C11 A Good Show

Zhou Mo and Liu Tianlin had been waiting in the shadows for nearly ten minutes when Zhou Mo checked the time and murmured, "They should be here by now..."

Soon enough, a group approached from a distance, making no effort to conceal themselves as they brazenly appeared before Lin Hann and Lau Ruyan.

"You two really know how to pick a time and place for a romantic rendezvous," the leader of the group, Lee Haoxuan, taunted.

"Lee Haoxuan? What are you doing here?" Lau Ruyan demanded with an icy tone upon recognizing him.

"Miss Lau, we mean you no harm," Lee Haoxuan assured her. "However, I need to take this young man with me for a moment; there's something he needs to verify."

Biting back her anger, Lau Ruyan retorted with a cold huff, "Try laying a finger on him and see what happens."

Ignoring her warning, Lee Haoxuan turned to his companion and asked, "Is that him?" Once he received a nod of confirmation, he commanded in a stern voice, "Go ahead! Don't injure Miss Lau, just capture the boy."

At Lee Haoxuan's command, his followers lunged at Lin Hann. Lau Ruyan, realizing words were futile, wasted no more time and engaged in the fray.

From a distance, Liu Tianlin watched the unfolding chaos with amazement and inquired, "Uncle, why is the Lee family going after Lin Yi all of a sudden? They weren't even acquainted before."

Zhou Mo chuckled and explained, "There was no connection, so I created one. I know Lee Haoxuan all too well. He may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's fiercely loyal to his people. All I had to do was let him believe that Lin Hann had roughed up one of his own, and he'd naturally seek retribution. My part was simply to activate an informant close to him. With that informant's help, Lee Haoxuan will take it upon himself to confront Lin Hann, sparing us the effort."

Liu Tianlin had an epiphany, realizing the extent to which they were manipulating Lin Hann and Lee Haoxuan.

Meanwhile, as Zhou Mo and Liu Tianlin conversed, the clash between the two parties intensified. Lin Hann skillfully maneuvered vines to thwart an attacker sneaking up on Lau Ruyan and narrowly evaded a thrown dagger. His assailants, though not at the Acquired Stage, were formidable late-stage Body Tempering experts. As the battle wore on, Lin Hann's stamina began to wane.

In that moment, Lau Ruyan commanded the trees around her to grow wildly, lashing out at those who neared Lin Yi. Her mastery of the Body Tempering Stage created a clearing around Lin Hann in an instant.

As Lau Ruyan moved to join Lin Hann, Lee Haoxuan, who had been off to the side, charged at her. She had no choice but to pivot and defend against Lee Haoxuan's advance. Lee Haoxuan, however, held back his strength. He called out to his men, "Quick, seize that young man!"

The crowd closed in once more, leaving Lin Hann to fend for himself. Before long, Lin Hann realized his Spiritual Energy was depleted. With a wry smile, he sank to one knee on the ground. The group then proceeded to bind him.

Witnessing this, Lee Haoxuan disengaged from his clash with Lau Ruyan and, with a smile, addressed her, "Miss Lau, the Lee family truly does not wish to be your adversary. We merely intend to take this young man back to clarify a few matters."

Lau Ruyan, seeing Lin Hann taken, was beyond reasoning. Her Spiritual Energy surged and drained swiftly. She flung a handful of seeds into the air, infusing them with Spiritual Energy. The seeds, catalyzed by her power, grew into enormous vines that quickly encased the area within a twenty-meter radius.

Lee Haoxuan, observing the frenzied Lau Ruyan, grew solemn. He admired her as a disciple of the Lau family. Though she hadn't yet reached the Acquired Stage, he sensed a palpable threat in her presence.

He then addressed her, "Miss Lau, there's no point in resisting. In the capital, you could give me a hundred reasons, and I still wouldn't dare to lay a hand on you. But here in Hui City, if I were to kill you, who would know? I'm offering you respect, so please don't make this harder than it needs to be…"

Lau Ruyan paid no heed to Lee Haoxuan's intimidation and kept directing the plants to assault him and his men. Lee Haoxuan, with a shout, took on the onslaught alone, deftly dodging and weaving. The vines, animated by Lau Ruyan, were shattered by his formidable power, dissolving into fragments of Spiritual Energy that faded into the ether.

From a distance, Zhou Mo observed the fierce clash between the two combatants. He was aware that although Lau Ruyan was formidable, Lee Haoxuan was a renowned Acquired Stage powerhouse with a long-standing reputation. Now, unencumbered by any reservations, Lau Ruyan's resistance would soon falter.

Turning to Liu Tianlin, Zhou Mo declared, "Tianlin, it's time for us to make our move."

Liu Tianlin nodded, signaling to their allies, and then the group charged toward the battlefield where Lee Haoxuan and Lau Ruyan were engaged.

Their party, numbering over twenty, encircled the Lee family and Lau Ruyan, yet they refrained from attacking immediately.

Zhou Mo watched as surprise washed over the faces of Lee Haoxuan and Lau Ruyan, a smirk spreading across his own. He reveled in the intricacies of strategy and the thrill of observing his pawns' reactions—this was what he enjoyed most.

Liu Tianlin's laughter boomed with triumph. "Lau Ruyan, you should never have crossed me. Did you ever imagine this would be your downfall?"

