Chapter 343: Chapter 342 Zhuge Hong Enters the World
"You don’t need to know who she is, you only need to remember one thing: she is a person our Sun Family cannot afford to offend, and moreover, she is a key figure on whether our Sun Family can rise to the next level," Sun Xingwen said in a grave voice.
Sun Xingyu felt a bitterness in his heart, but he did not argue.
Although he was the favored son of the younger generation within the Sun Family, as long as his older brother was around, he would never have a chance to rise to power.
If he did not follow his older brother’s arrangement, life would become very difficult for his mother and his younger sister.
For the sake of his family, he had already betrayed brotherly love and sold out his companions a year ago; now, it was impossible to turn back.
"Yes, I will do my best," Sun Xingyu said.
Sun Xingwen looked at him, walked over, patted his shoulder, and whispered, "Although you and I are brothers from the same father but different mothers, the blood that flows through our veins is still half the same, and both of us carry the surname Sun, so we have the responsibility to strive for the development of our family."
Sun Xingyu let out a chuckle, looked at Sun Xingwen, and said, "Don’t worry, Big Brother, I know what to do."
Sun Xingwen smiled with satisfaction and said, "Good, you prepare yourself. I’ll call you after that esteemed guest arrives tonight."
"Okay," Sun Xingyu responded.
Sun Xingwen did not say more and turned to leave.
After a moment of silence, Sun Xingyu’s eyes flashed with a sharp light as he muttered to himself, "Tang, I have no way out, I’m sorry."
At eleven o’clock at night, Sun Xingyu followed his older brother, Sun Xingwen, to the airport to pick up their guest.
The guests were a man and a woman; the woman appeared to be in her early thirties, distinguished and extremely beautiful, tall and full-figured. Despite dressing like a city woman, she exuded the unique aura of an Eastern classical beauty.
A middle-aged man followed behind her.
This man seemed to be in his fifties, but his deep eyes and world-weary demeanor suggested that his actual age was probably much older.
"Miss Zhuge, welcome, you must be tired from your journey," Sun Xingwen hurried forward and reached out to the woman as he spoke.
The woman glanced at the hand Sun Xingwen extended but did not shake it; she just said indifferently, "You are Sun Xingwen?"
Sun Xingwen quickly nodded, "Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself just now, I am Sun Xingwen, who has been in contact with you. This is my blood brother, Sun Xingyu. We will do our utmost to help resolve Miss Zhuge’s troubles."
The woman was indeed Zhuge Hong, born into the Zhuge aristocratic family and held an extraordinary status there.
More than a decade ago, when Zhang Yunlong went to the Hidden Sect World, she fell in love with him at first sight and has since been deeply in love.
This time around, when the news of Zhang Yunlong being abducted reached her, she became frantic and, after appealing to her family elders, she arrived in the mundane world accompanied by an uncle from her family, searching for Zhang Yunlong’s whereabouts.
Zhuge Hong, anxious for Yunlong’s safety, said directly after hearing Sun Xingwen’s introduction, "I heard you might know the whereabouts of the ’International Madman’ group. Please tell me where they are, and the Zhuge family will surely reward you handsomely in the future."
Sun Xingwen, overjoyed inside, hurriedly said to Zhuge Hong, "Miss Zhuge, please don’t be anxious. We will do our best to help find their location. It’s very late now, and after your long journey, I’ve already arranged accommodations. Why not rest for the night and proceed tomorrow?"
Zhuge Hong frowned and said, "How can the rescue be delayed? So many days have passed, and I don’t know if Yunlong is still alive. I must determine his location as quickly as possible."
Seeing her urgency, Sun Xingwen felt a sinking feeling.
He had previously asked Sun Xingyu if he could think of any possible hideouts for the International Madman group. Sun Xingyu suggested a few places, but no matter where he sent people, they found nothing.
Zhuge Hong was so eager for an answer that he didn’t know how to respond.
