At the end of the corridor, Lu Chenggong, accompanied by two bodyguards, strode over with a grim expression.
Upon seeing him, Song Nina and her son’s contemptuous looks immediately vanished, replaced by unconcealed fawning.
“Oh, brother-in-law, why are you here at this time?” Song Nina shrieked, rushing to meet him. “Why didn’t you rest more at home? It’s me and Xiao Heng here, we wouldn’t let Yunxu have any problems.”
Her tone and expression were far from that of a middle-aged woman in her fifties; she was more like a fawning courtesan.
And Zhang Heng, his gaze upon Lu Chenggong was fervent and greedy, as if he were looking at a living god of wealth.
The drastic change from before was appalling.
If Li Chonglou, who had witnessed all sorts of human conditions and knew the ugliness of human nature, hadn't been there, he might have vomited on the spot.
“I’m worried about you,” Lu Chenggong said, his words directed at Zhang Heng without even looking at Song Nina. His directness caused Song Nina and her son’s expressions to freeze.
After speaking, he didn’t glance at her again and walked straight towards Li Chonglou.
“Uncle, this brat wanted to take advantage of Yunxu, and my mom stopped him at the door!” Zhang Heng’s eyes flickered, and a sinister look flashed as he immediately threw a major accusation at Li Chonglou.
In his view, a low-level loser like Li Chonglou could never be favored by Lu Chenggong.
He had done a lot of research and knew Lu Chenggong’s preferences very well, so he was completely confident.
It was a perfect opportunity to frame him and keep him away from his cousin.
Li Chonglou’s eyes narrowed, radiating coldness.
This kid had likely been in the workplace for too long, mastering the art of framing and fabricating accusations out of thin air.
If it had been someone else, Lu Chenggong, doting on his daughter, might have believed it.
Unfortunately, he had overestimated himself.
“What did you say?” Lu Chenggong’s pupils contracted as he looked at Zhang Heng and asked with a stern face.
“That loser, he was brazen enough to try and take advantage of my cousin. If my mom hadn’t seen it, my cousin’s purity would have…” Zhang Heng, thinking Lu Chenggong hadn’t heard clearly, repeated himself.
*Slap!*
Before he could finish, Lu Chenggong swung his palm and slapped him.
His own pent-up emotions fueling his anger, he didn't hold back at all.
He sent Zhang Heng staggering, causing him to fall to the ground.
His face immediately swelled up.
Clutching his face, his expression was one of utter horror.
“Brother-in-law, why are you hitting the child?” Song Nina rushed to her son’s side, protectively screaming.
“Hit him?” Lu Chenggong snorted. “This little brat is good for nothing, spewing lies and slandering others. Hitting him is the least I could do.”
“If I hadn’t come, he would have been dead today!”
After speaking, he pointed at Li Chonglou and asked, “Do you know who he is?”
“He is the savior of our Lu family. Without him, our Lu family would have gone bankrupt long ago.”
“Yunxu has told me no less than three times that she wants to marry Li Chonglou, but Li Chonglou never gives her a chance.”
“Would someone like that take advantage of Yunxu? I think your mind is clouded by greed, and you’re just asking for death!”
Not satisfied, he delivered two kicks to Zhang Heng’s backside.
The kicks struck such terror into the hearts of Zhang Heng and his mother that they stood frozen, their souls seemingly departed.
He had never imagined that what he thought was a soft persimmon was actually a steel plate.
Instead of harming Li Chonglou, he had broken his own foot.
How could such a loser be the Lu family’s benefactor…
He relied on his perceptiveness in the workplace, able to detect his superior’s moods and intentions with every move. How could he have misjudged so badly today?
For the first time in his life, Zhang Heng fell into deep self-doubt.
However, he didn’t consider it his fault, but rather believed Li Chonglou had deliberately targeted him, playing the pig to eat the tiger.
Instead of any remorse, his eyes were filled with intense malice.
He cursed inwardly: “Li Chonglou, you little bastard, just you wait. If you have the guts, don’t go to Yongan.”
“Without my brother-in-law as a backer, crushing you would be as easy as crushing an ant!”
Li Chonglou didn't even bother to glance at him. After Lu Chenggong finished venting his anger, he had lost interest. He simply inquired briefly about Lu Yunxu’s condition and then turned to leave.
Just as he exited the hospital, his phone rang again.
It was a satellite phone number, but a different one this time.
Li Chonglou immediately answered, and indeed, the hoarse male voice on the other end came through: “Hmph, you’re investigating me? You’ve even alerted the Eagles, what a massive operation.”
“What exactly do you want? If you have conditions, just say them. Let’s talk directly,” Li Chonglou’s heart stirred slightly, knowing the other party had vast connections, and he no longer hid anything.
Most people fear ghosts. Why? Because you can’t touch or see them, you don’t know what they look like.
The unknown is what instills fear.
Li Chonglou’s fear was not of what the person would do to him, but of them harming his loved ones.
“Because there is no attachment, there is no fear.”
In his past life, he had reached this state.
But this life was vastly different. He had attachments, people he cared about. He was a person of flesh and blood, capable of anger and emotion.
He couldn’t be fearless in every aspect.
“You’re too impatient,” the man chuckled twice. “Li Chonglou, between you and me, it’s not as simple as just discussing conditions.”
