Xiao Wuji also witnessed the fury of Jiangbei City's tycoons. Under duress, he produced another twenty billion to appease them before retreating in disgrace back to Yanjing.
"Father, I've messed everything up this time. Not only did the family lose sixty billion, but the experts you sent me were also crippled by that bastard Lu Yang!" Xiao Wuji said, filled with misery.
"I am aware of this. Wuji, you were too careless. With things turned out this way, there's little I can do. However, I've spoken with the Patriarch, and he's willing to give you another chance to redeem yourself. How do you plan to recover the losses?" Xiao Wuji's father asked.
"What? The Patriarch is willing to give me another chance?" Hearing his father's words, Xiao Wuji's face instantly lit up with excitement.
"Indeed. However, this opportunity was bought with my life. If you fail to redeem yourself this time and recover the family's losses, our entire family will be expelled from the Xiao family and left to starve on the streets!" Xiao Wuji's father sighed.
"Dad!"
"Don't worry, Father. This time, I will definitely defeat that Lu Yang!"
"I've investigated thoroughly. Lu Yang's backing is merely support from a foreign giant. That giant is wealthy, and my funds are no match for theirs. However, if Lu Yang is killed, the entire Haitian Group will be leaderless, and we can seize it!"
"Once we take over the Haitian Group, the Patriarch will surely be very pleased!" Xiao Wuji said immediately.
"How do you plan to proceed?" Xiao Wuji's father continued to ask.
"This time, Xiao Wuji has not only offended our Yanjing Xiao family but also the Yanjing Bai family. I also heard that the young master of the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen was also crippled. Therefore, I plan to join forces with the Yanjing Bai family and the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen to set up a 'Hongmen banquet' and seize the opportunity to kill Lu Yang!"
"With the Great Grandmaster of the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen making a move, Lu Yang will have nowhere to hide. I know that the Great Grandmaster of the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen is a Grandmaster of martial arts, with unfathomable abilities, ranking among the very best in all of China. A mere Lu Yang is no match for him!"
"Once Lu Yang is killed, all these problems will be solved!" Xiao Wuji stated with absolute certainty.
"Hmm, your reasoning is sound. How about this: I'll use my influence to contact another powerful individual for you. With this individual's involvement, success will be assured!" Xiao Wuji's father pondered and said.
"Thank you, Father. Father, please rest assured, I will not shame you again this time!" Xiao Wuji said warmly upon hearing his father's words.
"Mm!"
"Then go ahead and make contact. For the next few days, use all your connections to contact all available reinforcements. Then, head to Jiangbei City, eliminate that brat, seize the Haitian Group, and gain control of the entire Jiangbei City market. Only then will you have the leverage to contend for the position of Patriarch!" Xiao Wuji's father nodded.
"I understand, Father!" Upon finishing his father's instructions, Xiao Wuji immediately set to work.
...
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen, an elder, filled with rage, slammed a cup to the ground. It was a Tang Dynasty Sancai porcelain, worth hundreds of thousands, now shattered.
"Damn it! A mere Jiangbei City has cost me two of my top men! Who is it that injured Elder Wang and killed Elder Lin?" the elder asked Hu Junjie sternly.
This elder was the president of the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen, Hu Xingkai, and Hu Junjie's father.
"It's a young man, looks to be in his twenties, named Lu Yang. But his skills are truly formidable. Even when Elder Lin and Elder Wang unleashed their ultimate techniques, they were still no match for this young man!" Hu Junjie quickly replied to his father.
"How did such a young man cultivate to become so powerful?"
"However, he will pay the price. Our Yanjing branch of the Hongmen will not tolerate such a grievance. We will exact our revenge!" Hu Xingkai roared coldly.
"Father, it seems we have no choice but to summon the Great Grandmaster of the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen. Otherwise, no one can stand against that young man!" Hu Junjie continued.
"Indeed, the Great Grandmaster is in seclusion and will emerge in a few days. It is said he is cultivating a divine technique, which can be conveniently tested on that young man!" Hu Xingkai said coldly.
At this moment, a man walked in and reported to Hu Xingkai, "President, there is a young man from the Xiao family outside who wishes to see you!"
"Xiao family? Could it be Xiao Wuji?" Hearing the name, Hu Junjie immediately spoke up.
"Xiao Wuji? What does he want?" Hu Xingkai asked coldly. The Yanjing branch of the Hongmen has always had no dealings with these families; they each operate independently. He wondered what business Xiao Wuji had that brought him to the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen.
"Father, I heard the Xiao family also suffered a major setback in Jiangbei City this time, losing over a hundred billion. He's probably here to discuss cooperation with us!" Hu Junjie said with a smile.
"Very well, let him in. Since we have a common enemy, we can temporarily become partners!" Hu Xingkai nodded.
Soon, Xiao Wuji entered the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen.
"President Hu, Young Master Hu!" Seeing the two, Xiao Wuji immediately bowed and paid his respects.
"What brings you here?" Hu Xingkai asked coldly.
"I heard that the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen suffered a loss in Jiangbei City, so I've come specifically to discuss cooperation with President Hu. Our Xiao family also suffered a loss this time, so the Xiao family is willing to contribute fifty billion to facilitate this cooperation!"
"Furthermore, my father has also found a master, and together we will ensure that Lu Yang has nowhere to escape!" Xiao Wuji said with a smile.
Hearing Xiao Wuji's words, Hu Xingkai's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected the Xiao family to expend such great resources to deal with a young man in his early twenties. It was clear that the Xiao family had ambitions in Jiangbei City.
"Good. Since the Xiao family is willing, our Yanjing branch of the Hongmen will not be pretentious. After our Great Grandmaster emerges from seclusion, we will all head to Jiangbei City together, turn Jiangbei City upside down, and let everyone know that the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen is not to be trifled with!" Hu Xingkai said directly.
"Thank you, President Hu. Rest assured, our Xiao family will cooperate fully!" Xiao Wuji said excitedly after hearing Hu Xingkai.
Having secured the Yanjing branch of the Hongmen, Xiao Wuji felt that he had succeeded ninety percent. The remaining ten percent was to add another layer of insurance.
At this time, at the Haitian Group, having profited nearly two hundred billion, the entire Haitian Group was ecstatic. Lu Yang had also kept his promise and issued a bonus of twenty thousand yuan to everyone.