Volume 4: Hidden Struggles, Chapter 62: The Game of Strategy

Given her attire and fame, Chu Tianyu had assumed she would be a mature and charming woman. Yet her face was like that of an angel, appearing no older than twenty, and anyone who saw her would never forget her. Her skin was delicately fair, her features perfectly proportioned as if crafted according to the golden ratio. Her black eyes seemed veiled with mist, giving an illusion of reality, evoking a dreamlike sensation at first glance.
She was the girl in black on the plane!
Yes, without a doubt—she was the mysterious girl in the plane, wearing a windbreaker, sunglasses covering her eyes. Although only a small part of her face was visible back then, the same aura, the same figure, the same skin made Chu Tianyu certain they were the same person.
No wonder she carried such an air of authority at the airport, able to have bodyguards escort her off the plane, while remaining low-key and secretive. Now it seemed even the elite were obsessed with her—let alone the ordinary people. With her extraordinary beauty and the ability to sing such beautiful and moving songs, no superstar could compare to her charm!
Especially as her tone gradually rose in pitch, becoming more infectious, the melody, along with the rapid rhythm, seemed to transform from a gentle stream into a roaring waterfall, filling the listener with excitement and immersing them in a natural “water” ambiance…
As Chu Tianyu gradually immersed himself in her dreamlike singing, his dragon core suddenly began to tremble, causing every cell in his body to resonate in rhythm.
“The Sound of Heaven and Earth!!!” Chu Tianyu suppressed the changes within his body, inwardly shocked.
Without hesitation, he quickly focused his mind, forming Buddhist hand seals. His Buddhist internal energy activated, controlling the Purple Void Dragon Energy and gradually adjusting it to match the invading melody. Finally, his dragon core slowly returned to its normal state, adapting to the external rhythm and no longer being disturbed.
Though the process was brief, Chu Tianyu was already drenched in sweat. It had been a close call. He never expected to hear here what his second master had mentioned during their travels in nature—the “Sound of Heaven and Earth.” It was the purest musical frequency born from natural elements, such as thunder on rainy days, howling winds, or the roar of falling waterfalls. Under certain conditions, reaching a specific frequency could produce this Sound of Heaven and Earth.

Such truly pure and authentic melodies of the universe are beyond the endurance of ordinary people, let alone those with cultivation. Those with violent rhythms can cause instant death, while those with gentle rhythms can trap people in them, rendering them either idiots or subject to mental constraints. However, the second master also said that such universal melodies are extremely difficult to produce. Even when they do appear, it’s usually in remote wildernesses or deep mountains, and they generally appear and disappear in an instant, posing little harm to humans. But could the effect produced by Miss Xue Feifei’s singing today be what the second master referred to as a universal melody? The Purple Void Dragon Qi and Dragon Core within her body were also nurtured by the forces of nature, allowing them to resonate with this melody—almost driving Chu Tianyu to madness. Other than this universal melody, what other explanation could there be? No wonder Miss Feifei seemed as gentle as flowing water, her singing evoking the imagery of water, even naming her song “Love for Water”! It seems that the fundamental natural element she used to produce the “universal melody” was water. And the feeling of boiling blood Chu Tianyu experienced just now wasn’t just a sensation—it was his blood actually boiling! It must be the same for everyone else. Chu Tianyu couldn’t help but observe the audience around him. Everyone, including the servants moving about, had stopped what they were doing, lost in this “wonderful” singing. Just as Chu Tianyu was marveling at how extraordinary the world was, he realized someone could even control such universal melodies, becoming an idol known to all, while mastering them so well that they were both intoxicating yet not as harmful as natural universal melodies… As he thought this, a troubling idea struck him. Considering today’s banquet and their purpose for being here, could this sudden appearance of a universal melody be…? Chu Tianyu quickly turned his gaze to Uncle Ouyang nearby. As expected, although Ouyang Boshu, like everyone else, was deeply immersed in the singing, his skin had a layer of blood-red hue. Under the banquet lights, it would go unnoticed unless one looked closely. Moreover, though Ouyang Boshu’s expression was one of ecstasy and obsession, every now and then he would quickly show a pained expression, either frowning tightly or pressing his lips together.

