The night descended, and the dense, dark clouds enshrouded the Hong Kong sky like a vast canopy, blocking out the starlight and hinting at an approaching storm.
After Jiang Wuming and Dongfang Xiaoyao left the Central Tower, Zheng Tianyuan hosted a dinner for everyone present.
Tai Shan declined, citing prior commitments.
This was within Zheng Tianyuan's expectations. He offered a brief, polite farewell and did not insist on his staying.
However, after the dinner concluded, Zheng Tianyuan specifically asked Wang Liang to stay.
"Mr. Zheng, what did you want to discuss with me?" Wang Liang asked, curious, after the others had left.
"Director Wang, to express my gratitude, I would like to present you with a gift. Of course, I understand that with your status, ordinary gifts would not interest you. However, I believe you will like the gift I have prepared for you."
Zheng Tianyuan kept him in suspense for a moment, and seeing that he had piqued Wang Liang's interest, he continued:
"As you know, I deal in antiques. Some time ago, my staff acquired a book while collecting goods.
That ancient book was found in a large tomb and preserved with special instruments. Its age is considerable.
According to the appraisals I've had done, that ancient book is a martial arts cultivation manual!
Although I don't understand martial arts, I believe that the way its owner so carefully preserved it suggests it must be quite valuable!"
"Where is the ancient book?"
As expected, Wang Liang was immediately intrigued.
Given his status and position, wealth was no longer his primary concern, but a martial arts manual was enough to capture his attention!
Especially a martial arts manual from ancient times, unearthed from a tomb?!
"It's at my club. I'll take you there," Zheng Tianyuan said.
"Good."
Wang Liang did not stand on ceremony.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Tianyuan smiled slightly.
In addition to preparing an ancient book for Wang Liang, he had also arranged for two carefully selected beauties at his club, with the intention of keeping Wang Liang there for the night!
...
In a villa in the affluent Mid-Levels district of Hong Kong, a burly Caucasian man, holding a roasted chicken in one hand and a bottle of foreign liquor in the other, was heartily eating and drinking, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Not far from the man, an old man sat cross-legged on a sofa.
The old man was small and frail, presenting a stark contrast to the large man.
He sat there motionless, like an old monk in deep meditation, his breathing almost imperceptible, giving the impression of being deceased. A chilling aura emanated from him.
"The food in Dragon Country is truly excellent, much better than in Europe."
A few minutes later, the Caucasian man finished the last piece of chicken, gulped down a large mouthful of wine, and let out a satisfied burp. He then glanced at the old man and said, "Nissen, at your age, why are you still cultivating? Wouldn't it be better to simply enjoy the rest of your life?"
"Swish!"
The old man, named Nissen, suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp as a knife, and his chilling aura intensified. He glanced at the Caucasian man and retorted, "Are you saying I should waste my martial arts talent like you?"
"Nissen, if you had my martial arts talent, what realm do you think you would be in by now?" the Caucasian man asked with some curiosity.
He had once been one of Europe's martial arts prodigies, but due to his lack of diligent practice, he had been surpassed by his peers and was now only a Two-star War God.
Nissen, in front of him, was also a Two-star War God, but his combat power far surpassed his own.
This was because Nissen had surpassed the limits of the Two-star War God realm!
The War God realm was divided into five stars, with each star further divided into early, mid, late, and peak stages.
This was the classification system for warriors established by the War God Hall.
However, warriors themselves preferred to divide each realm into nine segments.
The peak of a Two-star War God was equivalent to the ninth segment of a Two-star War God.
This was because nine represented the limit, a concept universally recognized.
To "surpass the limit" meant reaching the tenth segment.
The tenth segment represented the strongest overlord within each realm!
Throughout history, any warrior who managed to dominate an era had cultivated to the tenth segment in every realm.
Nissen, due to his limited martial arts talent, had remained in the Two-star War God realm for twenty years, but he had managed to cultivate to the tenth segment, making him an invincible existence within this realm!
Hearing the Caucasian man's words, Nissen closed his eyes again, ignoring him.
