It was past three in the morning. Hua Du City had shed its boisterousness, sinking into the quietude of deep night. A few cars still meandered through the neon-lit streets...
A taxi was heading towards the outskirts of Hua Du City. In the back sat a man dressed in a black trench coat and pants, wearing a black mask. This was the mysterious man who had failed to assassinate Wan Yunting and had escaped. He took out his phone and dialed a number. After two rings, it connected, and a calm male voice asked, "Uncle-Master Duan, how did it go?"
The mysterious man retorted, "Why were there disciples of the Wudang Sect beside the target?"
The person on the other end was taken aback. "Which of our Wudang disciples are you referring to?" they asked, a hint of confusion in their voice.
"A female disciple, quite skilled. Do you think I'd recognize her!" the mysterious man said.
The voice on the other end hummed. "Uncle-Master Duan has been away from the sect for over twenty years, so it's understandable you wouldn't recognize the younger generation of our Wudang disciples. But that's not the main point. I want to ask, Uncle-Master Duan, did you kill Wan Yunting tonight?"
"No."
The mysterious man stated without hesitation, "My identity has been exposed, I can't continue. This time, consider it a debt owed. But rest assured, I will find someone else to complete this mission for me."
The other person paused for a moment before replying, "Alright. I hope Uncle-Master Duan will not adhere to the rules of the jianghu. If you violate them, you know the consequences, I don't need to elaborate."
These words angered the mysterious man. He let out a cold snort, "I know, you don't need to remind me."
With that, he hung up the phone. The taxi driver, who had been observing the mysterious man in the rearview mirror, met his gaze. The man glared at the driver, "If you don't want to die, just drive properly..."
At nine in the morning, in the dining room of a villa in Chaoyang District, Beijing.
Ouyang Liqun, dressed in casual attire, was having breakfast with his father, Ouyang Zhiwei, and his mother, Fang Wenli, discussing company matters. Fang Wenli shifted the topic, saying, "I heard Elder Brother is looking for doctors everywhere again. He's even invited a Chinese medicine doctor from Hua Du City, named Gu something Bai, to treat his daughter!"
Ouyang Zhiwei finished his breakfast, lit a cigarette, and crossed his legs. He chuckled lightly, "So many years have passed. It's quite pitiful for that girl Fan Meng. Countless doctors have been consulted, yet none could cure her strange illness. It's always been a major worry for my Elder Brother."
Ouyang Liqun, while eating a sandwich, smiled and asked, "Dad, is my uncle still looking for his lost son?"
Ouyang Zhiwei and Fang Wenli paused, their gazes falling on Ouyang Liqun. They nodded and smiled, "He's still looking, we heard. Heh, but after searching for over twenty years without finding him, he's probably long dead."
Ouyang Liqun smiled and nodded, then looked at his father. "Dad, how did Uncle's son get lost?"
Ouyang Zhiwei's expression faltered. He turned to his son and shook his head, laughing. "How would I know? Apparently, they were being chased in Lingnan. To escape, they left their son in a restroom at a highway service area. When they went back to look for him, the boy was gone."
Ouyang Liqun smiled, "My uncle's line of the family is truly unfortunate. His son is missing, and my cousin Fan Meng suffers from a strange illness, confined to her room her entire life, afraid to be seen. Even when she sees me, she's terrified. It's a pity."
"Indeed."
Ouyang Zhiwei nodded. "I must admit, my uncle's mind is better than mine. The family business has flourished under his management. If your grandfather hadn't favored you, the position of family head would likely have gone to your uncle."
Ouyang Liqun chuckled and didn't say anything more. Having finished his meal, he wiped his mouth with a napkin. A maid from upstairs came down with his phone. "Young Master, your phone is ringing."
Ouyang Liqun nodded to his parents, took the phone from the maid, and recognized the number immediately. He walked towards the front courtyard of the villa and answered, "How is it?"
The voice on the other end was familiar, the same one that had spoken to the mysterious man last night. "Young Master Qun, there was a slight complication, but don't worry, I'll resolve it immediately!"
Hearing this, Ouyang Liqun's narrowed eyes flashed with a fierce glint. "Daoist Master Tan, don't forget our agreement!"
The voice on the other end quickly replied, "Rest assured, Young Master Qun, I understand the consequences."
"That's good. I hope your next call will be good news, not like this one, understand!" Ouyang Liqun's voice was calm, yet it carried a threatening undertone of anger.
"I understand..."
The voice on the other end responded in a low, subservient tone. Ouyang Liqun stopped speaking and directly hung up. His earlier pleasant mood vanished instantly, his heart darkening. The thought of Wan Yunting ignited a surge of anger within him.
How could he not hate Wan Yunting, whose empire, painstakingly built in Mexico, had collapsed overnight?
The local government forces in Mexico were still quelling the fleeing armed elements of the Qun Long drug trafficking group. Ouyang Liqun had intended to have Molton, the deputy captain of the elite armed escort team, infiltrate China to kill Wan Yunting. However, upon considering the nature of China, Ouyang Liqun abandoned the idea.