Seeing this, Chu Tianyu finally understood the key to this banquet. Without further thought, he raised his palm slightly, and a pure dragon energy enveloped Ouyang Boshu. The energy instantly entered his body. Indeed, the blood circulation in Ouyang Boshu’s body had far exceeded that of a normal person—truly “boiling with passion.” His heart, under such intense and rapid operation, was already struggling to bear the strain and began to fail.

Chu Tianyu’s dragon energy was the most supreme form of natural energy—the king of all. Initially, Ouyang Boshu was affected not so much because of the energy itself, but rather due to its resonance with the essence of the universe. After Chu Tianyu adjusted it using Buddhist internal techniques, the dragon core had long adapted to this rhythm, no longer being disturbed or controlled by it.

Thus, once Chu Tianyu’s dragon energy entered Ouyang Boshu’s body, it quickly suppressed this invasive rhythm. With Chu Tianyu’s deliberate efforts, it gradually calmed the surging blood in Ouyang Boshu’s body and refined this rhythm. At the same time, Chu Tianyu also used his energy to restore and heal the damaged meridians in Ouyang Boshu’s body one by one.

Ouyang Boshu finally regained his senses and, in harmony with Chu Tianyu’s energy, enjoyed the sense of comfort throughout his body. At the same time, he heard Chu Tianyu’s voice in his ear: “Uncle, don’t make a fuss for now. Stay as you are. Just show some signs of pain from time to time. Otherwise, keep listening to the music!”

As he spoke, Chu Tianyu briefly explained the recent danger and his impromptu bold plan through telepathy. As for things like the sound of the universe and the dragon core’s energy, they were beyond the understanding of ordinary people, so Chu Tianyu didn’t go into detail.

Ouyang Boshu was no ordinary person. By comparing what had just happened with what Chu Tianyu had said, he quickly understood everything. He especially admired Chu Tianyu’s bold idea. The more he got to know this young man, the more surprises and shocks he encountered. Not to mention Chu family’s background or his grandfather’s power, even his own strength was astonishing. Xin Er was indeed right—this was a true treasure. The returns from “investing” in him would be immeasurable!

Coincidentally, he had become entangled with Zi Yi. He had previously been troubled by how to persuade this girl to change her personality for the sake of “investment,” but now it seemed everything was falling into place naturally. Perhaps it was the risks he had taken working for the country over the years and his commitment to the right path that earned him such kindness from fate—karma, indeed!

Ouyang Boshu had always believed in fate. With this thought, he became even more determined about this matter—he would definitely take this son-in-law. While Ouyang Boshu was indulging in these pleasant thoughts, Miss Feifei on stage finally reached the highest note at the end of her performance. At that moment, Chu Tianyu’s voice rang in his ears: “Uncle, I’ve offended you!”
…
In a private intensive care unit at Jiabao Central Hospital, Ouyang Ziyi still had tears on her face as she relentlessly pummeled Chu Tianyu. Her brother, Ouyang Ruolin, who had turned from sorrow to joy, wiped away his tears and looked at his father with delight, Ouyang Boshu wearing a beaming smile.
“It’s all your fault! You made her cry like this without even warning me…” Ouyang Ziyi said in aa coquettish tone as she continued to hit him.
Seeing Chu Tianyu’s helpless expression, Ouyang Boshu laughed heartily and took over the conversation. “Ziyi, stop it. How could I have warned you? You should actually thank Chu Xian for saving your father’s life!”
“I know…” Ouyang Ziyi said softly, then changed her aggressive manner to a tender one, wrapping her arms around Chu Tianyu with a happy expression typical of lovers.
Ouyang Ziyi could express her gratitude to her beloved in this way, while Ouyang Ruolin stepped forward and bowed three times respectfully, saying sincerely, “Tianyu, I truly appreciate your help in saving our father’s life…”
Chu Tianyu felt extremely embarrassed, stepping back and hurriedly saying things like, “Uncle Ouyang, please don’t be polite. Brother Ouyang, you mustn’t…” The situation became extremely awkward.
Seeing that things were getting too awkward, Ouyang Boshu quickly broke the silence. “Enough, enough. From now on, we’re all one family—no need for formalities. It’s time to discuss how to teach this snake a lesson! Tianyu, since you came up with the plan originally, you should explain it first.”

