421: Boarding!

Chapter 413: Boarding!

Leng Shengchen stared dead at the mess before him, a more suffocating truth gripping him tightly—damn it, this time he had committed a colossal blunder!

These three mages were no ordinary retainers; they were honored guests of the Family, and even more, the trusted right-hand men of his father, Leng Hongjie!

They held many of the Family's unspeakable secrets, yet now, because of his private action, they had died so muddled and inexplicably... If his father were to find out, in his fury, he would surely beat him to death!

No, absolutely no one must know!

A ruthless resolve surged from the bottom of Leng Shengchen's heart, overcoming his initial panic.

He had to completely cover up all of this before anyone, especially his father, noticed.

As long as it was handled cleanly, he would only need to claim complete ignorance and blame everything on an accident or other enemies.

Anyway, contacting these three mages to set up the evil spell was something he had done in secret, without his father or his astute and capable older brother knowing.

Thinking of this, Leng Shengchen suddenly turned around, his face devoid of any panic, only the desperate ruthlessness and decisiveness of someone at the end of his rope.

He spoke to the four bodyguards, who were as silent as cicadas in winter, his voice extremely low, “Listen carefully, all of you! Clean up every inch of this place, inside and out!

All the bloodstains, fragments, even a fingernail in a wall crack, get rid of it all! I want this place restored to its original state, as if nothing ever happened!”

After speaking, Leng Shengchen raised his hand and pointed at the three tragically dead bodies, his eyes cold.

“Wrap them tightly in tarpaulins, and while it’s still deep night, drag them to the rose bushes in the furthest corner of the backyard, dig a three-meter deep pit, bury them firmly, and then stomp the new soil down and cover it with fallen leaves!”

His gaze slowly swept over the pale faces of each bodyguard, finally turning into the most direct death threat.

“Tonight, you were just on duty, saw nothing, heard nothing.

If anyone can’t control their mouth and dares to let out even a whisper…”

Leng Shengchen paused, his tone flat yet chilling.

“I will not only make you disappear silently, but I will also find your parents, wife, and children, and send them down to reunite with you.”

“If you understand, start immediately!”

Leng Shengchen's threat struck hard at the hearts of the four bodyguards.

They knew well that this Young Master Leng was by no means bluffing.

The Leng Family behind him controlled a true behemoth in the Dragon Kingdom's business world—the Minghuang Group.

His father, Leng Hongjie, was the chairman of the group, and his elder brother, Leng Shengtian, was the president and CEO, known for his iron fist.

The Minghuang Group ranked among the top ten private enterprises in the Dragon Kingdom, with its tentacles reaching into land development, internet intelligence, cutting-edge medical care, high-end entertainment venues... almost every industry with a recognizable name had the shadow of this colossus.

But what truly terrified those in the know was not this prominent business empire.

A few people at the top of the circle were aware that the Minghuang Group's ability to rise to such a behemoth in just a few decades.

At its root, it relied on a deep, ocean-like background that could not be openly displayed.

Without further urging, the strong will to survive overwhelmed the fear brought by witnessing a supernatural tragedy.

The four immediately began to act efficiently and silently. Two quickly found heavy tarpaulins and large sealed bags, deftly wrapping the three twisted bodies.

Another began to clear the mess on the floor, collecting all fragments and blood-stained items.

The last one had already quietly gone to the backyard to prepare that “three-meter deep” pit.

The entire villa fell into a deathly silence, with only the suppressed breaths of the bodyguards and the subtle sounds of cleaning the scene.

Leng Shengchen irritably loosened his collar; the lingering scent of blood and the grotesque faces of the dying mages haunted his mind like ghosts.

He urgently needed to vent, to use alcohol and the soft bodies of women to dispel this bone-chilling cold.

Thinking of this, Leng Shengchen was about to pick up his phone to call his usual group of dissolute friends, to go to the most luxurious nightclub and find a few delicate girls.

He wanted to use their fear and obedience to extinguish the evil fire in his heart and regain the feeling of being in control of everything.

Just then—

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Outside the villa, a series of heavy and uniform footsteps suddenly echoed without warning!

