Jiang Wuming was unaware that Dawson had secretly arrived in Luocheng to help him. He also didn't know that Saint Lun @ Roman was at the Western Dock, fully aware of his movements and having intercepted Dawson.
Fifteen minutes after arriving at the Western Dock, Jiang Wuming received a mysterious phone call, but it wasn't from the same number as before.
The call was transferred through a network telephone, making it impossible to trace the location or origin of the call.
"It seems you care a lot about your woman, rushing to the Western Dock so quickly..."
The call connected, and the mysterious voice from before spoke again.
"Stop the nonsense and tell me what to do next," Jiang Wuming interrupted coldly.
Although he believed Li Lianyi's safety was guaranteed until he fully fell into their trap, he wanted to reach her sooner.
"There's a yacht on the shore to your northeast. Pilot the yacht westward. I'll contact you when you reach your destination and tell you the next step," the mysterious person said, sounding displeased.
"I have a condition," Jiang Wuming stated.
"Jiang Wuming, I hope you understand your current situation – your woman is in my hands. If you want to save her, do as I say!" the mysterious person said, clearly annoyed.
Jiang Wuming did not reply.
"What condition?"
After a full half-minute, the mysterious person finally couldn't help but ask.
To him and his companions, Li Lianyi's life or death was irrelevant. They only wanted to kill Jiang Wuming and nip future crises in the bud.
The mysterious person's compromise was entirely within Jiang Wuming's expectations. He calmly stated his condition:
"I want to speak with Lianyi until I meet her."
"I can agree to that, but I will warn her that if she leaks any sensitive information, I will terminate your call at any time!"
The mysterious person remained silent for a few seconds before agreeing to Jiang Wuming's condition, but also setting his own terms.
"Alright."
Jiang Wuming agreed. He knew the mysterious person was worried about sensitive information being exposed, but he didn't care about that. He just wanted Li Lianyi to know as soon as possible that she would be alright.
On the deserted island, Li Lianyi had been brought back to the beach, still unconscious.
"Mr. Shius, Jiang Wuming wants to speak with her," the mysterious person, who was also the leading five-star War God elder, said to Shius.
"Damn it, why is this bastard Jiang Wuming so troublesome?" Shius said irritably.
"To prevent him from not coming, I agreed to his request, but we won't let them discuss sensitive information, or the call will be terminated," the leading five-star War God elder stated.
"Do as you please. I just hope you understand that if this matter is exposed and the mission fails, someone among you will have to take responsibility," Shius said, frowning, but ultimately not objecting.
"Don't worry, Mr. Shius. As long as Jiang Wuming is killed, this woman's matter will bring no trouble. Even if the truth of her not dying in the plane crash is exposed, so what? She's just an ordinary person, easily killed by any ruthless criminal, isn't she?" the leading five-star War God elder said calmly.
As he said, as long as Jiang Wuming died, it wouldn't matter whether Li Lianyi died in a plane crash or by murder. The only difference between the two would be the presence of a scapegoat. And scapegoats often died before investigations began, just like the scapegoat who colluded with the Zhao family in the Ye Jinmei incident years ago!
With a splash, the leading five-star War God elder ended his conversation with Shius and, in a flash, moved beside Li Lianyi. He sent out a stream of internal energy, scooped up some seawater, and sprinkled it on her.
Li Lianyi was instantly drenched and woke from her unconsciousness. However, her expression was somewhat dazed, and her scalp felt like it was being pricked by needles.
"Jiang Wuming wants to talk to you, but I warn you, don't say anything sensitive, or I will terminate your call!" the leading five-star War God elder said sternly, placing the phone in front of Li Lianyi.
Huh?
Li Lianyi's consciousness was initially hazy, but upon hearing Jiang Wuming's name, she instantly sobered up a bit and quickly struggled to get up.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Li Lianyi struggled to stand, still feeling dizzy, but she adjusted her state by regulating her breathing, gradually regaining her composure.
Seeing this, the leading five-star War God elder directly dialed Jiang Wuming's number and then handed the satellite phone to Li Lianyi.