"Nissen, with your strength, even if the leader of the Battle Dragon Hall were truly protecting that kid named Jiang Wuming, you could easily kill them both. Why did the organization still send me?"
Seeing Nissen remain silent, the Caucasian man, named Jack, changed the subject.
Nissen continued to be silent.
"Damn it, Nissen, it's so boring carrying out missions with you!" Jack couldn't help but start complaining. "All plans have to follow your lead, but you don't say anything!
More importantly, why did you let that guy Zheng Tianyuan meet Jiang Wuming? Wouldn't it have been better if we just eliminated him and left this place earlier?"
"The organization sending me with you for this mission means that this task is extremely important and must be completed," Nissen reopened his eyes and answered Jack's question with a frown. "As for letting Zheng Tianyuan meet the target, there were two purposes."
"What purposes?"
"First, Zheng Tianyuan will find a way to stall the head of the Dragon Country Martial Department's Hong Kong branch, Wang Liang, to prevent Wang Liang from interfering with us eliminating the target..."
"Nissen, Wang Liang is also just a Two-star War God. With our strength, killing him would be easy!" Jack raised an objection.
"Although both you and I can easily kill Wang Liang, don't forget his identity! If he dies, the Dragon Country Martial Department will surely investigate thoroughly. If they trace it back to us, it will implicate the organization!" Nissen said coldly.
"Alright, what's the second purpose?" Jack asked again.
"To lure Tai Shan into assassinating the target!" Nissen dropped a bombshell.
"What?!"
Jack was stunned.
"The target killed Tai Shan's son, Tai Ge. That Tai Ge was the most talented heir of the Tai family, the future of the Tai family, and was even hailed as one of the strongest prodigies in the Dragon Country martial arts world.
According to the information I have, after the target killed Tai Ge, Tai Shan wanted to take revenge on the spot, but he ultimately did not act due to the deterrence of the Dragon Country Martial Department.
At that time, the target confronted Tai Shan, claiming he would challenge the Tai family in the future!
I intend to have Zheng Tianyuan use a provocation tactic to force the target into a fight with Tai Shan. The target will undoubtedly refuse – he is no match for Tai Shan!
This is because the target is currently only a Nine-star Martial Artist, with combat power comparable to the ninth segment of a One-star War God.
Given the target's style of conduct, although he will refuse to fight Tai Shan, he will become even more determined to challenge the Tai family in the future, and will likely display this intention in front of Tai Shan.
In this scenario, what do you think Tai Shan will do?" Nissen asked Jack.
"If I were Tai Shan, I would definitely kill the target as soon as possible. This would be to avenge his son. More importantly, the target is growing rapidly and possesses astonishing real combat power. Once he matures, he will be a disaster for Tai Shan and the Tai family!" Jack thought carefully.
"Yes, you have perfectly deduced Tai Shan's thoughts.
In this situation, by having Zheng Tianyuan find a way to let Tai Shan know about the bounty on the target on the dark web, and the news that assassins attempting to kill the target have been captured, wouldn't that be enough to lure Tai Shan into assassinating the target?" Nissen continued.
"God, so you deliberately let those two assassins expose themselves and be captured by the Dragon Country Martial Department, not just to lull the Dragon Country Martial Department, but also to lure Tai Shan into assassinating the target?" Jack exclaimed, then felt something was amiss. "But that's not right. If Tai Shan can't kill the target, it will make the target wary and also affect our mission."
"Tai Shan is merely bait. My luring him into assassinating the target is to see if the Battle Dragon Hall's leader is secretly protecting the target, and also to confirm if the Dragon Country Martial Department has dispatched other strong individuals to Hong Kong!" Nissen revealed his ultimate objective.
"Nissen, I finally understand why your mission success rate is one hundred percent – you not only have strength but are also insidious!" Jack couldn't help but remark.
"A competent hunter must be patient and meticulous," Nissen said, glancing at his watch. "It's almost time. Prepare yourselves, it's time for the hunt!"
...