He Honghui was very smart. Although the one million benefit was a lot, he did not focus on this small immediate gain. He looked further ahead.
If he could befriend Logan and gain such powerful connections, making Logan forever indebted to him would be far more useful than a million.
Logan was also an old fox and saw through He Honghui's thoughts at a glance.
In the martial world, owing anything was better than owing favors.
But in the current situation, Logan could only obey He Honghui's "arrangement." So, he smiled slightly and said, "Mr. He truly embodies integrity. Fine, I will consider us friends then."
He Honghui also smiled. "Since we are already friends, I will definitely help a friend. Mr. Logan, rest assured, when you take the stage again, you will never have to see Lu Ming's ugly face again!"
With that, he left the lounge directly.
At this moment, Lu Ming was chatting with Zhu You about something, and they were having a good time.
As they were talking, He Honghui walked over, smiled at Lu Ming, and said, "Mr. Lu, Star Envoy has something to say to you. Please come with me."
Star Envoy, Peng Ying?
Lu Ming asked doubtfully, "Can't she just come and tell me herself? Or have you relay the message?"
He Honghui explained, "I'm not sure of the specifics, but judging by Star Envoy's demeanor, it should be very important. I suspect it's related to this exhibition and to Logan."
Oh?
Anything related to Logan, Lu Ming would definitely pay attention to.
He patted Zhu You on the shoulder and said, "Alright, I have to take care of something. You can head back now. We'll grab some skewers and beer together another time if we're free."
"Okay!" Zhu You smiled like a child.
He Honghui looked at this scene with some confusion. He didn't understand why the esteemed artist Zhu You would be so close to Lu Ming.
But none of that mattered now. What mattered was that Lu Ming had to die today!
Afterward, Lu Ming followed He Honghui towards the exhibition lounge area. After several twists and turns, they arrived at the door of a private lounge.
He knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.
So, He Honghui raised his voice and said, "Star Envoy, Mr. Lu has arrived."
There was still no response from inside.
He Honghui turned to Lu Ming and said, "Perhaps the Star Envoy had something urgent and left. Why don't you go in first, Mr. Lu? I'll go call for Star Envoy, and I'll be right back."
"En."
Lu Ming pushed the door open without hesitation and entered.
The spacious lounge had a few chairs. Lu Ming casually sat down.
After He Honghui closed the door, a wicked smile appeared on his lips, and he silently thought, "Super idiot, falling for it so easily. Just wait here for Peng Ying. When she arrives, it will be time to collect your corpse!"
Then, he took out a chain he had prepared earlier and locked the door, ensuring Lu Ming couldn't get out.
With everything in place, only the last step remained: eliminating Lu Ming!
He Honghui had already made his preparations. He took out a small packet of powder, lit it with a lighter, and then pushed the packet through the door crack.
This packet of powder was highly toxic. After burning, it would spread quickly, and anyone who inhaled it would die instantly.
After pushing the powder in, He Honghui immediately turned and ran.
He didn't dare to breathe, running all the way out of the lounge area before he could open his mouth and gasp for air.
"Hoo~~" He Honghui wiped his forehead, feeling somewhat excited.
He's dead! This time, Lu Ming is definitely dead!
Lu Ming was locked inside the room and enveloped by poisonous smoke. There was absolutely no chance of survival unless he could hold his breath until someone rescued him.
That was impossible.
Just then, a very familiar figure appeared before him.
"He Honghui, why are you gasping for air like that?"
He Honghui was startled and looked up, finding Peng Ying standing in front of him. He quickly composed himself and said, "I wasn't doing anything, the air in there was just a bit stuffy, so I came out for some fresh air. Star Envoy, why are you out here instead of resting inside?"
Peng Ying said, "I came out to look for Lu Ming. He disappeared after leaving Zhu You and didn't return. I wanted to see where he went. The break is almost over, and if he doesn't go back, is he not planning to participate in the second half of the exhibition?"
Participate in the second half?
Hahahaha!
