Dongcheng District, Ruizhu Hotel, Seventh Floor, Suite
In a dimly lit room, a shirtless figure sat on a chair, his head and legs wrapped in bandages. The faint light that filtered through the gap in the curtains revealed the weary face of Duan Kaiping, a member of the Razor Gang and a disciple of the Golden Wind Dojo. He sat there, cigarette in hand, exhaling smoke into the air, his expression tense and uncertain as he stared at a corner of the room.
In that corner stood a rectangular object, about two meters long and one meter wide, completely wrapped in layers of black tape, obscuring whatever was inside. Occasionally, rustling and crackling noises emanated from within, sending chills down his spine.
Duan Kaiping's gaze lingered on the object with a mixture of fear and anxiety. Unable to quell his nerves, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. The call connected quickly, and despite being on the phone, Duan Kaiping immediately adopted a respectful tone, nodding and smiling ingratiatingly as he spoke.
"Yes, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't anticipate that even though we had fed 'Number One' in advance, it would still bite through the cage and go out hunting alone... Fortunately, it has been confined to the cage since birth and considers it home. It returned on its own after feeding..."
He paused, listening intently.
"Rest assured, there will be no mistakes. Those foolish second generations have no idea they're our targets, yet they're holding a banquet tonight... I've already installed the devices you provided. The range should be sufficient to cover the entire floor. When the time comes, none of them will be able to contact the outside world."
After the call ended, Duan Kaiping's facade of respectfulness dropped, replaced by an expression of deep anxiety. He took a long drag from his cigarette, eyes glued to the rectangular object as the unsettling sounds continued to emanate from within.
---
Meanwhile, back at the Canglong Dojo, in a room that was dedicated to mind and body nourishment, Takeyama Ying was holding a neatly folded burgundy suit. The high-quality fabric was evident at a glance. She smiled as she held the suit up to Xue Jing, gesturing for him to try it on.
"For a party, you have to dress well. Trust me, I have experience with this!" she said cheerfully.
Chen Fuguang, who was standing nearby, sighed and offered his opinion. "Junior Sister Zhu, I think you're missing the point. Our junior brother's biggest asset is his youth! Look at that youthful face. I'd say he shouldn't dress too maturely. The school uniform from the Qing Affiliated High School, for example, has a suit style that's youthful and stylish. I even wanted to apply there because of the uniform, but I didn't get in."
Xue Jing sighed, a bit exasperated. "I'm just going to be a bodyguard... It doesn't really matter what I wear. I've already contacted the hotel, and their car should be here any minute, Brother Chen, Sister Zhu."
Takeyama Ying's bright and lively eyes glared at him, her youthful face showing a hint of frustration. "You're representing our Canglong Dojo, so you can't just be casual! You need to outshine the disciples from other dojos!"
At that moment, Meng Qingjiao, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward with a set of clothes in her arms.
"Senior Sister Meng?" Xue Jing was momentarily surprised.
Meng Qingjiao's cold, beautiful face remained expressionless. She silently handed the clothes to Xue Jing and then reached out to gently pat his head.
Xue Jing smiled. "Alright, I'll wear what Senior Sister chooses."
Takeyama Ying pouted in disappointment. "Hey, I was here first..."
Chen Fuguang glanced at the clothes and remarked, "Senior Sister Meng has good taste."
Xue Jing smiled, appreciating the effort from all his senior brothers and sisters.
Without a moment's hesitation, he stripped down to his shorts and changed into the clothes Meng Qingjiao had selected for him. The outfit was a black linen martial arts uniform, with a pure white lining paired with a black jacket and trousers. The cuffs were rolled up to reveal the white lining, complementing the poised and capable temperament of a martial artist.
The ensemble was reminiscent of the attire often seen in kung fu movies set in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. Yet, with Xue Jing's already impressive physique and striking appearance, he managed to make the outfit look both classic and stylish, his posture tall and unyielding like a strong pine tree, resembling a young master in his prime.
"Well, it feels... suitable?" Takeyama Ying remarked hesitantly, pinching her chin.
Chen Fuguang rolled his eyes. "Nonsense, with Junior Brother's figure and looks, he'd look good even in a sack."
Xue Jing examined himself in the mirror and nodded in approval. "As expected of me, I look pretty good."
"Thank you, Senior Brother and Senior Sisters. I'll be on my way now," Xue Jing said with a smile.
Chen Fuguang patted him on the shoulder. "This is your first time going out on a job. Remember, safety comes first. If you encounter any danger you can't handle, don't hesitate—run immediately!"
Takeyama Ying nodded emphatically. "Yes, don't push yourself."
Meng Qingjiao, silent as ever, held up her hands and made a squeezing gesture with her palms, as if to express encouragement.
Xue Jing nodded. "I understand, Senior Brother and Sisters. Don't worry."
After a few more words of advice, Xue Jing left the dojo, like a child heading out on his first big adventure.
He took the elevator to the first floor, exited the building, and looked around. Hearing the sound of car horns, he turned to see a luxury car parked on the road not far away.
As Xue Jing approached, the car door opened, and a slightly plump, middle-aged man wearing glasses and a neatly tailored suit stepped out of the driver's seat.
The man glanced at Xue Jing and greeted him respectfully. "Are you Master Xue from Hidden Dragon Dojo?"
Xue Jing nodded. "Yes, that's me."
"I'm Zhao Dequan, your driver for tonight. You can call me Xiao Zhao. I was the one who spoke to you on the phone earlier."
With that, Zhao Dequan opened the back door of the car and gestured politely. "Please, get in."
Xue Jing smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your service."
"It's my job," Xiao Zhao replied respectfully.
After Xue Jing settled into the back seat, Zhao Dequan closed the door, walked around to the driver's seat, and started the car. The engine purred smoothly as they drove towards the Ruizhu Hotel.
---
Dongcheng District, known as the "richest city in the east," is a place where every inch of land is worth a fortune. Owning a large hotel that spans several thousand square meters in such an area is a testament to immense wealth.
The kind of people who can book the top-floor banquet hall in a hotel like this are undoubtedly among the elite.
The car slowly rolled into the parking lot. After parking, Zhao Dequan exited first, then walked around to the back seat and opened the door.
Xue Jing stepped out and took in his surroundings.
The spacious parking lot was filled with luxury sports cars, each more expensive than the last. The people getting out of the cars were all young, well-dressed, and carried themselves with an air of privilege. They laughed and chatted among themselves as they made their way into the Ruizhu Hotel.
With his hands behind his back, Xue Jing followed Zhao Dequan, who led the way inside.