“I told you, you’re no good.” Li Feng said this while tremblingly standing up, looking as if a mere breath would knock him over.
Even Li Feng himself felt he could be called a movie king for this performance.
Seeing Li Feng about to collapse, Xu Qing didn’t have time to think, and hurried forward to support him.
“I can manage on my own.” Li Feng said, but his expression suggested he was barely holding on. This softened Xu Qing’s heart: “Mr Li, let me help you over.”
“Well, alright then…” Li Feng hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
With Xu Qing’s support, Li Feng shuffled step by step towards the bathroom, swaying unsteadily, moving at a snail’s pace. He was practically leaning into Xu Qing’s embrace.
Breathing in the fragrance wafting from Xu Qing, Li Feng was utterly enchanted. So fragrant, so captivating, especially as his arm occasionally brushed against her chest, sending his heart racing.
Li Feng thought himself brilliantly clever for coming up with this splendid idea, a legitimate way to take advantage of Xu Qing.
Though Xu Qing felt shy, in her eyes, Li Feng was a patient. Even as their bodies brushed against each other from time to time, she saw it as unavoidable, never suspecting that Li Feng was doing it on purpose.
Finally reaching the bathroom, Xu Qing let out a sigh of relief. They had arrived.
“Thank you, Assistant Xu.” Li Feng said gratefully to Xu Qing.
Xu Qing blushed, avoiding his gaze.
“Oh dear, this is bad.” Just then, Li Feng let out a cry.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Qing asked hurriedly.
“My belt won’t unbuckle. And I can’t bend down now, what shall I do?” Li Feng looked utterly anxious.
“What?” Xu Qing’s face paled in shock. Did that mean she had to help him with his trousers?
“Assistant Xu, please help me, I can’t hold it any longer.” Li Feng pleaded with a pitiful look.
“I…” Xu Qing’s delicate face flushed crimson, her breathing quickening, at a complete loss.
“Assistant Xu…” Li Feng called from the side, his expression one of great suffering.
Gritting her teeth, Xu Qing stepped to Li Feng’s side and squatted down.
Five minutes later, with Xu Qing’s support, Li Feng returned to his hospital bed. Xu Qing’s cheeks were like ripe apples now, as alluring as could be.
“Mr Li, I have some business to attend to, so I’ll be off.” With that, Xu Qing fled the VIP ward like her life depended on it.
Watching Xu Qing’s figure vanish from the ward, a smile tugged at Li Feng’s lips. Today’s plan had gone splendidly, allowing him to enjoy himself thoroughly.
Li Feng felt his thoughts were far too wicked, to harbour such an idea and direct it at Xu Qing. He had thought she might refuse, even get angry, but she had cared for him so attentively.
Naturally, Li Feng had no idea that Xu Qing was actually one of his admirers, and with his injury to boot, how could she not let him have his way so easily.
At that moment, Li Feng was in high spirits, figuring a few more such encounters and taking Xu Qing would be a natural progression.
Li Feng’s thoughts turned to Zheng Haoyuan. From what Xu Qing had said, this Zheng Haoyuan seemed no simple character. With that in mind, Li Feng rang An Hu, asking him to investigate Zheng Haoyuan.
No sooner had the call connected than An Hu’s voice came through: “Young Master Feng, I was just about to call you. There’s movement at the Emperor’s Pavilion.”
“What sort of movement?” Li Feng frowned. For the Emperor’s Pavilion to stir at this juncture made him suspicious of their intentions. Did they aim to target him, or someone else?
“Young Master Feng, the Emperor’s Pavilion’s head, ‘Brother Peng’ (Ye Fei), met with someone last night.” An Hu’s voice returned: “And I know this person.”
“Who is it?” Li Feng asked. An Hu had only been in Tianhai City for a short while; how many people did he know? Liu Shichao? No, Li Feng dismissed that. If it were Liu Shichao, An Hu would have said so outright, and with Liu Shichao’s timid nature, he would likely have informed Li Feng directly if Brother Peng wanted to meet, without needing An Hu to relay it.
