A couple of rope ladders rolled down from the helicopters, allowing everyone in them to descend to the ground .

A man stepped out from the crowd of people who had gathered beneath the helicopters and approached Gao Peng . "What are your orders, young master?"

All of them were wearing black battle armor and visored helmets . Though their heights were uneven, they looked sharp and cool, like unsheathed blades ready for battle .

Gao Peng looked them over .

"There's only twelve of you . Will that be enough?" The Southern Sky Group's security team was a few times bigger than this .

The man who had approached him took off his helmet, revealing the face of a thirty-year-old man with bushy brows, sunken eyes, and dark skin . Though he wasn't overly attractive, the man exuded an air of maturity .

"I think you'll find that we're more than enough to help you resolve whatever issue you might be having with the utmost discretion," said the man . He added, "Twenty years ago, it was Chairman Ji who saved my life . All of us here are indebted to him in some way . Now we help him handle his less . . . scrupulous affairs . "

Gao Peng nodded . "After helping my friends with something, I got into a bit of trouble with someone from a shady organization . I'm just an ordinary university student . This might be a bit out of my capability . . . "

"I understand," said the man named Huang Ya .

Gao Peng then walked towards the taxi . "I managed to subdue him . " He opened the trunk and pulled out the taxi driver .

The driver, who had been lying unconscious inside the taxi's trunk all this time, groggily woke up when his face hit the ground . He felt himself being dragged away .

Huang Ya began interrogating the driver in a corner . Ten minutes later, he walked back to Gao Peng, his face serene . "Young master, I have the information you want . He's a member of a Xiangxi-based criminal group . He was going to take you back to their meeting spot . He didn't count on you catching on to his true nature so soon . There are seven members in his group . Their strongest familiars are a mid-stage Commander-tier Night Terror Ghost and an early-stage Commander-tier Ghost Child . "

Only two Commander-tier monsters? thought Gao Peng .

He had thought that he was being targeted by a huge shadowy organization with hundreds of members under its command . He hadn't expected to be nearly kidnapped by mere thugs .

Then again, large-scale criminal organizations, which usually kept a tighter leash on all their members, wouldn't have been so bold as to commit their crimes out in the open .

Gao Peng looked at Huang Ya and the others and asked, "Do all of you have your familiars with you?"

"Of course we do . You can rest easy, young master . You're only dealing with street thugs," Huang Ya said, nodding .

After receiving Gao Peng's orders, Huang Ya and the others climbed back into their helicopters . Gao Peng said, "Capture those two Commander-tier familiars alive if possible . "

Huang Ya looked back down from the side of his helicopter and flashed Gao Peng the okay symbol .

Then he adjusted his earpiece and spoke into the microphone . "Our target is the Xingmao building in Yuzhou's old city area . "

. . .

A woman and a bald man were lying on a bed in a small room . There was a bookshelf beside the bed and an LCD television on the wall .

The occupants of the bed were a couple from Xiangxi .

The man was called Yuan Peng, and he was beginning to feel anxious . Two hours earlier, Brother Qi had been arrested by the police . It had been an hour since Brother Si had gone out, and Yuan Peng still hadn't heard anything from him .

"Let's go," said Yuan Peng, sitting up and slapping the back of the woman beside him .

The woman was called Ah Li . Stray strands of hair had fallen across her beautiful face . The left side of her face had turned red after lying on her pillow for a bit too long . "Brother Peng, what's wrong?"

Yuan Peng rubbed his bald head restlessly . "Something's wrong . Brother Si sent me a message earlier saying that he had picked up a university student . But there hasn't been a single message from him since then . I couldn't even get through to him on the phone . "

Yuan Peng put on his jacket and said to the woman, "Get dressed, we're leaving . "

"Aren't you going to call Bin Zi and the others?" asked Ah Li .

"Brother Si might have bitten off more than he could chew . Let's. .h.i.t the road now before the cops find us," said Yuan Peng . He had come to Yuzhou with a couple of his friends after a job back in Xiangxi . He had ama.s.sed a small fortune since arriving at Yuzhou and had already been considering ditching his friends . This was the perfect chance to do so .

Yuan Peng opened a drawer and took out a black bag that contained stacks of cash and a.s.sorted jewelry .

