“If they have your skills, they can be considered,” Li Feng said.
“Young Master, that’s impossible. It took me over ten years of cultivation to reach this level. The outer court has limited resources; how could they have my skills?” Zhong Shuhui’s expression shifted, shaking her head.
Li Feng thought about it and agreed. The family wasn’t like him; they wouldn’t provide such resources. But what he valued in the outer court was their loyalty. The inner guard’s strength wasn’t crucial, as long as they were loyal enough.
With that in mind, Li Feng said, “Zhong Shuhui, you know the outer court well. I trust there’s no issue using my name to recruit a few from there. This task is yours.”
“Yes, Young Master!” Zhong Shuhui was overjoyed. She had thought Li Feng would reject her suggestion due to the skill requirement, but unexpectedly, he agreed.
Li Feng didn’t dwell on the issue and said to Zhong Shuhui, “Li Wu is here. I want to know his every move in Tianhai City.”
He didn’t trust Li Wu. Last night, Li Wu had entered his villa freely, and today there was a poisoning incident. Li Feng suspected a connection.
But without evidence, he didn’t mention it to Zhong Shuhui or Hu Yuanyuan.
Zhong Shuhui nodded. She knew what Li Feng was worried about. Having served Mu Chunfeng for so long, she understood Li Wu and his father’s stance on the family’s succession better than Li Feng did.
Though Mu Chunfeng was the chairman of the Li Corporation, Li Wu’s second uncle, the general manager, was her biggest rival.
The reason Mu Chunfeng hadn’t come to Tianhai City herself was because of Li Wu’s father, Li Chuandou.
*Ring ring.*
Zhong Shuhui’s phone rang.
After answering, her face turned grave. “Young Master, a maid named Liu Ma from your villa was killed in a car accident on her way to the market.”
“They acted faster than I expected.” A cold glint flashed in Li Feng’s eyes. He had thought they might silence someone, but not this quickly—within an hour.
“Zhong Shuhui, though Liu Ma is dead, I don’t believe they’ve erased all traces. Keep investigating,” Li Feng said firmly.
“Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ve already given the orders,” Zhong Shuhui replied. She wasn’t new to such matters, and compared to incidents under Mu Chunfeng, this was minor.
“Then that’s it.” Li Feng stood to leave.
“Young Master, wait,” Zhong Shuhui called out.
“Oh, anything else?” Li Feng paused, turning to her.
“Young Master, Madam sent me this earlier. I think you should see it. It’s about the Nine Dragons Jade.” Zhong Shuhui took an A4 sheet from her spatial pouch.
“Mother?” Li Feng’s expression shifted as he took the paper and read it.
“Mother wants me to do everything to stop Li Wu from getting the Nine Dragons Jade?” Li Feng was stunned. He hadn’t expected this. He thought Mu Chunfeng’s order to Zhong Shuhui was about him.
“Yes,” Zhong Shuhui confirmed.
“So, Madam gave you authority to mobilize forces in Tianhai City?” Li Feng asked gravely. Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng had sent him and Hu Yuanyuan to Tianhai City because it was beyond the control of the eight top families. But Li Feng also knew Mu Chunfeng had a force here, cultivated over years.
Though he didn’t know its details, he understood that Mu Chunfeng could place him in Tianhai City with confidence because of this force protecting him.
But Mu Chunfeng likely hadn’t anticipated so many people wanting his life. Even Li Quan, close to him, constantly sought to kill him. If he hadn’t transmigrated from centuries in the future, he might already be dead.
“Yes,” Zhong Shuhui nodded.
A sharp glint flashed in Li Feng’s eyes. “I want to use your authority to mobilize this force.”
Feeling short of manpower, Li Feng saw an opportunity now that Zhong Shuhui had the power to command Mu Chunfeng’s forces in Tianhai City.
“Don’t worry, Zhong Shuhui. I’ll be the one to get the Nine Dragons Jade,” Li Feng said confidently. Though he didn’t know what it was, he was determined to obtain it. He wanted to see what this Nine Dragons Jade, which intrigued the eight top families, was all about.
Wait…
Nine Dragons Jade, Dragon Jade.
Just one word apart, what was the connection?
A spark lit in Li Feng’s eyes. He couldn’t help but wonder if the Nine Dragons Jade was related to his Dragon Jade.