The sound was like a drumbeat, with a clear rhythm, definitely not something ordinary security guards or a disorganized mob could possess; it was clearly the style of a strictly trained military unit!

Footsteps surged from all directions, from far to near, quickly forming a encirclement, firmly locking down the entire villa.

In broad daylight, in a private villa area with strict security, and with his own Leng Family security personnel on guard outside.

How could such numerous and disciplined footsteps, like an army, suddenly appear?

This extremely illogical and bizarre situation caused Leng Shengchen's brain to crash instantly, unable to comprehend what was happening.

However, before he could even think, his four bodyguards' angry shouts came from outside the villa's main gate.

“Stop! Who are you...?”

“This is a private villa, no trespassing!”

“We are from the Leng Family, you...”

“Crack—” “Ah—”

Several short, muffled sounds ceased abruptly!

It was this instant of silence that made all the hairs on Leng Shengchen's body stand on end!

Although those four bodyguards were not top experts, they were good men he had carefully selected; yet they were instantly dealt with without even being able to issue a proper alarm?

The newcomers were definitely not benevolent, and their objective was clear, their methods ruthless!

Leng Shengchen's phone clattered to the ground, its screen instantly shattering.

The ruthlessness and desire on his face instantly froze, replaced by a deathly pallor.

Now, only one thought remained in Leng Shengchen's mind.

It's over! How did things get exposed so quickly? Who could it be? The police? Or... something even more terrifying?

Fear coursed through his body like electricity, overwhelming all thought.

Leng Shengchen didn't even think; driven by sheer survival instinct, he abruptly changed direction and ran desperately towards the back door of the villa!

All the dignity of a Young Master Leng, all plans to cover up the evidence, were now cast to the winds.

Escape!

The back door; if only he could escape through the back door and slip into the garden that connected to the mountain forest... But Leng Shengchen's idea of escape seemed so naive and ridiculous in the face of reality.

As he stumbled towards the back door, without even getting a clear look at the scene outside, several figures, like iron towers, blocked his path.

Outside the back door, more than a dozen elites, fully clad in black combat suits and bulletproof vests, stood solemnly.

They were silent, their eyes under their masks as cold as machines, and the uniquely shaped firearms in their hands gleamed faintly in the sunlight.

A well-trained aura of killing intent rushed forward.

Leng Shengchen's heart was severely shaken; before he could react, two strong men quickly closed in.

His fancy footwork was no match for absolute professional combat techniques; his arms were roughly twisted behind his back.

With a “click,” special handcuffs were applied.

Immediately, he was hoisted up by both sides, his feet barely touching the ground, and quickly escorted towards the villa's main entrance like a piece of cargo.

Leng Shengchen's struggles and curses along the way were all in vain.

When he was dragged to the main entrance, what he saw instantly silenced him, and a chill shot from his tailbone straight to the top of his head.

He saw that the four bodyguards were already unconscious on the ground, being swiftly dragged away by other black-clad personnel.

And most conspicuous in the scene were two elderly men dressed in Daoist robes.

One was dressed in a crimson Daoist robe, embroidered with flowing clouds and flame patterns, exuding an air of authority without needing to be angry.

The other was dressed in a purple Daoist robe, adorned with star and Bagua diagrams, possessing a composed demeanor.

Though both had white hair and beards, their complexions were ruddy, their eyes occasionally flashing with sharp light, and an invisible “field” seemed to surround them.

A vast and righteous Qi permeated the area, purifying the lingering sinister aura, clearly indicating they were two enlightened Daoist masters.

The gazes of these two elders, like four sharp swords, instantly pierced through Leng Shengchen's mental defenses.

The red-robed elder snorted coldly, his voice like a great bell, making Leng Shengchen's eardrums buzz: “Hmph, it is indeed here!”

“The lingering Evil Qi and Death Qi are so strong; those three corpses must have triggered the majestic National Luck when performing their evil magic, and died from the backlash, serving them right!”

