, remember, in strategy, you outwit before you outfight."
"Uh..." Deng Jingzhong lowered his head, acknowledging the rebuke. "Yes, Father, you're right!"
"However, they probably didn't expect that even The Shadow would fail because of that Ling Feng boy!" Deng Xian smiled, stroking his beard. "Although the last veil of civility isn't torn yet, we all understand what's going on. Madam Jinyun won't dare linger here any longer."
Deng Xian waved his sleeve and looked at the elders and descendants in the hall. "Come, let's go meet the crafty Madam Jinyun!"
The dozen or so direct descendants of the Deng family responded in unison.
"Oh, Ding Lan, you return to the Orchid Pavilion first. Tell that Ling Feng boy that I'll visit him tomorrow morning to properly thank him for his great service."
"Yes, I will take my leave." Aunt Lan curtsied to the people in the hall before leaving for the Orchid Pavilion.
Immediately, General Deng led his group of direct descendants and marched to the courtyard where Madam Jinyun and Helian Kuang resided, surrounding the entire place tightly.
"It’s me, Old Deng Xian. I was alarmed to hear of a thief in the general's mansion late at night. I wonder if Madam Jinyun and Elder Helian are well? I came to check on you," Deng Xian proudly announced outside the wing room, using his elemental force to make his voice resonate throughout the courtyard.
"Damn it! How could even The Shadow Organization fail!?"
Inside the northern wing, Helian Kuang and Madam Jinyun's faces changed drastically. Since hearing about the thief being caught in the general's mansion, they had been uneasy.
"The Shadow Organization? They're just a bunch of useless drunks!" Madam Jinyun gritted her teeth and frowned. Given General Deng's shrewdness, he had surely figured out the whole situation after discovering that The Shadow's people snuck into the Orchid Pavilion.
Now, with General Deng deploying such a large force, things were looking grim!
"What should we do now?" Helian Kuang was sweating slightly. The situation had escalated to a point where, unlike Madam Jinyun who had the royal blood of the Tianyang Empire and would be difficult for the Deng family to kill, his own fate was uncertain.
"We'll take it one step at a time," Madam Jinyun said while squinting and gritting her teeth. "Let's go and see what General Deng intends to do!"
Taking a deep breath, Madam Jinyun opened the door while wearing a forced smile, and curtsied to General Deng. "Thank you for your concern, General Deng. We are just fine here, no thieves at all."
"Really?" Deng Xian smiled slightly. "However, my men searched the entire mansion and found no thief. This is the only place left. Madam, being that you are of the Tianyang imperial family, it would be extremely grave if something happened to you in our general's mansion."
"Uh..." Madam Jinyun's smile turned stiff while Helian Kuang's eyes twitched nervously. "General Deng, you can't make such accusations!"
"Hahaha..." Deng Xian stroked his long beard while laughing heartily. "Elder Helian, I was just joking."
Turning to Madam Jinyun, Deng Xian said, "How could I suspect you and Elder Helian? Since you say there's no thief, then there is none."
"Hehe..." Madam Jinyun laughed lightly. "General Deng loves to joke."
A hint of amusement flashed in Deng Xian's eyes. "It's just that our general's mansion has had too many thieves lately. I'm worried that it might disturb you one day. I can't bear that responsibility. Madam, you..."
"Since General Deng is so considerate, we will not stay any longer and will leave tomorrow morning. As for the demonic shen crystal core, it seems that we are not destined for it." Madam Jinyun, being so clever, immediately understood that Deng Xian had seen through everything and was using this as an excuse to ask them to leave.
Deng Xian had given her a way out, and she had to follow his lead to save face. Otherwise, if things turned ugly, she might not die, but returning to the Tianyang Empire would be difficult.
"Tomorrow morning? After all this trouble tonight, I'm afraid we won't be able to serve you breakfast properly. That would be too rude!" Deng Xian feigned concern.
Madam Jinyun's face darkened. Being chased out like a rat in the middle of the night was a great humiliation, but she could only swallow her pride and put on a smiling face. "Oh, I just remembered I had some matters to attend to. I'll take my leave now."
"Farewell, farewell! Ah Fu, Ah Wang, escort Madam Jinyun and Elder Helian out promptly," Deng Xian ordered, sending them off without even a courteous word.
Madam Jinyun clenched her fists. Without even time to pack, she was led out of the general's mansion by two of the lowest servants, feeling utterly humiliated.
Seeing Madam Jinyun and her companions leave like rats, the Deng family members present all burst into laughter.
Indeed, old ginger is spicier; General Deng's methods were truly remarkable!