Binhai Good Health Nursing Home.
Many lonely and abandoned elderly people live here in the city.
The third floor has a relatively special area reserved for disabled seniors.
At this moment, Han Shilong, accompanied by a nursing home caretaker, strides into this area alone.
In the dreary and desolate corridor, only one room echoes with joyful laughter: "Checkmate! Old Geng, you've lost again, hahaha!"
"Oh no, Old Lei, I didn't see your 'cannon' there, let me take back my move, just one step!" another old man's voice hurriedly says.
"A man of honor doesn't retract his moves, no taking back! This round ends here, let's start again!"
Just as the room is buzzing with noise, the caretaker leads Han Shilong to the outside and knocks on the door.
The two old men playing chess inside turn to look, and the losing old man asks, "Nurse Liu, is it lunchtime?"
"No, Uncle Geng, please step out for a while, Uncle Lei has a visitor," Nurse Liu replies.
"Oh." Although the losing old man is reluctant, he leaves the chessboard, leans on his cane, and steps outside temporarily.
"Chairman Han, I'll close the door for you, feel free to talk." Nurse Liu says respectfully to Han Shilong.
Han Shilong, expressionless, waits for Nurse Liu to leave before casually looking at the old man with one arm and saying, "You seem quite at ease, hiding here to enjoy your twilight years?"
"With no one to care for my retirement, isn't life here just perfect for me?"
Facing Han Shilong, a significant figure in South City and Binhai, the one-armed old man grins: "But you, I heard you've had quite a few setbacks recently, losing even your own son and brother?"
Han Shilong's eyes narrow instantly!
It's an unwritten rule not to hit a person where it hurts, yet this old man shows no courtesy!
"I told you long ago, that undisciplined son of yours is nothing but a black sheep, a jinx! He was bound to bring disaster to you sooner or later, do you believe it now?" the one-armed old man laughs.
"Lei Tiansheng, I'm not here to listen to your nonsense! The Yan Family's Yang brothers are dead now, you must have heard?" Han Shilong asks with a gloomy expression.
"Hmm, I heard about it. Although I eat and sleep well here, as long as there's something I want to know in Binhai, nothing can escape my ears." Lei Tiansheng lights a cigarette with one hand, smokes it contentedly, and squints with a smile.
"Turns out, I underestimated that Jiang. I thought his limit was just defeating Guan Hao, but I didn't expect him to take down both Yang Yan and Yang Miao! If this kid had appeared in Binhai earlier, the dynamics would be completely different." Han Shilong finally loses his usual calmness and speaks cryptically.
"Are you scared?" Lei Tiansheng laughs heartily, blowing a thick cloud of smoke: "That's not like you."
"The first and second best in Binhai City both fell by his hand, I have to be cautious." Han Shilong says indifferently.
"First and second?" Lei Tiansheng's smile remains broad, but his tone is full of disdain!
"Aren't they?" Han Shilong raises an eyebrow.
"Do you really think that the Yang brothers, those two failures, could be considered first and second in Binhai?"
Lei Tiansheng's face has an even heavier look of contempt, even mockery: "Back then, if it weren't for your mother's moonlit appointment, I wouldn't have wasted time. Even if those two failures had cheated and ambushed me, how could they be my match?"
Han Shilong's face turns exceptionally grim once more!
Lei Tiansheng, the lifelong blemish of his mother, keeps mentioning it in front of him, provoking his bottom line!
"To me, even owning the world can't compare to one smile or a frown from your mother!"
Lei Tiansheng shows no concern for Han Shilong's expression, continuing to laugh to himself: "So, leaving that arm to Yang Yan was nothing, as long as he doesn't bother me again."
"You mean, you've always been stronger than the Yang brothers? Even stronger than them together?" Han Shilong suppresses his anger and catches the crux of his words.
"Your mother's death anniversary is approaching, isn't it?" Lei Tiansheng changes the topic, extinguishing the cigarette.
Mentioning this, his expression finally turns serious.
"Why?"
"Let that Jiang jump around for another two days. On your mother's death anniversary, I'll bring you his head." Lei Tiansheng's tone is calm, as if stating something insignificant: "Consider it the last gift for Qiu Ying, and you accept it on her behalf."
Han Shilong jolts at his words: "Are you confident?"
Lei Tiansheng smiles without responding further, leisurely lies back in his rocking chair, and closes his eyes to rest.
Han Shilong frowns, knowing that although he still has doubts, Lei Tiansheng would never boast without backing it up.
In those years when Lei dominated Binhai, the Yang brothers were not even in the picture!
For now, Han Shilong seems to have taken a reassurance pill, turning and leaving.
Perhaps on his mother's death anniversary, he might indeed have a pleasant surprise!
...
Nanzhe, Lake Heart Island, headquarters of the Demon Moon Alliance.
In Shangguan Wan'er's room.
Listening to Dong Ruyan recounting the details of the recent trip to Binhai, the usually impatient Shangguan Wan'er, who harbors a grudge against Jiang Feng, unexpectedly remains silent.
"My Lady?" Xia Qinya cautiously asks, seeing Shangguan Wan'er biting her lip in thought.
"Zhiyao, Qinya, Ruyan, Miao'er, from today on, I will retreat for training!"
Shangguan Wan'er suddenly makes a big decision, saying, "Inform Aunt Lan not to disturb me unless something extremely important occurs, and Zhiyao, tell Aunt Lan that I've decided to train in the 'Ni Chang Divine Skill,' and to find my mother to get me the first half of the secret manual."
"My Lady, you mustn't! The 'Ni Chang Divine Skill' is incomplete. Training with it poses a risk of going astray; you should wait until the Fox Master finds the second half before proceeding with the training!" Chun Zhiyao quickly advises.
"I've made up my mind! Bring me the first scroll later. I can't remain stagnant; at the least, I mustn't let him leave me too far behind!" Shangguan Wan'er's tone allows no objection, her eyes resolute.
The four beautiful female guards exchange glances, looking at each other in surprise.
They all know who Shangguan Wan'er means by "him"!
Now, their lady intends to break the norm and train in the 'Ni Chang Divine Skill' just to catch up with Jiang Feng?
If she completes the first scroll training with no adverse effects, it's fine; but if something goes wrong midway, causing her to go astray, she would be ruined!
"My Lady..."
"Go! My decision is final." Shangguan Wan'er says dismissively, staring toward the horizon outside the window: "Jiang Feng, don't get too confident! You humiliated and deceived me, but I will get this shame back from you sooner or later!"
...