Cheng Guangyao was silent for a while.

Then, he called Tang Shiyou from the Tang Family.

He started off with a scolding, "I want to ask the old master of the Tang Family, just how do you discipline your children? Are you trying to incite a rebellion?"

The investment promotion department where Tang Shiyou worked in Linhai was known to be a very lucrative Yamen. As the head of the department, he was free to arrange his own schedule.

He spent every day enjoying himself outside.

When questioned, he claimed to be working.

Today, he was accompanying two foreign friends on a lake tour.

The sun was not too hot, and there was a cool breeze.

Tang Shiyou, dressed in a floral shirt and wearing toad sunglasses, held a beautiful lady in his arms, living a quite comfortable life.

He was utterly confused when he received the call.

"What, you're saying Tang Tang is rebelling? Big Head Cheng, you better not be scaring me.

For years, my Tang Family has been loyal and righteous to the country and has never engaged in any misconduct.

Moreover, if anyone in my family did anything remotely illegal or undisciplined, they would have to get past our old master first, who would personally send them to jail."

"I've sent you the information, look at it yourself and see how you're going to deal with it. If you can't handle this properly, let your old master come to Linhai Residence in person to explain."

Cheng Guangyao didn't say much more.

Before hanging up, he subtly hinted, "Shiyou, we've been classmates and friends for so many years. There's something I have to tell you... As your child is growing up, you should be mindful of how you speak. The world is on the verge of becoming united; don't continue to follow the ways of a thousand years ago and act like a feudal patriarch."

Tang Shiyou was baffled.

After reading the information on his mobile phone,

he didn't feel like cruising the lake anymore.

He almost threw the beauty in his arms into the lake in fright.

His face turned pale.

Anger arose within him.

"Tang Tang, look at what you've done. Do you want to destroy the entire Tang Family?"

He dialed Tang Tang's number.

The roar of Tang Shiyou's voice made the phone's speaker buzz.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm hanging up if there's nothing else."

Tang Tang held the phone away from her face, full of disgust.

As for her father, what could she say?

In these years, he had said less than ten sentences to her in total.

Out of these, nine were scoldings.

And as for her mother, she was long resigned.

Day-to-day, she busied herself with gardening, reading scriptures, and playing the zither at home.

Not only did she not care about her husband's affairs, but she also didn't interfere much in her children's business.

She seemed to embody the sentiment of being "in the bustling world yet detached from worldly dust."

Every New Year, when Tang Tang returned home, she would accompany her mother, eat vegetarian meals for a few days, listen to her play the zither, and discuss Buddhist scriptures.

She never talked about her work or personal life because she knew that her mother didn't speak out, not because she didn't care, but because she simply had no say and couldn't manage anyone.

Talking too much would only annoy others.

Growing up in such a repressive family atmosphere, Tang Tang had learned to rely on herself and to carve out her own path and live her own life.

As for whether she owed anything to the family, that was a question she preferred not to address. She did not wish to be a sacrifice for a family arranged marriage.

Whoever wanted to make that sacrifice should do so themselves.

Therefore, given the influence of the Tang Family, the fact that she only attended East Forest Police Security Academy was surprising and a pity to many.

When she graduated, nobody helped her; she went to Dongjiang City and joined the force as a third-grade policeman.

The reason she was able to rise to the rank of police chief and later inspector was not due to her background but because she was brave and resolute. She tackled cases with a disregard for her own life.

She was promoted genuinely based on her merits.

Of course, even so, compared to those poor folks who couldn't get a promotion despite their contributions, she was still much better off.

But that was just about the only additional benefit she had.

"You, without any official request, interfered with customs and the airport, and you even inspected a congressman. Who gave you the authority to do this? And now, you're causing insubordination!

What era is it now? Aren't you worried about the repercussions? If you continue like this, you will bring down the whole Tang Family."

"You can expel me from the family genealogy; wait, I don't think I've been included in the family genealogy so never mind. Father, you just directly disown me, that's fine. Whatever happens here will have nothing to do with the Tang Family."