Therefore, Ouyang Liqun sought to use Chinese martial arts experts to assassinate Wan Yunting through other means, only to discover that they still couldn't kill him. This infuriated Ouyang Liqun. Was it truly that difficult to kill that brat?
Meanwhile, in Hua Du City, at the traditional Chinese villa estate at No. 9, Saintly Hall Summit.
After a night of practicing qigong to heal his injuries, Wan Yunting's condition had recovered by half, but he was still very weak. As he opened his eyes and attempted to get out of bed, he saw Niu Qiuling sleeping beside him. Wan Yunting was taken aback. He had been practicing qigong all night and hadn't noticed Niu Qiuling entering his room to watch over him in the latter half of the night. She had only fallen asleep at six in the morning...
At this moment, Duan Yingying appeared at the bedroom door. She intended to check on Wan Yunting, but saw him propped up on the bed, playfully tickling the sleeping Niu Qiuling's nose with a strand of her hair. Niu Qiuling's nose itched, and she swatted her hand out, missing him. This amused Wan Yunting, who smirked. Niu Qiuling then woke up, opening her hazy eyes and glaring at the man. Her voice was like a sleepy kitten's as she purred, "What are you doing? Can't I sleep?"
"I..."
Wan Yunting was about to continue teasing the girl when he noticed Duan Yingying standing at the door. Her large eyes were wide open, staring furiously at Wan Yunting. Seeing him and Niu Qiuling in bed like this, Duan Yingying's nose was almost twitching with anger. She let out a heavy snort, turned, and left.
Wan Yunting's expression turned blank. Niu Qiuling, lying down, looked at him with confusion. She then sat up, glanced sideways at the man, and pouted sourly, "I really underestimated you. Not seeing you for a few days, and you already have a few more unfamiliar women around. No wonder your official girlfriend doesn't live with you. What a player."
"What are you talking about..."
Wan Yunting also got out of bed, trying to stretch his waist and move his arms. However, the wound on his chest still caused him discomfort. He instinctively used his right hand to rub it, and then glared at Niu Qiuling, "That girl is the daughter of the previous sect leader of our Wuliang Daoist Temple. I have nothing to do with her."
"Hmph, nothing to do with you? Then why was she acting so jealous just now?"
Niu Qiuling followed him to the living room. Huang Guilan was already quietly cleaning up the mess left from the fight with the mysterious man last night. Seeing Wan Yunting emerge, Huang Guilan quickly greeted him and asked with concern how he was. Wan Yunting waved his hand at her and continued downstairs. Niu Qiuling followed him. Wan Yunting couldn't help but glance back at her and say, "Don't talk nonsense. That girl is spoiled and willful, with a strange temper. Why would she be jealous?"
Niu Qiuling yawned and retorted, "I'm a woman, how could I not tell if she was jealous?"
Wan Yunting stopped abruptly and turned to look at her, smiling, "Then what are you jealous of?"
Niu Qiuling paused, her almond-shaped eyes glaring at him fiercely. She said angrily, "I'm jealous of Jiangxi Lao Chen vinegar. Satisfied?"
Her words made Wan Yunting laugh...
Just then, Lan Xin entered from the back door, heading upstairs. She greeted them, "Sect Leader Wan, you're awake! Is your injury alright?"
"It's fine. Where is your master?" Wan Yunting nodded and asked.
"My master is practicing on the back lawn. I'm going upstairs to get her wooden sword," Lan Xin replied.
"Go ahead."
Wan Yunting pulled Niu Qiuling aside, and Lan Xin smiled and quickly ran upstairs...
Niu Qiuling watched the little girl going upstairs, then turned and coldly glanced at the man again, humming, "What about them? You say you have nothing to do with them either?"
"Nonsense, I have even less to do with them."
Wan Yunting continued downstairs and headed directly for the door leading to the backyard. "They are disciples of the Wudang Sect. They arrived yesterday, wanting to spar with me. But coincidentally, the person who came to kill me last night used Wudang techniques!"
"So, you suspect they are involved?"
Niu Qiuling followed him to the backyard and indeed saw Zi Qing, dressed in a simple gray daoist robe, her long hair tied up in a daoist bun with a wooden hairpin, sitting cross-legged on the distant lawn. She was meditating and practicing qigong in the morning sunlight...
Wan Yunting squinted his eyes at Zi Qing and shook his head slightly. "It has nothing to do with them. This is just a coincidence."
Niu Qiuling also looked at Zi Qing, who was meditating with her eyes closed, and hummed, "Are you so sure? Or perhaps, you've taken a liking to this daoist nun?"
These words made Wan Yunting turn back, giving Niu Qiuling a speechless look. "In your eyes, am I just a promiscuous scoundrel who flirts with every woman?"
"Aren't you?" Niu Qiuling stared at him, humming.
Wan Yunting rolled his eyes and said irritably, "If I were truly like that, you wouldn't be able to be so well."
"You..."
These words made Niu Qiuling's pretty face flush crimson. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in fierce anger, glaring at the man. Wan Yunting then chuckled and turned to walk towards Zi Qing...
"Pervert..."
Niu Qiuling spat at him fiercely...