A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Chapter 92 Marketplace

Few people knew about the changes in the council, but everyone in Singapore and Malaysia knew that a big news story broke on the evening of August 25th.

However, quite some time has passed since then.

Singapore and Malaysia, a small country isolated at sea, have always had somewhat inconsistent governance policies. It seems to have suddenly begun to learn from China, which is just across the sea, and has adopted an extremely severe approach to cracking down on lawbreakers, just like autumn winds sweeping away fallen leaves.

In Liu Yaozu's duck blood vermicelli shop, the television set had been broadcasting news programs three times a day for several days in a row, all related to the Tao Zhu Group.

During those few days, whenever he had a spare moment, he would hear guests talking about this. Some said the weather was about to change, and others described the terrible scene in the building that day, as if they had witnessed it with their own eyes.

Some people think it's a good thing, just short of saying that the Tao Zhu group has finally gotten its comeuppance.

When Liu Yaozu heard them talking about this, he was sometimes excited and sometimes felt a pang of sympathy.

However, this matter is quite far removed from their own lives. Whether Tao Zhu Group still exists or not seems to have little impact on them.

What has recently made Liu Yaozu feel particularly comfortable and surprised is something else.

These days, it seems like you can't see any of those thugs on their street anymore.

Those scoundrels, after they got a new boss a while ago, I don't know what got into them, actually came to their store saying they wanted to help and take on some kind of security responsibility.

Although he mostly slacked off by sitting outside on a stool, Liu Yaozu was always on edge whenever he made a move.

I'm afraid that person might be trying to steal money, or maybe they're going to throw a dead rat into the duck blood and vermicelli soup.

Now that they've left, it's finally quiet.

In the evening, after dinner time, when the shop became quiet, Liu Yaozu brought out a reclining chair, took a palm-leaf fan, and sat down at the shop entrance to cool off.

As I get older, I don't sleep much to begin with, and the weather is so hot. If I don't go outside to cool off, I won't be able to fall asleep at night, tossing and turning.

Actually, they already had an air conditioner at home, but Liu Yaozu couldn't remember where he had seen it before. He said that the air blown out by the air conditioner was not natural wind and that it was easy to get sick.

When it gets really hot at night, he only turns on the electric fan.

There's a sidewalk in front of the shop, and further on is a green belt, beyond which lies a main road.

The light from the streetlights and the lights from the shops along the street mingled together, creating a bright and cheerful atmosphere.

After sitting for a while, Liu Yaozu pulled up a recliner and moved closer to his old friend who was playing chess.

The group of people played chess and chatted casually.

"Eat your horse."

Old Wang captured a chess piece and said with a chuckle, "Speaking of which, I saw Old Ma's second son the other day."

With a frown etched on his face after his piece was captured, he casually asked, "Which old horse?"

Old Wang was only wearing a white tank top. He pointed to his hand, then to his face, and then made a crooked mouth gesture.

Several old friends recognized him and said, "Oh, that's Ma Lao Er with all those colorful stickers on his hands and face."

Liu Yaozu recalled several times before when Ma Lao Er had come to his shop to collect protection money. He said the Ma Lao Er had been relatively polite, at least he hadn't stabbed his counter with a knife. So he asked, "What happened to him? Was he beaten up?"

"no."

"Did someone get hit?"

"No, not exactly."

Old Wang waved his hand and said, "I saw him working as a lifeguard at the beach. Oh my, his hands and face were all washed clean, and he only had a layer of stubble on his head. If it weren't for his crooked mouth, I almost wouldn't have recognized him."

Liu Yaozu asked in surprise, "By the way, the Ma family are all good swimmers, but being a lifeguard isn't easy. What connections did he find?"

Old Wang recalled, "They said it was some kind of company that arranged employment for everyone, all kinds of jobs. Haven't you noticed that those street thugs haven't been hanging around the streets lately?"

"Is there really such a good thing?"

The people around him became curious and asked Lao Wang to say more, but Lao Wang didn't know much either, so he shook his head and continued playing chess.

Liu Yaozu muttered to himself, "Such a good thing happens in a triad?"

"The Divine Land Brotherhood Society isn't involved in organized crime."

A young voice chimed in from the side.

Liu Yaozu turned around and looked over.

That's a barbecue restaurant over there, it gets more lively as the night goes on, and there are still several tables occupied right now.

There were only two people sitting at the table where we were talking just now.

He was older, with wrinkles around his eyes and a rather stern expression. He didn't seem like an easy person to get along with; he was probably the kind of junior manager who would cut his subordinates' wages and force them to work overtime.

The younger one, who looked like a college student, was very friendly and good-looking. His smile was especially refined.

Liu Yaozu was not a talkative person, but seeing that he was young, he wanted to say a few words of advice, so he said, "Changing the name doesn't make any difference. You'll still have to collect protection money."

