214: Chapter 211 Sudden Rise

"Haha, greetings Master Guo. Master Wen is in good health, and Master Guo is also looking quite vibrant!"

Li Changsheng stood up with a cheerful smile.

"Master Guo, please sit here."

Just as Li Changsheng was about to reach out to shake Master Guo's hand, a sturdy figure darted in from the side.

Wang Hai had already blocked the space between Master Guo and Li Changsheng, eyeing Li Changsheng with a fake, plastered-on smile.

"What should I call you?" Wang Hai asked with a chuckle.

"Li Ming. Since we are in the US, you can also call me by my English name, Li."

"Good. Mr. Li, you don't mind if I sit next to you, do you?"

Wang Hai looked at Li Changsheng with a chuckle, as if he would crush Li Changsheng's neck himself if he dared to say no.

As for Master Guo, he just watched from the side, seemingly unbothered by Wang Hai's abrupt actions.

"Of course not."

Li Changsheng's expression remained very calm.

Just then, a servant came over, carrying trays of snacks and freshly brewed tea.

"I don't know if you prefer coffee or tea, but since you are a fellow countryman, I'll treat you with tea. You don't mind, right?"

"I don't mind at all. Master Guo, you are so hospitable; how could I, a Junior, possibly mind?"

Li Changsheng continued to smile faintly, even picking up the teacup and blowing on it gently.

"By the way, I heard earlier that Brother Li is here representing Master Wen to discuss business with me. I wonder why Master Wen didn't come himself?"

Master Guo was beaming, but there was a look of scrutiny in his narrowed eyes.

Li Changsheng took a light sip of tea, his eyes calmly glancing around with his peripheral vision.

He discovered that two bodyguards, in addition to Wang Hai, had appeared behind him at some point.

"Three people—one ready to take a bullet for Master Guo at any moment, and two ready to subdue me? Truly, a Gang operation."

Li Changsheng sneered inwardly, then calmly set down his teacup.

He looked at Master Guo and said calmly, "Master Wen is at the police station right now, so he can't come!"

"I don't quite understand what you mean. Why is Master Wen at the police station?"

Master Guo's eyes flickered for a split second, then he shook his head repeatedly, looking confused.

"Heh, Master Guo, you have a good memory. You hired people to try and take out Master Wen—how do you not know about it now?"

"What do you mean? Young man... are you sure you're here to discuss business?"

Master Guo had also set down his teacup, a fierce light already appearing in his eyes.

As his tone changed, Li Changsheng noticed that the people behind and beside him had all focused their attention on him, as if at Master Guo's command, he would immediately drop dead on the spot.

"Heh, I'm just telling the truth. Master Guo, surely you aren't thinking of laying a hand on me? Master Wen is at the police station; if he just opens his mouth, you'll be bitten by the FBI!"

Once these words were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment.

Master Guo's expression stiffened, but it was only for a fleeting moment.

The fierce light in his eyes quickly vanished, replaced by a face full of smiles. "Haha, how could that be? Master Wen and I are good brothers; I believe he wouldn't say anything. Of course, I wouldn't lay a hand on Brother Li either. We're here to discuss business; let's not make the atmosphere so oppressive."

"Hmm." Li Changsheng nodded. "That's right, Master Wen doesn't want to lay a hand on Master Guo, but..."

As he spoke, Li Changsheng stood up.

Hearing this, and seeing the young man stand up with his back to him, a flash of malice crossed Master Guo's face.

"Brother Li, just say it—what benefits will it take to let this matter pass? Name your price. I, Guo Ziming, have seen all kinds of storms over the years. As long as Master Wen gives me a way out, everything is negotiable."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes! Everything is negotiable. If you want money, five million USD. If you want territory, I can cede it to Master Wen; just take that piece of Chinatown."

Master Guo spoke generously, yet his face was incredibly vicious.

Yes! Money and territory could be given up, but once the storm passed, everything taken would just have to be coughed back up.

The young man didn't reply directly. Instead, he continued to keep his back to everyone, actually starting to wander around the living room, as if examining the luxurious decor and ornaments.

"Brother Li, if you see anything in the room you like, just tell me. What you're looking at is an official kiln piece from the Ming Dynasty; I got it through my own channels. It's the real deal."

"Yes, that one is also an authentic work. It's by Xu Wei, one of the three great talents of the Ming Dynasty—absolutely genuine."

Whenever Li Changsheng looked at an object, Master Guo would introduce it with a chuckle.

It was just like a kind elder explaining things to a Junior.

"Master Guo, you really know quite a lot. You're quite the big collector."

"Heh, no choice. Getting old, one has to have some hobbies. Sigh, I've spent quite a lot of effort collecting these items."

"Huh... what is this?"

Suddenly, Li Changsheng picked up a rusty, blue-red small object from a shelf nearby and asked with a smile.

His tone was inquisitive, just like a Junior asking for guidance from an elder.

"Oh, this? Brother Li, you have a good eye. This is a Cloud-Patterned Triangular Bronze Dagger, and it's the real deal too. There is one of these in Guangdong Province back home, and mine is the second one. It's worth quite a fortune! If Brother Li likes it..."

Before Master Guo could finish, Li Changsheng suddenly toyed with the dagger and said, "Oh, right."

"Master Guo, I know what Master Wen wants now."

"Oh? What does he want?"

"Your life!"

Before the words even finished falling, with a swish, a sound of something cutting through the air erupted without warning.

Puchi!

Master Guo's eyes widened, his lips parted slightly, and he clutched his neck. He never expected death to come so abruptly.

Sudden!

Too sudden.

Not only did Master Guo not expect it, but even Wang Hai, who had been keeping a close watch on Li Changsheng, hadn't expected an assassination to occur so suddenly.

This left him, and even those two bodyguards, stunned for a split second.

After all, no one expected that Li Changsheng, who a second ago was smiling and humbly asking for advice like an educated man, would have such a vicious side.

Swish, swish! Bang, bang!

And the moment the dagger sank into Master Guo, two more sounds of something cutting through the air rang out.

By then, Wang Hai had reacted, but the two bodyguards standing not far from Li Changsheng already had their windpipes crushed.

Two rapid punches, swift as bullets, caused these two, who were still in a daze, to drop dead instantly.

"Co—"

Swish! Bang!

Just as Wang Hai opened his mouth to shout, a whip kick lashed out in the next instant.

The physical reflexes gained from years of martial arts training allowed him to dodge quickly, but it also successfully cut off his words.

Wang Hai was now full of shock; he never expected that the refined young man before him was actually such a formidable martial artist.

An Internal Martial Arts expert? Hidden Power?!

In an instant, this suspicion surfaced in his mind; after all, the external characteristics of External Martial Arts were relatively obvious.

For example, plump muscles, sturdy bones, and an overall look of martial prowess, such as the temples being visibly bulging.

As for Internal Martial Arts, the Visible Power level also has similar symptoms, but by the time one reaches the Hidden Power level, the external form is very relaxed.

Because the Qi in Internal Martial Arts flows downwards—Qi sinks to the Dantian, elbows sink and shoulders drop, wrists are also in a downward posture, and the entire body is in a sinking stance.

It emphasizes "tightening the perineum and lifting the internal," with the breath sinking down; that sharp, fierce temperament becomes even more restrained.

They look gentle and refined on ordinary days, but once the intent to kill arises, that is when Guan Gong opens his eyes to kill.