Li Lianyi instinctively reached out to grab the satellite phone, but it remained still. The leading five-star War God elder said indifferently, "You only need to speak."
"Lianyi, how are you doing now?"
As soon as the leading five-star War God elder finished speaking, Jiang Wuming's voice came through the receiver.
"I'm fine."
Hearing the young man's voice and sensing the anxiety and worry in his words, the girl's heart trembled, and her eyes immediately welled up. However, her expression remained extremely calm as she quickly said, "They arrested me to deal with you..."
"I know," the young man interrupted, continuing to ask worriedly, "Did they do anything to you?"
"No."
The girl replied without hesitation, concealing the fact that Shius had used mental energy attacks on her. Instead, she reminded him:
"Wuming, my team and I successfully developed Gene No. 1. This is a move that will benefit the global martial arts world and humanity. Killing me would be offending the Dragon Country and the global martial arts world! Therefore, they wouldn't dare do anything to me! You don't need to worry about me, and don't come looking for me..."
"Silly girl, I'm already on my way," Jiang Wuming interrupted again, his heart filled with emotion and tenderness.
The girl was in a dangerous situation, risking her life, yet she didn't want him to put himself in danger. She even pretended to be calm and provided a logical reason.
"No... don't come!"
Hearing the words "silly girl," the usually strong, calm, and composed girl finally broke down. Her eyes turned red, tears streaming down her face, her beautiful features etched with sadness, but more so with worry and urgency! That urgency caused her to completely abandon her usual demeanor, and she directly shouted, "They have nine..."
However, before Li Lianyi could finish saying the words "five-star War Gods," the call was disconnected.
The leading five-star War God hung up the phone and coldly warned, "I warned you!"
There was no reply. Li Lianyi's face was covered in tears, her expression filled with grief and despair.
Although she had been with Jiang Wuming for the past few days, she didn't know that Jiang Wuming had broken through to the ninth level of a four-star War God. She hadn't asked, and he hadn't told them, as they were simply enjoying their rare time together. Like everyone else except Qin Xiaozhi, she believed Jiang Wuming was still at the sixth level of a four-star War God, as he was during his fight with Buck. This also aligned with the normal progression of martial arts cultivation.
At this moment, there were nine five-star War Gods on the deserted island. Among them were three at the ninth level of five-star War God, and three each at the sixth, seventh, and eighth levels! Under these circumstances, Li Lianyi believed that Jiang Wuming coming to the deserted island to rescue her would be tantamount to suicide, hence her desire to stop him. However, the leading five-star War God elder did not give her that opportunity!
"Ding..."
Immediately, before Li Lianyi could recover from her grief and despair, the phone rang again.
"Remember, do not reveal anything about this island, or I will not give you a third chance to talk!" the leading five-star War God warned coldly.
"Alright," Li Lianyi agreed, nodding. Then, seeing the leading five-star War God elder connect the call, she asked first, "Wuming, do you know anything about the enemy's situation?"
"I don't, but that's not important. No matter who the enemy is, I will come to save you, just like before at the War God Pharmaceutical Research Institute," Jiang Wuming replied.
"But..." Li Lianyi carefully chose her words, wanting to persuade Jiang Wuming again.
"Silly girl, I know you're worried about my safety. But have you ever thought that if something happened to you, what would be the point of me living?" Jiang Wuming interrupted again, his tone very gentle.
"There... there is meaning! You still have the Zhanlong Hall, you have a group of brothers behind you! There are even many, many people watching you, expecting you to create a new legend! You are the hope for victory in the outer wars, the hope for the future of this world!" Li Lianyi said loudly.
"If I can't even protect the woman I love the most, then what's the point of protecting the world? What meaning does such protection have?!" Jiang Wuming spoke again, his tone decisive.
The girl immediately burst into tears.
Shius and the nine five-star War Gods were inwardly ecstatic. Since Jiang Wuming said this, it proved that he would definitely come!
Would he come?
"Hum... hum!"
A moment later, before Li Lianyi could say anything else, a yacht, like a mad water monster, roared and sped from the distant sea!
The young man had arrived!