832: Chapter 821: Where is the Tulip?
832: Chapter 821: Where is the Tulip?
“Ning Fan, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?
London—about a month ago, right?”
After spotting Ning Fan, Teng Yun Geshang immediately greeted him with enthusiasm.
The spacious meeting room contained only four people: Teng Yun Geshang, his butler Fei Peilie, Xu Ruolan, and Ning Fan.
Others with less significance weren’t even qualified to enter.
Ning Fan patted Xu Ruolan lightly on the shoulder, giving her an eye gesture indicating she should leave first.
“Be careful…”
Xu Ruolan whispered softly, then, after casting a deep glance at Teng Yun Geshang and the others, left the meeting room.
Once she’d taken her leave, Ning Fan moved to sit across from Teng Yun Geshang, casually responding, “Yes, it’s been about a month…”
Their first encounter in London felt like it had happened at least a month ago.
To meet again, and in Huaxia of all places—and within the Xu Corporation at that—was something Ning Fan hadn’t foreseen.
Originally, when Chen Fengnan had informed him of Teng Yun Geshang’s visit to Huaxia, Ning Fan had planned to prepare a grand “gift” for him.
But as it turned out, Teng Yun Geshang’s speed was so rapid that he’d arrived in Zhonghai without Ning Fan even noticing.
At the time, Ning Fan had been in secluded cultivation.
Thinking back now, he broke into a cold sweat at the realization—thankfully, Teng Yun Geshang hadn’t made any moves during that period.
That said, someone like Teng Yun Geshang naturally disdained resorting to underhanded tactics.
To defeat Ning Fan, his first consideration would be fair and square methods.
Only under dire circumstances would he consider employing schemes.
This time, Teng Yun Geshang had brought along someone new.
Casting a subtle glance at Fei Peilie, Ning Fan showed no outward reaction, but inwardly felt incomparable shock.
Good heavens—are all of the people around Teng Yun Geshang monsters?
In recent interactions with individuals from the Umbrella organization—be they Thousand Faces or Tulip—all of them had reached the peak of the Object-Manipulating Realm.
Especially this man beside Teng Yun Geshang, whose presence left Ning Fan with a profoundly vivid impression.
This man’s aura was no less formidable than that of the Second Elder Ning Fan had confronted back at the Yunteng family.
The late Second Elder of the Yunteng family—an old man who sacrificed his life to uphold the family’s dignity—his strength, Ning Fan still remembered clearly: the Half-step True Origin Realm, with a final enlightenment of Sword Intent,
That one sword strike lingered vividly in Ning Fan’s memory.
If his heart hadn’t been located on the right side of his chest,
he wouldn’t even have the chance to be sitting here now across from Teng Yun Geshang.
“Oh, forgot to introduce him—this is my butler, Fei Peilie.
You’ll have more opportunities to interact with him in the future.”
Teng Yun Geshang smirked faintly at Ning Fan, as if flaunting something.
It was almost as though he were saying: “Look, even the dog I keep at my side possesses peak Object-Manipulating Realm strength.
Doesn’t that underscore the weight of the olive branch I’m extending to you?”
The conditions Teng Yun Geshang had once proposed were to groom Ning Fan as the successor to Umbrella—not as merely another eaglehound like Fei Peilie.
It’s worth noting: if Ning Fan had nodded in agreement back then, masters like Fei Peilie would obey Ning Fan’s every command—even to the point of death.
Of course, this would require Teng Yun Geshang’s approval first, given Fei Peilie’s special status as a longtime confidant.
Teng Yun Geshang was hardly willing to part with him.
“I am Fei Peilie.
It’s an honor to finally meet the renowned Asura.”
Fei Peilie spoke fluent Huaxia, showcasing his linguistic prowess.
As an elite member of Umbrella, he navigated obscure dialects from minor nations with ease.
Ning Fan deeply scrutinized him; at the same time, Fei Peilie observed Ning Fan equally intently.
Though Ning Fan felt a measure of trepidation about Fei Peilie, the butler seemed to harbor similar reservations about him.
“Ning Fan, I heard you took down Thousand Faces?”
Teng Yun Geshang abruptly brought up Thousand Faces—a person whose name he only recalled by codename.
As Umbrella’s second-in-command, Teng Yun Geshang could undoubtedly acquire Thousand Faces’ real name, but he had no leisure interest in committing such trivial labels to memory.
Though aware that Thousand Faces had perished at Ning Fan’s hands, Teng Yun Geshang wasn’t as enraged as outsiders might anticipate.
As a chess piece sent to probe Ning Fan, his death mattered little; insignificant figures like him were mere ants in their view.
One less or one more—it made no difference.
But Ning Fan was different.
What Teng Yun Geshang valued was Ning Fan’s potential.
If he could recruit Ning Fan into Umbrella and cultivate him into a close confidant like Fei Peilie, it would not only inject fresh blood into the organization but benefit Teng Yun Geshang personally.
Within Umbrella, unity wasn’t as seamless as it seemed.
Take his relationship with the organization’s figurehead Konstantin—on the surface cordial, beneath the surface rife with open and covert struggles.
Teng Yun Geshang had been eyeing Konstantin’s position for some time, while Konstantin kept a vigilant watch against figures like Teng Yun Geshang attempting a coup.
“So—you want to settle scores with me?
Yes, I killed him, that’s true.
Got a problem with that?”
Ning Fan grinned coldly, his expression absolutely chilling, showing no fear of Teng Yun Geshang unleashing his wrath over the matter.
Yet Teng Yun Geshang merely wagged a finger, gently replying, “As if.
I was merely asking.
Don’t get me wrong—a mere Thousand Faces isn’t worth me tearing our rapport apart.”
Teng Yun Geshang made no effort at veiled speech.
Instead of indulging in cryptic posturing, he laid everything bare—straightforward and forthright.
In analyzing Ning Fan, he’d discerned that he didn’t fancy individuals full of tricks and schemes.
Teng Yun Geshang’s apparent frankness surprised Ning Fan.
He hadn’t anticipated such directness from him.
“So, how about Tulip?
She should still be with you, right?”
Teng Yun Geshang remarked cryptically, hypothesizing that Tulip wasn’t likely dead—and that her involvement in Thousand Faces’ demise was surely significant.
Ning Fan found it hard to read Teng Yun Geshang: what exactly was this man plotting, aiming for?
Ning Fan couldn’t see through it.
He could only follow the topic and nod in confirmation: “Yes, Tulip is my woman now…”
Calling her “his woman” wasn’t inaccurate.
After all, she’d already presented her token of loyalty—Thousand Faces’ death undeniably bore Tulip’s contribution.
As for whether Tulip could be wholly trusted, Ning Fan wasn’t naive enough to reveal his lingering suspicions to Teng Yun Geshang.
Confirming this fact, Teng Yun Geshang nodded, as if everything aligned with his plans.
His reactions, truth be told, irked Ning Fan deeply.
“So how is she?
That Tulip woman works quite well—have you had the chance to experience her?”