Chapter 166: Attacking Mother and Daughter? Unable to Withstand a Blow! Calculating the Underground Queen:
"You're right. Yan Wumei is indeed like a vixen; she needs to be dealt with," Xu Hao said with a smirk. "Your aunt, being the queen of law, will be fun to conquer. And as for that little girl..."
Hearing Xu Hao openly discuss his intentions toward Yan Wumei, and even his aunt and her daughter, Luo Yan could no longer contain his anger.
His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his forehead as he gritted his teeth.
He stomped hard on the road, creating a small crater. It was clear how furious he was.
In the next instant, he transformed into a shadow, dashing toward Xu Hao with killing intent.
Luo Yan wasn't acting recklessly; he didn't underestimate his opponent.
Utilizing the agility of a top assassin, he moved like a ghost. The dark clouds obscured the moonlight, making his movements even harder to track.
Xu Hao had not shown his strength nor made a move, but from the pressure of his aura and his composed demeanor, it was obvious he had reached the Transforming Strength Realm—possibly even the mid-stage, like Luo Yan himself.
However, Luo Yan never considered Xu Hao to be stronger. He had investigated him thoroughly.
Xu Hao had built his empire from scratch, growing it into a billion-dollar corporation. He was too busy to train extensively.
How could he surpass him?
Luo Yan, on the other hand, had been honing his skills in the dark world for years, engaging in constant battles. There was no way Xu Hao could be more powerful than him.
[Ding! Luo Yan was furious, emotional points +987.]
Xu Hao remained motionless in the face of Luo Yan's assault. He gestured for Bai Ling, who had positioned herself defensively, to step aside.
Bai Ling obeyed but felt ashamed.
Her own "520" combat prowess was still too weak.
Facing a Transforming Strength Realm expert, she was unable to protect Xu Hao and instead had to rely on him for protection. Her eyes flickered with complex emotions as she watched intently, ready to intervene if necessary.
Xu Hao's purpose in provoking Luo Yan was clear—to harvest emotional points.
The steady stream of notifications confirmed the effectiveness of his words. More importantly, these taunts would cloud Luo Yan's judgment and force him to make mistakes.
Although Xu Hao was confident in his strength, he was cautious by nature. As a villain in this world full of protagonists, caution was essential for survival.
Even if Luo Yan tried to expose him to the female leads, who would believe him?
They would only see Luo Yan as jealous and unreliable.
While Xu Hao's mind raced through these thoughts, Luo Yan's ghostly figure had already reached him, delivering a powerful punch aimed at his back.
However—
The punch missed.
Luo Yan's eyes widened in shock as Xu Hao's figure flickered and disappeared before reappearing in front of him.
"What?!" Luo Yan was stunned.
His own speed was among the best in the dark world, yet Xu Hao was faster. This man, whom he had thought to be an ordinary businessman, moved like an expert assassin.
Had he been misled all along?
As he reassessed the situation, Luo Yan sensed Xu Hao's powerful aura.
Peak stage Transforming Strength Realm.
Luo Yan felt as if a bomb had exploded in his mind.
A self-made billionaire, occupied with running a company, had actually reached such a terrifying level. Stronger than him, an assassin with over a decade of experience in the underworld.
Was the world going crazy?
Snapping out of his shock, Luo Yan saw Xu Hao standing beside him, smiling calmly. He redirected his punch, adjusting the angle using years of assassination experience to block Xu Hao's escape route.
Swish—
Xu Hao anticipated his move effortlessly, dodging with ease.
Luo Yan unleashed a series of rapid attacks, but each one failed to connect.
Xu Hao's movements were fluid, far superior to Luo Yan's. No matter how fast or precise his strikes were, he couldn't even graze Xu Hao's clothes.
Luo Yan's heart sank.
He realized there was no hope. Xu Hao was not only stronger but also faster.
This wasn't a fight; it was a lesson.
As a professional assassin, Luo Yan knew when to retreat. If a strike failed, escape was the best option. He had to bide his time and wait for another opportunity.
Xu Hao, however, seemed to have anticipated this too.
Luo Yan was still young and had a lot of potential to grow. Xu Hao was fifty years old, and his strength was only a small realm above Luo Yan's. Eventually, he believed he would surpass him. Revenge could wait.
