Chapter 112: Mo Han of Qian City!

Mo Han did not even bother to glance at Feng Qiankun, nor did he care in the slightest about the hatred burning in the man’s eyes.

"Come and play a couple of games with me," Mo Han said, turning his gaze toward a nearby chessboard and walking over.

"Does Mr. Mo enjoy chess as well?" Fifth Master’s eyes lit up, and he followed.

The two men sat down, and Ba Dao stepped in to clear the board. Mo Han did not reply to Fifth Master; he simply picked up a black piece and placed it on the nine-palace grid. Fifth Master, offering no further questions, picked up a white piece and followed suit.

For the first ten minutes, the two traded moves, neither needing much time to deliberate. However, after ten minutes had passed, Fifth Master found himself struggling, unsure of how to proceed with many of his pieces. Each move now required him to ponder for tens of seconds, sometimes even over a minute.

Mo Han, by contrast, remained as composed as a stroll in a garden, not needing a single moment to hesitate. He would pick up a piece and place it down, his demeanor entirely serene and unhurried.

"It turns out Mr. Mo’s skill at chess is exceptionally high. It looks like Fifth Master is about to lose," Ba Dao remarked from the side. Although his own skill was not profound, he played with Fifth Master often enough to recognize the situation.

"I have already lost," Mo Han said calmly.

No sooner had he spoken than he picked up another piece and placed it on the board. Fifth Master suddenly realized he had nowhere left to go.

"I am impressed, truly. Mr. Mo’s chess skills are so profound that I must admit defeat," Fifth Master said with a wry smile. Given Mo Han’s youth, while he recognized his martial prowess, he had never considered Mo Han a master at the board. He had not expected to be left without a shred of defense.

"Your chess game is indeed lacking," Mo Han acknowledged with a nod.

Fifth Master smiled bitterly. He was an eight-dan master, yet he was no match for a man in his twenties. It was a testament to Mo Han’s immense talent.

"In chess, beyond meticulous thought and comprehensive strategy, one must possess the courage to take risks," Mo Han said, looking at Fifth Master. "Your thinking is sound; you have the mind of a strategist, but unfortunately, you lack the courage to take risks. Sometimes, being overly cautious is not a virtue."

Fifth Master was shaken to his core. Mo Han’s words struck deep into his soul. He had not expected that a single game would allow Mo Han to see through his strengths and weaknesses so thoroughly. Mo Han was right. He held himself in high regard, and after the Mo family had treated him unfairly, he had intended to break away and strike out on his own. He had the capability to do so, but as Mo Han pointed out, his character had a fatal flaw.

He was too cautious, which left him devoid of the courage to take risks. He knew that in many matters, one must be willing to gamble to achieve unexpected results, but he simply lacked the nerve.

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Mo!" Fifth Master bowed, completely convinced.

Mo Han turned to Ba Dao and asked, "Are you still able to understand the manual I gave you?"

"I can understand it, though there are some parts that remain unclear. But I believe I will eventually grasp them," Ba Dao replied with a nod. Seeing Ba Dao’s determination to learn on his own, Mo Han nodded. He had decided to give Ba Dao a chance because he valued his character. Ba Dao’s aptitude was not great—compared to the disciples of his past life, it was worlds apart—but he valued the man’s indomitable spirit. He was like the clumsy bird that starts early; Mo Han believed that Ba Dao’s future achievements in martial arts would not be insignificant.

"I heard you used to work for the Mo family. Do you know what their current situation is?" Mo Han asked, turning back to Fifth Master.

"They ran into some trouble a while back, but I hear they’ve managed to resolve it recently," Fifth Master said after a moment’s thought. "They have always valued the Qian City region. Once they recover their strength, they will likely return to seize control of the underground circles here."

"There is no need to wait. They have already begun their layout." Mo Han shook his head and placed a poster on the table. It featured Yun Feifei endorsing Rejuvenation Pills for a pharmaceutical factory.

"Her name is Yun Feifei. I don’t know her real name; she is a pawn cultivated by the Mo family. Find her and give her this note." Mo Han handed over a slip of paper. He felt there was a high probability she was planning something, and she needed a warning.

"Understood," Fifth Master said, tucking the note away.

"Investigate the Mo family thoroughly. I will not have them entering Qian City without my knowledge," Mo Han commanded.

"Understood. I have been monitoring their movements, but I must admit, I was not clear on Yun Feifei’s identity," Fifth Master replied.

"That just proves your intelligence-gathering system is not yet sufficient. Tell me how much money you need and what investments are required. I will meet your needs as soon as possible. I want the world’s premier intelligence agency, not a retirement home!" Mo Han said, his gaze sharp.

"Yes!" Fifth Master felt a tremor in his heart and nodded hurriedly.

"Which region’s underground circle does the Baishan Association belong to?" Mo Han shifted the topic.

"Yu Prefecture. Their leader is Huang Yulong, the king of the Yu Prefecture underground," Fifth Master replied. He paused before adding, "By the way, Huang Yulong has backers in the North, and his power is no less than the Mo family’s."

"They have their eyes on the Qian City underground too? It seems the lesson the Zuo family learned was not painful enough for them," Mo Han sneered.

"Yes, they simply don’t believe you are as strong as the rumors suggest. They haven’t taken your warnings seriously," Fifth Master said.

"Yu Prefecture, is it?" A playful glint flashed in Mo Han’s eyes. "Keep an eye on their movements and report back to me at any time."

"Understood." Fifth Master nodded heavily.

Mo Han rose and walked out.

...

"Brother Long, Feng Qiankun has been crippled. His hands and feet are broken."

At the Gele Mountain Hot Springs, a man in black stood respectfully by the pool. Inside, Huang Yulong lounged against the edge, smoking, with two women in swimsuits massaging his legs. Huang Yulong loved the hot springs and visited for an hour almost every day.

"Who did it?" Huang Yulong narrowed his eyes, a flicker of murderous intent passing through them. Feng Qiankun was a man he had cultivated himself, essentially his right-hand man.

"Mo Han of Qian City!" the man in black replied.

"Mo Han?" Huang Yulong frowned. He knew Mo Han was formidable and had warned Feng Qiankun not to provoke him. He had not expected Feng Qiankun to ignore that advice and cross paths with such a killing star.

"Send Chen Bing to Qian City to avenge Feng Qiankun. Since Mo Han struck first, there is no need to wait any longer," Huang Yulong said calmly.

Revenge was merely a pretext. Though Feng Qiankun was his assistant, this world operated on interests, not sentiment—especially in the underground circles. Since Feng Qiankun was already crippled, he had to maximize the remaining utility of the situation. As for the revenge, it was merely an outlet to be used if negotiations broke down. Of course, it was also a performance for his subordinates, to show them that he cared.

"By the way," Huang Yulong called out as the man started to leave. "Tell Chen Bing that since Feng Qiankun is already crippled, he might as well finish him off."

The man in black paused for a second, then nodded and left.

Huang Yulong lit another cigarette, muttering to himself, "Qiankun, don’t blame your brother for being heartless. You’ve been with me for so many years that you know too many secrets. If you aren't dead, I won’t be able to rest easy."