Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 185: The 185th representative of the Xiang Family unveils the Heavenly Sound Method! [1 more update]

Chapter 185: The 185th representative of the Xiang Family unveils the Heavenly Sound Method! [1 more update]

They hadn’t originally planned this kidnapping, because the manpower and resources required to kidnap Curator Xiang were extensive, and it was very possible to lose more than they gained.

But the Concentricity Pendant was guarded too strictly, secured with the most advanced defense mechanisms in the world; they had attempted to infiltrate Yunjing Museum several times but had never succeeded.

Therefore, they had resorted to this last strategy, kidnapping Xiang Tianming, the easiest target to breach.

If Xiang Tianming’s safety couldn’t threaten the Xiang Family, then they would just kill him and lay low in Shenzhou for some time before returning with a better plan.

After all, they wouldn’t suffer any losses, but the Xiang Family might not be so lucky.

"I can give you the Concentricity Pendant," Ye Wanlan said indifferently, "Are there any other antiques related to Princess Yongning that you’re interested in?"

When the man heard a woman’s voice, his expression changed, and he sneered coldly, "Who are you? Can you represent the Xiang Family, represent Young Master Shaoyu?"

He had never heard of any woman in the Xiang Family who had the authority to make decisions.

"Hmm, you can ask him," Ye Wanlan handed the phone back to Xiang Shaoyu, "Reply to him."

Xiang Shaoyu had calmed down by now, knowing that tough talk was useless and would only provoke the other party: "Yes, you can have the Concentricity Pendant, but first I need to ensure Uncle Tianming’s safety."

"Young Master Shaoyu is honorable," the man finally smiled again, "Don’t worry, we will take good care of Xiang Tianming, feed him well. Listen to his voice, full of vigor."

"Shaoyu!" Curator Xiang’s angry shout came through the receiver, "You absolutely cannot hand over the Concentricity Pendant. If I die, so be it, one worthless life, the Concentricity Pendant—"

Before he could finish, a kick from the man silenced him as he said coldly, "Shut up, old man, provoking me won’t do you any good, you’ll only die faster."

Xiang Shaoyu’s voice had a hint of ruthlessness, "If I see my uncle hurt when I get there, don’t even think of leaving Yunjing!"

"Oh, now I’m really scared," the man was not intimidated, "You have half a day. I want to see the Concentricity Pendant by noon tomorrow, or you can start preparing to collect Xiang Tianming’s corpse!"

After the call ended, Xiang Shaoyu’s face was grim as he made several more calls, instructing the people on the other end to immediately investigate Curator Xiang’s travel route for the day.

"Miss Ye," a soft and gentle voice spoke up, "The Giant Wooden Kite has been adjusted and can be launched at any time."

"We’re not leaving yet," Ye Wanlan turned her head to look at Tingfeng, "Kidnappers have made contact, Curator Xiang has been kidnapped."

Upon hearing this, Tingfeng’s pupils narrowed, "What do they want?"

"The Concentricity Pendant," Xiang Shaoyu exhaled slowly, "To me, objects are never more important than people, but others don’t think the same way. Right now, I don’t have the authority alone to obtain the Concentricity Pendant."

"It doesn’t matter, I’ll negotiate with them," Ye Wanlan said casually, "I’ll go alone."

Xiang Shaoyu frowned, "You alone, you—"

Tingfeng pressed down on his shoulder, cutting off his words with a light laugh, "Does Miss Ye need any other help?"

"No need," Ye Wanlan nodded, "When they call back, find out the location."

At this time, the Qingyun Pendant boasted unabashedly, "How could Her Royal Highness the Princess not handle it alone? Our Princess was already negotiating by herself with the Northern Lands’ army at fourteen. A bunch of kidnappers? Our Princess doesn’t take them seriously at all."

Ye Wanlan fell silent, "..."

Could anyone tell her where a jade pendant’s mouth was, so she could sew it shut?

Xiang Shaoyu looked at Tingfeng in surprise and was stunned by his brother’s trust in Ye Wanlan, but in the end, he nodded, "Alright, give me one night. I’ll find a way to get the Concentricity Pendant."

"Who said I’m going to give them the Concentricity Pendant?" Ye Wanlan countered.

Xiang Shaoyu was somewhat bewildered, "But you just now..."

"It’s just a delaying tactic," Ye Wanlan smiled, "I just want to know what they want the Concentricity Pendant for. In one night, creating a fake will suffice."

"Alright," Xiang Shaoyu’s heart was still tense, "Then I’ll leave it to Miss Ye."

"Let’s head back," Ye Wanlan looked up, "In ten minutes, the Lin Family people will arrive."

Ten minutes later, the Third Elder of the Lin Family arrived with his entourage at Falling Sunset Mountain.

Just as he was about to close off the roads leading out of Yunjing, he received a message from Lin Shiyuan.

[No need to go, they’re not at Falling Sunset Mountain.]

The Third Elder of the Lin Family was taken aback and quickly called back, "Shiyuan, what’s wrong, what new developments are there?"

"A Xiang Family member just received an anonymous call from the kidnappers, saying Curator Xiang Tianming has been kidnapped," Lin Shiyuan said indifferently, "Yunjing is now under complete lockdown, they can’t leave for the time being."

