While they spoke, the room was quiet. After Gu Qin's question, Xia Cheng, the middle-aged man, stepped forward and shook hands politely with Gu Qin. "Comrade Gu, hello. I am Xia Cheng, the team leader for this mission. We appreciate your help. Regarding the artifacts..."

He glanced at Xiwu Gui Zi but remained silent.

Xia Cheng was the team leader for transporting the cultural relics back to China. He had come with Lin Xinxin and another member. Just as they left the auction hall, they were knocked out in the elevator. They had undergone rigorous training to join the security team, making them resistant to most drugs. Two others in the elevator had also been knocked out without smelling any unusual odors. Whatever method they used to knock them out was odorless.

They didn't know exactly what happened after they woke up. They were confined in a basement, and their artifacts were missing. Their dangerous items had also been confiscated.

They had no idea who their captors were or what their motives were. They were neither mistreated nor tortured but kept in isolation. They couldn't contact anyone until they were rescued and met Gu Qin.

Xia Cheng knew some of the team's members were aware of Gu Qin's background, especially since they had been warned about her when investigating Lin Xinxin. They decided not to disturb her, but now she had to intervene.

Upon hearing about the artifacts, Xiwu Gui Zi said, "They're somewhere else. Really! We won't lie to you. My grandfather has already brought them."

Gu Qin raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

She searched and confirmed that the artifacts were not nearby.

The group waited while...

They waited in the lobby, while Lin Xinxin and the others found their seats. Nishiwaki Tensho was supported to sit down by Nishiwaki Kikuko. Nishiwaki Tensho still felt very uncomfortable and did not dare to beg for mercy. He just sat there, sweating coldly.

About half an hour later, Nishiwaki Kikuko's phone rang. After answering it and speaking for a few moments, his eyes showed a hint of smugness as he glanced at Gu Qin and the others. Hanging up, Nishiwaki Kikuko said, "The items have been brought here. Can you now remove the witchcraft from my father?"

Gu Qin moved her finger slightly, and Nishiwaki Tensho started screaming again. Nishiwaki Kikuko was dumbfounded, "You... You..."

Gu Qin said, "Don't waste words. Hurry up and bring the items over."

Nishiwaki Kikuko choked, unable to speak for a moment.

Xia Cheng, the squad leader next to him, watched in astonishment.

Nishiwaki Kikuko dared not speak rashly. When someone came to report, he went to the entrance to receive his grandfather. Seeing the stern old man, Nishiwaki Kikuko recounted everything that had happened and said fiercely, "Grandfather, we will give them a taste of their own medicine. You don’t know how arrogant they were."

The stern old man was the current head of the Nishiwaki family, Nishiwaki Shōichi. Next to him was another seemingly ordinary old man, somewhat short, dressed in a black robe with white hair.

Nishiwaki Kikuko turned to him respectfully and said, "Mr. Yoshida, we need your help later. These people do not understand gratitude. Even your two disciples were immobilized by their magic."

Yoshida looked at him and said indifferently, "To the people of China, this is not witchcraft but esoteric arts. I have some knowledge of Chinese esoteric arts. Although they are somewhat similar to our yin-yang arts, they belong to completely different schools. If they can subdue you, their skills must be considerable."

"Yes, yes, Mr. Yoshida is right."

A few people arrived at the lobby. Nishiwaki Shōichi and Yoshida looked at the young girl and two men sitting nearby and frowned slightly.

Yoshida was also trying to figure out how powerful these two people were. Nishiwaki Kikuko had said that everything was done by the girl? Then what about the other two men? Could they be masters of esoteric arts too?

Nishiwaki Shōichi looked at Yoshida. Yoshida closed his eyes, and Nishiwaki Shōichi knew he had already tested these people.

But after a few seconds, Yoshida suddenly changed color, took a step back, and his face turned pale.

Nishiwaki Shōichi’s expression also changed. He realized that even Yoshida could not match these people. He quickly stepped forward and said, "I apologize for any inconvenience. Please forgive us, honored guests. Is there any misunderstanding?"

Gu Qin said, "You detained our people, and now they have been found. What else can you say? Also, the contract for Brother Qin's company was obtained through improper means. There is no misunderstanding."

Wanshou Yanzhi translated this for them. Nishiwaki Shōichi remained silent for a long time before saying, "This is all the fault of the Nishiwaki family. I will immediately return the cultural relics of your country and destroy the contract for your company. Please do not take offense."

No one spoke. Nishiwaki knew that this loss had to be accepted. If even Yoshida, a master of yin-yang arts, could not match them, what could he do? The items had been brought over, so Nishiwaki Shōichi had someone fetch them. The cultural relics were placed in a wooden box carved with ancient patterns, emitting a faint fragrance. The long wooden box revealed a scroll when opened. Gu Qin casually glanced inside and saw that it contained a scroll, emitting a faint auspicious aura.

After a glance, Gu Qin knew the relics were genuine. However, several Chinese officials did not trust them, so they brought an appraiser. They opened the box and took out the scroll. The two men carefully unrolled it.

