In the suburbs of Tianhai City, there stood a villa. The villa covered a vast area, exquisitely designed in a retro style, surrounded by sprawling gardens and expansive green lawns, resembling a paradise within the city.
In front of the villa was a small plaza, with a massive fountain at its centre. Three majestic golden dragons rose from the water, their heads slightly tilted downward, gazing ahead with an imposing aura.
At that moment, a car stopped in the plaza. A middle-aged man stepped out, ignoring the surrounding servants and hurrying toward the villa’s main hall.
“Manager Wang, what’s the rush?” an elderly man asked, surprised, as he looked at the middle-aged man.
This man was none other than Wang Xiong, the manager of Black Stone Gang’s Tiantian Loan. Hearing the elderly man’s words, he quickly replied, “Butler Wu, is Master Wen here? I have urgent business with him.”
“Master Wen is in the study,” Butler Wu answered, then asked curiously, “What’s wrong, Manager Wang? Has something serious happened?”
“Yes, something big,” Wang Xiong nodded. Though impatient, he didn’t want to offend Butler Wu. He knew Wu was Master Wen’s confidant, a formidable figure from decades ago who had made significant contributions when Master Wen unified the Black Stone Gang. For some unknown reason, Wu had faded from the gang’s forefront, becoming Master Wen’s butler.
Over the decades, few remembered Butler Wu, but the gang’s higher-ups knew he managed a mysterious force for Master Wen.
“Follow me,” Butler Wu nodded, leading Wang Xiong into the hall.
Upon reaching the study, Wang Xiong saw Master Wen practising calligraphy. His expression shifted. He knew Master Wen had a particular fondness for calligraphy and disliked being disturbed during it.
Wang Xiong glanced at Butler Wu, feeling conflicted. He didn’t dare offend Master Wen, but today’s matter was too important. He had to consult him.
Butler Wu signalled for him to wait.
Wang Xiong was anxious but could only wait. Fortunately, Master Wen soon looked up. “Wang Xiong, what’s the matter?”
Wang Xiong quickly said, “Master Wen, something’s happened. Xiangfeng Investment Company is in trouble.”
“Xiangfeng Investment Company?” Master Wen frowned, not immediately recalling.
“Master Wen, it’s Li Feng’s Xiangfeng Investment Company,” Wang Xiong reminded.
“I remember now. What happened?” Master Wen placed his brush on the rack, asking calmly.
“It’s like this…” Wang Xiong began, detailing how Sun Xipeng had suppressed Xiangfeng Investment’s stock, how Li Feng and Hu Yuanyuan formed the Fengyuan Group, and how they swallowed the Sun Group. Apart from not knowing Sun Xipeng and Su Xin’s ties to Qin Feng, as a local power in Tianhai City, he had investigated the matter thoroughly.
“Damn it!”
Master Wen angrily slapped the table, glaring at Wang Xiong. “How are you managing Tiantian Loan? How did you only find out about something this big now?”
“Master Wen, I was incompetent,” Wang Xiong said, lowering his head guiltily. It was his fault. He never expected things to change so drastically in just a few days.
“Incompetent? Can your incompetence recover Tiantian Loan’s fifteen billion?” Master Wen stared at him coldly. He had approved the fifteen billion loan to Li Feng because he valued Xiangfeng Investment’s shares. Now that Xiangfeng was an empty shell, the fifteen billion was as good as gone.
As Tiantian Loan’s manager, Wang Xiong hadn’t even noticed Li Feng transferring Xiangfeng’s assets. What was he good for?
“Master Wen, Li Feng wouldn’t refuse to repay, would he?” Wang Xiong said cautiously.
“Repay? Do you think that’s possible? From the moment we lent Li Feng fifteen billion, we never expected repayment. We wanted Xiangfeng Investment’s shares, specifically their Smart One core technology. Now our shares in Xiangfeng are worthless. How do we get that core technology?” Master Wen said coldly, baffled by Wang Xiong’s inability to see priorities.
“Master Wen, to get the Smart One core technology, we need to target Li Feng,” Wang Xiong said hurriedly. Mentioning Li Feng, his eyes flashed with coldness. This mess was all because of Li Feng. They had thought him a useless fool, easily manipulated, but now they saw he was ruthless and brilliant. The stark contrast was hard to accept and had cost them dearly.
“Hmph, easier said than done?” Master Wen gave him a cold glance. He could tell Li Feng’s pivotal role in the Xiangfeng incident. They had treated him as a fool, but they were the real fools.
Deep down, Master Wen regretted getting involved. This had nothing to do with the Black Stone Gang initially, but he had agreed to target Li Feng for the century-old vermilion fruit, believing, as the purple-robed youth had said, that Li Feng was a discarded weakling of the Li family, easy to deal with.
Now, Master Wen realised Li Feng was not the timid, incompetent figure of rumour. From his handling of Su Xin and Sun Xipeng, he was clearly a ruthless hero.
Master Wen also knew regret was useless now. From the moment they targeted Li Feng, it was a fight to the death with no other option. Li Feng had bared his fangs, dealt with Su Xin and Sun Xipeng, and likely had the Black Stone Gang next in his sights.
But Master Wen wasn’t afraid of a mere Li Feng. His only concern was the Li family behind him. As long as the Li family stayed out, he believed he could handle Li Feng.
Still, Master Wen had one doubt: had Li Feng deceived him, or was it the purple-robed youth? If Li Feng had tricked him, that was manageable. But if the purple-robed youth had, that was serious trouble. If the youth’s goal was to pit him against the Li family, the Black Stone Gang would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, doomed to destruction. He didn’t want his gang to be cannon fodder in the struggles of great families.
“Master Wen, it’s the only way,” Wang Xiong said hesitantly. From Li Feng’s handling of Su Xin and Sun Xipeng, he was clearly cunning, not easy to deal with, but this was Wang Xiong’s only chance to redeem himself.
Master Wen gave a cold smile. “Li Quan? You think that small fry is still useful? He betrayed Li Feng. You think Li Feng doesn’t know? Li Quan sees Li Feng as a fool, but Li Feng might see Li Quan as an idiot. Or maybe Li Quan is in league with Li Feng.”
“Master Wen, that’s impossible, right? How could Li Quan be with Li Feng?” Wang Xiong said, incredulous. If Li Quan and Li Feng were together, Li Feng was terrifying, orchestrating a trap from start to finish, playing them all.
“Even if not, Li Quan can’t be trusted, only used,” Master Wen said, glancing at Wang Xiong. “Wang Xiong, I’m giving you a chance. Deal with Li Feng yourself this time. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Master Wen, rest assured. I’ll do my utmost to complete the task,” Wang Xiong said solemnly.