Chu Tianyu organized his thoughts and said, “Uncle, Shi Yundong’s plan this time is truly meticulous. He even thought of using singing to kill you by causing your heart to fail, so that forensic experts wouldn’t be able to find any flaws. It’s an impeccable arrangement. When I discovered it, I came up with the idea of feigning your death on the spot. Besides, you mentioned that you guys also had such a plan, but some accident occurred, and the person sent to infiltrate the enemy ranks as a killer never took action. So this time, we can turn the tables. When Xue Feifei sings the highest note, I’ll simultaneously block several of your meridians, creating a state of apparent death. This way, we’ll fulfill the original plan and also shift from open confrontation to covert action, allowing us to handle the subsequent crises more calmly. However, we still need to plan carefully to deliver a fatal blow to the enemy and ensure they can never pose a threat again.”

Chu Tianyu’s clear and thorough analysis made Ouyang Boshu nod repeatedly. The Ouyang siblings, upon hearing the names of Shi Yundong and Xue Feifei, were filled with rage; their previous admiration for them had long vanished.

Chu Tianyu gently patted the angry Ouyang Ziyi and continued, “The Shi family’s actions came at this exact moment, clearly premeditated. As for how they managed to recruit that mysterious Miss Feifei, it’s hard to guess. But, Uncle Ouyang, there’s one thing we can consider: if you died, what practical benefit would it bring to the Shi family? I think with such elaborate planning, it must be driven by significant interests—there’s no way they’re just trying to eliminate a competitor.”

After pondering for a while, Ouyang Boshu replied, “If they want me dead, aside from revenge from European forces, for Hong Kong’s local powers, it would only mean…”

“It would only mean a sharp drop in the stock price of our Ouli Jiepin Group, because Dad has always been a miracle and a brand in Hong Kong’s business world!” Ouyang Ruolin added, her eyes shining with intelligence.

“Judging from the Shi family’s plan, they’ll surely spread rumors about Dad extensively next. They’ll probably create many negative stories about Ouli Jiepin Group, using a combination of tactics to work with several financial giants to drive the group’s stock price to its lowest point. Then they’ll acquire the group, take control of its board of directors, and finally use their own Shi Group brand to restore investors’ confidence, turning Ouli Jiabao Group into their subsidiary or selling it off directly.”

“No wonder our group’s stock price has been rising lately. It seems someone is secretly buying up shares; they must have started already,” Ouyang Ziyi realized suddenly.
Ouyang Boshu and Ouyang Ruolin exchanged a glance, having a silent conversation as father and son. Then Ouyang Ruolin spoke up, “The amount of shares available on the market isn’t a threat to us. The main issue is…”
At this point, Ouyang Ruolin glanced at his father again. Seeing that Ouyang Boshu had no intention of stopping him, he continued, “It’s mainly the shares held by Uncle Lin, Uncle Li, Uncle Zhou, and my cousin Ouyang Boqi, who helped Dad build up the business back in the day.”
Ouyang Boshu suddenly waved his hand to interrupt his son, appearing suddenly exhausted. “Enough, Ruolin. You and Tianyu can discuss the next steps. Dad is tired after working hard for most of his life. This is a good opportunity for him to rest. The future belongs to you guys. Consider this incident a test for you! Decide what to do on your own!”
“Oh, right. Tell the media that I’m seriously ill and under treatment. Internally, and to your uncles, act as if we’re handling this in a low-key manner. Visit them one by one and ‘ask’ them to control their shares. If they can, help boost our group’s stock price. Sigh, my old friends, this is Dad’s last chance for you…” By the end, Ouyang Boshu seemed to be talking to himself.
After leaving Ouyang Boshu’sward
ward, Chu Tianyu and Ouyang Ruolin discussed things in detail for a long time. Especially regarding the business matters of Ouli Jia Bao Group, Ouyang Ruolin explained everything very clearly. In light of the current situation and the plans they had just made, Chu Tianyu reminded Ouyang Ruolin of some details and specific steps.
After talking with Ouyang Ruolin, Chu Tianyu pulled Ouyang Ziyi aside. He was now fully responsible for receiving the goods at the port the next day, which meant facing European forces and settling matters with them on behalf of Ouyang Boshu.
“Is there anything you need me to help with?” Ouyang Ziyi asked excitedly. Watching her brother and Chu Tianyu strategize, she was already eager.
Chu Tianyu smiled and nodded. “Actually, there is! Tomorrow, go to the police station and find someone. I heard he’s now the chief. Chen Lao and I can’t show up in person. Just say this to him when you see him…”

