Chapter 1025: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road

The group returned to the residence and reported their findings to Sang Hong.

Sang Hong showed no interest in the story of Shen Zhou and Taohong. His entire attention was focused on the key.

The key was larger than common keys and had a peculiar appearance, clearly not meant for an ordinary lock.

Several people noticed a few small characters engraved on the key: "Jia," "Zi," and "1204."

"It seems like the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Could it represent a time?" Sang Hong stroked his beard, deep in thought.

"It's not the Jiazi year now. What does '1204' mean?" Gao Ying questioned.

"It seems like some kind of number. Could it refer to a location?" Pei You, as an outstanding talent from the Pei family, certainly didn't only think about brothels.

An Zhuan's heart stirred. "Could it be a key to a safe deposit box?"

"A safe deposit box?" Sang Hong and the others looked confused; they clearly hadn't heard the term before.

Zu An briefly explained it to them, recalling the numerous movies he had seen in his previous life, where Swiss banks and similar institutions had private safe deposit boxes for clients, often depicted as very sophisticated.

"That's certainly possible!" Sang Hong's eyes lit up. "Go quickly and invite Lord Xiao over."

Evidently, through their interactions, he had learned that Xiao Jianren had knowledge of all sorts of peculiar things.

As expected, after Xiao Jianren examined it, he found a clue: "Regarding the type of safe deposit box Lord Zu mentioned, there are only two places in Yunzhong Prefecture with the financial resources and authority to provide such a service. The largest is Zhenyuan Merchant Association, and the other is Feima Merchant Association, which, although not as grand as Zhenyuan, should also be able to offer this service."

"Zhenyuan Merchant Association?" Zu An's heart skipped a beat. This was the second time he had heard this name. Shen Zhou was supposedly investigating the Zhenyuan Merchant Association before his incident.

"Then we'll split into two groups: one to the Zhenyuan Merchant Association and one to the Feima Merchant Association!" Sang Hong quickly gave the order.

His objectives were too obvious, and many informants were watching him. Additionally, someone needed to stay at the residence to oversee things, so he couldn't move lightly.

Zu An's cultivation put Sang Hong at ease, so Zu An went alone to the Zhenyuan Merchant Association. Gao Ying and Pei You went together to the Feima Merchant Association, looking out for each other during their investigation.

As soon as they left the residence, informants from various factions immediately followed them.

They had experience from their previous visit to Biyu Pavilion, so they deliberately wound through the city to shake off their tails before heading to the Zhenyuan Merchant Association.

Although he hadn't been in Yunzhong Prefecture long, he had already heard of the great reputation of the Zhenyuan Merchant Association.

The Zhenyuan Merchant Association was one of the largest merchant associations in Yunzhong Prefecture, and even the entire Northwest. It was involved in all aspects of life, including food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

Throughout Yunzhong Prefecture, people would inevitably use something related to the Zhenyuan Merchant Association every day.

The Zhenyuan Merchant Association's influence in Yunzhong Prefecture was akin to Tencent in his previous life; its scale was truly immense.

Following Xiao Jianren's instructions, he went directly to the Zhenyuan Merchant Association's headquarters, which was also the location of Zhenyuan Bank.

He did not reveal his identity, instead entering the bank as any other ordinary customer.

Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor of the bank, a graceful figure sat leisurely sipping red tea.

She wore a warm yellow gown and a white fur vest. Her posture was elegant, and her every expression and smile were flawless.

Standing respectfully beside the table was a tall, slender middle-aged man. Anyone outside would have been shocked to see him, as this man was none other than Qian Dong, the manager of Zhenyuan Bank.

Usually, many people found it impossible to get an audience with him; even if he visited the Prefectural Administrator's mansion, he would be treated as an honored guest. Yet, here he was, standing respectfully beside a young woman who was leisurely sipping tea.

Both seemed completely accustomed to this arrangement.

"Young Miss, these are the bank's accounts for the past two years." Qian Dong handed over a stack of ledgers.

"Hmm, Uncle Qian, just put them here. I'll read them at my leisure." The young woman flashed him a sweet smile.

Although Qian Dong knew her smile was her weapon, he was still momentarily stunned by its sweetness.

