This is a year of disasters and misfortunes. Everyone is in a state of anxiety, not knowing what will happen tomorrow. This is a world where desires are insatiable. Everyone is desperately trying to plunder in order to fill their own appetite.
Just a few days after Yang Huting defeated Sun Yunqing and became the new Secretary-General of the Wulin Association, everyone's joy was swept away by a piece of news.
After enduring for a long time, the Skull and Bones Society and the Yan Dao Tang finally couldn't hold back and started a full-scale war. Their powerful organizations quickly started to operate and soon surfaced, and first started fighting in the underground world that the public didn't know about.
The fuse of the war between the two sides occurred in a market in Cambodia, which was usually a chaotic area with no one in charge. The whole market was divided into two camps from the center. The west was the territory of the Skull and Bones Society, and the east was controlled by the Yandao Hall. Both sides tried their best to control their tempers and avoid direct contact.
The cause of the incident was that a drug dealer from the Skull and Bones Society secretly sold drugs to the only son of the person in charge of the Yan Dao Tang in this market. When the body of the 15-year-old child was found dead in the bathroom due to drug overdose, the people of Yan Dao Tang were furious. They rushed across the center line, caught the drug dealer and beat him into a pulp.
The melee between the two sides thus began, starting with fistfights until someone resorted to knife fighting. As blood flowed, the situation became uncontrollable, and the fighting quickly escalated from knife-chopping to submachine gun fire. Within just three hours, the market was filled with corpses.
The Skull and Bones Society members who suffered a loss immediately asked for help from the Asian headquarters, and Yan Daotang was not to be outdone and asked for support from their companions around them. It was originally a small-scale fight in the market, but as both sides refused to give in, it gradually evolved into a regional riot.
The real confrontation between the two sides also started from this small market in Cambodia and gradually spread. Just like a spark that spreads across the prairie, it soon spread to every corner of the world. Wherever there is the Yan Dao Hall, there must be people from the Skull and Bones Society looking for trouble, and wherever there is the Skull and Bones Society, there must be people from the Yan Dao Hall watching covetously.
Small-scale fights and large-scale riots are happening one after another, causing headaches for governments around the world. But what is most worrying is that the superpowers secretly controlling the two organizations have also begun to take action. In order to compete for the dominance of the world, a world war may be about to begin, which will be a common disaster for all mankind.
Jinghai has always been under the control of Yandaotang. Amid the chaos in the world, it has remained peaceful for a while. But everyone knows that if the situation cannot be controlled, it is hard to say whether Jinghai will not be attacked by the Skull and Bones Society.
As the newly elected Secretary General of the Wulin Association, Yang Huting naturally had to come up with some ideas for the current situation. Leng Tie, the Director of the Special Affairs Management Bureau, even summoned outstanding talents from all walks of life to discuss countermeasures, including Zheng Yubai and many people he was familiar with.
"You probably already know the topic of today's meeting. I would like to ask you to express your views on the recent situation." Both sides of the long table were filled with people, all of whom were top figures from all walks of life in Jinghai. Everyone gathered together to ensure the peace of Jinghai.
The first speaker was Ding Rulong, who represented the Jinghai business community. In times of crisis, the supply of daily necessities is an important link in the stability of people's hearts. In order to maintain the mentality of the people, there must be sufficient food and water. With the efforts of the Jinghai business community headed by Ding Rulong, Jinghai has stockpiled a large amount of supplies, which can at least guarantee sufficient supply for a few months.
After Ding Rulong's speech, Leng Tie reported on the recent situation. Since everyone present was a high-ranking figure, there was no need to hide the facts as when reporting to ordinary people. As a result, some thrilling facts were revealed, such as in some places in Southeast Asia and Africa, the forces supported by Yan Dao Tang and the Skull and Bones Society had already started small-scale wars. The number of casualties in some countries due to civil wars was constantly increasing.
Zheng Yubai listened to their words silently, his heart filled with anger. He was not only angry at the Skull and Bones Society, but also angry at the Yandaotang for wanting to plunge the world into war for its own selfish interests.