While Chu Tianyu and the Ouyang family were discussing their next steps, Du Zhan, the notorious crime boss known as Blood Eagle, who had just finished eating wonton noodles at a high-end Japanese restaurant, strode into the underground parking lot with several of his subordinates to pick up his car.
“Ugh, it’s still wonton noodles that truly fill you up. I only ate three bowls and already felt stuffed…” Du Zhan said, burping.
“Yes, boss. What kind of crappy food is this? It’s not even enjoyable at all!” his subordinates echoed.
“Oh? So you’re not satisfied just because I took you to such a fancy place to eat?” Du Zhan turned his tone coldly.
At those words, his subordinates broke into cold sweats. Though each of them was muscular and fierce, capable of dominating or fighting their way through any situation in the underworld, they were now utterly at a loss in front of Du Zhan, filled with anxiety. It was all because of the name Blood Eagle Du Zhan—they knew full well of his ruthless tactics. Although he appeared like a crude gang boss, he was not only brutal but also possessed extraordinary rationality in his actions. His combat skills were even more unfathomable. It was said that once, a clan leader betrayed his own group by colluding with outsiders, bringing several gunmen to ambush Du Zhan alone in his apartment. Three minutes later, all seven gunmen, including the clan leader, were dead—not from gunshots, but torn to pieces alive. That’s how he earned the title Blood Eagle.
Du Zhan watched his subordinates fall silent, filled with immense satisfaction. The feeling of controlling life and death, of having everything under his control, thrilled and exhilarated him greatly.
Yet the more excited and pleased he became, the deeper his dissatisfaction and regret grew. He hated that he wasn’t born in a chaotic era, one where he could dominate everything through force. Unlike now, with advanced technology and the decline of martial arts and cultivation skills, he could only stay in the shadows, at most acting as a gang boss, wasting all his skills.
Sometimes he wanted to throw everything aside and live freely, indulging in battles of honor, but he knew two words clearly: “Impossible!” Not to mention the unspoken rules of the cultivation world and the surveillance by noble warriors and hermits, even in the secular world, though he could handle seven gunmen, he could never confront a fully equipped army head-on. Just one grenade would be enough to render him unable to move…

Just as Du Zhan was lost in thought, he suddenly raised his head as if sensing something, his body freezing for a moment before his eyes sparkled as he stared at the two men in ordinary parking lot uniforms appearing ahead. The boss’s expression, along with that of his subordinates, also seemed to change; they all turned their attention to the front. At first glance, those two seemed like ordinary parking lot workers. They were about to scold them, trying to maintain an air of authority in front of the boss, but before they could speak, they realized something was wrong—the two men walking toward them had blank expressions, moved with a certain momentum, and their steps and arm movements were astonishingly synchronized, as if they were one person moving. These subordinates had spent many years in the violent world, and even if they weren’t very perceptive, their instincts told them these two were no ordinary people. Realizing danger was approaching, they immediately became alert, scanning their surroundings and preparing to defend themselves. Du Zhan was quite satisfied with his subordinates’ reactions. Looking at the two men who were getting closer, he took a deep breath and asked casually, “What do you two want from me, Du? If you have something to say, just say it directly. With your status, there’s no need to hide or pretend to be parking lot workers!” As Du Zhan spoke, his subordinates also took their positions, deliberately surrounding him in the middle. “Are you Du Zhan, the Blood Eagle of the He Xin Society?” one of them asked. As he spoke, a powerful force rushed toward Du Zhan, leaving him too weak to even speak in response. Du Zhan was shocked—though he had assumed they might be cultivators like him, he never expected their strength to be so great. If he used all his strength, he might barely be able to deal with one of them. It seemed this night wouldn’t end well for him. With that thought, Du Zhan simply unleashed his full strength, breaking through the pressure in an instant and returning to normal. He then said viciously to the two men, “Since we’re both cultivators, who’s afraid of whom? I’m giving you two face by politely asking—don’t be ungrateful!” The man who had spoken earlier wasn’t affected by Du Zhan’s sudden burst of power and continued in his calm tone, “Du Zhan, the Blood Eagle. We know you’re a cultivator. You’re a remnant of the Blood Fiend Sect from a hundred years ago. If you had followed in the footsteps of your master and mentors and stayed low-key, you might have stayed safe. Even if you had done your usual gangster stuff—engaging in petty crimes and controlling territory—you could have lived in peace. But you were too ambitious and provoked people you shouldn’t have… So…” “So today, you’ll pay for what you’ve done!” A colder voice came from behind Du Zhan.

