Help

Wang Bert's words left Madame Gao deeply puzzled. "You can't forgive me, but you can take me back to K'un-Lun? Blood God, what do you mean?"

"Your crimes are too numerous. I cannot tolerate them!"

Wang Bert said, "But I can make a deal with you. You will serve as the Blood Clan's instructor, responsible for teaching the Blood Clan elite to cultivate qi. In return, I promise to take you back to K'un-Lun someday. However, I will not lift my control over you during this process. Also, you may only stay within designated areas, as if you were in prison."

"I am willing to accept such punishment. Thank you, Blood God!"

Madame Gao prostrated herself in gratitude. As long as she could return to K'un-Lun, she could accept anything! "What era are we living in? No need for such a grand gesture. Besides, this is merely a transaction between us!"

Wang Bert waved his hand. Thinking of something, he asked, "Has The Beast taken your soul?"

Madame Gao straightened up, picked up her cane, and stood. Shaking her head, she said, "No. I have always acted cautiously and have never resurrected. Besides, I do not worship The Beast!"

"Good."

Wang Bert nodded and said, "Madame Gao, I'll be relying on you from now on. I want qi to become a standard power among the Blood Clan elite!"

Madame Gao said, "Teaching them will not be a problem, but it will require a great deal of Dragon Bone!"

"I have plenty of that!"

Wang Bert placed a hand against his chest and pulled out a Rib taller than a person!

"A complete Rib? Just how much Dragon Bone is down there?"

Madame Gao's eyes widened so much that she forgot about Wang Bert's extradimensional body. In fact, even all the Dragon Bone they had stolen from K'un-Lun back then had not amounted to this much! Dragon Bone was highly durable. A single one like this was enough for the Blood Clan to use for decades!

"More than you can imagine!"

Wang Bert propped the Rib against the ground. After thinking for a moment, he took out his phone and called Mercury. "Turn the café into a teahouse. The front half will be for drinking tea, and the back half for training! Put up a sign too. Call it Dragon Subduing Teahouse! In Chinese!"

After hanging up, Wang Bert said to Madame Gao, "From now on, you will stay at Dragon Subduing Teahouse. Without my orders, you are not to leave!"

Madame Gao respectfully replied, "Yes, Blood God!"

"Seismologists have stated that this Manhattan earthquake is not a precursor to a major earthquake. Citizens need not worry..."

Listening to the news from the television, Natasha quietly complained, I wasn't worried before, but now that you've said that, I'm starting to worry, okay?

Seven or eight hours had passed since the earthquake. The chaos it caused had largely subsided. After all, this was Manhattan, where there were plenty of police.

At that moment, a Secret Phone in Natasha's arms suddenly vibrated. She cautiously glanced around, and only after confirming that nothing was wrong did she take out the phone and answer it.

"Natasha, we have located the earthquake's epicenter. It was in Hell's Kitchen!"

Nick Fury's voice came through the phone. "The Long-Term Rental Apartment Bert Wang bought was within the epicentral area!"

"You suspect the Blood God caused this earthquake?"

Natasha asked in surprise. "Director, from what I know of him, he doesn't have that kind of ability, and he wouldn't do something like this!"

"That apartment is definitely hiding something. Otherwise, the Blood Clan and The Hand would never have fought to the death over it!"

Director Fury said, "Natasha, I am officially changing your mission. The original Short-term Observation Mission will become a Long-term Infiltration Mission!"

"Long-term infiltration? Director, isn't that a bit of a waste?"

Natasha asked. She was a top-tier agent, the leading lady among S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Field Female Agents! "It is not a waste. Besides determining whether the earthquake is related to the Blood God, you must also investigate something else!"

Director Fury said, "Find out everything about Ancient One!"

"I see."

Natasha understood. She smiled and said, "Director Fury, you should use an honorific. He is the protector of Earth!"

Director Fury coldly replied, "S.H.I.E.L.D. is the protector of Earth. Anyone who could possibly threaten Earth must be monitored by us. At the very least, we must have intelligence on them."

To be honest, Ancient One's existence had left Director Fury unable to eat or sleep in peace. Ancient One was simply too powerful, and more importantly, he knew absolutely nothing about him!

What if one day Ancient One lost his mind and suddenly decided to destroy the world? S.H.I.E.L.D. was exactly that sort of organization—one with persecution paranoia!

Natasha naturally knew Director Fury's personality. She said, "It won't be easy to get information on Master Ancient One. The Blood God respects him deeply, sincerely, even though he is a Vampire."

"I don't care how you complete the mission. I only need you to complete it!"