"Xiang Tianming kidnapped?" The Third Elder of the Lin Family was extremely surprised, "Who did it?"

"It’s unknown for the moment; the perpetrators left no trace on any surveillance equipment," said Lin Shiyuan, "They have demanded the Concentricity Pendant in exchange for Curator Xiang Tianming. Whether the Xiang Family is willing or not, we’ll see."

"Of course, the Xiang Family wouldn’t be willing," the Third Elder of the Lin Family said casually, "Xiang Tianming is already in his sixties or seventies, he has lived long enough, exchanging him for the Concentricity Pendant? Only a fool would do that."

Lin Shiyuan continued, "There’s no rush in locating the Withered Wood Dragon Chant Zither. I can use the sound waves from my zither to resonate with the Withered Wood Dragon Chant Zither and thus determine its location. First, we should help the Xiang Family rescue Curator Xiang Tianming."

"Shiyuan, you..." The Third Elder of the Lin Family was somewhat reluctant, but he agreed nonetheless.

Curator Xiang Tianming, indeed, was the head of Yunjing Museum, but to these core members of the major families, he was just an ordinary person without Inner Strength; why go to all the trouble of a rescue?

But since Lin Shiyuan had spoken, there must be her reasons.

Believe in Lin Shiyuan, and the Lin family will be able to walk a longer path.

**

At eight o’clock in the morning, the internet hot searches suddenly exploded.

#Curator Xiang, kidnapped#

#Kidnappers claim they’ll release him for the Concentricity Pendant#

#Princess Yongning’s Concentricity Pendant#

[What? Our dear curator grandpa has been kidnapped? Who would dare to do such a thing?]

[No, aren’t you guys following the news about Princess Yongning’s Concentricity Pendant? When was it found!]

[To be honest, I know a human life is very important, but the Concentricity Pendant is more important. I selfishly don’t want the Xiang family to exchange it for Curator Xiang...]

The multitude of opinions was endless and clamorous.

Netizens also split into two camps, one believing in rescuing the person and the other believing only in protecting the Concentricity Pendant.

At this very moment, within a cave.

The man laughed as he grabbed Curator Xiang by the collar, "Curator Xiang, my brothers have been taking care of you well, you better be grateful."

"Pah!" Curator Xiang spat at him, "If you dare—"

"Quite the backbone, the Xiang family members really do have backbone."

"Boss, how did the news of us kidnapping Xiang Tianming get onto the major social media platforms?" The youth ran over in a fluster, "Everyone is discussing it."

The man’s brow furrowed, "What did you say?"

"Boss, take a look." The youth passed over his smartphone.

"Have the Xiang family members gone mad or are they ill?" The man was baffled as well, "Do they think by making a big deal out of this, they can sanction me?"

"Boss!" called another youth, somewhat excited, "The Xiang family has brought the Concentricity Pendant to exchange for Curator Xiang!"

The man’s eyebrows relaxed, "Curator Xiang, it seems your Xiang family not only has backbone but also deeply values affection. Come on, let’s go out and have a look."

He firmly restrained Curator Xiang, using him as a shield in front of his own body, and walked out.

The sky lightened, and the clouds moved with the wind, sweeping across the grassland.

An elongated and upright silhouette emerged; it was a young girl. She wore a mask, making her face indiscernible.

She stood quietly in her place as if oblivious to the hot firearms held by the kidnappers.

"A Lin family member?" The man glanced at the zither in the girl’s arms, "What, are you here to showcase your family’s Heavenly Music Method? Has the Xiang family become so helpless they’ve turned to asking the Lin family for help?"

He had not witnessed the Heavenly Music Method but had a vague idea that it involved vibrating the air with zither strings to produce sound wave attacks.

What era was it now, could the so-called Jianghu martial arts even compare to a bullet?

If Shenzhou kung fu had really been that strong, they wouldn’t have suffered such a disastrous defeat nearly three hundred years ago, almost leading to a break in succession.

They had the most advanced weapons bought from the black market at the Global Center. Not to mention the Heavenly Music Method, even the Penglai Magic could be easily broken through.

"Where is the Concentricity Pendant?" The man gave a side glance to the youth nearby, "I want to see the Jade Pendant first."

Ye Wanlan raised her hand and tossed a jade pendant onto the open ground in the middle.

The youth jogged up, picked up the pendant, and cautiously handed it to the man, "Boss, here you go."

"Did you get it?" A faint voice sounded.

"How do I know whether what you’ve given is real or fake?" The man pinched the jade pendant and sneered, "Don’t think about fooling me with a fake, get the verification equipment."

"It’s good that you got it," Ye Wanlan said unemotionally as she nodded.

Having obtained it, they would have to pay with their lives.

She placed the zither in front of her, one hand steadying it while the other began to stroke the strings.

"Zeng!"

"Zeng! Zeng!"

The sound of the zither resounded loudly, and the air that had been stable suddenly vibrated.

In an instant, sand and rocks flew, and a fierce wind swept across the land.

The first form of the Heavenly Music Method—

Flat Sand and Wild Goose!