"Hong, I need you to do me a favor. Personally notify Yan Hai and have him come to Ning An Residential Area. I have something for him to do..."
Although Yue Ming intended to protect Luo Feng's family, there was no need for him to handle it personally. He opened his Combat Communication Watch, found Hong's contact information, and, once Hong accepted the video call, directly asked him to notify Yan Hai and have him come to Ning An Residential Area.
Luo Feng's family had been harassed because of Li Yao, but Li Yao was merely a High-level God of War. Yue Ming could not be bothered to bully him, so he went straight to the person backing Li Yao. Yue Ming remembered that Li Yao's patron was Yan Hai. The two were said to have known each other since the Great Nirvana period and seemed to share a deep friendship. In the original story, Yan Hai had helped Li Yao quite a few times.
Yan Hai possessed strength at the second rank of the Planetary level and ranked among the top ten on Earth. However, he was despicable by nature and greedy for life and fearful of death. When the Golden Horn Beast attacked in the original story, Luo Feng needed five Planetary-level warriors to sacrifice themselves in order to use a secret technique to kill it. Yan Hai hid himself away thoroughly and only dared to show himself after the Golden Horn Beast had been destroyed.
Being afraid of death alone was nothing much; after all, there were only a few people in this world willing to sacrifice themselves for righteousness. But after confirming that Luo Feng and the others had died and that Hong and Thor had fallen into slumber, Yan Hai had joined forces with several other scum to persecute the families of heroes for cultivation resources. That was truly infuriating. In the end, the returned Luo Feng killed him forcefully. He had only gotten what he deserved.
"It's a small matter. Once you're done, remember to come over and get together. You've been in seclusion for over a year now. Lei has been waiting for you so eagerly his eyes are practically worn out."
"Alright! I'll come find you once I'm done..."
Hong did not ask why Yue Ming wanted to see Yan Hai, and Yue Ming offered no explanation. It was as though Yan Hai was an insignificant nobody in their eyes. Once they agreed on a time to meet, they ended the video call, and Yue Ming quietly waited in the villa's living room for Yan Hai to arrive.
"Who exactly is this person? What is his relationship with Hong? He actually got Hong to personally contact me just to have me go see him? I'd like to see who you are, daring to make me come see you in person!"
After ending the video call, the smile on Yan Hai's face faded and gradually turned gloomy. The lofty Hong had personally called him and told him to quietly go to Villa 188 in Ning An Residential Area to meet someone. Hong might have spoken lightly, without sounding as though he was forcing him in the slightest, but Yan Hai did not dare disobey at all.
"There's no ambush. Looks like I was overthinking it."
After arriving at Ning An Residential Area, Yan Hai did not enter immediately. Instead, he observed the place from outside for several minutes. Only after confirming there was no ambush did he quietly enter the residential area. Yet the instant he stepped into Villa 188, a terrifying aura pressed him flat onto the ground. No matter how he struggled, it was useless.
"It's over..."
As Yan Hai trembled in terror, he cursed Hong's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart. Who knew how Hong would feel if he heard that? Yet as time passed, the death he had expected never came. The villa's owner apparently had no intention of killing him, and that horrifying aura slowly began to fade.
"Come in!"
Yan Hai rose uneasily. He wanted to turn and flee, but reason told him never to do so. Trembling, he walked into the villa's living room. He raised his head for a glance, then immediately lowered it again, though he had still seen a young man seated before the coffee table. The young man looked utterly ordinary, with not the slightest aura around him, as if he were just a normal person. But Yan Hai's experience moments ago told him that this young man was terrifying.
"You need not know who I am. I had Hong notify you to come see me because I have something for you to do. Do it well, and you will naturally be rewarded. Do it poorly, and you can go die. Believe me: if I want to kill you, no one on Earth can save you. And no matter where you hide, I have a way to find you!"
Yue Ming raised his eyes and assessed Yan Hai. Seeing him drenched in sweat and looking utterly terrified, he nodded in satisfaction. It seemed the display of force just now had been quite effective. Only by suppressing Yan Hai's arrogance would he not dare play tricks when ordered to do something.
"If you have any task, sir, please command me freely. I will certainly do my utmost! I do not seek any reward. Being able to serve you is my honor!"
"Are you sure you don't want one?"
Yue Ming took out a grain of Dragon Crystal Rice and placed it on the coffee table. At the sight of it, Yan Hai's eyes went wide, and his breathing involuntarily quickened. He could sense the immense life energy contained within the Dragon Crystal Rice. He had been stuck at the peak of the second rank of the Planetary level for more than a decade. If he could obtain the treasure before him, he was absolutely certain he could break through to the third rank of the Planetary level.
"This treasure is called Dragon Crystal Rice. I'll keep it for you. Once you complete the task I assign you, you can come here and take it at any time. The task is simple: protect Luo Feng's family. Luo Feng will return within a year, and your task will be complete then. But if anything happens to Luo Feng's family, I will make you pay for their lives!"
"Yes!"
Yan Hai did not offer any more empty pleasantries. If Yue Ming took him seriously, would the treasure already in his grasp not be gone? This was his hope of breaking through to the third rank of the Planetary level. As for Luo Feng, he naturally knew who he was and understood the grudge between Luo Feng and Li Yao. But so what? For the sake of breaking through to the third rank of the Planetary level, it was only right for Li Yao to make some sacrifices.
"Looks like I need to warn Li Yao. With his personality, he'll definitely do something reckless..."
If Yan Hai had initially compromised because of Yue Ming's threats, harboring more or less some resentment, then now his heart held only excitement. For the treasure, he would certainly do everything in his power to handle this matter properly. If Li Yao failed to recognize what was good for him, then Yan Hai could not be blamed for disregarding their old friendship.
"Also, make sure Luo Feng's family knows who is protecting them, but don't make it too deliberate. Judge the degree yourself. As long as the result satisfies me, you'll keep your life, and the treasure will be yours as well. Do you understand?"
Yue Ming was not the sort to do good deeds without leaving his name behind. He had to let Luo Feng's family know who was protecting them, or how else would Luo Feng owe him a favor? Would all his effort not have been wasted?
"I understand. I guarantee I'll handle this beautifully for you, sir. I'll let them 'accidentally' learn that you are protecting them, and I'll find a way to make them deeply grateful to you."
Yan Hai practically wanted to beat his chest in assurance. After all, this concerned both his life and whether he could obtain the treasured reward. He estimated that he would care even more about it than Yue Ming did. Yan Hai also changed his mind. Originally, he had planned to warn Li Yao, but now that would not do. If Li Yao did not act recklessly, how could Yan Hai come to the rescue? How could he make Luo Feng's family deeply grateful to his lord? As for whether Li Yao would be held accountable later, that had nothing to do with him. Yan Hai could barely protect himself now; how could he care whether Li Yao lived or died?
"Then go handle it!"
Yue Ming said nothing more and waved Yan Hai away. Not long after Yan Hai left, Yue Ming quietly departed Ning An Residential Area and flew through the air straight toward the headquarters of Limit Martial Hall, preparing to get together with Hong and Thor.
Before you continue