After a while, he recovered, his old face flushing. He cleared his throat and said, "Young Miss, I shouldn't say this, but I must remind you to try and avoid playing those role-playing games in the future. What if something goes wrong? How would we explain it to the master?"

"I know, I know. I'm so clever, how could anything go wrong?" The young woman paused suddenly, her pretty face flushing as the image of herself being "tormented and frightened" by that man flashed in her mind.

"That scoundrel is truly rotten. He even tried to scare me with things like the Three Corpse Brain God Pill and the Leopard Fetus Marrow Cleansing Pellet. How could such things exist in this world?" she grumbled to herself. That night, she had been truly terrified. As soon as she returned, she mobilized all her intelligence networks to investigate these two poisons.

However, the feedback from her various uncles and elders was that these two poisons simply did not exist in the world.

Given their knowledge, if they said it didn't exist, then it naturally didn't.

Still uneasy, she had several uncles and elders take her pulse, which ultimately proved she was perfectly healthy, with no strange toxins remaining in her body.

Upon learning the truth, she immediately realized she had been tricked by that man, feeling both annoyed and amused.

"You brat, don't let me see you again, or else..." As she spoke, her peripheral vision caught sight of a familiar figure, and her expression froze.

She quickly stood up and looked down. Sure enough, with those eyes, those eyebrows, and that faint, knowing smile, who else could it be but the man who had been giving her nightmares every day recently?

Just then, the man seemed to sense something and looked back. The young woman was startled and quickly hid behind a pillar.

Seeing her reaction, Qian Dong was surprised. "What's wrong, Young Miss?"

"Nothing, just ran into an enemy," the young woman scoffed. "Why is that fellow here?"

In truth, she knew he had arrived in Yunzhong Prefecture; imperial envoys had fixed itineraries.

Whether her unprecedented visit to Yunzhong Prefecture this time was to audit accounts or for something else, even she couldn't say for sure.

But why would *that* man come to the Zhenyuan Merchant Association?

"An enemy?" Qian Dong, who had been bowing, immediately straightened up. "Which scoundrel dared to offend the Young Miss, and then dared to show his face here?"

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, as if ready to seek revenge for her.

The young woman was startled and quickly stopped him. "No, no, no, that fellow is very formidable. You're no match for him."

Qian Dong frowned. "Even if I'm not his match, this is the merchant association's territory. We can summon as many masters as we need. No matter how powerful he is, it would be a dead end for him. Young Miss, there's no need to be afraid."

The young woman quickly waved her hand. "Don't send masters to surround and kill him."

Seeing his puzzled expression, the young woman realized her reaction was inappropriate. She cleared her throat and regained her composure. "I'll handle this person myself."

"Oh?" Qian Dong's expression was strange. He thought, 'The Young Miss's reaction isn't quite right. That young man just now was quite handsome. Could it be...'

A peculiar glint appeared in the young woman's eyes. "Go investigate. What exactly is he doing here?"

"Yes, Young Miss!" Qian Dong bowed and quietly withdrew.

Downstairs, Zu An looked up with a puzzled expression. He had just felt as if someone was watching him.

But when he turned around, he saw no one.

He certainly didn't think he was mistaken; at their level of cultivation, their senses in this regard were extremely keen.

However, the feeling of being watched had now disappeared. He presumed it was just the bank's experts scrutinizing incoming and outgoing customers.

Soon, a young attendant came out to greet him. "Is the esteemed guest here to deposit or withdraw silver?"

Zu An took out the key and showed it. "I'm here to retrieve something I previously deposited."

He felt a little nervous. If they said there was nothing, he would have to immediately take the key to Gao Ying's group.

Fortunately, the attendant smiled when he saw the key. "Please come in, honored guest."

Zu An soon followed him to a private room in the inner chambers. After the attendant reconfirmed the number on the key, he manipulated some mechanisms on the wall. Soon, the sound of gears turning echoed, and before long, a box was transported out from an opening in the wall.

"Please, make yourself at home." After completing this, the attendant withdrew and closed the door.

Zu An marveled at the advanced technology. He quickly opened the box, revealing a small booklet inside—the personal notes of the royal guard.

His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately opened it. Upon seeing the contents, his expression instantly changed drastically.