indianbanksassociation Chapter 1557 - 1862: Outsider Experts (1)
Chapter 1557 - 1862: Outsider Experts (1)
"Yes."
The staff worked efficiently, and within an hour, thousands of security personnel at the venue each had a photo of Zhu Hong. As long as he appeared at the venue, he could definitely be tracked down.
"Hey! Ling Chen, did you know that our Dragon Tiger Hall has been eliminated in the team competition?" During the chat, He Ziyun mentioned the previously concluded team match.
Ling Chen nodded and said, "I watched the entire match at the venue, the people from Jinyao Martial Arts Hall were too shameless. The gap between us was clear, we had no chance of winning."
He Ziyun smiled and said, "You can’t blame the people from Jinyao Martial Arts Hall for being shameless. This Martial Arts Tournament is highly anticipated, who doesn’t want to make a name for themselves? The smaller factions especially want to prove themselves through the competition."
"Mr. He, how did the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion perform?"
"They smoothly advanced. In terms of talented disciples, our Dragon Tiger Hall really can’t compare to Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. This time, the three contestants from Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion were selected from Yangxin Pavilion. Although they’re only in their twenties, their strength is formidable. If nothing unexpected happens, the first place should be theirs." Speaking of this, He Ziyun couldn’t help but laugh, "Actually, this was all expected. Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion wants to revive its reputation through the Martial Arts Tournament, so naturally, they aim for first in everything."
Ling Chen nodded inwardly, having interacted with the disciples from Yangxin Pavilion, he was naturally aware of their prowess. However, he was more interested in the reclusive masters invited by Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.
"Mr. He, how much do you know about the guests invited by Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion?"
"I don’t know much, Master Su keeps their identities very secretive, probably even Elder Tong doesn’t know." He Ziyun sighed and said, "Even though Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion has encountered so many issues, it’s not what it used to be, but no one should underestimate it. Their hidden connections far exceed ours."
Just then, Ling Chen’s phone suddenly rang. Taking out his phone, he glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered, asking, "Fatty, what’s up?"
"It’s quite lively over there, isn’t it?" Hu Fei asked with a laugh, "I saw the news on TV, it’s quite a big scene."
"It’s alright, why, are you interested in coming to see?"
"Forget it! I have no interest, I’d rather spend my time with two beautiful women. I just wanted to tell you, Su Cheng’en and Su He are making moves." Hearing this, Ling Chen’s heart couldn’t help but tremble. Su Cheng’en and the others were at the seaside villa in Jin Hai City, and Hu Fei had been secretly monitoring their movements.
"Where did they go?"
"Guess?"
"You... you’re not trying to tell me they all came to Beijing, are you?"
"Today’s morning flight, they’re already here, and my people have been following them secretly. They’re heading to the Martial Arts Tournament venue now, you’d better be careful, those guys are troublemakers, don’t let them stir things up."
"Alright, got it, inform me immediately if there’s any news." After saying that, Ling Chen hung up the phone.
Beside him, He Ziyun asked, "What’s wrong?"
Ling Chen replied with a wry smile, "Looks like the Martial Arts Tournament is getting more lively. First it was Zhu Hong, now even Su Cheng’en and the others have come."
Hearing this, He Ziyun’s expression changed slightly, and he said solemnly, "What do we do then?"
"First notify Elder Tong and Master Su, let them be mentally prepared." After pausing, Ling Chen continued, "I’m not worried about Su Cheng’en and Su He, Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is one of the hosts of the Martial Arts Tournament, Su Cheng’en and Su He shouldn’t go against their own people. Rather, it’s Zhu Hong who’s the biggest trouble. My personal grudge with Zhu Hong is no secret, you all know that. Also, some time ago Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion cooperated with the military to capture Zhu Hong, capturing Zhu Hong’s parents to make him comply, and they haven’t been released yet. So Zhu Hong is likely to use this opportunity to cause trouble, we must be careful."
"Alright, I’ll go talk to Elder Tong first, you keep watching and see if you can find Zhu Hong’s whereabouts."
Before they knew it, it was already five o’clock in the afternoon, and the audience who came to watch were gradually leaving to go home. Although many didn’t want to leave, there were no hotels or inns around the venue, so they couldn’t stay on the streets and had to return to the city, planning to come back early tomorrow morning.
By evening, most of the audience had left, and all the martial arts practitioners were sent back to the hotel by buses arranged by the hosts. Ling Chen frowned slightly and asked, "Still no discovery?"
"No, that person seems to have vanished into thin air, none of the surveillance caught them."
"Forget it!" Ling Chen said helplessly, "I guess he’s already gone." Zhu Hong is clever and cunning, he must have noticed the surveillance installed at the venue, so he’s been hiding in blind spots. With so many people at the venue, once he blends into the crowd, it’s like searching for a needle in the haystack.
Watching as the audience at the venue dispersed, Ling Chen finally left the command center and met up with He Ziyun waiting outside.
"Mr. He, shall we go directly back to the Hall or..."
"To the hotel." He Ziyun said, "Elder Tong just called, he’s arranged a dinner and invited us to join the fun."
Ling Chen rubbed his nose and said, "Mr. He, everyone’s been tired for a day, how about I go back to rest first?"
"That won’t do, Elder Tong specifically asked for you to come. Come on! Don’t think too much, get in the car quickly so we don’t keep them waiting for too long."
After a forty-minute drive, Ling Chen and He Ziyun finally arrived at the hotel where Tong Zhentian was. It was already past eight o’clock at night. The two went to the restaurant on the hotel’s second floor, and led by a waiter, Ling Chen pushed open the door to a private room. Before entering, the strong smell of alcohol wafted out.
Inside the private room, Ling Chen glanced around and saw besides Tong Zhentian, there were four other guests, all older, two middle-aged men in their fifties, and two with gray hair and wrinkled faces, seemingly in their eighties and nineties.
Seeing Ling Chen and He Ziyun enter, Tong Zhentian quickly stood up from his seat and smiled, "You finally arrived. Everyone, let me introduce you, these two are the deputy hall masters of Dragon Tiger Hall, Ling Chen and He Ziyun."
Ling Chen cupped his fists at everyone seated and greeted them.
"Please take a seat." Tong Zhentian pointed to two seats nearby.
Once Ling Chen and He Ziyun were seated, Tong Zhentian continued, "Let me introduce you, these two elders are masters from the southern Yunshan, Golden Dragon and Wang Teng, who have traveled from afar to Beijing for this Martial Arts Tournament." After pausing, Tong Zhentian then turned his gaze to the other two middle-aged men, saying, "They are the distinguished disciples of Elder Huang and Elder Wang, Wu Qiong and Yu Hao."
After listening to Tong Zhentian’s introduction, Ling Chen and He Ziyun quickly stood up from their seats, politely greeting them. Ling Chen knew in his heart that Tong Zhentian had specifically asked them over and introduced them with emphasis, indicating these people were not ordinary. Otherwise, judging by Tong Zhentian’s status and position in the martial arts world, he wouldn’t have shown such warmth.