Even if this was purely thanks to the ringleader, Wang Zhan.

But happiness is really that simple.

Suddenly, Boss Chen helplessly smacked his head, still somewhat confused. When exactly did he start to spiral? Indeed, Wang Zhan really is a devil who understands the human heart.

Luckily, Wang Zhan no longer teased Boss Chen but turned his attention to Ku Zhu, who was reporting back.

Ku Zhu reported respectfully, "Young Master, I have accomplished the mission. I've brought Snakehead here, but he seems somewhat discontented with our transaction."

Wang Zhan understood but remained unfazed. He just looked at Snakehead—who was visibly astounded that Wang Zhan could command a Martial King—and offered a harmless smile.

"He is, after all, a big shot accustomed to being above others. Difficulties? They'll disappear as we resolve them. Come, Uncle, feed our friend a fake medicine. After he takes it, we can discuss this further."

Then, when Wang Zhan actually produced a fake medicine from his person, Snakehead immediately began to struggle intensely again.

"Let me go! Let me go!! Damn it! Who the hell is your friend? Kid, do you even know who I am? I'm telling you, you better let me go! Persist in this delusion, and you're courting death..."

However, Ku Zhu's palm, as firm as a steel rod, kept him pinned, offering no chance of escape. Even his internal Essence Energy and mental energy were completely suppressed by Ku Zhu at that moment. Snakehead knew that as long as Ku Zhu controlled him, he would remain a Grandmaster with no more strength than an ordinary person.

As for Wang Zhan, he let out a dark chuckle. "Friend, resistance is hardly the best way to cooperate!"

If he weren't afraid of scaring off this man—who was infinitely worse than any madman—Wang Zhan would have loved to tell him:

So what if it's the original organization? What's there to be so proud about? Do you have a Martial Emperor backing you? You're this arrogant even without one…

But was Wang Zhan that kind of person?

So, with no ill intent whatsoever, he maintained his smile and shoved an elixir into Snakehead's mouth. Despite Snakehead's desperate gagging and coughing, Wang Zhan only released his hand when he was sure there was no chance of spitting it out.

Immediately, his expression shifted. Like a sunny sky suddenly turning overcast, he didn't spare Snakehead another glance. He just released him expressionlessly, wiped his hands, and then said to Ku Zhu, "Let him go. As hosts, we need to show some sincerity."

Ku Zhu chose to trust Wang Zhan's judgment.

So, the next moment, Snakehead broke free. Just as it looked like he was about to erupt and seize Wang Zhan, his face filled with savage arrogance, he snarled, "I'm going to kill you!"

On the other side, just as Tian Qi, Snakehead's arch-nemesis, was about to shout a warning, "Careful—"

BANG!

A hunched figure fell straight to the ground.

Wang Zhan casually stepped back a few paces, looking at the pathetic, beaten cur on the ground—the one Ku Zhu had just punched. Then, he stepped on Snakehead's agonized face. Looking down, he said expressionlessly, "Kill me? Are you even capable of that, you loser! Brother Tian Qi, you should be able to keep an eye on him, right? I have things to attend to, so I'll leave him with you for now."

In the courtyard, apart from Ku Zhu and Boss Chen, everyone stared, their eyes hardening in disbelief at the scene. What kind of elixir was that? It could control a Grandmaster, rendering him utterly powerless, like a fish on a chopping block? So much so that even an ordinary person could bully him mercilessly.

Tian Qi also watched in disbelief as Snakehead, pinned under Wang Zhan's foot, could only contort his face in silent rage, unable to speak. A sudden chill ran down his spine. This kid is reasonable when he's not provoked. But if he truly turned hostile and used that stuff on me, would I end up like Snakehead, captured without any chance to fight back?

Wang Zhan clearly saw the complex emotions and the flicker of fear in Tian Qi's eyes. But he just laughed it off, unconcerned. Everything he had done was just a small beginning. Bigger things were yet to come. So, until the main boss appeared, all these events, big or small, were merely embellishments. After all, the days when Wang Zhan had to rely on Grandmaster experts were over. The current Wang Zhan was more terrifying than most people could comprehend. And terrifying meant immense destructive power.

So, Wang Zhan squatted down slightly, looking at Snakehead's pain-filled eyes that burned with savage hatred, and said with an indifferent smile, "I advise you to maintain a respectful demeanor now that you're in my hands. Otherwise, I can't guarantee you won't encounter... other things. For instance... a few little beasts?"

There are many kinds of beasts, but none are human. Seeking wealth or pleasure has its ways. But beasts are inhumane.