Everyone present put forward their own views and opinions one by one, and Zhang Daosheng even analyzed the aliens under the Skull and Bones Society and Yan Dao Tang. This was the first time that information about aliens was announced in front of ordinary people. Although many people had heard about it a long time ago, they still felt it was very fresh.
“… In summary, the aliens under the Skull and Bones Society are mainly from Warner Corporation, which suffered heavy losses in the previous battles. It is said that in the recent battles in Dubai, Warner Corporation has been at a disadvantage. However, the Skull and Bones Society is very powerful, and it is inevitable that they will have other preparations, so the current situation is still unclear.” Zhang Daosheng expressed his opinion and sat down.
"Mr. Zhang, may I ask if there are any aliens in Jinghai at present? How strong are they?" The person asking the question was a senior official in the political circle. Although he was in a high position, this was his first time dealing with this matter. Obviously, he was very interested in the existence of aliens. After all, this was a huge force that could protect the city at a certain level.
"I can say responsibly that there are aliens in Jinghai, and they will defend their homeland at all costs. But the strength of the aliens in Jinghai is still very weak, and they need help." Zhang Daosheng said.
"What do you mean by help?" Hearing Zhang Daosheng's statement, the senior official showed a relieved expression on his face. The current situation is very serious, and it is a blessing for Jinghai to get the promise of the aliens.
"Jinghai has a population of tens of millions, and there must be a lot of aliens. If we can spread the news through some channels to recruit aliens, we may be able to expand our strength to the maximum extent. By then, even if the Skeleton Society attacks in full force, I think we will be able to resist." Zhang Daosheng said firmly.
The senior official pondered, hesitated for a moment and said to Leng Tie: "Director Leng, this matter is entirely up to you. Although Jinghai is the territory of Yandaotang, our ultimate goal is to protect the people here from being harmed by the fierce battle between the two sides. The aliens should play a big role, you will be responsible for recruiting them from various channels."
Leng Tie nodded: "I understand. The Special Affairs Management Bureau will take action now and try to gather all the aliens who have love for the homeland."
The meeting lasted for a long time before it ended, and Zheng Yubai did not express any opinions until the end. Perhaps he was an expert in fighting against the Skull and Bones Society, but now it involved the survival of tens of millions of people, and he did not have much experience in this area.
However, after the meeting, Leng Tie specially kept Zheng Yubai, Zhang Daosheng, and Yang Huting together. Since everyone knew each other, there was no need to be too formal, and they just discussed the upcoming world changes in Leng Tie's office.
"Mr. Yang, I'm troubled by the martial arts community. As far as I know, the Skull and Bones Society has bribed many underworld figures to infiltrate Jinghai. These underworld people are quite capable, and ordinary police can't deal with them. It all depends on you people in the martial arts community to help." Leng Tie said straight to the point.
"Don't worry, Director Leng. We in the martial arts community will do our best to prevent anyone from disturbing Jinghai." Yang Huting said. Since Yang Huting became the Secretary General of the Martial Arts Association, with the help of Yang Feiyun, the martial arts community has been well managed. This time when Jinghai is in trouble, the martial arts community will naturally not stand idly by.
"Mr. Zhang, we need to cooperate well with the Superman Association. You aliens are an important force in fighting against the Skull and Bones Society, so I'll trouble you to take care of us this time." Leng Tie turned to Zhang Daosheng and said.
Zhang Daosheng nodded slightly and said, "This is what I should do."
Leng Tie finally looked at Zheng Yubai: "Yubai, what do you think?"
Zheng Yubai scratched his head: "I need to think about it."
Leng Tie did not ask any more questions. He just discussed some details of the execution with Yang Huting and Zhang Daosheng, and then sent them away.
Zheng Yubai stayed in the office alone, waiting for Leng Tie to send Yang and Zhang back, and saw that he was still thinking.
