Chapter 378: The Melee Begins
"Junior Brother, our master took both of us as disciples, but you know, he favors you more."
Long Aotian picked up a peanut and tossed it into his mouth, chewing as he spoke.
"Senior Brother, Master has a pure heart! I think he is very fair. It's just that he is always a bit muddle-headed, so many things are not intentional..."
"Alright, alright, you don't need to say all that. Master has helped me a lot, and my progress is real—I know that very well. But you have to admit, Master favors you."
Lu Chengwen awkwardly poured wine for Long Aotian. "Big Brother, this conversation is pointless!"
"No! I think about this all the time!" Long Aotian munched on his snacks, then turned to look at Luo Shiyin behind him. "Shiyin, tell me, does our master favor Lu Chengwen?"
Luo Shiyin was tilting her head, gazing at Lu Chengwen with a sweet smile. Being suddenly questioned by Long Aotian, she panicked.
"Huh? No, I didn't—"
"Who said you did or didn't? I'm talking about my master! What are you listening to?"
Long Aotian turned back around. "Forget her, she's been like this lately, always absent-minded."
Lu Chengwen chuckled. "Big Brother, Master is just not in a good mental state. From what I hear from Mistress, he's been depressed his whole life. He never even got married, doesn't have a family, and has been living in seclusion in the mountains. It's completely normal for his mind to be a little off."
Long Aotian said, "But when he met you, he was totally fine! When he met me, he was not! Tell me, isn't that favoritism?"
Lu Chengwen gave a helpless smile and shook his head. "Come on, let's drink, no need to talk about this."
"No! I have to say it!" Long Aotian insisted. "I often think, if Master had treated me the way he treated you, I would be far beyond my current achievements! Do you believe it?"
"Well, this is—"
"Do you believe it or not!?"
"I do, I do. Senior Brother, your talent, your abilities... in every way, they are extraordinary and worthy of being recorded in history..."
Long Aotian stared at Lu Chengwen. "No, you don't believe it."
"I do, I really do."
Long Aotian chuckled and shook his head. "Chengwen, I see it now—you act weak on the surface, but in reality, you have guts. You're someone who dares to fight and take risks."
He glanced around. The large house was truly beautiful.
"Chengwen, if we swapped identities—if I were the young master of the Lu family in Snow City—do you believe it? The entire business circle of Snow City would be revolving around me! Do you believe it or not?"
Qi Meishao reminded him, "Young Master, you've had too much to drink."
"Go, go, go! I'm drinking with my brother. You all go play somewhere else."
Lu Chengwen was a bit embarrassed. "Xue Ning, you sisters haven't had a gathering in a while. Why don't you take them for a stroll or maybe prepare some food and have a little get-together in the dining hall?"
"Alright!" Hua Xuening replied, "I'll go cook."
Long Aotian glanced at Hua Xuening. "She treats you well?"
Lu Chengwen smiled. "Thanks to you, Big Brother. Xue Ning is very thoughtful. I like her a lot."
"Mm, it's good that she's with you. You need someone who can protect you."
Long Aotian sighed. "She really wore me out. Ever since that time I had diarrhea, she's been tormenting me non-stop. I said I wanted to go to the city, and she got me a tractor... Ugh, forget it. Drink, drink."
Lu Chengwen said, "Miss Shiyin, could you please fetch another bottle of wine from the cabinet?"
Luo Shiyin smiled sweetly. "Yes, President Lu."
Swaying gracefully, she turned and left.
Long Aotian continued, "Alright! Chengwen, if you don't believe me, next time we'll test it out. No matter what resources Master gives, we'll swap them between us. What do you say? Dare or not?"
"Ah, why make things so complicated? Let's just drink and enjoy ourselves..."
"No, no, no! Just say whether you dare or not!?"
"What's there to be afraid of? I just think it's unnecessary. If Master hears this, wouldn't he be heartbroken..."
"He's a lunatic, what does he have to be heartbroken about? It's settled! They are all witnesses!"
Today, many people went to the site of the Youle City project—surveyors, inspectors, markers... It looked as if construction was about to begin. This made Long Aotian very excited.
He brought his three personal guards to visit Lu Chengwen, hoping to mend their relationship.
Lu Chengwen didn't put on any airs and simply prepared some snacks. The two of them drank together in the third-floor lounge.
But Lu Chengwen didn't expect Long Aotian to deliberately steer the conversation in a certain direction, clearly preparing for the next time they met their master.
Now, he was forcefully insisting on swapping resources with him...
Long Aotian said, "You four are all witnesses! Next time we see Master, no matter what he gives, we swap! Whatever he gives to Chengwen goes to me, and whatever he gives to me goes to Chengwen! A gentleman's word is as solid as a team of four galloping horses—it's settled! Anyone who goes back on their word is a bastard!"
Luo Shiyin returned with another bottle of fine wine. Long Aotian told her to go downstairs and hang out with Hua Xuening.
Then, he and Lu Chengwen continued drinking.
The two kept exchanging compliments. In just a few minutes, Qi Meishao came upstairs and nodded at Long Aotian.
Long Aotian understood—the time had come. It was time to make a move!
Qi Meishao walked behind Lu Chengwen. Lu Chengwen was completely unguarded.
Suddenly, Qi Meishao seized him.
