Chapter 036: The Mysterious Figure

Chapter 036: The Mysterious Figure

The man hung up the phone, a sinister smile creeping across his face. He chuckled darkly. Huang Tianba, you think you’re so capable? Let’s see how long that lasts. I’ll make sure to wipe out your entire Righteous Sect, then take your daughter for myself, just to show you my strength. Suddenly, his phone rang again. Glancing at the number, his expression shifted instantly, and he hurried into a secret chamber.

“Hello, may I ask whom you’re looking for?” It was their prearranged code phrase, agreed upon for secrecy; outsiders would never pick up on it. Thinking of the man who called himself Alpha, the middle-aged man’s eyes filled with astonishment.

“I’m looking for Huang Tianba.” The voice on the other end was icy cold, as if it had emerged from a glacial abyss—another part of their secret code. The man gave no direct response, but continued, “I’m sorry, there’s no Huang Tianba here. I am not Huang Tianba.”

“Heh. Not bad. Now, update me on the situation over there. Do you need me to send people to assist you?” Though the voice sounded as if it was laughing, there was no hint of warmth in it. If anything, the cold laughter sent chills down the man’s spine, making him feel as though he’d fallen into a gloomy crypt.

“That won’t be necessary for now. Everything is under my control. Although Huang Wei questioned Chen Hao and the others today, I hear she didn’t get anything out of them. I’m confident I can handle it.” The man spoke with assurance; after all, he’d been working in the Righteous Sect for years and had built up considerable influence.

“That’s for the best. This time, we must seize the Righteous Sect in one swift move.” The sinister voice echoed again. Though calm on the surface, it carried a crushing sense of intimidation that made the man’s heart tremble.

“By the way, may I ask a question?” the man asked cautiously, afraid of inadvertently offending this mysterious figure.

“Go ahead,” the man on the other end replied coolly.

“I want to know, why are you helping me?” This question had haunted him for a long time, but he’d always been too afraid to ask.

“You should already know the answer to that. You’re a clever man, and you’re talented. I doubt you want to spend your life under someone else’s heel. You’ve done well in this matter, so we want to cultivate you. But let me be clear—if you turn out to be hopeless, you’ll be replaced without hesitation. I trust this can be settled swiftly.” The voice was chilling, as if it came from the depths of hell.

“Yes, yes!” The man wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. He’d seen firsthand how ruthless these people could be—especially when they moved against Huang Tianba, striking quickly and mercilessly. The memory alone sent cold sweat trickling down his back.

“But if you follow us faithfully, wealth and glory will be yours. When our great plan succeeds, you’ll never want for anything again.” At this, the man’s face broke into a delighted grin. That’s right—he was risking everything for profit, after all.

“Yes, yes, I’ll work hard and follow your arrangements. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go make preparations.” The other man grunted his assent and hung up. Alone in his leather chair, the man closed his eyes and contemplated his next steps.

Sigh. He’d already set foot on this path—there was no turning back. Otherwise, that man would never let him go. Thinking of that terrifying figure made his heart quail. He remembered their first meeting: he’d been troubled by his inability to complete the sect master’s assignment, drowning his sorrows in a bar, when a man calling himself Alpha offered help.

On a whim, he’d agreed, his brothers in tow. Outside an abandoned factory, Alpha suddenly attacked. They thought they could take him down with numbers, but they failed miserably.

In the end, Alpha smiled and said, “Now do you believe me?” The man admitted he did, and signed an agreement. He received considerable benefits, completed several key transactions for Huang Tianba, and gradually gained his trust. Thereafter, he even began learning combat skills from Alpha.

As time passed, his ambition grew until he found himself on this road of no return. To survive, he had to keep moving forward—eliminate Huang Wei, seize leadership of the Righteous Sect. If not for Huang Wei, no one would dare challenge him for the position. But with her here, his advantage was gone. His only option was to remove her first, take the seat for himself, and fulfill his pact with the mysterious figure.

Who exactly was this Alpha? The man muttered to himself. He’d even sent his subordinates to investigate in the provincial capital, but found nothing. Once, when they tried to tail Alpha, convinced they’d get something, they still came up empty. Alpha simply called and warned him: if you keep following me, you’ll end up dead.

That was enough to terrify him into immediately recalling his men. Still, Alpha had promised to reveal everything when the time was right. The man accepted this. Since allying himself with Alpha, his status in the gang had risen rapidly, since every time, with Alpha’s help, he completed his missions flawlessly. Yet the more he relied on Alpha, the more he doubted his identity.

Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, Alpha handled them with ease. Was he some ruthless mastermind, or an immensely powerful figure? No matter. Now wasn’t the time to ponder it. “Someone, come!”

“Boss, what is it?” A middle-aged man entered, bowing respectfully before him.

“Go. Begin executing Plan A. Make sure it’s done well. Succeed or die trying—understand?” The man’s tone was fierce as he addressed his subordinate. This was the first step of his plan; if it succeeded, the rest would be far easier.

The subordinate’s body trembled slightly, but he quickly assented and hurried away. The man reclined in his chair, wearing a smug smile. Huang Wei, let’s see how long you can act arrogantly! The Righteous Sect is mine—no one else can have it. Hmph!