However, did Xu Hao intend to let him leave so easily?
Xu Hao suddenly appeared beside Luo Yan at an astonishing speed, leaving him no time to react.
—God-level Tai Chi.
With precise accuracy, Xu Hao struck an acupuncture point on Luo Yan’s body. His master-level medical skills gave him deep knowledge of the human body, making his attack incredibly lethal.
Luo Yan was sent flying several dozen meters, crashing onto the hard asphalt road and creating a human-shaped crater.
This time, he couldn't get up so quickly.
The impact lingered, and he skidded for more than ten meters.
Xu Hao's punch had shattered Luo Yan’s internal strength. His skin scraped against the rough road, leaving deep, bloody marks.
Such was the power of a Transforming Strength Realm expert.
Previously, Luo Yan had refrained from attacking Xu Hao when they were with Yan Wumei and her daughter, fearing collateral damage. But now, Xu Hao's sheer strength was undeniable. If they had truly fought on equal footing, this entire street would have been destroyed.
Lying in a pool of blood, Luo Yan's fingers twitched slightly. He struggled to endure the excruciating pain coming from his internal organs and the burning sensation across his back. He attempted to prop himself up.
Pfft—
Just as he was about to stand, an intense pain surged through his body, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood. Unable to maintain his balance, he collapsed onto the ground once more.
Staring blankly at the sky, he saw the dark clouds disperse, and the moonlight illuminated his pale face. His eyes were filled with despair.
Xu Hao's punch not only shattered his body but also his confidence. He couldn't understand—how could Xu Hao be so strong?
Was he really just in the peak stage Transforming Strength Realm?
Luo Yan felt that even the peak stage Transforming Strength Realm might not be this powerful. How strong was Xu Hao’s true strength?
Could he truly protect Yan Wumei and her daughter?
[Ding! Luo Yan felt desperate, emotional points +1000.]
Glancing at Luo Yan, who lay motionless like a beaten dog, Xu Hao waved his hand, signaling Bai Ling to drive home.
He knew that after experiencing this defeat, Luo Yan wouldn't dare to cause trouble for a while. This break would give him the perfect opportunity to move forward with his plans.
By the time Luo Yan recovered, Yan Wumei would already be his.
Xu Hao had attacked Luo Yan precisely because he was preparing to conquer Yan Wumei. If Luo Yan remained a threat, it could disrupt his plans.
Yan Wumei, the elegant and alluring woman, had sought his guidance since their last encounter. Their hand-in-hand training had left her flustered, and she had been avoiding him for a few days. But Xu Hao was patient. He had a plan for both her and her daughter.
Bai Ling, instead of opening the car door for Xu Hao as usual, knelt down on one knee before him.
"Master, please send me to Wuxiang. I am too weak to protect you..." Her tone was filled with guilt and determination.
Xu Hao raised an eyebrow.
From today's events, it was clear that Bai Ling was indeed falling behind. She couldn't even match an average Transforming Strength Realm opponent, let alone a mid-stage one.
Changing bodyguards?
Xu Hao considered some late-stage Transforming Strength Realm experts but found none suitable. For now, he decided to leave things as they were and address it later when a better candidate appeared.
He helped Bai Ling up and reassured her.
Hearing his response, she sighed in relief.
Protecting Xu Hao was an honor for her, but failing in her duties left her feeling guilty.
Bai Ling drove the car, while Xu Hao sat in the backseat, deep in thought about his next steps with Yan Wumei.
Ding.
A message notification sounded. Bai Ling glanced at it and reported, "Master, the people you arranged have arrived."
"Let them begin," Xu Hao ordered calmly.
He had instructed his organization, Wuxiang, to deploy two top-tier dark energy masters. Their purpose was to push Yan Wumei beyond her limits.
Yan Wumei had been avoiding him because she believed her strength was enough to deal with the threats from the other underground forces. If there was no pressure, Xu Hao would create it for her.
He had arranged for the two experts to infiltrate the rival underground factions. Over the past six months, those factions had been working together to suppress Yan Wumei's Red Rose organization. Thanks to Xu Hao's help, Yan Wumei had grown stronger, reaching the late stage Dark Strength Realm.
