The Way of Restraint

“After Haoyu Film and Television is acquired, it will certainly be under you. Otherwise, we have ways to make it lose massively, leaving Hedao Group with an empty shell,” Feng Hengyi had long planned this. “I see you’ve already moved in with Liu Xiaoguo. Even Liu Guan and Liu Shi couldn’t stop it. Impressive. A son will be born soon, won’t he?”

“Of course.” The black-masked figure said. “Everything is still under my control. Su Jie is just a minor interlude…he can’t make big waves.”

“Then let’s pick a time and act directly,” Feng Hengyi said. “Don’t underestimate him…many have capsized in a ditch. If I want to act, I’ll contact you directly. I hope you’ll cooperate fully. Otherwise, you know I can just as easily sabotage your plans.”

With that, Feng Hengyi left.

But the black-masked figure didn’t leave.

He seemed to be waiting for someone.

Sure enough, shortly after Feng Hengyi left, a person appeared…none other than Q University’s student union vice president, Qin Hui.

“Boss.” Qin Hui was extremely respectful to the black-masked figure.

“You’re about to graduate. Come work for me at Hedao Group. I’ll give you a position in the newly established film and television department,” the black-masked figure said.

“Yes, boss.” Qin Hui was utterly obedient.

“You still have contact with the Zhang family?” the black-masked figure asked.

“Always. I’ve established a connection with the Zhang family. Zhang Kaitai trusts me now. Zhang Kaitai has completely fallen out with his sister Zhang Manman…and the reason is Su Jie.” Qin Hui had been working behind the scenes.

“That kid is young but stirs up trouble everywhere,” the black-masked figure said. “The Zhang family already hates Su Shilin to the bone. Now with this kid, they want him dead even more. Contact the capable members of the Zhang family. I’ll place them in the new film and television department.”

“Boss, honestly, these people are all useless and will only cause trouble. They won’t listen to you,” Qin Hui said.

“It doesn’t matter. They’re a knife. I need them to stir things up in Hedao Group. Without them, it’s hard to operate. When the time comes, I’ll eliminate them all,” the black-masked figure said. “I’ll use their recklessness to draw out the Zhang family’s power. Do you understand? Hedao Group is a giant whale. I can’t swallow it alone. I need more sharks to tear at it, weaken it, then I strike the fatal blow…and kill the other sharks too, letting them destroy each other.”

“Boss, I understand. I’ll handle it immediately,” Qin Hui said.

“Also, Su Jie still has three years before graduation. During that time, use your resources at Q University to cause him trouble, distract him, preferably frame him and get him imprisoned,” the black-masked figure said.

“That might be difficult,” Qin Hui knew Su Jie was no easy target. “He’s shrewd and knows the law. He won’t fall for tricks easily.”

“Then what use are you?” The black-masked figure was blunt.

“Boss, I’ll do my best.” Qin Hui shivered.

He feared no one but this man. Qin Hui was formidable himself…trained as an agent, strong, psychologically tough, skilled at networking, with his own company. He was a figure comparable to Zhang Jinchuan.

After all, he had become vice president of the student union at Q University…a rare achievement nationwide.

He was just slightly inferior to Zhang Jinchuan in business.

“You understand my plan. Once you enter Hedao Group, you’ll be a crucial part,” the black-masked figure said.

“Boss, I won’t let you down.” Qin Hui lowered his head.

The black-masked figure nodded and left.

Only after he was gone did Qin Hui breathe a sigh of relief and quickly leave.

*****

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

In the woods at night, mosquitoes were abundant.

Su Jie and Kang Gu were still training…killing mosquitoes with flying needles. This was their daily routine: in the daytime, they practiced needle-shooting at each other in the training room; at night, they killed mosquitoes in the woods.

Kang Gu was clearly lagging behind…after all, he hadn’t reached the Living Dead realm. His perception of minute creatures in the environment was far below that level.

The Living Dead realm’s greatest advantage wasn’t physical enhancement…it was perceptual advancement. Even in darkness, one could clearly sense all dangers and obstacles. Not even tiny mosquitoes could escape.

Divine eyes like lightning, divine intent like a heavenly net.

Under Su Jie’s guidance, Kang Gu was getting closer to this realm.

