When Yuan Shang's venture with Jin Hankang failed and he had Wong Qiang taken to the Martial Alliance's prison, he had already ordered the internal investigation team to arrest everyone from the technology department.

The matter of the lottery drawing program was bound to be settled.

Ultimately, any investigation would inevitably implicate Peng Hetong. Already saddled with a "self-warning," if he were to be investigated again, he was guaranteed to lose his position and spend the rest of his life in prison.

If the investigation had happened two days ago, Peng Hetong wouldn't have been afraid. With Jin Hankang backing him, which was equivalent to having the support of the Long Capital Grand Alliance, why would he fear Yuan Shang's investigation?

But things were different now...

With Ki Qinyin's intervention, Jin Hankang's abuse of authority to pressure Xu Ke was now a matter of solid evidence. As long as Ki Qinyin spoke a few words to the Long Capital Grand Alliance Leader, Yan Xuehai, he would have no choice but to punish Jin Hankang, no matter how reluctant he was. If Yan Xuehai didn't act, Ki Qinyin would surely escalate the matter. And the higher-ups would certainly be displeased... Anyone could understand the consequences of their displeasure.

Under these circumstances, Jin Hankang couldn't even protect himself, so how could he possibly protect Peng Hetong? At this point, Peng Hetong was nothing more than an abandoned pawn. If Yuan Shang investigated him, no one would stand up for him. They would just let him be quietly escorted to the Martial Alliance's prison... If he didn't beg Jin Hankang now, he could be silently killed without anyone batting an eye.

His only hope was for Jin Hankang to take him along.

But Jin Hankang's lips curled into a sneer. "Scram!" he said coldly.

At those words, Peng Hetong's face turned even paler. "My lord, didn't you promise to take me back to Long Capital?"

In that instant, he felt as if he'd been plunged into an icy abyss.

I thought I had clung to a thick thigh, but it turned out to be a pathetic twig. To make matters worse, this damn twig wouldn't even let me hold on...

"I don't want to see him again. Throw him out," Jin Hankang said, turning away and ignoring Peng Hetong completely.

Right now, he just wanted to hurry back to Long Capital. Every extra second he stayed here increased the risk of Ki Qinyin retaliating. It was safer back in Long Capital.

As for Peng Hetong? A mere pawn. Let him die for all I care.

"My lord, you can't do this! You're burning the bridge after crossing it!" Peng Hetong shrieked, his voice filled with despair.

But it was utterly useless.

Mo Yunchang and Shi Junneng rose and blocked his path. Jin Hankang stood with his back to him, completely unresponsive.

Seeing this, Peng Hetong finally broke down. Since Jin Hankang had decided to abandon him, he started cursing wildly, "Jin Laogou, may you die a horrible death!"

As he spoke, Peng Hetong surged forward, trying to get past the two men to grab Jin Hankang.

Mo Yunchang and Shi Junneng exchanged a glance and shot out a palm strike...

"Argh!"

Peng Hetong screamed, a spray of blood erupting from his mouth as his body flew backward. They then kicked him out of the room.

THUD...

Struck by two masters, Peng Hetong landed in a miserable heap. The moment he hit the floor, he felt a gust of wind.

BANG!

The door was slammed shut by the draft.

Peng Hetong lay on the ground in utter despair, his vacant eyes staring at the closed door.

Just then, the elevator doors opened. Two men in black approached and, seeing Peng Hetong on the floor, sneered, "Not running anymore?"

Peng Hetong didn't speak. These were the members of the Tianhai Martial Alliance sent to arrest him. Seeing his despondent state, the two men understood everything and immediately hauled him away.

Peng Hetong was in a daze as he was led downstairs. It wasn't until he was in the car, the harsh sunlight stabbing at his eyes, that an endless wave of regret washed over him.

Why... why did I court death again after Xu Ke had already put me in my place once? Even Lin Zhongtian knew to keep his tail between his legs and not provoke Xu Ke after his own loss. And yet, I actively went looking for trouble, actually thinking Jin Hankang could deal with Xu Ke?

The result was being thrown out of the room by Jin Hankang and taken back to the Martial Alliance to await judgment. All his passionate bootlicking had been for nothing.

"I regret it so much..." Peng Hetong muttered bitterly.

The guard escorting him exchanged a look with the driver and chuckled.

"Feeling the sting only after you've been beaten?

"Learning to swerve only after you've crashed?

"It's too late for regrets now, Chief Peng!

"Your debt to Chief Hua, your collusion with the Ye Family, your collusion with Jin Hankang... We'll settle these accounts one by one."

...

Not long after Peng Hetong was taken away, Jin Hankang left the hotel and rushed straight to Tianhai Airport. He flew to Long Capital without a moment's delay; anyone who didn't know better would have thought his pants were on fire.

Shortly after Jin Hankang left, a black commercial van pulled out of the parking lot and sped toward the Haisui Expressway.

"Elder Jin has left," Zhao Xiangping, in the passenger seat, said, turning to look at Qian Jun, who lay silent in the back.

Qian Jun nodded but said nothing.

Ever since waking up from his fainting spell at the stadium, Qian Jun hadn't uttered a single word, acting like a wooden puppet. The pride and sharpness he had on arrival in Tianhai had been completely shattered by Xu Ke today. In other words, if Qian Jun didn't find some opportunity to pull himself together, he was as good as crippled.

Seeing Qian Jun's silence, Zhao Xiangping quickly turned back around, not daring to look at him. There was still the red, size forty-something shoe print on Qian Jun's face.

The driver, Su Ximing, glanced in the rearview mirror, his expression flashing with anger, but he ultimately remained silent. The atmosphere in the vehicle was heavy and oppressive.

Before they came, they had never imagined it would end like this. No matter how strong Xu Ke was, they had estimated that it was impossible for Qian Jun to lose. The only variable was the manner of his victory. Perhaps Qian Jun would instantly defeat Xu Ke. Perhaps he would kill Xu Ke after a fierce battle. Or perhaps he would have to expend some effort to avoid Xu Ke's dirty tricks before killing him...

But they had never, ever imagined that Qian Jun would be the one to lose. Not only that, he had lost after being instantly defeated once, given a second chance, and then being humiliated and beaten beyond recognition.

Normally, anyone would have conceded defeat after the first loss. They wouldn't have been shameless enough to accept a second chance from their opponent, much less make the second loss a hundred times more humiliating than the first.

But Qian Jun had managed it, the shoe print on his face a vivid testament to the phrase:

Arriving in high spirits, leaving in utter disgrace.

After they had been driving for some time, a phone rang.

Zhao Xiangping impatiently grabbed his phone. Who could be calling at a time like this? But when he saw the caller's name, the color drained from his face and his lips began to tremble.

Qian Jun noticed his strange reaction, his gaze flickering slightly. "Who is it?"

Zhao Xiangping flinched.

"Speak!" Qian Jun's tone hardened.

"It's... it's the Boss!"

"Give me the phone." Qian Jun held out his hand, his previously vacant eyes now showing a flicker of fear and guilt.

Zhao Xiangping didn't dare disobey.

Qian Jun took the phone and answered.

A placid voice came from the other end. "Qian Jun?"

"Boss, it's me." Qian Jun lowered his head, his posture subservient, as if Wong Ting himself was standing before him instead of being far away in the Southern Territory.

After getting a response, Wong Ting was silent for a long moment before he spoke again, slowly. "Do you realize? The Southern Territory has never suffered such a disgraceful loss."