Currently, there was a balance between the three forces. However, with these new players, that balance would be shattered, forcing Yan Wumei to seek his help once again.
When she returned to him, it would be the perfect moment to claim her.
As for the two operatives he had deployed, they were doomed. They would serve their purpose and then be eliminated without a trace.
Yan Wumei would never know who had orchestrated everything.
As Wuxiang expanded, Xu Hao maintained his ruthless style, killing those who stood in his way and recruiting only those worthy. However, only a select few could enter his inner circle; the rest were mere pawns, ready to be discarded at any time.
Among the peripheral members of Xu Hao's organization, it was inevitable that some would betray him when forced.
The two individuals he had deployed were among them. They were mere pawns, to be discarded once their usefulness ended, without a second thought.
…
Inside a luxurious villa hall, more than a dozen individuals sat facing each other in silence. The atmosphere was heavy with tension.
A burly middle-aged man with a commanding presence sat at the head of the table and spoke, "Let’s discuss our strategy to deal with Red Rose. Despite joining forces with the Tyrant Gang, another of the top three underground forces, we have yet to achieve any significant progress. This failure has become an embarrassment for Qinglong Hall."
Indeed, this was a high-level meeting of Qinglong Hall, one of the three major forces in Demon City. Their plan had been to swiftly eliminate Red Rose with the Tyrant Gang's support before turning against each other to claim dominance over the underground world. However, after six months, there was still no breakthrough.
One of the senior members stood up and offered his opinion. "In truth, the strength of our three forces is evenly matched. The reason we haven't taken down Red Rose is that both we and the Tyrant Gang are holding back. Neither side wants to expend full strength, fearing the other might take advantage afterward. We should consider signing a temporary agreement with the Tyrant Gang, committing to an all-out effort against Red Rose and refraining from attacking each other for a month."
Many in the room nodded in agreement. Both forces had been hesitant, concerned that a weakened position would leave them vulnerable.
However, another senior official disagreed, "An agreement with the Tyrant Gang might have worked before, but it's no longer viable. Yan Wumei of Red Rose has advanced to the late stage Dark Strength Realm. Who among us dares to face her now? If she decides to go all out, which force can stop her? If we commit fully and she retaliates, our so-called allies might turn against us instead of supporting us."
"We could include terms in the agreement ensuring mutual assistance if Yan Wumei retaliates," countered the first man.
"Ha! Agreements are just words on paper. When real interests are at stake, who would honor them?"
The argument between the two factions intensified, with both sides refusing to back down.
A sigh came from one of the leaders. "Ultimately, our strength is lacking. If we had someone at the late stage or even the peak stage Dark Strength Realm, dealing with Red Rose would be much easier."
Silence filled the hall as this sentiment resonated with everyone.
The hall master, Wang Long, was about to speak when a sudden knock interrupted the meeting.
All the senior members frowned. Who dared to disturb such an important meeting?
"Enter," Wang Long commanded coldly.
The door opened, and a subordinate rushed in anxiously. "Hall master, bosses, someone has broken in. He's incredibly strong—our men are no match for him. He's heading here now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a tall and thin middle-aged man with an eerie calm aura walked into the hall.
"Heh, so you're all here. I’ve been looking for you everywhere." He smiled casually as he scanned the room.
"Who do you think you are?! Trespassing into our Qinglong Hall headquarters—are you tired of living?!" a senior member roared as he charged forward.
This man was no ordinary fighter—he had reached the peak of Ming Jin. His speed was impressive, and his killing intent was fierce.
However, before he could even land a blow, he was sent flying backward at an even faster speed. He crashed into the wall and fell, his body convulsing uncontrollably. He was completely incapacitated.
A heavy silence followed, accompanied by audible gasps.
Wang Long’s pupils shrank to the size of a needle tip. His entire body tensed, ready to flee at any moment.
He could sense it—this intruder's aura was far stronger than his own. He was at the peak of Dark Power.
"It seems our Qinglong Hall hasn't offended you. Why have you come here?" Wang Long asked cautiously.
The tall and thin man smiled. "I'm here to join you."
Meanwhile, at the Tyrant Gang's headquarters, a similar scene was unfolding.
The once-stable underground world was now in turmoil with the arrival of two powerful figures.
The intricate plan against Yan Wumei was slowly falling into place...