After putting on his running shoes, Yuan Peng pulled out a porcelain vase . A white smoke emerged from it and settled into the shape of a two-foot-tall white creature with long, delicate limbs and a pair of red eyes . It somewhat resembled the Green Haunt .

When the creature popped out of its container, it happily clung to Yuan Peng's leg and began rubbing its oversized skull against his pants .

Yuan Peng extracted a piece of bone from his pocket and gave it to the Night Terror Ghost, which nibbled on it contentedly .

Yuan Peng was able to calm himself down considerably at the sight of his familiar, then he opened the wooden door and walked out into the corridor .

Outside, Yuan Peng could see a couple of monsters lazing about in the dark courtyard, including Bin Zi's familiar .

When they reached the first floor, Ah Li beckoned at a wolf-like monster in the courtyard . The monster got to its feet and happily ran towards Ah Li with its tongue hanging out of its mouth .

Just when the two were about to exit the courtyard, a voice called out from behind them .

"Where you going, boss?" asked w.a.n.g Bin, curiously looking at Yuan Peng and his wife .

Yuan Peng froze, then he said, "I'm going out for dinner with Ah Li . "

"Are you thinking of running away?" asked w.a.n.g Bin .

"Run? Where could I possibly run off to? Oh, Brother Bin, you and your imagination," said Yuan Peng, chuckling . "How about this? Why don't you come along with us?"

Bin Zi was the master of the other Commander-tier familiar in their group .

w.a.n.g Bin asked, "If you're just going out for dinner, why are you bringing luggage with you?"

An awkward silence fell over the courtyard at that moment .

Before Yuan Peng could speak, he suddenly began to feel his entire body going numb . Immediately after, he fell to the ground with a thump .

His wife Ah Li also collapsed to the ground beside him .

After realizing what had happened, the Night Terror Ghost let out an unearthly howl and stirred up a terrible wind in the courtyard .

Soon, dark shadows began circling in the air above the courtyard . The trees around them shook violently in the wind .

Suddenly, a horse neighed somewhere, breaking the silence of the night .

A burning red silhouette leapt over the fence into the courtyard . The sounds of knives clanging against one another filled the air, completely drowning out the wail of the ghostly wind .

The ghost-like creature behind w.a.n.g Bin hugged its master's leg as it warily eyed the burning red horse standing in the middle of the courtyard .