Director Fury left those words behind and immediately hung up. Natasha rolled her eyes fiercely. Believe it or not, I'll quit on the spot? The pay here is three times higher than at S.H.I.E.L.D.! Putting down the phone, Natasha stood before the Mirror and gazed at herself with infatuation. Was there any woman in the world more beautiful than her?

"Looks like I need to give Bert Wang a little sweetness. There isn't a man in the world I can't handle, because I am simply too beautiful!"

More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye. The Manhattan earthquake had quickly been overshadowed by Tony Stark's disappearance. Now, everyone only cared whether Tony Stark was dead and who would inherit his estate. No one talked about that minor earthquake anymore! Wang Bert, who had arranged to Short Selling Stark Industries early on, made a fortune. Combined with The Hand's inheritance, his assets were even greater than when he had first taken over the Blood Clan. He could not help sighing, "When will I ever manage to spend all this money?" Everyone who heard that wanted to give Wang Bert the middle finger. Well, Blade actually did, then demanded that Wang Bert give every Blood Clan Police officer an extra month's salary. The Blood Clan Police Department had truly been far too busy lately.

With a grand wave of his hand, Wang Bert approved two months' worth of bonuses. Money was no object anyway. He also distributed the High-tech Masks developed by Tony Stark as employee benefits!

The Blood Clan Police Department erupted in cheers and worked even harder to eliminate the rebels. Everything was moving in a better direction!

In the backyard of Dragon Subduing Teahouse, which had been renovated from the original café, Wang Bert wore a Training Suit and exhaled with a shout. His fist, glowing red, smashed viciously into a massive rock nearly ten inches thick. With a bang, the stone split down the middle, breaking into several chunks that clattered to the ground and kicked up a cloud of dust.

For that punch, Wang Bert had used only twenty percent of his Iron Fist Power, without using the Blood God's own power!

"Blood God, your cultivation is advancing rapidly. The qi you possess now already rivals that of a Three Times Fusion Expert!"

Madame Gao sighed from the side. The Blood God fused with Dragon Bone far too quickly. This was not only because he possessed the Dragon Soul, but also because of the Blood God's own abilities!

Bones and blood had always been one! Dragon Bone that took others years to fully fuse with was completely fused by the Blood God in a single month! Wang Bert himself was not particularly satisfied. He said, "There are still some issues with control. I used too much force just now. I only wanted to shatter the rock, not send the pieces flying everywhere!"

"Your way of thinking is correct. The West seeks ever-greater strength, while we of the East emphasize control. One part of controlled power is more important than ten parts of uncontrolled power!"

Madame Gao smiled. "But this cannot be rushed. You can only study and train diligently every day. No matter how gifted you are, Blood God, this sort of gradual work must be polished slowly."

Wang Bert said, "Then I'll polish it slowly. When I can strike an egg with Iron Fist and leave it unbroken, that will count as success!"

"What wuxia novel did that come from this time?"

Madame Gao was speechless. She said, "Blood God, apart from control, you must also continue refining your use of qi. Strive to reach the realm of Where Thought Arrives, Qi Arrives. That is the foundation!"

Wang Bert nodded. "Of course the fundamentals must be trained. Only with a solid foundation can one reach higher realms!"

Madame Gao nodded approvingly. At that moment, Wang Bert thought of something and asked, "By the way, can Mercury cultivate qi now?"

"Not yet. Her physical condition is sufficient, but her mental strength is still lacking!"

Madame Gao said, "I have already taught her meditation and how to sense the energy of heaven and earth with her mind. As long as she settles down and cultivates for a month, she will barely meet the initial requirements."

"The key is calming the mind. Westerners have a hard time understanding our visualization and meditation!"

Wang Bert shook his head. Madame Gao smiled and said, "Mercury and Xue Ren are all right. They can more or less understand Eastern philosophy. But Frank cannot. Forget meditation—he cannot even sit still quietly for five minutes."

"With Frank's temper, it would be strange if he could sit still."

Wang Bert burst out laughing. He said, "Madame Gao, thank you for your hard work. Once Mercury and Xue Ren have learned, we will distribute Dragon Bone among the Blood Clan elite. Then, the Blood Clan elite will be able to grow stronger without drinking living human blood!"

Madame Gao humbly said, "It is what I should do!"

At that moment, the communicator beside them rang. "Blood God, Director Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. is here to see you!"

"Nick Fury came in person? It seems something major has happened. Have him wait for me in the reception room!"

Wang Bert said. He then cleaned himself up a little and went to the reception room to meet Director Fury! Wang Bert shook hands with Director Fury and said, "Director Fury, what a rare visitor!"

"It certainly is rare. I have seen plenty of clubs that require membership cards, but this is the first time I've seen a teahouse that requires one!"

Director Fury said, "Aren't you afraid the teahouse will go out of business?"

