Donghu Villa District.
In the villa under Yu Mengzhi's name, she stood with her arms crossed, glaring at Chen Jinzhao opposite her, casting a slight chill over the living room.
"Are you planning to keep this from me if I don't ask?" Yu Mengzhi said.
Chen Jinzhao hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
He had his reasons for needing to go, and how could he back down at the last moment?
It would be a betrayal of himself, and of Qian Deshui.
Meeting Yu Mengzhi's sharp gaze, Chen Jinzhao realized that Yu Mengzhi had once been a strong woman, merely appearing gentle in front of him. Now that Chen Jinzhao was about to embark on a dangerous undertaking, Yu Mengzhi's strong-willed nature resurfaced before him.
"Ms. Yu, please let me explain..." Chen Jinzhao said, steeling himself.
Yu Mengzhi shook her head. "I don't want to hear it!"
"I've already heard from others that this operation is very dangerous. You didn't even let Tao Qiyue accompany you, which shows just how dangerous it is! I have only one thing to say: for these next few days, you will stay at home and are not allowed to go anywhere!"
Chen Jinzhao: "..."
A moment of silence passed between them before Yu Mengzhi broke it, her tone softening slightly. "I know you're holding back anger, but that's no reason for you to act recklessly. Do you know how dangerous a public sea challenge is? Even if you die out there, no one will be able to avenge you!"
"I can only stand by and watch the murderer swagger in front of me, doing nothing!"
As she spoke,
Yu Mengzhi's voice choked, and her eyes welled up with tears.
If it weren't for the extreme danger, why would she try so hard to dissuade Chen Jinzhao from acting on impulse?
Chen Jinzhao had been injured the last time they dealt with Yamamoto Chizuru, and that was within the country!
Going abroad would only be more perilous!
"Mengzhi, can I promise you that absolutely nothing will happen?" Chen Jinzhao said solemnly.
Yu Mengzhi still felt it was not enough. Chen Jinzhao had made the same promise last time, and it turned out to be useless. She could not allow Chen Jinzhao to face any more accidents.
Otherwise, she would live with regret for the rest of her life!
Chen Jinzhao also felt a bit anxious. The danger level of this operation was indeed quite high, but he had his reasons for going. "If I don't kill Ning Fei, he will do even more insane things next time. I don't want the tragedy of Meng Xinran to happen to you!"
Yu Mengzhi pursed her lips and remained silent. "This reason is not sufficient to convince me!"
Chen Jinzhao gritted his teeth, stood up, and walked in front of Yu Mengzhi. Yu Mengzhi looked up at him in surprise and instinctively asked, "What are you doing?!"
"You'll know soon enough!"
Without another word, Chen Jinzhao scooped Yu Mengzhi up and carried her into the room. Yu Mengzhi, realizing what was happening, grabbed Chen Jinzhao's clothes and said, "Chen Jinzhao, put me down! You can't behave like this!"
"Ms. Yu, I apologize!" Chen Jinzhao said.
"Chen Jinzhao, put me down!"
Chen Jinzhao ignored her pleas and carried Yu Mengzhi into the room, closing the door with a bang.
Two hours later.
Chen Jinzhao was about to light a cigarette when Yu Mengzhi snatched it from his hand from behind, saying, "I told you, no smoking in front of me!"
"Then did you agree to my challenge?" Chen Jinzhao asked with a wry smile.
Yu Mengzhi hugged Chen Jinzhao from behind, causing him to tremble slightly. She whispered, "Mr. Chen, you wouldn't want me to become a widow, would you?"
"You have to come back alive, understand?"
Yu Mengzhi was 'convinced'.
Chen Jinzhao nodded emphatically. "Don't worry, I was once the King of Lone Soldiers who walked out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. A mere Ning Fei won't be the end of me."
"You're just bragging!" Yu Mengzhi retorted.
"Bragging?"
Chen Jinzhao smirked wickedly. "Then let me show you my prowess again, until you surrender!"
"Chen Jinzhao, you're so annoying!"
They spent a sleepless night.
The next morning, Chen Jinzhao left home early for Qian Deshui's residence. Tonight was the date of the public sea challenge.
They would board a pre-arranged yacht at a seaside village on the coast and head to international waters to rendezvous with Hong Xingwen and others.
Qian Deshui had brought over a dozen men and had even acquired some guns through unofficial channels for self-defense. Chen Jinzhao, upon hearing this, asked Qian Deshui to set one aside for him, as he would need it.
"When it comes to marksmanship, those people are probably no match for Young Master Chen, are they?" Qian Deshui chuckled.
Chen Jinzhao smiled but said nothing.
At three in the afternoon, the group arrived at the secluded village and boarded the yacht, heading for international waters.
Concurrently.
Hong Xingwen and Ning Fei were also en route to international waters via a pre-arranged yacht.
Not only the two sides but also third-party spectators were making their way to international waters through specific channels, all eager to witness the spectacle. It was no exaggeration to say that this was the most far-reaching battle in twenty years, one that would even shape the future of the Jiangnan region for the next thirty years!
Unbeknownst to anyone, a woman with a ponytail boarded a yacht heading for international waters. If Chen Jinzhao were present, he would have recognized her as Tao Qiyue.
Tao Qiyue still couldn't rest easy and had found a way through underground channels to attend the public sea challenge, paying a sum that made her wince.
As the boat gradually pulled away from the coastline, Tao Qiyue began to feel apprehensive. "I'm truly insane to be doing something like this. If my past self knew, she'd probably laugh at me."
Now, she had no turning back.
With this thought, Tao Qiyue's gaze gradually firmed. "Chen Jinzhao, I'm coming to lend you a hand, to let you know that you're not truly alone."
Some were heading to international waters, eager to witness this battle; others were at home, sipping wine and celebrating this public sea challenge, because among the contenders were their most detested individuals—
Chen Jinzhao!
Just like Yu Botao and Yu Zhengzhi at this very moment. Upon hearing that Chen Jinzhao was heading out to sea, they burst into laughter and specially opened a bottle of aged wine to celebrate.
Clink—
The glasses collided, emitting a crisp sound.
Yu Botao's face flushed after drinking, and he roared with laughter, "That bastard Chen Jinzhao has finally met his match! He actually dared to accept the challenge, isn't that suicidal?"
"Music to my ears!" Yu Zhengzhi echoed with a laugh.
The sons of both men had been terribly harmed by Chen Jinzhao, directly or indirectly. Especially Yu Huaixuan, who had died mysteriously in prison, preventing Yu Zhengzhi from even seeing him one last time.
Every time he thought of this, Yu Zhengzhi wished he could tear Chen Jinzhao to pieces. "Damn it, I only regret not being able to end his life with my own hands. It's become the regret of my life!"
"It's also a shame I can't witness the grandeur of that challenge firsthand!"
Yu Botao mysteriously pulled out his mobile phone. When Yu Zhengzhi saw the content on his screen, his eyes widened!
It was a live broadcast from a cruise ship!