He Honghui's heart bloomed with joy. He silently thought, "That bastard Lu Ming isn't going back. He's probably dead by now."
Peng Ying glanced at him and asked, "Why are you smiling so creepily?"
He Honghui immediately suppressed his smile. "I... I wasn't smiling."
"Really not smiling?"
"No."
Peng Ying didn't seem to notice anything amiss with He Honghui and walked away. But halfway, she suddenly stopped and half-turned to look at He Honghui.
She just stared, not saying a word, making He Honghui's scalp tingle.
"Star Envoy, is there something you need to instruct me on by looking at me like that?"
Peng Ying showed a peculiar smile.
She took out a small packet of powder from her pocket and said nonchalantly, "It's like this, I found this in your room yesterday. I don't know what it is, so I wanted to ask for your advice."
Huh?
When He Honghui saw the small packet of powder, he was completely stunned.
Wasn't that the exact powder he had just lit?
How could it be in Peng Ying's hand?
Wait!
Peng Ying said she found this packet of powder in He Honghui's room yesterday and took it. Then what did He Honghui just light?
He Honghui only had one packet of powder!
Instantly, he understood.
It had been swapped!
Peng Ying had known He Honghui's scheme from the start and had swapped the powder long ago. The pathetic He Honghui thought he could kill Lu Ming, not realizing that all his actions were under Peng Ying's surveillance.
Peng Ying deliberately brought out the powder after He Honghui had acted, which indicated one thing: she was deliberately trying to provoke He Honghui!
In an instant, He Honghui felt all the hairs on his body stand on end.
All along, he had regarded Peng Ying as a foolish woman who only knew how to torment others with cruel methods. Little did he know, Peng Ying's cunning ran far deeper than his own.
When it came to playing mind games with Peng Ying, he was too naive.
As expected.
While He Honghui was stunned, another familiar figure appeared.
Lu Ming!
Lu Ming, who should have been locked in the lounge waiting to die, surprisingly appeared in front of He Honghui completely unharmed.
Lu Ming said as he walked, "He Honghui, weren't you going to call Peng Ying to the lounge? Why are you just standing here?"
Clearly, Lu Ming was also mocking He Honghui.
The appearance of Peng Ying and Lu Ming one after another was a slap in the face to He Honghui, completely shattering his self-proclaimed plan.
It also proved one thing: they had known about He Honghui's plan for a long time and had joined forces to wait for He Honghui to make his move!
Lu Ming intentionally followed He Honghui into the lounge, luring He Honghui into making a move.
Luring the snake out of its hole, nothing more.
How laughable that He Honghui actually thought he had tricked Lu Ming, believing such a simple method could eliminate Lu Ming. It was truly a joke.
Sweat dripped down his face incessantly.
He Honghui trembled as he looked at Peng Ying and asked fearfully, "You... how did you know my entire plan?"
There was no point in hiding anything anymore.
Peng Ying smiled and said, "Why do you think I can hold the position of Star Envoy of the White Lotus Sect? Do you think I really only know how to use poisonous insects to bite people? He Honghui, what do you take me, Peng Ying, for?"
He Honghui was nervous and scared.
However, he still had one last card: the Left Protector!
He gritted his teeth and said, "I did this entirely out of a desire to protect the White Lotus Sect. I have a clear conscience, and I have done my duty to the White Lotus Sect! Furthermore, my actions were approved by the Left Protector. I have not betrayed the White Lotus Sect, so what wrong have I done? On the contrary, Star Envoy, you are getting so close to Lu Ming, an enemy of the White Lotus Sect. Aren't you afraid of the Left Protector's punishment?"
At this point, He Honghui could only pin all his hopes on the Left Protector.
However.
Peng Ying gave an evil smile and revealed a terrible secret to He Honghui.
Her red lips parted slightly, and she said coldly, "You thought the Left Protector was on your side? Why do you think I knew your entire plan and was so wary of you from the beginning? The Left Protector, he is my mentor."