Zhong Shuhui nodded. She believed Li Feng’s words weren’t empty boasts, which was why she showed him Mu Chunfeng’s order.
“Young Master, this is the leader of Madam’s forces in Tianhai City.” Zhong Shuhui handed over a photo and a document. “This has his profile and contact details.”
Li Feng glanced at it and stored it in his spatial pouch, then asked, “Zhong Shuhui, do you know anything about the Nine Dragons Jade?”
Zhong Shuhui shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Li Feng didn’t press further, not expecting to learn much from her. But he felt the Nine Dragons Jade was connected to his Dragon Jade.
At that moment, a commotion came from outside. Li Feng frowned, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked out to see a crowd shouting and cursing outside Tianya Pavilion.
His face darkened as he turned to Zhong Shuhui. “What’s going on?”
“Young Master, it’s Hu Meng causing trouble.” Zhong Shuhui joined him, pointing at the crowd. “Since you left Tianhai City, they’ve come to Tianya Pavilion daily to make trouble. But I’ve stationed people below; they can’t get in.”
“You’re too cautious. Your restraint only emboldens them,” Li Feng said, shaking his head in disappointment.
“Don’t worry, Young Master. None of them will leave today,” Zhong Shuhui said, a cold glint in her eyes.
“No need. I’ll handle it myself,” Li Feng sneered, heading outside. His anger had no outlet, and Hu Meng had delivered himself. How could he pass up such a perfect target?
At Tianya Pavilion’s entrance:
“Smash it! Smash it hard!”
“Today, we’ll wreck Tianya Pavilion completely!”
Hu Meng grandly directed his lackeys to destroy the facilities outside Tianya Pavilion.
“Tianya Pavilion’s cowards, today I’ll not only smash your exterior to bits, but I’ll tear down the whole place!” Hu Meng laughed, looking at the pavilion.
For Hu Meng, these were his most exhilarating days. He never imagined he’d lead hundreds of underlings.
It was thrilling.
Especially Tianya Pavilion, a place he couldn’t have dreamed of entering before. Even following Sun Xipeng for so long, he hadn’t been here. But now, he could not only enter but destroy it.
He had thought smashing Tianya Pavilion would provoke a reaction, but these past days, they hadn’t even dared to make a sound.
Hu Meng smugly thought they were scared of him and his hundreds of men.
“Boss is right. Today, we’ll demolish Tianya Pavilion. The brothers are waiting to taste its women!” a lackey said beside him.
“Yes, Tianya Pavilion’s women!” Hu Meng’s eyes lit up. The women here were stunning, especially Zhong Shuhui, an unmatched beauty comparable only to Hu Yuanyuan.
Hu Yuanyuan was now Fengyuan Group’s president, with Li Feng by her side, so he didn’t dare touch her. But Zhong Shuhui, seemingly in charge here, was different. Once he smashed Tianya Pavilion, would she dare resist?
Such a woman was beyond his past dreams, but now he felt he could fulfill his desires.
Tianya Pavilion’s guards weren’t weak. His men had suffered losses against them before. But with his numbers, Hu Meng wasn’t worried.
Their recent timidity, to him, meant they were cornered. Today, he’d make Tianya Pavilion vanish.
“Brothers, want to play with women?” Hu Meng waved his arms, shouting to his men.
“Yes!” Their eyes gleamed.
“Want Tianya Pavilion’s women?” he asked again.
“Yes!”
“Then charge in with me! Tianya Pavilion’s women are yours to enjoy!” Hu Meng roared, rushing toward the pavilion.
“Roar!”
His men howled, following him toward Tianya Pavilion.
“Charge! Tianya Pavilion is ours today!”
“Tianya Pavilion’s beauties, we’re coming!”
“Following Boss Hu is the best! We’ll smash Tianya Pavilion today!”
Most of Hu Meng’s men were former Black Stone Gang members, not elites or leaders. Tianya Pavilion was a key Black Stone Gang stronghold, a place they never accessed. They dreamed of one day reveling here.
Now, led by Hu Meng, their wish was coming true. Wielding machetes and sticks, they charged in faster than ever.
*Bang, bang…*
Two thugs who rushed into Tianya Pavilion were flung back, crashing heavily to the ground. A chilling voice followed: “Let’s see who dares to smash Tianya Pavilion.”
