Chapter 2798 — An Liwen's Comeback

"So that's how it is. I understand. Brother Lin is a lone cultivator, so this spirit beast is like a contracted spirit beast to you—you can't bear to be parted from it," Ge Xian surmised with great self-assurance.

Wei Zhao smiled and did not bother to explain. Instead he changed the subject and asked Li Ciba, "By the way, Ciba, what ultimate technique does Zhang Naipao actually have that could leave your junior brother crippled? I heard your junior brother only threw one punch at Zhang Naipao, and Zhang Naipao never even lifted a hand—yet your junior brother ended up a cripple?"

"That's right!" Li Ciba nodded. "I was standing right there at the time, and even I found it baffling. Zhang Naipao just stood there and took my junior brother's punch head-on. The blow made him cough up blood, and he swallowed a Small Return Pill on the spot. I thought my junior brother was going to win. But what I never expected was that after throwing that one punch, my junior brother simply collapsed to the ground, his internal injuries gravely severe, unconscious and unresponsive. I couldn't even ask him what had happened..."

"Oh?" Wei Zhao was taken aback. He had not expected the matter to be quite so bizarre. He had assumed Ge Xian was merely repeating hearsay, but now, hearing it from someone who had been there, Wei Zhao realized the strangeness of it all surpassed anything he had imagined. "Zhang Naipao did nothing at all, yet he was the one injured—while your junior brother was the one left gravely wounded and unconscious?"

"Exactly. Strange, isn't it?" Li Ciba smiled bitterly. "The truth is, I've been puzzling over it myself."

"It seems that when it comes to a contest with Zhang Naipao, I really will have to tread carefully." Wei Zhao pondered the matter of Zhang Naipao thoughtfully.

After returning to his room, Wei Zhao called Gu Mengyao and asked whether anything had happened at home. Only after learning that all was well did he set his mind at ease. What Wei Zhao did not know, however, was that An Liwen's schemes had been set in motion once again...

For some time now, An Liwen had been biding his time. In truth, so long as Wei Zhao was in Donghai City, he truly could not stir up any real trouble there. With Qiu Lingshan holding office in the city, the moment any strange case arose, Wei Zhao would immediately think of An Liwen as the culprit.

Thus, left with no other choice, An Liwen had begun considering committing his crimes elsewhere. But committing crimes in another place required opportunity—one could not simply go at will. Preparation was necessary.

What thrilled An Liwen, however, was that the deputy leader of the Fire Wolf Gang's northern branch had personally called him, assigning him a major task.

In Yanjing City, inside a high-class nightclub, Liu Tianli was entertaining a major medicinal herb supplier over dinner. This supplier's quoted prices were considerably cheaper than those of the previous one. After several days of contact, Liu Tianli had discovered that the head of this company had no other hobby—he simply loved to spend every night singing and reveling at nightclubs. To secure a better price, Liu Tianli naturally accompanied him in person each day.

After all, a supplier of this caliber was not something an ordinary vice president could handle.

"President Liu, this nightclub is excellent. I like it a great deal—especially the décor. It lifts my spirits just to look at it!" This supplier was named President Lang, a man of forthright and generous character. He did not pressure Liu Tianli unduly, merely telling him, "Keep me entertained and happy, and I'll sign with you!"

Of all business entertainment, this kind was in fact the simplest. When the other party had a hobby, all you had to do was cater to it. Liu Tianli spent his days eating and drinking with President Lang, and it did not cost him much at all.

"President Lang, do you have any more of those cigarettes? Give me another pack. I must say, those cigarettes you brought back from Cuba really have a kick—they feel completely different when you smoke them." Liu Tianli was already well acquainted with President Lang and did not mind asking him for cigarettes.

"Haha, what did I tell you? I said my cigarettes were different from the ones in your country, didn't I? I had a friend specially process them—completely different!" President Lang laughed. "But I'm out of that kind now. I didn't bring much this time, only a few cartons. I gave President Liu two, and the two of us have smoked the rest."

"All gone, huh..." Liu Tianli was somewhat disappointed. Over the past few days, however, he had fallen in love with the taste of those specially made cigarettes. A single day without one left his craving unbearable.

"But I have others. You try them too—I guarantee they're just as good, if not better!" As he said this, President Lang turned to the man beside him. "Little Cui, go fetch those cartons of cigarettes from the car—the specially made ones as well."

"Yes, President Lang!" Little Cui nodded and left the private room.

"Your subordinate's name is quite amusing—Cui Mianshi. Sounds just like 'hypnotist.'" Hearing that there were more specially made cigarettes of a similar kind, Liu Tianli was delighted and could not resist a joke.

"Haha!" President Lang chuckled and said nothing.

Before long, Little Cui returned, carrying four or five cartons of cigarettes. He opened one, took out a pack, and handed it to Liu Tianli, then promptly and attentively lit a cigarette for him.

"Good tobacco!" After taking a drag, Liu Tianli could not help but exclaim in admiration. "Refreshing—even better than the last batch. President Lang, you've been holding out on me! Why didn't you bring out the good stuff earlier?"

"Brother Liu, we weren't well acquainted before, were we? The two of us didn't quite hit it off, so I didn't bring it out. Now that we're close, naturally it doesn't matter," President Lang said with a smile.

"Good. I wonder, President Lang—when can we sign our contract?" Liu Tianli asked, seizing the opportune moment to strike while the iron was hot.

"Oh, the contract. That's easily done, easily done. Little Cui, go bring the contract. President Liu and I will sign right now!" President Lang beckoned to Cui Mianshi.

"Yes, President Lang!" Little Cui answered, then went to make preparations.

Liu Tianli had not expected the signing process to go so smoothly. His goodwill toward President Lang surged. When he read over the contract and found every clause entirely fair, he was thoroughly satisfied and with a great flourish of his pen signed the agreement.

To celebrate, President Lang gave Liu Tianli all the remaining cigarettes in the car. And so their pleasant business partnership formally began...

……………………

In truth, it was not that Zhang Naipao did not wish to come out—rather, Wei Zhao's sudden strike had injured one of his subordinates, filling his heart with fury and hatred. And his cultivation method, the Chrysanthemum Treasure Manual, was precisely a set of mental formulas that advanced through hatred.

Thus, the events of last night had suddenly made Zhang Naipao sense an opportunity for a breakthrough!