While Lu Tianxing and Bai Zhiqing were indulging in each other’s company at the Peninsula Hotel, the entire Xiangjiang was boiling over with a piece of news that everyone was talking about: the influential Peng Family of Xiangjiang had been annihilated. They were exterminated, blood-washed to the last man, including their bodyguards—no one survived.
This news swept through Xiangjiang like autumn leaves in the breeze, rendering everyone silent and chilled to the bone, especially with the shocking explosion in the middle of the night and the fire that could be seen throughout the entire Xiangjiang, sending shivers down countless spines.
If it were just these events, it would instill fear in them, but what truly terrifying was the identity of the culprit responsible for the complete elimination of the Peng Family.
Because they couldn’t find out who it was that eradicated the Peng Family. All the information had been wiped clean, even the various video materials were completely deleted. However, they still got some information—that the attack on the Peng Family involved not only the person who carried out the annihilation but the Huang Family as well, and more likely than not, the Huang Family was just playing a subordinate role, in other words, they were merely pawns.
The reason being, even though the Peng Family was wiped out, the Huang Family didn’t take over their power; they merely held it in their hands to prevent others from interfering. Beyond that, there was no other movement, which clearly showed that the person who eradicated the Peng Family was very powerful, so much so that even the Huang Family was afraid to claim the power for themselves.
Even the Huang Family dared not offend this mysterious force that had wiped out the Peng Family, what more the others? Various forces began to withdraw their own people, no longer daring to investigate who was behind the annihilation of the Peng Family, fearing to provoke this mysterious enemy. After all, they didn’t have much to do with the Peng Family, and there was no need to offend someone over the Peng Family that they couldn’t afford to mess with.
At this time, in the backyard of the Huang Family.
Huang Yuanzheng stood respectfully, reporting to Huang Zhengde, "Dad, the Peng Family has been erased, including Peng Tianhu and Peng Tianbao; no one from the Peng Family is alive. There was also a massive explosion at the scene. After investigation, it seems that Peng Tianhu, cornered, tried to take Lu Tianxing with him. But unfortunately for him, Lu Tianxing’s strength was beyond his imagination. Lu Tianxing left the villa just a moment before the explosion."
"Furthermore, we investigated and found that the Peng Family had hired a substantial number of mercenaries in the underground market yesterday and purchased a large amount of special-characteristic bullets. However, according to those who went to protect Bai Zhiqing last night, when Lu Tianxing returned, he was unharmed, not even his clothes were damaged. From this, we can deduce that Lu Tianxing’s strength is much more terrifying than we had imagined; not even ordinary special-characteristic bullets can harm him in the slightest."
"Mm, I see," Huang Zhengde nodded, his expression unchanged. If the Peng Family had managed to hurt Lu Tianxing, he would have had to question whether joining the Yama Palace was the right decision.
"Father, what should we do next? Now we almost entirely control the Peng Family’s influence; should we swallow it?" Huang Yuanzheng asked solemnly.
"No need for that. We won’t touch anything that belongs to the Peng Family, not a single thing. Leave it all to Mr. Lu," Huang Zhengde replied after a moment of silence.
Although Lu Tianxing had promised to hand over the Peng Family’s influence to the Huang Family to deal with, if the Huang Family truly annexed the Peng Family’s power, they might lose more than they’d gain. It was better to go with the flow and owe Lu Tianxing a favor, to befriend him.
Hearing his father’s words, Huang Yuanzheng was stunned and could not understand. If they could swallow the Peng Family’s influence, the power of the Huang Family would significantly increase, and they might even have a chance to become the top family in Xiangjiang.
"No reason. Do you remember what I told you before? From now on, Mr. Lu is our esteemed guest and most steadfast ally of the Huang Family. Since it was he who exterminated the Peng Family, it’s only right that their power should belong to him. Relay my message: if anyone in the family dares to have other ideas about this matter, don’t blame me for being inconsiderate. Understood?" Huang Zhengde said with a rare seriousness.
"I’ll warn those below," Huang Yuanzheng nodded. Sitting as the head of the police department, he was no fool; Lu Tianxing had dared to single-handedly break into the Peng Family and, despite being surrounded, eradicated them without a scratch. This alone was proof enough of how terrifying Lu Tianxing’s strength was.
If the Huang Family became enemies with Lu Tianxing, they might eventually be able to destroy him, but the cost would certainly not be something the Huang Family could bear.
Moreover, Lu Tianxing was still young with immense strength. There were three possible ways to deal with such a young talent: befriend him, become strangers, or eradicate him in his cradle before he could grow.
Becoming strangers with Lu Tianxing was no longer possible, and there was no need to offend Lu Tianxing or attempt to eradicate him, as the cost would be too great. If they failed to kill Lu Tianxing, the only ending for the Huang Family would be obliteration.
Since they could not become strangers to Lu Tianxing or eradicate him, there was only one option left: to befriend Lu Tianxing. While they might lose the benefits of the Peng Family, befriending a talented individual could bring greater benefits in the future.
The Empress of the Great Han Dynasty, Lv Zhi, came from a modest family—a mere wealthy commoner—yet because she found the right person, Liu Bang, she soared to great heights and became royalty. This is a prime example of a long-term investment strategy that reaps benefits later on.
The Peng Family’s benefits are immediate, but Lu Tianxing’s benefits are long-lasting. As long as Lu Tianxing lives, his achievements will undoubtedly be extraordinary. Once Lu Tianxing succeeds, the benefits for the Huang Family will be far greater than what they can gain now, and that’s why Huang Yuanzheng no longer argued with his father.
Long-term investment is the best kind of investment. Short-term gains might seem substantial, but a family relies on sustainable development, not transient success.
"Father, what should we do next?"
"Keep the Peng Family matter under wraps; there’s no need to let anyone know Mr. Lu’s identity. Also, keep close watch over the Peng Family’s influence. Don’t allow anyone to interfere, and if someone dares to, chop off their claws. We will wait for Mr. Lu’s people to arrive before taking any further action."
"Dad, are you saying that Mr. Lu truly has other forces behind him?" Huang Yuanzheng asked curiously, sensing another meaning in his father’s words.
Huang Zhengde nodded, closed his eyes for a long while before opening them again, and slowly took out a Ghost-faced Yama Badge from his pocket and placed it on the table.
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