Deng Chenglong stood before Sun Gang, his report delivered with a respectful tone. "Sir, your father had a meeting with that ex-son-in-law of the Gu family," he stated, prompting Sun Gang to shift his attention from the document in front of him.

Sun Gang looked directly at Deng Chenglong, signaling for him to continue. Deng Chenglong proceeded, "I don’t know what was discussed, sir. I kept my distance; I didn’t want your father to notice me."

Sun Gang pondered this information. "This is the second meeting. You have to find out what they are up to; I don’t like surprises."

Deng Chenglong nodded. "I have also found an old master who is knowledgeable about the scroll."

"Great," Sun Gang responded. "When will he be here?"

"Tonight, sir," Deng Chenglong replied promptly.

"Good. Make sure you prepare everything he needs," Sun Gang instructed.

Deng Chenglong affirmed, "Yes, sir."

Sun Gang then shifted the topic to his brother and he asked, "What about my brother, any details on him?"

Just as the conversation progressed, Sun Fang, Sun Gang’s younger brother, entered the room with a casual demeanour. "What about me, big bro?."

Sun Gang regarded his brother with a composed expression. "No need for theatrics, Sun Fang. We have matters to attend to."

Sun Fang, seemingly undeterred, leaned against a nearby surface. "Matters that always seem to benefit you, big bro."

Sun Gang maintained his composure. "Benefit the family, Sun Fang. That’s the priority."

Sun Fang’s words echoed in the room, a challenge to Sun Gang’s actions. "I thought finding the manual was a quest that each of us needed to do on our own. Now why are you tailing me and following my leads?" Sun Fang questioned, his gaze sharp as he turned his attention to Deng Chenglong. "Are your men not skilled enough for you, and you need the services of mine?"

Deng Chenglong felt a surge of anger at the insinuation but remained silent, mindful of the delicate balance in their relationship – master and younger brother of his master.

Sun Gang, maintaining his composure, responded to Sun Fang’s accusations. "Don’t insult my men, Fang."

Sun Fang, undeterred, continued to press the issue. "Your actions are the only thing insulting them. You wouldn’t have found that scroll if you were not tailing me. I wonder how Grandpa would take this."

The mention of Grandpa Sun stirred something in Sun Gang’s eyes, a subtle reaction that didn’t go unnoticed. Sun Gang retorted, "Don’t be a coward and involve Grandpa."

Sun Fang, unyielding, pressed on, "Finding the manual will determine who is the next successor, not just of the manual but also of the whole Sun family. Now tell me, big bro, do you think Grandpa would condone your actions of doing nothing but following in my footsteps like this?"

Sun Gang, his tone unwavering, stated, "It doesn’t matter; I have the scroll with me."

Sun Fang, however, seized the opportunity to expose a perceived betrayal. "The one that you stole from me, brother. I am very disappointed in you."

The tension in the room escalated, the rift between the brothers widening as their differing approaches to the quest for the manual became more apparent.

Sun Fang’s ultimatum lingered in the air as he declared, "I can let this pass, but if you don’t stop your men from following me, I will inform Grandpa."

Sun Gang, begrudgingly accepting his brother’s terms, replied with a tense agreement, "Fine, they will stop."

"Great. Now, let’s run this race fairly, brother," Sun Fang stated before walking out of the office, leaving Sun Gang seething in anger.

As the door closed, Deng Chenglong, still present in the room, sought guidance. "What do we do now, sir?"

Sun Gang, a mixture of frustration and determination in his eyes, instructed, "Tell the men to stop tailing him. I don’t want Grandpa to lecture me about this."

"Yes, sir," Deng Chenglong responded, understanding the urgency of the situation.

Sun Gang then ordered, "Go and prepare for tonight."

Deng Chenglong left the office to relay Sun Gang’s orders to the surveillance team, leaving Sun Gang alone in his seething thoughts. Frustration boiled over as he grabbed a nearby vase, hurling it to the floor, the loud crash echoing through the office. The commotion caught the attention of his concerned secretary, who cautiously entered.

"Sir, is everything okay?" the young secretary inquired.

Seething, Sun Gang bellowed, "Who told you to enter? Get out!"

