Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 542 New Members Arrive in Dongdu, Figures in the Dark
As night deepens, the city's hustle and bustle gradually subsides.

A black Land Rover SUV smoothly drove into the "Cuihu Yipin" upscale apartment complex.

The greenery here is excellent, and the air is filled with a faint fragrance of flowers. It's like a completely different world from the dusty construction site we saw before.

The streetlights cast long shadows of the plane trees along the roadside, which slowly passed by the car window.

Fang Cheng gripped the steering wheel with both hands, staring at the road ahead, and intentionally slowed down.

Lin Chuqiao, standing beside him, rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the familiar scenery outside the window, a faint smile playing on her lips.

After leaving the private restaurant on Baiyun Street, the two went to see a horror movie that had just been released.

Although the plot of the film is old-fashioned, it won't scare the two people who have seen real storms.

But the atmosphere of sitting side by side in the dark made the date that night feel exceptionally perfect.

The car slowly drove along the winding tree-lined road and finally stopped in front of a brightly lit apartment building.

Fang Cheng pulled the handbrake, unlocked the central locking system, and turned to look at the beautiful woman in the passenger seat:
"You've had a tough day, spending the whole day with me at the construction site."

"If I could have a big meal and a movie every day as compensation, I would accept working hard for a few more days."

Lin Chuqiao unbuckled her seatbelt but didn't rush to get out of the car. Instead, she leaned back lazily, tilted her head, and smiled:
"However, tomorrow won't be so easy."

"The renovation at the Jinshui Fish Market is at a critical stage. The hard decoration has just started, and I really can't feel at ease if I don't keep an eye on the materials. I'm afraid I'll have to spend a whole day there."

"Don't push yourself too hard with the renovation; your health is the most important thing."

Fang Cheng looked at her slightly tired but still radiant face, and his tone softened:
"Go upstairs and get some rest, take a hot shower, and don't look at those blueprints and documents again tonight."

"Okay, boss."

Lin Chuqiao smiled and playfully scolded him before opening the car door.

Those long legs, encased in flesh-colored stockings, gracefully stepped out of the car, their high heels landing softly with a crisp sound.

She closed the car door but didn't leave immediately. Instead, she bent down slightly, placed her hands on the half-lowered window, and leaned out to look at Fang Cheng.

Just as he was about to wave goodbye, his movements suddenly stopped:

"Oops, I almost forgot."

She frowned slightly, as if she had just remembered something:
"My Maserati is still parked at the factory and I haven't driven it back yet. I'm afraid I'll have to take a taxi to the company tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng couldn't help but chuckle. Looking into her expectant eyes, he immediately understood her little scheme:
"Why take a taxi? I'll pick you up first thing tomorrow morning."

After a pause, he added:
"I'll give you a ride to the fish market since it's on my way. I'll also check on the progress. We can have breakfast together afterwards."

"You said it yourself, no sleeping in and being late!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuqiao's furrowed brows instantly relaxed, a bright and captivating smile appeared on her lips, and her eyes sparkled.
"I'm leaving now, bye-bye, goodnight."

"Good night."

Fang Cheng watched Lin Chuqiao's graceful figure walk into the building entrance until the sensor-activated glass door slowly closed before he looked away.

Shift gears and accelerate.

The Land Rover slowly turned around and drove away from the quiet, upscale residential area.

Back on the main road, the traffic thinned out considerably, and the area became much more spacious.

The skyscrapers on both sides still shimmered with neon lights, and dappled light and shadow constantly swept past the car window.

The interior of the carriage was quiet, with only the slight tire noise of the tires rolling over the road.

Fang Cheng gripped the steering wheel with one hand, his thoughts seemingly racing along with the flowing light outside the window.

"Om - hum -"

The phone on the armrest suddenly vibrated, breaking the silence.

The screen lit up at the same time, displaying the word "Professor".

Fang Cheng looked down, then pressed the answer button and turned on speakerphone.

"President, I'm sorry to disturb your rest so late."

A gentle and refined middle-aged male voice came from the other end of the phone, sounding quite polite.

"It's alright, Professor."

Fang Cheng gripped the steering wheel with both hands, his gaze calmly fixed on the road ahead:

"I'm out running errands, and I'm in the car right now, rushing home."

As he spoke, he subtly turned the steering wheel to change lanes, overtaking a slow-moving truck, and then asked:

"Has the recruitment of organization members been completed?"

"Yes, I have fulfilled my mission."

The professor's tone betrayed a hint of travel-worn fatigue, but even more so, excitement:

"I just came from the airport. This recruitment trip to another province went very smoothly."

"Thank you for your hard work, Professor."

Fang Cheng offered a word of comfort, then continued:
"Please explain the specific situation."

"Yes."

The professor cleared his throat, his tone becoming serious:

"For this first batch, I brought back a total of five new members."

“Some of them are old friends they’ve known before, some are descendants of deceased friends, and some are reliable candidates they personally recommended.”

“These people have a clean background. After investigation, their character is absolutely impeccable, and we know them inside and out.”

"Oh?"

A hint of anticipation flashed in Fang Cheng's eyes:
"Who are they? What abilities do they possess?"

