The room was filled with the fragrance of herbs, and Ji Hong stood there, as straight as a spear.

  "Alas..." Ji Hong let out a deep sigh, gazing at the crippled and decadent Bai Ze. "Bai Ze, you're foolish! With your innate talent and your background, our sect would have definitely nurtured you heavily. I'm old now, and I won't be able to hold this leadership position for many more years. In a few years' time, the next leader will definitely be chosen from among my three deputies. Among them, your strength is not much different from the other two, and you're also the youngest. Our sect needs to nurture those with potential. With your abilities and your status as a core disciple, it's not impossible for you to take on the leadership position! But now...

  Bai Ze listened to Ji Hong's comforting and sighing words, and for a moment, sorrow filled his heart.

  The originally beautiful future has now become pitch black.

  "Master!" Bai Ze's eyes welled up with tears, and he wailed in anguish, "I won't accept it, I really won't! Master, you must avenge your disciple!"

  "Cry, cry again!" Ji Hong shouted.

  Bai Ze's master was indeed a disciple of Ji Hong, so naturally Ji Hong cared more about this grandson.

  Shirosaki endured without tears, but his heart was filled with sorrow.

  "What's the use of crying again? Who are you blaming?" Ji Hong hated that he wasn't being strong-willed, "If you didn't have the idea of monopolizing that purple gold, how..."

  "Master, I...I want to reclaim the Purple Gold for our sect." said Shirasaki Rendou.

  "Still so stubborn!" Ji Hong's face turned cold, "If it was for the sake of the sect, why did you have to follow that laborer all the way? You could have just had him searched on the mountain, during the chaos when Hu Tong was searching for people. Wouldn't that have been enough? Why did you need to tail him all the way down the mountain and then make your move? With one order from you, 500 Black Armor Troops! Let alone three or four top-notch warriors, even a hundred top-notch warriors would be forced to retreat when faced with the charge of 500 Black Armor Troops!"

  Bai Ze's mouth moved slightly, but he didn't make a sound.

  A discerning person can see at a glance that it's just Baigui who has been left behind and wants to save some face for himself.

  Ji Hong saw the miserable state of Bai Ze and didn't say anything more.

  "You, Bai Ze, are also a good fellow of the Black Armor Army. Isn't it just that you lost one leg and one arm?" Ji Hong scolded, "Even if I were to return to the Yuan Zong sect's history, 'Liu Tian Xue' ancestor master had both arms completely disabled. But relying on his two legs, he even created the 'Spirit Snake Leg Method', listed in the 'Tian Bang', and shook the world!"

  Bai Ze clenched his teeth, wanting to say something, but didn't.

  That Liu Tian's ancestor was a good-for-nothing, at least he had two legs, but Bai Ze only has one leg.

  "Hmph, don't give me that deadpan look!" Ji Hong's gaze was sharp. "Even if it were the current generation, I'll ask you, who is currently ranked third on the Earth Ranking?"

  A white flag waved once.

  "Tan, Tan Kan!" thought Baizaki, recalling that person's deeds.

  "This Tang Han, back then was also extremely talented, famous throughout the world, and listed as one of the top young heroes in the 'Hidden Dragon List'. At the age of 21, he had both his feet and hands crippled by an enemy! This Tang Han, had all his tendons severed, could only sit on a chair, and it can be said that he didn't even have the strength to tie up a chicken! But he, buried himself in the study of hidden weapons classics for 30 years! One day he reappeared, relying on his unparalleled hidden weapons, once single-handedly killed over a hundred top martial artists!" Ji Hong said coldly, "Among the post-heavenly experts, who dares to say they can defeat Tang Han? His hidden weapons are mysterious and unpredictable. That 'Fairy Scattering Flowers', even pre-heavenly experts have a hint of fear in their hearts! If it wasn't for his crippled hands and feet, restricting his movement. He could possibly be ranked first on the 'Earth List'!"

  This is a master of the highest level, with countless numbers across the nine states.

  There are 72 places on the "Earth List", generally close in ranking, and their strength is hard to distinguish. Everything depends on the reaction of the actual combat.

  Shirosaki lowered his head.

  Indeed, Tang Han's situation was much worse. At least he still had one leg and one arm that could exert force.

  "This Tang Han, I also admire him greatly." Ji Hong sighed, "In those years when he was disabled, what was the first thing he did?"

  "Ah...!" Bai Ze was taken aback for a moment before saying, "Get married!"

  "Yes, he was crippled in the hands and feet, but the first thing he did was to get married. He had nine wives, eight sons and six daughters!" Ji Hong said in a low voice, "In those years, Tang Han was studying the art of hidden weapons while teaching his children! His eight sons, which one is not a master of hidden weapons? Mention 'Tangmen Eight Heroes', who doesn't give a thumbs up? In this world, who dares to provoke the Tang family? This Tang Han, he taught his children with all his heart, thinking that even if he himself didn't succeed, he could rely on his children to hold up half the sky! In this world, who mentions Tang Han without feeling respect? And you, a cripple, have become so decadent!"

  Bai Ze thought of Tang Han, and his heart was also burning with passion.

  A multitude of thoughts surged forth at once.

  Just for a moment, he felt discouraged and thought to himself: "The art of hidden weapons is vast and endless. Even Mr. Tang, with his exceptional talent, spent thirty years on it. Me, me... can I do it?"

  Ji Hong glanced at Bai Ze, shaking his head secretly. This disciple of his had been smooth sailing from childhood to adulthood, without any major setbacks. In the nine states where killings and massacres occurred every day, countless people were disabled, but those who could still make a name for themselves despite their disabilities were extremely rare. Those who succeeded were all people with unyielding determination.

