On the other end of the phone, Chen Rong hung up and quickly gathered his men to head to the scene. Li Chonglou had called him personally, asking him to clean up, which meant something big had happened. With his teacher’s instructions, he dared not be negligent.
Upon arriving at the scene, a crowd had already gathered at the entrance, pointing and chattering at the Hongqi car embedded in the door.
“Junior brother, are you alright?” Chen Rong ordered his subordinates to disperse the crowd and retrieve the car. As he entered, his brow furrowed. The place was a mess, and some people had been injured in the groin. Most critically, Li Chonglou was covered in wounds, and a powerfully built man with an imposing aura stood beside him.
The two exchanged a glance, recognizing the wariness in each other. Qi Yu, upon seeing Chen Rong, was initially flustered but then realized. He must be his master’s father’s former student. Yesterday they were adversaries, and today they were friends; the world changed too quickly.
“These people are yours, I was almost beaten to death, you handle it,” Li Chonglou said, gesturing to the unconscious Sun Guolin, before having Xu Lie and Qi Yu help him leave. He had no intention of handing these individuals over to the police. After all, that scoundrel was a lawyer, capable of turning black into white. A single misstep could lead to him bearing responsibility. Even though the country had enacted unlimited self-defense rights, allowing unlimited counter-attack until a threat is neutralized when someone poses a physical danger, who knew how a lawyer would exploit legal loopholes. It was safer to leave it to Chen Rong. Evil needs to be met by evil. As for Sun Guolin’s fate, he was too lazy to care anymore.
The car they took back was driven by Xu Lie. The Hongqi he had driven, which was damaged, was left for Chen Rong to handle.
“Brother Xu, it’s great you’re awake,” Li Chonglou said from the back seat, a genuine smile on his face. In this world, besides Xu Qianqian, Xu Lie was the person closest to him. Similarly, Xu Lie was his brother who had faced death with him.
“If your sister-in-law hadn’t told me you were in Zhonghai, you would have been finished today. You were too reckless,” Xu Lie reprimanded with a stern face. But to Li Chonglou, this was concern. It was just a different way of showing it than most people.
“Good fortune favors the bold, heaven is still reluctant to take me,” Li Chonglou brushed it off with a smile. He was far more philosophical about life and death than most. But today, he truly didn’t want to die. At least, not at the hands of these morally bankrupt scum.
He had to admit, Xu Lie was his lucky star.
“A lot happened while I was unconscious, unfortunately I didn’t get to participate,” Xu Lie finally broke into a smile, amused. “Qianqian told me everything.”
“Without coming to Zhonghai to find you, my heart was always restless.”
“Fortunately, no major mistakes were made.”
“How did you end up in a place like this, being beaten by a mob of ordinary people?” Xu Lie knew Li Chonglou’s skills; even before he lost consciousness, he was no ordinary person to be bullied. Now, he was almost beaten to death, so something big must have happened.
“It’s a long story. In any case, I can’t use martial arts for a month.” Li Chonglou glanced at Qi Yu, who was staring intently at Xu Lie. “It’s all because of this girl, she’s my junior apprentice now.”
“Seeing her being bullied, how could I not intervene?”
“Little Martial Uncle…” Qi Yu’s pretty face flushed, her ears burning. Today’s events were truly because of her, almost leading to eternal damnation. She felt immensely self-reproachful. Li Chonglou found her appearance amusing.
With his sharp eyes, Li Chonglou, who had spent a lifetime appraising antiques, saw people like antiques. From the moment they got in the car, he noticed Qi Yu seemed quite interested in Xu Lie. So, he changed the subject. “Let me introduce you, this is Brother Xu, Xu Lie.”
“Qi Yu, my senior sister’s newly accepted disciple.”
“Hello, Brother Xu. Thank you for saving me just now…” Qi Yu gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice even more gentle and melodious.
“You’re welcome.” Xu Lie, a simple man, noticed nothing. Li Chonglou saw through it but didn’t expose it, chuckling inwardly.
Back at the hotel, upon hearing the situation, Lin Ying rushed over. Seeing Li Chonglou so injured, a murderous glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.
“Xiao Yi, go get the medicinal wine I prepared.” Lin Zhendong was also extremely heartbroken but maintained a composed facade.
When Lin Ying brought the medicinal wine, he asked everyone else to leave, leaving only himself. He told Li Chonglou to strip naked and lie on the sofa, then personally applied the medicinal wine all over his body. The pain contorted Li Chonglou’s face, but he had to endure it without crying out.
“Learn your lesson next time. You can’t use martial arts, so you must have someone with you at all times,” Lin Zhendong said unhappily after applying the medicine. “If you feel it’s inconvenient to have your senior sister with you, you can bring that brother of yours named Xu wherever you go from now on.”
“I see his cultivation has already broken through the third level of Qi Movement Realm, almost comparable to Xiao Ying’s.”
“With him by your side, I can rest assured.”
Hearing this, Li Chonglou shot up, his entire body aching. He exclaimed excitedly, “Brother Xu has actually reached the Qi Movement Realm.”
“It seems misfortune has turned into a blessing. With such great luck, breaking through a realm just by sleeping, tsk tsk… worth it!”
“That kid is naturally suited for martial arts; his roots are far superior to yours.” Lin Zhendong wiped his hands and said lightly, “Since he’s also practicing the Lin family’s cultivation technique, ask him later.”
“If I accept him as a disciple, will he be willing?”
“He’ll definitely be willing. If Master wants to accept him, how could he refuse!” Li Chonglou’s eyes lit up. Disregarding his lingering pain, he put on his clothes and went out to find Xu Lie. His own master had praised Xu Lie’s exceptional martial arts talent; it would be a shame if he didn’t learn the complete sheepskin scroll cultivation technique. Li Chonglou never felt jealous of those better than him; he only felt happy for them.