"What are you thinking about?" Leng Tie came to Zheng Yubai's side and patted his shoulder. "Some things don't need to be overthought. I was also confused when I was young. Look, I am living a good life now."
"Uncle Leng, in fact, it's not just the Skull and Bones Society, the Yan Dao Tang is also unjust." Zheng Yubai finally expressed his opinion.
Leng Tie was slightly moved: "Do you want to..."
Zheng Yubai nodded: "Both sides are unjust, I don't want to take sides."
"But... you still have to think it over. Making enemies with the Skull and Bones Society is already a very difficult situation. If there is a conflict with Yan Dao Tang..." Leng Tie is no longer the same age as Zheng Yubai. Although he has experienced many hardships and is still as impartial as he was in his youth, he has already developed a tacit attitude towards human relationships and the changes in the world. Now seeing Zheng Yubai's blood boiling, he wants to dissuade him but doesn't know what to say.
"I have a way." Zheng Yubai said firmly, "I will try my best to resolve this war."
"What do you want to do?" Leng Tie asked worriedly.
"I want to go see Xu Heixing first." Zheng Yubai pondered for a moment and gave his answer.
Since Yipintang's Li Zongwei disappeared and the entire Yipintang fell apart, Xu Heixing has taken control of Yandaotang's underground forces throughout Asia. Although he has great power, he has not slept for more than fifteen hours in the past week. The endless events have made Xu Heixing anxious. He has never encountered such a severe situation in his life.
"Boss, take a break. You haven't slept for twenty-four hours." Wang Feng made the fifteenth cup of coffee for Xu Heixing, and then tidied up the ashtray full of cigarette butts on the table, and said worriedly.
Xu Heixing seemed not to have heard it. In front of him was a map with the topography of Cambodia marked on it. The blue marks were the current bases of Yandaotang, while the red ones were the bases of the Skull and Bones Society. The red and blue marks were interlaced on the map, forming a chaotic and complicated situation.
"Ring, ring, ring!" The life-threatening phone call rang again. Over the past week, the phone in Xu Heixing's office really became a hotline, and it was so hot that it was burning to the touch every day.
Wang Feng picked up the phone and his face lit up with joy after hearing the message.
"Boss, it's Zheng Yubai. He's waiting downstairs and wants to see you."
"oh?"
Xu Heixing raised his head, his eyes fell on the blue sky outside the French window, and after a moment he said: "Let him come up."
Ten minutes later, Zheng Yubai passed through numerous checkpoints and arrived at Xu Heixing's office.
The map in front of Xu Heixing had been put away. He sat on the sofa a little tiredly, clasped his hands, and slightly closed his eyes to rest. When he heard the footsteps of Zheng Yubai coming in, he opened his eyes and forced a smile at Zheng Yubai: "Sit down."
Zheng Yubai sat opposite Xu Heixing. Wang Feng brought him a cup of coffee and stepped aside to say, "Yubai, your boss missed you a lot during your absence. He was saying a few days ago that he hoped you could come back and continue to help him. Now is an era when heroes emerge in troubled times. As long as you are willing to come back, you will definitely be able to make a name for yourself."
Wang Feng was talking excitedly, but he didn't notice that Zheng Yubai's expression didn't change at all. Since entering the office, Zheng Yubai has been looking at Xu Heixing with a worried look. In fact, such a direct look is not very polite, but Xu Heixing didn't mind, and instead looked directly at Zheng Yubai. The eyes of the two people intertwined in the air, with emotions that only the two parties could understand.
"Are you here to persuade me?" Xu Heixing suddenly said.
Zheng Yubai smiled bitterly and said, "Boss is still so sharp. I doubt that there is anything in the world that can be hidden from you."
"I just know too well what you mean by kindness." Xu Heixing picked up the coffee cup and took a sip. "Tell me what you think."
Zheng Yubai took a breath and began to talk about his concerns about this all-out war. In fact, his opinion was nothing special, because everyone knew that once the Yandao Hall and the Skull Society fought to the point of death, it would definitely develop from the current local underground fight to a global open confrontation between countries. If it really developed to an unstoppable level, it would not be surprising even if nuclear weapons were launched to attack the other side.
