Lu Chengwen was extremely agitated and quickly rushed over to pat his senior brother's chest. "Senior Brother! Senior Brother, what's wrong with you? Senior Brother, don't scare me! Senior Brother, pull yourself together!"
Lu Chengwen was frantic with worry and pulled out his phone. "Hello? Funeral home? Yes, yes, my senior brother is dead. Mhm, last night, our master beat him half to death, and today it seems someone pissed him off. Dead? Not yet, but it's only a matter of time."
"Why are you asking so many questions? The man's in this state, and you're telling me to call the hospital? What the hell do you mean? Oh, so according to you, if the person isn't dead yet, you won't cremate him? Is that even human?"
"I don't care about your policies. What I want is for my senior brother to rest in peace as soon as possible! What if I pay extra? I have money! As long as you can shove my senior brother into the furnace and turn him to ash, I'll pay whatever it takes!"
"You're the one who's sick! Idiot!"
Lu Chengwen looked at Long Aotian. "Senior Brother, this is tough. We might have to go with a burial this time. The funeral home says they won't cremate you until you're dead."
Long Aotian rolled his eyes and fainted from anger.
Jiang Shihan was terrified. "Will he be okay?"
Lu Chengwen snorted. "He's the Chosen One. He'll be fine."
He turned and walked out with a stern expression. "Let's get to work. Silver Tuo King is almost here."
As Lu Chengwen stepped out, Iron Tuo King approached him. "Boss Lu!"
"Mhm. Seen Silver Tuo King?"
Iron Tuo King said, "He's in the elevator. He'll be up soon."
"Play your part well. It's all up to you now."
"Don't worry, Boss Lu."
Lu Chengwen walked to the elevator doors. Jiang Shihan looked nervous. Lu Chengwen took her hand and looked at her. "Don't be nervous. Just do as we discussed last night."
"Mhm."
The elevator doors opened. Silver Tuo King was startled to see someone waiting at the door—and it was Lu Chengwen.
Silver Tuo King and Yuan Fang had seen photos of Lu Chengwen, but they were certain Lu Chengwen didn't know or recognize them.
But then Jiang Shihan spoke up. "Young Master, that Lu Chengwen guy is really getting into pretending to be you."
Lu Chengwen smiled faintly. "The Face-Shifting Technique has weakened my strength temporarily. We need to be cautious during this period."
"Yes."
The two stepped into the elevator and noticed Silver Tuo King and Yuan Fang standing inside like wooden poles, unmoving.
Their minds were racing!
Key points:
1. **Address**: "Young Master."
2. **Critical information**: Lu Chengwen was impersonating him.
3. **Even more critical information**: The Face-Shifting Technique.
These three pieces of information overlapping made Silver Tuo King's heart lurch, as if someone had grabbed it.
Lu Chengwen smiled at Silver Tuo King. "Friend, not getting off?"
"Oh, I… I was going down."
Lu Chengwen asked, "Are you from Qianfeng Group?"
Silver Tuo King froze, then quickly replied, "I just joined. Haven't officially started work yet."
Lu Chengwen shook his hand. "Lu Chengwen."
"Boss Lu?"
"Mhm."
Jiang Shihan said, "Young Master—"
*"Hmph!"* Lu Chengwen glared at her sharply—a look Silver Tuo King and Yuan Fang didn't miss.
Jiang Shihan quickly corrected herself. "Boss Lu. Silver Tuo should have arrived by now. He might have already made contact with Lu… with that person."
Lu Chengwen smiled faintly. "That's perfect."
"Do we really have to abandon them?"
Lu Chengwen's face darkened. "After what happened with Copper and Iron, how could I ever trust them again?"
"But I heard Silver Tuo is very capable."
Lu Chengwen scoffed. "A bunch of muscle-headed idiots who don't even know how to wear a suit properly—how could they ever work for me? For the greater cause, they're nothing but ants."
"Yes."
*Ding!*
The elevator doors opened, and Lu Chengwen walked out, Jiang Shihan following closely behind.
Silver Tuo King and Yuan Fang in the elevator were completely dumbfounded.
The information overload was too much!
Clearly… the one in the elevator just now was the real Young Master!
He and Lu Chengwen had used the Face-Shifting Technique, and the one they'd sworn allegiance to was actually Lu Chengwen impersonating the Young Master!?
Yuan Fang was on the verge of tears.
"Bro! What do we do? We messed up too!"
Silver Tuo King was sweating profusely, his teeth clenched. "Dammit! Now I know why Iron Tuo King and Copper Tuo King made such stupid mistakes! This isn't some low-level error—this Lu Chengwen's acting is top-notch. Even the branch leader himself might not be able to tell them apart!"
"Bro! Then what do we do now? From the Young Master's tone, we're clearly expendable!"
Yuan Fang was almost crying. "But Bro, we've got 5 billion with us! Does he not want the money?"
Silver Tuo King looked up, his mind in chaos.
"The meeting upstairs is discussing projects worth tens of billions, totaling over a hundred billion. What's 5 billion to the Young Master? He'd throw it away without a second thought. He's using us and the 5 billion to stabilize Lu Chengwen while he devours the entire Qianfeng Group. That's worth trillions."
Yuan Fang was losing it. "Then we're dead for sure? Just like Iron Tuo King and Copper Tuo King? The branch won't take us back, and the Young Master will kill us!"
"No! Not necessarily! Shut the hell up!"
