The shore.
A car slowly stopped at the pier.
The car door opened, and two people got out.
Both were cloaked in black, their bodies completely hidden by the cloaks.
In the darkness of the night, their faces were completely obscured.
However, one of them directly handed over an invitation.
Upon seeing the invitation, the dock workers immediately bowed and repeatedly said, "So it's Young Master Li. We apologize for not welcoming you sooner, truly."
"Because our master has been waiting for you for a long time, and you did not arrive. So our master decided to set sail with the cruise ship and begin this sea banquet in advance."
"However, my master specifically instructed: If you arrive, we are to dispatch a small boat to take you to the cruise ship."
"The small boat is over there. Please follow me, Young Master."
After speaking, the worker walked towards a speedboat in the water below the pier.
Beneath the cloaks, two faces exchanged glances.
It was none other than Ying Chen and Zhuang Ruoting!
"Follow me."
Without any hesitation, Ying Chen led the way, following the worker.
Although Zhuang Ruoting harbored concerns, she said nothing and also followed swiftly.
In a short while, the three of them had already boarded the speedboat.
As the speedboat started, it moved like a swordfish under the cloak of night, cutting through the water, kicking up a snow-white wake that stretched towards the deep sea.
The speedboat traveled for a full hour before finally catching sight of Huo Sheng's enormous cruise ship.
The ship was currently anchored on the sea, letting the gentle waves rock its hull.
The cruise ship was brightly lit, and one could vaguely see figures clinking glasses and arm-in-arm.
It seemed that the people inside were quite joyful.
Having completely forgotten their worries and fears.
Ying Chen cast a cold glance at the cruise ship, a slight, curved smile gracing his lips.
"Young Master, we have arrived."
"You two may board the ship now."
"We wish you an enjoyable time."
The worker said.
He then escorted Ying Chen and Zhuang Ruoting onto the cruise ship and directly sailed away.
Once aboard, Zhuang Ruoting subconsciously glanced at the sea in the distance, feeling that something was amiss for some reason.
Yet, she couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
She could only gently tug Ying Chen's sleeve and say, "Mr. Ying, please be cautious."
Ying Chen did not reply.
Zhuang Ruoting was right to tell Ying Chen to be cautious.
But Zhuang Ruoting was mistaken in that she did not understand that Ying Chen's strength had already surpassed all schemes and tricks.
The words "be cautious" were of no use to Ying Chen anymore.
Bang!
The doors to the banquet hall were pushed open.
The guests, who were in the midst of toasting, instantly froze.
They looked at the two intruders with bewilderment.
Who were they?
Still wearing black cloaks late at night, were they acting in a television drama?
At this moment, the butler's announcement was heard: "Master, Young Master Li has arrived."
Everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
So it was Young Master Li!
They had been a bit nervous, thinking they had encountered pirates!
But since the advent of the 21st century, the pirates in Hong Kong waters had been eradicated. Where would anyone dare to engage in such a life-threatening business now?
"I say, Li's eldest son, why are you dressed like this in the middle of the night? Are you that ashamed of yourself?"
"Hey, what are you talking about! Li's eldest son is in mourning! This shows his filial piety! His father hasn't even been buried yet, and he's already wearing black mourning clothes to pay his respects in advance. Admirable, truly admirable..."
"So that's how it is! But you don't need to put on such a show in front of outsiders, do you? After all, we're not outsiders. Who doesn't know how much pretense is in your filial piety?"
Everyone chimed in with playful remarks.
Clearly, they all knew that Li's eldest son's intentions were not about mourning, but about seizing power.
Even Huo Sheng looked at Li's eldest son with a smile: "Alright, take off the clothes! Just tell us how you successfully became the head of the Li family."
"Come, everyone, let's give a round of applause to welcome our new head of the Li family!"
Clap, clap, clap!
Instantly, enthusiastic applause filled the entire venue.
All eyes eagerly turned to Ying Chen and Zhuang Ruoting, awaiting the moment when the new head of the Li family would reveal his face.
When Li Fengcheng was the patriarch, he didn't see eye-to-eye with them.
But now, Li's eldest son had officially pledged allegiance to Huo Sheng, officially becoming one of them.
This meant that Hong Kong would no longer have dissenting voices, and only their faction's voice would remain!
From now on, they would be united, ruling Hong Kong for a hundred years to come!
"Since everyone is so eager to see us, we shall reveal ourselves!"
Ying Chen said calmly.
With that, he was the first to pull down his hood.
Zhuang Ruoting followed suit, also pulling down her hood.
Whoosh!
The guests, who had been enthusiastically applauding, instantly turned to stone.
The previously lively atmosphere immediately descended into deathly silence.
The entire banquet hall was hushed, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stared at Ying Chen and Zhuang Ruoting with looks of shock and disbelief.
They didn't understand. How could the promised Li family's eldest son have become Ying Chen?
What went wrong in the middle?
Or had Huo Sheng betrayed them, outwardly agreeing to deal with Ying Chen, but secretly notifying Ying Chen to cast a net and capture them all?
If that were the case, Huo Sheng would be too cunning!
Huo Sheng clearly felt the suspicious gazes of everyone. He gave a wry smile and was about to explain.
Unexpectedly, Ying Chen flashed and appeared beside him.
Ying Chen didn't say much, merely patting Huo Sheng's shoulder: "Well done."
These three words, as if revealing some earth-shattering secret, instantly made the already suspicious crowd's faces change dramatically!
Everyone looked at Huo Sheng with disappointment and rage, their faces contorted, wishing they could devour him alive.
Even Officer Lin took three steps back, staggering.
He put distance between himself and Huo Sheng.
He looked at Huo Sheng with an incredulous expression and said, "Huo Sheng, how could you do such a thing?"
