The night lends itself to secrets unfolding, a time when sparks are most easily struck between clandestine partners, be they married couples, chance encounters at a bar, or others; the night is often dubbed the night of first times, the climax!
However, tonight was not about the climax of lovers, nor the intimate climax shared by a married couple, but a night steeped in slaughter. The Nangong family, the Ximen family, and the Tang family each maintained independent strongholds in Shanghai.
The Nangong family’s primary territory was Wuhan, the Ximen family’s was Xiamen, and the Tang family’s was Tianjin. All three primary territories were currently being encircled by darkness, and the figures within them were of extremely high caliber.
Most were at the level of Junior Grandmasters, undoubtedly the first wave of core operatives for the Black God Cult—the ‘Black God Guards.’ After nearly three years of rigorous training and cultivation, the Black God Cult’s strength had surged dramatically, encompassing not only the Black God Guards but also its novice and advanced members, including the Five Elements Death Gods and the Five Elements Death Soldiers that Long Yi had recently been training—all individuals possessing unique power.
Thus, within the underworld of Huaxia, the Black God Cult was widely recognized as a dominant force, one possessing formidable strength. This very fact explained why Shangguan Qingyun and the elders of other families were reluctant to provoke the Black God Cult. Furthermore, it was because of this dynamic that Ye Han, who held Yang Yi in extremely high regard, had developed an eagerness for a confrontation.
No rational person would choose brute force against overwhelming power; only a fool would act presumptuously and charge headlong into certain doom when clearly outmatched. Such behavior was akin to a moth flying into a flame.
“Second Brother!” Ye Xiaohou entered from the doorway, calling out.
The latter, seeing Ye Xiaohou’s strangely satisfied grin, inquired, “Fourth Brother, judging by that smile, is everything arranged?”
“Yes, all set. The Six Paths of Reincarnation have been pulled back to assist. Now it’s just a matter of whether we capture them alive or…!”
“Damn, we can’t say for sure yet. Let’s take the target location first, then we’ll decide what to do with them then.”
“What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Ye Xiaohou said, immediately moving toward the exit.
Fatty Lin merely smiled, patted the weapon strapped to his body, and sighed contentedly, “Hahahaha, tonight, I can finally have a real bloodbath!”
Meanwhile, in a high-class villa that served as the Nangong family’s station in Shanghai, Nangong San, Ximen Ling, and Tang Shen were gathered. It wasn't just them; forces from various factions were also positioned nearby.
It seemed they had received some inside intelligence suggesting the Black God Cult planned to strike them tonight. They had prepared ambushes outside for defense, but they appeared extremely anxious now. Anxiety stemmed partly from their location in Shanghai, partly from insufficient manpower, and critically, because the state had designated Fudan University a Level One virus quarantine zone just yesterday, escalating their urgency.
“Damn it, everything is targeting us now. The state locks down Fudan University, and the Black God Cult shows up at the same time. And the three families don’t have many people in Shanghai!” Ximen Ling paced back and forth, his face etched with worry.
“Brother Ximen, stop pacing; you’re making my head spin,” Tang Shen advised.
“But tell me, what are we supposed to do now? We both know the strength of the Black God Cult. Now they suddenly counterattack, choosing the moment Fudan University is in chaos—isn’t that taking advantage of our vulnerability?”
“What good is saying that to me? Why don’t you say that to the Dragon Lord of the Black God Cult?” Tang Shen clearly bristled at Ximen Ling’s words.
“But…”
Nangong San, watching the two argue, sharply commanded, “Enough! Have you argued long enough? With the enemy at the gates, we should be discussing strategy, not fighting amongst ourselves like dogs over a bone!”
“Sorry!” Ximen Ling and Tang Shen, deeply aware of the gravity of the situation, immediately apologized to each other.
“Brother Nangong, do you have any brilliant strategies?” Tang Shen asked.
“No brilliant strategy comes to mind right now. Based on the reports we just received, leaving Shanghai immediately is impossible. Our only option is to face them head-on.” Nangong San genuinely couldn’t devise a better plan, knowing that once the Black God Cult made its move, they would have laid extensive traps for them to fall into.
“It seems that’s the only way. Fudan University was clearly sealed because the state discovered something but couldn't act against us, leaving them no choice but to quarantine. And the Black God Cult strikes precisely at this critical juncture. It all comes down to a final showdown,” Tang Shen mused.
