After listening to Xie Ming’s words, Wu Li remained unmoved.
He had always disliked the notion of "I’m doing this for your own good, you must cooperate with me," especially considering that for the sake of Xie Ming’s "ideal", so many innocent people had died—people who died protecting Xie Ming. Just thinking about it made Wu Li feel sick!
"Why do the people from Le Yuan want to kill you now?" Wu Li asked.
Xie Ming calmed himself and then said, "I don’t know why they want to kill me. Tonight, I thought it was just an act, like the previous times, until someone threw a grenade at me—that’s when I knew they wanted to kill me!"
Xie Ming: "If the criminals had just kidnapped those who opposed me and then stopped, it would have been too obvious. Many people within the association would suspect me. So, I had to make sure the act was complete, allowing the perpetrators to continue attacking me. That way, I could clear myself of suspicion and use the external pressure to further push for reforms and accept help from Le Yuan."
"I just didn’t expect you to suddenly show up," Xie Ming said, looking somberly at Wu Li.
If Wu Li hadn’t come, Xie Ming would probably be discussing cooperation with the people from the Shared Guardian Association and Le Yuan, as without external help, the Shared Guardian Association wouldn’t last much longer.
"If it weren’t for me, you would be dead by now," Wu Li said coldly.
That was what bothered him. He couldn’t understand why Le Yuan suddenly wanted to kill him, even before their cooperation had started.
"Master Wu, I’ve told you everything I know, absolutely nothing hidden. Look, can our collaboration continue?" Xie Ming looked at Wu Li somewhat nervously.
His willingness to cooperate and divulge everything to Wu Li stemmed from his fear that Wu Li, in a fit of anger, might abandon the Shared Guardian Association. Then, if the people from Le Yuan came to kill him, he would be facing certain death.
Judging from tonight’s developments, his only option was to firmly cling to Wu Li’s support.
Wu Li furrowed his brow. He had originally planned to eradicate the enemies behind the Shared Guardian Association in one fell swoop, to establish a strong reputation for Hua Jian Security, but he hadn’t expected to encounter such a formidable opponent as Le Yuan, making the opening move feel like hell-level difficulty.
Suddenly thinking of something, Wu Li looked at Xie Ming: "Besides the Shared Guardian Association, Le Yuan must have approached other Overseas Chinese Societies as well, right?"
Xie Ming nodded: "Right, I know of more than one."
Wu Li: "Do you think these societies would agree to cooperate with Le Yuan?"
After hesitating, Xie Ming said, "Definitely some will be tempted, but there will also be resistance."
Wu Li scoffed. The current situation of the Shared Guardian Association was a prime example; those society leaders who could gain benefits without much effort were mostly willing, while others like He Ye, who occupied high positions, were likely against it.
"Other Overseas Chinese Societies..."
Wu Li had an idea. This situation was both a challenge and an opportunity.
He believed there would always be some Overseas Chinese Societies that did not want to cooperate with Le Yuan, and others that were still undecided. If he could win over these societies to join Hua Jian Security and form a large Chinese alliance, they might stand a chance against Le Yuan!
Of course, that meant Wu Li would definitely be at the forefront, facing the greatest pressure and danger. But having chosen to be the World’s No.1, this was the caliber required of him!
"One man’s success builds on the skeleton of many, but if I become the World’s No.1, having crushed a behemoth like Le Yuan underfoot, it wouldn’t disgrace the title," Wu Li thought, having made up his mind.
"President Xie," Wu Li looked at Xie Ming.
Xie Ming: "Master Wu, please speak."
Wu Li: "We can continue to cooperate, but under certain conditions."
Xie Ming, delighted: "What conditions?"
Wu Li: "First, you must, through my program tomorrow, publicly expose Le Yuan’s persecution of Overseas Chinese and reveal all their schemes against the Overseas Chinese Societies."
Xie Ming fell silent. This move by Wu Li effectively cornered him; once these issues were made public, it would mean complete enmity with Le Yuan.
"Okay, I agree," Xie Ming nodded.
Now that the people from Le Yuan wanted him dead for no apparent reason, he had lost trust in Le Yuan. If they were going to fall out, so be it.
Wu Li: "Second, you must resign as the chairman of the Shared Guardian Association and let He Ye take over."
"This..." Xie Ming hesitated.
Wu Li looked at him: "Tonight, He Ye has already guessed the truth. Once he knows, the rest of the high-ranking members of the Association will too. Do you expect everyone to still let someone who betrayed his own members be the chairman?"
Xie Ming, in pain, finally gritted his teeth and said, "Okay!"
If it weren’t for Wu Li being in the middle of this, if it weren’t for the pressure from Le Yuan, Xie Ming would not have so readily agreed to step down. If it came down to a fight, three He Yes together wouldn’t stand a chance against him. But since Le Yuan suddenly wanted to kill him, to save his life, he had no choice but to listen to Wu Li.
"Any other conditions?" Xie Ming asked.
Wu Li: "Not for now."
"I only have one condition; you must ensure my safety!" Xie Ming stared intently at Wu Li.
Wu Li nodded: "Agreed."
After that, the room fell silent, and Wu Li began to meditate with closed eyes.
Wu Li wouldn’t leave tonight; he would stay by Xie Ming’s side, partly to ensure his safety and partly to prevent Xie Ming from having any other ideas.
Now, Xie Ming still didn’t know why Le Yuan wanted to kill him. What if he still harbored any hopes or had contacted Le Yuan again? Therefore, Wu Li planned to keep close watch over Xie Ming, both protecting and monitoring him.