Chapter 441 - 431: Entering Japan!
As the news of the Qiao Family’s annihilation intensified, tensions ran high everywhere.
But surprisingly, both the higher-ups in Demon City and those in the Forbidden City maintained a strange attitude toward the event that had shaken the entire metropolis. It was as if this had been a natural disaster, not a man-made calamity.
But could the excuse of a natural disaster truly hold water? It couldn’t. Yet what did it matter? It seemed the matter of the Qiao Family’s annihilation had already been quietly defined.
Amidst this turn of events, the rain in Demon City gradually subsided. The dark clouds receded from the sky, and the crisp air seemed to wash away the hustle and bustle of the world-class metropolis. Under a rare rainbow, a private plane glided down the runway of Hongkou Airport and took off.
Inside the luxurious cabin, Qin Fan lay leisurely on a sofa, resting with his eyes closed. He seemed utterly unconcerned about the upcoming trip to Japan.
"Master Qin, this trip is for business," Hua Xiaotian said solemnly from across from Qin Fan, a hint of tension still visible on his face. "When the plane lands in Japan, the head of a Chinese-controlled corporation will pick us up."
"Mm," Qin Fan hummed faintly without moving, a faint, wicked smile playing on his lips.
The nature of the trip was irrelevant to him. If he weren’t bringing Hua Xiaotian along, he wouldn’t have bothered with a damn plane at all. For a Cultivator at the Golden Core Stage, such a short distance was nothing.
Seeing Qin Fan’s tranquil indifference, Hua Xiaotian opened his mouth to speak but ultimately decided against it, leaning back into his own seat.
「Several hours later.」
As Qin Fan drifted between sleep and wakefulness, the private jet landed smoothly at Japan’s capital airport. A middle-aged man in a sharp suit approached them, bowed respectfully, and said, "Gentlemen, the plane has landed. We may disembark."
"Mm." Qin Fan and Hua Xiaotian opened their eyes and murmured their assent in unison, rising from their seats. Led by the deferential man, they descended the boarding stairs and walked out through the airport’s VIP corridor.
In the arrivals hall, as Qin Fan and Hua Xiaotian’s figures appeared, several middle-aged men immediately approached them. "Mr. Hua, Mr. Qin, we’re from the Hua Sheng Group!" one greeted with a smile. "It’s crowded here with prying eyes, so to avoid any trouble, our boss is waiting in the car outside. This way, please!"
With that, he bowed and gestured for them to follow.
"Thank you," Hua Xiaotian replied graciously, falling in step behind the men.
With such a refined and scholarly demeanor, who would have thought that this bespectacled middle-aged man was Hua Xiaotian, the man hailed as the greatest expert in the Huaxia Martial Arts World? It had to be said that those who worked for national agencies were almost universally masters of disguise.
Upon exiting the airport, they were greeted by a convoy of high-end luxury cars. A stretch Rolls-Royce was parked conspicuously in the middle. As Qin Fan and Hua Xiaotian approached, the door was pushed open from the inside. Qin Fan, forgoing any ceremony, simply smiled and stepped in, with Hua Xiaotian following close behind. Without any delay, the convoy began to move as soon as they were seated.
"Was all this fanfare necessary?" Qin Fan asked with a chuckle, sitting on the limousine’s sofa.
"You must be the renowned young Grandmaster, Qin Fan, from our Huaxia Martial Arts World! It’s a pleasure to meet you," said a middle-aged man. He was dressed in a suit with his hair slicked back and a Vacheron Constantin on his wrist. He looked very refined as he explained with a placid smile, "This high-profile approach is meant to dispel the suspicions of those ’little devils.’ They’ve always favored the tactic of ’sneaking into the village to open fire.’ Since they already know Master Hua’s identity, being this conspicuous will make them lower their guard and save us a lot of trouble."
Although he knew Qin Fan was a young Grandmaster, he showed no particular sign of shock.
Hearing this explanation, however, Hua Xiaotian couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Using a high-profile approach to dispel their suspicions? You have no idea what this master’s real intentions are!
"Xiao Qi, we’ve caused you a lot of trouble this time," Hua Xiaotian said, shaking his head with a smile.
"Master Hua, why be so formal with me?" the man called Xiao Qi replied earnestly. "You may not want to admit it, but in my heart, you are my master. Without you, would I, Xiao Qi, be where I am today?"
Qin Fan had no interest in their relationship, but Xiao Qi’s words made him raise an eyebrow. He asked playfully, "Master Hua is right; we really have troubled you. Do you even know why we’re here?"
"Master Hua didn’t say, but I imagine it has something to do with killing those ’little devils.’ Two titans capable of shaking the entire Huaxia Martial Arts World arriving in Japan... if you told me you were here for sightseeing, I’d have to question my own intelligence, wouldn’t I? Haha!" Xiao Qi laughed openly.
"In that case, you still dared to take on this mess? Aren’t you afraid of getting dragged into it?" Qin Fan pressed with an amused smile.
"Those ’little devils’ have wanted to get rid of me for years. The Hua Sheng Group has always been a thorn in their side, but they don’t dare make a move. If they do, I have ways to plunge all of Tokyo into chaos. That’s a situation their authorities can’t handle and won’t accept. So, this isn’t trouble. If my Martial Arts Cultivation hadn’t been destroyed, I would have wanted to fight alongside you! In my opinion, this world offers no finer pleasures than these three things: drinking the strongest wine, bedding the woman you love most, and bringing a greatsword down on a ’little devil’s’ head! Honestly, if it weren’t for the nation’s strategic arrangements, I wouldn’t want to stay here. Dealing with these guys all day is infuriating!" Xiao Qi declared with a certain heroic flair.
It was hard to imagine that the head of a multinational corporation could have such an unrefined, roguish side. If not for his expensive attire, no one would ever associate him with such a high-status position.
"Your man?" Qin Fan asked, turning to Hua Xiaotian with a smile.
"He used to be with the Guardian Institute," Hua Xiaotian explained candidly. "An incident occurred, and he lost his Martial Arts Cultivation, but he was lucky to survive. After that, he became an all-purpose agent and eventually worked his way up to become the head of a multinational corporation."
"Helmsman? Hah! It’s all thanks to the state’s backing. Without resources from the top, I’d be nothing! But enough of that," Xiao Qi laughed heartily. "I’ve had food and drinks prepared back at the Group’s headquarters. We’ll eat and drink our fill, then we can leisurely discuss our plans for killing those devils! Ha ha!"
Just then, from the lanes on both sides, several cars seemed to go mad. Their wheels jerked violently as they swerved, charging toward the Rolls-Royce with suicidal intent.