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Ma Xianhong had always loathed the company; every time someone came to persuade him, he refused outright. Only because he, too, was a succes
Ma Xianhong had always loathed the company; every time someone came to persuade him, he refused outright. Only because he, too, was a successor of one of the Eight Wonders did he treat their envoy more politely.
Now, suddenly, he was compromising. There had to be a reason—there was no other plausible explanation. The only thing Zhang Chulan could think of was the inscrutable and terrifyingly powerful Jin Baobao: the man must have met Ma Xianhong.
Jin Baobao had been collecting techniques from various schools; having come to Biyou Village, it made sense he would seek out Ma Xianhong.
"Tell me your conditions, nephew. Don't hesitate."
Zhang Chulan patted Ma Xianhong on the shoulder, then glanced at Wang Zhenqiu. Wang immediately contacted Er Zhuang, who in turn alerted the higher-ups.
Ma Xianhong and his twelve core artisans were no weaklings; the company preferred not to use force unless absolutely necessary. Besides, someone like Ma Xianhong was exactly the kind of talent the company needed.
He could mass-produce magical implements. With the company's numbers of strangers (异人) plus the aid of such devices, many problems would become trivial. If Ma Xianhong defected willingly, the company would accept almost any reasonable conditions.
In principle, what Ma Xianhong was doing wasn't illegal—there was no formal grounds to arrest him—hence the initial decision to send temporary workers rather than an all-out force. And having him as an ally would be strategically invaluable.
Zhang Chulan had already decided: now that the truth was out, the next step was to train hard and use his wits to climb the company ladder. Reach a high enough position, become strong enough, and even if Feng Baobao's secret of immortality were exposed, he could protect her.
"My first condition: Chen Duo is under my protection. I will explain the incident and I will not blame her. I demand that you do not harm her."
"My nephew—so you've finally seen reason!"
Zhang Chulan was taken aback, then visibly pleased as he nodded. Inside he wondered, Could this be related to him?
Ma Xianhong continued, "Second: the Furnace of Self-Cultivation was created by Qu Tong of the Yao Star Society. She commands powerful forces both overt and covert. I want you to help me recover my family from her."
Deceived by Qu Tong for so many years, he burned to confront her and retrieve his family. But reason told him he could not take Qu Tong on alone—even with his twelve artisans at his side it would be futile, and now he was effectively trapped by the company's cordon. The only realistic way to rescue his family was to enlist the company's power.
Zhang Chulan looked back at Wang Zhenqiu. Wang checked his phone, read Er Zhuang's reply, and then nodded to Zhang.
Zhang smiled and told Ma Xianhong, "The company has agreed to your terms. Now tell us exactly what happened—how did Qu Tong abduct your parents?"
Ma Xianhong did not hold back; he laid out every detail.
Upon learning Qu Tong's involvement, the company board immediately convened and mobilized a large contingent of elite strangers to move on the Yao Star Society's headquarters. They intended to arrest Qu Tong as quickly as possible.
Above the Yao Star Society's company tower, George teleported in and descended slowly.
"Company sources report your village is surrounded. You go in—if Xianhong is captured, kill the escorts and bring Xianhong to me."
Qu Tong stood by a vast floor-to-ceiling window, a glass of red wine in hand, gazing at the city below. Her voice was cold. Behind her, several attendants of varying ages—each with deeply rooted Qi—bowed and prepared to leave.
But then she stiffened, startled—she'd seen a young man appear outside the glass. In the blink of an eye, he was inside the room.
"You're… Jin Baobao?"
Qu Tong's face turned hard when she recognized him. Her lieutenants scurried forward to shield her.
"No need. Go do what I told you. If Mr. Jin wants to kill me, you can't stop him."
She knew the intelligence on Jin Baobao: how he'd turned the tables on the Wang family's experts. She knew that combined, her people were no match for even one hand of his. Seeing her aides leave, Qu Tong flicked a strand of hair and smiled.
"What brings you, Mr. Jin? To what do I owe the honor?"
"I like people who speak plainly. I'm here for one thing: I want your Dual-Perfection Hand."
"Not taken—negotiated," Jin added. "You set the terms."
Qu Tong's expression shifted. Though her actions toward Ma Xianhong had been extreme—perhaps hiding even bigger schemes—she had not personally provoked this man. He didn't immediately subdue her and probe her mind; he offered a bargain.
Qu Tong walked to the wine cabinet, selected the most expensive bottle, and poured a glass for him. "Mr. Jin, your skill and character are admirable. I would gladly surrender the Dual-Perfection Hand—only I haven't decided the terms. Allow me a few days to consider."
If she played this right, the transaction could be hugely advantageous. She would gain far more than the technique itself—if Jin could be turned or leveraged, her plan's chance of success would skyrocket. Not now; she wanted to maximize his value.
"Take your time."
Jin sat down leisurely. With a single gesture, the red wine in front of him turned into green tea.
"I don't like red wine. I prefer tea."
Qu Tong tested him with conversation, probing for any hint of his true identity. She suspected Jin Baobao was a facade—no one so young should be this powerful. The company's investigations had reached the same tentative conclusion. If she could discover his real identity, perhaps she could wash his mind with the Dual-Perfection Hand and win him over. With Jin on her side, her ambitions would become far easier.
But after a cup of tea, she had learned nothing useful—and then she received a devastating call.
"Ma Xianhong has defected to the company. You've been exposed. The company has dispatched a large force to capture you; they're probably arriving now. Get out—find a way to escape!"
(End of Chapter)