"Third Uncle, are you trying to make me leave?" Fatty Wang had long anticipated Wang Zhanting pulling such tricks, so he wasn't too surprised. Instead, he calmly waited for Wang Zhanting.

"I'm just doing what's best for the Wang Family given its current situation. If you're feeling aggrieved, you should reflect on your behavior, rather than continue causing unnecessary trouble."

"So, Third Uncle never trusted me." Fatty Wang leaned closer to Wang Zhanting, placing the box in his hand on the glass coffee table. "Are you certain the boy you brought back from France will be more obedient than I am? You should know there are no sheep in the Wang Family."

"That's not something you need to worry about." Unconcerned by Fatty Wang's blatant criticism, Wang Zhanting waved his hand dismissively. "It's too late now, not a suitable time for worship. Why don't you come back tomorrow?"

"Third Uncle, you've mentioned it's very late. Wouldn't it be unkind to send me away now?"

"Then rest one night in the guest room." After speaking, Wang Zhanting stood up, with his hands clasped behind him, walked past Fatty Wang without pausing, and went upstairs to the second floor. The vast living room was left with only Fatty Wang.

"Young Master Wang, please follow me." Wang Zhanting's butler, a man of about fifty years, was not a talkative one but very polite, guiding Fatty Wang to a bedroom on the first floor.

"Not on the third floor?" Fatty Wang raised his eyebrows at the butler's arrangement; this naturally wasn't a decision made by the servants.

"The third floor is being renovated, so I apologize for accommodating you here." The butler explained, regardless of intent, explanations are never wrong.

"Butler, is the ancestral shrine still in its original location?" Fatty Wang called out to the butler who was about to leave.

"Yes, Young Master Wang, it's still at the same place, that dog."

The Wang Family's ancestral shrine is just a room opened up in a courtyard in the Wang Family's old mansion. Its exterior is indistinguishable from the rest of the manor: milk-white color with brown tiles, simple yet rustic. Wang Zhanting is a nostalgic person, always remembering earlier generations, which is why he established the family shrine in the old mansion, bringing the ancestors back to Yanjing from the hometown. He's superstitious, firmly believing in things like ancestors manifesting and providing protection.

Through the window, Fatty Wang could only see the roof tiles of the shrine, guarded by an elderly dog. Even when he was a child, this mongrel had been a loyal guard dog; no one could approach the shrine without Wang Zhanting present. Even during major annual ceremonies, Wang Zhanting's presence was essential. Fatty Wang poured himself a glass of red wine; regardless of the Wang Family's head, he didn't care anymore. The Wang Family was nothing but an empty shell after the 'inone' compensation affair; movable funds were pitifully scarce. Let Wang Zhanting regain control; what is there to fear when you have money?

"Hello?" Answering the phone, only women would call him at this hour.

"Where are you?" Xia Yuxuan had just cried; her eyes were still swollen. "Xia Xue is back."

"Did she say anything?"

"Did you do something that she's holding over you?"

"Hmm!" Another bout of sobbing came from the other side, and Fatty Wang impatiently furrowed his brow. "What's worth crying about? I'm not dead yet!"

"Oh, by the way, the money has been deposited into your account. When can we leave?" Xia Yuxuan quietly inquired, clutching the phone.

"Once I get the stuff. Have you arranged contact with the person I mentioned?"

"I've given the money to them, waiting for your call to proceed."

"Okay, don't wander around. I'll contact you about leaving once I get the stuff."

Women are usually easy to comfort. Xia Yuxuan is a smart woman, but when it comes to love, she's a complete fool. Even knowing this man isn't someone she can rely on, she still falls for him.

Jumping out from the window, his round body didn't hinder his movement, crouching towards the shrine. As per the plan, someone should be sneaking in at this time, and he just needed to guard the entrance of the shrine.

In the distance, a shadow stood against the milk-white wall. Fatty Wang dialed the person's number to confirm it was someone on his side, then approached them. In the shadows, he couldn't see the person's face; they must be wearing a mask or covering their face. "Once you get the staff, the rest of the payment will be transferred to your account immediately."

The shadow put out their cigarette with a stomp and nodded to Fatty Wang, then quickly pried open the shrine's door without any unnecessary words. Not hearing any barking puzzled Fatty Wang; was the mongrel asleep? That loyal old fellow with keen ears could be startled awake by the slightest movement. How come today there was no sign, not even a shadow? Something was amiss!

The shadow already vanished, and Fatty Wang didn't have time to think further, following them inside swiftly. The shrine was completely transformed compared to his impression. Under the flashlight's beam, the original arrangements had been replaced with advanced equipment; even the candles for offerings were replaced by electronic devices, the old setup swapped for new. Fatty Wang wasn't certain the staff remained in its usual place.

The shadow glanced at Fatty Wang behind him and began searching in this room of just over forty square meters, ignoring his presence. The shrine was divided into two parts, with a simple layout: the front hall held the ancestral altar, while the rear part seemed to be a place for keeping vigil, featuring a mahjong table and a bed, nothing else.

The shadow suspiciously entered the front hall while Fatty Wang remained silent toward the ancestral tablets, speaking nothing before the ancestors was pretense; he was, to some extent, affected by Wang Zhanting. "Nothing in the back." The shadow sprang to his front, an icy voice tinged with impatience.

"It can't be!" Hearing this result made Fatty Wang anxious, rushing to the rear hall. The cabinet previously in the corner was gone. "How could this be?"

As far as he knew, Wang Zhanting was quite lazy concerning certain things; once something was placed at home, it wouldn't be moved again for over twenty years. Since he had first seen the staff, it had always been in the shrine, never moved, locked in the cabinet, just like other trophies, to deter anyone with malicious intent. Wang Zhanting had blended it among the dazzling crystal items, making the staff less conspicuous.

The shadow noticed Fatty Wang standing in the corner with a rectangular blank area preserved, left by an object continuously covering it. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for recommendation and monthly votes for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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