Arriving at the top floor of the hotel, a helicopter was already waiting there.
Tian Fang was unconscious as they flew through the air.
Old Gao looked at Gu Yan and asked, "Young Master, how should we deal with this guy?"
Gu Yan glanced at him and said calmly, "Cripple his abilities and lock him up. We may have use for him later."
According to the original plot, Tian Fang was highly vigilant and his movements were hidden and mysterious.
So the Martial Arts Department couldn't find any trace of his whereabouts.
They didn't dare get too close to Tian Fang, fearing he might be hiding in the shadows.
The only thing they knew for certain was that he would return to the Autumn Water Garden complex every night.
Each time he came back, he would bring some clues that the Martial Arts Department needed. They just had to wait for Tian Fang to leave before entering his room to collect evidence.
Not long ago, Li Yan and others from the Martial Arts Department had found torn paper scraps in Tian Fang's trash can during their investigation of his room.
On them was written - "Kill Li Botian."
Li Botian was the victim of the fifth murder case at Autumn Water Garden, a boss in the construction materials industry.
According to Li Yan's investigation, they discovered that the Yan Xing Group had recently had a minor conflict with Li Botian's company.
If they investigated a bit deeper and waited for the right moment, they could find crucial evidence linking the King of Hell Palace with Tian Fang, a Demonic Martial Artist.
Old Gao nodded upon hearing this, "Understood, Young Master."
Whoosh~~
The helicopter departed.
Watching the helicopter disappear into the distance, Gu Yan had already formed other ideas in his mind.
Keeping Tian Fang alive was not entirely about using him to threaten Long Zaitian.
Another purpose was to prevent Long Zaitian from being killed by Yan Huang tonight.
After all, in the original story, Yan Huang had actually already investigated and discovered Long Zaitian's collusion with Tian Fang, the Demonic Martial Artist.
Although the plot and timeline had some issues, barring any unexpected developments, tonight would be Long Zaitian's last chance.
If he hadn't severed ties with Tian Fang by now, tonight would likely be Long Zaitian's death.
Moreover, Tian Fang had an even more important use.
That was to provide Chen Yingyin with an achievement in battle.
Tian Fang, as a Demonic Martial Artist, would be no small feat. It's worth noting that the Martial Arts Department was divided into many factions.
Conservative Faction, Radical Faction, Coexistence Faction...
Chen Yingyin's achievement of killing Tian Fang would be just enough to catch the attention of his master from the original story.
Although meeting now was a bit early, it would help gradually bring the plot back on track.
Thinking of this, Gu Yan turned to leave, "Alright, let's go see how the banquet is going."
.......
.......
The banquet hall was like a golden palace.
Priceless oil paintings hung on the walls, while enormous chandeliers suspended from the high ceiling, their crystal prisms reflecting soft light that illuminated the entire hall.
The floor was made of marble, inlaid with intricate patterns. In the center of the hall stood a massive long table, laden with exquisite silverware and porcelain.
Elegant floral arrangements adorned the space, with champagne-colored tablecloths complementing the silver cutlery.
Along the walls were a series of buffet tables offering delectable dishes. A wide array of delicious foods appealed to both the eye and the palate, ranging from traditional family specialties to international cuisine.
A grand piano sat on a stage where a renowned musician played for the guests.
All the attendees were prominent figures from major families.
They sat or stood, engaged in lively conversation.
Shen Wan'er loved this atmosphere. With a glass of champagne in hand, she chatted with a smile to various family scions and business owners from different industries.
Although the bankruptcy crisis had been resolved, Shen's company was still in urgent need of business partners.
At this banquet, Shen Wan'er felt she needed to find at least one new partner.
She demonstrated excellent social skills.
In no time, a group had gathered around her.
"Ms. Shen is truly accomplished at such a young age, already in charge of such a large company."
"We must keep in touch and cooperate more in the future."
"Haha, you old fool, what kind of cooperation could your screw-selling business have with her pharmaceutical company?"
