Chapter 140: Don't Take Steps Too Large, Be Careful

Jiang Lifu narrowed his eyes, waiting for Cheng Feng to continue.

The Jiang Family Martial Arts Hall was a standout in the underworld of Shangjiang City; that was true. However, being in the top three was a far cry from being the undisputed boss. Jiang Lifu was an ambitious man—if he lacked ambition, the Jiang Family Martial Arts Hall would never have attained its current status.

But the top dog in Shangjiang City was the Huaxing Alliance, a terrifying entity that the Jiang Family Martial Arts Hall had poked at several times, only to return with their tails between their legs.

That was why, when the Senluo Palace approached the Jiang Family Martial Arts Hall for a collaboration, the Hall had seized the opportunity to demand that the Senluo Palace help them eliminate Zu Tianze, the leader of the Huaxing Alliance.

The Senluo Palace had agreed, but so far, they hadn't sent a single person. Only this man, Cheng Feng, kept showing up, making one demand after another. Jiang Lifu wanted to see what kind of explanation Cheng Feng had for him now.

"The Senluo Palace does not go back on its word. However, it is not for you to decide when we take action!" Cheng Feng had no real control over the Senluo Palace's commitments, so he could only leverage their influence without being able to offer any concrete promises.

"If you want the Senluo Palace to act as soon as possible, you must give us a satisfactory result regarding the Swan Group and Hua Tianyu." Even though his speech was slurred, Cheng Feng did his best to get the words out.

"Fine, I understand. Help him down to rest," Jiang Lifu said. Seeing the blood spattering from Cheng Feng’s mouth as he spoke, Jiang Lifu stepped back half a pace, careful not to get any on himself.

As a seasoned veteran who had navigated the underworld for years, he could clearly hear the stalling in Cheng Feng’s words. But the Senluo Palace was far too mysterious; apart from Cheng Feng, Jiang Lifu couldn't contact anyone else from their organization. Therefore, he couldn't afford to completely alienate Cheng Feng just yet—after all, he still hoped the Senluo Palace would help him get rid of Zu Tianze so that the Jiang Family Martial Arts Hall could rise to the top.

Ambitious people moved forward by both using others and being used. Jiang Lifu was currently swept up in this undercurrent, unable to control his own fate. On one hand, he was unwilling to be a mere blade for the Senluo Palace, but on the other, he desperately hoped that the Senluo Palace would wield that blade for him. It was a deeply contradictory state of mind.

"Jiang Lifu, help me take out Hua Tianyu, and the Senluo Palace can promise you that you won't be limited to just Shangjiang City anymore!" Before he was carried away, Cheng Feng used his last bit of strength to utter these words.

How could he not know of the Jiang Family’s ambition? Since you have ambition, I will paint a bigger picture for you and see if you take the bait!

Jiang Lifu nodded slightly but said nothing, signaling his men to take Cheng Feng away. Once Cheng Feng had left, one of his subordinates immediately spoke up.

"Boss, if we could really expand beyond Shangjiang City, wouldn't we be set for life?" Yang Liu said with great excitement.

Jiang Lifu cast a cold glance at him. "Don't take such long strides, or you’ll tear your pants!"

Yang Liu instinctively pulled his feet together and retreated, crestfallen.

***

After finishing his business, Hua Tianyu did not rush back to the Swan Building. Instead, he went to a shopping mall to buy a pair of shoes. Having jumped from the top floor earlier, his body had withstood the impact, but his shoes hadn't. He had no choice but to replace them. After all, ordinary sneakers, even branded ones, couldn't compare to professional combat boots. The saying that soldiers go through shoes quickly was no exaggeration.

Since he was already at the mall, Hua Tianyu picked up a few gifts as well. Tomorrow was the Qixi Festival, and there were things that ought to be given. Being single by choice was not Hua Tianyu’s style.

Carrying the gifts, he had just stepped into the company lobby when Cui Quan mysteriously called him over and pulled him into the security office.

"Brother Tian, Brother Tian!"

"Did you deliver both notes?" Hua Tianyu asked with a grin.

"They’ve both been delivered."

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just as you predicted, Han Yan was quite happy after reading the first note. But that woman's face is like the skies in June—it changes in an instant. After she finished the second note, I could hear her voice all the way from the restroom."

Hua Tianyu patted him on the shoulder, laughing. "As long as you're okay!"

"Brother Tian, that’s not why I called you." Cui Quan looked even more mysterious.

"Oh? What is it then?" Hua Tianyu was interested now; Cui Quan rarely acted this way.

Cui Quan walked a few steps, opened the storage room in the corner of the security office, pointed inside, and said, "Brother Tian, look!"

Hua Tianyu walked over and peeked inside. Oh, he thought it was something important—it was just a large bouquet of Winnie-the-Pooh dolls decorated with a ring of red roses.

"Did you buy this for your wife?" Hua Tianyu asked casually.

"No! Someone delivered it to the company for President Wei today, and I intercepted it!" Cui Quan said, looking a bit embarrassed.

"You intercepted President Wei’s flowers?" Hua Tianyu finally understood why Cui Quan was acting so mysteriously.

He had intercepted a gift meant for Wei Xueying. He had to be careful; otherwise, the position of Deputy Manager of the Security Department he had just earned might be gone before it even warmed up.

Sensing Hua Tianyu’s tone, Cui Quan grew nervous. Unsure if he had done the right thing, he quickly explained, "I thought that since tomorrow is Qixi, whoever sent these flowers to President Wei must have bad intentions, so I intercepted them and put them here!"

Hua Tianyu patted Cui Quan on the shoulder and said earnestly, "In the future, don't intercept things meant for President Wei. Brother Tian wins over ladies with his own abilities, not by intercepting their gifts!"

Seeing that Hua Tianyu wasn't angry, Cui Quan finally felt relieved. He hadn't been sure if he had acted correctly, but he just hated seeing someone else compete with Brother Tian for President Wei’s affection!

Hua Tianyu’s words made him understand his boss’s mindset in an instant. Truly magnanimous! As expected of Brother Tian!

"Should I send these flowers up then?" Cui Quan asked.

"Send them! Why wouldn't you?" As he spoke, Hua Tianyu took the bouquet and rummaged through it. Sure enough, there was a small envelope in the center.

The cover read: *To be opened by Wei Xueying*, signed by Lu Siyuan.

*Heh*, it was indeed that kid. Looking at the style of the bouquet, Hua Tianyu had guessed as much.

Hua Tianyu tucked the envelope back into the bouquet and handed it to Cui Quan. "You started this, so you finish it! Take them up."

"Remember, you must have boundaries in the future. Don't do things like this again. I covered for you this time, but I won't be able to next time."

"Understood, Brother Tian!" Cui Quan promised solemnly.