Chapter 471 - 332: Internal and External Troubles, The Next Target (2)

Chapter 471: Chapter 332: Internal and External Troubles, The Next Target (2)

As for him and his older brother, Tian Junxi, they were rarely treated with much kindness.

So, upon hearing the praise, Tian Zhongshan immediately lowered his head in a show of humility.

Tian Kun waved his hand. "Humility is a virtue, but too much of it is pointless. You truly did well this time. Your ability to utilize a pawn like Wu Liangchen to such great effect proves your skills in handling people are more than adequate."

"Then, Father, when will we make our move against the Sun family?" Tian Zhongshan asked.

"Don’t be hasty. The storm has only just begun, and the other major families are all watching from the sidelines. Let Sun Fusheng struggle with this for a while. It won’t be too late for us to strike when he’s at the end of his rope."

At this, a triumphant look spread across Tian Kun’s square-jawed face as he glanced at his son, Tian Zhongshan.

"Rest assured, the family will not forget your contributions. If you truly succeed in bringing down the Sun family, ten percent of the resulting profits will be your reward."

Tian Zhongshan was overjoyed. "Thank you, Father!"

"Can you still get in touch with that Wu Liangchen?" Tian Kun asked suddenly.

"Yes, but we can only communicate through an encrypted email account. Father, why do you suddenly ask?"

"It’s nothing. What do you think of this Wu Liangchen? Could he be recruited?"

Tian Zhongshan shook his head with a wry smile. "It would be very difficult. This Wu Liangchen is incredibly powerful, and his talent is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. A man like that is destined never to bow to another."

"Is that so..." Tian Kun nodded thoughtfully.

He hadn’t expected both his second son and his third daughter to hold Wu Liangchen in such high regard.

Combined with the day’s events, this couldn’t help but pique a strong sense of curiosity in him about Wu Liangchen.

However, just as Tian Zhongshan had said, a peerless talent like that would be hard to keep under anyone’s thumb.

He figured only the top-tier families from the Alliance’s capital city would have what it takes to bring such a genius into their fold.

"Father, is there anything else?" Tian Zhongshan asked tentatively.

After the news broke, he had been immediately summoned back by Tian Kun for questioning.

Fortunately, the outcome was a good one.

Not only had he received a promise, but more importantly, he had increased his standing within the family.

And that meant influence, it meant enormous benefits, it meant... the Patriarch’s seat in the future.

"Oh, nothing else. Just remember to stay in close communication with Wu Liangchen from now on. Here, take this."

Tian Kun placed a USB drive on the desk.

"This contains all the data I’ve gathered on the Sun family’s various factories, including their headquarters. It’s more detailed than the files you have. You know what to do with it."

Tian Zhongshan’s spirits soared, and he immediately snatched the USB drive from the desk.

"Thank you, Father!"

"Go on."

Tian Zhongshan bowed respectfully and exited the room.

Watching his son’s retreating back, Tian Kun smiled faintly.

He could, of course, see Tian Zhongshan’s ambition.

But this wasn’t a bad thing; on the contrary, it was a major point in his favor.

After all, for a member of the Tian family, being without ambition was no different from being worthless.

Meanwhile, after leaving his father’s office, Tian Zhongshan could barely contain his joy. He turned to head downstairs, only to find Tian Junxi standing quietly at the top of the staircase, waiting for him.

Upon seeing Tian Zhongshan, an inscrutable smile appeared on Tian Junxi’s face.

"My dear brother, you’ve really outdone yourself, haven’t you?"

Tian Zhongshan was inwardly alarmed, but his face remained impassive.

"Brother, you’re quite well-informed yourself."

"Still not as well-informed as you, little brother. To think you found Wu Liangchen so quickly and even struck a deal with him. It makes me truly curious... how did you manage it?" Tian Junxi said coolly.

"No comment." Tian Zhongshan certainly wasn’t about to reveal his secrets.

After all, there was no brotherly love between him and Tian Junxi.

There was only fierce competition.