"In my opinion, Ms. Shen, you should cooperate with us. Our traditional Chinese medicine enterprise can provide you with the raw materials you need."
Shen Wan'er's heart leaped with joy, and she repeatedly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you all, respected seniors."
At this moment, one of the businessmen who had been chatting happily suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way, Ms. Shen, are you still in contact with Young Master Gu?"
"I remember your company had some issues before, and it was Young Master Gu who resolved them in the end, wasn't it?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the others revealed knowing smiles. In truth, the reason they were chatting so much with Shen Wan'er was that they wanted to know Gu Yan's attitude. After all, while others might not know, these industry insiders had heard some inside information.
For instance, the once-prominent Leng Family of Jianghai City, which used to be on par with the Gu family... seemed to have received financial support from the Gu Family Group.
If Gu Yan still liked Shen Wan'er, they would naturally be willing to befriend her. Everyone knew that Gu Yan wouldn't let down any business that cooperated with Shen Wan'er.
Hearing this, Shen Wan'er's expression became somewhat unnatural. She could naturally hear, and also see, the change in these people's expressions.
She felt a bit resentful in her heart. In the end, were these people all considering Gu Yan's face?
Oh no, they were considering the Gu family's reputation.
She forced a smile, "We're in contact. I even visited his home not long ago."
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and smiled again.
The atmosphere seemed harmonious.
Meanwhile, Xiao Lin was feeling a bit depressed as he watched Shen Wan'er surrounded by people. He glumly took a sip of his drink.
I really seem to have become just a bodyguard, and seeing Wan'er surrounded by so many men makes me feel really upset.
As he was drinking, a shrill, harsh voice suddenly rang out near Xiao Lin's ear.
"Ahhh!! You bitch! Look what you've done!! You've ruined my dress!"
"How are you going to compensate me!"
"Why is just anyone allowed into this banquet hall?"
"Security?! Where's the security!!"
Everyone's attention was drawn by this sudden commotion.
Shen Wan'er also looked in the direction of the voice.
And with one glance, her pupils constricted.
She almost cried out - How could it be her?
Only to see Leng Ling'er holding a silver platter.
In front of her stood a woman wearing an expensive red gown, except now her custom-made dress was stained with cake.
The cake had slid from her dress onto the floor, turning the once beautiful gown into a mess.
Seeing the woman's screams, Leng Ling'er immediately pointed at the woman next to her whose expression had changed, and said, "Pah! Don't slander me, it was clearly your companion who pushed me just now."
She had been getting cake earlier, and as she turned around, someone suddenly bumped into her, causing the cake to spill on the dress of the woman in front of her.
People around them all looked over, expressions of amusement on their faces.
"Hey, I hadn't noticed before, but how did someone wearing such strange clothes get into this high-class banquet hall?"
"Could they have snuck in?"
"Tsk tsk, you're underestimating the hotel's security measures. Not even a fly could get in without an invitation."
Just as everyone was speculating about who Leng Ling'er might be, another panicked voice came over:
"Wait! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
Leng Xing'an had been discussing cooperation with other business executives when he suddenly realized his young niece seemed to be in trouble.
And the person she had offended turned out to be Xie Zhilan, the daughter of the Xie family.
It's worth noting that the Xie family was a first-tier family in Jianghai City and an important partner of the Yan Xing Group.
This was terrible.
Leng Xing'an hurriedly ran to Leng Ling'er's side and kept apologizing to Xie Zhilan: "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, my niece doesn't know any better!"
"I apologize on behalf of my niece."
Leng Xing'an was sweating profusely. His eldest niece had instructed him to keep a low profile and not use Gu Yan's name.
The banquet was full of people the Leng family couldn't afford to offend, and they shouldn't cause trouble for Gu Yan.
So when in doubt, just apologize and be done with it.
Seeing Leng Xing'an's appearance, everyone finally realized:
"Oh my! Leng Xing'an! The Leng family?"
"Heavens, the Leng family is here too!"