Du Zhan was shocked once again. He quickly turned his head and saw a man in a black coat. Though not particularly tall, he had a stern expression, and a knife scar about an inch long between his brows added to his fierce look.
Utterly astonished, Du Zhan laughed and said, “So there’s an ambush after all. Haha, but the mantis hunts the cicada while the oriole waits in the shadows…” With that, he pressed the alarm device he had prepared in advance.
This was Du Zhan’s trump card. Whenever he went out, although he only brought a few trusted subordinates with him, he would usually have another group of men waiting not far away, in a parking lot or some secluded place, ready to follow his remote commands and deal with any emergencies.
The expected counterattack never happened. Instead, a clanging sound came from the side, and various knives, pistols, and other weapons were thrown at them. Once again, a figure appeared, wiping his hands with a white handkerchief.
The last person to appear caught Du Zhan’s attention only because of his hands—hands as white as jade, moving slowly and gracefully, as if polishing a priceless treasure.
Du Zhan stared blankly at the alarm device in his hand, which kept sending signals, then at the weapons on the ground that should have been in his men’s hands. Fear grew in his heart. One against four—there was no chance of victory for him…
“Ah~~~” One of his subordinates, seemingly unable to bear the pressure, drew a chain hidden at his waist and charged forward.
The figure across from him moved swiftly, and the subordinate, who had only taken a few steps forward, retreated at even greater speed, leaving behind a cloud of blood that fell to the ground with a thud and then fell silent.
Ignoring his subordinate, Du Zhan suddenly let out a fierce roar, pushed off with both legs, and struck forward with his left fist. Before his left hand retracted, he delivered another punch with his right hand—this time not to attack, but to scatter a cloud of white powder ahead.
As the white mist rose, Du Zhan had already exchanged over a dozen blows with the person covered in mist, with neither side gaining an advantage. Suddenly, he heard two gusts of wind behind him, followed by the sounds of his subordinates collapsing without a sound.
Realizing that his chances of survival that night were slim, Du Zhan threw himself into a full-scale attack, hoping to create a gap to escape.

However, it was clear his wish didn’t come true. Despite his fierce attacks forcing the opponent back, on his final assault, he encountered another powerful force that sent shockwaves through his body, causing him to be thrown out of the misty area and forced to retreat repeatedly. Before he could steady himself, a pair of gentle hands pressed against the back of his head. Before he could think further, a soft energy flowed through his meridians and suddenly exploded inside him. With two “pfft” sounds, blood gushed from Du Zhan’s mouth, sending him back into the mist. The mist, as if infected by the blood, gradually turned blood-red. Du Zhan, who was already on the verge of collapse, suddenly seemed to regain all his strength and roared again, “All of you, die!” Before his words faded, the man in the black coat among the four attackers shouted, “Bad! Use our energy, retreat quickly! He’s using the Blood Fiend Sect’s deadly technique!” Du Zhan’s arms swelled as if inflated, his veins bulging ten times thicker and clearly visible beneath his skin. With a “boom,” the veins in his arms burst at their limit, shooting out like arrows mixed with the blood mist in the air. The four attackers retreated while blocking, and thanks to the black-clothed man’s timely warning, they managed to avoid injury, though they were temporarily disabled by this attack. After using this move, Du Zhan, as if feeling no pain, took in two breaths of the blood mist and shook his severed arms in it, absorbing some of the white powder. Seizing the opportunity that the four attackers were temporarily unable to move, he spat out more blood energy, causing his already weakened body to swell again. Gritting his teeth and enduring excruciating pain, he used the last remaining strength gained from the blood energy to shoot forward and flee in haste. The four men, left staring at each other, left the underground parking lot in silence once more. After a while, the man with bare hands, who had finished using his energy, said, “Boss, the Blood Elite has lost face this time. Four of us couldn’t even take down one guy! How are we going to explain this to the sect leader? I heard this mission was even assigned personally by the new sect leader…” “Sigh, who would have thought this kid would set up that self-destructive mist formation as soon as the fight started!” said the man in uniform. “Yeah!” added another.

