Chapter 1623 - 1624: Ghost Swordsman
Miyamoto Taro shook his head, his eyes revealing a profound expression, flickering with the slyness only an Old Fox possesses.
"Ghost Swordsman, I know you're loyal to your country and intent on eradicating the rebels of Li Island."
"But just like fishing, we must not be hasty."
"Otherwise, the fish you catch will only be small fry, three inches long at best, while the real big ones will be scared off."
At this, the Swordsman known as Ghost Swordsman widened his eyes.
"Mr. Miyamoto, what do you mean? Forgive my foolishness, but I don't understand."
Miyamoto Taro looked at him, and suddenly a hint of malice flashed in his eyes.
"I must tell you something. The Eight Gates have received the latest intelligence."
"The guys from Huaxia's Evil Dragon Preparatory Brigade have already landed on Li Island."
"And we have evidence that they have colluded with the Red Shirt Army, acting in concert."
Upon saying this, Miyamoto Taro let out a cold laugh.
"If you were me, would you prefer to directly eliminate the Red Shirt Army or plan to take down the Evil Dragon in one fell swoop?"
The Ghost Swordsman was immediately both shocked and delighted.
"What, you say Huaxia's Evil Dragon Special Combat Team has arrived, lurking on Li Island? This is wonderful news."
Miyamoto Taro sighed profoundly.
"Now do you understand why I don't immediately surround Li Wang Town to search for Red Shirt Army remnants?"
The Ghost Swordsman nodded repeatedly.
"I understand. The Sect Leader's foresight and focus on the bigger picture are truly admirable."
Miyamoto Taro's golden eyes flashed with the fierce look of a hawk.
"Back then, the Martial God came to Sang Country and was invincible across the land."
"Of the 12 War God Families, after that battle, six never recovered."
"The remaining families were severely debilitated and have not fully recovered even until now."
He turned around, looking into the distance, slowly clenching his fingers into a fist that cracked with intensity.
"This includes our Miyamoto Family."
"Therefore, we must avenge the War God Families and deliver a heavy blow to the Huaxia people."
"I not only want to eliminate the Red Shirt Army, but I also want to kill these damned Evil Dragon soldiers."
After he said this, Miyamoto Taro put the bait on the hook and cast it into Crescent Lake.
His face returned to a serene smile.
"Fishing requires bait, and to destroy the entire Evil Dragon Special Combat Team, we also need bait."
At this point, his eyes gleamed like sharp needles.
"Now, the Red Shirt Army headquarters at Li Wang Town is our best bait. Li Wang Town not only hides the Red Shirt Army but also over 1,000 Chinese merchants."
"No matter what, the Evil Dragon Soldier King cannot allow this group of Chinese merchants to die in the fires of war."
The Ghost Swordsman shivered involuntarily upon hearing this.
"So, Mr. Miyamoto intends to massacre Li Wang Town?"
Miyamoto Taro's mouth twisted into a sinister arc, showing his white teeth like a beast baring its fangs.
"In fact, we have long had information on the Red Shirt Army's headquarters, and almost all the people at Li Wang Town are Red Shirt Army soldiers."
"These people alive greatly endanger the interests of our Sang Country."
"So, we should..."
Miyamoto Taro suddenly paused in his speech, then lowered his voice, muttering something secretly.
"What, how dare you..."
Though the Ghost Swordsman had guessed Miyamoto Taro's intention, he still found it hard to believe.
Li Wang Town has over 5,000 households, of which more than 2,000 are Huaxia people.
If a massacre occurs, it would be a massive event.
Miyamoto Taro nodded, his tone solemn.
"And the purpose of doing all this is not just to eliminate the Red Shirt Army, but to draw out and destroy the armed forces behind them."
"I suspect this armed force is connected with the Evil Dragon."
"If that's indeed the case, I'm willing to fight those Evil Dragon guys to the death, even if it ends in mutual destruction."
At this point, Miyamoto Taro's expression turned even more valiantly.
"I know that after the tragedy occurs, countries around the world and the United Nations will definitely judge this matter."
"But for the stability and rise of my motherland, I am ready to make sacrifices."
He took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to the Ghost Swordsman.
"This is my final word to the Military Department. If this ambush can take out the Red Shirt Army and the Evil Dragon, I am ready to die."
The Ghost Swordsman looked at Miyamoto Taro in shock, his face filled with respect.
This man, who ascended to the high position of Leader of the Eight Gates in his forties, did not let his status change affect his mindset.
He even wrote his will; perhaps, no one in the world can stop this madman.
At this moment, Yang Fei had arrived at Taihe Hotel.
The hotel is decorated in a style of Renaissance retro culture.
The finely crafted reliefs on the walls, the corridors, and stairways occasionally exhibit stone sculptures left by Roman sculptors from the Renaissance.
Although these are just replicas, they exude a strong artistic atmosphere.
The Seventh and Eighth floors of Taihe Hotel were booked in advance by Yang Fei and Xiao Xuanya.
In the conference hall on the Seventh Level, Yang Fei met Wen Taikang and Xue Mingtai.
Xue Mingtai was dressed in a Bohemian-style off-white suit, with well-groomed hair, looking stylish and handsome.
A waitress nearby gazed at him obsessively, her eyes sparkling as if they were about to drip with water.
Wen Taikang wore a dark blue Zhongshan suit, a pipe in his mouth.
Yang Fei noticed that the old man had crushed the expensive Yellow Crane Tower cigarettes and placed the tobacco into the pipe, smoking it slowly.
An old man and a young man, deeply absorbed in their game of chess.
It was obvious that Xue Mingtai's chess skills were far superior to Wen Taikang's.
Wen Taikang pondered for a long time before cautiously placing a piece.
In contrast, Xue Mingtai moved with ease, seemingly without any thought before making his move.
Yet, even so, he forced Wen Taikang into precarious situations, deepening the wrinkles on his forehead.
Yang Fei leisurely walked over.
Xue Mingtai looked up at him and gave a faint smile.
"You're here?"
Yang Fei also smiled slightly, "I'm here."
Their conversation was overly simple.
But only the two of them knew that this simple dialogue contained deep and sincere friendship.
Sometimes, the friendship between men is many times more solid than the feelings between even the closest lovers.
Even now, Yang Fei did not know what kind of relationship he had with Xue Mingtai.
But there was one thing he was certain of.
If he were in danger, even if it meant Xue Mingtai's head, he would offer it without hesitation,
And vice versa, Yang Fei would do the same.
Xue Mingtai had the waitress bring a chair for Yang Fei, and without hesitation, he sat down.
He lazily squinted his eyes, "Stop playing, there's something I need to discuss with everyone."
Xue Mingtai and Wen Taikang heard Yang Fei's words and exchanged a glance.
Xue Mingtai suddenly raised five fingers towards Wen Taikang.
"Within seven moves, I will finish the battle. Are you ready?"
Upon hearing this, Wen Taikang scoffed disdainfully.
Although Xue Mingtai's chess skills were stronger, Wen Taikang's defense was also very tight.
Wen Taikang absolutely did not believe that this guy could defeat him within seven moves.
Yang Fei glanced at Wen Taikang's chess board and shook his head, extending a single finger.
"No, I need only one move and you're done for. If you don't believe it, we can bet on it?"