Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

The leaders and elders of 14K, Sun Yee On, and Wo Shing Wo were urgently summoned for a meeting that lasted all night, with the lights on all night.

Originally, Hong Kong's triads were roughly composed of these three traditional powerhouses, plus the "Dragon Hing Gang," which has emerged in recent years with its ruthless style and rapid territorial expansion, forming a delicate situation of four-way balance of power and mutual checks and balances.

Who would have thought that overnight, the Longxing Gang would unite almost all the small and medium-sized gangs that were not top-tier but were numerous, and join the so-called "Eight Directions Alliance"!

This is no longer a four-way standoff, but has instantly become a situation of "Triads" versus "Eight-way Alliance"!

The Dragon Rising Gang may have been slightly inferior to any of the established triads, but now, with the momentum of the alliance and the gathering of the strength of many small and medium-sized forces, its overall strength and influence have increased dramatically, making it capable of directly confronting any one, or even two, of the three major triads!

The balance of power in the martial arts world suddenly tipped.

The turmoil in Hong Kong has yet to subside, and even more astonishing news is following one after another.

The following day, news from East and Southeast Asia began circulating through certain channels and within small intelligence circles:

In Japan, Chinese groups led by Qi Jiguang often operate under names such as the "East Asia United Chamber of Commerce" or the "Kansai Chinese Business Self-Defense Association," publicly declaring...

In order to cope with the increasingly complex and severe living environment, especially the oppression of certain yakuza organizations, they formally joined the "Eight Directions Alliance," seeking the support of allies, and shouted the slogan:

"Guests from all directions are all our allies; we will share the same boat and fight together against foreign aggression!"

In the border region between Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, several local armed groups or warlords, which have become quite active in recent years and are led by ethnic Chinese or people of Chinese descent, have almost simultaneously announced their joining the "Eight-Party Alliance."

It emphasizes "resource sharing, mutual support, and common development," and its slogan is "Guests from all directions are our allies; when one is in trouble, help comes from all sides!"

These forces, scattered across various regions, vary in size and nature. Some are armed groups, some are chambers of commerce, and some are local powers. However, within a short period of time, they all announced their joining the same "Eight-Party Alliance" with similar rhetoric, which had a tremendous impact.

To uninformed outside observers, including intelligence agencies from various countries, regional powers, and underworld figures, this suddenly emerging "eight-way alliance" appears mysterious and full of potential.

People were particularly interested when they discovered that among the newcomers was the "Zhou Weiguo tribe," which had risen to power in a short period of time, effectively controlled the Shangliao region, and was well-trained, well-equipped, and had become a powerful local force.

What kind of power must the initiator and core of this alliance possess to attract and integrate such cross-regional and cross-industry forces?

In a short time, the name "Eight Directions Alliance" sparked countless speculations, vigilance, and covert investigations within certain circles.

Meanwhile, the core figures of the alliance remained behind the scenes, observing the situation.

Just as the news of the establishment of the "Eight Directions Alliance" was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples, Liu Jianguo had quietly left the eye of the storm.

He was traveling in a car, accompanied by Emily, on his way to the Cavendish family's country estate in England.

The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat quiet. Looking out at the fleeting foreign scenery, Liu Jianguo suddenly asked:

"Emily, tell me more about the Cavendish family. What exactly is going on?"

Also, how did your parents... especially your father, react after they found out about Isabel?

Emily sat beside him. Upon hearing this, the relaxed expression on her face faded somewhat. She organized her thoughts and began to speak in a low voice.

As she narrated, the car drove away from the bustling city and into a picturesque rural area.

Finally, following a quiet and private tree-lined path, we slowly approached an ancient manor nestled among ancient trees and gardens, magnificent yet bearing the marks of time.

As the inquiry deepened, the manor's cast-iron, intricately carved gate came into view.

The black sedan came to a steady stop at the foot of the vine-covered steps in front of the manor house.

Before the car door was even opened from the inside, an elderly man dressed in a sharp black suit, with his hair neatly combed and a serious, old-fashioned face, stepped forward as if he had timed it perfectly, and gracefully opened the rear door.

It was Philip, the Cavendish family's longtime butler.

He bowed slightly and said in a calm, even voice:

"Welcome, Mr. Liu. Miss Emily."

Liu Jianguo stepped out of the car, his gaze sweeping over the historically significant yet somewhat aged mansion. Without any further pleasantries, he looked directly at Philip and asked:

"What about Isabel? How is she?"

Philip maintained a respectful posture, his eyelids slightly lowered, and said:

Miss Isabelle is currently resting in her bedroom. The doctor has advised her to rest.

The answer was watertight, explaining the situation without revealing any further emotions or details.

Liu Jianguo nodded, his expression showing little change. He glanced sideways at Emily, who was standing beside him and looked slightly nervous, and said to Philip:

"Okay, I understand."

Just let Emily take me up to see her.

No need for special greetings.

Philip showed no surprise or displeasure, but simply bowed slightly again and said:

"Yes, Mr. Liu. Miss Emily, please."

After speaking, he gracefully stepped aside, making way for the path, like a silent statue.

Liu Jianguo said no more, but gestured to Emily and said:

"Let's go, take me to see her."

His tone was calm, but his pace quickened involuntarily as he walked toward the heavy main gate of the house, which seemed to bear countless family stories.

Emily quickly followed, her high heels clicking crisply on the ancient stone steps, the sound carrying far through the quiet manor.

The corridor was covered with a thick, sound-absorbing carpet, and the ancient portraits hanging on the walls on both sides appeared to have deep gazes under the dim light of the wall lamps.

Emily stopped in front of an oak door carved with intricate vine patterns, gestured "please" to Liu Jianguo, and then obediently stepped aside.

Liu Jianguo grasped the cold, heavy brass doorknob and gently turned it open.

The door hinges made a very slight, well-maintained creaking sound. The view inside the room was revealed as the door gap widened.