Silver Tuo King pressed his hands against the elevator mirror, staring at his own sweaty reflection.
"It's not over yet… There's still a chance! We haven't handed over the money… Lu Chengwen hasn't gotten his hands on it yet. The situation is still under the Young Master's control."
"Bro…" Yuan Fang was really crying now. "I don't want to be a traitor. Traitors end up miserable. I've dealt with traitors myself."
"Good brother!" Silver Tuo King grabbed the back of Yuan Fang's head, pressing their foreheads together. "Don't worry! As long as I'm here, we can fix this! We can turn things around! The Young Master is angry at the branch, at Iron Tuo King and Copper Tuo King. He's never met us—he only discarded us for the bigger picture! If we prove our worth and pledge to the right master, we can fix this!"
"Really, Bro?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
Yuan Fang shook his head.
"Then trust me. Let's go after the Young Master first."
Silver Tuo King and Yuan Fang quietly made their way to the lobby, where they saw Lu Chengwen standing in the farthest corner, one hand in his pocket, gazing out the window at the street while talking on the phone.
The two crept closer, hiding behind a large indoor plant to eavesdrop.
Lu Chengwen: "You'd better follow the script. I don't need you doing anything extra. Once Qianfeng is secured, you'll have done a great service. Ah, things are heating up upstairs. All sorts of players are making their moves, but no one knows the real mastermind is down here watching the street. Heh, don't worry."
"Nothing I, Long Aotian, set out to do has ever failed. When it comes to rewards, he won't even be in the picture. Deal with him afterward. Also, the Snow City branch isn't worth keeping. Once I've stabilized things, I'll wipe them all out and rebuild a new team to take over."
"I don't care if the current branch has talent or not. I'm sick of those idiots! Without them holding me back, I'd have finished this long ago! No matter the reason, the fact that things have dragged on this long means the branch has outlived its usefulness. That's final."
Silver Tuo King and Yuan Fang exchanged glances, then steeled themselves. "Let's go."
Silver Tuo King and Yuan Fang hurried over to Lu Chengwen and knelt. "Your subordinate pays respects to the Young Master!"
Lu Chengwen turned, narrowing his eyes. "From the elevator? You're not from Qianfeng! Who are you?"
"Your subordinate, Silver Tuo King, pays respects to the Young Master!"
"Your subordinate, Yuan Fang, pays respects to the Young Master!"
Lu Chengwen looked annoyed. "Get up, get up. Kneeling is too conspicuous."
"Yes, this subordinate apologizes for the impropriety."
Lu Chengwen sat on the couch, crossing his legs and resting his hands on the armrests, eyeing them coldly. "How did you recognize me?"
Silver Tuo King immediately replied, "Upon arriving in Snow City, this subordinate's first task was to investigate Lu Chengwen and you, Young Master. My investigation revealed that the so-called Long Aotian is actually short-sighted and lacks the qualities of a great man. Whereas you, despite wearing Lu Chengwen's face, walk with the bearing of a dragon and tiger, exuding majesty and heroism…"
"Enough, enough. Cut the crap. Get to the point."
"Yes!" Silver Tuo King said. "Therefore, this subordinate pretended to join the fake Young Master's side, but in truth, I was gathering intelligence for you, Young Master."
"Tch. If you messed up, just admit it. Stop with the nonsense."
Silver Tuo King was embarrassed. "Your Face-Shifting Technique is too masterful, Young Master. This subordinate truly couldn't tell the difference. Thankfully, my ancestors blessed me, allowing me to encounter you in the elevator."
Silver Tuo King was on the verge of tears. "Young Master! Please, in light of this subordinate's loyalty and sincere devotion, and our timely repentance, do not abandon us!"
Lu Chengwen examined his nails. "What use do I have for you? How about this—go join Iron Tuo King and Copper Tuo King, those two idiots. Go be Lu Chengwen's lackeys."
Silver Tuo King knelt again, tears streaming. "Young Master, this subordinate begs you for a chance to correct our mistake! Your great kindness will never be forgotten! From now on, this subordinate will follow your lead without question, willing to brave any danger for you, climb mountains of blades, swim seas of fire…"
"Get up! People are watching!"
Lu Chengwen looked thoroughly annoyed.
Just then, Jiang Shihan walked over, surprised. "Young… Boss Lu, things upstairs are almost ready."
Lu Chengwen frowned. "This is Silver Tuo King."
"Ah? Him?" Jiang Shihan giggled. "He's not like those other two idiots. At least his suit looks decent."
Lu Chengwen sighed. "Damn it, always causing trouble at the worst possible moment."
Jiang Shihan said, "Young Master, the bigger picture comes first. No matter what, we need to handle things upstairs."
She gave a meaningful glance—one that Silver Tuo King and Yuan Fang didn't miss.
The two quickly declared, "We brothers are willing to serve the Young Master's grand ambitions, without regret!"
Lu Chengwen rubbed his nose. "Fine, since it's come to this, you can stay for now. But I'm warning you—if you mess this up for me, I'll skin you alive and pull out your tendons!"
"This subordinate wouldn't dare."
Silver Tuo King added, "Copper Tuo and Iron Tuo… this subordinate will take care of them. Please rest assured, Young Master."
"Tch. Dealing with them is the issue? When you're doing big things, when isn't it the right time to crush a couple of ants?"
"Yes, this subordinate understands."
Meanwhile, upstairs…
Leng Qingqiu and Huo Wendong had reached an impasse.