Chapter 1057: Chapter 686: Kill Line!
"I placed Shen Wuxiang under house arrest?"
"I harbor wild ambitions to usurp the throne?"
"I dug up the Shen Family... my own foundation?"
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How absurd, and how laughable.
The blood on the Moon Gold Stone floor was shocking, and Shen Jianping’s face was as pale as paper, his expression desolate, as if all vitality had been drained from him.
Shen Jianping coughed up blood in anger, but he dared not faint.
At the life-and-death moment for the Shen Family, even fainting was a luxury.
He had to stay alert and maintain extreme calm.
My uncle once said: In times of great crises, remain calm.
"Stay calm. Stay calm."
He told himself in his heart.
Reaching out, he took the handkerchief handed over by his secretary, wiped the bloodstains from his mouth, and tried to maintain his usual dignity and composure as he asked in a deep voice, "Is Bai Xingjian really coming to the Government Affairs Office demanding someone?"
"Yes, that’s what they said... in front of dozens of media outlets and the national public," Chen Qinggong replied in a low voice.
Bai Xingjian held a press conference and it was broadcast live nationwide...
This is practically forcing the boss to the brink.
Shen Jianping’s expression was stern, but his heart was full of anxiety.
The best way to break the current deadlock is for Shen Wuxiang to come forward, make an appearance in public, and all the rumors and defamation would be debunked on their own.
But Shen Wuxiang disappeared, and he couldn’t reach him...
If Shen Wuxiang doesn’t come forward, wouldn’t that verify their accusations?
Shen Jianping found himself unable to solve this predicament posed by Bai Xingjian.
"Bai Xingjian!"
Shen Jianping gritted his teeth and shouted the name.
A biting dog doesn’t bark; this kid dealt him a fatal blow at a critical moment.
Seeing Shen Jianping’s face change unpredictably, Chen Qinggong reminded him: "Boss, should we also hold a press conference to explain the situation to the public? Otherwise, if left unchecked, the spread of rumors would severely damage your image."
Chen Qinggong was well aware that Shen Jianping was the future candidate for Minister of Culture.
As a Prime Minister, a tainted image would result in losing public support, which would be disadvantageous for future positions.
If the boss could not become the Prime Minister, his own future as a secretary would also be uncertain.
"Explain? How am I supposed to bring the Military Minister to the forefront?" Shen Jianping’s anger flared, and he spoke in fury.
The critical issue was that he couldn’t let the outside world know about the disappearance of the Military Minister.
If that happened, the situation would truly become unmanageable.
"We could say the Military Minister is currently in retreat or dealing with vital military affairs..." Chen Qinggong suggested.
When there is no optimal solution, one must resort to backup plans.
Doing nothing means only taking a passive beating.
After pondering for a moment, Shen Jianping said: "First, hold a press conference in half an hour, invite the top media platforms nationwide, and broadcast it live to the nation... I will personally attend to explain the reasons for the situation and the whereabouts of the Military Minister."
"Just say... the Military Minister is in retreat for enlightenment, temporarily unable to appear. Guide the media to handle the situation in this direction."
This reason may not be very convincing, but at least it provides the public with another choice.
Some will choose not to believe, while others will choose to trust.
"Yes."
"Second, increase search efforts, alive or dead... If Xinglan could be found and he could come forward to clarify, it would also dispel much of the public’s doubts."
Shen Xinglan, being the Military Minister’s direct grandson, holds significant notoriety and influence among the people of the Empire. Having him come forward to explain Shen Wuxiang’s whereabouts would easily gain people’s trust.
"Yes."
Pausing slightly, he continued: "Third, notify Shen Lewu, have him lead the Phoenix Dance Army’s elite to guard the Government Affairs Office... If Bai Xingjian doesn’t show, so be it. If he does, make sure he doesn’t leave."
Shen Lewu is his son, currently serving as the army commander in the Phoenix Dance Army.
If he brings people to guard the Government Affairs Office, Bai Xingjian would likely not have the guts to come demanding people.
