Chapter 33: Encounter with a Master

He Tian recalled the information regarding Lord Hai, sourced from the Military Intelligence Bureau. His authority was second only to the bureau chief and a handful of deputy chiefs. If He Tian approached matters not merely through these channels, but in person—revealing his identity as a member of Dragon Soul—his access would equal that of the bureau chief himself. No secret could stand in his way.

Investigating Lord Hai, it was clear He Tian needn’t present himself directly; it could be handled easily at arm’s length.

Lord Hai’s family was powerful, one of the country’s superlative political forces. He was, by all indications, an external agent specially appointed by this political clan. Yet “external” did not mean he wasn’t central to the power structure; rather, he was the one entrusted to legally and efficiently channel wealth into the family’s coffers, using his authority to aggregate fortunes. This was a common arrangement, a means to avoid unnecessary corruption—and many high-ranking figures supported it.

None of that concerned He Tian. What he cared about was whether Lord Hai had links to any assassin organizations, what the nature of those ties was, and to what extent they reached. Did Lord Hai know about the operation targeting Wang Xinrou? Was there any connection to the Dragon Tooth case?

According to intelligence, Lord Hai would be spending the night at his villa in Binhai District. He Tian infiltrated the compound, moving silently through the darkness. Trust in National Security and Military Intelligence was in question; He Tian couldn’t be certain of their reliability, so caution was paramount.

He Tian was keenly aware of his own limits—not the top tier, far from it. There were many who could eliminate him. The scope of Lord Hai’s influence and resources suggested he might have formidable protectors. Nothing could be taken for granted.

It was late. The villa was silent, not the ideal time for reconnaissance, but He Tian had no choice—his days were occupied, and only in the depths of night could he act freely. With Wang Xinrou’s safety unconfirmed, he dared not stray far from her. Otherwise, he would have already sought out the liaison for the Hong Kong assassin group.

This predicament prompted He Tian to consider finding an ally—a woman, preferably—to allow him a measure of freedom. But that could wait; he needed to deliberate carefully on whom to trust.

He Tian moved with soundless agility, crouching in a corner to observe. He noticed numerous hidden cameras—the villa was a fortress. He Tian shifted carefully, searching for blind spots. Such defenses only heightened his interest in Lord Hai. Yet, suspicion alone was not enough; without evidence, He Tian could not openly search the premises. Failure to find anything would invite retaliation, leaving even Dragon Soul on the defensive.

He Tian had breached far more formidable compounds; this was hardly his greatest challenge. Soon he found his entry point.

“One, two, three,” he counted under his breath. At the third beat, his legs tensed and he sprang upward, catching a small protrusion between the first and second floor. Using it for leverage, he hauled himself up, flipping smoothly onto the second level. He curled his body into a roll as a rotating camera swept back toward his position. He Tian pressed forward with utmost stealth.

The intelligence only confirmed Lord Hai’s presence that night, not his exact location. He Tian would have to find him. Fortunately, the cameras monitored only the villa’s exterior; none were installed inside. After all, no one would permit surveillance of their every move—especially someone like Lord Hai, who valued his privacy above all else.

He Tian hid in a corner, ears attuned for any sound, eyes scanning for movement.

In a spacious master bedroom, a wide bed was occupied by one man and two women, entwined in passionate embrace. The man was Lord Hai himself. From the glimpses of the women’s faces, He Tian recognized two rising film stars—one famed for her pure, innocent image. Yet here, she was wild and uninhibited. The tales of the entertainment world’s murkiness were evidently true.

The affair reached its climax, and Lord Hai finally yielded, exhausted. After a period of tender repose, waiting for the two women to fall asleep, Lord Hai donned a robe and moved to another room.

He opened a laptop, entered a complex password, and accessed an encrypted folder. Reclining in his chair, eyes narrowed, he read the contents.

“They dare accuse me?” he muttered, a sinister fury flickering in his gaze. “They have the nerve to accept such a task—I think I should be the one to reprimand them!”

Closing the laptop, Lord Hai sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette. “Ah Kun!”

