From rejecting the beautiful female CEO to becoming extremely powerful

The car door opened, and Lu Yunzhou sat in the back seat. He glanced at the two people in the front seat, then looked at the short stick on the side of the door and the long object under the seat.

The car windows were covered with dark film, preventing anyone from seeing in from the outside, but the sentry posts on both sides of the mountain road were clearly visible.

This invitation carries significant weight.

The off-road vehicle traveled up the winding mountain road, passing through three iron gates, each guarded by someone.

Before the final checkpoint, Ayase Maki revealed her black card, and the horizontal bar immediately rose.

Several unlicensed cars were parked inside the hillside manor, and the yellow lights under the porch illuminated the wet steps.

Pushing open the door, I saw that the food and wine on the long table were already laid out.

Pei Zhongting sat alone in the main seat, a white jade chess piece between his fingers.

"Mr. Lu, was the journey smooth?"

Lu Yunzhou pulled out a chair, his gaze sweeping over the wine glasses on the table.

"The person was brought by Mr. Pei. Do you need to ask me whether things will go smoothly or not?"

The chess piece fell back into the box. Pei Zhongting raised his hand to signal, and Ayase Maki retreated to the door.

"I owe you an explanation for what happened at the Jockey Club."

"Liang Guodong has already been dealt with. You called me tonight to discuss serious matters."

The old injury on his right shoulder was still aggravating, but Lu Yunzhou ignored it and picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth.

Pei Zhongting looked at it for a few seconds, then picked up the wine pot.

"You're still recovering from serious injuries, yet you managed to suppress so many people at the horse farm and know how to control your true energy. You've at least stepped into the True Qi Realm."

The chopsticks stopped in mid-air, and Lu Yunzhou looked up.

"You invited me here just to confirm my cultivation level?"

"What I'm confirming is whether you're qualified to sit at this table."

Someone brought in a file box from outside. The lid was opened, revealing Xinghe Group's business data, the flow of funds for Yundian Club, and the files of seven people.

Lu Yunzhou turned to the top page.

Among the seven disciples of Ninth Master, Pei Zhongting ranked third.

"Ninth Master is getting old, and someone has to take over his position. All seven seats are in preparation. Whoever gets the highest seat will take over the core of Cloud Peak."

"So, you want me to fight for you in the ring?"

Pei Zhongting took a sip of wine.

"You could say that."

A map of Sheng'an was pushed onto the table, showing the port and casino occupying key locations, the clubhouse connected to the logistics park, and red markings covering half of the city.

"You're close to Su Qingwan, and you have the highest level of authority she gave you. People inside Yundian are watching her, and they're also watching you."

Lu Yunzhou flipped through the map and tapped the table twice with his fingertips.

Get to the point.

"Once I sit in that position, you will have complete control over the benefits that Xinghe can obtain and the resources that Yundian can mobilize."

Pei Zhongting put down his wine glass, his gaze remaining fixed on the wine.

"The same goes for Su Qingwan. Whether she stays in Xinghe or leaves Sheng'an is up to you."

The only sound in the room was the soft sloshing of the wine, and the scabbard by the door bumped against the wall.

Lu Yunzhou raised his head.

"You're using her as a bargaining chip?"

"I hold the power of the future, and she is just one part of it. If you want to keep her, I will give her a place; if you want to send her away, I will clear the way for her; if you want her to find a new master, I can arrange it at Yundian."

With a snap, the chopsticks broke in two.

"Shut your mouth."

Pei Zhongting leaned back in his chair.

"If they get angry, it means this deal is negotiable."

Lu Yunzhou tossed aside the broken chopsticks and wiped his fingers clean with a tissue.

Pei Zhongting needs his skills to compete for the position, and also wants to use Su Qingwan to keep him in check. The conditions are heavy enough, and the trap is deep enough.

But Chu Zhengnan has already sent Shi Jun, and next time there won't just be one seventh-rank expert.

The Chu family stared at Yuan Chuan and Mu Qingying. If they wanted to protect the people around them, they had to cut off the hand that the other party was reaching out to.

The wine glass lightly touched the table.

"I can help you fight for it."

Pei Zhongting sat up straight.