Su Jie’s needle technique was divine…he could now fire ten needles per second in different directions, each accurately killing a mosquito.

Snap!

Su Jie snapped his fingers, and a needle shot out…it embedded entirely into a tree trunk, disappearing from sight. Even Kang Gu couldn’t find it.

Kang Gu was astonished. He signed: “How did you do that? What technique is that?”

“A hidden weapon technique I just created on inspiration,” Su Jie said, slightly amazed himself. He had been considering flicking, throwing, dropping, and shaking techniques to see which was fastest, most powerful, and most unexpected.

He found that when he stuck a needle between two fingers and suddenly rubbed them together…using powerful friction and a snapping release…it combined the strengths of all techniques. Even the snap of his fingers, the air friction, carried the flavor of the “Great Yu Nine Palaces Thunder Ministry Orthodox Method.”

After analyzing his own technique, Su Jie did it again.

His body moved, his arm extended before him…like a machine wound up, every muscle, every joint, every meridian working at the same frequency.

In that instant, all power transferred to his thumb and middle finger, suddenly rubbing together.

Snap!

A snap of the fingers.

In that snap, a needle shot out…almost invisible, fast as lightning, fierce as wind and fire…embedding into a tree trunk, nearly piercing through.

Kang Gu’s eyes widened. He could see that Su Jie’s move was a death-dealing strike. He couldn’t even see how the force was generated…it seemed like a burst of air pressure propelled the needle.

It was almost like a bullet.

A flash, and the needle was in the body.

Su Jie snapped his fingers a second time, rubbing out a steel needle. He knew he had truly created a certain-kill technique.

This was achieved through deep study of Thunder Law…Daoist thunder techniques use rapid limb movements to create violent air fluctuations and sound, generating immense power and deterrence. Used to launch hidden weapons, it was invincible within ten paces.

Truly: “Ten paces kill a man, a thousand miles without a trace.”

He explained his power-generation method to Kang Gu, but after studying for a long time, Kang Gu couldn’t learn it.

“Watch closely…stick the needle, clamp it between middle finger and thumb, rub and release in an instant,” Su Jie said. “This is actually similar to a Buddhist hand seal, and Daoism has similar hand gestures.”

“Can’t learn it.” Kang Gu signed.

“That’s understandable…I haven’t taught you the Nine Palaces Great Yu Thunder Section Orthodox Method.” Su Jie realized he’d forgotten to teach Kang Gu some advanced techniques.

He had taught this method to Zhang Jinchuan and Liu Long, gaining more experience from both. Now teaching Kang Gu would likely yield even more feedback.

He now understood Odell’s thinking…why he sought talented people everywhere to teach. Because the feedback data from teaching was invaluable.

“Once I perfect this finger-snap technique, making it divine, I’ll have a ninety percent chance of taking Feng Hengyi out of the fight. Even Wen Ting wouldn’t escape a single strike.” Su Jie finally had some confidence of certain victory…his hard work had paid off.

He had his own unique trump card.

This was the Ultimate Sound.

He returned to the club’s training room, where someone was waiting…Liu Guan.

Liu Guan was chatting with Liu Long and Lin Tang. Seeing the two return from training, his face lit up: “Su Jie, I don’t know how to describe you. You actually poached Kang Gu. Haoyu Sports has suffered a huge loss…it’s like pulling the firewood from under their pot.”

“How’s the lawsuit going?” Su Jie asked.

“Haoyu has filed an appeal, but it won’t move quickly. This kind of case involves both sides presenting evidence and arguing…it’ll take two or three years to resolve,” Liu Long said confidently.

“You’ve won a round, but Wen Ting has launched a counterattack. He’s moved in with my sister. I couldn’t stop it. My father was furious.” Liu Guan’s face was bitter. “I’m completely helpless with my sister. So is my father.”

“Even honest officials can’t settle family disputes,” Su Jie said. “There’s nothing I can do about this either.”

“You can. I think if you can convince Kang Gu, you can convince my sister,” Liu Guan said. “My father said if you can persuade my sister to go abroad for further study and leave Wen Ting temporarily, he’ll give you a billion. At least give it a try.”

“This concerns our plan, so I’ll try,” Su Jie said. “One more thing…I saw in the news that your acquisition of Haoyu Film and Television is at its final step?”

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