“You ruined my livelihood. Have you heard the saying, cutting off someone’s livelihood is like killing their parents?”
“I only just realized you are an Eagle operative sent to Xingzhi Group, but it’s not too late.”
“Without Xingzhi Group, I have even fewer scruples and reservations. I will play with you until the moment you wish you were dead!”
Every word was filled with coldness and malice.
Indeed, Li Chonglou’s pupils contracted sharply. He had guessed correctly.
This mysterious man was the mastermind behind Xingzhi Group.
He had cooperated with the police to dismantle the vast overseas smuggling ring of cultural relics but had never received news of its leader’s arrest. He thought the leader would hide, but unexpectedly, he was so brazen.
The more you fear such a psychopathic individual, the more emboldened they become.
He immediately roared, “Tian Shan, do you really think you are the Thousand-Faced Devil?”
“After Shen Yishou disfigured you back then, you couldn’t show your face and had to hide. You actually dare to oppose the Eagles!”
“I warn you, if any of my relatives or friends are harmed again, I, Li Chonglou, swear to dig up your lair, peel off your skin, and scatter your ashes to the wind!”
A palpable aura that could shake the soul erupted from Li Chonglou.
Pedestrians at the hospital entrance felt a chill and quickly moved away, not daring to approach.
Even the man on the phone could feel it clearly.
“Shen Yishou, that cripple, told you everything, but so what?” Tian Shan sneered. “Even if you know my original identity, what can you do to find me?”
“If the Eagles were useful, would I still be talking to you here?”
“Li Chonglou, I’d like to see how you scatter my ashes. Just you wait, within three days, your wife will be receiving her funeral rites.”
“Hahahaha…”
After a series of arrogant laughter, the call was disconnected.
Li Chonglou’s eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, and his hand gripping the phone trembled.
After standing stunned for a few seconds, he dashed into his car and drove home.
Seeing Jiang Yuxin safe and sound, his mind finally settled a little.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Jiang Yuxin, clearly sensing her husband’s unusual state, asked with concern.
Even though Li Chonglou tried his best to suppress his emotions, when it concerned his wife, how could he remain calm?
“Yuxin, for the next few days, please don’t leave the complex. I’ll have Brother Xu protect you at all times. You must listen to me,” Li Chonglou said solemnly.
Seeing his seriousness, Jiang Yuxin nodded.
The current Li Chonglou was no longer the useless son-in-law. His every word and action had a reason.
She had experienced this countless times over the past few months.
Now that he suddenly asked her not to leave the complex, there must be something major happening.
If he wanted to say, she would listen. If he didn’t, she wouldn’t ask.
Trust was the only bargaining chip she could offer in return to Li Chonglou now.
Receiving her agreement, Li Chonglou finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Soon, Xu Lie and his sister also arrived.
“Brother Xu, for this period, you will stay at my place. I’m entrusting Yuxin’s safety to you,” Li Chonglou said, pulling Xu Lie aside.
Xu Lie frowned upon hearing this. “What happened?”
He knew Li Chonglou’s personality well enough to know he wouldn’t call him unless something significant occurred.
Having him bring his sister to the company this time clearly indicated that the matter was not minor.
“It’s a long story. I need to go ask my master for help,” Li Chonglou explained nothing, merely instructing, “Yuxin might be in danger within these three days, just like Yunxu.”
“Pay extra attention. Have Qianqian work at the company, so it’s easier for you to conceal.”
Xu Lie understood that Li Chonglou didn’t want to elaborate, so he didn’t press further.
However, the word “conceal” made him realize that the situation was far from simple.
After leaving the company, Li Chonglou did not return to the Antique Association but went to Donglin.
Half an hour later.
While sipping the tea brewed by Lin Zhendong, Li Chonglou asked solemnly, “Master, is there any way to find Tian Shan?”
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhendong raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. “Are you sure he is Tian Shan?”
Li Chonglou nodded. “It’s highly likely, but he seems to have long stopped using the name Tian Shan.”
“Furthermore, his whereabouts are elusive, and he is skilled in disguise and forging identities, making him difficult to track by conventional means.”
“Even the Eagles are powerless. I want to know, can ‘Meihua Yi Shu’ be used to find people?”
Lin Zhendong’s eyes gleamed. “Of course, it can, but it can only determine a general direction, not pinpoint the person directly.”
“However, it requires an object that has been in contact with the person’s aura.”
“If you can get an object of his, you probably wouldn’t need me to use ‘Meihua Yi Shu’ for positioning, right?”
Hearing this, Li Chonglou’s heart sank.
His master was right, where would he find an object belonging to Tian Shan?
Isn’t this a case of the effect preceding the cause?
“Dad, Junior Brother, why don’t you ask Shen Yishou?” At this moment, Lin Ying’s words instantly made Li Chonglou’s eyes gleam.
That’s right!
Shen Yishou was Tian Shan’s junior disciple. Although they had old grudges, it was possible he still had some of Tian Shan’s belongings.
Without a word, Li Chonglou dialed Shen Yishou’s number.
He stated his purpose directly.
Shen Yishou pondered for a few seconds before saying, “Kid, for the sake of that old man Lin Zhendong, I can give you a used shovel of Tian Shan’s.”
“But I can’t help you for nothing. You have to help me find something. Once you find it, I’ll come to Qin Zhou to find you!”