“I understand…”
Robert’s face was pale. He forced himself to regain his composure, nodded bitterly. “The moment I harboured ill intentions towards you, you had already decided to take action against me.”
“You are really too clever,” Lu Zheng said with a cheerful smile as he walked over to Robert’s side and patted his shoulder. “Yet not quite clever enough.”
“I am very useful!” Robert, true to his status as an elite second-generation heir, immediately grasped the key point and pleaded for his life. “I am from the Fanning family of the Baoyi Group. My grandfather is Kelson Fanning! He is a lord in Britain.
Moreover, I previously mortgaged family shares to the Monte Carlo casino to exchange for a hundred million in funds. Our connection is recorded internally at the casino.”
“I see. In other words, any investigation into our interactions would immediately reveal them, so if you died, I would be the prime suspect,” Lu Zheng nodded. “And your grandfather has considerable influence. He would certainly come looking for trouble with me.”
“No, no, not at all!”
Robert shook his head repeatedly. “But after all, that would be quite troublesome, would it not? I can help you accomplish many things!”
He did not dare to voice pure threats directly, but if Lu Zheng could infer them himself, that would be even better. Surely, no matter how powerful Lu Zheng and Lin Wan were, they could not withstand real guns and ammunition. Otherwise, they would have long since ruled the world.
“Thank you for the reminder,” Lu Zheng smiled. “If I remember correctly, the headquarters of the Baoyi Group is in Britain, right?”
“Yes.”
“Your grandfather is the largest individual shareholder in the Baoyi Group. You also have an uncle and an aunt, as well as three siblings.”
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Robert’s temple.
“I hear your ancestor was a major in the British overseas legion, who once participated in wars against East Asia. After returning, he even received a medal.
And your family rose smoothly because of that. Who would have thought it would enjoy prosperity for over a hundred and fifty years? A proper century-old aristocratic house!”
After Robert had invited Lu Zheng and Lin Wan to Monaco, Lin Wan had secretly investigated Robert’s background. Although many top-secret materials were hard to access, ordinary confidential information was completely defenceless against Lin Wan.
“However, the foundation of your family’s rise is steeped in blood. According to your faith, that is original sin.
This original sin must be atoned for, and the price is not an indulgence, but your lives. My ancestors asked me to tell you that the blood debt owed by your ancestors is now due.”
Robert’s pupils contracted sharply. He wanted to say more, but felt everything go black and completely lost consciousness.
Since Lu Zheng had already revealed his identity, it meant he had finished playing around. He was now too lazy to waste further words on Robert.
Lu Zheng withdrew his right hand from Robert’s chest, then turned to ask Lin Wan, “Are there any good people in this Fanning family?”
“Regrettably, no.”
“Not a single one?”
Lin Wan shrugged. “Counting from his grandfather’s generation, the only one who liked art and studied painting once destroyed the hands of another student more talented than her, after which the victim committed suicide.”
“Tsk tsk, truly birds of a feather flock together,” Lu Zheng could not help laughing. “In that case, things become even simpler, do they not?”
Just as Robert had said, if only he died, his grandfather might pursue the matter relentlessly to avenge him. But if all those with grievances were dead, no one would investigate.
A very simple principle, was it not?
Even if the British authorities were inclined to probe, they would investigate powerful families or conglomerates with grudges against the Fannings. What connection could there be to two lone operators like Lu Zheng and Lin Wan?
…
Robert, the middle-aged man, and the six gunmen were all reduced to nothing by Lu Zheng using corpse-dissolving powder, not even ashes remained.
Reduced to dust, their souls scattered.
Then Lu Zheng and Lin Wan left, vanishing directly as they flew over France and the English Channel to Manchester, where the Fanning family resided.
In a single night, all direct members of the Fanning family, along with their bodyguards, vanished completely.
…
When the two finally arrived at the Fanning family’s century-old castle, they found Kelson Fanning in the underground vault.
At that moment, Kelson was admiring and handling a copper artefact the size of a human head.