The professor carefully considered his words before beginning his detailed explanation:
"Among these five people, two are rare individuals with mental abilities."

"One of them is my old friend's daughter, named Xiaoya, who has just awakened 'telekinesis'."

"Although it can only move objects weighing a few kilograms at the moment, its strength lies in its stable mental strength, its young age, and its high potential."

"With a little training, she can handle sophisticated combat or support missions. I plan to place her in the intelligence department and personally train her."

"The other one is called Lao Chen. When I fled overseas, I hitched a ride on his fishing boat. We were like brothers who had been through thick and thin together."

"His awakened ability is 'super hearing,' which not only makes him extremely sensitive, but also allows him to detect conversations up to a kilometer away. He can even emit infrasound waves for interference attacks, making him an invaluable intelligence gathering expert."

At this point, the professor paused slightly before continuing:
"In addition, there are three combat-type personnel."

"One of them has awakened 'visual enhancement' and possesses dynamic vision lock and farsightedness. He is a natural sharpshooter and can be put in charge of either the operations department or the intelligence department."

"The remaining two are both body enhancement types. One is a strength type, with thick skin and a tough build, and the other is a speed type, with agile movements and a talent for surprise attacks."

"These two individuals have extensive practical experience and are exactly the kind of force that the Operations Department urgently needs to tackle tough challenges."

Fang Cheng listened to the report and nodded in satisfaction.

The Illuminati is currently in dire need of manpower, and the addition of this new force is undoubtedly a timely help.

"well-done."

He pondered for a moment and quickly made arrangements:

"Bring these people to the Jinshui Fish Base to see me at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Find them a star-rated hotel to stay in tonight so they can get a good night's rest. All expenses will be charged to the organization's account."

"No need to bother."

The professor on the other end of the phone chuckled, his tone sincere:
"I have this little bit of money myself, consider it my contribution to the organization..."

"No."

Fang Cheng interrupted him directly, his tone gentle yet carrying an air of authority:
"Public matters are public matters, and private matters are private matters. If an organization wants to go far, rules must be established first."

"If we have to pay for even basic logistical expenses ourselves, then what's the difference between us and a makeshift gang?"

"This is a matter of principle, and it is also related to the foundation upon which the Illuminati can grow and thrive."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by the professor's respectful voice:
"I understand. Your insight is brilliant, Chairman. I was narrow-minded. I will do as you instruct."

"Well, see you tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, Fang Cheng tossed his phone onto the passenger seat, a slight smile playing on his lips.

With these new recruits, along with the original nine core members, the framework of the Illuminati was initially established.

and……

Fang Cheng looked at the flashing red light at the intersection, slowly stepped on the brake, and stopped to wait.

Now that the new members recruited by the professor have arrived in Dongdu, they can solve the current shortage of manpower.

Monkey and Hammer have been keeping watch over Old Factory Street for four or five days now.

Even if a superhuman has more energy than an ordinary person, they cannot withstand such a high-intensity monitoring task for several days.

Even the strongest people need to take turns resting.

Fang Cheng secretly made his own plans.

Tomorrow, let the new members familiarize themselves with the situation here. The day after tomorrow, we'll arrange for Old Chen with "super hearing" and the sharpshooter with "visual enhancement" to replace them.

In Wanghu Town, there has also been a persistent shortage of personnel to monitor and protect the area.

We can send those two physically enhanced guys over to keep things in order, and have my uncle lead them.

As for that little girl with the potential for telekinesis...

Fang Cheng thought of Lin Chuqiao, who was also extremely busy.

Perfect, we can send her to follow Lin Chuqiao.

He can act as a bodyguard, or he can run errands like a dashing young man, helping to handle the complicated affairs of the base's establishment.

In this way, the manpower at hand is put to good use.

However, before he could even catch his breath, his phone screen, which had just gone dark, lit up again. The number displayed was, surprisingly, Monkey.

Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow and quickly answered the call.

"President!"

The monkey's voice was very low, but its pace was more rapid than ever before:

"That man is here again!"

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed instantly, and he asked in a deep voice:

"Just arrived? Are you sure it's the same person from earlier in the day?"

"Confirmed, President."

The monkey answered crisply and decisively:
"He was dressed exactly the same as this afternoon. Just now, Da Chui and I saw him sneaking into the tenement building."

"Because of your orders, we dared not act rashly and reported to you immediately, requesting instructions."

Fang Cheng frowned deeply, then asked another question:
"Did he come alone?"

"Yes, no other suspicious persons were found following us."

The monkey spoke with great certainty.

What on earth does this guy want to do?
Fang Cheng's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Since the other party returned at this time and went straight to his residence, he obviously had a clear purpose.

"Keep a close eye on him, don't let him get away."

Fang Cheng pondered for a moment, then immediately issued the order:

"I'm on my way!"

"Yes!"

After hanging up the phone, Fang Cheng put his phone back in his bag, looked up, and stared at the intersection ahead.

The red light countdown numbers looked particularly glaring in the night.

Three, two, one.

The moment the green light turned on, Fang Cheng immediately released the brake and pressed the accelerator hard.

The engine emitted a deep, powerful roar.

