Chapter 552 - In the Hallway

The man was wearing a mask. His dark eyes looked at him with killing intent. He no longer hid his aura as he continued attacking Linfeng.

A fist akin to a smashing boulder shattered the air.

Linfeng shifted quickly, his arm nudged past the arm and blocked the other hand knife heading to his neck.

The man took advantage of his preoccupation, turned, and brought a leg in a twisting kick to sweep past his knees. Linfeng rammed his body against the masked man to outbalance the latter and avoid the kick, his own hands parrying off the succeeding attacks.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Linfeng could not attack back due to the continuous assault of the masked man. However, he did not panic but focused on defending himself silently.

He was calm, waiting for a chance.

Suddenly, Linfeng made his move. He took a step back at lightning speed. His dark peach blossom eyes were extremely concentrated on the man's movements, as if in a slow-motion, he pushed the incoming fist sideways, while his other hand simultaneously held the man's shoulder, and twisted!

The masked man was surprised by Linfeng's skill. Linfeng was actually faster than him. However, the masked man was holding back. That was not his whole strength. 

As Linfeng twisted his shoulder, the masked man instantaneously turned to the same direction to prevent his arm from getting twisted. The sharp point of his elbow was posed to hit Linfeng's face at the same time.

Linfeng moved his head to the side to avoid it. However, during that move, the hand on the mask man's shoulder loosened. The masked man took this opportunity and leaped back.

Swoosh.

The exchanged happened in less than five seconds.

There was now a three-meter distance between them.

There was a short silence.

The faint music disappeared.

Two pairs of eyes were currently heated with hidden thoughts as they stared at one another.

Suddenly, a faint sound of applause sounded throughout the hallway.

The second song was finished.

The two men in the hallway were silent. No one spoke.

Linfeng finally confirmed who the man was.

This familiar qi...

He had faced this man before in Tang Yin's banquet.

It was definitely that man.

Lu Jin!

Lu Jin on the other hand was thinking of how to settle the situation.

It turned out, no one could escape from this man's nose. Even though Lu Jin had used his proudest skill, 'shadow', he still got noticed by him. 

As Tang Yin's voice faintly sounded in the hallway about her second song, the two men were still in a deadlock.

It was Lu Jin who spoke first. "Eavesdropping on someone's business, what a rude hobby you have, Zhou Linfeng."

Linfeng raised his brow. "You yourself have an unusual fetish, wearing such an ugly mask. I have to be sure you are of no threat to my Young Miss. Don't go around sneaking on people like earlier again, or else you might get unwanted attention."

Lu Jin's eyes narrowed. Based on Linfeng's tone, he can tell that the man had already realized his identity.

Lu Jin's mind ran, thinking of a way to handle this. He could not possibly interrogate this man, asking about what Linfeng had heard, nor can he silence him. This was a place under the jurisdiction of the Tang family, and many experts were lurking here in the shadows. The smell of blood would naturally attract their attention.

Besides, Lu Jin did not release the crucial information to Eitan earlier. When he first came, he had already disposed of the surveillance in the area. It was a good thing that he had probed earlier before he went directly to the matter, too.

Lu Jin crossed his arm. "Since you already know who I am, then get lost. It is not your business to interfere."

Linfeng was silent for a moment before he took a step forward. 

Lu Jin's eyes flashed and he raised his guard immediately.

Linfeng spoke. "I don't know why you are being sneaky in today's banquet. However, I am warning you. I will not be kind if you people touch my Young Miss. If you do, I will make sure to return everything a hundredfold." 

His eyes were dark as he uttered the meaningful words very seriously.

Xiong Zhi's words about her past life was ringing in his mind. These people were strongly involved in Xiong Zhi's dream. And their movements at the present all matched with what Xiong Zhi had said. 

These people... might likely be the greatest enemies they needed to take down.

Lu Jin's cold eyes narrowed. He could feel that Linfeng was talking about something different entirely. However, he could not understand what Linfeng was trying to point at.

