Outside the Shanshui Club.
Qian Deshui and Guan Hong stood there. Guan Hong asked uncertainly, "Brother, can this really work? Why do I feel like that bastard Hong Kui won't accept our challenge?"
"Don't worry, he will," Qian Deshui said.
Guan Hong hesitated, not understanding why his elder brother was so confident. What if Hong Kui didn't agree?
"Then let's go first. I estimate he won't be able to make a decision quickly," Guan Hong said.
Qian Deshui glanced at his watch, a faint smile appearing on his face. "What's the hurry? Let the bullets fly a bit longer."
Guan Hong found his elder brother increasingly unfathomable but could only obediently wait at the club entrance. Before he could even light a cigarette, Yang Zihao strode out of the club.
"Brother, he's out," Yang Zihao quickly announced.
Qian Deshui unhurriedly took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth, calmly looking at Yang Zihao.
Yang Zihao felt a tremor of fear but could only brace himself and walk up to Qian Deshui. "Master Qian, Master Hong asked me to give you a message. He has accepted your challenge. As for the location, he will inform you on the day of the duel."
Guan Hong looked surprised; his elder brother had predicted correctly.
It was uncanny!
Qian Deshui grunted, acknowledging the message.
After a moment of hesitation, Yang Zihao advised, "Master Qian, for the sake of our past brotherhood, I urge you not to do something so foolish. You have your trump cards, but does Master Hong not? Going against Master Hong will have no good end."
Guan Hong wanted to retort but was stopped by Qian Deshui raising his hand.
Qian Deshui gave Yang Zihao a deep look, then smiled faintly, "We have different paths; we cannot conspire together."
Yang Zihao's expression shifted, understanding the implication of Qian Deshui's words. He said in a deep voice, "I offered my sincere advice, but you did not appreciate it. Regardless, I have no regrets concerning you."
"With that said, take care of yourself."
With those words, Yang Zihao turned and left.
Guan Hong sneered, "What's so arrogant about him? He really thinks highly of himself. Be careful, or your head might end up on the ground."
Yang Zihao heard this, stopped, let out a cold snort, and then continued on his way. He couldn't be bothered to talk to someone who was about to die; it would only be a waste of breath.
Guan Hong withdrew his gaze and said to Qian Deshui, "This old guy acts all decent, but I'll make him pay sooner or later."
Qian Deshui tossed his cigarette on the ground and crushed it out with his foot. He turned and left without looking back, and Guan Hong quickly followed.
That night.
News about Qianmen's Hong Kui spread through the underworld—Hong Kui was going to fight Qian Deshui to the death!
The location and time were unknown.
This news stirred up a great wave, shaking the previously calm underworld once again. No one had expected Qian Deshui, who had been beaten back step by step, to dare to propose a fight to the death.
Was he seeking death?
Anyone with eyes could see that Qianmen was powerful, and with Qian Deshui and his subordinates severely weakened, they had no capacity to fight Qianmen to the death.
Some even suggested Qian Deshui flee the country to recuperate and plan a counterattack for later.
"Alas, is a generation's formidable figure coming to an end?"
"In this world, who can avoid being hurt? Even though Qian Deshui has retired, he cannot escape reckoning."
"Isn't the martial world like this? When an aging lion is challenged by a young lion, defeat is inevitable. The aging lion becomes nourishment for the young lion; it has always been this way, and no one can escape destiny."
"..."
Late at night.
Hong Kui once again made a fierce declaration, vowing to use Chen Jinzhao's head to appease the soul of his deceased son, adding a few more talking points to the already sensational duel.
However, Chen Jinzhao, the person involved, paid no heed to the storms outside and was sleeping soundly.
He slept more soundly after returning home.
Nine in the morning.
Chen Jinzhao received a call from Qian Deshui, who informed him that Hong Kui had agreed to the duel to the death, and the location would be decided by Hong Kui.
"Okay, I understand," Chen Jinzhao nodded.
Qian Deshui hesitated, "Young Master Chen, if he gets to decide the location, won't it be too risky? What if he sets up an ambush..."
It might be quite dangerous.
Chen Jinzhao said casually, "There will undoubtedly be underhanded tactics, but I have also prepared countermeasures. Have your people prepare well, and we'll act together then."
Qian Deshui said no more.
After hanging up the phone.
Chen Jinzhao thought for a moment and then called his uncle, Li Qiutao. "Uncle, I'd like to borrow a couple of people from you."
"Who?"
"Xiao Wu and Xiao Hu."
These two were Li Qiutao's trusted subordinates, both A-class experts.
From Chen Jinzhao's observation, Xiao Wu was already close to S-class. If he could break through his physical limits again, he could rival Chen Jinzhao.
With these two assisting, taking down Hong Kui would be easy.
Li Qiutao naturally had no objections and even offered to help Chen Jinzhao scout for more people, but Chen Jinzhao politely declined.
With them, it was enough.
"Jinzhao, I have something else to tell you. Your cousin is arriving in Ninghai today. However, I'm busy with work. Could you go and pick her up from the airport for me?"
For some reason.
Chen Jinzhao felt Li Qiutao's tone was strange, as if he were somewhat expectant?
"Okay, send me the flight information, and I'll go to the airport to pick her up later."
After hanging up, Li Qiutao sent the flight information to Chen Jinzhao's phone. Chen Jinzhao glanced at the time—his cousin Wu Lingyun would arrive at Ninghai International Airport at two in the afternoon, so there was still ample time.
Yu Mengzhi had already gone to work, leaving Chen Jinzhao alone at home.
Chen Jinzhao used his free time for rehabilitation training. After lunch, he leisurely headed to Ninghai International Airport. After waiting at the arrivals hall for about ten minutes, he saw Wu Lingyun, wearing sunglasses, emerge from the terminal. He walked up to greet her, and it was then that Chen Jinzhao noticed a young man accompanying Wu Lingyun. The young man frowned and asked Chen Jinzhao, "Who are you?"
Chen Jinzhao did not answer the young man's question, instead carefully observing Wu Lingyun.
The young man became displeased. "Hey, I'm asking you a question. Is there something wrong with your hearing?"
"Are you my cousin Wu Lingyun?" Chen Jinzhao asked.
The young man became agitated.
Chen Jinzhao clearly wasn't paying him any attention. Just as he was about to say something, Wu Lingyun raised her hand to signal the young man to be quiet and then said to Chen Jinzhao, "That's right, I am Wu Lingyun. Are you my cousin Chen Jinzhao?"
As she spoke, Wu Lingyun's tone was calm, with no fluctuation.
Even—
There was a hint of hostility.
"It's me. Uncle asked me to pick you up," Chen Jinzhao's tone grew colder.
Since Wu Lingyun wasn't giving him a warm reception, Chen Jinzhao wasn't going to force it.
Wu Lingyun narrowed her eyes and said to Chen Jinzhao in a cold tone, "Thank you for your welcome, but I don't think it's necessary. I have legs, and I can find my father myself."
"You can go back."
Both sentences contained a commanding tone.