“Bloody hell, it was here all along!”
A single Golden Palace Heart Sword dispatched the old man. Lu Zheng reached out and snatched the artefact.
One of the Twelve Zodiac Animal Heads: the Dragon Head!
The twelve zodiac beast head copper statues had been missing for over a hundred years. Seven had now surfaced, yet five remained unaccounted for, and this dragon head copper statue was one of them.
Lin Wan revealed herself beside him, looked around, and also spotted numerous ancient Chinese artefacts, mostly metal and jade items, probably because they were easier to transport.
Besides Chinese relics, there were also some in Japanese style, Indian style, and other artworks of undetermined origin but certainly antique.
“These were probably brought back from around the world by his grandfather. They form the foundation of the Fanning family.”
Lin Wan said, “But since the Fanning family has always prospered, these items were never put up for auction. No wonder the dragon head copper statue never appeared. The others are likely in similar situations.”
Lu Zheng nodded, patted his gourd, and collected all the artefacts into it. Finally, he admired the dragon head in his hand for a while before storing it as well.
“Still send it to the Palace Museum?”
Lu Zheng nodded. “First time makes it familiar, second time easier. Them again, but no rush. Wait until the storm passes.”
Lin Wan thought for a moment. “Alright!”
…
When the two returned to the Hôtel Métropole in Monte Carlo, Monaco, it was just past one in the morning, the peak time for the bar and nightclub scene.
So, they appeared in the bar, enjoyed a drink under many watchful eyes, then leisurely returned to their room.
A peaceful night followed.
Although they had missed Chanel’s new product launch, the next day they spent half the day shopping in Monte Carlo’s luxury boutiques, buying various autumn new arrivals. After all, they had just earned a hundred million for free yesterday. How could they not spend some?
…
“Finally back!”
At Haicheng Airport, Lin Wan linked arms with Lu Zheng and smiled. “Next time, let’s not travel to Europe, alright? We’ve gone three times, and trouble happened each time.”
The first time, they wiped out Tony’s entire island.
The second time, they cleared out old John’s family.
The third time, they exterminated the Fanning family.
“But the rewards were huge, especially this time with the dragon head copper statue.”
Lin Wan did not object to that. In fact, she even thought about privately investigating the backgrounds of other British and French families.
After all, besides the dragon head, four more beast head copper statues were still missing, were they not?
…
The weather in Haicheng was gradually turning cold, and even more so in Tonglin County.
Lu Zheng was already wearing a wolf fur coat made from the pelt of the thousand-year-old great demon Cold Departure Wolf from Duyushan. It had to be said, the warmth was top-notch.
Dressed in the wolf fur coat, with a tiger fur hat and pigskin boots, looking just like a local landlord, Lu Zheng had just emerged from the Leping Building and was strolling down the main street of Tonglin County.
Yu Jinbo was walking with him. The two ambled leisurely towards Cong’an Lane.
“Young Master Lu, that pig head meat you made was really excellent. Yesterday I drank half a jin of wine with it, and even this morning I still felt light-headed.”
“Hahaha, as long as it suits your taste!”
Now that winter had arrived, Lu Zheng had bought several pig heads at the market and made pig head meat, sharing portions with various households.
Recently, Yu Jinbo and his wife had been visiting frequently, becoming quite familiar, so Lu Zheng had sent them a share as well.
That morning, when Yu Jinbo came to the Leping Building and saw Lu Zheng, he had specially expressed his thanks.
Now that the midday crowd had dispersed from the building, Yu Jinbo was heading to inspect his own gold and silver shop. Lu Zheng realised he had not visited the Sweet Treats Shop in a while either. With nothing else to do, he decided to go along and take a look.
However, just as they reached the entrance to Cong’an Lane, they saw Chu Jin emerge from around the street corner.
“Young Master Lu.”
“Lord Chu?”
Lu Zheng paused, let Yu Jinbo go on ahead, then followed Chu Jin into a private room at the nearby teahouse.
