"Cousin, what are you thinking about?"
Wu Lingyun noticed Chen Jinzhao seemed lost in thought. After snapping back to reality, Chen Jinzhao said, "Nothing, just thought it was a bit of a coincidence. By the way, do you have any other missions besides your position at Shen Guo Pharmaceutical?"
Wu Lingyun thought carefully and then shook her head, "No, the family didn't tell me anything. They just wanted me to take the position."
"Oh right, Cousin, you still haven't told me why you're going to Fengtian."
Chen Jinzhao put aside his thoughts and said lightly, "I'm going to Fengtian on a mission. If you run into any trouble then, you can ask me for help."
Wu Lingyun nodded.
After spending time with Chen Jinzhao these past few days, she had long realized he was a good person, especially towards those close to him, and not as terrifying as the outside world portrayed him. By now, Wu Lingyun had come to see Chen Jinzhao as a brother.
With Chen Jinzhao's words, Wu Lingyun's mood brightened considerably.
They chatted on the plane for a long time. When they disembarked, Wu Lingyun even invited Chen Jinzhao to dinner. Chen Jinzhao, considering that most of the attendees would be from Shen Guo Pharmaceutical and the Wu family, politely declined the invitation and left Fengtian International Airport alone.
Fengtian is located in the north of China and is the most prosperous city in the region.
It was deep winter, and Fengtian city was already covered in ice and snow, making one feel as if they were in a snow city.
On the way from the airport, Chen Jinzhao could see the towering building in the city center, shimmering with a faint red light. The words 'Shen Guo' looked like two crimson eyes surveying the northern land, sending a chill down one's spine.
That was the headquarters of Shen Guo Pharmaceutical, and also the tallest building in the northern land.
From the top of the Shen Guo headquarters, on a clear day, one could even see mountains hundreds of kilometers away, testifying to the glory of Shen Guo Pharmaceutical.
"A true monster," Chen Jinzhao remarked.
*Crack!*
A thick palm suddenly landed on Chen Jinzhao's shoulder, followed by a deep voice, "Hey, what are you looking at?"
Chen Jinzhao slowly turned his head to look at the two-meter-tall figure behind him. The man exclaimed in surprise, "You don't seem surprised by my arrival at all?"
"I sensed you long ago. If you want to see me surprised, I can pretend for you," Chen Jinzhao said with a smile.
The two-meter-tall man chuckled, "They all say Candle Dragon has transcended the mortal realm. At first, I thought it was some bullshit rumor, but now it seems true. I thought I had hidden well, but I didn't expect you to detect me so quickly. I'm utterly disgraced."
"Man Xiong, you've improved greatly over the years. You're much stronger than you were four years ago," Chen Jinzhao said with a smile.
This was not flattery.
The two-meter-tall man before him was Man Xiong, an S-class king of soldiers from the Northeastern Military Region, who guarded the northeast and deterred enemies from three countries.
Man Xiong sighed, "No matter how strong I am, I'm no match for you, Candle Dragon."
"I heard you went into seclusion for three years, making me think I had surpassed you. Who would have thought you had already moved ahead of me? Have you met Cang Long? How does he compare to you?" Man Xiong was deeply curious about these two top-ten singles in the world.
Chen Jinzhao waved his hand, "I haven't fought him. Next year, we'll be family. Wouldn't fighting be damaging to our relationship?"
Man Xiong burst into laughter.
He suggested they go out for drinks and discuss Chen Jinzhao's mission.
"Alright."
"You're the host, I'll listen to you."
Man Xiong knew Chen Jinzhao wasn't one to stand on ceremony. After some discussion, they chose a nearby small restaurant. Once seated, they cut to the chase, downing several bottles of Erguotou before starting their conversation. Man Xiong, his face flushed, said, "Candle Dragon, what exactly is the mission you're here in Fengtian to carry out? Will it be dangerous for you to come alone?"
"This mission is classified for now," Chen Jinzhao replied.
Man Xiong didn't press further but hesitated, "You could have brought more people. If not, you could have brought me along."
"How well do you understand Shen Guo Pharmaceutical?" Chen Jinzhao changed the subject.
"Hmm..."
"I don't really understand it that well. I only know that Shen Guo Pharmaceutical seems to have the backing of the Wu family. They're a major taxpayer in this area, and no one dares to offend them. Even though Shen Guo Pharmaceutical is a private enterprise, their boss's status is much higher than that of the provincial governors here," Man Xiong revealed, surprising Chen Jinzhao even more.
However, considering the Wu family behind Shen Guo Pharmaceutical, it was understandable.
It would be surprising if they *didn't* have such status.
Man Xiong seemed to recall something and looked at Chen Jinzhao, hesitating, "Candle Dragon, are you trying to investigate Shen Guo?"
Chen Jinzhao suddenly looked up, staring intently into Man Xiong's eyes.
Man Xiong's muscles suddenly spasmed. For a moment, he felt as if he were being stared at by death itself.
It was merely a gaze, yet he knew he was no match for Chen Jinzhao.
Cold sweat broke out on his back, instantly soaking his undershirt.
Meeting Chen Jinzhao's gaze, Man Xiong couldn't maintain eye contact and looked away. "Why are you looking at me like that? You're putting a lot of pressure on me. I mentioned Shen Guo because it holds a supreme status in the north. For so many years, there's never been any negative publicity about Shen Guo, meaning either Shen Guo is truly formidable, or there's something fishy going on."
"If you really intend to investigate Shen Guo, I think it might be inconvenient for you to act alone."
"How about bringing me along?"
Chen Jinzhao withdrew his gaze and said lightly, "No need. Your understanding of Shen Guo Pharmaceutical is too limited. I plan to investigate it myself."
Man Xiong wisely closed his mouth, lest he draw Chen Jinzhao's piercing gaze again.
Even though he had done nothing wrong, meeting Chen Jinzhao's sharp look made him feel an urge to confess everything.
"Alright, I wish you smooth sailing. If you ever need my help, don't hesitate to ask," Man Xiong said, nodding.
The two clinked glasses and stopped discussing the mission, turning to chat about everyday life.
It wasn't until eleven o'clock at night that Chen Jinzhao parted ways with Man Xiong and returned to his pre-booked hotel room.
After a day of travel, Chen Jinzhao was quite tired. As he was showering in the bathroom, there was a knock at the door. Chen Jinzhao mistakenly thought it was Man Xiong visiting late at night.
"Who is it?"
There was no response from outside the door.
Chen Jinzhao frowned and asked three more times, but the person still didn't reply.
Could it be people from Shen Guo Pharmaceutical who had caught his scent?
Chen Jinzhao became vigilant, wrapped a towel around himself, and walked to the door, intending to look through the peephole to see who was outside.
Even stranger, there was no one outside the door.
It seemed the person didn't want Chen Jinzhao to know their identity. They were likely hiding to the side of the door, possibly waiting to launch a surprise attack once Chen Jinzhao opened it.
Chen Jinzhao held his breath, opened the door, and extended his right hand simultaneously.
A figure indeed lunged out from the right side of the door. Chen Jinzhao reacted swiftly, grabbing the emerging figure by the neck with one hand.
If he wished, he could snap the person's neck instantly.