Chapter 717 - Strategy

Xiong Zhi watched the man leave the stage. The host took over the stage and started speaking, but his words were blurred to most of the people in the hall.

Their attention was still filled with the overwhelming impression that Ming Zhi Yi left.

Ming Zhi Yi had left the stage and no one knew where he hid.

Xiong Zhi took a deep breath, took her ċȯċktail glass, and lightly sipped while her eyes darted around. 

Her eyes specifically landed on several people nearby.

She observed closely the reactions and expressions of the people tagged as Ming Zhi Yi's hidden people in the list. 

The people who were against the legendary families' faction, those who were waiting for their demise, and those who were helping Ming Zhi Yi by letting him borrow their power and money.

Her heart sank.

As expected, they had deep smiles etched on their faces. Some tried to hide their expressions, but the greed in their eyes shone.

Xiong Zhi lowered her eyes.

She finally had to admit, the list given to them was authentic.

****

At that time after getting the flash drive from Lu Jin.

While he checked the things inside the flash drive with his ŀȧptop, Linfeng's eyes widened slightly then narrowed.

Xiong Zhi tore her eyes away from Lu Jin. She asked Linfeng. 

"What is it?"

"Unbelievable. These people… I did not realize that all of these people are actually helping Ming Zhi Yi…" Linfeng muttered. Disbelief was written on his face. Soon, it changed into a grave expression. "They hid really deeply."

Xiong Zhi could not wait for Linfeng's explanation and inched closer to him. 

Her eyes focused on the screen of Linfeng's ŀȧptop.

A moment later, her phoenix eyes turned wider.

!

Now she understood why Linfeng was shocked.

These people! 

Some were well-known people who were known as loyal supporters of the legendary families' faction!

Aside from that, there was additional data showing that there were also a lot of clans and groups giving aid to Ming Zhi Yi.

If this was all true...

Then there was no wonder why the man became so powerful yet went unnoticed by the legendary families' faction for so long. 

It could precisely be because of these people's help. The existence of traitors in their midst.

However, there was also a possibility that this was a trap of the enemy to sow discord.

"As I said, my father is only one man."

Lu Jin's voice made the two wake up from their daze.

The other ignored their sharp glares and continued indifferently. 

"He was not as powerful before as he is now. He was originally just a leftover member of a destroyed clan. However, his tenacity and hatred were much stronger than anyone else."

The Qian family's tragedy. So it is indeed revenge, Xiong Zhi thought. 

Lu Jin: "With whatever was left of the Qian family, he first gathered the considerably powerful clans who were most unsatisfied with the legendary families' faction. Those people thought that they were totally in control. But utilizing their power and money, that man slowly rose and weaved various schemes, until those people's authority became his own. Finally, he overpowered them."

"...!"

Xiong Zhi was stunned. 

Twenty years.

The vengeance running in that man's bloodstream felt more terrible than her own.

This kind of man with overwhelming power, patience, and cunning.... Could they really defeat him?

A numbing chill ran through Xiong Zhi's back. It grew until her skin crawled.

For the first time ever since her rebirth, Xiong Zhi felt as if she was facing a huge mountain, a hundred times bigger than all challenges she had trekked. 

Doubt entered her heart.

Could they really defeat him? It was a grand plan laid out patiently for a very long time, until it was a gigantic spider web covering the world. 

And now was the ripe time for the enemy to pull the web close… 

Was it already too late?

Linfeng's dark eyes appeared before her. 

Xiong Zhi blinked.

She felt the warm palm squeeze her hand.

"Zhi'er. Just like what Lu Jin said, that person is originally alone, just one powerless man." His whisper reached her ears. "His power mainly came from outside groups, a large and powerful network of people. No matter what, the fact that this list exists meant that this network has not been ȧssimilated into his own exclusive group. Instead, they work for benefits and interests. There exists a possibility to unravel his network, weaken his power, and reduce him back to his original state as a lone fighter. When that happens, he is only one, while we are two. No, even more. Do not forget our allies. Their reason for helping us is not simply because of benefits and interests." 

After saying all these, Linfeng smiled reassuringly at her.

His smile was so warm and beautiful that for a moment, Xiong Zhi forgot another person's presence in the same room.

Her uneasy heart calmed down. 

She nodded her head.

This was no time to act shaken.

Greedy interests aside, Ming Zhi Yi was only one man against many people, especially in front of the two of them who were inseparable.

The man might want to get his vengeance due to his family's tragedy, but it was no justification to harm innocents due to it. It was also not a reason for her to back out from getting her own vengeance.

The man got his revenge in the past life. 

Due to it, she and many other people suffered great tragedies.

In this life, she would get her revenge.

....

Xiong Zhi smiled at the memory. She glanced at Linfeng who was sitting beside her. 

Her eyes met the familiar peach blossom eyes. 

Un.

It was a good thing for them to finally recognize their true allies from the traitors. This would be a great help. 

Right now, they should focus on cutting Ming Zhi Yi's arms and legs little by little, until he turned completely powerless.

********