Upon the arrival of Zhou Mo and his group, the skirmish between Lau Ruyan and Lee Haoxuan ceased.

Lee Haoxuan confronted Zhou Mo, "Was this entire affair orchestrated by you?"

With a smile, Zhou Mo replied, "Lunatic Lee, you're quite perceptive this time. Quick to catch on, but it's too late for you. After tonight, the Lee family of Hui City will be nothing more than history."

Lee Haoxuan pressed on, each word deliberate, "Zhou Mo! Are you the one who harmed my brother? The one who planted spies by my side?"

Zhou Mo was taken aback by the question. He couldn't fathom why Lee Haoxuan was fixated on these matters instead of their precarious situation. Nevertheless, he responded, "Yes, it was all my doing. And just so you know, the brother you speak of? He's one of my people too."

Closing his eyes, Lee Haoxuan spoke with a heavy heart, "Zhou Mo, I once considered you a worthy adversary. Now I see the truth—you don't deserve that title. To achieve your ends, you stoop to any level, even sacrificing your own brothers?"

Zhou Mo scoffed, "Lee Haoxuan, don't project your way of thinking onto me. My realm is beyond what a brute like you could possibly fathom. Victory has always crowned kings, while defeat silences the vanquished. Losers have no right to speak."

With a dismissive gesture, Zhou Mo pointed at Lee Haoxuan and Lau Ruyan. "Take tonight, for instance. You two are going to die by my hand. Without your lives, what's the point of discussing reason with me?"

At that moment, Lau Ruyan had regained some strength and addressed Zhou Mo, "Do you really not fear the Lau family's retribution?"

Liu Tianlin chuckled at her words. "Lau Ruyan, what are you, a toddler? To ask such a naive question! No one from your group will leave here alive tonight. Who would even know to connect it to us? Should the Lau family investigate, the Ye family, with whom they have bad blood, will be the prime suspects. The Zhou family need only align with the Ye family, using them as a shield."

Zhou Mo's strategy was indeed formidable. He had not only baited Lee Haoxuan and his companions with Lin Hann but also instigated a rift between the two parties. He waited until they were both weakened before striking to eliminate them, all the while preparing to direct suspicion toward the Ye family of Hui City. His intricate planning was chilling.

Yet now, Zhou Mo sensed unease as he noticed the lack of panic on the faces of the two groups before him.

Unaware of the tension, Liu Tianlin continued his monologue, "We'll just sit back and watch the Lau family and Ye family tear each other apart. Then, the Liu family will effortlessly collect the spoils."

"Really? Is that so?" came a mocking voice from a distance. Suddenly, a group of over fifty individuals encircled them from every side.

Zhou Mo scrutinized the newcomers. Beyond the twenty leading members of the Ye family, the rest were influential figures from Hui City, all watching the unfolding scene with keen interest. Meanwhile, Lin Hann had been freed from his bonds. He rose to his feet and joined Lau Ruyan's side.

Zhou Mo's expression was grave, reflecting his inner turmoil as he struggled to pinpoint where his plan had gone awry. Simplicity is usually key in strategy; too many moving parts can lead to errors at any stage. Yet, Zhou Mo was confident that his scheme wasn't overly complex—he had merely exploited Lee Haoxuan's character flaw with hardly a trace of manipulation. How then had things escalated to this point, with him being made a fool of and humiliated?

This was Zhou Mo's most intolerable defeat. He could accept losing to Lee Haoxuan's martial prowess, but to be outplayed in the arena he prided himself on was crushing.

It was then that two figures emerged from the crowd. Zhou Mo recognized one as Ye Botao, the head of the Ye family. Accompanying him was an elderly man with silvery hair, bearing a resemblance to Lee Haoxuan.

Ye Botao addressed Zhou Mo, "This is a predicament of your own making. I've warned you before not to be excessive or overly confident. Did you really think your actions in Hui City went unnoticed by me?"

Lee Anliang chimed in, "Zhou Mo, we acknowledge your intelligence, but your arrogance is your downfall. Has your unchallenged success over the years made you lose all humility and reverence for the world? Remember, there are countless intelligent people out there—what makes you so special?"

As Zhou Mo surveyed the crowd, he realized the formidable nature of these two elders. They had not only anticipated his arrival but had also summoned the influential powers of Hui City to bear witness. No matter the outcome, not a soul would dare to object. In comparison to their grandeur, he seemed petty and small-minded.

With this revelation, Zhou Mo couldn't help but laugh. "As I've said, to the victor go the spoils; there's no room for excuses. I truly underestimated the caliber of people in this world."

At Ye Botao's command, the crowd launched their assault on the Zhou family. Despite resistance from the Zhou's twenty-odd members, the overwhelming numbers against them led to their swift defeat.

Ye Botao made a respectful gesture with his fists to the gathered residents of Hui City and said, "I appreciate everyone taking time out of their busy schedules to come here as witnesses tonight. I'm truly grateful to you all!"

Fatty Wang, representing the crowd, responded, "Old Master Ye, your words are too generous. We are all part of Hui City; it's our responsibility. If anyone tries to disturb our city's peace, we certainly won't stand for it."

Old Master Ye then said, "Now, please head back and get some rest. You've all put in a great effort this evening."

The crowd reciprocated with a fist salute to Elder Ye and slowly dispersed, each person making their way back to their homes in Hui City.