"How ridiculous that I actually believed you had good intentions and wanted to clear my name. It turns out you were just luring the snake out of its hole, tricking me here!"
"Good, good, good! It's my fault for being blind, my fault for choosing friends poorly! Today, we sever ties and our friendship is at an end!"
Officer Lin said, then sharply tore off a corner of his clothing.
He then threw that piece towards Huo Sheng.
It was a formal declaration of severance of ties with Huo Sheng!
Huo Sheng was frantic and quickly tried to explain: "Officer Lin, it's not what you think, listen to me explain..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Ying Chen: "Enough, what's there to explain? Even if you sever ties with them and cease contact, so what? They are just people on the verge of death, nothing worth regretting."
"From now on, we will jointly control Hong Kong and divide their posthumous influence and property. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Boom!
Ying Chen's words were like pouring gasoline onto a raging fire. The anger in everyone's hearts was already burning fiercely, and now it became even more intense, soaring to the heavens!
"Damn it!"
"Die!"
"Scoundrel! You deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces!"
"You sold out your friend for glory, you are utterly shameless! Don't give us a chance. Once we have the chance, we will ensure you can neither live nor die!"
One accusation after another drowned out Huo Sheng's weak and ineffectual attempts at defense.
Huo Sheng felt his vision go black, nearly collapsing to the ground.
This was the first time he experienced what it meant to be "unable to clear one's name even if jumping into the Yellow River"!
Most critically, Ying Chen was still fanning the flames!
As if he cared deeply for Huo Sheng, Ying Chen suddenly disappeared from his spot and grabbed the person who had just insulted Huo Sheng by "selling out his friend."
"You dare insult Huo Sheng?"
"Believe it or not, I'll make sure you never speak again!"
The man, originally quite fearful, suddenly became angry looking at Huo Sheng in the distance for some unknown reason.
"So what if I insult him? Such a dog, let alone insult him, even a few stab wounds wouldn't quench my hatred!"
"If you have the guts, let me go! Let me fight him one-on-one! Fate is decided by heaven, whoever backs down is a grandson!"
Ying Chen chuckled: "Heh heh, a one-on-one? Huo Sheng is over sixty years old, and how old are you? You are at least ten years younger than Huo Sheng!"
"It's clearly bullying Huo Sheng for being old and frail! Your plan is quite clever, but I'm sorry, I won't let you succeed!"
"If you dare to insult Huo Sheng one more time, I will make you pay the price!"
Despite Ying Chen's warning, the man not only did not restrain himself but his anger instantly surged, and he began to curse loudly: "Dog, dog! I will curse him as a dog, so what?"
"It's no exaggeration to call him a dog! Because he only hides behind you, acting like a tiger borrowing its might, bullying others with your power!"
"I think he shouldn't be called Huo Sheng anymore. He should change his name to Gou Sheng (Dog Sheng)!"
Slap!
Ying Chen's face turned ice-cold. He raised his hand and slapped the man forcefully.
The slap was so loud that it echoed repeatedly in the banquet hall.
Looking at the man, he lay on the ground, blood flowing from his mouth.
Several bloody teeth also fell out beside him.
It was evident how vicious Ying Chen's slap was!
Unexpectedly, Ying Chen's slap did not frighten the others.
Instead, it united them further in their animosity!
Everyone present, except for Huo Sheng, stood together, staring at Ying Chen and Huo Sheng with angry and hateful eyes.
They looked as if they could devour them at any moment!
The situation instantly became tense.
Huo Sheng was on the verge of tears, unable to clear his name.
He knew that no matter how much he explained now, it would be useless.
Only by taking practical action could he prove his innocence!
So, he immediately said loudly, "Everyone misunderstands me, and I don't wish to elaborate. I will only say one thing!"
"That is, I had already anticipated Ying Chen's arrival!"
"Because I have informants in the Li family! I can know about any disturbance in the Li family the moment it happens!"
"An hour ago, I received news of the death of Li's eldest son and learned that Zhuang Ruoting had become the head of the Li family. However, I kept silent and did not tell you all."
"Instead, I secretly ordered the captain to sail the cruise ship into the deep sea."
"If you don't believe me, look outside the window. Have we left Hong Kong's waters? Have we reached international waters!"
Hearing this, everyone looked out the window with doubt and suspicion.
Indeed, the iconic buildings and lighthouse of Hong Kong could no longer be seen.
There was only endless darkness and the roaring waves.
Judging by the intensity of the waves, they had undoubtedly reached the deep sea! Entered international waters!
"You are all intelligent people, and you should be able to guess my intention."
"That's right, it's to use the regulation that 'crimes in international waters are not subject to Hong Kong jurisdiction' to trap the rat in a jar and eliminate Ying, along with his accomplices!"
Huo Sheng pointed sharply at Ying Chen and Zhuang Ruoting.
Ying Chen's pupils instantly constricted.
Zhuang Ruoting's face changed dramatically.
No wonder she felt something was wrong when she boarded the ship; it was indeed a trap!
And Huo Sheng wasn't talking nonsense. Crimes in international waters were indeed not subject to Hong Kong's jurisdiction.
This meant that Huo Sheng could indeed act against Ying Chen and Zhuang Ruoting here without bearing any responsibility!
However, Zhuang Ruoting suddenly thought of a question: "No! While crimes in international waters are not under jurisdiction, the country where the cruise ship is registered does have jurisdiction! You will still bear legal responsibility!"
Huo Sheng laughed upon hearing this, "Young lady, with a brain like yours, you want to be the head of the Li family? Too naive! Do you think I wouldn't consider that?"
"This cruise ship of mine is registered in a small country in South Africa, and the king of that small country is a good friend of mine! Do you think I need to bear responsibility?"