“Snow Leopard.” An Hu replied.
“Snow Leopard?” Li Feng frowned. Another nickname? Who was this? He racked his brains but drew a blank.
“It’s Snow Leopard of the Snow Leopard Mercenary Group.” An Hu clarified.
“Snow Leopard Mercenary Group?” Li Feng’s expression shifted, and he asked gravely: “You mean the mercenary group from Africa?”
Mercenary groups were a hallmark of Africa, where the chaotic continent served as their paradise. Every member was battle-hardened, fearless, no less formidable than assassins.
“Yes, the Snow Leopard Mercenary Group is one of Africa’s top ten. I encountered Snow Leopard himself during a mission, that’s how I recognised him.” An Hu said.
“Can you find out the relationship between this Snow Leopard Mercenary Group and the Emperor’s Pavilion?” Li Feng asked. Dealing with the Emperor’s Pavilion was manageable, but adding the Snow Leopard Mercenary Group would complicate things immensely.
Thus, the connection between them was crucial. Was the Snow Leopard group a subsidiary of the Emperor’s Pavilion, or merely collaborators?
If it were the former, Li Feng would need to reassess the Emperor’s Pavilion’s strength. He knew little of Africa’s mercenaries, but his own Black Hawk Squad had once belonged to the Sky Wolf Mercenary Group, a minor outfit in Africa’s teeming mercenary scene, not even ranking among the notables.
Yet now An Hu claimed the Snow Leopard group was one of the top ten, akin to a small nation’s army: well-equipped, rigorously trained iron warriors. One could imagine their prowess.
If the Snow Leopard group was part of the Emperor’s Pavilion’s forces, then even without considering the Pavilion’s other assets, it alone would be a behemoth to Li Feng.
Of course, if it were merely a partnership, he needn’t worry as much. As collaborators, he wouldn’t face the full Snow Leopard might when targeting the Pavilion; at worst, only a fraction would assist.
“I’m not sure, but Young Master Feng, for ten years the Snow Leopard Mercenary Group hasn’t left Africa. Now they’ve come to China, to Tianhai City no less, and with Snow Leopard himself, that’s highly unusual.” An Hu said.
Taking a deep breath, Li Feng asked in shock: “You mean they haven’t left Africa in ten years?”
“Yes, it’s common knowledge across the continent.” An Hu confirmed.
Ten years without stirring, and now they emerge: what did the Snow Leopard group want? Even an idiot could tell their appearance in Tianhai City was no coincidence.
Was something about to happen in Tianhai City?
Li Feng furrowed his brow deeply. One force after another surfacing in Tianhai City turned the place into a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
The Emperor’s Pavilion, the Song Young Master of Nanling, and now the Snow Leopard Mercenary Group: these were the ones he knew of. What of the unknown ones?
Why was this happening? What was brewing in Tianhai City?
Li Feng tallied them up, realising most had some grudge with him. Aside from the Emperor’s Pavilion, he had only skimmed the surface with the others, knowing even less about them.
With a sigh, Li Feng frowned helplessly. He had only wanted to resolve his troubles quickly, but now they weren’t just unsolved; they were multiplying.
“An Hu, find a way to uncover the Snow Leopard Mercenary Group’s purpose in Tianhai City.” Li Feng instructed gravely.
“Don’t worry, Young Master Feng, I’ll get to the bottom of it.” An Hu assured.
Li Feng mentioned Zheng Haoyuan, tasking An Hu to investigate him, then hung up.
Leaning back on the bed, Li Feng rubbed his brow. Troubles abounded; they must be tackled one by one. Zheng Haoyuan came first. No matter his background, that batch of machines could not go to him. Li Feng had planned to unmask Zheng’s backer, but time was short; he needed to refuse them outright soon.
Though he might not know who pulled Zheng’s strings, Li Feng couldn’t afford to dwell on it now. He had no time to waste there; greater matters demanded his attention.
“You’re lucky,” Li Feng muttered to himself.
But Li Feng did not know that some matters could not be resolved or ended at will, and that the Zheng Haoyuan affair would have profound implications for him.