Tian Junxi didn’t press the issue. He just gave Tian Zhongshan a deep, long look before turning to get out of his way.

Tian Zhongshan strode down the stairs, quickly left the house, and returned to his own residence.

He then eagerly sent all the new information he had received that day to Wu Liangchen via email.

A moment later, the email’s status changed to "Read."

Only then did Tian Zhongshan finally let out a sigh of relief.

He then realized it was already dawn outside.

Though he hadn’t slept all night, he was full of energy and felt no fatigue whatsoever.

He turned on the television and saw a news report about the Sun family.

The shocking footage had provoked immense outrage among the common people, many of whom had already taken to the streets to protest.

They were furiously chanting slogans, calling for the downfall of the Sun family and severe punishment for the perpetrators.

Some went so far as to throw things at shops owned by the Sun family.

Watching the streets descend into chaos, a smug smile crept onto Tian Zhongshan’s face. He then completely ignored the calls flooding in from the scions of other prominent families who had heard the news and promptly fell into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, Wu Liangchen stared at the newly unzipped file before him, lost in thought.

"What is it?" asked Song Ling’Er, who was beside him skillfully disassembling and maintaining a firearm.

"It’s nothing. It’s just that this intel feels much more comprehensive than the last batch."

"Isn’t more comprehensive a good thing?" Song Ling’Er asked, puzzled.

Wu Liangchen smiled. "Of course it is."

He then began to mark the targets for their next operation.

With the experience from their first raid, planning the next one was much simpler.

They didn’t even wait for nightfall. Wu Liangchen set out with Song Ling’Er right away.

This time, the target was again outside the city, but in a different corner of Qing Province.

The area was not far from the sea, a saline flatland covered in nothing but salt-tolerant grasses and shrubs.

"Are we infiltrating stealthily again?" Song Ling’Er asked.

Wu Liangchen shook his head. "Not this time."

Wu Liangchen knew it would be difficult to reap the same rewards as their last raid.

After the first incident, any man with half a brain—and he assumed Sun Fusheng was one—would have immediately transferred the data and erased all traces.

Therefore, another stealth infiltration was pointless.

"This time, you’ll choose your own vantage point. The mission is the same as before: ensure your own safety, and pick off anyone who tries to escape."

"Right."

Song Ling’Er nodded, then disappeared into the vast salt flats to find a suitable position.

This was part of Wu Liangchen’s training for her.

A competent marksman had to know how to find a good position.

After a few moments of silence, Song Ling’Er’s voice came through his earpiece.

"I’m in position."

Hearing this, Wu Liangchen hesitated no longer and sprinted toward the distant factory.

Only seconds later, the factory’s alarms began to scream, followed by a cacophony of gunfire.

It was impossible to tell who started the fire.

Flames shot into the sky, triggering a chain reaction of explosions.

Perched in a tree, Song Ling’Er watched the brilliant spectacle through her sniper scope, searching for any potential targets.

Finally.

A figure appeared atop the perimeter wall, and Song Ling’Er squeezed the trigger.

BANG. The man’s upper body exploded, and his corpse tumbled backward.

Her face impassive, Song Ling’Er began scanning for her next target.

The explosions continued for a full minute before finally subsiding. Flames still raged, but the sounds of fighting had grown sparse.

Finally.

After she had sniped seven people trying to escape, everything fell silent.

"Situation stable," Song Ling’Er reported in a low voice.

"Good."

Wu Liangchen’s response instantly set Song Ling’Er at ease.

She reloaded her rifle and waited silently.

Meanwhile, Wu Liangchen walked through a corridor littered with bodies and reached the factory’s control room.

As expected, almost all the data had been erased or transferred.

He found nothing of value.

However, upon spotting a red telephone in the corner, Wu Liangchen walked straight toward it.

This phone was a direct line that dialed automatically when the receiver was lifted.

The instant he picked it up, the call connected.

"What’s the situation?"

Hearing the old, weary voice on the other end, Wu Liangchen smiled faintly.

"Patriarch Sun, we speak again."