"It won't. I already bought this place, so there is no rent to pay."

Wang Bert smiled. He invited Director Fury to sit and asked, "Director Fury, what brings you here?"

Director Fury went straight to the point. "I want you to save Tony. He is important to the security of the world!"

Wang Bert said, "I can save him, but I do not want to go. I am a Vampire. I cannot be exposed to Sunlight."

Director Fury looked utterly disdainful. You spent every day holding beautiful women on the beach, and you dared claim you could not face Sunlight? Director Fury put forth his bargaining chip. "I heard you are acquiring the Medical Department of Rand Corporation. I can make that process smoother for you!"

"You mean that if I refuse to save Tony, we will not be able to acquire Rand Corporation?"

Wang Bert asked with a slightly cold expression. Director Fury instantly felt as if a colossal beast had fixed its gaze on him, as though death could come at any moment!

This guy really is no harmless character!

Director Fury remained extremely calm. "I said smoother. Your offer is very low, and you are buying Rand Corporation's most important Medical Department. There is a great deal of speculation outside. I can ensure you are completely unaffected by it."

"Is that so?"

Wang Bert withdrew his aura. He took a sip of freshly brewed tea and said, "I can help you save Tony, but I hope we can reach an understanding!"

Director Fury asked, "What understanding?"

Wang Bert said, "Over the next few months, I will make major moves involving Stark Industries stock, even buying a large amount of it!"

"You want to acquire Stark Industries?"

Director Fury's eyes turned sharp as he shouted, "Bert Wang, that is absolutely impossible! If you really do that, there will only be one outcome: war, the kind where neither side rests until the other is dead!"

No matter how muddleheaded humanity was, they could not possibly allow Vampires to control their strongest military-industrial corporation. Even foreigners understood the principle that one must not hand the hilt of a sword to another! "I know, and I have no intention of doing that. I merely want to use the opportunity to make a huge sum of money!"

Wang Bert said, "Once my plan succeeds, I will sell every share in my hands. I will not keep a single one!"

Director Fury pressed, "What is your plan?"

"To acquire another major company, one with a market value of more than a hundred billion."

Wang Bert did not hide it. He said, "To gain controlling interest in such a large company, I need to prepare at least fifty billion in funds. Although I can afford that now, it would affect the operations of the Blood God Group. Therefore, I plan to get the money from the stock market!"

Director Fury frowned. "A conglomerate worth over a hundred billion? Blood God, that is going too far!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Only a little too far. If we offer enough benefits, you will still agree, won't you?"

Director Fury said, "Blood God, doing this will make us more wary of you!"

Wang Bert said, "I will make up for it afterward! My Blood Clan will never become enemies of humanity!"

Director Fury stared expressionlessly at Wang Bert, while Wang Bert leisurely drank his tea. This made Nick Fury realize that whether he agreed or not, the other party would carry out his plan! He was merely informing him, not asking for permission! After a moment, Director Fury said, "The acquisition is acceptable, but it must be lawful. You cannot use excessive methods, such as assassinating the other side's chairman or turning their executives into Vampires."

"Don't worry. I understand the rules of the game."

Wang Bert smiled and said, "By the way, Director Fury, do you want to invest? I can promise you double returns!"

Director Fury immediately shook his head. "I will not embezzle S.H.I.E.L.D. funds to gamble."

Wang Bert looked at Director Fury in surprise. This old corrupt official was actually being so righteous?

Director Fury did not explain, nor did he care to. He embezzled not for himself, but to build bases and protect the world. That was entirely different from diverting S.H.I.E.L.D. funds to gamble.

To an old-school man like Director Fury, the stock market was gambling! Director Fury said, "S.H.I.E.L.D. can agree to this understanding, but I want ten percent of the profits!"

"Dream on! One percent at most. Don't forget, you still need me to save Tony!"

Wang Bert flatly refused. Now this was the normal Nick Fury. The earlier one had seemed as if he had been possessed! "One percent is too little. At least nine percent!"

"You're dreaming. One percent!"

"Is that how you bargain?"

"You want five percent? Dream on. Do you know every percentage point is calculated in billions? Take it or leave it, one percent! Don't think I don't know that this money will definitely end up in your own pocket."

"That is slander!"

Director Fury snorted. "One percent it is, but you must immediately go save Tony!"

"Fine. Have the U.S. Military prepare an armed helicopter for me at its Middle Eastern base. I'll fly there on a private jet!"

Wang Bert said, "Oh, and help me apply for a flight route. It's quite troublesome!"

"Fine!"

Director Fury stood and said, "You must bring Tony back safely!"

Wang Bert replied without the slightest sincerity, "I'll do my best!"