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The appraiser was an elderly man in his sixties who had been in a state of shock since being brought over. Now that the scroll was opened, he regained his senses and began examining it with a magnifying glass and other tools.

Seeing the elderly man's trembling hands, Gu Qin knew he must be excited to see the cultural relics.

She understood the significance of Chinese history and the importance of these relics to China. She couldn't help feeling a sense of reverence. She walked a few steps toward the old man and looked at the scroll.

The scroll was four meters long, depicting a landscape painting with towering mountains, steep cliffs, beautiful rivers, and a harmonious atmosphere. The scroll exuded a sense of tranquility amidst its grandeur. Gu Qin felt a sudden buzzing in her head, and layers of ripples spread through her mind. Her cultivation, which had been stuck for a long time, seemed to have found a breakthrough, with something stirring and wanting to emerge.

Gu Qin knew that as she progressed, breaking through became increasingly difficult. Sometimes, it required deep contemplation, and sometimes, seeing or experiencing something could lead to enlightenment and breakthrough. This was exactly her situation now.

Gu Qin took a deep breath and, despite the current circumstances, knew that the yin-yang master behind Nishiwaki Shōichi had already been injured and posed no threat. She stood up and approached Qin Xiansheng, looking at him with a radiant expression. "Brother Qin, take care of things here. I need to go out for a bit."

Qin Xiansheng and Wanshou Yanzhi had noticed the fluctuation in her aura and knew she was about to break through. Qin Xiansheng naturally did not worry about her going out alone. He glanced at Wanshou Yanzhi, who said, "Master, go with her. I'll handle things here."

"Then Brother Qin and I will leave first." With that, they left the villa without delay and ran into the distance.

Everyone was puzzled, watching them leave the hall and vanish within seconds.

Only the elderly professor was still engrossed in appraising the scroll. Wanshou Yanzhi grinned and said to Nishiwaki Shōichi, "Where's the contract? Let's finish this and get back to our country." He muttered softly, "I don't like this place and want to leave as soon as possible."

Nishiwaki Shōichi had someone bring the contract. Even though the two had left, he did not dare to be careless and certainly would not try any tricks, given that even Yoshida had lost to them.

After the contract was brought over, Wanshou Yanzhi read it and destroyed it. The elderly professor finished his appraisal and exclaimed excitedly, "It's genuine, it's genuine!"

Wanshou Yanzhi thought, of course it was genuine; otherwise, how could Gu Qin have broken through just by glancing at it? He glanced at the scroll and felt deeply impressed. The painting on the scroll gave a sense of peace, despite its grandeur. He roughly understood why Gu Qin had suddenly gained insight.

Nishiwaki Shōichi sighed with relief as these people finally left. He smiled and escorted them out.

At the villa entrance, Nishiwaki Shōichi planned to have someone escort them down the mountain. Wanshou waved his hand and asked Xia Cheng, "Can someone come to pick us up?"

Xia Cheng nodded and called someone using the phone returned by the Nishiwaki family.

Wanshou Yanzhi turned to Nishiwaki Shōichi and said, "Alright, there's nothing more for you to do. Go back."

Nishiwaki Shōichi nodded with a smile but immediately frowned as he turned away, forcing himself to hold back.

Returning to the hall, he found everyone gone. He asked, "Where's Yoshida?"

Nishiwaki Kikuko had a pale face, "Grandfather, just as you left, Mr. Yoshida vomited blood and has been taken to rest."

"And your father?" Nishiwaki Shōichi asked again.

"He was sent back to his room," Nishiwaki Kikuko replied with a grim expression. "Father is still the same. Grandfather, shouldn’t we ask those people to heal Father first?"

"This time, we've hit a brick wall," Nishiwaki Shōichi sighed. "Ask Yoshida if he has any solutions. Anyway, let's end this matter here. Never mention it again, and never trouble those people."

Nishiwaki Kikuko remained silent but couldn't help but think, given the situation, how could they bother others.

Outside the villa, Lin Xinxin asked worriedly, "Sir, where did Qianqian go?"

Wanshou Yanzhi looked back at her and smiled, "Worried about her?"

Lin Xinxin nodded.

"Don't worry about her," Wanshou Yanzhi said, playing with a string of Buddhist beads on his wrist absentmindedly. "She's fine. She'll be back in a few days. Let's go back."

Lin Xinxin didn't speak, knowing she was on a mission and needed to follow orders. She looked at Xia Cheng, who said, "We're heading back to the country immediately to return the cultural relics."

The car arrived quickly. On the way back to the airport, Xia Cheng asked, "Mr. Wanshou seems to dislike the country."

Wanshou Yanzhi made a noncommittal sound and didn't speak further. He naturally disliked the country. He and his master were around the same age, and he had experienced that not-so-good era. Even in the current peaceful times, he knew there were good people there, but he still didn't like the country and was unwilling to stay longer.

Their group went directly to the airport and returned home.