The purple-robed elder's gaze was like lightning, sweeping over Leng Shengchen's pale and twisted face, his words carrying an all-knowing indifference and disdain: “I wondered what kind of Prodigy was causing trouble; it turns out to be remnants of the ‘Underworld Wealth and Evil Spirit Gate’.”

The words spoken by the old Daoist priest struck Leng Shengchen's heart heavily.

His last psychological defense completely collapsed at this moment.

Leng Shengchen was scared out of his wits by the words “remnants of the Underworld Wealth and Evil Spirit Gate,” and a strong will to survive made him struggle madly, roaring with a feigned fierceness.

“It's not my business! I don't know anything! You are trespassing on private property, I will sue you! I will make you rot in jail!”

He struggled to lift his head, trying to find a trace of apprehension on the faces of these people, then hysterically revealed his trump card.

“My father is Leng Hongjie! The chairman of the Minghuang Group! My mother is Ying Qingqing—she is the daughter of the current Deputy Minister... Ying Canglin!

I am his biological grandson! If you dare to touch me, our Leng Family and Ying Family will never let you go!”

He stared intently at the two Daoist robed elders, hoping that the names “Minghuang Group” and that Deputy Minister... would make their expressions change dramatically.

However—

“Hmm?”

The two Daoist priests, upon hearing this, didn't even bat an eyelid. The red-robed elder even curled his lips into an undisguised sneer.

The purple-robed elder slowly stroked his long beard, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather.

“Oh? So he's a deputy official responsible for land...?”

He shook his head slightly, as if he had heard something trivial and not worth mentioning, “Let alone just a deputy official, even if he were the main official, what then?”

The indifference and detachment in the Daoist Priest in Purple Robe's words made Leng Shengchen feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

He simply could not comprehend how anyone in this world could show such utter contempt for the background he relied on, which was enough to allow him to swagger through the Dragon Kingdom.

Of course, Leng Shengchen wouldn't understand.

These two Daoist priests were contemporary Heavenly Masters, permanently stationed at Qingquan Mountain, guarding the National Luck, and their status was incomparably revered, comparable to the ancient “National Preceptors.”

Even those great figures in the Elder's Council would respectfully address them as “Old Heavenly Masters” when they met them.

After all, what these two Heavenly Masters cared about and protected was the Luck of this land's Dragon Vein and the well-being of billions of living beings.

What is a mere business Family, a deputy-level official in a department, in the eyes of such an existence? Are they any different from ants? Do they even deserve to be noticed?

"Take him away."

Meanwhile, in Lu Xiaoying's villa, it was a different scene.

In the living room on the first floor, Lu Xuan sat calmly on the sofa, holding a cup of clear tea, looking relaxed and at ease. Amidst the fragrant steam of the tea, there was a sense of composure, like watching clouds roll and unroll.

However, the atmosphere in the living room on the second floor was much more "tense."

Gong Qing stood with her arms crossed, deliberately keeping a stern face, her back to Lu Xiaoying, her shoulders slightly shrugging, pretending to be extremely angry.

"My dear Young Miss!"

She deliberately elongated her tone, her voice full of "grievance" and "indignation."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier that your Family had such a powerful background? Have you been playing me for a fool all this time?

Last night, because of that wretched contract, I begged everyone, was scolded by CEO Zhao like a dog, and my hair almost turned white from worry!"

Lu Xiaoying stood behind her, her beautiful eyes wide, her face full of innocence and bewilderment.

"Sister Qing, I... I really didn't know!" she quickly defended, her voice carrying a hint of coquetry.

"Grandpa... he did tell me some past stories when I was little, but how was I supposed to know they were all true?

I always thought he was just making up stories to amuse me! Who knew he actually had a life-and-death friendship with Grandpa Huang..."

As she spoke, Lu Xiaoying couldn't help but step forward, gently taking Gong Qing's arm and shaking it back and forth, pleading softly, "Good Sister Qing, don't be angry anymore~ I really didn't mean to hide it from you."

Gong Qing felt the swaying on her arm, barely suppressing the smile that was about to break out at the corners of her mouth.

How could she truly be angry? At this moment, her heart was practically blooming with joy!