“Never mind. It’s better to go back and tell the truth. This white mist is a unique secret medicine of their Blood Fiend Sect. I heard it can not only serve as a medium for the attack ‘Fiendly Energy Spreading in All Directions’ but also relieve pain and stimulate excitement, giving the user one more chance to escape! But the cost is extremely high—not only will their martial arts skills be ruined, but they’ll also suffer excruciating pain in their meridians every day at midnight and noon, making life worse than death! Anyway, their Hidden Heart Society has already been completely eradicated by us. With just him left, a useless person, he can’t do anything anymore!” said the man in black called the boss.

“Bai Yu, stay behind and have someone come to clean up. The rest of us will follow and see if we can catch up with them. Sigh, I really need to have a serious talk with the sect leader when we get back. We’ve lived too peacefully for too long…”

……

The next day, the Ouyang family began to take separate actions.

Ouyang Ruolin, with a sorrowful expression, repeatedly asked to meet several uncles from prominent families. He also announced to the media that Ouyang Boshu was merely seriously ill in bed. At the same time, he frequently met with the CEOs of various banks, though the specifics of those meetings remained unknown.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Li received a special visitor.

“Wow, Uncle Li, your office is so solemn! Is that what the police department requires?” Ouyang Ziyi exclaimed as soon as she entered.

“Ziyi, what brings you here to Uncle Li’s place? I heard about your father…” Commissioner Li tried to change the subject with a wry smile.

“Well, my father just had a heart attack—old trouble. I think he’ll be fine after a few days in the hospital!” Ouyang Ziyi said.

“Oh, that’s good, that’s good. There were some wild rumors outside—something about Brother Ouyang being so captivated by Miss Feifei’s singing that he fainted on the spot. What nonsense! Those paparazzi are really causing trouble… By the way, Ziyi, I never heard before that your father had heart problems?”

“Probably menopause… Anyway, Uncle Li, I’m here at someone’s request—I need to talk to you!” Ouyang Ziyi blurted out a random excuse.

“Oh, what is it?” Commissioner Li asked instinctively, not paying attention to her mention of being sent by someone else. Clearly, he still hadn’t figured out the connection between menopause and heart disease.

“Actually, Uncle Li, you probably already know something about our family’s situation. I guess the police have also received orders to assist in protecting us, especially for tonight’s delivery at the dock. The person who sent me hopes that the police won’t interfere any further!”

Commissioner Li sneered, clearly misunderstanding the meaning, thinking that Ouyang Ziyi represented Ouyang Boshu. He said outright, “Catching thieves and handling cases, protecting citizens’ legal rights—these are the duties of our Hong Kong police. No matter who it is, even if your father has connections with the central government, he has no special rights to dictate what our Hong Kong police should or shouldn’t do!”
“Uncle Li, I think you’ve misunderstood. This time I’m not here on my father’s behalf, but as an old friend of yours…”
“An old friend?”
“That’s right. The one who once used his strength to punch a hole in the head of a bank robber, and four years later provided you with information about the Shai Shen Gang and the Ling Di cult crimes, allowing us to eliminate them before you did. He said your rank at that time was probably just that of a police inspector…” Ouyang Ziyi said nonchalantly.
“What!!!” Commissioner Li was shocked beyond measure.