Sun Xingyu, aware of his elder brother’s predicament, stepped forward and said to Zhuge Hong, "Miss Zhuge, my name is Sun Xingyu, and I was once a member of the International Madman too. I will do my utmost to help you track down the whereabouts of the International Madman. As for Mr. Zhang Yunlong’s safety, forgive my frankness, but since the International Madman abducted him instead of killing him on the spot, it indicates that Mr. Zhang Yunlong still holds great value to them. Therefore, his safety should be somewhat guaranteed."
Zhuge Hong’s gaze, sharp as a knife, shifted onto Sun Xingyu’s face, causing a shiver in his heart as he inwardly gasped.
She was only a few years older than himself, yet her presence was so commanding, truly extraordinary.
Zhuge Hong sized up Sun Xingyu for a while and asked, "So, you are a member of the International Madman Organization?"
"To be precise, I was a member of the International Madman two years ago, but I haven’t been since that upheaval two years back," said Sun Xingyu.
A look of disdain and contempt flashed through the depths of Zhuge Hong’s eyes.
It seemed she held little regard for someone who betrayed his organization and sold out his companions.
Sun Xingyu, detecting that flicker of contempt in her gaze, felt a mix of shame and anger.
Betraying the organization was never his intention; he always felt guilty toward Tang, toward the brothers with whom he had shared life and death.
And now to be disdained and looked down upon, the complexity of his feelings was imaginable.
"Good, since you were once part of the International Madman, you should be quite familiar with their habits, even knowing their preferred places to lay low. Tell me, as long as we find Yunlong and successfully rescue him, I guarantee a generous reward for you," Zhuge Hong said. Despite her contempt for Sun Xingyu’s betrayal of his companions, she was quite generous now that she needed his help.
Sun Xingwen, standing aside and hearing Zhuge Hong’s promise to Sun Xingyu, felt a pang of jealousy quickly suppressed.
Sun Xingyu said to Zhuge Hong, "After learning that you were searching for Zhang Yunlong’s whereabouts, I’ve already sent people to investigate the usual haunts of the International Madman, to no avail. Miss Zhuge, this matter may not be rushed. After all, I am no longer a member of the International Madman Organization, and they would probably anticipate my betrayal. Thus, those places I knew of before are unlikely to be where the International Madman would go."
Zhuge Hong’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed, and she said without any politeness, "So you’re saying that you’re actually useless?"
Sun Xingyu’s mouth twitched.
This woman’s words were too direct, too hurtful.
Worried that Zhuge Hong might get angry, Sun Xingwen quickly interjected, "Miss Zhuge, please be patient. My younger brother will definitely help you find those bastards, but it’s going to take time."
With that, he hurriedly signaled Sun Xingyu with his eyes.
Sighing inwardly, Sun Xingyu knew his elder brother placed great importance on being able to help, and after some thought, he said, "To my knowledge, Tang owns two private islands overseas, but their exact locations are unknown to us, the members of the International Madman. If I’m not mistaken, the International Madman’s recent reemergence and their hiding place after abducting Zhang Yunlong are likely one of these two private islands."
Zhuge Hong’s eyes lit up, then dimmed again, "You don’t know the locations, so what you’re saying is useless."
Sun Xingyu snorted, "At least I know approximately when Tang acquired these two private islands. By investigating the records left in the private island auction market, we can pinpoint the locations of these islands."
Zhuge Hong and Sun Xingwen both showed signs of delight. Sun Xingwen patted Sun Xingyu on the shoulder and laughed, "There you go. Miss Zhuge, we will lock down the target’s location as quickly as possible. It’s not advisable to discuss this here; shall we find somewhere else to continue?"
Zhuge Hong shook her head, "Let’s start the investigation immediately; I want the locations of these two islands locked down by tonight."
Seeing her urgency, Sun Xingwen couldn’t help but internally remark.
This woman is crazy for a man.
At the same time, he envied Zhang Yunlong — that guy was truly fortunate to have a woman like this worrying about him!