The young man, however, took him seriously, frowning as he said, "I heard that the Divine Land Brotherhood Society has already stopped collecting protection money and is even preparing to set up a pension fund for the money you've paid over the years. Has no one informed you?"

Liu Yaozu was taken aback for a moment, then waved his palm-leaf fan: "A new trick to deceive people. If you're so capable, then come back this September and don't ask us for money again."

The young man laughed: "That's true, take it slow."

He raised the small amount of beer in his glass, offered a distant toast, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Kong Qingyun across from him also put down his chopsticks.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the two took a walk along the roadside.

Guan Luoyang said, "The people you recommended to me are really capable. They've quickly put those idle guys to useful positions."

Kong Qingyun calmly said, "The current situation in Singapore and Malaysia can already provide many jobs. It's just that those old cancerous tumors have skewed the whole direction."

"I can assure you that even though your Shenzhou Brotherhood Society has planned so many reforms that seem like they will lose money since it recently took over Tao Zhu's assets, it will still be able to make a profit when the year-end settlement comes."

Guan Luoyang laughed and said, "No merchant is honest, right? I believe those business geniuses you recommended to me won't let the Divine Land Brotherhood Society lose money."

"But I have to say something upfront. I don't want the people you push onto me to be the kind of unscrupulous businessmen who prey on people without spitting out the bones within the so-called legal scope."

Kong Qingyun nodded: "These people all have some difficult pasts, and I assure you they won't go too far. However, the essence of business is ultimately about taking advantage of others; at best, they can only achieve a superficial win-win situation. You can't even tolerate that, can you?"

Guan Luoyang strolled along the roadside, stretched, and said contentedly, "I'm not such a nitpicky person."

The mere port of Singapore and Malaysia may seem small in terms of area, but once you're inside, you realize how vast this city, capable of housing millions of people, truly is.

Guan Luoyang never believed that he could create any utopian world, not even a small place like this. He could only do what he was good at.

However, some malignant tumors are so obvious that you don't need to look for them to know where they are growing.

"Speaking of which, have the Shu family, Longxiang, and Chaotianhui remained silent recently?"

Guan Luoyang asked a question.

Kong Qingyun shook his head: "You have to see what kind of reaction it is. If it's a retaliatory assassination attempt against you, then they haven't taken any action yet, but their main leaders have recently disappeared."

The assets of these three gangs are not insignificant. Their main leaders can easily hide in any place they choose, and they are not so easy to find.

In this day and age, with increasingly advanced communication technology, they can remotely control the situation from anywhere, without needing to go to a fixed location to work.

Forget about retaliation; their first concern is whether they'll be imprisoned in Luoyang, just like the Tao Zhu Group.

Guan Luoyang pondered for a moment and said, "These people have managed to build a gang to this size, so they must have a ruthless streak. I don't believe they can really keep tolerating this. As soon as an opportunity arises, these people will definitely make their move."

"Are you trying to lure the snake out of its hole?"

Kong Qingyun advised, "Then I don't think you need to rush. Recently, my faction within the council has been gaining more and more influence. The other communities have also communicated with us and will try to suppress these three companies. If we can push them to the brink, your chances of catching them will be higher, and we will have more leeway."

That early morning, it was Kong Qingyun who provided Guan Luoyang with the escape route of those directors and told Guan Luoyang who could stay.

This security team leader, with his dual identity, ensures that he is not fighting alone, regardless of which role he plays.

Guan Luoyang was quite envious of his ability to efficiently select allies and cultivate followers.

Guan Luoyang agreed, saying, "I do need some time to sort myself out."

Kong Qingyun asked curiously, "You tidied yourself up yourself?"

Guan Luoyang retorted, "Who else could it be?"

Kong Qingyun glanced at his hand and a look of sudden realization appeared on her face.

In such a fierce battle, no bionic machine could remain unscathed. He had been wondering who Guan Luoyang had hired for repairs, as there had been no word from them.

It turns out this person can repair the True Spirit Machinery himself!

Sigh, the path to becoming a martial artist is getting more and more mysterious. It wouldn't be surprising if someone were to perform an amputation on himself one day.

However, based on current technological research trends, it's likely that externally attached True Spirit machines that don't require amputation will appear first.

Guan Luoyang had no idea how many strange thoughts had been going through the mind of the person he was walking with.

Kong Qingyun's face is really deceptive. Except for that moment of excitement when he made that expression in the Tao Zhu Building, he is basically like a piece of wood the rest of the time.

Only those closest to the Onikiri can vaguely sense that their captain sometimes has a very erratic way of thinking.

After discussing some things they each needed to be aware of, they went their separate ways home.

Guan Luoyang has now moved to a little-known residence in a more secluded environment.

After returning home, he didn't go to the basement anymore. He sat directly in the yard and began to organize his thoughts on what he had gained during this period.

After the Tao Zhu Group incident, Guan Luoyang collected some information on boxing ideas and the Mind-Intent Method from Fan Buchou and Liu Jingtang respectively.

