834: Chapter 823: Zhu Tao’s Mystery 834: Chapter 823: Zhu Tao’s Mystery “You really desire the Nine Souls Jade, don’t you?”
Teng Yun Geshang gazed at Ning Fan, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
No doubt about it—Ning Fan was also someone who craved the Nine Souls Jade immensely.
As for the legend of the Nine Souls Jade, Teng Yun Geshang had naturally heard about it before.
He had once yearned for the artifact himself, but now he thought it could serve as a perfect bait to “lure” Ning Fan.
Moreover, when he came across the investigation report and learned that Ning Fan had already collected five pieces of the Nine Souls Jade, he was genuinely shocked.
Even Umbrella only had two pieces in their possession, while Ning Fan had already gathered five.
To be honest, Teng Yun Geshang had contemplated snatching those five pieces from Ning Fan.
But then he realized that, ultimately, they would end up in Konstantin’s hands, and so he abandoned the idea.
Instead, he decided to use this as leverage to force Ning Fan to comply.
“Think about it carefully.
Two pieces of the Nine Souls Jade—if you’re interested, just give me a call.
I can help you.
With these two pieces, you’d only be one step away from your goal of completing the set!”
Teng Yun Geshang’s tone was deeply tempting to Ning Fan.
With those two pieces added to the collection Ning Fan already possessed, he would then be left to find just the last two pieces.
This would bring him incredibly close to achieving his goal of assembling the Nine Souls Jade and reconstructing the Dragon Ball.
Teng Yun Geshang stood up and placed his business card on the table.
“I’ll be staying in Zhonghai for a few more days.
If you make up your mind, find me.
Perhaps we can cooperate?”
Ning Fan was extremely sensitive to the word “cooperate.” When this word was brought up, the dynamics were no longer the same.
Teng Yun Geshang’s phrasing implied he’d be offering cooperation rather than pushing Ning Fan to join Umbrella—which, in another sense, meant that Ning Fan would be boarding Teng Yun Geshang’s ship.
If there weren’t the Nine Souls Jade as the bait, Ning Fan would surely refuse without hesitation.
But in this case, things were different.
Given the significance of those specific two pieces, he had no choice but to deliberate carefully.
Information concerning those two was hard to come by, and if he missed this opportunity to cooperate with Teng Yun Geshang, getting the two pieces from Umbrella later would be nearly impossible.
“Teng Yun Geshang, you seem to know too much!”
After a fleeting moment of excitement, Ning Fan’s expression shifted into cold contempt.
A surge of murderous intent toward Teng Yun Geshang rose inside him—this man knew far too much, posing a significant threat.
The Nine Souls Jade was Ning Fan’s greatest secret, yet in front of Teng Yun Geshang, it seemed completely exposed.
Should Ning Fan eventually obtain the other two pieces, he would have a total of seven.
Then, he’d be just one step away from completing the collection—a temptation too powerful for anyone to resist.
Meanwhile, in contrast to Ning Fan brooding over his thoughts in the conference room, Teng Yun Geshang carried a light-hearted demeanor as he left under Xu Corporation’s polite escort.
“Minister Zhu, thank you for your efforts today.”
“It’s no trouble at all—just part of my duty!”
Xu Ruolan’s conversation with Zhu Xuetao caught Teng Yun Geshang’s notice.
He threw a glance over, though his attention didn’t linger on Zhu Xuetao and was primarily focused on Xu Ruolan herself.
However, as his gaze shifted, he suddenly noticed that the Security Department’s minister by Xu Ruolan’s side seemed to also be watching him.
Yet, in the very next second, he convinced himself it was merely an illusion.
After staring at Zhu Xuetao for several moments, Teng Yun Geshang finally got into his car, preparing to leave.
“For a seemingly insignificant Zhonghai, there are indeed hidden masters lurking around—it’s amazing I almost missed such a formidable figure!”
Teng Yun Geshang exclaimed in astonishment inside the car.
He was certain that the Security Department minister could rival him in strength—perhaps even exceed him.
The minister’s observation had lasted for quite some time, and without Xu Ruolan nearby, Teng Yun Geshang might not have noticed his presence at all.
Beside him, Fei Peilie furrowed his brow upon hearing Teng Yun Geshang’s murmuring and curiously asked, “Sir, who are you referring to?”
“Oh, nothing—just someone intriguing, though that person…”
Teng Yun Geshang’s voice trailed off as a familiar feeling gnawed at him.
Who was it?
Where had he seen that person before?
He squinted his eyes, trying to recall where Zhu Xuetao had crossed paths with him in the past.
But the lingering familiarity refused to cement into a memory.
Unable to piece it together after thinking for a long while, Teng Yun Geshang shook his head and stopped dwelling on it, now solely focused on whether Ning Fan would agree to his conditions.
“Do you think Ning Fan will agree?” Teng Yun Geshang laughed suddenly, savoring the memory of Ning Fan’s agitation earlier.
If nothing else, this time he had succeeded in rattling Ning Fan’s composure—a rare achievement after several failed attempts to gain the upper hand in their encounters.
Fei Peilie forced a bitter smile and, with some worry, responded, “Lord Konstantin certainly wouldn’t approve of this!”
Umbrella’s members were all acutely aware of Konstantin’s intense desire for the Nine Souls Jade.
Back when Mingwang Pavilion’s Vice-Pavilion Master Dikas found one of the pieces, its original purpose was to be delivered to Konstantin—but now it was in Ning Fan’s hands.
This explained why Konstantin had continuously pressured Teng Yun Geshang to eliminate Ning Fan.
From Konstantin’s perspective, Ning Fan was nothing short of an eyesore, especially when it came to the Nine Souls Jade in Ning Fan’s possession—a treasure Konstantin was desperate to grasp.
“Heh, all because of an intangible, mythical legend, he’s become so obsessed.
Whether Konstantin agrees is irrelevant—the only thing that matters is Ning Fan’s decision!”
Teng Yun Geshang didn’t care about Konstantin’s opinion and had no intentions of informing him about this matter.
Fei Peilie stared at Teng Yun Geshang, his expression shifting as realization dawned on him.
His voice trembled in shock as he spoke, “Sir, could it be that you…”
However, before finishing the thought, Fei Peilie dared not continue.
He had already picked up on Teng Yun Geshang’s intentions after accompanying him for so long.
But if such plans leaked out, Konstantin certainly wouldn’t sit idly by.
“Heh heh heh…”
Teng Yun Geshang let out a low chuckle as he gazed at Fei Peilie.
To him, this situation presented an opportunity—one that only required sacrificing two seemingly worthless pieces of the Nine Souls Jade.
Once this was done, he could address Ning Fan later.
As for Konstantin, who had occupied his current position for far too long, perhaps it was time to see that position change hands.
“It all depends on Ning Fan now.
Don’t let me down!”