Since Shen Youling and Lin Tang weren't dead, a great weight was lifted from Shen Qiushi's shoulders. He could eat and drink again, and he quickly regained his vitality, leaving the hospital that very day.
He went straight to Villa Number One!
"My goodness!" Shen Qiushi exclaid. He had assud that after leaving the Shen Family, Lin Tang and Shen Youling would be living frugally, not in the lap of luxury.
How can they afford to eat, live, and dress so luxuriously? And why is the young lady of the Li Family living with them so openly?
"You misunderstand..." Lin Tang was about to explain that Shen Youling had only just moved in and that her life before had been quite miserable.
Shen Youling cut him off. "Can't you just drop it?"
Can't he see Grandpa just recovered from a serious illness? Why provoke him? It's better to let the past be the past.
"Youling, don't bully Lin Tang!" Shen Qiushi glared at her, taking Lin Tang's side.
Lin Tang then pretended to be aggrieved, saying that Shen Youling was gentle toward others but always short-tempered with him. This made Shen Qiushi fu, puffing out his beard and glaring again.
Shen Youling didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She had only one word to describe Lin Tang: "Childish!"
「Elsewhere.」
Hua Fengchen returned to his hotel in a disheveled rage, smashing everything in sight. He had returned with soaring ambition, a king making his coback.
All I wanted was to feel the awe and worship of my old classmates. All I wanted was for Shen Youling to willingly fall at my feet, to beco my woman to toy with as I pleased. But what was the result? The mont I returned to Jiangbei and revealed my identity at the class reunion, I was trampled on by Lin Tang—
Though, in truth, it had been Mo Pinglan's doing. Still, he placed all the bla on Lin Tang. He had spent a fortune on bodyguards, but they were all useless! Once again, he had beco a laughingstock, unable to save face in public.
"Damn it all! They all deserve to die!" Hua Fengchen roared.
His female secretary trembled, not daring to take a breath.
Suddenly, he turned and glared at her fiercely. "Get over here and help blow off so steam!"
"...Yes!" The female secretary obediently went over and knelt.
A short while later, Hua Fengchen collapsed onto the sofa, completely drained. He stared blankly at the ceiling, his face vacant.
What should I do? How can I kill Lin Tang and take Shen Youling for myself?
DING-DONG!
The doorbell rang. The secretary, who had just tidied up, quietly slipped out. She returned monts later to report that Wang Shouben, the eldest young master of the Wang Family, wanted to discuss business.
"The Wang Family? Which one? The local one from Jiangbei? What right does he have to talk to ? Can't he see I'm busy being furious?" Hua Fengchen scoffed.
If it were the Wang Family from the capital, whose power surpasses my Hua Family, I would be flattered by their visit. But a family from a small place like Jiangbei? Heh—I don't give a damn about any of them!
"Such arrogance!" Wang Shouben barged in, accompanied by Wang Shouzhen.
"Hey? Who said you could co in..." the secretary tried to stop them.
Wang Shouzhen contemptuously shoved her aside. "Ugh, disgusting! Don't you brush your teeth after doing sothing like that? It's absolutely revolting!"
Wang Shouben also covered his nose and mouth, frowning as he said, "Hua Fengchen, the illegitimate son of the Hua Family, recently legitimized. You want to establish a business in Jiangbei to prove your comrcial acun. Am I correct?"
"Bastard!" Hua Fengchen, who had just cooled down, felt his anger flare up again. He hated nothing more than the words "illegitimate son."
"Have you ever heard of the Dragon War Camp?" Wang Shouben asked suddenly.
Hua Fengchen was about to explode and tell them to get out, but the words made him pause. "Of course I have! The Dragon War Camp is ranked third among the nine great camps of Central Earth. Who hasn't heard of Dragon Warrior Xiao Xuanye, also known as Xiao Bubai, the Undefeated? What, are you going to tell you're Xiao Xuanye himself?"
Wang Shouben had been standing there proudly, but at the last question, he quickly shook his head. He turned slightly, cupped a fist toward the heavens, and said, "I am rely an insignificant soldier under General Xiao."
He then pulled out a token and tossed it to Hua Fengchen.
Hua Fengchen caught it, and his expression changed dramatically. He shot to his feet. "It's actually a Dragon War Token! I heard only General Xiao's direct subordinates are qualified to hold one... Forgive my disrespect!"
His attitude imdiately beca courteous as he returned the token with both hands. He then invited Wang Shouben and Wang Shouzhen to take a seat.
Seeing the young master of the Hua Family from the capital act so humbly made Wang Shouzhen feel incredibly smug. His admiration for his older brother grew.
With Big Brother's support, our Wang Family will surely beco magnificent! When that day cos...
After so pleasantries, Hua Fengchen learned that Wang Shouben had returned to Jiangbei on official business. Flattered, he asked, "Does General Xiao intend to collaborate with my Hua Family?"
Wang Shouben remained silent.
What colossal nerve. How could he even think that? What a fool's dream!
He cleared his throat and said, "My official business is a separate matter... I just heard you were in Jiangbei, Young Master Hua, and thought I should extend so local hospitality. You wouldn't refuse, would you?"
"Of course not! Haha, the honor is all mine," Hua Fengchen replied, hiding his disappointnt. He then inquired about Wang Shouben's specific position in the Dragon War Camp, but Wang Shouben demurred, citing confidentiality.
Hua Fengchen's brow furrowed. He suppressed his impatience and continued the awkward conversation before accepting an invitation to dine with them.
