Zhang Lei knew that this time, the assassin brokerage network wouldn't fall for it again, so he didn't even consider doubling the bounty. However, their reputation was damaged, and restoring it wouldn't be easy. Taking advantage of this opportunity, a new organization rose in the assassin world, and after several years of development, it could now rival the assassin brokerage network. Perhaps this organization was grateful for the opportunity Zhang Lei had given them? Or perhaps they wanted to avoid Zhang Lei, who wasn't exactly a femme fatale? In any case, this organization absolutely refused any business involving Zhang Lei.
"But that person spoke Chinese and said he knew you!" the henchman reported.
"Oh?" In this mine, everyone has to learn to speak Chinese, or they won't even be given black bread. But there aren't many outsiders who speak Chinese. "Bring him in!"
Not long after, someone was shoved and pushed in through the door. "Let go of me! Let me tell you, when I was with the boss, you kids were probably still eating shit somewhere."
"Little Tang Guo!" Zhang Lei stood up. "Hurry up and untie him! I can't believe that the hot-headed young man from back then has grown up so much. Hmm, he looks much more mature now, but why is he still so reckless?"
Zhang Lei put his arm around Tang Guo's shoulder and examined him closely. "Hmm, he's a handsome young man!"
"What handsome young man? He's almost thirty! Boss, I'm not trying to be mean, but how come you've been gone for so many years without giving us any news?" Tang Guo complained.
"Didn't I specifically send someone to help you seize the position of sect leader? You know, I've already faked my death, so it's inconvenient for me to show my face!" Zhang Lei patted his shoulder, "You're much stronger now!"
"What? Boss, don't even mention the guy you sent. He doesn't know anything, and he even betrayed you in the end. Although I wanted to take him down for you, he went straight to the government, so I didn't even have a chance to make a move!" Candy waved her hand and complained.
"Besides, without him, I wouldn't know how to contact you, boss. If you weren't so famous now, I wouldn't even know I should come here to find you!"
"You! Why didn't you send someone else? Don't you know how dangerous it was? You were almost buried alive just now, you know?" Zhang Lei patted Tang Guo's head affectionately. Although the boy was actually about the same age as Zhang Lei, Zhang Lei felt like he was a little brother. After so many years without seeing anyone from his hometown, Zhang Lei felt especially close to this little Tang Guo!
"Why weren't any sent? None of the ones sent have returned with any news. I didn't know what was going on at first, but now it seems they've probably been buried alive before they even saw you, Boss!" Tang Guo said with a hint of resentment.
"Hehe, I'm sorry, brother. There's nothing I can do. Too many people are too tactless to come here. Sometimes, people really do get buried in rows. Birds die for food, and people die for wealth!" Zhang Lei said with some emotion.
"Bang bang bang..." Suddenly, the sound of machine guns rang out outside, followed by the sounding of air raid sirens.
"What's going on?" Although Tang Guo has matured a lot over the years, this is the first time she has encountered something like this.
"It's nothing. These days, South Africa and Zimbabwe want to jointly reclaim the mines along the border. Don't even mention their price, I wouldn't give them a hundred times more. What kind of trash are they? They don't dare send anyone to fight, so they just send a few crappy planes to bomb us every day. They're courting death!" Zhang Lei put his arm around Tang Guo's shoulder. "Don't pay any attention to them. Let's talk about our own things. My houses are all made of special materials, mixed with this internal energy. Don't even mention a few small bombs. Even if they got a nuclear bomb, they might not be able to blow down the top few floors!"
Zhang Lei wasn't bragging. As the concentration of vital energy increased, the bomb's power had indeed decreased, but the material's toughness had also generally increased. If several special internal energies were solidified on it, even a heavy bunker buster would find it difficult to create a small crater.
"Mosquito, organize your forces and see which country's planes these are. Then we'll send our planes out to bomb their capital!" Zhang Lei shouted outside. "Damn it, let's see who can outbomb whom!"
"Understood, sir!" Mosquito's voice rang out from outside.
"Tell me, what's the matter that made you rush to see me? Is something really wrong at home? It's alright, I was just planning to go back to China anyway. If you're not afraid of me being ruthless, I'll help you snatch the position of sect leader!" Zhang Lei tossed the grapes he was carrying to Tang Guo. "Here, have a taste. This variety isn't available in China; it's a unique sheep's eye grape from here!"
"Don't mention that sect leader position anymore. I've already handed it over to my elder brother, and since he took over, he's been really good to me. Seeing him busy with all sorts of things every day, I can leisurely enjoy life. I feel embarrassed now, because my nephew is closer to me than to him. He wishes I were his father!" Tang Guo said with a wry smile, a smile tinged with pride. "Now I have considerable power, no responsibilities, a prestigious status, and I can enjoy life. What's wrong with that? My elder brother, on the other hand, is being worn down by worldly affairs. His health is failing, and his martial arts skills have declined. He's discussed with me several times, wanting me to take over. He's dreaming! Haha! When his son grows up, he'll trick his son into becoming the sect leader. No wonder my father was in such a hurry to hand over the position!"
"Not bad, not bad! I never would have guessed. You see through things better than I do. But your kind of big family is different from mine. I can't back down. If I do, I'll die without a burial place!"
The Tang Clan has been able to continue for so many years for a reason. The Tang Clan does have internal strife, but it rarely continues after a new sect leader is appointed. Moreover, each branch has its own power structure, and the sect leader will not easily crush his former competitors. Perhaps it is this system that has allowed the Tang Clan to stand firm.