  "Not even done yet, and already no confidence in oneself, how can it be accomplished?" Ji Hong sighed to himself.

  "Master, you said I..." Bai Ze just opened his mouth, and Ji Hong scolded: "You think that with a disabled body, you can achieve great things? Just work hard and don't give up. As for the rest, you think about it yourself, no one can help you!" After finishing speaking, Ji Hong strode towards the outside of the house, leaving only Bai Ze sitting on the bed in a daze.

  ******

  Teng Qing Shan and five others gathered outside Bai Ze's house, although it was late at night, the surrounding area was brightly lit by torches.

  "Ouch!"

  The door opened and Ji Hong walked out with a cold face.

  "Follow me." Ji Hong glanced at the five of them, then walked forward. Teng Qing Shan and the others exchanged a look, then silently followed behind Ji Hong.

  After walking for dozens of yards, they arrived at a place where the firelight was dim. Ji Hong stopped.

  "Heng Qing Shan!" Ji Hong shouted.

  "Your Excellency." Teng Qing Shan slightly bowed his head.

  Ji Hong suddenly turned around and looked at him: "I ask you, the purple gold was stolen for a whole day, have you found out how it was stolen?"

  "Not yet." Teng Qing Shan replied briefly and didn't make any excuses for himself.

  Ji Hong looked at Teng Qing Shan, nodding to himself in his heart. He hated those who shirked responsibility when faced with problems. Unconsciously, Ji Hong compared Teng Qing Shan with his disciple 'Bai Ze' in his mind and couldn't help but shake his head secretly. Then he coldly said: "The Zi Jin mine area is of great importance! I am the master of the Gui Yuan Sect, and the sect masters and elders all attach great importance to this matter. You have failed in your duty as a guard, and for now, I won't punish you. I order you to find out the reason why the Zi Jin was stolen within ten days! The other four hundred officials will assist Teng Qing Shan!"

  "Yes!" Teng Qing Shan cupped his hands together in respect.

  "Yes!" The other four centurions also bowed their heads.

  "If it's found, then that's the end of it. If it can't be found within ten days..." Ji Hong's face sank.

  "Don't worry, Your Excellency. Within ten days, I will definitely find out the reason why the Purple Gold was stolen." Teng Qing Shan said firmly and confidently.

  The stolen goods must have been taken out by one of a few methods, either with the help of an insider or through a secret passage underground. One thing is certain: someone has been collecting purple gold in the depths of the mine. Therefore, when the Black Armor Army interrogated the laborers earlier, some of them were definitely lying. Ordinary soldiers wouldn't know how to detect lies, but Teng Qing Shan, with his past experience as an assassin, could easily uncover the truth through interrogation.

  With Qing Shan's methods, dealing with these ordinary laborers, from their eyes and expressions, it wouldn't take more than a few days to figure out.

  "Good!" Ji Hong sneered, "I hope you're not just spouting nonsense!"

  "Is that all?" Ji Hong glanced at the five men, "What about Hu Tong, the captain of the Hua Feng City Guard? He's a traitor! Have you caught him?"

  "Your Excellency, Hu Tong left quietly this morning after something happened." Tian Dan said.

  "Your Excellency, what shall we do with this young rascal?" asked Wan Fansheng.

  Ji Hong said coldly, "In the matter of guarding the mine area, our sect has always had strict rules! This Hu Tong is a traitor who colluded with external enemies. Even if he was the captain of the City Guard, it would be useless. Pass down the order to search for Hu Tong within the borders of Jiangning Prefecture! Whoever can capture Hu Tong or kill him on the spot will be rewarded with 1,000 taels of silver and a copy of our sect's secret manual!"

  Kill Hu Tong?

  Teng Qing Shan sighed inwardly. Hu Tong was originally the captain of the City Guard, but because of this matter, he didn't even have a chance to defend himself and was directly executed!

  After all...

  Zijin Mine is extremely important to the Guiyuan Sect. Moreover, this time also left a Dūtòng disabled, how could the Guiyuan Sect show mercy? If there's a miskill, they won't let it go either. That's the rule!

  ……

  The next day, Teng Qing Shan ordered the Black Armor Army soldiers to carefully search the Zi Jin Mine area. The other four hundred officials also assisted Teng Qing Shan and let their soldiers help him.

  For a time, the whole mining area was in an uproar!

  For three whole days, the entire Zijin Mine area was searched thoroughly, but no secret passage was found, and it was also difficult to find the traitor. Teng Qingshan immediately began questioning the miners who mined the purple gold. Being able to accumulate ten kilograms of purple gold is definitely not something that one person can mine alone. Therefore, Teng Qingshan's first step was -

  It was found out that some people would help collect the hard-earned purple gold and hand it over to the Black Armor Army soldiers.

  After investigation, there were fifteen people who were recognized as leaders in the hard labor, they would often concentrate on purple gold and then uniformly pay.

  Among these fifteen people, Teng Qing Shan spent only half a day to confirm that three of them were suspicious!

  Then...

  It's simple!

  The Hei Jia Jun soldiers were allowed to use torture and intimidation tactics, such as threatening with instruments of punishment. As soon as the Hei Jia Jun formed their battle array, one person was scared into confessing. The interrogation had only just begun for half a watch when the other two also confessed everything out of fear.

  After all, these three people are just ordinary civilians and have not received special training, how can they withstand professional interrogation.

  It turns out that there is more than one way to steal the purple gold away.

  The method by which the ten jin of purple gold was stolen has also been investigated. Indeed, there is a secret passage, but it's very small and usually blocked with rocks and other things, and that place is deep and inconspicuous. Moreover, the mine tunnel is deep and has many branches, which is why the Black Armor Army soldiers spent three days searching without finding the secret location...

  （）