Hua Fengchen finally understood their objective. He scoffed inwardly. So the Wang Family looks down on this little pond of Jiangbei and wants to develop in the capital! They're being delusional, trying to bite off more than they can chew. What kind of place is the capital? It's the heart of Central Earth, where the fortune of the entire nation converges. If every minor family from so backwater place could easily establish a foothold there, wouldn't it be packed to the brim? If Wang Shouben were a direct relative of Xiao Xuanye, he would naturally have the power to command respect in the capital and succeed at everything. But while he might be a direct subordinate, he's secretive about his actual position. I'm guessing he's no big shot who can shake the earth with a stomp of his foot. He might be able to strut around Jiangbei, but in the capital, he's a nobody. Whatever. Having a local powerhouse backing will make it more convenient to operate in Jiangbei.
His enthusiasm didn't wane as they raised their glasses.
Wang Dengke made a special appearance to join them, hoping to beco a familiar face. Seeing his eldest son chatting and laughing with the young master of the Hua Family, he felt a deep sense of gratification.
"Young Master Hua!"
At that mont, Yuan Zongqing approached weakly, bowing in sha.
"What are you still doing here?" Hua Fengchen's expression instantly turned sour.
"I'm not feeling well. I wish to return to my master for diagnosis and treatnt. I ca to bid you farewell and was hoping Young Master Hua could settle the final paynt..." Yuan Zongqing said awkwardly. He was frantic. The doctor had said there was nothing wrong with him, yet he couldn't summon a shred of his inner strength. His martial arts were effectively crippled.
"Ha, what a joke!" Hua Fengchen laughed, his voice sharp with anger. "You tricked , made lose face in front of so many people, and I haven't even held you accountable. Now you have the nerve to ask for money?"
"I'm not a swindler, I'm really not! That bastard Lin Tang must have secretly done sothing to !" Yuan Zongqing argued desperately. He couldn't afford to be labeled a charlatan; his entire livelihood depended on teaching apprentices.
"Oh? You have a grudge against Lin Tang too?" Wang Shouzhen blurted out. "I thought he was dead."
Learning that Lin Tang was alive and had soundly humiliated Hua Fengchen left Wang Shouzhen baffled. He then ntioned that Lin Tang was also known for his outstanding dical skills, having been praised by Sun Siwei and Chen Shanchun.
"He must have drugged !" Yuan Zongqing cried.
Wang Shouben's eyes flickered. After inquiring about the details, a thought took root in his mind.
To be able to neutralize a Martial Artist's combat power so quickly and invisibly... What kind of miraculous drug is this? If I could get my hands on the formula...
Originally, he hadn't given Lin Tang a second thought. When he heard Lin Tang had been killed by powerful enemies, he had completely dismissed him.
Now, however, he was taking the matter very seriously. He decided to act imdiately and deal with Lin Tang himself.
「At an outpost of the Star Evil Group.」
Chief Zhao Xinghe was intensely practicing his martial arts. He always lived by the principle that diligence could make up for a lack of talent. Through scorching sumrs and frigid winters, he never slacked off for a single day. He avoided distractions like feasting and entertainnt, and despite his imnse wealth, he lived like an ascetic monk.
It was all for the sake of getting stronger, of breaking through. He desperately wanted to step into the Master Realm, but his repeated attempts had all ended in failure.
The Five Spirit Pill... If it's truly as miraculous as they say, I must obtain it! I wonder if anyone in this world, aside from that Lin Tang, knows how to refine it?
He was filled with regret, feeling he had received the news too late. If he had known earlier, he would have captured Lin Tang from the very beginning! But now, Lin Tang was already dead...
"Chief, urgent report from Jiangbei!"
"Bring it in."
"Yes!"
His subordinate presented a fax. Zhao Xinghe glanced at it and flew into a rage. "Worthless fools! You couldn't even handle one old man and were captured instead!"
He was about to assemble his n and lead them to Jiangbei, but as he read on, his anger turned to elation.
"Lin Tang isn't dead? Excellent, excellent, excellent! I will have this man!"
The report ntioned that Lin Tang's martial arts had been crippled, but his poisoning skills were still formidable. Zhao Xinghe paid this no mind.
Poison is rely a deviant path. As long as one takes precautions, it's nothing to fear!
Without delay, he gathered a large contingent and set off for Jiangbei personally. His sole purpose was to capture Lin Tang alive.
「Kuntong Mountain Range.」
The mountain range stretched for several kiloters, its peaks majestic, spectacular, and treacherous.
In a hidden valley, various types of mycelia carpeted the ground. So of them writhed constantly, like living animals. When insects carelessly wandered in, they were silently devoured, rendering the entire valley deathly still, devoid of any sound.
The inside of the mountain was hollowed out like a giant beehive, partitioned into nurous secret chambers where high-tech equipnt humd.
In the core space at the very bottom, green nutrient solution bubbled occasionally inside a massive, transparent glass tank. Mu Jiuzhou's aged, hunched body floated naked within, tubes of all sizes connected to him, as strange, parasitic fungi coiled around his limbs. A dozen researchers in sterile suits bustled about.
BEEP! BEEP! Brainwave synchronization complete!
BUZZ!
Mu Jiuzhou's eyes snapped open. Like a fetus in the womb, he stretched his withered limbs, which were so malford they looked alien.
Though his mouth didn't move, his voice echoed from the surrounding speakers: "Relay my order: capture Lin Tang at any cost. I want him alive!"
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