Chapter 101 The dust has settled, but the undercurrents have not yet subsided.
"This...this is impossible!"
Huo San Niang was completely stunned.
Did she...walk right into the trap?
No, that's impossible! She clearly calculated the route; this is definitely international waters! She's been operating in Hong Kong for decades; she has that kind of skill!
What exactly happened?
The so-called elite members of the Hongmen behind her didn't dare utter a single word at this moment.
The ferocious wolves from a moment ago have now all turned into docile sheep, throwing down their weapons and raising their hands high, afraid that if they are too slow, they will be blasted into dust by the dark muzzle of the cannon on the other side.
Faced with the absolute machinery of state violence, any individual force appears so laughable and powerless.
Just then, a tall and imposing figure descended from one of the largest patrol ships, using a rope ladder, and landed steadily on the cruise ship's deck.
It is Lu Jingyan.
He changed back into a crisp military uniform, the star insignia on his shoulders gleaming under the searchlight.
He ignored the henchmen who had already surrendered and Huo Sanniang, and walked straight to Bai Shu's side, his tall figure naturally protecting her in an absolutely safe position.
"You...you...you..."
Huo San Niang finally regained her voice, pointing at Lu Jingyan with her fingers trembling.
"You cheated!"
Lu Jingyan then turned his head and gave her a dismissive look, as if she were a dead person.
"Cheating?" A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Third Sister Huo, I advise you to read more books after you return to Hong Kong Island. For example, international maritime law."
He paused, like a very patient teacher giving a lesson to a dull student.
"I did indeed make minor adjustments to the cruise ship's route."
"The moment your speedboat came close, the 'Oriental Pearl' crossed our territorial sea line exactly one nautical mile, no more, no less."
“This is a ‘legal trap’ that I have carefully prepared for you and for your Hongmen.”
Welcome home.
Huo San Niang's face instantly lost all color.
She understood.
Everything was within Lu Jingyan's or Bai Shu's calculations!
Not only did they foresee her coming, but they also accurately predicted the timing of her attack. Even her supposedly foolproof escape route in international waters turned into a deadly trap that lured her into a snare!
This man is a devil!
"No..." she murmured to herself, completely breaking down.
Fully armed soldiers surged onto the deck like a tide, moving swiftly and in perfect coordination, quickly disarming Huo Sanniang and her men, pinning them to the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.
The entire process was devoid of any unnecessary movements, exuding a chilling efficiency.
As Huo Sanniang was lifted up by two soldiers and led away, she finally snapped out of her shock and fear, and resentment and madness once again filled her eyes.
She abruptly turned her head and stared intently at Bai Shu and Lu Jingyan, who were standing side by side. The sight was like a poisonous thorn, stinging her eyes painfully.
"Lu Jingyan! You bastard! And you little bitch!"
She screamed with all her might, her voice piercing the night sky.
"You won't be so smug for long! 'Sir' will avenge me! He will tear you to pieces!"
The roar echoed in the sea breeze, filled with resentment and bitterness, until she was completely forced onto the patrol boat and disappeared beneath the ship's side.
Calmness was finally restored on the deck.
Bai Shu watched as Huo San Niang was taken away, her beautiful face devoid of any joy.
Huo Sanniang was nothing more than a dog that the "master" had put out into the open.
Killing a dog may feel satisfying, but the owner who was holding the leash is still hiding in the bottomless darkness, coldly watching all of this.
...
The cruise ship returned to port overnight under the "escort" of warships.
Lu Jingyan directly escorted Huo Sanniang and the others to a secret military base in Shanghai, where they were interrogated overnight.
Just as we settled the people in, an encrypted phone call came from Beijing.
It was Grandpa Lu who made it.
On the phone, the usually stern old man, unusually, didn't utter a single reprimand; instead, he seemed to be expressing barely suppressed approval.
"Jingyan, you did a good job this time."
“That Huo San Niang is an old-timer in the Hong Kong Hung Society. Pry her open and dig deep inside. There’s also that ‘Mr.’ inside the Hung Society. I want you to expose all their dirty secrets!”
“Yes, Grandpa,” Lu Jingyan replied in a deep voice.
After hanging up the phone, he glanced in the direction of the interrogation room, a cold glint in his eyes.
On the other hand, Bai Shu did not go to the military base, but went straight back to the Peace Hotel.
The presidential suite on the top floor.
Du Kangnian and Zheng Kai, the two men who are now completely devoted to Bai Shu, stood respectfully in front of her, their expressions filled with barely concealed excitement and awe.
The large carpet was covered with various documents, reports, and a huge commercial map of Shanghai.
“Boss,” Zheng Kai’s voice trembled slightly, a tremor of excitement.
"After Lu Wenbo's downfall, his shady businesses are now leaderless and in complete chaos. Several companies are facing debt collection from banks, making this the perfect time for us to acquire them!"
Du Kangnian added, "I have already contacted several trustworthy banks. As long as our funds are in place, we can launch a precise strike against them at any time."
Bai Shu walked barefoot on the soft wool carpet, bent down, and ran her slender fingers over the documents one by one.
Her movements were slow and elegant, yet carried an undeniable air of control.
"I'm going to swallow the mess that Lu Wenbo left behind."
She straightened up, her gaze sweeping over the targets circled in red on the map, her voice clear and cold, yet firm and resolute.
"With the newly established ocean trading company as the core, we will integrate all the acquired companies and form a new group."
Du Kangnian and Zheng Kai both held their breath, waiting for her to continue.
Bai Shu walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looked at the bustling night view of Shanghai outside, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"The name will be 'Tangdi Group'."
The blossoms of the pear tree are magnificent. Among all people today, none are like brothers.
This is a line of poetry that her mother, Bai Xiuzhu, loved most, and it also reflects her feelings for those loyal former subordinates. Now, she wants to use this name to rebuild the glory that belongs to her mother, and also to herself.
...
Two days later.
Lu Jingyan returned to the Peace Hotel and knocked directly on Bai Shu's door.
Bai Shu opened the door and saw him, her eyebrows twitching almost imperceptibly.
That bastard! I haven't seen him for two days, and he's already got bruises under his eyes, but his energy is even stronger than before.
"Bodyguard Lu, is this considered dereliction of duty?"
Bai Shu leaned against the door frame, her exquisite figure outlined in a stunning black silk robe, exuding an air of languid aloofness that seemed to say, "I'm expensive, don't touch me."
Lu Jingyan's gaze lingered on her for a second, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
Without getting angry, he walked into the room and pushed a freshly printed document, still smelling of ink, in front of her.
"I've got something good for you."
Bai Zhu reached out and took it, scanning it quickly.
"Huo Sanniang has confessed everything." Lu Jingyan leaned back in his chair, his voice hoarse from the interrogation.
“She said she was just an executor. For so many years, the person who had been passing on information to her and guiding her plans was a mysterious man who called himself ‘Mr.’ She didn’t even know whether he was male or female, old or young.”
Bai Zhu's fingers paused slightly as he turned the page.
Lu Jingyan continued, "And her only way of contacting 'Mr.' was through a mail relay station on a remote farm in the Northwest."
He deliberately emphasized the words "Northwest" and "farm," his eyes fixed on Bai Zhu's reaction.
"It's a godforsaken place, I really don't know what's so special about it."
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