Chapter 329 - 329: Strike First

Shentu Jie held his head so high he was practically looking at the sky, reveling in the moment.

After stealing the Anti-Aging Cream formula, Shentu Jie had rushed back to Central State.

All afternoon, he had been the star of the entire clan.

But he didn't let the pride show. Instead, he had remained silent.

It wasn't until this moment—the moment the Anti-Aging Cream was successfully developed—that he finally lifted his head in arrogance.

He had earned this.

Only now would he reveal his true self.

"Second Brother, I will, of course, honor my promise," Shentu Shan said, bestowing a great honor upon Shentu Jie. "From this day forward, all the disciples of your branch will receive the lion's share of the clan's cultivation resources. Your own status will be second only to mine."

"Congratulations, Second Uncle!"

"Congratulations, Second Brother!"

"Dad, you've brought glory to our family! It's incredible!"

In an instant, the members of the Shentu Clan erupted in cheers.

"Brother," Shentu Jie said with a sudden smile, "why don't we build some momentum? We can start by sending AM a lawyer's letter, accusing them of stealing our formula. What do you think?"

"Oh?" Shentu Shan was taken aback for a moment.

The other clan members wore similar expressions.

"I understand!" Shentu Shan laughed heartily. "We have the original Anti-Aging Cream formula, and AM doesn't. We have every reason to sue them for corporate espionage. Send the letter!"

In a corner on the outskirts of the Shentu Clan's Youmei Cosmetics Company.

An Audi was parked in the shadows.

"Damn it! So that bastard from the Shentu Clan really did steal AM's Anti-Aging Cream formula, and they've already managed to produce it. This is bad!" Shen Zhengye exclaimed as he slipped into the car.

Inside the car, Qiao Huimin's face darkened. "We should have told Jiang long ago. Isn't it too late now?"

Shen Zhengye's face was flushed with anger. "And they're planning to send AM a letter from their lawyer, accusing us of stealing secrets! Those bastards!"

Earlier that day, Shen Zhengye and Qiao Huimin had been at the AM Company offices.

They weren't just watching the press conference for the Anti-Aging Cream; they were also keeping a close eye on Shentu Jie's movements.

After all, Shentu Jie had confronted Jiang Xinghai directly before.

The couple had a gut feeling that Shentu Jie was up to no good.

But despite their caution, they had still missed something.

It wasn't until they saw Shentu Jie leaving the AM Company in a hurry that they began to follow him in secret.

Their pursuit led them all the way to Central State.

The couple's intentions were clear. They wanted to find out why Shentu Jie had left in such a rush, and since they were in Central State, they also wanted to visit their younger daughter, Shen Lingyin, at Central State University.

However, the couple chose to visit Shen Lingyin first.

By the time they arrived at Youmei Cosmetics Company, it was already too late.

"There are at least three Venerable-level experts inside. I can't handle this alone. I have to tell Jiang."

Shen Zhengye lit a cigarette, trying to figure out what to say.

「Meanwhile, at the Shen Family residence in Jizhou.」

"Mom and Dad still aren't back?" The house was still dark when Shen Lingxue and Jiang Xinghai got home.

"I saw your parents at the Anti-Aging Cream press conference today, but I didn't see them afterward," Jiang Xinghai said, just as confused.

Before they could say more, Jiang Xinghai's phone rang. "It's your father."

"Answer it, quick," Shen Lingxue urged.

He answered the phone as they were closing the door.

"Jiang, we're in big trouble."

Over the phone, Shen Zhengye hastily explained everything he and his wife had seen and heard that day.

"This..." Jiang Xinghai and Shen Lingxue could only exchange wry smiles.

"Dad, Mom, you two are really something else. Why are you only telling us now?" Shen Lingxue was completely exasperated.

'She wasn't scolding them; she was just worried.'

'They were in Central State, a place where they knew no one, secretly staking out a business owned by the Shentu Clan. What if something happened to them?'

"I thought I could handle it myself, but reality hit me like a ton of bricks," Shen Zhengye said, sounding dejected.

Jiang Xinghai reassured him, "Don't worry, Uncle. We actually already knew about this. You and Auntie should come back. We have a plan."

"Oh, is that right? In that case, we'll head back tonight." Shen Zhengye immediately started the car and drove off.

After the call ended,

Jiang Xinghai and Shen Lingxue looked at each other and smiled.

"I never knew my parents were such a handful," Shen Lingxue said with a self-deprecating laugh.

Jiang Xinghai saw it differently. "You have to admire their determination to help, though. At least they gathered some valuable intelligence."

"True. Now we can strike first," Shen Lingxue agreed.

Afterwards, Shen Lingxue contacted a friend of hers, a top-tier lawyer, and they discussed the matter at length.

Jiang Xinghai wasn't idle, either. He informed Yan Qingshan, the president of the Central State Martial Arts Department, about his plan to deal with the Shentu Clan.

"What do you want for dinner? I'll cook," Shen Lingxue said, stretching lazily.

"Let's keep it simple. We need to get to bed soon, after all," Jiang Xinghai said with a wicked grin.

"No way. Again tonight?" Shen Lingxue couldn't help but shift her legs.

"We're trying to get pregnant, aren't we? We have to be diligent about it," Jiang Xinghai chuckled.

Shen Lingxue swallowed hard. "Why don't I... go down and make you some noodles?"