Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao had already laid out a game in Longdu. Now, with the sudden return of Qin Zangjing, even Qi and Kong Wudao had begun to feel uneasy.
"Young Master Kong worries too much. Qin Zangjing's return will not affect our plan. In fact, it might even make our plan proceed more smoothly."
Qi Tuojiang said with confidence, "Our layout is foolproof. As long as someone enters the game, no matter how powerful they are, they will eventually become our pawn."
"Yes, I was being overly cautious. Qin Zangjing or anyone else, once they enter the game of Longdu, they will all be pawns. The true players are only us."
Kong Wudao smiled and said, "Old Master Zhao is like a brute beast, but it seems he has learned to use his brain this time. Upon learning that Shen Lang had arrived in Longdu, he didn't immediately engage him. Instead, he watched quietly. It seems that being the head of a prominent family is not simple."
"However, this is good. This way, the game will be more interesting."
Qi Tuojiang smiled upon hearing this, "Everything is ready now, we just need the opportune moment. We need to place a pawn to start the game."
"The opening pawn? I have already prepared it."
Kong Wudao looked at Qi Tuojiang and said, "I heard that the eldest son of the Zhao family, Zhao Shengtian, is being held in the base of the Wuliangren. If he escapes, won't this game be able to begin?"
"I heard the Wuliangren's base is said to be impenetrable. As long as they don't agree, not even a fly can escape. Does Young Master Kong have a way?"
Qi Tuojiang looked at Kong Wudao, somewhat shocked, and said.
"Young Master Qi, who are we? We are scions of prominent families. Besides having plenty of money and people, we also have abundant resources. The Wuliangren was only founded less than thirty years ago, while our five prominent families have existed for hundreds of years. With centuries of heritage, how can a mere Wuliangren organization compare?"
Kong Wudao smiled and said, "Zhao Shengtian's downfall was due to his overconfidence. He insisted on playing against Shen Lang, and in the end, Shen Lang's move broke his composure, leading him to confess everything he shouldn't have."
"Shengtian Banzi? It's a joke. I truly don't know where he got such confidence."
"However, it doesn't matter. As long as he can escape from the Wuliangren organization, he will make all the pawns on the chessboard start to move," Kong Wudao coldly snorted and said, "Mantises stalk cicadas, unaware of the oriole behind? No, we will make them realize what it means to be the hunter in front."
"Young Master Kong's plan is meticulous. I admire it." Qi Tuojiang's face lit up with a smile upon hearing Kong Wudao's words.
About half an hour after Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao's chat, in an ancient tall building in Longdu, a man was leisurely eating breakfast.
This tall building was called the Wuliang Tower, the base of the Wuliangren, and the man eating breakfast was named Zhao Shengtian.
Zhao Shengtian was a scion of the Zhao family in Longdu. Although he colluded with the Shadao Association and committed unforgivable crimes, after being brought in by the Wuliangren, he was not mistreated. Aside from lacking freedom, he was still provided with good food and drink.
Zhao Shengtian had a ruddy complexion. Clearly, his state of mind had been very good during this period, showing no signs of being a prisoner.
"Zhao Shengtian, you truly are heartless. You've been eating and drinking well during this time, as if you were on vacation."
After Zhao Shengtian finished his breakfast and had a cup of tea, Yan Qing walked in step by step and said to Zhao Shengtian, "This afternoon, you will be indicted. You are finished."
"Alas, Yan Qing, you are indeed a beautiful woman. It's a pity that you are only beautiful and lack true charm. As a woman, you are simply not my type,"
Zhao Shengtian, wearing handcuffs and shackles, still maintained his aristocratic composure and said to Yan Qing, "Your Nalan family can be considered Qing Dynasty nobility. Your ancestor Nalan Mingzhu was known as a prime minister, wielding immense power for a time, and Nalan Rongruo was also a renowned poet of his generation. How did your generation become so disgraced?"
"Zhao Shengtian, your ancestors were also heroes. In your generation, you have become equally disgraceful. Compared to you, my disgrace is nothing. At least I didn't collude with the Shadao Association."
Yan Qing looked at Zhao Shengtian and taunted, "You are now like a clay Buddha crossing a river, unable to save yourself. You don't need to mock me; think about how you will spend your remaining days, because you will surely die."
"No, I will not die."
Upon hearing Yan Qing's words, Zhao Shengtian's eyes lit up, and he said to Yan Qing, "As long as I, Zhao Shengtian, do not wish to die, no one in this world can make me die."
"Moreover, it's not just me who doesn't want to die. There are many people in this world who don't want me to die. If I die, this world will lose a lot of excitement."
"What did you say?"
Hearing Zhao Shengtian's words, Yan Qing sensed an unusual aura and her expression changed. "Look behind you," Zhao Shengtian's face suddenly turned grim, and he said to Yan Qing.
"What?" Hearing Zhao Shengtian's words, Yan Qing's expression changed. She instinctively turned around, but there was no one behind her. By the time she realized something was wrong, Yan Qing felt a sense of danger from the front.
"Swish—"
Yan Qing instinctively turned, but it was a beat too late. A silver needle shot into Yan Qing's chest, instantly freezing her, rendering her completely immobile.
"Zhao Shengtian, you..."
When Zhao Shengtian was brought in and confined, he had been searched. Zhao Shengtian had no weapons on him. Yan Qing couldn't understand how Zhao Shengtian had such a silver needle.
"Yan Qing, can't figure it out, right?"
Seeing Yan Qing's bewildered expression, Zhao Shengtian's face broke into a smile. He walked step by step towards Yan Qing and said, "Don't give yourself a headache, because there are too many things in this world that you can't figure out."
After speaking, Zhao Shengtian produced another silver needle, which he used to gently pick at the lock. The shackles on his hands and feet were then opened one by one.
"Yan Qing, I won't be attending the indictment this afternoon. Will you represent me, please?"
After saying his last sentence, Zhao Shengtian produced a set of human skin masks. In Yan Qing's terrified gaze, she put on Zhao Shengtian's mask.
Five minutes later, Zhao Shengtian, with a changed face, walked out of the Wuliang Tower. At the entrance, a BMW was already waiting.
After Zhao Shengtian got into the car, it quickly drove away.
"Young Master Zhao, Longdu is very chaotic right now. You should be careful when you come out at this time," the woman in red who was driving said with concern after Zhao Shengtian got into the car.
"It's fine. The more chaotic, the better. It's easier to fish in troubled waters."
Zhao Shengtian looked at the scenery outside the window, a confident smile on his face, and said, "I heard Shen Lang has already arrived in Longdu. This is interesting. This time, I want to play against him again and see who can win by a half-step."