Gu Qin didn't pay attention to Mo Yuanmin's little thoughts. Lin Xinxin was her first friend in this world, and no matter what happened to her, she would do everything in her power to help her. She had once divined for Lin Xinxin and found out about a small misfortune that wasn't life-threatening, which is why she hadn't paid too much attention to it.

Even if she didn't intervene, Lin Xinxin should still be able to return alive, but she would definitely suffer quite a bit. Since she didn't want her friend to go through this, she naturally decided to step in.

She called Qin Xiansheng and briefly explained the situation. Both of them had business to attend to in the country of Nis, so they could travel together.

Qin Xiansheng said, "I'll arrange the tickets. We'll depart tomorrow morning. We need to find your friend as soon as possible."

After hanging up, Gu Qin messaged Mo Yuanmin to inform him that they would set off the next day.

Mo Yuanmin offered to book the tickets, but Gu Qin declined, saying she needed to rest early to have energy for the trip. Mo Yuanmin couldn't insist any further.

Tomorrow was Saturday, so there was no school. Worried about not having enough time, Gu Qin also informed her homeroom teacher and took a week off. This matter couldn't be kept from her family either. Cheng Yinxiang was heavily pregnant, and Gu Qin didn't want to worry her. So, she told her mother that she would be traveling to Nis with Qin Xiansheng to handle some matters.

Cheng Yinxiang was uneasy. "What kind of matters? Why go to that country? I..." She disliked Nis because she didn't like the idea of going to a country that had once invaded her own nation. In her mind, going to Nis was not a good thing.

"Mom, don't worry," Gu Qin sat beside her. "It's Qin Brother's business. Lin Xinxin happens to be there on some business as well, so I'm going along to see her. It's just like a trip."

Cheng Yinxiang knew it was important business and didn't try to stop her. "Alright, if anything happens, give us a call anytime."

The next morning, Qin Xiansheng came to pick up Gu Qin, and they went to the airport. They were surprised to find another person in the car—Wasai Yan.

Gu Qin turned to look at him. "Why are you here too?"

Wasai Yan smiled broadly. "I have nothing to do, so I thought I'd follow my senior brother to Nis. He needs to deal with company matters, and I might be able to help you with something."

Since he had already come along, Gu Qin couldn't refuse. The three of them went to the airport and boarded the plane.

By the time they arrived at the Nis airport, it had been more than three hours. They ate something after getting off the plane. Qin Xiansheng went to handle his company's affairs, while Gu Qin went to the building where the cultural relics auction took place. Qin Xiansheng told her before leaving, "If you can't solve it, don't force it. Give me a call. Once I finish my business here, I'll rush over. My junior brother will accompany you."

"Alright, Qin Brother, take care too."

They split up, with Qin Xiansheng heading to the company and Gu Qin going to the building where the cultural relics were auctioned. She actually didn't expect Lin Xinxin and the others to be there; she just wanted to check for clues.

This building was huge, with the top floor being the auction hall, while other floors were rented for offices or various entertainment and leisure hotels. As soon as Gu Qin arrived, she opened her third eye, and the entire building appeared transparent to her.

With this view, she indeed discovered something suspicious. There was a secret passage beneath the building leading two kilometers away to another building named Mingguang. If they could dig such a tunnel, it meant these people weren't ordinary, and likely had some connection with the owner of the building.

Checking the two buildings should reveal some conclusions.

When she came, Mo Yuanmin had given her a pass and a phone number, telling her to contact him if she needed help. Gu Qin dialed the number, and a female voice answered, "Miss Gu, hello."

The person clearly knew Gu Qin's identity, indicating she had been briefed beforehand.

Gu Qin didn't waste time and got straight to the point. "Can you check who the owners of the building where my friends disappeared and the other building two kilometers away, named Mingguang, are? Or who was responsible for the project during its construction?"

"Sure, Miss Gu, please wait a moment."

Throughout the journey, Wasai Yan didn't say much. Now seeing Gu Qin asking about the other building, even though he was curious, he didn't ask further.

They rested for a while on the first floor, and twenty minutes later, the woman sent over the information. The message was quite detailed, showing both buildings were related to a company named Xiwu Shangshi. Further details revealed that Xiwu Shangshi was a large family business spanning globally, and very famous in Nis.

Xiwu Shangshi, Gu Qin chuckled. What a coincidence. This wasn't the same company that used underhanded methods to get Qin Xiansheng's company to sign a contract. Rumor had it that they had yinshi (yin practitioners). No wonder they could kidnap people without a trace. This matter must be related to the yinshi of the Xiwu family.

"We should head to the Xiwu family."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The Xiwu family didn't reside in the city but on the outskirts, in a villa on the mountainside. The mountain was mostly developed, with a large area of villas occupied by the Xiwu family. This family was quite influential in Nis.