A man in his thirties entered.

“Have you found Wu Hao?”

“He’s been captured. Would you like...?” Ah Kun made a gesture across his throat.

“No need. Give him an address, release him, and tell him to report to the hotel tomorrow for work as lobby manager,” Lord Hai instructed, shaking his head.

“Yes, sir,” Ah Kun replied without question.

“Good, see to it immediately,” Lord Hai said, satisfied. He disliked inquisitive subordinates; to him, any question was a challenge to his authority. Whether his men understood his reasoning was their concern. Those who did were qualified; those who didn’t were useless, especially those kept close.

Ah Kun had served Lord Hai for three years, always to his satisfaction.

“Understood,” Ah Kun said, preparing to leave.

“By the way, how is your senior? Whatever he needs, grant it. Tell him that following me will never leave him wanting,” Lord Hai said with a smile.

“Ah Kun thanks you on his senior’s behalf. He’s quite content these days,” Ah Kun replied.

“Glad to hear it!” Lord Hai laughed. Ah Kun smiled and withdrew.

Suddenly, a shout rang out. “Who’s there!”

Ah Kun halted, returning to Lord Hai’s side, vigilant.

“Master, be careful—someone has infiltrated!” Ah Kun’s face was taut with alertness.

“Your senior has already spotted the intruder. There should be no danger. Come, let’s see for ourselves,” Lord Hai replied, smiling as though the threat meant nothing.

Ah Kun hurried ahead to lead the way.

He Tian was caught off guard. He’d just located Lord Hai’s position and was about to observe when he was discovered. The opponent was powerful; after a brief exchange, He Tian realized he was outmatched. The adversary possessed fourth-layer internal strength.

He Tian’s three energy channels surged at full speed. He didn’t linger; he leapt away from the villa.

The presence of a fourth-layer internal energy practitioner at Lord Hai’s side changed everything; He Tian could no longer stay, and his plans regarding Lord Hai would have to be completely revised.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

He Tian was quick, but the pursuer was quicker, refusing to let him escape.

“Prepare to fire!” Lord Hai ordered, his expression grave.

“Master, please don’t—leave it to my senior. It’s best not to introduce outside elements in this fight,” Ah Kun urged.

“Very well,” Lord Hai considered, then gestured for the hidden gunmen to stand down.

“Thank you, Master,” Ah Kun whispered.

“Do you think Brother Qi Cheng can handle him?” Lord Hai asked.

“It shouldn’t be a problem. From what I saw, the intruder has third-layer internal strength. My senior is fourth-layer. Even at the lowest fourth-layer, dealing with a third-layer opponent should be effortless. The only uncertainty is whether the opponent is alone. If there are several, my senior might not succeed,” Ah Kun explained. He himself was a middle third-layer practitioner.

“Then you go assist him. I’ll assign others to handle the rest. Whoever it is, bring him to me!” Lord Hai commanded.

“What about your safety?” Ah Kun looked at Lord Hai anxiously, wary of a diversion.

“Haha, Ah Kun, don’t you know me by now? Go on, my safety isn’t your concern,” Lord Hai laughed.

“Yes, Master,” Ah Kun nodded and leapt from the second floor, chasing after He Tian and Qi Cheng.

“Elder Lin, what do you think?” Lord Hai asked softly, watching Ah Kun disappear.

“Master, Qi Cheng and Ah Kun together can handle any situation,” replied an elderly voice.

“Let’s hope they bring the intruder back to me,” Lord Hai smiled.

Elder Lin fell silent, but Lord Hai didn’t mind. He returned to his room, sat on the sofa, and frowned in contemplation.

An internal energy master investigating him—he hadn’t encountered such a situation in years. It was cause for concern; his enterprise was vast, and any slip could have dire consequences. If it were merely a matter of the martial world, it wouldn’t worry him. What he feared was the intervention of the state’s power—that was what he guarded against most.

Still, Lord Hai found reassurance in the intruder’s furtive approach, which clearly indicated he possessed little useful information. That, at least, was a comfort.