Lu Jin was about to ask what nonsense he was spouting when he heard footsteps come near them. 

It was the sound of heels hitting the cold hard floor.

Linfeng glanced at the source. He then felt the slight movement of air in front of him. As he turned around, Lu Jin had gone.

Linfeng was about to move, but then stopped. Since the man knew that he was here, he would be more careful and cautious. Linfeng would not be able to get anything worth risking for, so he gave up spying for now.

But one thing was for sure. Lu Jin and his company were here, and they were here for a reason.

"Linfeng?" It was Tang Xinyang's voice.

Linfeng turned to see Tang Xinyang walking past the corner. He nodded. "I wondered where you went. Are you going back to the hall?"

"Yes." 

"After you then."

Tang Xinyang walked in front of Linfeng. She was silent throughout the way back.

Linfeng was still thinking deeply of the words he had heard earlier.

He only heard about Country EU and Xiong De's abandoned channels.

'They are probably talking about the black market.'

After all, Xiong De had a channel in Country EU and had performed many underground transactions through there.

But why? What was Lu Jin intending to say to Eitan earlier?

What was with Country EU?

Linfeng put all the information in his mind and began to analyze them.

It was only when Tang Xinyang spoke that he halted his thoughts.

"About Jang Shin..."

"Hmm?"

"Does he like me?"

"...Sorry?" 

Linfeng turned to look at Tang Xinyang's back in front of him.

He blinked. Did she finally realize it?

Silence fell 

"I think so," Linfeng answered after a while.

'...'

"...How long has it been?"

"Hmm... I am not sure. Probably a long time ago."

"He, he did not tell you...?"

"No. He always denied it."

"Why?" 

Linfeng felt strange talking to Tang XInyang about this matter. After all, he was not Jang Shin, and he felt that this kind of heart to heart talk should be done with a close female friend instead.

Tang Xinyang was acting strange too. She looked... vulnerable right now.

Linfeng frowned. He was distracted from his own problems.

"What happened?" Instead of answering, Linfeng asked about this.

Tang Xinyang shook her head quietly. Her back was still on Linfeng. The usually strong back looked exhausted right now.

"I broke my heels and changed them," Tang Xinyang said.

"..." I'm not asking about that.

Linfeng knew then that Tang Xinyang was not in the mood to talk about it.

'Hmm. Something really happened.'

Linfeng's mind ran. Based on William's nonsensical talk earlier, Jang Shin and Tang Xinyang must have a fight.

"Just give him time. You know Jang Shin. He must have his reasons."

"Reasons that even you don't know about?"

"..." 

Linfeng had known Jang Shin since young. So of course, he could guess what Jang Shin was thinking. But this matter should not come from him, but from the person himself instead.

"I'll talk to him." That was all he could say for now.

"..." Tang Xinyang fell silent again.

They were now in front of the door. The soft sound of the piano coupled with the wistful flute sounds were playing.

Tang Yin was on her third song.

Compare to the first two songs, this one was very ethereal and calming. The tensed nerves of the listeners from the earlier performances were soothed, bringing in a relaxation akin to a refreshing wind.

Tang Xinyang sighed.

"Sometimes, I wonder what will happen if I give up. If I give up... There will be no future for me and Jang Shin right?"

"..." Linfeng did not answer that.

He could feel that Tang Xinyang was feeling very down today.

What the hell did Jang Shin, that punk, did to make the usually bright and energetic Tang Xinyang this sad and tired?

Tang Xinyang did not seem to be asking for his answer. She sighed, "Forget it. I'll support my sister first." She opened the door and went inside.

Linfeng gave her a couple of minutes before he entered the hall as well. If they returned together, people might think weirdly. Just to be safe.

As Linfeng entered, he glanced at the third row. 

The taller man wearing the mask.

If the other man was Lu Jin, then this man should undoubtedly be Ming Zhi Yi.