The current chairman of Xiwu Shangshi was the patriarch of the Xiwu family, Xiwu Zhengyi, who had been the leader of the Xiwu family and chairman of Xiwu Shangshi for over twenty years. He was considered quite capable. He was not a yinshi himself.

Yinshi were not common in Nis, and becoming one was extremely difficult.

Currently, she didn't know how many yinshi the Xiwu family had, only that she would find out when they arrived.

On the way, Gu Qin called Qin Xiansheng to inform him that they would also head to the Xiwu family.

An hour later, the car stopped at the foot of the mountain, where they saw a large cluster of villas and a black sedan nearby.

Qin Xiansheng had yet to enter to find someone and was waiting outside after receiving Gu Qin's call. Seeing them arrive, he stepped out of the car.

Gu Qin and Wasai Yan walked over, and Qin Xiansheng asked, "Is the information accurate?"

Gu Qin nodded. "It shouldn't be wrong. This matter is related to the Xiwu family. Qin Brother, let's go in."

Qin Xiansheng approached and rang the doorbell. Soon, a butler came out to inquire, and Qin Xiansheng informed him of their identities and purpose. The butler went inside to report to the family head.

Ten minutes later, the butler led the three into the villa and introduced them to the vice-chairman of Xiwu Shangshi. Currently, the vice-chairman was Xiwu Zhengyi's eldest son, Xiwu Tengan, who greeted them warmly and invited them in, speaking in Nis language that Gu Qin couldn't understand.

Qin Xiansheng spoke in Nis language, and Wasai Yan translated for Gu Qin.

Qin Xiansheng stated his identity and explained his purpose, expressing that he hoped the contract forced upon his company by the Xiwu family could be nullified, as he had no intention of doing business with them.

Xiwu Tengan looked displeased but didn't immediately lose his temper. He claimed the contract was valid and denied using any illegal methods.

Qin Xiansheng said, "Mr. Tengan, you should know very well what I mean. I hope the contract becomes invalid. Otherwise, I will use necessary means to terminate it."

Xiwu Tengan sneered. "Let's see what you can do to make me terminate the contract."

Gu Qin observed the surroundings. Besides the four of them, there were three other people in the room: a young man in his twenties who looked somewhat similar to Xiwu Tengan, probably his son.

The other two were a man and a woman. The man was around the same age as Tengan, in his forties, and the woman was younger. These two were yinshi. Honestly, Gu Qin didn't take them seriously.

Gu Qin whispered something to Wasai Yan, who nodded and spoke up, "Mr. Tengan, my sister-in-law asked me to inquire if you've seen the Chinese delegation that recently auctioned cultural relics?"

Xiwu Tengan's face changed slightly. "Who is this gentleman, and I don't understand what he means."

Wasai Yan chuckled. "I think Mr. Tengan understands very well. I suggest you listen to my brother-in-law and destroy the contract. Listen to my sister-in-law and release the people. That way, this matter can be settled. Otherwise, Mr. Tengan, you can test what the consequences will be."

"Brother and sister-in-law?" Xiwu Tengan frowned. Who were these three people? Qin Xiansheng's identity he knew—he was the chairman of a Chinese company. Back then, they had used some tricks to get the companies to sign contracts, and he had assumed Qin Xiansheng was an ordinary businessman, perhaps even a playboy who didn't care about the company and left it to someone else. Such a person wouldn't pose much threat to the Xiwu family.

But now, brother and sister-in-law? Could these three be descendants of ancient martial arts families from China? Even so, what did martial arts matter? Even if Chinese martial arts were powerful, against their yinshi, they were doomed to fail.

Thinking of this, Xiwu Tengan felt more confident and laughed. "I don't understand what this gentleman means."

Gu Qin said something, and Wasai Yan translated, "My sister-in-law says, 'Release them quickly. Don't keep talking. You'll regret it.'"

Actually, Gu Qin's words were more peaceful, hoping Tengan would release them. But Wasai Yan didn't want to waste any more time.

After these words, Qin Xiansheng glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Hearing this, Xiwu Tengan's face turned ugly, and he sneered. "Do you think you can do anything here in the territory of the Xiwu family?"

Gu Qin asked Wasai Yan, "What did he say?"

Wasai Yan translated, "He told us to leave."

It was almost the same meaning.

Gu Qin said, "Oh." She looked at Qin Xiansheng and smiled. "Brother Qin, shall I handle it?"

Qin Xiansheng sighed. "Fine, whatever you say." Mainly, there wasn't much danger here, so if she wanted to play, let her.

Gu Qin gave Xiwu Tengan a bright smile and raised her finger slightly. Suddenly, Xiwu Tengan and the other three couldn't move.

Xiwu Tengan's face changed dramatically, his heart filled with terror. What trick was this? Who were they? Why couldn't they move?

In an instant, Gu Qin was beside Xiwu Tengan, and the two yinshi could only watch helplessly, their hearts pounding in fear, unable to react.