“Exactly. That’s all we have left,” Nangong San agreed after a pause. “If we can survive tonight, we can look for a chance to leave Shanghai tomorrow. Once we are back within our family territories, everything might turn around!”
“Understood!” Ximen Ling and Tang Shen nodded in agreement.
Alas, they were being far too naive. Fatty Lin had already placed his wager: Nangong San and the others would absolutely not see the dawn of day. Moreover, he knew that once daylight arrived, his own men couldn't operate with such brazen openness. Therefore, everything had to be settled tonight.
Just as earth-shattering events were about to unfold in Huaxia, it was high noon in London, England. Bright sunlight bathed the faces of passersby enjoying joyful shopping trips and happy reunions—as if none of this concerned the youth currently standing dazedly on the street.
A young man, dressed in casual attire and sporting a fedora, immediately drew attention. This ensemble was a departure from his usual style, lending him an air of unfamiliarity. This was precisely what the woman exiting the nearby mall felt.
Driven by an urgent need and unable to locate a restroom nearby, she had resorted to finding one in a larger department store. Upon leaving, the woman froze just beyond the doorway, gazing at the young man. In that moment, she seemed to faintly grasp the captivating allure of her ‘Young Master.’
Some people captivate beautiful women not because they are overly handsome, exceptionally strong, or immensely wealthy, but because they possess a certain aura. Perhaps that was the quality emanating from the young man now—subtle, yet deeply contented. When was the last time he had accompanied her on a shopping trip like this?
“As far as I recall, never?” the beauty smiled faintly, her eyes sweeping over the bustling crowd, lingering momentarily on her Young Master before she walked over.
“Young Master!”
“Ah, let’s go!” The young man was Yang Yi. Upon arriving in Britain, he hadn't immediately plunged into action. He had simply instructed Rn to inform Si Mark and Xu Ling that he had arrived in the UK but was currently unavailable to meet. Early that morning, he had taken Feng Shi out for a stroll, and they had been browsing for the entire morning.
“Young Master, are you hungry?” Feng Shi asked Yang Yi.
“Mmm, a little.”
“Shall we find something to eat then?”
“What would you like?” Yang Yi smiled gently. It had been a long time since he had simply strolled down a busy street with the woman he loved.
“How about some Italian pasta?”
“Good, Italian pasta it is!”
The two walked along, chatting and pointing things out, truly appearing like any other couple out shopping. After some time, they walked for a good half hour before locating an Italian restaurant that suited their tastes.
“Jingle!” European-style doors often feature small bells, a common decorative and functional element in Britain, Italy, the US, and across Europe. Such chimes serve to prevent unwanted surprises and announce arrivals.
Like the arrival of guests now!
“Welcome!” the server near the bar called out.
“Two plates of spaghetti, one bottle of 1976 Château Latour red wine, and a side salad!” Yang Yi recognized the traditional method of ordering from the counter setup.
It lacked the pretension of fine dining establishments and the opulent décor of high-end hotels, offering only traditional hospitality. Yet, in Britain, it was often these very elements that proved most appealing.
“…Please wait a moment!”
Yang Yi and Feng Shi observed the restaurant was full, indicating good business, which suggested the food would be excellent. After finding a table, Feng Shi couldn't help but ask, “Young Master, why did you suddenly decide to take me shopping today?”
“What? You don’t like it like this?”
“Ah, no, I just find it a bit unusual.”
“Mmm, nothing strange about it. From now on, I will take you out shopping and traveling more often, alright?” Yang Yi sighed inwardly. He realized how much he had neglected the women in his life, constantly worrying about matters that perhaps didn't require his direct intervention.
“Okay!” Feng Shi was naturally delighted to hear Yang Yi say that. Every woman longed for her man to be kinder to her. While the possibility of him accompanying her shopping daily was slim, just hearing that soft assurance made Feng Shi incredibly happy.
“Then later I’ll take you shopping. Last time we were here, it was all rushed. This time, I must buy a few nice outfits for my darling,” Yang Yi chuckled.
“Mmm!” Feng Shi was deeply touched today. However, she understood him; she knew his mind was currently occupied not just with the Eight Great Families of Huaxia, but also with how to manage the situation here. Seeing he was reluctant to discuss it, she decided not to press the issue.