Long Xiao patted the pocket of his shirt. The roasted soybeans he usually carried were gone. He looked back at the bodyguards and said, "Which of you can go get me some beans, peanuts, or something like that?"
The atmosphere was tense, with both sides on the verge of a fight. Long Xiao's sudden request for beans and peanuts caught everyone off guard.
"Brother Long, if you want peanuts, I have some," one of the bodyguards said, pulling a small packet of roasted peanuts from his pocket.
This bodyguard was a heavy drinker. Just as he was about to have a drink, someone had barged into the villa. Everyone had rushed to the main entrance to intercept the intruders, and he had casually stuffed a packet of roasted peanuts and a small bottle of wine into his pocket, intending to have a drink when he had the chance.
Long Xiao took the roasted peanuts and said, "Thank you."
"Brother Long, no need to thank me. I have some small wine here too, would you like a sip?" the bodyguard asked in a low voice.
Long Xiao shook his head and said, "Let them drink. I'll treat them to peanuts."
Long Xiao tore open the packet of roasted peanuts and casually tossed them towards the crowd.
When experts clash, every move is met with caution. Long Xiao's sudden act of throwing peanuts at the opposing group startled everyone. They scattered in fear, worried that Long Xiao would use the peanuts to attack them.
The roasted peanuts landed on the ground without any unusual occurrences. Everyone stared at them for a few seconds, and seeing that nothing happened, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
No one could figure out what Long Xiao was up to.
"It's a bit impolite to just throw roasted peanuts on the ground when offering them to someone," someone began to tease Long Xiao.
Before the person could finish speaking, Long Xiao formed a hand seal and muttered an incantation. Suddenly, two roasted peanuts floated up from the ground and hovered in front of the speaker.
"Open your mouth," Long Xiao said after finishing the chant.
This guy had never seen anything like it before, roasted peanuts floating on their own.
"This is bad, he can control objects with his aura. He's at the Celestial Realm!" someone shouted and turned to run.
The shout was not loud, but those who heard it followed him. Those who didn't hear it saw people fleeing and didn't know why.
The guy who had been teasing Long Xiao was still stunned when the two peanuts suddenly shot out like bullets. One pierced through his brow, the other through his mouth, both exiting from the back of his head.
The two roasted peanuts killed instantly, and the scene descended into chaos. Everyone who had intruded into the Huo family's premises tried to escape. Some bumped into each other, while others slipped on the roasted peanuts on the ground, falling face-first.
Within minutes, all the intruders had fled, leaving only the corpses on the ground.
"Alright, you guys clean up. I'm going to sleep. I have to wake up early tomorrow," Long Xiao said lazily, swaying as he returned to the main building of the villa to rest.
"Brother Long, you're amazing! You scared so many people away," Huo Tianyi exclaimed, rushing to Long Xiao and taking his hand.
Long Xiao gently withdrew his hand, causing Huo Tianyi's face to blush slightly.
Huo Zhen stepped forward and said, "Young Master Long, thank you so much. Without you, I would not have survived this ordeal today."
After a brief chat with the Huo father and daughter, Long Xiao returned to his room to rest.
Long Xiao woke up early the next morning. After washing up, he accompanied Huo Zhen to the Grand Bay Hotel.
The Grand Bay Hotel was built in a bay, with a lush green mountain behind it and the vast sea in front.
As Huo Zhen was a prominent figure in Hong Kong, his private room was the best. From the window, one could see the ships of various sizes in the bay and birds flying over the sea.
Upon their arrival, a waiter served them a pot of tea. Long Xiao and Huo Zhen sipped their tea while waiting for Jack.
After about half an hour, the sound of footsteps and conversations in English could be heard from outside the door.
Long Xiao's English was not good, so he couldn't understand what they were saying.
A handsome Nordic man with blonde hair and blue eyes pushed open the door to the private room. He glanced at Long Xiao and Huo Zhen and said, "I apologize, Mr. Huo, for keeping you waiting."
The Nordic man's Chinese was fluent. If not for his appearance, no one would have guessed he was from Northern Europe.
Following behind him was a distinguished-looking middle-aged man, who also greeted Long Xiao and Huo Zhen before sitting opposite them with the Nordic man.
It was clear that the Nordic man was Jack, and the middle-aged man behind him was his associate.
Huo Zhen glanced at Long Xiao, who then said, "I don't think we need to beat around the bush. Let's get straight to the point."
The Nordic man nodded and said, "Hello, I am Jack. My friend here is Lawrence. We both serve the Tongji Association."
"My name is Long Xiao."
Jack's face showed surprise. "Are you Long Xiao of Donghai?"
Long Xiao nodded. "Yes, I am from Donghai."
"I have heard of your reputation. We have never met. It is Jack's honor to meet Young Master Long today."
"You are too kind, Mr. Jack. It is useless to say more. Let's discuss the main business first."
Jack was not someone to be trifled with, and Long Xiao did not want to say too much, as any slip-up could lead to the other party knowing more about him.
"Young Master Long is too cautious. I have never been to Donghai; I saw information about you at the Tongji Association."
"The Tongji Association has my information?" Long Xiao asked curiously.
Jack nodded. "Yes, we have a data center at the Tongji Association. As long as you are outstanding enough, the Tongji Association will pay attention to you and collect your information."
Lawrence said, "Young Master Long, our Tongji Association's data center records outstanding individuals worldwide. Only those who are sufficiently excellent will have their information appear in the data center."
Although Lawrence's words sounded pleasant, being noticed by a large organization like the Tongji Association was not a good thing.
"Is that so? It seems your Tongji Association values me highly," Long Xiao said casually.
Lawrence nodded. "Our Tongji Association keeps track of all talents in all countries around the world. If someone is exceptionally outstanding, we will send them an invitation to become one of us."
Although Long Xiao was very curious about the Tongji Association, he did not want to discuss it further. He was here to solve Huo Zhen's problem.
He called for a waiter, ordered dishes, and after the waiter left, Long Xiao said, "Mr. Jack, let's first discuss your business with the Huo family. Once the matter is resolved, we can enjoy our meal. Otherwise, Mr. Huo will not be able to eat in peace."
Jack chuckled and said, "Actually, we don't have any conflict with the Huo family. We just want to see the Qilin Soul in Mr. Huo's body. Don't worry, we won't take it; we just want to see it and record the data."
Huo Zhen quickly said, "Mr. Jack, I do not have a Qilin Soul within me. Everyone who wanted to obtain the Qilin Soul decades ago knew this."
"Whether Mr. Huo has a Qilin Soul within him is not for us to decide. I need to see the facts."
"How do you intend to see it? Are you going to cut open Mr. Huo's body?" Long Xiao asked unhappily.
Lawrence smiled and said, "Of course not. We have our methods. Just as you, Master Long, can see the internal situation of others, so can we."
Hearing Lawrence's words, Long Xiao was greatly surprised. He had never told anyone that he could see the internal situation of others using his vital energy, yet people from the Tongji Association actually knew about it.