Chapter 790: Bait

“Might he dare to come after me before I get to him?” Di Dongbing asked after a long pause, seeking confirmation.

Di Caifeng nodded. “It’s not a question of daring; he will come. He was probably hesitant to engage me earlier because he’d only just found his daughter.”

Di Dongbing’s face fell. He knew his niece's capabilities. Anyone she couldn't defeat was undoubtedly formidable. Apprehending such a person through the police was a fool's errand.

“How old is he? Even you’re no match; is he at the yellow level tertiary stage?” Di Dongbing needed to assess his opponent.

Di Caifeng replied, “He appears to be in his twenties, but he sliced the bottom of my shoe without me noticing. If he'd wanted to sever my legs, I wouldn't have been able to stop him. He's definitely beyond yellow level; at least black level.”

“That strong?” Di Dongbing’s heart sank. Offending a black-level master was no trivial matter.

His Bao She Hall, though significant and possibly the local overlord, could be easily annihilated by a black-level expert. Furthermore, those who cultivate ancient martial arts often disregard the law. Such a person could obliterate the Bao She Hall, and even the government might be too slow to intervene. However, with preparation, even a black-level expert couldn't easily destroy his Hall; he simply wouldn't have the strength to kill the man.

Di Dongbing gasped. He hadn't expected to offend someone like this. No wonder he'd been so uneasy all day. But could he simply ignore his son's beating and take no revenge?

“Uncle Bing, don’t worry too much. This is just conjecture. Reaching black level before thirty is rare. Besides, even if he is black level, the Bao She Hall need not fear him,” Di Caifeng said.

Di Dongbing nodded. “I’m not afraid. While we lack black-level experts, we're not insignificant. If he dares come to the Bao She Hall, I'll ensure he doesn't leave alive. I might lose a few men, but attempting to capture him would be far more difficult.”

Di Caifeng pondered before saying, “My master arrives tonight. I’ve learned he’s reached earth level.”

“Caifeng, your master reached earth level?” Di Dongbing leapt up in joy. If Caifeng's master dealt with this arrogant youth, their worries would vanish.

Di Caifeng, understanding her uncle’s thoughts, said worriedly, “While Master agreed to accept me as a formal disciple, I’m not yet one. He's from the hidden sects; even as his disciple, I can't ask him to attack people at my whim.”

Di Dongbing interrupted with a bleak laugh. “Don’t worry, Caifeng. I’ve prepared a substantial gift, and we should receive it soon. This gift will surely sway him!”

“What is it?” Di Caifeng asked.

“A luminous pearl,” Di Dongbing said slowly.

“What? A luminous pearl?” Even Di Caifeng stood up, shocked.

“I’ve sent Lu Lipin to retrieve it. He should be finished by now.” Di Dongbing rose, then remembered Lu Lipin had been gone for two hours. Why was there no word?

He immediately called Lu Lipin, but only heard a busy tone. Instantly, Di Dongbing sensed something was amiss. Lu Lipin wouldn't turn off his phone without permission. And if something happened to his phone, he would report it immediately.

“Something’s wrong,” Di Caifeng noticed as well.

“I can’t reach Lipin, which is impossible. He was just collecting something from an ordinary person,” Di Dongbing frowned.

Di Caifeng immediately asked, “Where did he learn about the luminous pearl? It's incredibly valuable; how could he easily learn of it?”

Di Dongbing’s face grew serious. He dispatched two men to find Lu Lipin, then replied, “He got the information from a taxi driver who overheard it while driving a father and daughter—”

“Father and daughter?” Di Caifeng asked, frowning.

“Yes,” Di Dongbing repeated Lu Lipin's account.

Di Caifeng said carefully, “Uncle Bing, if I’m not mistaken, that father and daughter are the ones I mentioned. The taxi driver met them recently, picking them up near Hai Sha High School? I'm almost certain this is the man who beat Di Zi. I didn't expect such a coincidence. But now that I think of it, it's reasonable for someone like him to possess a luminous pearl.”

Di Dongbing gasped and stared at Di Caifeng, shocked. “Then Lu Lipin and his men are…”

Di Caifeng nodded. “If it was truly him, they're likely in trouble. Though he hasn't come for us yet, I’m sure he will tonight.”

Di Dongbing's heart grew cold. Things seemed far more complex than he’d anticipated, beyond his control.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

“What?!” Di Dongbing’s men's report further shook him.

“What is it?” Di Caifeng asked.

Di Dongbing hung up, defeated. “Lu Lipin and his men's van was found by the roadside—four piles of ash and several burned guns inside.”

Di Caifeng frowned. After a long moment, she sighed. “Uncle Bing, this is beyond our capabilities. Fortunately, the luminous pearl is still with him. When my master arrives tonight, I’ll tell him. Even if he doesn’t need it, he won't let such a treasure slip away.”

Di Dongbing looked ten years older. “We can only hope. It’s best if your master is willing to intervene. I fear… I’ll go check on Di Hua first.”

Di Caifeng knew her uncle worried her master might refuse involvement, or that the man was connected to the hidden sects. She wasn't worried, however; she knew her master would intervene for the sake of the luminous pearl.

…

Though Ye Mo had lived in Ning Hai for a while, he didn't know many good restaurants. He mainly knew the Ning Hai University restaurant and the West Lake Restaurant.

He took them to Grand Delicacy, another restaurant he knew, closer to his location. He’d dined there once with Ning Qingxue; that meal had cost him all his available money.

The dishes were expensive but delicious. Although Ye Mo wasn’t a fan, Yimo was thrilled to eat out, so he had to take her somewhere nice.