Last night, following Li Xian’s ingenious plan, though it seemed truly feasible, secretly betraying him was a safer way to survive. He knew the opportunity was rare, secretly reporting overnight, inside work and outside cooperation.

The transportation would have taken a few more days, yet with this betrayal, Yang Xinqiang’s confidence grew, compounded by the blockade at Flying Dragon City, which indeed posed a significant problem, thus he released the ship for transport. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Wang Dezhong drew his sword angrily and said, "Is it An Weicheng, the elder of Flower Cage Sect? What a rogue, daring to hide stealthily!" He raised his sword to strike.

Yang Xinqiang swept his spear to block the sword and laughed, "You’ve misunderstood, Brother Wang. This person has already reformed. I ordered him to disguise and follow, to see the companion’s fate." An Weicheng said, "Yes, yes, I have turned from darkness to light, thanks to Brother Yang’s tolerance, letting me reform. I promise to do good and make amends in the future."

Wang Dezhong, still angry, said, "This man has harmed countless women, with a casual word of reform, can it all just disappear?"

Yang Xinqiang said, "Although that’s the case, without his help, these Flower Thieves are deeply hidden, it’s inevitable some would escape the net. These escaped Flower Thieves would still harm women, which is also wrong. Brother An Weicheng’s determination is commendable. Without his help, things would not have turned out so well."

Yang Xinqiang laughed, "Brother An, after your reform, please lead the way." The Duan family’s large ship was specially made, its body longer and wider, holding thousands of beams of golden wire wood, some over ten meters long, some five or six meters, all of structural material. Even with intentional inspection, omissions are feared.

An Weicheng cupped his hands, "Naturally." He walked towards the wood storage area, accurately finding a few hidden beams among the many, uncovering the concealed wood, all deeply hidden.

Wang Dezhong said, "Could there really be people hidden in this wood?" He struck with his palm, the sound was thick and deep. The inside didn’t seem hollow. An Weicheng said, "Absolutely, that group of Flower Thieves were forced by Yang the Hero, having to act overnight, they hollowed out the wood and hid inside. Li Xian is cunning as a fox, even knowing to fill it with fluff silk, when struck from outside, no hollow sound would come out."

Yang Xinqiang thought to himself, "That thief has a good mind, but ultimately is just desperate. Hiding in the wood, blocking it with fluff silk, though it prevents a hollow sound when the wood is struck. I possess mastery of palm techniques; with a single strike, I can immediately sense anything unusual. Even without An Weicheng’s report, they wouldn’t escape."

"But capturing them quickly is always good."

Wang Dezhong, Zhou Shijie, Yang Wentian, and others all secretly felt the Jianghu rogues were extremely cunning, their strange tricks endless, greatly expanding their experiences.

Yang Xinqiang said, "Split these beams open!" Then he turned and said to the accompanying soldiers, "Pass the order around, keep watch on all sides. Though the elders of Flower Cage Sect have cultivation, they are not weak. Prepare the distant archers."

"Brother Wang and Brother Hua... Are your Sword Sect arrangements proper? The thief will inevitably retaliate desperately when emerging; I hope your sect’s elders and disciples will assist. I want them all captured alive, and interrogate for details."

Wang Dezhong said, "The Sword Sect has hidden in the dark, sealing off Fu Yun Street, Changshou Street, and others." Hua Wu reported the formations, confirming all was correct.

The guards beside Yang Xinqiang then split the wood. The gold line wood was extremely tough; only a mark was left after a single slash. Zhou Shijie said, "Let me do it." He drew his sword, approached a piece of wood, and exerted his inner qi, piercing with one sword.

The wood cracked with a snap, splitting open. Inside was indeed hollow, a mass of fluff silk spurted out. Everyone rejoiced, just about to examine closely. Suddenly smelling a strange odor.

Yang Xinqiang’s expression changed, he shouted loudly, "Jump into the river!" and led by example. Wang Dezhong, Zhou Shijie, Yang Wentian, and others were all skilled in lightweight skill, though unsure of the situation, saw Yang Xinqiang’s panic and immediately followed. The strange odor spread, gradually emitting white smoke.

Sailors on the ship jumped into the river, after seven or eight breaths, a thunderous "boom" was heard, the Duan family’s commercial ship exploded with a deafening sound. Nearly a thousand beams rolled into the river.

Zhou Shijie, Wang Dezhong, Yang Xinqiang, and others sank into the water upon impact, unable to grasp the situation. They immediately tried to get out of the water. Wang Dezhong reached for his dart, wrapping silk thread around the end, just about to throw the dart into the ship’s bottom, then pulling himself up using the force.

But as he moved, he suddenly saw countless drifting fine threads in the water, as thick as a hair, but very long. Whenever he moved, his body got entangled in the threads. The more he struggled, the more threads there were, gradually hindering his movements, even making it difficult to move.

Terrified, his movements became more frantic. The threads tangled tighter, cocooning him into a human chrysalis. Zhou Shijie, Wang Dezhong, Yang Xinqiang, and others all experienced the same.

This was the "Fluff Silk" Yang Xinqiang arranged. It spreads and opens in the water, transforming into countless threads. Once touched, they stick and cannot be untangled, only wrapping more and more.

It’s an excellent tool for capturing underwater thieves. Who knew after all the efforts, it would all turn against them. All of them thought, "Our lives are over! Failed to capture thieves, only to drown." They sank towards the riverbed.

After a moment, they felt their bodies floating. Then they were pulled from the water, dragged ashore. They were being "netted" and rescued, hauled onto the bank. Their bodies were like white cocoons, completely entangled, though out of the water, couldn’t break free of the fluff net. Struggling bitterly, but futilely.

They heard cheers from people on the shore, "Though unaware of the cause of the explosion just now, Brother Yang Xinqiang said, anyone entangled in fluff silk is most likely a Flower Thief."

"Brother Yang’s foresight is truly remarkable; this was exactly proven true. There are indeed many people here, one, two, three... There are as many as seventeen or eighteen."

"This mission yielded great rewards, listen to Brother Yang saying, though Flower Cage Sect are vulgar Flower Thieves, several elders have reached the Third Realm cultivation. Don’t approach recklessly. We guard here, you quickly go call the elders."