"That blonde girl must be the second young miss of the Leng family, Leng Ling'er, right?"
"Unbelievable, truly unbelievable. The once-mighty Leng Family, once on par with the Gu family, has fallen so low. I remember when the Xie family was still a third-tier family, we received help from the Leng Family."
Leng Xing'an listened to the voices around him, feeling quite uncomfortable, but there was nothing he could do. Currently, the Leng Family had indeed visibly declined.
Leng Ling'er, seeing her uncle so humbled, felt very displeased. She glared at Xie Zhilan, "Why should we apologize? This is clearly the fault of that woman next to you! If anyone should apologize, it's her!"
Xie Zhilan felt her anger rising upon hearing this.
Her usual tactics, which had never failed before, seemed ineffective against this girl? Usually, people would be terrified at the mere sight of such a display.
She immediately scolded, "You bitch, coming to this party dressed like that is your mistake to begin with!"
"And now you're still trying to argue! Security! Get her out of here!"
As soon as she finished speaking, several of the Xie family's bodyguards approached, reaching out towards Leng Ling'er, "Miss, please come with us and leave."
In a corner of the party venue,
Two figures dressed in black stood there, a layer of black mist enveloping them.
The two seemed to blend into the night itself, with everyone mysteriously avoiding and distancing themselves from this area automatically.
Mei Xue, watching the scene at the party, hesitantly said to the black-clad person wearing a black veil hat beside her, "Master... should I go..."
"No need," Leng Qingqiu said calmly.
She seemed truly unconcerned about what might happen to her sister.
But in reality, she had already clenched her fists tightly.
Her open eyes were filled with killing intent, the mysterious runes slowly rotating.
Although she couldn't see the scene, through the power in her eyes, she could see the life essence of everyone present.
Ling'er... don't worry. After tonight, Xie Zhilan will surely die.
Mei Xue nodded, simultaneously sending out a message to all members of the Night Organization present to hold their positions.
On Leng Ling'er's side,
"Miss Xie, we were invited here by the Yan Xing Group, you can't do this."
Seeing Leng Ling'er being grabbed by the shoulders by the Xie family's bodyguards about to be taken out, Leng Xing'an hurriedly called out.
Xie Zhilan sneered, "Given your current status, you're certainly not qualified to be here. Perhaps the Yan Xing Group sent out an extra invitation by mistake?"
Indeed, Xie Zhilan simply despised the Leng Family, or more accurately... she despised Leng Qingqiu, the former "goddess" of the Leng Family.
When she was young, she was always told by her family that she wasn't as good as Leng Qingqiu, you're not as pretty as Leng Qingqiu, you're not as talented as Leng Qingqiu.
Leng Qingqiu was better than you at everything...
"Let go of me! You dare to let go of me! I'll tell my sister..."
Leng Ling'er struggled, about to invoke her [brother-in-law]'s name.
But she suddenly remembered Leng Xing'an's previous advice to her.
He had told her not to use Gu Yan's name, or else people would look down on her.
At that moment, Leng Ling'er's eyes dimmed, and she stopped herself from saying what she was about to say.
Xie Zhilan, however, seemed to be triggered by some key words.
Her face became distorted, and she immediately walked up to Leng Ling'er.
With a fake smile, she asked, "Your sister? Leng Qingqiu? Oh right, speaking of which, why didn't your sister come? Hey, hey, your little sister is being bullied by me~~"
She shouted around a bit, then mockingly said to Leng Ling'er, "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot your sister is blind now."
At this point, her years of resentment could no longer be contained, and she shouted angrily at Leng Ling'er, "She's blind now! Her eyes are blind, understand?!"
"Your Leng Family is nothing but an empty shell now! Why didn't they kill Leng Qingqiu back then too?!"
Xie Zhilan shouted with abandon, not noticing the increasingly eerie atmosphere in the banquet hall.
Instead, she continued to mock and ridicule Leng Ling'er in front of her.
Leng Ling'er bit her lip hard, trying not to cry as she recalled the events of the past.