. . . . A couple of rope ladders rolled down from the helicopters, allowing everyone in them to descend to the ground . A man stepped out from the crowd of people who had gathered beneath the helicopters and approached Gao Peng . What are your orders, young master? All of them were wearing black battle armor and visored helmets . Though their heights were uneven, they looked sharp and cool, like unsheathed blades ready for battle . Gao Peng looked them over . Theres only twelve of you . Will that be enough? The Southern Sky Groups security team was a few times bigger than this . The man who had approached him took off his helmet, revealing the face of a thirty-year-old man with bushy brows, sunken eyes, and dark skin . Though he wasnt overly attractive, the man exuded an air of maturity . I think youll find that were more than enough to help you resolve whatever issue you might be having with the utmost discretion, said the man . He added, Twenty years ago, it was Chairman Ji who saved my life . All of us here are indebted to him in some way . Now we help him handle his less . scrupulous affairs . Gao Peng nodded . After helping my friends with something, I got into a bit of trouble with someone from a shady organization . Im just an ordinary university student . This might be a bit out of my capability . I understand, said the man named Huang Ya . Gao Peng then walked towards the taxi . I managed to subdue him . He opened the trunk and pulled out the taxi driver . . . The driver, who had been lying unconscious inside the taxis trunk all this time, groggily woke up when his face hit the ground . He felt himself being dragged away . Huang Ya began interrogating the driver in a corner . Ten minutes later, he walked back to Gao Peng, his face serene . Young master, I have the information you want . Hes a member of a Xiangxi-based criminal group . He was going to take you back to their meeting spot . He didnt count on you catching on to his true nature so soon . There are seven members in his group . Their strongest familiars are a mid-stage Commander-tier Night Terror Ghost and an early-stage Commander-tier Ghost Child . Only two Commander-tier monsters? thought Gao Peng . He had thought that he was being targeted by a huge shadowy organization with hundreds of members under its command . He hadnt expected to be nearly kidnapped by mere thugs . Then again, large-scale criminal organizations, which usually kept a tighter leash on all their members, wouldnt have been so bold as to commit their crimes out in the open . Gao Peng looked at Huang Ya and the others and asked, Do all of you have your familiars with you? Of course we do . You can rest easy, young master . Youre only dealing with street thugs, Huang Ya said, nodding . After receiving Gao Pengs orders, Huang Ya and the others climbed back into their helicopters . Gao Peng said, Capture those two Commander-tier familiars alive if possible . . Huang Ya looked back down from the side of his helicopter and flashed Gao Peng the okay symbol . Then he adjusted his earpiece and spoke into the microphone . Our target is the Xingmao building in Yuzhous old city area . . . . A woman and a bald man were lying on a bed in a small room . There was a bookshelf beside the bed and an LCD television on the wall . The occupants of the bed were a couple from Xiangxi . The man was called Yuan Peng, and he was beginning to feel anxious . Two hours earlier, Brother Qi had been arrested by the police . It had been an hour since Brother Si had gone out, and Yuan Peng still hadnt heard anything from him . Lets go, said Yuan Peng, sitting up and slapping the back of the woman beside him . The woman was called Ah Li . Stray strands of hair had fallen across her beautiful face . The left side of her face had turned red after lying on her pillow for a bit too long . Brother Peng, whats wrong? Yuan Peng rubbed his bald head restlessly . Somethings wrong . Brother Si sent me a message earlier saying that he had picked up a university student . But there hasnt been a single message from him since then . I couldnt even get through to him on the phone . Yuan Peng put on his jacket and said to the woman, Get dressed, were leaving . Arent you going to call Bin Zi and the others? asked Ah Li . Brother Si might have bitten off more than he could chew . Lets. .h.i.t the road now before the cops find us, said Yuan Peng . He had come to Yuzhou with a couple of his friends after a job back in Xiangxi . He had ama.s.sed a small fortune since arriving at Yuzhou and had already been considering ditching his friends . This was the perfect chance to do so . Yuan Peng opened a drawer and took out a black bag that contained stacks of cash and a.s.sorted jewelry . After putting on his running shoes, Yuan Peng pulled out a porcelain vase . A white smoke emerged from it and settled into the shape of a two-foot-tall white creature with long, delicate limbs and a pair of red eyes . It somewhat resembled the Green Haunt . When the creature popped out of its container, it happily clung to Yuan Pengs leg and began rubbing its oversized skull against his pants . Yuan Peng extracted a piece of bone from his pocket and gave it to the Night Terror Ghost, which nibbled on it contentedly . Yuan Peng was able to calm himself down considerably at the sight of his familiar, then he opened the wooden door and walked out into the corridor . Outside, Yuan Peng could see a couple of monsters lazing about in the dark courtyard, including Bin Zis familiar . When they reached the first floor, Ah Li beckoned at a wolf-like monster in the courtyard . The monster got to its feet and happily ran towards Ah Li with its tongue hanging out of its mouth . Just when the two were about to exit the courtyard, a voice called out from behind them . Where you going, boss? asked w.a.n.g Bin, curiously looking at Yuan Peng and his wife . Yuan Peng froze, then he said, Im going out for dinner with Ah Li . Are you thinking of running away? asked w.a.n.g Bin . Run? Where could I possibly run off to? Oh, Brother Bin, you and your imagination, said Yuan Peng, chuckling . How about this? Why dont you come along with us? Bin Zi was the master of the other Commander-tier familiar in their group . w.a.n.g Bin asked, If youre just going out for dinner, why are you bringing luggage with you? An awkward silence fell over the courtyard at that moment . Before Yuan Peng could speak, he suddenly began to feel his entire body going numb . Immediately after, he fell to the ground with a thump . His wife Ah Li also collapsed to the ground beside him . After realizing what had happened, the Night Terror Ghost let out an unearthly howl and stirred up a terrible wind in the courtyard . Soon, dark shadows began circling in the air above the courtyard . The trees around them shook violently in the wind . Suddenly, a horse neighed somewhere, breaking the silence of the night . A burning red silhouette leapt over the fence into the courtyard . The sounds of knives clanging against one another filled the air, completely drowning out the wail of the ghostly wind . The ghost-like creature behind w.a.n.g Bin hugged its masters leg as it warily eyed the burning red horse standing in the middle of the courtyard .