The Land Rover lifted its front end slightly, accelerated instantly, passed through the intersection, and sped off towards the old factory street.

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

It was late at night, but the old factory street was still awake.

The barbecue stalls along the street were still emitting smoke, and the aroma of cumin and pepper wafted on the wind.

Several drunkards staggered against the wall, vomiting and mumbling incoherent curses.

A black Land Rover SUV quietly drove into the narrow street, its massive body almost brushing past the illegally constructed shacks on the side of the road.

Finally, it came to a steady stop in an empty space a few dozen meters away from the tenement building.

Fang Cheng pushed open the car door and got out, then closed the door behind him.

There was no sound of the lock clicking shut.

His movements were very light, as if he deliberately didn't want to disturb anyone.

Looking up at the few floors with lights on, Fang Cheng pressed the miniature communicator hanging on his ear, and asked in a low voice as he quickly went upstairs:
"Still inside?"

"Still."

The monkey's voice immediately came:
"The target hasn't come out."

"You and Big Hammer guard the stairwell exit, don't let anyone escape."

"clear."

After cutting off the communication, Fang Cheng's figure flashed and disappeared into the darkness of the corridor.

His steps were light and swift, landing on the cement steps like cotton wool, making almost no sound.

In the blink of an eye, we arrived at the ninth floor.

The light bulbs in the corridor had long been broken, and the surroundings were pitch black, filled with a musty smell and cooking fumes.

Only a few houses had faint lights shining through the cracks in their doors, barely outlining the passageway piled with clutter.

Fang Cheng's eyes shone brightly, like a leopard hunting in the night, as he suddenly scanned the area.

Apart from the discarded old furniture and cardboard boxes, there was no one in the corridor, nor any sign of an ambush.

and so……

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through the darkness and landing on one of the house numbers—908.

That's my home.

Fang Cheng slowed his breathing, his muscles subtly tensing, and he approached silently, step by step.

As I passed by the door of room 906, I heard my neighbor Aunt He's loud voice coming from inside:
"Xiu-mei, did you forget to turn off the tap again after your shower? It's such a waste of water to keep running!"

"Oh dear, I forgot! I'll go turn it off right away!"

Zhou Xiumei's slightly confused voice followed immediately.

Listening to this familiar yet trivial conversation, Fang Cheng remained expressionless, but his eyes grew increasingly cold.

His fist clenched, and a slight cracking sound came from between his knuckles.

He quickened his pace slightly as he passed Room 906.

Finally, it stopped in front of its own house.

With his extraordinary sensory perception, Fang Cheng keenly noticed something unusual.

On the cement floor below the doorknob, there was a dark red stain that was not completely dry.

Blood?

Fang Cheng's pupils contracted slightly.

He took a deep breath, then turned to the side and gently pressed his ear against the cold security door.

Invisible ripples spread outwards, penetrating the thick door panels and probing into the darkness.

The noise from the surrounding neighbors was filtered out, leaving only the sounds coming from inside this house.

A faint, yet somewhat rapid and disordered breathing sound was clearly caught and entered his eardrums.

The person is inside.

And it seems he was injured?

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered slightly, his mind racing, and he quickly made a decision.

He slowly took the key out of his pocket, gripped the doorknob, and deliberately made a crisp metallic clanging sound.

"Click."

The door lock clicked softly, and the bolt retracted.

Fang Cheng pushed the door open and entered, then gently closed it without pressing the light switch on the wall.

The room was pitch black, with the curtains drawn tightly, allowing only sparse light to filter in through the gaps.

But for Fang Cheng, this level of darkness did not affect his vision at all.

He glanced at it only once and quickly spotted the corner of the living room.

In the shadows beside the wardrobe, a human-shaped silhouette was curled up.

Fang Cheng pretended not to notice anything, casually took a few steps in the living room, and muttered something under his breath:
"Why is there a power outage?"

As he spoke, he groped his way to the table and picked up the teapot:
"Oh, I'm so thirsty, I need to have some water."

The moment the fingers touched the teacup, the person hidden in the shadows seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and their breathing paused slightly.

It's now!

The languid look in Fang Cheng's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a suffocating killing intent.

"boom!"

The red pine floorboards under my feet suddenly cracked.

Fang Cheng shot out like a cannonball, creating a shrill sonic boom as he instantly covered a distance of three meters.

too fast!
The person in the shadows had no time to react; all they felt was darkness before a terrifying force struck.

"Well!"

Fang Cheng's right hand gripped the other's throat like an iron clamp, and with the momentum of the charge, he pulled upwards sharply.

"Boom!"

With a muffled thud, the man was lifted up and slammed against the wall, causing the plaster to crumble and fall.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Cheng raised his knee sharply and pressed it against the opponent's lower abdomen, instantly neutralizing all of the opponent's ability to resist.

"Cough...cough cough!"

The man let out a painful groan, his body instinctively trying to struggle.

However, he found that under the suppression of absolute power, he could hardly even move a finger.

"Fang... Fang Cheng... it's me..."

A hoarse voice squeezed out with difficulty from between his fingers.

Fang Cheng frowned. Why did that voice sound so familiar?

(End of this chapter)