ps: My apologies, I recently switched computers and am not yet accustomed to the input method, often mistyping "de" as other characters (like "dan" or "dou"). I have corrected the typos in the previous chapters and will be more diligent during the upload review to avoid errors.
...
The unification of the Qing and Hong factions benefited Chu Wansong the most, followed by Zhao Shanhe.
Zhao Shanhe was previously one of the elders of the Hong faction and had fought alongside Huang Xiong, his good brother. He held a prominent position within the Hong faction.
However, precisely because of his high prestige, he held almost no real power in the Hong faction previously – Huang Xiong did not entrust him with specific responsibilities, only giving him annual dividends.
Zhao Shanhe harbored resentment about this, but he also knew his good brother Huang Xiong was ruthless. He could only bury his dissatisfaction deep within his heart, lest his good brother send him to discuss life with the King of Hell.
Understanding all this, he had even prepared himself for retirement.
However—
Fate is truly wondrous. Just as Zhao Shanhe had decided to no longer concern himself with the affairs of the Hong faction, the Qing and Hong factions unified!
Furthermore, Chu Wansong, unexpectedly, did not choose his confidantes from the Qing faction to manage the Hong faction's businesses. Instead, he selected Zhao Shanhe.
This led Zhao Shanhe to experience a second spring, becoming the paramount leader of the Hong faction, accountable only to Chu Wansong. He was second only to Chu Wansong, a truly glorious position!
After dinner that night, Zhao Shanhe, as usual, was soaking in the hot springs at the Qinghong Villa.
A woman in her thirties accompanied him.
Zhao Shanhe was nearly sixty years old. He had long passed the age of pursuing a woman’s physical body and cared more about spiritual connection.
This woman was his long-time companion, an opera singer from Guangdong. She wasn't famous, and her looks and figure were merely above average, but she was quite intelligent.
Making a man feel pleasure was easily achievable for a beautiful woman, but making a man feel at ease was a task that truly tested wisdom.
This woman happened to excel at it!
In the hot spring pool, the woman, as usual, was massaging Zhao Shanhe's shoulders.
"Ring—"
Just then, his phone rang.
The woman tactfully stopped and glanced at the caller ID, saying, "It's an unknown number, showing it's from Donghai."
*Whoosh!*
Upon hearing the words "Donghai," Zhao Shanhe's eyes snapped open in shock!
All of this happened because of those two words – Chu Wansong was in Donghai!
Even though the caller was not Chu Wansong, the meticulous Zhao Shanhe decided to take the call.
The woman sensed Zhao Shanhe's thoughts. By the time he dried his hands, she had already handed the phone to him.
After Zhao Shanhe took the phone, she discreetly withdrew.
"Hello."
Zhao Shanhe answered the phone.
"Hello, Mr. Zhao, this is Jiang Wuming."
Jiang Wuming's voice came through the earpiece. He had obtained Zhao Shanhe's number from Chu Wansong.
Originally, Chu Wansong intended to call Zhao Shanhe himself, but Jiang Wuming decided to contact Zhao Shanhe directly.
*Splash—*
Hearing the name "Jiang Wuming," Zhao Shanhe jolted, standing up abruptly and splashing water.
"Hello, Young Master Jiang, do you have any instructions?"
After a brief moment of surprise, Zhao Shanhe inquired, his tone filled with respect.
Yes…
It was respect!
Even though he was now the second-in-command of the Qinghong, wielding significant power and wealth, upon learning that the person on the other end of the phone was Jiang Wuming, he treated him with the same deference he showed Chu Wansong!
On one hand, he had heard Chu Wansong say that he treated Jiang Wuming like his own child, similar to how he treated Chu Feng!
On the other hand, he knew very well that Chu Wansong's ability to unify Qinghong was entirely due to the young man on the phone!
More importantly, he knew that the young man had repeatedly created legends in the global martial arts world and had stirred up immense waves in the Dragon Triangle!
Many people believed the young man wouldn't last long, but to this day, the young man remained at the forefront of the Dragon Country and the global martial arts scene, watching the clouds drift by with a smile!
"Mr. Zhao, you flatter me. I wanted to ask for your help with something. I wonder if you are free at the moment?"
Although Jiang Wuming could sense Zhao Shanhe's respect, he did not put on airs and remained very polite.
"Young Master Jiang, please tell me your instructions directly, and I will attend to them immediately!" Zhao Shanhe responded as if receiving an order.
"How about this, Mr. Zhao, I'll send you an address. Please come over now, and I'll explain everything in detail when we meet," Jiang Wuming suggested after some thought.
"Understood, Young Master Jiang!"
Zhao Shanhe responded immediately. After Jiang Wuming hung up, he got out of the hot spring pool to change his clothes.
The woman could sense Zhao Shanhe's urgency and felt a slight sense of confusion.
This was because, ever since Zhao Shanhe became the paramount leader of the Hong faction, this had only happened once before.
That occasion was when Chu Wansong made an incognito visit to Nanguang, and upon hearing the news, Zhao Shanhe had rushed to meet him immediately!
...
Half an hour later, Zhao Shanhe arrived at He Fang's villa according to the address Jiang Wuming had sent.
When he arrived, Jiang Wuming was already waiting at the villa entrance.
"Young Master Jiang!"
As his car stopped, Zhao Shanhe immediately walked towards Jiang Wuming and greeted him.
Back then, Zhao Shanhe had witnessed Jiang Wuming's battle with Tiger.
From that day on, he remembered the name Jiang Wuming and his appearance.
"Mr. Zhao, thank you for making this trip." Jiang Wuming stepped forward to shake hands with Zhao Shanhe.
"It's no trouble at all. It's my honor to serve Young Master Jiang!"
Zhao Shanhe smiled and did not proactively ask why Jiang Wuming had summoned him.
"Mr. Zhao, does the loan shark business in Nanguang fall under the Hong faction?" Jiang Wuming cut to the chase, no longer beating around the bush.
"Young Master Jiang, it used to be managed by the Hong faction. However, after Qinghong unified, Master Chu felt that this business was harmful and unethical, so it was divested. At that time, Zhou Ba, who was responsible for this business, became an independent entity."
Zhao Shanhe replied truthfully.
"Mr. Zhao, it's like this…"
Jiang Wuming concisely explained He Fang's situation to Zhao Shanhe.
"Young Master Jiang, I will handle this matter!"
After listening, Zhao Shanhe stated directly, "Although that brat Zhou Ba has now found Zheng Tianyuan of Nangang to be his backer, since you have spoken, not only will he not take twenty million, but he won't be able to take even two hundred million! As for those few suicidal bastards who dared to provoke you and your friends, I'll chop them up and throw them into the Pearl River to feed the fish!"
"They've arrived faster than I expected."
This time, Jiang Wuming did not respond to Zhao Shanhe. Instead, he directed his gaze towards the road in the residential area.
Following his gaze, one could clearly see seven or eight cars heading towards the villa, their headlights shining blindingly.
"Young Master Jiang, you should go inside and wait. I'll go talk to that brat Zhou Ba," Zhao Shanhe said after a moment's thought, knowing that Zhou Ba had brought people.
"I'll wait with you."
Jiang Wuming gently shook his head.
"Alright."
Zhao Shanhe was slightly taken aback but dared not voice any objection. Inwardly, he marveled.
Provoking the powerful.
Zhou Ba was practically courting death!
...