The huge stone that had been weighing on her heart—that unequal contract signed with Minghuang Group, and the various pressures the other party might exert—had now vanished into thin air.

Lu Xiaoying possessed such an unfathomable background, and that Elder Huang even personally intervened... She didn't believe Minghuang Group would dare to continue using their power to oppress them.

This not only meant the crisis was resolved but also that they would have unprecedented confidence and space in their future entertainment career.

And this process came faster than anyone had anticipated.

In the core area of The Capital, within a quiet, elegant, and antique study.

CEO Zhao of Tianyue International, a rising figure who could call the wind and rain in the entertainment industry.

At this moment, he was like a newcomer just starting his career, carefully perching half his backside on the edge of a rosewood chair, his back ramrod straight.

At the same time, he respectfully held a cup of steaming tea in both hands, his face plastered with an almost fawning smile.

Opposite CEO Zhao sat a white-haired old man, calm and dignified, exuding authority without anger.

This was a person CEO Zhao had dreamed of for most of his life but never dared to hope to approach—a true figure standing on the clouds.

A single word from him could determine the direction of the entire entertainment industry; he was a veritable "Heaven."

The old man picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and spoke in a calm tone, "Little Zhao, your Tianyue International is a good company. You must manage it well. I am very optimistic about your future development."

Upon hearing this, CEO Zhao was flattered and quickly nodded and bowed, "You flatter me, you flatter me! It's all thanks to your leadership. We will definitely continue to work hard and live up to your expectations!"

At this moment, the old man put down his teacup, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over CEO Zhao, as if mentioning it offhand, "By the way, I heard you have a girl named Lu Xiaoying under your wing?"

"The young lady is quite ambitious, lively, and kind. I happened to watch her show once and had a good impression."

CEO Zhao's heart "thumped," his smile unchanged, but his mind was already in turmoil.

He instantly understood that the root of this sudden "cordial meeting" today lay in that name.

"Yes, yes, Lu Xiaoying is indeed a very promising artist." CEO Zhao quickly agreed, his brain working rapidly, recalling everything between the company and Lu Xiaoying.

The old man nodded slightly, his tone still calm, "Hmm, I'm someone who cares about the growth of young people."

"That contract you signed with her before, if it's convenient, could you bring it over for me to see when you have time?"

How could CEO Zhao dare to say half a "no"? He immediately said, "Certainly, certainly. As soon as I return, I will personally send it over immediately, right away."

The old man did not respond to CEO Zhao.

He simply picked up another document, already prepared, from beside him and pushed it in front of CEO Zhao.

"Little Zhao, if you don't mind, I've also drafted a new contract for this girl, Lu Xiaoying. Take a look. If you think it's suitable, we'll follow this from now on. After all, we need to give young people more room to grow, don't you agree?"

Upon hearing this, CEO Zhao immediately stood up, his hands trembling slightly. He took the thin document, and after just a few pages, cold sweat broke out on his back.

This was completely different from the industry's common artist contracts, where the company held absolute dominance!

This was clearly... the company signing a young ancestor who needed to be fully supported!

The contract terms were almost unilaterally biased towards Lu Xiaoying: extremely high commission rates, absolute autonomy in script selection, flexible scheduling that was almost free, unconditional priority for company resources... And Tianyue International perfectly played the role of the "sucker"—providing money, effort, and resources, bearing all risks, yet only able to obtain extremely limited returns.

It was practically a position where he paid money and still had to act like a grandson to others.

Amidst his shock, CEO Zhao quickly weighed the pros and cons.

If he could use this opportunity to connect with this powerful figure, the intangible value and potential resources it would bring would be thousands of times more important than the gains or losses of an artist contract!

Thinking of this, a sincere and brilliant smile instantly bloomed on his face. He hugged the new contract tightly, as if holding a rare treasure, and spoke with absolute certainty.

"Don't worry! This contract is very reasonable and fully reflects the care and nurturing of young artists!"

"Our Tianyue International absolutely agrees wholeheartedly and will implement it immediately! It is our honor to provide a platform for the young people you favor!"

...Tianyue International top floor, CEO Zhao's office.