Gu Qin grabbed Xiwu Tengan's neck. "Now, are you convinced? Will you release the people and destroy the contract?" Even if he refused to speak, she knew where Lin Xinxin was, having already scanned the area with her third eye. The three members of the security team and the Chinese staff were indeed in the basement of this villa, though...

Gu Qin's expression turned cold. The three security team members were injured, clearly beaten. She tightened her grip, and Xiwu Tengan's face instantly turned purple.

Wasai Yan translated.

"I... I..." Xiwu Tengan struggled to squeeze out a few words. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Wasai Yan translated, and Gu Qin chanted a spell, summoning yin qi into Xiwu Tengan's body. He froze, his body becoming unbearably cold, as if the coldness came from his bones, causing indescribable pain, and he let out unconscious screams.

"My father!" The young man, about twenty years old, hurriedly shouted. "What are you doing! Why aren't you helping him?" He noticed the two yinshi were also frozen and unable to move.

The young man panicked. Although he could speak, he couldn't move, and there was nothing he could do.

Gu Qin said, "Release them! If you don't, blood will be shed."

Wasai Yan translated truthfully, and Xiwu Tengan finally couldn't bear it, shouting, "I will... I will... Release them, save me..."

This pain was unbearable, worse than being pierced by thousands of arrows.

Gu Qin left a trace of yin qi in his body and chanted another spell. Xiwu Tengan could move again, though his body was still very cold, much better than before.

He looked at Gu Qin in horror, his expression changing, and finally turned to the young man. "Gui Zi, go, bring them up."

Xiwu Gui Zi understood his father's intentions and nodded. Realizing he could move, he sighed with relief and went past the screen to the outside.

Gu Qin laughed softly, waving her hand. A nearby coral tree exploded with a bang. She hadn't touched the tree, standing two meters away. She said, "If you have any other ideas, let your son meet the same fate as this tree. Understand?"

Wasai Yan translated, and everyone's faces turned sour. Xiwu Gui Zi originally wanted to call for help, but seeing the explosion and hearing Wasai Yan's words, he hesitated. However, the situation was serious, and he had to notify his grandfather.

Qin Xiansheng, Gu Qin, and Wasai Yan found seats and sat down. Xiwu Tengan could move, but the two yinshi remained motionless. Seeing them sit down, Xiwu Tengan didn't dare make a move.

Xiwu Gui Zi hurriedly called his grandfather and informed him of the situation, emphasizing that these three were formidable.

His grandfather, Xiwu Zhengyi, promised to come immediately and asked him to keep them occupied. He was currently at the company and would need an hour to return. Xiwu Gui Zi could only continue delaying.

Seeing them sitting there, he cautiously approached. "I've already called them. They will bring the people here shortly, and the contract will be destroyed as well."

Gu Qin said, "Bring them where?"

Wasai Yan translated, and Xiwu Gui Zi hurriedly said, "They weren't brought to our family compound. They are elsewhere. Please wait a moment."

Gu Qin snorted. "You have a basement, right? Do you really want me to search it myself?" Thinking they could deceive her easily, she lightly chanted a spell. Xiwu Tengan screamed in agony, curling up on the ground. Gu Qin looked at Xiwu Gui Zi. "Want your father to die painfully? Keep stalling."

"I... I..." Xiwu Gui Zi was both shocked and terrified, recalling his grandfather's instructions and worrying about his father's endurance. He had no choice.

Xiwu Tengan couldn't endure it anymore. "Quickly... Bring them back..."

Xiwu Gui Zi didn't delay further and rushed to have the people brought back, then called his grandfather. Xiwu Zhengyi was silent for a moment before saying, "Bring them to the women first. The contract will be delivered soon. What did your father do this time? He hit a wall, didn't he? I've told him countless times to be cautious. This time, who knows what kind of people they are..."

Xiwu Gui Zi said, "Grandfather, they seem to be xuanxue masters from China. You have Mr. Yoshida here..."

Before he could finish, Xiwu Zhengyi interrupted, "Enough. Let's talk about this when I arrive."

After hanging up, Xiwu Gui Zi ordered the people to be brought forward. Looking at the Chinese people, he felt uneasy. One middle-aged man was bound, giving him a cold glance without speaking.

Soon, they brought the group to the front hall. Seeing Lin Xinxin, Gu Qin breathed a sigh of relief. They hadn't been mistreated, thankfully.

Lin Xinxin was stunned at first, then exclaimed in disbelief, "Qin Qin? Qin Qin... How did you end up here?"

Gu Qin freed her and the others. "Your team leader found me..."

Lin Xinxin was somewhat nervous. "I... I didn't mean to hide it from you."

Gu Qin freed the rest of the group and sighed. "I know, it's just protocol. Are you hurt? By the way, where are the artifacts?"