Ji Chang and Wu Mingwei walked to Wei Wen’s body.
“You lift his legs, I’ll lift his head, and we’ll pile them together before burning them.” Ji Chang said to Ruan Mingwei.
Ruan Mingwei bent down to lift Wei Wen’s feet and accidentally saw that Wei Wen’s right hand was tightly clutching a broken silver-gray cross about the size of a key.
His expression suddenly changed, and he picked up the cross. “Ji Chang, do you know what this is?”
Ji Chang’s expression also changed when he saw the cross, and his eyes widened in shock. “Quickly, go and tell Mr. Yan and Mr. Huangfu! Leave this to me.”
Ruan Mingwei dashed back to the farm. At this moment, it started to rain. The cold rain fell on his face, making his heart even colder.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen had returned home. Huangfu Yuchen went to change clothes, while Yan Ge lay on the sofa contemplating Wei Wen’s matter. Wei Wen’s strength wasn’t low; he likely held an important position within their organization. For someone like him to die in China, could the opposing side’s leader really stay idle? Or perhaps, should he and Yuchen simply go to Country Y?
The doorbell rang urgently, and Yan Ge’s spiritual sense picked up on Ruan Mingwei. He noticed his anxious expression and he used his spiritual sense to open the door.
“Mr. Yan!” Ruan Mingwei rushed into the living room and saw Huangfu Yuchen who had already changed into a different outfit coming from upstairs. Not bothering with propriety, he said directly, “Mr. Yan, Mr. Huangfu, before he died, Wei Wen sent a message to the Holy See. They might come knocking soon!”
“How do you know?” Huangfu Yuchen wasn’t surprised, and his tone was calm as he asked. He took down Yan Ge’s long legs that were propped up and sat beside him, then pulled them onto his lap.
Ruan Mingwei took out the cross and explained, “This is a cross used by the Holy See’s people to send messages, it uses holy light as the medium. They carry these crosses wherever they go and if a cross breaks, it’s sensed by the other side, indicating the cross’s owner has died. Wei Wen must have already sent the message back to their organization.”
Both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen remained calm and still, which made Ruan Mingwei grow restless. If Wei Wen hadn’t sent out the message, as long as they dealt with the body, the Holy See’s people wouldn’t have evidence to suspect them. But now that Wei Wen had sent the message back, the other side knew he died in China, and they wouldn’t just let it go.
“Above an Archbishop is a Cardinal, who is much stronger in strength. What should we do?”
Ruan Mingwei was worried not only about Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen’s safety but also about the potential trouble that the death of Wei Wen might bring to China. He also blamed himself and Ji Chang for not considering this earlier. If they had warned Huangfu Yuchen earlier, things might have been different.
Little did he know that Huangfu Yuchen had concealed his strength during his fight with Wei Wen.
Where there are people, there’s bound to be conflict. Both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen had experienced both the court and the martial world, so they understood this truth well.
Huangfu Yuchen understood what Ruan Mingwei was worried about. “Xiao Ge and I have a plan. Report the situation here to Wang Zhiyuan.”
Ruan Mingwei was momentarily stunned, then quickly agreed, “Understood.”
…
The headquarters of the Shadow Operatives.
Wang Zhiyuan listened to Ruan Mingwei’s report and fell silent for a moment. Going back to the root, it was because of the Shadow Operatives that Wei Wen had come here. Killing Wei Wen wasn’t a mistake. Moreover, while Fengshan Farm wasn’t under the Shadow Operatives yet, they needed to consider it as their own and protect it. Otherwise, if any trouble arose, they’d have to deal with it themselves. Right now, he worried only about one thing: after Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen left, would they have the ability to keep Fengshan Farm secure? The most urgent task was to improve the relationship between them and Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. No matter what Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen did, as long as they didn’t threaten China, they would offer their help. Another priority was enhancing the Shadow Operatives’ strength.
The Cardinal would arrive soon. Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen abandoned their plans for outings and, like an ordinary couple, strolled around the city.
He Xin hurried out with his briefcase, he had to go into the city to negotiate business. Just then, he noticed the two with casual backpacks, leisurely walking towards the farm’s entrance. He couldn’t help but feel envious and jealous.
Seeing He Xin’s envious expression, Yan Ge couldn’t help but chuckle and waved at him. “Are you heading out? Take care.”
He Xin touched his forehead in exasperation, wondering how he was so easily fooled by these two back then? He raised his head, but they had already slipped away, quickly boarding a bus.
He shook his head and headed towards the parking lot.
In a castle in Country Y, a handsome young man in ted robes was elegantly seated at a luxurious dining table, enjoying breakfast. Chadwick stood behind him, respectful and not daring to look anywhere else.
At this moment, a servant rushed in. “Lord William, something’s not right! Archbishop Wei Wen’s cross has split!”
