The remaining guard immediately gave chase. Seeing his partner taken down in an instant, he pulled out his walkie-talkie while running, shouting, “Alert! Alert! An intruder has breached the inner courtyard, requesting backup, requesting backup!”
Once the distress call went out, more than a dozen men rushed to the scene.
Hell Ear, with calculated precision, struck again, taking down five of them in a flash before slipping away once more.
Having displayed such formidable skill, Hell Ear was now seen as a highly dangerous opponent by the survivors, who had no choice but to call for more help.
This time, the deputy captain of the Gong family’s guard team personally led the response, mobilizing nearly fifty men—almost half the estate’s security force—determined to capture Hell Ear.
This was exactly the chaos Hell Ear had intended to create.
Throughout the commotion, Xu Fei remained hidden in the tree, closely observing. Seeing that nearly half the inner courtyard’s guards had been drawn away, he seized the moment to act.
Scaling one wall after another and silently dealing with the occasional guard along the way, Xu Fei finally reached a grand, imposing building standing before him.
Such towering structures dotted the Gong family’s estate like stars in the sky.
Just from the lavish and intricate exterior, Xu Fei could easily deduce that someone of significant importance within the Gong family resided here.
Sure enough, as Xu Fei approached, he saw a middle-aged man hurriedly step outside, berating a servant, “You useless slave, I told you yesterday to order abalone! Why isn’t it in the kitchen?”
The servant racked his brain for a moment before realizing, to his horror, that he’d forgotten. “I’m so sorry, steward, I… I forgot!”
“What? You forgot something this important? If Master Gong doesn’t get his abalone on time, we’re all done for!”
The steward gave the servant a harsh scolding before storming off, likely to sort out the issue.
“Master Gong, that name sounds awfully familiar,” Xu Fei muttered, stroking his chin. Glancing at his clothes, an idea struck him.
He grabbed some nearby kraft paper and rope, fashioning a makeshift package, and then strolled boldly toward the building.
The guard at the entrance was diligent, immediately blocking Xu Fei’s path, “Who gave you the nerve to sneak into the inner courtyard? Get out, now!”
The guard didn’t recognize Xu Fei but noticed his clothes, the standard uniform of the Gong family’s enforcers.
Xu Fei flashed an awkward smile, pointing to the package, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to barge in. The steward urgently sent me to fetch abalone, and I’m just rushing to deliver it!”
The guard bought the excuse, “Fine, go in, drop the stuff in the kitchen, and get out, got it?”
Xu Fei nodded repeatedly and swaggered inside.
Inside a garden within the mansion, Master Gong reclined leisurely on a chair, sipping tea. “Ma San Laizi, it’s been ages. Why haven’t you made any progress?” he asked.
Ma San Laizi, his face etched with frustration, stared at an ancient, ornate treasure chest in front of him, sweat pouring down his forehead.