He explained everything to Xu Lie.
With a thud! Xu Lie immediately knelt before Lin Zhendong. “Student Xu Lie, honored by teacher’s regard, from this day forward I shall treat you as my father and never leave your side.”
“If anyone betrays the sect, all shall punish them!”
“Good, good, good!” Lin Zhendong beamed with joy, extended his hand to help Xu Lie up, his eyes filled with admiration. While Li Chonglou was present, he elaborated on his understanding of the sheepskin scroll cultivation technique and the realms beyond Qi Movement. Li Chonglou didn’t grasp much, but Xu Lie clearly benefited immensely, constantly posing questions he had in his mind, until Lin Zhendong couldn’t continue.
A night passed. With the unique medicinal wine personally concocted by Lin Zhendong, and the foundation of the sheepskin scroll cultivation technique, Li Chonglou’s injuries were mostly healed.
The next day, the four of them went to the company together. Xu Lie was arranged to be by his side as his secretary. Although he, as the vice president, had no real power, he had this much authority.
Soon, Kong Mo’s secretary arrived. “Vice President Li, a batch of goods needs you to personally receive it today. Here is the information, please do not make any mistakes with this important matter.”
“Director Kong hopes you will proceed with all matters from the company’s perspective.” The underlying tone was that of a superior reprimanding a subordinate. It was evident he was relying on Kong Mo’s influence and likely acting under Kong Mo’s implicit instructions. Li Chonglou remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and just watched him.
After three seconds, the secretary averted his gaze, the awkwardness fading.
“This person harbors ill will towards you,” Xu Lie said calmly after the secretary left. “Shall I find an opportunity to warn him?”
“No, absolutely not. Brother Xu, I am a businessman, I don’t do such things,” Li Chonglou quickly waved his hand. He knew what Xu Lie meant; the polite term was "warn," but the crude term was "beat him into submission." If it were in the past, it wouldn’t matter, but now that he had a mission, he definitely couldn’t do this. Otherwise, it would only escalate the conflict, making it much harder to find the person behind it.
Xu Lie nodded, indicating he understood, and then closed his eyes to meditate. He seemed to be comprehending the insights Lin Zhendong had shared the previous night. Li Chonglou, with nothing else to do, finished reviewing the documents and went to stroll through the various floors. After strolling for a few dozen minutes, he arrived at the appraisal room.
“President Li!” Wu Tao respectfully stood up upon seeing Li Chonglou, omitting the title of "Vice." He feared no official but feared being managed; now that Li Chonglou was his superior, he couldn’t afford to offend him, and no matter how displeased he was, he had to be respectful.
“You’re here?” Lin Ying smiled. “I happen to need you for something.” With that, she glanced at Wu Tao. The latter immediately understood and retreated into his office, leaving space for the two of them.
“What is it, Senior Sister?” Li Chonglou knew his senior sister’s personality; she wouldn’t be this formal for no reason.
“Look at this.” Lin Ying opened the safe and took out a scroll painting. With a rustle, she unrolled it. It was a landscape painting depicting a vast lake, with snow-capped mountains faintly visible in the distance. Though it was only in black and white, it exuded a sense of mystery and coolness, as if transporting one into ice and snow, emitting a chilling aura.
“A painting by Yang Lu of the Eastern Han Dynasty?” Li Chonglou identified the painting’s origin with just one glance at the inscription.
“Good eyesight!” Lin Ying gave him a thumbs-up in praise. “This painting was acquired by Xingzhi Group some time ago. I just found it today.”
“It suddenly reminded me of something.”
“Perhaps it has something to do with what you and my father have been contemplating recently.”
“You mean?” Li Chonglou immediately understood Lin Ying’s meaning, his eyes lighting up. “Let’s talk in my office.” There were surveillance cameras everywhere in the appraisal room; if Kong Mo reviewed the footage later, their conversation could be very disadvantageous. Lin Ying rolled up the painting, asked Qi Yu to watch over it in her office, and then followed Li Chonglou back to the vice president’s office.
With a rustle! Li Chonglou pulled down the blackout curtains, turned off both their phones, and also had Xu Lie take Lin Ying’s locator watch to the next room. Only then did he speak. “If I’m not mistaken, this painting should have been commissioned by Liu Yong for Yang Lu?”
“Liu Yong was from Suiyang, Liang Commandery, at the end of the Xin Dynasty, an eighth-generation descendant of King Xiao of Liang. His father, Liu Li, was killed by Wang Mang.”
“When Liu Xuan ascended the throne, Liu Yong first went to Luoyang, inherited the title of King of Liang, and was stationed in Suiyang.”
“Later, he raised an army and captured twenty-eight cities including Jiyin and Shanyang, and allied with Dong Xian, Zhang Bu, and others, proclaiming himself Emperor.”
“He had a great feud with Wang Mang.”
Lin Ying became increasingly impressed as she listened. This junior disciple was simply reciting history from memory. A walking encyclopedia, his knowledge content was probably more terrifying than his father’s. Such an obscure artifact, he identified it at a glance. His discerning eye was likely among the best in the country.
“That’s right. I haven’t fully studied this painting yet, but I always had a vague feeling it would be useful to us,” Lin Ying replied, nodding. “That base, every time you activated it with your blood, it always showed the character for water, didn’t it?”
“In the past few days, when I had free time, I’ve almost flipped through all the historical records. Throughout the dynasties, there have been countless emperors associated with water.”
“However, there are only a few who can find a direct connection.”
“Wang Mang is one of them.”
Hearing this, Li Chonglou’s eyes lit up as if he had remembered something. Lin Ying’s words reminded him of an important matter.