C4 Engagement
Chu Chenglong's rapid development within the confines of Dragon's Maw Prison was nothing short of remarkable.
This was largely due to his mentor, the enigmatic warden of the prison itself.
Of all the individuals Chu Chenglong had encountered, his master was by far the most inscrutable.
The master valued him greatly, imparting every skill he had mastered throughout his life to his protégé.
In truth, there were only three people in the world whom Chu Chenglong held in high regard.
First was his father.
Second, his master.
And third, Uncle Chen Jun.
These individuals were his dearest kin.
The text from his master was succinct, just a few lines: "Are you in Istripgan? Do me a favor and assist an old friend there. His name is Wang Shichong. Depart now."
Upon reading the message, Chu Chenglong felt an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Ah, the old man, as expected.
Anyone else trying to command him like this would be in for a rude awakening.
He would have their heads!
Abruptly, Chu Chenglong's brow furrowed.
"Show yourself, Dark Night."
No sooner had he spoken than a figure emerged from the room's shadows.
The figure appeared, grinning sheepishly, "Hehe, Master, I'm surprised you detected me in just a second..."
Chu Chenglong's gaze was icy.
"Looking for trouble? The last person who dared to intrude upon my bedroom is now six feet under."
Dark Night instinctively touched his towering head, breaking out in a cold sweat as he quickly adopted a pleading posture.
"Forgive me, Master. I won't dare to invade your private quarters again!"
He was once one of the three Demon Emperors from the Black Demon Assassin Organization in the northern Snow Country.
Back there, his reputation was such that no one would dare meet his gaze!
But in the presence of Chu Chenglong, who had shattered the Western War God Ranking, Dark Night was the one who couldn't bear the intensity of Chu Chenglong's stare.
Now, he had been taken under Chu Chenglong's wing as a subordinate.
When not occupied, he would simply roam around Chigoris, biding his time.
He only made an appearance when necessary.
Huh?
It was then that Chu Chenglong noticed that Dark Night looked a bit worse for wear, sporting a bruised and swollen face.
This piqued his curiosity.
"Dark Night, who did this to you?"
At the mention of his condition, Dark Night broke into a cold sweat, as if recalling a terrifying ordeal.
He lamented, "Master, Chigoris is teeming with formidable people. Today, I was ambushed and beaten by some wretched old man out of the blue. Getting thrashed was bad enough, but he insisted I deliver this jade pendant to you. That's the only reason I dared to bother you."
Chu Chenglong examined the jade pendant and burst into hearty laughter, "Dark Night, consider yourself lucky to be alive. Now, you're no longer needed here."
"Ah?" Dark Night looked bewildered.
"Aren't you going to scram?" Chu Chenglong raised an eyebrow.
In the next instant, Dark Night had vanished.
"Old man, you still enjoy your little games of mystery," Chu Chenglong mused as he fondled the cool jade pendant, deep in thought.
He had just received a message from his master, and soon after, Dark Night showed up with the pendant.
It had to be from his master, right?
That's why he told Dark Night he was fortunate to be alive.
A mere slip from his master could mean the end of Dark Night.
But what was the significance of this jade pendant?
He pondered the question.
"It must have something to do with Wang Shichong!"
With that, he left a note for Uncle Chen Jun and vanished into the shadows of the elite villa district in Istripgan.
Istripgan was vast, and there were hundreds bearing the name Wang Shichong.
But only someone with a unique status could be a close friend of the old master.
That same night.
Chu Chenglong zeroed in on a private sanatorium.
Wang Shichong, the man he sought, was inside.
As he approached the sanatorium, he noticed bodyguards on overnight duty.
"Halt! Who goes there? Wandering around at this hour is suspicious. Leave now, or you'll be held accountable for any trouble!"
The bodyguard in black at the door caught sight of Chu Chenglong's furtive movements and mistook him for a thief!
Yet, this thief was rather audacious, daring to target the head of the Wang family.
He clearly didn't understand the gravity of his mistake!
"I guess I've come to the right place," Chu Chenglong mused.
He had been concerned about finding the wrong location before his arrival, but now he was almost certain he was correct.
The presence of bodyguards outside in the dead of night indicated that Wang Shichong inside was undoubtedly an important figure.
With that thought, Chu Chenglong took the jade pendant he was holding and flung it at the bodyguard.
Whoosh!
The jade pendant struck the bodyguard squarely in the chest.
The tremendous force sent him flying several meters, landing with a thud on the ground!
"Take this jade pendant to your master right now," Chu Chenglong instructed before the bodyguard could even register his shock.
The bodyguard got up, his face etched with terror.
He hadn't even had a chance to react before being blown away by the sheer force—a first for someone with his elite mercenary background.
"Understood, sir. Just a moment, I'll go immediately..."
He dared not delay.
Despite the searing pain in his chest, he pushed through the discomfort and hurried off to report to his mistress.
When Wang Yunuo received the jade pendant, her lovely face momentarily stiffened. "The pendant has returned to its owner; he's here... Why now of all times?"
Shortly thereafter, Wang Yunuo herself arrived outside the sanatorium, jade pendant in hand.
From a distance, she spotted Chu Chenglong and gave him a thorough once-over.
She found Chu Chenglong to be quite unremarkable, which left her feeling somewhat let down.
Nevertheless, she approached him and dangled the jade pendant before his eyes.
"Are you the one I'm supposed to meet? I should warn you, you may have chosen an inconvenient time to come today. And who meets at this ungodly hour, anyway?"
As she spoke, Chu Chenglong was also taking her in.
Her waist was slender, her legs long and shapely.
She was more than just pretty.
This woman was one of those rare finds: innately seductive and dangerously alluring—a type of woman most men would find irresistible.
"Hmm? I'm speaking to you. Are you even listening?"
Wang Yunuo's voice carried a hint of irritation.
She noticed that the man seemed to be covertly watching her. Peeking was one thing, but not paying attention to what she was saying was just impolite!
Her disappointment in Chu Chenglong grew by the moment.
"I am listening. Go on. Oh, right, what were you saying again?"
Chu Chenglong scratched the back of his head, realizing he had been too preoccupied with admiring the beauty before him to catch her words.
"Fine, I'll explain it to you one more time."
Wang Yunuo decided to give the man before her another chance.
If he continued to be so inattentive, she would send him packing.
As for explaining things to her grandfather, that could wait until his health improved.
"You came here with the jade pendant for a meeting, correct? An engagement meeting!"
Wang Yunuo enunciated each word with utmost seriousness.
"Ah?"
Now it was Chu Chenglong's turn to be taken aback.
"What engagement? Whose engagement?"
He was completely baffled.
He had an inkling that he might have been duped by the old man.
Confusion now marred Wang Yunuo's face, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes.
"How can you seem so clueless? Fine, let me add something else. It's an engagement between you and me!"
"Do you get it now?"
Wang Yunuo gazed at Chu Chenglong intently.
Inside, Chu Chenglong was reeling with disbelief.