At this point, Gu Qin was not far from the Nishiwaki family, in a nearby mountain. She chose a spot and sat cross-legged in meditation without saying much.

Qin Xiansheng wasn't idle either, setting up a formation centered around Gu Qin.

All they needed to do now was wait.

In a week, Gu Qin finally opened her eyes, her gaze clear and bright. She turned to look at the man beside her and said warmly, "Brother Qin, I broke through."

Qin Xiansheng stepped forward, holding her hand and kissing her lips. "Congratulations, Qianqian."

Gu Qin smiled. "Brother Qin, what about Xinxin and the others? Did they go back first?"

"Yes," Qin Xiansheng said, taking her hand and walking down the mountain. "They went back after finishing things. Shall we go to the city to clean up and eat something, then return tomorrow?"

Gu Qin nodded, turning to look at the villa in the mountains. "Brother Qin, wait a moment. We should leave them a gift as well. I won't let the Nishiwaki family off so easily."

For them, yin-yang masters weren't a threat and were not considered seriously. Yin-yang masters originated from China but did not have the broad range of powers that esoteric arts had. They did not understand feng shui as well as the formations.

Gu Qin intended to set up a formation around the Nishiwaki villa, ensuring their decline.

Qin Xiansheng naturally understood her intentions and said, "Setting up the formation requires materials. Let's go back to the city first."

In the city, they checked into a hotel, washed up, bought supplies for the formation, and returned to the hotel. The next day, they went to the Nishiwaki villa and set up the formation together. It was a simple Yin Gathering Formation, making the area extremely yin. Living in such a place, the Nishiwaki family would suffer.

Living in such an environment would cause irritability, illness, and mistakes, which were unacceptable for a family like theirs. Their misdeeds would lead to such consequences.

Living in such conditions for half a year would gradually lead to the decline of the Nishiwaki family. The formation would only last for half a year.

After setting up the formation, they had no more involvement. They booked flights and returned to Beijing the next morning.

Back in Beijing, Cheng Yinxiang scolded them for not calling for nearly ten days and worrying excessively.

Gu Qin stroked her protruding belly and smiled. "Mom, don't worry. I'm safe with Brother Qin. By the way, Mom, did you go for your checkup?"

Cheng Yinxiang smiled warmly. "Yes, everything is fine. We just have to wait a few more months until the baby is born. But we still need monthly checkups. The due date is in June, about three months away."

After returning, Gu Qin got busy. Wang An's treatment was almost complete, and today was the last session.

She went to Wang An's house, where his mother and wife were waiting. Gu Qin nodded and entered to perform the final treatment. After an hour, she said to the flushed man, "Done. Today is the last treatment. Your illness is cured. Please don't talk about this outside, and transfer the payment to my account."

Wang An stood up and nodded. "Thank you. I will transfer the payment once I sell the house. I promise not to tell anyone about your help."

Gu Qin said, "Good. If you still don't trust me, you can get a check-up at the hospital. I'll leave now."

Gu Qin went to the living room and saw Wang An's wife with a gloomy face. She ignored her and left, telling the women, "Wang An's illness is fully cured. You can transfer the money to my account anytime."

Wang An's mother nodded, embarrassed. Wang An's wife's face darkened even more. Gu Qin smiled and left.

Once she left, Li Lisi couldn't help asking her mother-in-law, "Mom, are we really selling the house? Where will we live? Persuade Wang An to reconsider. Selling the house means losing everything."

Li Lisi couldn't bear to lose the money so easily. "Besides, she treated Wang An so easily, coming every few days, just waving her hand. Why..."

"Shut up!" Wang An walked out, interrupting her. "Do you know the survival rate for late-stage cancer? Zero. At most, it's controlling the cancer cells to prevent spreading and extending life a few years. She made me, who had terminal cancer, have no cancer cells. Do you know what that means? This Miss Gu is like a living deity. Do you want to offend her?"

Wang An's mother nodded. "Yes, I agree. We definitely need to pay. But five million..."

"I'm not saying it's expensive," Wang An sighed. "Mom, do you think five million is too expensive to save my life?"

"No, of course not!" Wang An's mother suddenly woke up and sighed. "Anzi, I’m not saying five million is too expensive. It’s just that once we sell the house, we’ll have nothing left."

Wang An sat beside his mother, feeling ashamed. "Mom, I used to be irresponsible, earning dirty money and losing it all to gambling. After this big illness, I’ve realized I need to live honestly. What’s important is having a healthy body and past connections. Mom, I promise I won’t do illegal things anymore. I plan to start a small business. We can sell the house for about five million. Five million will be enough to repay Miss Gu and cover expenses."

Wang An's mother cried, nodding repeatedly. "Alright, alright. Whatever you say. I’ve saved some money, and I’ll give it to you for your business. Let’s do it properly this time. No more illegal activities, no more gambling. As long as you and your sister are doing well, I’ll be happy."

When she saw her friend at that moment, Bao Lanchu's heart suddenly skipped a beat.