“What did you say?” William’s gentle face turned sharp, a fierce expression replacing his tranquility. He spoke slowly, his tone oozing out a frightening pressure. The utensils in his hands warped and twisted into a lump of silver, emitting a faint white light. The lump morphed into a silver sphere the size of a grape, rolling off the table and leaving a bowl-sized dent on the floor upon impact.
Chadwick’s feet went cold, his nerves tense, and his throat felt dry as he swallowed.
The servant couldn’t bear the overwhelming pressure, his legs trembling and his voice quivering, but he had to repeat the words, “The Archbishop Weyland’s cross… it split…” Splitting meant dead, but Archbishop Wei Wen was Lord William’s prized disciple. How could he dare to mention “death”? The possibility of incurring his master’s wrath made his knees weaken, and he knelt heavily on the ground, his face pale as ashes.
Sure enough, the immense pressure burst open like a bomb, and the servant flew out like a broken kite. He crashed into the wall, his brain splattering and staining the pure white wall a vivid crimson. Following that, the servant slumped to the ground like a pile of mud, motionless.
Chadwick hurriedly knelt down, kowtowing so hard that he bled from his forehead. If he didn’t, Archbishop William might direct his anger towards him. Yet, amidst his obedience, he harbored a malicious delight: ‘I warned you that those two from China were formidable, but you wouldn’t listen, accusing me of exaggeration. Well, look at it now. There’s no remedy for regret; Wei Wen is gone, and from now on, I’ll be your sole disciple!’
He thought this way, but didn’t dare show the slightest hint on his face; otherwise, William would shred him to pieces.
Indeed, William did intend to vent his anger on Chadwick. If it weren’t for him, how could he have sent Wei Wen to China? Just as he raised his hand, preparing to tear Chadwick apart, the blood on Chadwick’s head brought him back to his senses. He needed to find out more about those two people’s strength and background.
“Speak.” Just a simple word, but it brought Chadwick’s heart to his throat. He knew what William was asking, so he didn’t hesitate, “Those two are called Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. They emerged a few months ago…”
At this moment, William was seething with anger, and with no outlet, Chadwick recounted every detail as clearly as possible, and only then did her dare let out a silent sigh of relief.
He looked at the wooden stool beneath William, and found that it was embedded several inches deep into the ground.
“Very well, it’s been a long time since I’ve been to China.” William stood up slowly, and the chair beneath him collapsed, vanishing without a trace.
In China, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen exited the Oceanarium. They had just stepped onto the square when a thunderous roar echoed overhead.
They looked up to see bright sunlight, a brilliant blue sky, and white clouds drifting lazily. There was no sign of rain whatsoever.
Besides them, numerous tourists also looked up, their faces puzzled. The thunder had sounded right above them, yet there were no storm clouds overhead. This thunder was indeed odd.
As they continued observing, another explosion rang out. This time, the sound seemed closer.
“Huh? That’s strange.” A young man sipped from his girlfriend’s unfinished milk tea, looking up at the blue sky and white clouds with wonder.
“The weather’s going to change,” Yan Ge said with indifference, then turned to Huangfu Yuchen.
Huangfu Yuchen nonchalantly responded with an “Mhm,” raising his camera and gesturing to Yan Ge, “Step back a bit.”
After taking a few more pictures, the two continued on their way.
Across the street, Du Rulan walked slowly along the sidewalk. Her face looked worn, her attire and makeup much simpler than before.
Yan Ge glanced at her for a moment, pausing for two seconds before moving his gaze away.
Huangfu Yuchen positioned himself behind Yan Ge, blocking the view of the people behind them. After confirming that no one was watching, he lowered his head and stole a quick kiss from Yan Ge’s lips before walking shoulder to shoulder, “The Yan family’s business is on the brink of collapse. Yan Jianqiang will probably declare bankruptcy.”
Yan Ge nodded, “I know. I’ll give them twenty thousand yuan every month from now on. It should be enough to get by. That’s all.” As for whether Yan Jianqiang would spend the money on his mistress or illegitimate child, whether Du Rulan would spend it on herself or her son, that had nothing to do with him.
“Baby,” Huangfu Yuchen patted his head, “Have you thought about bringing your parents over for a few days? They’d have a lot of fun.”
Yan Ge’s eyes lit up, his interest piqued, “Good idea. But we can’t let them find out I’m not their original Yan Ge.”
“That’s simple,” Huangfu Yuchen said, “China is huge, avoiding acquaintances is a piece of cake.”
Thinking about the expressions his father and mother would make upon encountering all sorts of peculiar things, Yan Ge couldn’t help but laugh, his excitement barely containable, “Let’s bring them over after dealing with this trouble.”
Seeing him so happy, Huangfu Yuchen’s heart also lightened and filled with joy.