If everything really develops in an unpredictable direction, it will definitely be the tragic end of mankind. Zheng Yubai spoke in a very simple way, but he knew in his heart that such ordinary people's feelings could not move Xu Heixing.
Sure enough, when Zheng Yubai finished, Xu Heixing just smiled and said, "Is this what you learned after leaving me? I have to say that you have regressed a lot."
Zheng Yubai stared at Xu Heixing and said without any fluctuation in his tone: "I just don't want innocent people to be buried with the desires of some ambitious people."
"Do you think you can stop this? I told you a long time ago that only by having power can you influence others, whether to destroy them or to save them. When you left me, you had already given up this possibility." Xu Heixing sneered.
Zheng Yubai shook his head. "Emperor Qin Shi Huang was extremely tyrannical and unified the six kingdoms, but he also had loyal warriors like Jing Ke. Our nation has never lacked people with backbone, and none of those ambitious people had a good ending. Are you planning to follow their example, boss?"
"What do you mean?" Xu Heixing's face changed and he said coldly. Wang Feng behind him also heard the hidden threat in Zheng Yubai's words, and he couldn't help but step forward and stand between Xu Heixing and Zheng Yubai.
"What I mean is that sometimes one's own passion can change the world." There was no fear in Zheng Yubai's eyes, as if he ignored the eight bodyguards in the office.
Except for Wang Feng, the other seven bodyguards also sensed something was wrong and gathered around to surround Zheng Yubai.
"Hahahaha!" Xu Heixing suddenly burst into laughter, as if he heard or saw something funny.
"Zheng Yubai, you are becoming more and more childish. Do you really think you are Jing Ke? Even if you are Jing Ke, you should know what happened to him, right?" After laughing, Xu Heixing suddenly became furious and grabbed the coffee cup on the table and threw it at Zheng Yubai's face.
When Xu Heixing grabbed the coffee cup, Zheng Yubai also moved. Wang Feng was originally in a favorable position between Zheng Yubai and Xu Heixing, but he only felt that Zheng Yubai had dodged the coffee cup and rushed in front of him.
Wang Feng was shocked and subconsciously reached for his gun, but before he could react, his waist was tightened and Zheng Yubai grabbed him and threw him behind him.
The two bodyguards chasing Zheng Yubai were about to attack when they saw Wang Feng's body being thrown towards them. They didn't want to hurt their companions, so they reached out to catch it. By the time they caught Wang Feng, Zheng Yubai had already used the force to rush forward and came to Xu Heixing's side.
"Come on!" Xu Heixing shouted loudly and jumped up from the sofa. Two gusts of wind pierced his ears and hit Zheng Yubai's temples on both sides.
Zheng Yubai stretched out his left arm and got between Xu Heixing's arms. With a flick of his left and right hand, Xu Heixing's powerful attack was easily neutralized. Before Xu Heixing could react, Zheng Yubai's right hand had already grabbed his throat.
The situation suddenly became quiet. The bodyguards who were planning to rush up to protect Xu Heixing were afraid to act rashly and just stayed where they were, watching Xu Heixing being held hostage by Zheng Yubai.
Xu Heixing's face turned pale. He never expected that he would be subdued by Zheng Yubai in just one move. This was the greatest humiliation in his life. He was so angry that he was shaking all over and could hardly control himself.
"Once people are not afraid of sacrifice, all ambitions will fail." Zheng Yubai said calmly, adding a little more strength to his hands and tightening Xu Heixing's throat. If the bodyguards around him made any unusual moves, Xu Heixing would be the first to die.
"You..." Xu Heixing said with difficulty. When he spoke, his throat rolled and he felt extremely uncomfortable. Since he founded Black Star Company fifteen years ago, he had never encountered such a situation. He almost forgot the feeling of struggling on the verge of death. Now that he was restrained by Zheng Yubai, he suddenly remembered the brothers who had worked hard with him from the slums. He had achieved a career, but those friends who grew up with him had lost their lives on the road to success.