Some things in it were quite inspiring to him.

Or you could say it's an ability to draw parallels, which allowed him to have a deeper understanding of his current capabilities.

Tonight, the moon is hidden, but the stars are shining.

The flowers, trees, orchids, and large white stones in the courtyard, arranged in a style reminiscent of ancient Chinese architecture, allow people to relax more quickly.

Guan Luoyang pondered for an unknown amount of time before standing up and walking along the cobblestone path among the orchids. Suddenly, he stopped and looked up.

The stars in the sky were bright, and clouds occasionally drifted by. A strong wind blew through the nine layers of clouds, but only a gentle breeze touched the ground.

Guan Luoyang's eyes gradually closed.

All was silent; the earth was still.

Everything seemed to have fallen silent, yet his body was working tirelessly within this stillness, bringing a genuine understanding.

He could feel the planet beneath his feet spinning.

Mountains and seas are all one, and the human body's limbs, bones, essence, energy, and spirit should always be in harmony. However, the rotation of the earth also has its order.

Establishing a sequence is essential for making progress.

The Four Practices are Completed: Azure Bird Primordial Qi, Mind and Intent Method, and Essence, Qi, and Spirit are all present, with Essence as the foundation, Qi as the application, and Spirit as the foremost.

The "Going to the Highest Heaven and Earth Divine Skill" should be able to accommodate even more power under the guidance of the Mind-Intent Method.

One advances, and the three advance together.

call--

Guan Luoyang slowly exhaled, raised his eyelids, and his eyes shone brightly like cold stars for a moment.

He needs more information.

Although the information about Liu Jingtang and Fan Buchou seems clear and more novel and advanced, a closer examination reveals that it is too one-sided.

On the contrary, the notebook that Professor Jiang Si gave him, even though it contained a lot of old-fashioned and conservative references, was at least comprehensive enough.

Guan Luoyang thought for a moment, then took out his phone and glanced at it.

It's past nine o'clock, which shouldn't be too late.

I dialed Professor Jiang Si's number.

"Hello, Professor Jiang."

"Hello, president, it's me."

"Um?"

The person who answered the phone was one of the people Guan Luoyang had sent to look after Professor Jiang.

"It's you? Where's Professor Jiang?"

"He had an accident during his experiment, and we just took him and his son to the hospital."

Guan Luoyang asked, "Is it serious? Why weren't I notified?"

The person on the other end quickly replied, "It's not serious, it's not serious. Although the equipment was destroyed, Xiao Jiang protected his father. I didn't expect that kid to be so strong. He jumped several meters away. Thanks to him, Professor Jiang is basically fine. He just needed to do a final check-up, so he left his phone with us for now."

"Oh, he's out."

A different voice came from the other end of the phone: "President Guan, oh dear, thank goodness you're so concerned. These people insisted on bringing me here for a checkup, but I'm really fine."

Guan Luoyang said in a friendly manner, "It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to experimental accidents. By the way, I heard your equipment is all broken. Should I allocate funds for you to buy a new batch?"

Professor Jiang Si laughed and said, "No need, no need. I haven't paid off the debt from last time yet. It's okay if the equipment at home is destroyed. The equipment at the University of Singapore and Malaysia is complete. I won't ask them for money. I'll just borrow their lab. That's enough face for me."

"I forgot to mention, the debt from last time should have been waived entirely; the value of that notebook even exceeds that."

Guan Luoyang got to the point, "I'm more interested in knowing the identity of Professor Jiang Si's friend, who has such profound insights. I'd like to send someone to investigate."

Professor Jiang hesitated and said, "This..."

"Is it inconvenient to talk about this?"

"No, it's just that we share similar interests; we haven't known much else. Let me think..."

Professor Jiang Si seemed to be trying hard to recall, "Back then, Singapore and Malaysia were ostracized by the allied countries because there were too many Chinese. At that time, there was a trend in the Social Council."

"That means we should fully embrace Western ideas, so that we can be more advanced and have easier time dealing with allies. The first thing to do is to revise children's textbooks and make English the first thing to learn, while Chinese characters and the like can be excluded."

"Then, my old friend, who is a lover of traditional Chinese culture and a professor at the Yanjing Institute of Geriatric Health and Art, heard about this and, out of personal interest, came to talk to the senior officials in Singapore and Malaysia to persuade them to uphold Chinese culture."

"Oh, right, although I don't have his phone number, we still keep in touch through letters. I'll write a letter as soon as I get back to introduce you two."

Guan Luoyang understood halfway through the conversation; even if that kind of person did have a private number left outside, they probably wouldn't be able to leak it out casually.

He didn't press the matter further and replied, "Then thank you very much, Professor."

After hanging up the phone, Guan Luoyang dialed Lao An's number again and asked him to give instructions to collect relevant information through all available channels.

After returning home, Guan Luoyang picked up the notebook. The signature on the last page was still clearly legible after many years.

—Yan Zhen.

(End of this chapter)