However, this is the accumulation of thousands of years, and even if Zhang Lei wanted to learn it, he couldn't.
"But boss, I really have something to say this time. I don't think you want to stay here forever, so I've come to persuade you to go back to China!"
Episode 4: An Eye for an Eye, a Blade for a Teeth - Chapter 98: A Twisted World (Part 2)
"Oh? How so?" Nowhere is as good as home. Zhang Lei could force the people here to change their lifestyle to Chinese customs, and those who didn't would be thrown into the mines to work; he could force them to speak Chinese, and those who misspoke would be whipped; he could find chefs from China for their food. But Zhang Lei couldn't make the wind here taste Chinese; no matter what, it was always that awful, humid wind of the tropical rainforest. Therefore, upon hearing this, Zhang Lei was truly tempted.
"Boss, you've been holed up in this place all this time, so you probably don't know much about the situation in China!" Tang Guo was actually being polite. Zhang Lei wasn't very familiar with the situation in China, nor was he very knowledgeable about the international situation.
By now, you, the readers, probably have a general idea of who Zhang Lei is. Putting everything else aside, Zhang Lei is the kind of person who believes that he himself is the greatest treasure trove. He has faith in himself; he believes that as long as he is strong, everything else will naturally serve him. Therefore, he manages his dozens of mines like an impregnable fortress, and he really doesn't care much about external affairs.
“In recent years, the domestic order has been getting worse and worse. There are always hidden or newly emerging masters. Often, some people completely disregard social norms and are very fond of seeking revenge!” Tang Guo glanced at Zhang Lei, who was the most typical example of seeking revenge.
"The whole society has completely fallen into chaos, so..."
Zhang Lei interrupted him, "In chaos? I think it's because they can no longer use their power to bully others at will, because they can't be sure whether the people they're bullying have hidden powerful or insidious superpowers! Haha, how come you're making it sound so high-sounding?"
"Hehe! You're used to it, aren't you? You're right, that's exactly how it is!" Tang Guo laughed as well. "Actually, the boss's situation is also one of the reasons why the higher-ups made this decision. They've realized that their meager strength isn't enough to protect those who don't respect their power or are determined to fight them to the death. So now they're planning a martial arts tournament to select hidden masters from the common people to work for them. I think it'll be called something like 'Security Officers'!"
"Oh? You came to me just for this? Tell me about it?" Zhang Lei was genuinely interested.
“According to our informants, these sheriffs, especially the chief sheriff, wield considerable power, and there aren't many checks and balances. This is because most of the sheriffs are among the top martial artists; aside from their equals, it's difficult for anyone else to contend with them, even with weapons! They want to turn these people into their new protectors. With these people standing together, they can remain superior.” Tang Guo took a sip of the drink brought to her by a maid. “Boss, you know how to enjoy yourself!”
"Don't interrupt, just tell me!"
"Well, according to our intelligence, considering the normal range of martial artists' activities, after this martial arts tournament, China will be divided into sixty-three garrison areas. My family has also invited a few ancestors to participate, but my family is unlucky. The secondary abilities of several ancestors are not very strong. As for me, who is lucky, my skills are not very good. Hehe!"
"You mean you want me to attend this conference?" Zhang Lei's eyes narrowed.
"Of course, with the boss's strength, he could easily become the head of security in any district. It's always better for the boss to be in charge than for an outsider. Besides, I'm mainly thinking about them. I think the boss shouldn't let this opportunity pass him by!" Tang Guo thought of many reasons on the way, but when Zhang Lei looked at him, he seemed to be speechless.
Tang Guo's reasons were hollow and weak, but it was precisely these kinds of reasons that made Zhang Lei believe them. If he had given a more elaborate explanation, Zhang Lei would have doubted his intentions.
Zhang Lei has been through enough and has long lost the ability to easily trust others. His relationship with Tang Guo was actually limited to a single instance of sharing a common enemy.
However, Zhang Lei himself did have the idea of going home. Chinese people believe in returning to one's roots. Although Zhang Lei is not yet of marriageable age, he does not want to drift around like a rootless duckweed.
"Hehe! It's a pity about the foundation here!" Zhang Lei sighed. This place is not very stable. If Zhang Lei leaves and can't take care of it, it won't be long before it is divided up by those two robber countries. It is difficult for the people left behind to fight against the two countries like he did.
"Boss, I have another letter here. It's from that little girl from the Chen family. She heard I was coming and insisted that I bring it!" Tang Guo said, taking out a letter from his pocket. Although it was a bit wrinkled, you could still tell the original owner's thoughts from the exquisite details of the envelope.
"The little girl from the Chen family?" Zhang Lei's mind flashed back to the image of that little girl with tears in her eyes. "She must be a young lady by now, right?"
"It's just that she's getting older. You don't know, that girl still looks like a high school student, and her personality is just as bad. All the scions of wealthy families in Shanghai are afraid of her!"
"Brother Zhang Lei, why haven't you come to see Xiaosi for so long? Xiaosi misses you..." The letter was long and a bit incoherent in some places, but Zhang Lei seemed to see Chen Xiaosi in every word.
This letter finally became the straw that broke the camel's back: "Fine, let's go home!"
Zhang Lei stood up and rang the small bell beside him, "Assemble!"
"But before I go back, there's one more thing to do!" Zhang Lei squinted his eyes. "Give Zhang Xunjie a heads-up, tell him I'm leaving, and I'm leaving the mines here to him. But I'm taking the mine management personnel with me; he has to bring his team with him!"