At this, Snakehead's pupils suddenly constricted. He grimaced, glaring at the face before him—seemingly bright and sunny, but in reality, incomparably dark. A hint of evasion flickered in his eyes. No matter what Wang Zhan meant, it was meaningless to the current Snakehead. The intense pain racking his body made speech impossible; all his focus was a vortex of hatred centered on Wang Zhan.

What in the world is this stuff? Why is my Essence Energy completely dormant... Kid, you've got guts! Don't let me find an opportunity... or I'll haunt you even as a ghost!

Before arriving here, he had been an imposing figure in the martial world. But who could have known? In a mere moment, the kid, who hadn't acted, struck like lightning, utterly severing any chance Snakehead had for retaliation. Even his subordinates, seeing their boss in such a state, dared not advance to rescue him for a time. They could only retreat to seek reinforcements.

Wang Zhan's methods were simply too domineering, too bizarre. First, he had a Martial King-level expert subdue Snakehead directly, then came the poison—killing without batting an eye. Is this young man a devil? How can he smile so brightly?

However, what they didn't know was that one of their guesses about Wang Zhan was close to the truth. This was reflected as Wang Zhan watched, with profound meaning in his eyes, Tian Qi escorting Snakehead away.

Ku Zhu asked tentatively, "Are we really letting him go? A Grandmaster is a constant threat, and I suspect there's someone behind him…"

Wang Zhan chuckled, turned, and met his eyes. "Someone behind him? So what? Don't we have backing too? Isn't that right, Boss Chen?"

Boss Chen, feeling a tremor underfoot, stammered, "Yes, yes, yes! How could our young brother be afraid of a mere Grandmaster!"

Besides, Wang Zhan had a small faction within the Federation temporarily supporting him. Boss Chen, however, didn't know that Wang Zhan's concern was never about whether he was afraid or not.

Wang Zhan thought with a dark chuckle, Heh heh. The two direct witnesses who figured out my bloodline talent are already dead. Next, it's time for this mastermind to have their final clue severed. Tsk tsk, this way, who could possibly guess that I actually found one of their little hideouts!

This brought things back to those two wretches who died at the hands of a true madman, manipulated by Wang Zhan. One should know, they not only dug their own graves but ended up implicating their boss as well. Thus, up to this point, Wang Zhan had meticulously eliminated any potential loophole that could expose him.

As for what happened to this hideout of the original organization afterward—whether Snakehead's men took it over, or the original organization sent someone directly to manage it—that was no longer Wang Zhan's concern. He could pass through a field of flowers without a single petal clinging to him. By the time anyone investigated, Wang Zhan would have long since vanished from the scene. Even if countless people saw him come, no one knew his true background. In short, the risk of exposure and being traced back had been nullified. So, who could possibly know these were traces left by Wang Zhan?

However, whether to kill Snakehead or let him live, that's still a problem... Wang Zhan couldn't help but stroke his chin. If I don't kill him, there's no guaranteeing that the original organization's methods of controlling Snakehead won't become a weapon to turn him against us again!

Of course, it was fortunate that Wang Zhan was momentarily lost in his own thoughts and didn't notice Boss Chen's somewhat desperate, trembling gaze. Otherwise, with just a little more provocation, this middle-aged man—who was occasionally questioned and then ruthlessly discarded—might have just blurted out his true feelings. That would have made the scene even livelier.

Yes, yes, my ass! Kid, I barely crawled out of the despair of having to go on a suicide mission with you, and now you're pushing me back into the fire pit! Is tormenting people fun for you?!

After all, it was better if Wang Zhan ignored him. The moment Wang Zhan paid him any attention, Boss Chen immediately felt his doom was imminent. Being around Wang Zhan was like trailing a jinx.

A moment later, Wang Zhan temporarily set aside his rambling thoughts and the minor, insignificant tweaks to his plan. He once again turned his gaze to the clever young man. This young man had initially seemed to want to join him. However, as soon as Ku Zhu had escorted Snakehead to Wang Zhan's side, the youngster had immediately retreated three hundred meters, clearly indicating he didn't want to get involved in Wang Zhan's confidential matters.

Wang Zhan found it rather interesting. In this era of resurgent Spiritual Energy, being cautious and meticulous was fundamental for anyone to survive to the end and have the last laugh. Consider himself: when facing bigwigs like Wei Daoming and the others, didn't he act as meek as a lamb, the very picture of a model Federation youth?

In fact, though he had only just turned eighteen, Wang Zhan almost felt as if he were eighty.

Tsk, tsk, it really has been a long time since I've chatted with young people! I wonder how those little wolf cubs—Song Dongming, Huang Pufeng, Cheng Shu, and Deng Chaofan—who all, more or less, left their shadows on my path of growth, are doing now...

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