Chapter 2830 — The Flaw of Martial Techniques

After Yang Qiqi left, the others remained in the safety of their refuge, and for a time nothing disturbed their peace. Zhang Naipao still wanted Feng Shihua to defect to his camp, but he made no threats — for threats would not wound Wei Zhao, and thus would be pointless. Besides, Zhang Naipao was hardly short of followers; the Tomorrow and Tomorrow Sect had no lack of underlings. Why would he need the likes of Feng Shihua as his subordinates? All he wanted was to strike at Wei Zhao.

In truth, Feng Shihua and Li Ciba had let slip a golden opportunity that comes but once in a lifetime. Zhang Naipao was at that moment utterly spent. After unleashing his Hell Yin Demon Fist, his whole body had gone slack, every ounce of physical strength and true qi drained away, and it would be some time before he recovered; he could not possibly fight again. He now stood completely undefended — even a Yellow-rank expert could have killed him with a single blow. This was the greatest flaw of his ultimate martial technique!

Unless absolutely necessary, he would never use it. Of course, this was a common failing of certain heaven-defying ancient martial arts; otherwise, if any single cultivator mastered such a technique, that one person could challenge a host of experts, and the balance of the cultivation world would be lost.

As things stood, Zhang Naipao had built his entire martial reputation upon an imbalance of information. Having slain Dongfang Bushu, he had struck terror into everyone present; no one dared raise a hand against him, which bought him exactly the time he needed to recover.

Had Young Hero Yang not struck him earlier, he would not have been in such a sorry state. At the very least, after using the Hell Yin Demon Fist he would have retained some strength — enough that a Yellow-rank cultivator could not have slain him, and only an expert of his own rank could have finished him off. But thanks to that one blow from Young Hero Yang, he had already squandered much of his physical strength and true qi. He had not fully recovered when Dongfang Bushu arrived, and that was what had brought about his present predicament.

Zhang Naipao's heart was pounding, yet in front of Yang Qiqi he showed not the slightest sign of weakness and remained as overbearing as ever, cowing Feng Shihua and Li Ciba into inaction. Otherwise, Zhang Naipao and Mo Ba would already be lying dead here.

Still, they were not to blame. They had no golden finger like Wei Zhao's; they could not tell whether Zhang Naipao's strength and true qi were at that moment abundant or spent.

It was only when Zhang Naipao had recovered a good measure of his physical strength and true qi — enough to unleash the Hell Yin Demon Fist once more — that a fleeting smile of relief crossed his face...

……………………

Yanjing City, in the president's office of the Liu family's corporate group.

Liu Tianli was reviewing the account reports. His craving for a cigarette struck, and he reached absently for the cigarette box at the corner of his desk, but his hand closed on empty air. Only then did he remember that this pack was already smoked out.

"Secretary Zhang," Liu Tianli said, pressing the call button to the secretarial office. "Bring me another pack of my cigarettes."

"President Liu, which brand?" Secretary Zhang asked hurriedly.

"The ones President Lang gave me before," Liu Tianli said. Ever since he had smoked the specially made cigarettes from President Lang, no other cigarette held any appeal for him. The others simply did not satisfy — they could not ease the craving. Only President Lang's cigarettes, once smoked, left him rested and comfortable.

"President Liu, President Lang's cigarettes are all gone. What I gave you before was the last pack. Would you like to see whether something else will do?" Secretary Zhang asked.

"Gone?" Liu Tianli was taken aback, then realized it made sense — he smoked quickly, and the total number of cigarettes President Lang had given him was not large, so finishing them quickly was only natural. Still, no other cigarette satisfied him. "Then just bring me a couple of packs of whatever."

"Very well, President Liu." After hanging up, Secretary Zhang soon came in from the outer secretarial office, bringing Liu Tianli several packs of cigarettes of different brands.

Liu Tianli tore open a pack in haste, pulled out a cigarette, put it to his lips, and lit it. After two draws he could not help knitting his brows. "Terrible. Pointless."

"President Liu, shall I go out and look for you — see whether anyone carries President Lang's brand? There is an imported tobacco and liquor shop near the company. I could check whether they have any?" Secretary Zhang asked cautiously.

"No need. You can't buy these — they're President Lang's specially made cigarettes. I'll make the call myself." Liu Tianli waved a hand, picked up the phone, and dialed President Lang's number.

"Haha, President Liu! What's made you call me all of a sudden? Hasn't our cooperation been going along smoothly?" President Lang picked up quickly and asked warmly.

"Mm, President Lang, I'm not calling about that — it's a private matter," Liu Tianli said. "Those cigarettes you gave me before — do you have any more? Now that I'm used to them, other cigarettes don't sit right with me. Could you spare me a couple of cartons? If not, I'm happy to pay."

"You and I are business partners — why bring money into such a trifle?" President Lang said carelessly. "It's only a few cartons of cigarettes. What need is there to talk of money?"

"Then many thanks, President Lang!" Liu Tianli was overjoyed and said quickly, "Shall I have my secretary, Little Zhang, come to your hotel to collect them?"

"No need, President Liu. I'd rather come over in person. As it happens, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you. But these cigarettes... in principle, giving you a few cartons is no problem, only..." President Lang trailed off.

"President Lang, there's no problem, is there?" Liu Tianli's heart tensed, and he asked at once.

"It's not a problem, exactly. It's just that I have only one carton left — that's all I have with me. This trip, I brought only that much to discuss business with you. There's nothing to spare..." President Lang said.

"Only one carton..." Liu Tianli thought. How could one carton be enough? These days he smoked half a carton a day; one carton would last him two days at most, and that was if he rationed himself. Normally it would not be nearly enough. "Then... couldn't your company send some more over?"

"That matter — better to wait until I come over and we talk in person. There are some things I've been meaning to discuss with you as well!" President Lang said.

"Very well. I'll await your esteemed presence in my office." Hearing that there seemed to be an opening, Liu Tianli said quickly.

If Liu Tianli had possessed x-ray vision, he would surely have been astonished at that moment — for President Lang was standing, standing like a servant beside a youth seated in the executive chair. That youth was very likely the true boss behind the scenes!

After hanging up, President Lang wiped the smile from his face and turned, fawning and deferential, to the youth in the executive chair, saying cautiously, "Young Master Wen, Liu Tianli is already hooked. He's begging me for cigarettes!" (To be continued.)