No matter how strong the Security Bureau is, could they possibly contend with the Regular Army?
Qi Mountain Camp must remain stable, as must the Government Affairs Office.
These two places are the root of the Shen Family and the Empire.
"Yes."
Chen Qinggong noted everything down, then turned to arrange the tasks.
Shen Jianping walked to the sofa and sat down, letting out a heavy sigh: "Uncle, where have you gone?"
All members of the Shen Family knew Shen Wuxiang was the Ocean Stabilizing Divine Needle of the Shen Family.
With him around, the Qi Mountain Camp would not be in chaos, nor would the Shen Family.
Without him, people’s hearts were filled with worry.
If Shen Wuxiang doesn’t reappear, the hard-won favorable situation is about to collapse.
Suddenly, he recalled a song’s lyrics he had heard long ago: Please, come back, I can’t bear it on my own...
Words that spoke his true feelings.
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Mo Family. Tongtian Institute.
In the dark hall stood a metal apparatus resembling a coffin.
Mo Wu, the dean of the Tongtian Institute, stood before the coffin and said in a deep voice: "Proceed with the seventh skeletal repair."
Inside the coffin, the waters rippled, the golden liquid boiling and roaring like a living entity.
They repeatedly struck the black body within, cleansing and reinforcing it.
For a long time.
The waters settled.
"Proceed with the eighth skeletal repair."
The golden waters rippled once more.
"Proceed with the first muscular repair..."
"Proceed with the first full-body repair..."
"Proceed with the first skin graft..."
"Proceed with the second skin graft..."
A long time. A long time.
The golden liquid thickened, tightly encasing the body.
Mo Wu waited a moment, then shouted loudly: "Rise and prosper!"
Rumble!
The giant copper lid etched with the Tongtian Institute’s totem slowly rose, and the figure wrapped in the golden liquid abruptly ’sat’ up.
Whoosh...
As soon as the golden liquid came into contact with oxygen, it began to spontaneously combust, emitting a sizzle.
Crack!
From inside the golden sculpture, a pair of hands extended—a pair of flawless, fair hands.
He suddenly tore away the plastic covering his head, revealing a solemn, square face.
Mo Wu bowed and called out, "Congratulations on the Military Minister’s rebirth; you will sweep through the land and unite the nation."
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Thanks to Doctor Qin Luo’s meticulous treatment, Tang Fei’s body had nearly recovered.
The reason he remained in the hospital was one, to confuse the enemy, and two, to digest the vast amount of Yin Yang Qi he had absorbed.
Bai Wuxin stood at Tang Fei’s side, reporting impassively: "Despite deploying all our intelligence personnel, we still haven’t found any trace of Shen Wuxiang."
"Our people went to White Crane Mountain and met with Dean Si, who said he hadn’t seen Mr. Xuan Yuan... Mr. Xuan Yuan is also missing."
Tang Fei frowned deeply, his voice grave: "Where on earth have they gone?"
He was concerned both for his master’s safety and Shen Wuxiang’s fate...
He knew, if there were a fierce battle among the Great Grandmasters, Shen Wuxiang would surely be gravely injured.
Now is the best time to slay him...
If he’s allowed to hide and heal, killing him again would be nearly impossible.
The thought of a Great Grandmaster lurking in the dark sends shivers down one’s spine.
Shen Wuxiang is not Shen Xinglan, who would toss out a pair of white gloves before saying I want to duel with you...
"I’m sorry," Bai Wuxin said gravely.
They had tried their best, but to no avail.
Tang Fei waved his hand, smiling: "Oh, you can actually say sorry? What does this have to do with you? Shen Wuxiang is a Great Grandmaster. If he wants to hide...even if we dig three feet into the ground, we can’t find him."
"To fish, you must first bait the pond... Here’s what you do: spread the news that Shen Xinglan has fallen into our hands..."
Instead of passive defense, it’s better to lure them into a trap.