She was about to cry, but her eyes were full of defiance, "Shut up, you bitch! Shut up!"
Leng Ling'er tried to break free from the bodyguards holding her, wanting to slap Xie Zhilan hard across the face.
Leng Xing'an couldn't stand it anymore. He rushed forward with his fist raised, "Don't go too far!!!"
However, he was immediately intercepted by Xie Zhilan's bodyguards and pinned to the ground.
"Damn it!"
Leng Xing'an could only curse his own powerlessness. He was supposed to be the elder of his two nieces, yet he was so useless.
Xie Zhilan gave a cold laugh, then looked at Leng Ling'er, "Don't look at me with those eyes! You bitch!"
"Oh right, let me teach you a lesson."
Xie Zhilan raised her hand, "It will hurt a lot if I hit your face. Or maybe I should make you like your sister, blind and cooped up at home for the rest of your life."
In the banquet hall,
Bai Qionglan, whose face had been expressionless until now, seemed to notice something.
Her eyes shook, "Sister Ling'er..."
Bai Qionglan instinctively rushed towards Leng Ling'er.
Bai Jun, who had been chatting, was suddenly stunned, "Hey!"
He chased after her.
On another side,
"Miss... Miss Bai Lian?"
"What's wrong with you?"
Bai Lian, who had been smiling and surrounded by people until now, was staring intently at Xie Zhilan, "Hey, blockhead, I advise you to stop me, or I'm afraid I won't be able to resist going over there and killing that bitch."
The bodyguard beside her was silent for a moment. The muscles on his arm slowly bulged as he said in a deep voice, "You stay here. I'll go over and kill her. It'll be over quickly."
Among the bodyguards brought by some of the big families, several people revealing killing intent slowly walked towards Xie Zhilan's direction.
"Watch out for the food cart... watch out for the food cart..."
Some waiters pushed food carts towards Xie Zhilan's direction.
On Mei Xue's side, her eyes were also filled with killing intent, "Master... please order me to go kill that woman."
"No need."
"Don't let such things sway your emotions. Don't forget the plan."
Leng Qingqiu said calmly, seemingly unconcerned about the other party insulting her.
"But..."
Mei Xue wanted to say something, but her eyes seemed to catch sight of something.
She quickly called off all the Night Organization members who were about to take action.
Some people in the banquet hall also noticed the figure quickly rushing towards Xie Zhilan's direction.
They were about to reach out and greet them, but were immediately stopped by those beside them.
On Xie Zhilan's side, she raised her hand, about to slap Leng Ling'er's face hard under her defiant and angry gaze.
However,
Just as she was about to slap Leng Ling'er's face,
A voice filled with killing intent sounded from behind Xie Zhilan.
"Hey..."
"What were you just saying?"
Xie Zhilan was stunned. She instinctively turned her head.
However, before she could clearly see who was speaking,
Slap!!
Whoosh!!
"Ahhhh!!"
She felt her hair being grabbed forcefully, as if the force was about to tear her scalp off.
Then, Crash!!
"Ahhhh!!"
She was lifted by that person and smashed onto the buffet table full of food, and used like a hammer tool.
Bang bang bang bang bang bang!!
From the head of the table all the way to the end.
The entire table was covered with smashed food, unidentifiable blood stains, and tears and snot.
When they reached the end, that person lifted Xie Zhilan up by her hair.
Gu Yan's eyes were devoid of emotion, his tone cold and gloomy, "What were you saying just now?"
"Ugh... ah... ah..."
Xie Zhilan's face was distorted, her teeth broken, her eyes swollen shut. She could only involuntarily let out screams of pain.
Gu Yan nodded, "Oh."
Then he pressed her head down and smashed it hard onto the ground.
Bang!!
A pink light appeared in his palm, Crack!!
The marble floor of the banquet hall was instantly shattered into a huge spider web-like crack.
Xie Zhilan's head was embedded in it, her body motionless.
For a moment,
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.