As the sun sets, its afterglow falls, gently draping the world in a veil of solitude.

In the tranquil yet slightly somber twilight, on the outskirts of Zhenhai City, a secluded ancient manor quietly awakens.

It is quiet and mysterious, like the last unknown secret before the night.

The manor gates opened silently, welcoming a group of visitors from the shadow world.

The members of the assassination gang gathered here for an unusual event, and an indescribable tension and anticipation filled the air.

Just then, a middle-aged man slowly entered the dimly lit hall. His shadow was elongated in the dim light, and each step seemed unusually heavy.

His face was as pale as paper, his eyes were sunken, and his eyes seemed to have lost all light, leaving only endless despair and emptiness.

Like a lost soul emerging from the abyss, he was surrounded by a chilling aura.

This man was none other than Shao Wenlong, the head of the Shao family.

Originally, he was a man whose name could cause a stir in both the legitimate and criminal worlds.

His arrival was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

The atmosphere, which had been filled with whispers and laughter, was instantly shattered, and everyone's attention was drawn involuntarily to this strong man who seemed to be on the verge of despair.

Shao Wenlong looked around, his voice low and hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying an undeniable power.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you all already know why I have come here today."

His tone was devoid of any hesitation or doubt, only resolute and urgent, as if he were about to unveil the prelude to a storm.

Shao Wenlong's voice was low and cold, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying an undeniable determination.

"To seek justice for my innocent son, hunt down Ye Chu. Name your price."

Inside, the room was dimly lit. A middle-aged man sat leisurely in a chair, his face hidden in the shadows. His voice was calm and even, yet it carried a force that should not be underestimated.

"One-quarter of your shares in Parkson Group."

Upon hearing this, Shao Wenlong's body jolted violently, his pupils contracted sharply, as if struck by lightning. He raised his head in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock and anger.

"What did you say? A quarter?! You're asking for an outrageous amount!"

The middle-aged man's lips curled into a cold, indifferent smile, as if he had already anticipated the other party's reaction.

"Mr. Shao, please be careful with your words. In this circle, value is always proportional to risk. Ye Chu is no ordinary person; the power and methods behind him are far more complex than they appear on the surface. Since we have taken on this deal, we naturally have our own considerations and methods, but correspondingly, the reward must match our efforts and the risks we bear."

Shao Wenlong's expression shifted between light and dark, his lips twitching before finally settling into a sinister smile.

"Hmph, what a huge appetite! Do you think I, Shao Wenlong, am a lamb to the slaughter? This much money is enough for me to turn the tables and wipe you all out, making you disappear from the martial arts world completely!"

The middle-aged man remained unmoved, merely shaking his head slightly, his smile carrying a hint of amusement and confidence.

"Mr. Shao, threats and anger will not solve the problem. We dare to make this request because we have the confidence to do so. Moreover, I believe that for the sake of your son's blood debt, you will make the wisest choice."

After saying this, the middle-aged man said no more, as if everything was under his control, and waited for Shao Wenlong's decision.

Shao Wenlong, on the other hand, fell into deep thought, his inner struggle and desire for revenge intertwined, forming a silent contest.

After a moment of silence, Shao Wenlong slowly raised his eyes, a scrutinizing glint in them. He parted his thin lips slightly, his tone carrying a hint of disdain and skepticism.

"With such a huge cost, what kind of formidable fighting force do you intend to send? Could it be...?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man smiled knowingly and casually extended four fingers, as if displaying an invisible trump card.

Upon seeing this, Shao Wenlong frowned slightly, then a mocking smile appeared on his lips as he said calmly.

"A mere twenty-year-old boy with only two thousand calories of qi and blood in his body—is this the kind of cultivation level that warrants you using a fourth-tier grandmaster?"

"Ha, for this little bit of money of mine, your methods are a bit too extravagant."

The middle-aged man remained expressionless, his eyes revealing an unwavering determination.

"Mr. Shao, you are mistaken. What I possess is complete and detailed intelligence about Ye Chu, the value of which far exceeds your imagination. One million is merely the key to this intelligence. If you wish, you can see for yourself right now, and I believe you will understand that this deal is well worth the price."

Upon hearing this, Shao Wenlong nodded slightly, his fingertips casually tracing the outline of an exquisite bank card, the fluid motion revealing an undeniable decisiveness.

Immediately, a weighty intelligence report fell into his hands, seemingly carrying countless secrets and turbulent events.

"Ye Chu, at the age of twenty-three, is a bright new star in the martial arts world, a proud king at the top of the competition, a second-level martial artist at the second level, yet he is unparalleled among his peers in his Qi control technique."

"His record is so brilliant that it is enough to shock people's hearts - the third-tier great demon winged monkey is nothing but a fleeting shadow in his hands; the third-tier great medicine wood tiger is also unable to escape his sharp edge; and the brothers of the Shaking Dragon Fist also fell into the sand and were defeated by Ye Chu's seemingly gentle but secretly sharp fists."

"But what is most striking is the enormous figure that is faintly visible behind Ye Chu—a fifth-level martial arts grandmaster, the soul of Zhenhai City Martial Arts University, and the mayor of Jian City, Senior Wu Hongdao. His influence is so profound that it can shake the world. Ye Chu's connection with him is even more intriguing and hard to fathom."

Shao Wenlong's gaze was deep as he scrutinized the intelligence report word by word. His expression gradually darkened, like the calm before a storm, oppressive and suffocating. In the end, his tightly pursed lips remained silent, leaving only a complex and unreadable light flickering in his eyes.

The middle-aged man's voice was deep and resolute, like the coldest wind under the night sky, devoid of any warmth: "If the legendary Wu Hongdao truly stands behind Ye Chu, then our assassination group will have no choice but to unleash the power of a fourth-tier grandmaster and take the lead in this turbulent game."

"But this move is tantamount to throwing a boulder into a calm lake, stirring up not only waves, but also an inevitable conflict with Wu Hongdao. At that time, the Assassination Society will have to go into hiding, change its name and lie dormant in the shadows for several years, or even longer, before it can hope to return to the prosperity and undercurrents of Zhenhai City."

"And all of this is still an optimistic view. If Wu Hongdao personally intervenes and provides support for Ye Chu, then our assassination group will face an unprecedented crisis and challenge, and every step will be treading on a knife's edge, a matter of life and death."

The middle-aged man took a deep breath.

"Mr. Shao, I can tell you with certainty that no one outside our assassination group would dare to take on this job again!"

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