"One general's success is the result of the sacrifice of thousands of people..." Zheng Yubai seemed to know what Xu Heixing was thinking, and summed up his feelings with a poem, "Why do you have to sacrifice so many innocent people?"
Now that he had fallen into Zheng Yubai's hands, Xu Heixing no longer had the slightest capital to be arrogant. He had no doubt that Zheng Yubai would kill him when necessary. After all, his eight bodyguards did not look like they could stop Zheng Yubai. Suddenly, Xu Heixing felt that although he had always respected Zheng Yubai, he still underestimated his strong will.
"What do you want?" Xu Heixing tried his best to remain calm. After all, he was a hero of his generation, and he quickly accepted the situation. He waved his hand and asked the bodyguards to step back to avoid losing their lives due to misunderstanding.
"It's very simple. I want a ceasefire between Yandaotang and the Skull and Bones Society." Zheng Yubai said.
"Do you know what you are saying?" Xu Heixing said as if he had heard the funniest joke. "Yan Dao Tang is not mine. Besides, even if Yan Dao Tang wants to cease fire, the Skull and Bones Society will not agree."
"Of course I have a way. I can make the Skull Society accept a ceasefire, and I can also make Yandao Hall yours." Zheng Yubai said lightly, as if he was saying that dinner in the evening was as simple and easy as scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
"Are you crazy? You must be crazy." Xu Heixing thought he had been an ambitious person since he was a child, but he didn't expect to hear such ridiculous words from Zheng Yubai's mouth.
"I'm not crazy. If necessary, I can set off for the United States tomorrow to assassinate the elders of the Skull and Bones Society. Once all their war hawks are dead, I don't think they will be obsessed with war anymore." Zheng Yubai said.
"You still don't understand. This is not someone's intention, but a redivision of the world." Xu Heixing said, "This involves many things you don't understand."
"I only know that no matter who we are, we only have one life. Even if we can get the whole world, if we lose our life, will everything have any meaning?" Zheng Yubai said.
Xu Heixing looked at Zheng Yubai in disbelief and whispered, "You've changed!"
"I have indeed changed. I was not a person who liked violence. But unfortunately, sometimes, violence is the best way to solve problems." Zheng Yubai still had no expression on his face. He seemed to be talking about someone else's affairs, not like he was about to do something earth-shaking that would change the world.
"How can I trust you? You know, the people of the Skull and Bones Society are not so easy to deal with, and I am also very interested in knowing how you can make Yandao Hall mine." Xu Heixing suddenly felt that Zheng Yubai's proposal would not cause any loss to him. If he could get the same or even higher benefits without going through war, why would he refuse? Many great eras were created by a very accidental thing, and the beginnings of many great careers originated from incredible proposals. As long as there is a 1% chance and you don't need to invest yourself, why not give it a try
As a tyrant, Xu Heixing quickly chose the direction that was most beneficial to him. This was also what Zheng Yubai had expected before he came. For the Skull and Bones Society and Yandaotang, there were only eternal interests, not eternal enemies. Once they could gain more benefits than war, who would be willing to fight to the death
"Tell me your idea." Xu Heixing said.
Zheng Yubai let go of Xu Heixing's throat, sat steadily on the sofa, and said, "Corruption is like cancer in the human body, which is difficult to cure. Even if the cancerous part is cut off, it may still metastasize. Similarly, it is not feasible to eradicate corruption by governance, but as long as one or two key figures die, the effect will be immediate, and it will also serve as a warning and deterrent to others. In order to continue life, the cancerous part must be sacrificed. Similarly, for world peace, the sacrifice of a few people is acceptable."
Xu Heixing frowned: "This doesn't seem like an idea you came up with."
Zheng Yubai nodded and said: "You are right, these words were said by a doctor named Hannibal, I just borrowed them..." (To be continued)