"You, you are driving me mad. What's so good about Zhou Ping'an? Why would you go to such lengths to protect him?"

Tang Shiyou was about to burst out with more curses, but upon hearing those calm, almost indifferent words from the other end of the phone, it was like a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

He suppressed his anger and asked in a deep voice, "What will it take for you to stop?"

"Stop what? Father, you're so old, yet why do you still act like a child? Do you think this is playing house?

Who ever committed a wrong without paying the price?

You, with the backing of the Tang Family, can act recklessly and disregard everyone's opinion.

I can too. Father, you'd better guess who is protecting whom?"

After saying that,

Tang Tang sharply hung up the phone.

She looked up at the green mountains outside the window.

The mountains were lush, the river was like silk, and the waters flowed endlessly, day and night.

"Some people have grown so arrogant that they can only see the small patch of sky in their hands, blind to the grandeur of these mountains and rivers, the vastness of the world.

Generations produce talented individuals, and some people's brilliance is enough to dazzle an era, not something every Tom, Dick, or Harry can covet or plan against."

As far as others are concerned, it's laughable that they think she is protecting Zhou Ping'an.

No one knows.

She's actually the little lady who's been well-protected.

How astonishing is the great power hidden within her junior brother's body?

Those people, with their ossified thinking, will never be able to experience it.

Without going through a baptism of blood,

No one will acknowledge that kind of power which exceeds all rules.

.........

"After changing five group leaders and removing seventy-three people, the remaining total of one thousand one hundred twenty-five are all listed and, for the moment, no problems have been found,"

Wu Shi reported with a solemn expression, running to the front, standing at attention, and saluting to report the current status of the personnel.

In front of the square.

Over a thousand people, arranged in neat formations, holding weapons, stood silently and still.

They looked quite imposing indeed.

Especially the group of thirty-something individuals from the Third Group on the far left, their energy robust and rolling, each with a scent of blood and killing aura. Individually, their eyes reflected sharpness, their presence vastly different from the others.

After all, under the empowerment of the Tiger Talisman, the battle prowess of these individuals, even the weakest among them, was comparable to those who had achieved Mastery of Sinews and Bones.

Barehanded, they could vie with a tiger.

In other words, they were akin to over thirty tigers without genetic mutations, with white foreheads and hanging eyes.

How could that not be frightening?

If the Qi-Blood and Blood Essence emanating from their bodies were enough to make one's heart palpitate,

then the awe and battle achievements the Third Group had demonstrated over the last two days were downright horrifying.

Wherever they went, they simply swept through.

Even the most elite assassination teams couldn't withstand their attacks for more than a few breaths.

One can imagine the immense deterrent power this force would have when fully unleashed within the Dongjiang Urban District.

And Zhou Ping'an, Inspector Zhou, the instigator of all this, merely stood at the front of the formation like a mountain…

Simply looking at him placed a heavy pressure on one's heart.

The Special Combat Squad, with five hundred directly under its command and a total of over six hundred and ninety from the eleven special combat groups in various districts—while not all were elites, at least they had undergone special combat training and were much stronger than the average public security and household registration police.

The disparity in physical fitness was particularly apparent.

And their proficiency with weapons, especially shooting firearms, had been honed through yearly assessments. Those who failed to pass were dismissed, so there were no team members with poor basic skills.

Zhou Ping'an knew this.

The only concern was that among these people, some were spies planted by various forces.

After careful scrutiny and bringing them under his command with the Tiger Talisman, he almost knew who was loyal and who was treacherous.

"Pass down the Gentle Water Eight Steps. Let the little junior sister personally control the progress...

As for Blood Medicine, for now, only provide the Nourishing Elixir.

There are Vigor Blood Pills available, but nothing comes without effort. They must be exchanged for points, with priority rewards given to those with excellent performance,"

Zhou Ping'an decided not to play any fair games this time.

He had made promises in advance.

As long as one completed the mission and earned points, they could receive elixirs and accelerate their cultivation.

The Third Group had not lost face this time, having completed several missions cleanly and neatly.