CEO Zhao practically rushed back to his office, using both hands and feet. His usual authority in front of his subordinates was completely gone.

He grabbed the phone from his pocket and took several deep breaths.

The moment the call connected, CEO Zhao's face instantly broke into an almost fawning smile.

"Hello? Is... is that Sister Qing?"

His voice was deliberately lowered in respect, with even a trace of imperceptible trembling.

"Oh my! It's me, Little Zhao! Little Zhao from Tianyue International! Yes, yes, yes... Please don't be alarmed, it's me, CEO Zhao, I'm definitely not an imposter!"

Gong Qing on the other end of the phone seemed stunned by this sudden, overly humble address, and might even have become suspicious.

CEO Zhao broke out in a sweat, trying to explain incoherently, but felt he couldn't clarify it over the phone.

"Oh dear! I can't explain it clearly over the phone!"

"By the way, Sister Qing, is Little... is Sister Xiaoying with you? Ah no, please don't misunderstand!" He quickly answered his own question, afraid the other party would hang up.

"It's not because of that trivial matter with Minghuang Group! What are they worth?!"

"The chairman of Minghuang Group has disappeared, they can barely protect themselves now..."

CEO Zhao vigorously waved his arms, as if this would enhance his persuasiveness.

"It's me here! I just finished a new contract! Yes! It's a new contract tailor-made for Sister Xiaoying! That's right!"

His voice rose, with an irrepressible excitement, "You see... Could you please ask Sister Xiaoying when it would be convenient for her to come back to the company?

Ah, yes! Any time is fine! Day or night, I'll be on standby at the company 24 hours a day!"

Finally, CEO Zhao seemed to feel that his sincerity was not enough, and immediately added.

"Of course! Of course! If Sister Xiaoying is busy, or finds it troublesome to travel back and forth,

Please give me an address, and I will personally deliver it! I will deliver it to you immediately! I wouldn't dare to waste a single minute of Sister Xiaoying's precious time!"

At exactly eight o'clock the next evening, a black sedan silently drove into a designated area of The Capital International Airport.

It passed unimpeded, bypassing all regular inspection channels, and finally stopped precisely beneath the boarding ramp of a waiting large passenger plane.

The moment the vehicle stopped, the young driver in the driver's seat quickly got out.

His figure was tall and straight, his movements agile and efficient, carrying a swift and decisive aura unique to the military.

The young driver quickly walked to the back seat, respectfully opened the car door, and at the same time handed over a seemingly ordinary wooden walking stick.

This walking stick, of course, was a prop Lu Xuan used to disguise his identity as an ordinary old man.

"Old Lu, take care on your journey." The young driver's voice was steady and strong, filled with heartfelt respect.

He paused slightly, his gaze firmly meeting Lu Xuan's, and introduced himself, "My name is Huang Chengwu."

"By order from above, I will be fully responsible for the safety of your granddaughter, Young Miss Lu Xiaoying, from now on. Please rest assured."

Lu Xuan took the walking stick and glanced at him without expression.

The young man in front of him was only twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

His Qi and blood were as vigorous as a roaring furnace, his aura as solid as a mountain, and the opening and closing of his eyes revealed an inner radiance. He was clearly a National Art master who had achieved Perfection in Dark Energy, just one step away from the Hua Jin Grandmaster realm.

This talent was quite a bit stronger than the original body's.

Huang Tangshi had indeed given a heads-up beforehand; this was his most outstanding youngest son, already the deputy instructor of the first team of the "Dragon Group" at such a young age, with a boundless future.

"Hmm!" Lu Xuan merely emitted a faint nasal sound from his throat.

He said no more, holding the walking stick, his steps seemingly slow but exceptionally steady as he ascended the boarding ramp.

Huang Chengwu maintained a slight bow, watching Lu Xuan's figure completely disappear into the cabin entrance before slowly straightening up.

There was no displeasure in his eyes from being underestimated; instead, they were filled with awe and longing for an absolute strong person.

Because the fist technique he Cultivated was bestowed upon him by this old man.

Wanhui Guilongquan!