The secretary hastily retreated, leaving Sun Gang alone by the window. He lit a cigarette, the ember glowing in the dimly lit room, as he contemplated the challenges ahead.

As Shan Zitong and Gu Liang celebrated the recent divorce over dinner, the atmosphere was lively until Gu Liang’s phone interrupted the festivities. It was Madame Gu on the line, and after a brief conversation, Gu Liang informed Shan Zitong that her mother wanted her home early.

There was a flicker in Shan Zitong’s eyes, but he managed to smile and said, "No problem, I will take you home." They continued their meal and conversation, enjoying each other’s company.

After dinner, Shan Zitong drove Gu Liang home. As soon as she entered the house, Shan Zitong took out his phone and made a call. The voice on the other end asked, "What’s up?" Shan Zitong expressed his frustration, "She is too cautious, Dad." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The man on the line understood the gravity of the situation, "Are you telling me you are failing to get her to do it?" Shan Zitong explained, "Her mother keeps interrupting our dates." The man sighed, acknowledging the challenges, "I see. Rumeng is still cautious as ever. But son, if this is not done according to that woman’s instructions, our family will be doomed. So, think of something and do it quickly."

The call ended, leaving Shan Zitong with the weight of the family’s expectations on his shoulders. As the intricate web of family dynamics and hidden motives unfolded, Shan Zitong knew he had to navigate carefully to ensure the success of the plan and secure the future of his family.

Shan Zitong, feeling the pressure of his mission, drove to his hotel in the city, contemplating the intricate web of circumstances that bound him. Despite his disdain for the unfamiliar city, he knew he had to see the mission through for the sake of his family.

Arriving in his hotel room, Shan Zitong pondered different approaches to fulfill the task at hand. The weight of expectations and the urgency of the situation weighed heavily on him. Finally, a spark of inspiration lit up his mind. With determination, he reached for his phone and dialed a number.

Engaging in a conversation with the person on the other end, Shan Zitong laid out a plan. It wasn’t the path he had initially intended, but time constraints and the gravity of the mission forced him to adapt. As he concluded the call, a subtle smile graced his face. This unexpected technique might be the key to success, and he couldn’t afford to let his family down.

The clock was ticking, and the success of this mission held the fate of his entire family. Shan Zitong knew he had to proceed with caution and precision, using every tool at his disposal to ensure the plan unfolded seamlessly.

Late in the evening, an old man clad in traditional Chinese attire stepped out of the plane. The airport, now relatively empty due to the preference for daytime travel, allowed those present to fixate their gaze on the intriguing figure. The old man’s eyes remained concealed beneath the shadow of his lowered head as he navigated the airport.

Upon reaching the exit, he raised his head, scanning the area with a purpose that did not go unnoticed by onlookers. Deng Chenglong, standing at a distance, observed the old man closely. Despite his efforts to make eye contact, there was an inexplicable force preventing Deng Chenglong from meeting the gaze of the mysterious figure.

The air around the old man seemed to carry an aura of mystique, intensifying the curiosity of those who chanced upon him. As he moved with an undeniable sense of purpose, the anticipation of what would unfold lingered in the air.

The old man, Master Kong, headed in Deng Chenglong’s direction, prompting Chenglong to respectfully bow and greet him with, "Evening, Master Kong." Master Kong’s response was direct, "Take me to the scroll." Chenglong nodded and gestured, "This way, please, sir."

They proceeded to board the car, with Deng Chenglong taking the front passenger seat, leaving Master Kong alone in the backseat. Despite Chenglong’s seasoned background, the presence of Master Kong seemed to have a suffocating effect on him. Maintaining his composure became a challenge as beads of sweat started to form on his back, the confined car space amplifying the intensity of the encounter.

Throughout the journey to Sun Gang’s villa, Master Kong kept his eyes lowered, an enigmatic figure whose aura commanded respect and reverence. Deng Chenglong navigated the path carefully, the weight of the scroll’s significance palpable in the air. The anticipation of their arrival at Sun Gang’s villa heightened, as Master Kong’s mysterious aura continued to cast an intriguing shadow over the unfolding events.