Whether it was escorting Mother Zhou and Zhou Lan, eliminating assassins within the city, attacking the Governing Hall, taking control of the airport and customs, or capturing involved personnel, no one performed poorly.

"Third Group, step forward."

"Present!"

"Rewards for merits."

Zhou Ping'an took out a brocade box and distributed the Blood Medicine.

Each person received a Blood Fortifying Pill; Wu Shi, Yang Zhengyu, Zhang Xilin, and other nine members who performed excellently received two elixirs each, took them immediately, and were overjoyed.

As their energy further intensified and their Muscles and Bones became stronger, Yang Zhengyu's body resonated with a humming sound of complete Muscle and Bone harmony.

Completing the eight steps,

his face turned bright red, and he hurled a punch that turned into a spear, releasing an explosive noise.

"Good, remember this feeling, concentrate the power of your Qi-Blood, Muscles and Bones, and flesh into one force. Maintain this state, and you will step into Refined Energy, qualifying as a martial master,"

Although it was the first time he unleashed the Condensed Vigor Technique under the enhancement of the Tiger Talisman,

Yang Zhengyu's performance was still commendable.

How long had he been practicing martial arts?

Even with three elixirs that could sell for fifty taels of silver in Another World, such advancement still reflected exceptional martial arts talent.

The reason why Yang Zhengyu reached this breakthrough first and Zhang Yue followed closely, while Wu Shi, Zhang Xilin, and others were slightly slower, had its reasons.

There's no need to mention Wu Shi, who was slightly older and needed to heal his internal injuries and restore his Qi-Blood, hence the delay.

But Zhang Xilin and others simply didn't spend as much time as Zhang Yue and Yang Zhengyu guarding the house at number 18, Jinguiyuan, for a long time.

Guarding a house might not seem like much, but for Zhou Ping'an, their hardship deserved recognition even if there was no merit.

Seeing these two guys loyally follow him day and night,

when Zhou Ping'an passed down the Foundation Technique, he naturally included both of them.

Proximity allows for earlier favor—this is human nature.

Now, these two were seeing the payoff.

Watching Yang Zhengyu perform the Explosive Fist Clamour, Zhang Yue also reached the breakthrough point and did the same... Zhang Xilin's eyes turned blue with envy.

Not to mention the other members of the special combat team.

They watched with unabashed envy.

Coming up was Dong Mingyue teaching the Gentle Water Eight Steps, with Zhou Ping'an occasionally stepping in to give directions.

These were his core members.

Although they couldn't be considered loyal for the time being, as time went by, it wouldn't be long before these people became an indestructible sharp blade under his command.

As for the pre-prepared Nourishing Elixir,

those were soups boiled from health-boosting medicinal ingredients readily found in modern society, like ginseng and polygonum multiflorum.

This type of medicine, which did not require the principal ingredients of Blood Medicine, could be obtained in large quantities with somewhat lesser effects, but was still beneficial.

Once they had established merits and earned points, Zhou Ping'an would naturally distribute the Precious Medicine, such as Vigor Blood Pill, Muscle Transforming Pill, Duangu Pill, and so on.

..................

After passing down the Foundation Technique, the fourth day since his return had come.

Leaving the remaining affairs of Dongjiang in the hands of Tang Tang with full authority, Zhou Ping'an, along with Roger, went to the airport.

Lan Fengjiao stood by a plane, followed by several people, waiting quietly.

The billion-dollar bounty had been a constant weight on Zhou Ping'an's mind.

Although he had extinguished the first wave of attacks from the Dark Web assassins,

if he left the bounty unchecked, it would remain a significant threat.

No one could guarantee—

there wouldn't be some foolhardy assassin who would sneak into Dongjiang to assassinate him?

Poisoning, bombing, surprise attacks.

Zhou Ping'an, even if not worried for his own safety, couldn't ensure that those around him would be completely unharmed.

Therefore, the bounty issue had to be resolved from the root.

The Sky Wolf Fund, having dared to undertake the bounty arrangement, would simply be eradicated.

...............

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.