"But you have to do something for me first."

"Chu Zhengnan?"

Lu Yunzhou tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

"From Lin Yuxuan to Elder Mo, and then to the kidnapped Mu Qingying, the Chu family owes three debts, and it's time to pay them back."

Pei Zhongting tapped the edge of the table.

The man in gray came in from outside and placed another file bag on the table.

As soon as Lu Yunzhou reached out, Pei Zhongting pressed down on the opening of the bag.

"Chu Zhengnan is the head of the Chu family. If you want to take his life, it will cause too much of a stir."

"All I need is the itinerary, the list of bodyguards, and a batch of people whose identities cannot be verified."

Lu Yunzhou withdrew his hand and stared at Pei Zhongting.

"I'll decide when to make our move."

After a few breaths, Pei Zhongting opened the file bag.

"Openly, I cannot touch the Chu family, but secretly I can give you people. Their origins will not be traced back to Yundian. Notify me in your own way before you take action."

The file contained information about the Chu family's vehicles, the bodyguards' shift schedule, and Chu Zhengnan's recent travel records.

Turning to the last page, the location of next week's private meeting was completely crossed out with a black pen.

"Incomplete information."

"The exact location is still under investigation. If you act prematurely, Cloud Peak will not clean up the mess for you."

Lu Yunzhou closed the file.

"I don't need you to clean up the mess, just keep an eye on the knife behind your back."

Pei Zhongting stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Mr. Lu is more direct than rumored."

"It's exhausting to talk to smart people."

Lu Yunzhou put the document bag into his coat, wrote down a temporary number, and pushed it to the opposite side.

"Contact this number before taking action; the person you give it to must be able to use it."

The note was tucked into his sleeve.

"It's a pleasure working with you."

Lu Yunzhou stopped in front of the door.

"Su Qingwan's fate is not your decision. If she wants to leave, I will protect her. If she wants to stay, I will protect her. Anyone who uses her as a bargaining chip again will be the first to be dealt with."

Ayase Maki's gaze fell on his profile, and her hand left the hilt of the sword.

Pei Zhongting's smile faded.

"I will pass this message on to her."

The door opened, and a mountain breeze rushed into the living room, causing several pages of documents on the table to be turned.

After Lu Yunzhou left, Pei Zhongting took out a photo. In the picture, Mu Qingying was standing next to Lu Yunzhou, who had just left the hospital.

He pressed his finger against the corner of the photo and looked at the still-swaying door.

"With so many people involved, and still daring to target the Chu family, Sheng'an is about to undergo a major upheaval."

As the SUV drove down the mountain road, Lu Yunzhou turned on his phone and saw a text message from an unknown number had just arrived.

Chu Zhengnan's travel documents contained only four words: "Delivered".

The text message was deleted, and the vehicle immediately accelerated.

The manor gates closed, and Lu Yunzhou's car quickly disappeared at the end of the mountain road.

Ayase Maki gripped the hilt of her sword: "Sir, will he really help us take over the Cloud Peak?"

Pei Zhongting threw the white jade chess piece back into the box: "He wants to kill Chu Zhengnan. I can give him a way out, so of course he will make a move."

After he finished speaking, he picked up the photo on the table.

In the photo, Lu Yunzhou has just walked out of the hospital, accompanied by Mu Qingying.

The following photos also include Su Qingwan, Feng Qianyi, and Shen Luoyan.

Each of these women could influence the power of Sheng'an.

Lu Yunzhou has strength, but also too many weaknesses.

The competition for succession at the top of the cloud began that day.

If Lu Yunzhou was obedient, he would give him money and people, turning Lu Yunzhou into a weapon in his hands.

If it can't be controlled, it must be eliminated before the competition begins.

Keeping such a person around will only cause trouble once they've taken a stand on the opposite side.

Maki Ayase glanced at the date and didn't ask any further questions.

On the other side, Lu Yunzhou was driving down the mountain.

Pei Zhongting offered very attractive terms, but this person was using Su Qingwan as a bargaining chip, which crossed his bottom line.

The two sides are only temporarily allied.

Whoever bares their fangs first will be the first to be cut.

Just as the car rounded the second bend, my phone emitted a rapid alarm.