"One last question."
Ning Lang, having finished bandaging Li Chonglou, stood up and walked to the door. He turned back and asked, "How did you take care of twelve plainclothes guards with guns all by yourself?"
This was something not just he, but everyone present wanted to know.
It was beyond human capability.
Those twelve men were not only well-trained soldiers but also stationed separately.
As soon as one was taken down, the others would immediately react.
Silently incapacitating them all was sheer fantasy.
As far as his mind was concerned, there was no way.
Yet Li Chonglou had actually done it.
So he couldn't suppress his curiosity.
"If you're still alive after meeting Li Hanlong tomorrow, I'll tell you," Li Chonglou said, keeping him in suspense.
When he was a child, listening to his mother tell stories, there was a saying.
Before undertaking a great task, keeping a thought alive would often ensure survival.
He didn't know if it was superstition; it was there if you believed, and absent if you didn't.
"Don't forget," Ning Lang said, bursting into laughter.
He would accompany Li Chonglou tomorrow and naturally knew the dangers involved.
However, even if it meant walking through a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, he would go!
After Ning Lang left, Jiang Yuxin pushed the door open. Seeing Li Chonglou, who was bandaged in several places, her eyes welled up with tears.
She didn't want to cry. She had always presented herself as a cool and aloof beauty, like a block of ice.
As if devoid of warmth, yet when facing Li Chonglou, she couldn't remain calm and composed.
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
"Come sit," Li Chonglou patted the bed. "Your husband isn't dead yet, don't cry."
Jiang Yuxin pursed her lips, forcibly holding back the stinging in her nose, and obediently sat down.
The next moment, Li Chonglou took out several bank cards from his person and handed them to her.
"Keep these for me. If I don't come back tomorrow, give half to my mother and keep half for yourself," Li Chonglou said with a smile.
"Impossible. You give it to Mom yourself!" Jiang Yuxin pushed the cards under the pillow, saying playfully.
After speaking, perhaps feeling she had been too harsh with Li Chonglou and couldn't quite shift her mood, she turned her head away with teary eyes and murmured, "I know what you're doing is important, and I have no right to stop you."
"But I am your legal wife, and I don't want to become a widow."
"So you must come back alive."
"Promise me!"
In the past, she would never have said such cheesy, sentimental words.
But at this moment, they came out naturally and unbidden.
"Okay!" Li Chonglou gently took Jiang Yuxin's delicate hand and nodded solemnly.
That day, no one else disturbed the couple.
Even Zheng Xiumei and Lin Ying tactfully left them to have their time alone.
Until nightfall, after serving Li Chonglou his meal, they slept embraced.
Bathing in Jiang Yuxin's intoxicating fragrance, Li Chonglou's restless heart gradually found peace.
A wife, children, and a warm hearth – these were the three fundamental elements of happiness embedded in the genes of the Chinese people.
And now, apart from children, he possessed two of them.
He was happy.
Everything he did was to protect this happiness from vanishing.
Even if it meant facing swords and fires, he had to give it his all.
He absolutely could not meet a ruthless and wicked villain like Li Hanlong in a wounded state.
Li Chonglou's thoughts became clear. As Jiang Yuxin slept and turned over, he withdrew his arm and fully circulated the ancient scroll's cultivation technique.
His blood began to race, his heart beat faster and faster.
His potential was ignited, his cells divided at an accelerated rate, and the wounds beneath the bandages healed at a visible pace.
There was an itching, piercing sensation.
But for Li Chonglou, it was nothing.
As dawn broke, painting the sky with the color of fish belly, the itching and numbness gradually subsided. Without looking, he knew that most of the wounds inflicted yesterday had likely healed.
However, the new flesh was still tender and could not withstand strenuous activity, or it would tear open.
"Am I a superhero or a monster now?" Li Chonglou chuckled to himself as Jiang Yuxin slept.
This healing ability far surpassed that of ordinary people.
If someone with malicious intent found out, they might try to slice him up for research.
He had to admit that the ancient scroll cultivation technique taught by his master was truly heaven-defying.
At mere second stage, he was already beyond human.
If he could truly reach the peak, wouldn't he be able to recreate the splendor of ancient sword immortals?
Li Chonglou suddenly felt a surge of longing.
*Knock, knock, knock...*
At that moment, a knock on the door snapped him back to reality.
It was Lin Ying.
"Little junior brother, get up. I'll take you to find Xu Qing."
Jiang Yuxin was also woken by the sound. She gently brushed her hair aside, but said nothing as she looked at Li Chonglou.
"Wait for me to return," Li Chonglou instructed softly.
He put on his clothes and got out of bed.
Lin Ying knew his capabilities; his wounds would have healed overnight.
Li Chonglou then went to his mother's room. After a brief chat, he told her he was going out and to stay at ease.
Zheng Xiumei, being an ordinary woman without any ulterior motives, cautioned her son to be careful of cars when he went out and to be amiable with others.
Li Chonglou listened quietly, then drove with Lin Ying straight to Women's Street.
It was not yet eight o'clock, and besides "Qingcheng Jiaren," no other shops on the entire street were open.
"You made me get up so early. Where's the item?" a middle-aged woman in her thirties, still charming and attractive, leaned languidly by the door as she saw them appear, extending her hand.
Li Chonglou took out the broken jade ring that Lin Ying had given him yesterday.
As she held the jade ring, a hint of change flickered in Xu Qing's lazy gaze.
It seemed to be sadness, or perhaps longing.
She grabbed the jade ring and, surveying Li Chonglou, said with a cold smile, "I've asked you for it several times, but you wouldn't give it to me."
"Who is he to you that he's so important?"
"He's my little junior brother. Stop the nonsense and hurry up with the disguise. We're running out of time," Lin Ying replied indifferently.