"Big Brother, you—"
Long Aotian's face was gloomy. "Cheng Wen, forgive me. Shifting Face Technique! Activate!"
Lu Chengwen was knocked unconscious and hidden in a room.
Long Aotian looked at the mirror and examined his face—it had already changed into Lu Chengwen's face.
He was very satisfied.
"Mei Shao, with this, I will be able to see your loyalty to me."
Qi Meishao said, "Young Master, you must act quickly. Delays bring change! Also, this matter must never be known to Shiyin-jie and Xiaohua."
"Why must I keep it from them?"
"You don't need to ask. Just summon Li Meiqin immediately and have her operate on the spot. Transfer all the cash that Dasheng Group can mobilize into Xu Xuejiao's casino-exclusive account!"
Qi Meishao gritted her teeth. "As long as all the cash flows into President Xu's account, Dasheng Group's capital chain will break. The Chengwen District project will smoothly fall into President Huo's hands, and President Xu's undercover mission can come to an end. Lu Chengwen, in order to hold onto Dasheng Group's foundation, definitely won't dare to say anything!"
"At that time, everything will be yours, Young Master. President Xu will also return to your side."
Long Aotian nodded. "Alright."
…
Outside.
Cheqi Tianwang and his men had already arrived.
Cheqi Tianwang took out his phone, looked at a picture of Lu Chengwen inside, then glanced at the six people in front of him.
"We must succeed in one strike!"
Cheqi Tianwang spoke with authority, "Your previous operations have been too soft. Remember, this battle must be won swiftly! Lu Chengwen must be captured alive today!"
Cheqi Tianwang had already made his plans.
Capture Lu Chengwen alive, beat him until he coughed up the money, first returning what he and his brother had in their private stash, then forcing out the organization's ten billion to report back.
It would be best if a few of these six idiots died in battle. The rest—he'd personally take care of them.
Then he would kill Lu Chengwen, settle accounts with that lunatic, and take the money back to headquarters.
Finally, he would leave with a fortune, let his brother manage it, stick around Long Aotian for a while, and then pull out to start a new life elsewhere with his brother as a rich man.
Perfect!
A perfect life lay ahead.
As long as this step was firm, the good days were right in front of him.
Hua Xuening was the first to sense something was wrong. "Someone's coming!"
Luo Shiyin extinguished the fire. "Notify Lu… the Boss and Young Master."
Zhuge Xiaohua flipped over, climbed to the top floor, fully activated her pupil technique, and silently drew an arrow.
Hua Xuening held her sword and went upstairs, encountering the already transformed "Lu Chengwen." "Master, intruders have arrived."
"Ah!?"
Hua Xuening said, "Do not go out. I will handle them!"
After saying this, she turned and left.
Long Aotian glanced at Qi Meishao. "Don't waste time, contact Li Meiqin immediately."
"Yes."
Before the words had even fully landed, the fight outside had already begun.
Dangkou Tianwang, his injuries healed, saw Hua Xuening and gritted his teeth in hatred. That day, this damn girl had chased him down, stabbing relentlessly. If he hadn't tricked her with a diversion, claiming Lu Chengwen was in danger, she would have stabbed him to death without hesitation.
Today, his wounds were fully healed. Now, he could finally take her on properly.
An arrow was suddenly released, and Fubo Tianwang, alert, used his sword to deflect it, only to find that the arrow was bizarre and powerful—it didn't get knocked away but instead struck his shoulder.
Moreover, after being hit, a strange internal energy instantly spread, disrupting his circulation.
Fubo Tianwang quickly sealed the acupoints and meridians in his shoulder. He would rather have half his body go numb than become a useless burden at this moment.
Through gritted teeth, he said, "The Shadow Archer is here too! Her arrows are strange, be careful! Huh?! The Shadow Archer!?"
Zhuge Xiaohua fired three more arrows in succession. Thanks to Fubo Tianwang's warning, no one else was injured.
Cheqi Tianwang roared, "Charge for me! Capture Lu Chengwen!"
Ahu was a bit reluctant.
Charge? Charge for what? Do you even understand the situation?
Cheqi Tianwang leaped up, heading straight for Zhuge Xiaohua on the rooftop.
Zhuge Xiaohua hadn't expected the enemy to be so fast. Realizing she was in trouble, she quickly shifted her position, slipped through the window into the villa, and tried to hide—only to run straight into Along. The two instantly clashed.
Zhuge Xiaohua slung her bow onto her back, drew her short blades, and engaged in a fierce close-quarters battle with Along in the second-floor hall.
Meanwhile, Luo Shiyin ran into Ayin and Axiao on the first floor. Ayin struck instantly, engaging Luo Shiyin in combat.
Axiao, however, stood still, dumbfounded.
"Shiyin, are you alright?"
Luo Shiyin had no time for chit-chat. She ignored him and continued her exchange with Ayin.
Ayin was shocked—this woman was incredibly strong!?
She seemed to be a top-tier fighter!
He couldn't win!
He shouted, "Axiao! Help!"
Axiao nodded, held his sword, and stood next to Luo Shiyin. "Shiyin, don't be afraid. I'm here."
Luo Shiyin looked delicate and helpless. "Axiao, it's you?"
Axiao smiled bitterly. "It's me."
Ayin stood there, completely dumbfounded. "You… Who the hell are you helping!?"
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