The three of them entered the shop.
With a swish, Xu Qing pulled down the roller shutter door.
She had Li Chonglou sit in front of the mirror, took out the various materials prepared yesterday, and began to work.
It took a full three and a half hours.
Finally, around noon, the disguise was complete.
Looking at his completely changed reflection in the mirror, Li Chonglou touched his face, his eyes filled with astonishment.
He had read about disguise techniques in martial arts novels, but he never imagined they could be so miraculous.
Without any high-tech props, just some flour, specially made needles, and glue, one could be completely transformed.
He didn't even recognize himself.
Calling her "Ghost Hand" wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"Her master, Shen Yishou, his 'one hand' refers to this ghost hand of disguise. Xu Qing learned eighty percent of his skills," Lin Ying said, understanding Li Chonglou's thoughts from his expression. "If it weren't for her husband's accident, she wouldn't be hiding in the bustling market, running a cosmetic shop."
"No one will call you mute if you don't speak. You're the one talking too much," Xu Qing glared at Lin Ying and chided.
Seeing this, Li Chonglou wisely chose not to ask.
Everyone had secrets they didn't want to reveal, just as he had his rebirth.
Such a master of disguise running a small shop as a proprietress undoubtedly had extraordinary hidden secrets behind her.
Soon, Zeng Wang called.
He informed Li Chonglou that the meeting was set for 2:30 PM in the Da Jiang Dong Qu Hall on the fifth floor of the Everlasting Han Palace.
"To be at the Han Palace, what a stroke of luck," Li Chonglou rejoiced inwardly.
That was his god-sister's territory; perhaps his chances of winning would be higher.
He told Zeng Wang about his disguise, asking him not to be surprised when they met.
Then, he hung up the phone.
He went home to pick up Ning Lang, dropped Lin Ying off, and headed straight for the Han Palace.
Going back and forth, it was already two o'clock when they arrived.
"Chonglou, I've already made arrangements. Don't worry," Xiao Yun came out to greet him as soon as he entered the main gate.
Lin Ying must have told her about it and described his disguised appearance, which explained why she insisted on taking photos at the cosmetic shop earlier.
As for what arrangements had been made, Li Chonglou had no idea.
"Miss Xiao?" Ning Lang was taken aback when he saw Xiao Yun.
He was the overlord of Yong'an's southern district and would soon be the leader of all underground forces in Yong'an.
How could he not recognize the person in charge of the Xiao family?
He just hadn't expected her to be so familiar with his brother.
He couldn't help but be secretly impressed; luckily, he had good judgment and realized Li Chonglou was no ordinary person.
"Brother Lang, I'll be entrusting my younger brother to your care," Xiao Yun greeted Ning Lang with a smile.
Without a trace of hesitation, she revealed her relationship with Li Chonglou.
Ning Lang nodded and said, "He's my brother too!"
This time, it was Xiao Yun's turn to be surprised.
Lin Ying hadn't said much, only that she and Li Chonglou were staying with Ning Lang, so she hadn't mentioned their relationship.
How could a strong businesswoman like Xiao Yun, in the business world, not have heard of the great name of Brother Lang?
She had even personally tried to recruit him, but Ning Lang was proud and, despite being part of society, seemed more like nobility from an ancient family.
Ultimately, he did not wish to get involved in the Xiao family's affairs, thus missing the opportunity for cooperation.
Yet, she never expected Li Chonglou to be such good friends with him.
After they greeted each other, before Li Chonglou could say anything more, Zeng Wang entered from outside.
Recognizing the disguised Li Chonglou upon seeing Ning Lang, they exchanged pleasantries. They all knew each other from the business world and needed no further introduction.
Li Chonglou had asked Xiao Yun to attend to her own matters, and the three of them headed straight for the Da Jiang Dong Liu Hall.
Just one minute before 2:30 PM, the door to the private room was pushed open again.
Li Hanlong, wearing a trench coat and sunglasses, stepped into the room.
He had finally arrived!
He was followed by Li Duo'er and another young man.
The man's face was chiseled like a knife, exceptionally handsome. He carried a large bag, and it turned out to be an old acquaintance of Li Chonglou.
A'yue Qubi, whom he had met in Yucheng.
Indeed, when enemies meet, they often do so unexpectedly. He never imagined he would encounter this thief who stole the golden Buddha here.
Li Chonglou was inwardly surprised. His gaze swept over A'yue Qubi without lingering, fearing he might arouse suspicion.
Instead, it settled on Li Duo'er's face, and his heart ached, "Duo'er..."
Li Duo'er now lacked her former innocence and cheerfulness.
Her expression was icy, her eyes dim as if covered by a layer of ash. Her entire demeanor had become cold, profound, and elegant.
It was as if the female protagonist in a TV series had "blackened."
Could it be that Yan Bin's death had dealt her such a devastating blow?
He hadn't contacted her for days, and she must have been enduring pain that was too much for her age.
"Mr. Zeng, long time no see. You're as distinguished as ever," Li Hanlong said, walking up to Zeng Wang and extending his hands with a seemingly friendly expression.
"Brother Li, allow me to introduce my friends, Brother Lang of the South City and Brother Qin Fen," Zeng Wang said after shaking hands, pointing to Ning Lang and Li Chonglou.
Before coming, the three had coordinated their plans. Since Li Chonglou was disguised, he needed an alias.
He would be called Qin Fen.
Li Hanlong's eyes swept over Ning Lang, and he exclaimed, "I've heard much about you, much indeed."
Finally, his gaze stopped on Li Chonglou's face.
Their eyes met.
In an instant, it felt as if an invisible electric current passed between them.
The next moment, a cold glint flashed in Li Hanlong's eyes.