Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: Utterly Defenseless

"Mr. Fang, please feel free to pick any vehicle you like," Zheng Li said, turning toward Fang Tao with a slight look of confusion as she noticed his surprised expression.

Fang Tao gathered his wits and asked somewhat awkwardly, "Do you have anything a bit more low-key?"

Although he was interested in luxury cars, he felt uncomfortable being too flashy with a vehicle that was, after all, borrowed.

"Low-key?" Zheng Li retorted immediately. "Even if we had one, it wouldn't be suitable for you to drive."

"Why not?" Fang Tao asked, puzzled.

"Because you are President Tang's husband; a low-key car does not suit your status. Furthermore, you will be responsible for driving President Tang to and from work. Do you think such an arrangement would be appropriate?" Zheng Li explained with a stern sense of propriety.

Fang Tao was stunned. "What? I have to be President Tang's driver?"

"You're not willing? Many people would fight for this position!" Zheng Li said with a touch of arrogance.

But Fang Tao remained indifferent. "Hmph, that just shows how foolish they are..."

"Enough talk, just pick one!" Zheng Li seemed impatient, her gaze sharpening.

"If that's the case, why bother choosing?" Fang Tao gestured casually. "I'll take this one."

Zheng Li quickly pulled the corresponding key from her keychain and handed it to him, adding, "You have good taste. This is a new car; it has barely been driven."

Fang Tao climbed into the driver's seat, started the engine, and pulled out of the garage.

Reflecting on his days with the Wang family, he recalled how he was only allowed to drive a battered, dilapidated Audi, while Wang Rong wouldn't even let him touch her new Porsche.

Now, as a husband in name only, he was driving a Mulsanne. The irony was not lost on him.

In truth, he had no specific plans for the afternoon. He simply didn't want to stay at the company to face those strange, prying looks, and having just ended a three-year marriage with Wang Rong, he felt a bit down and wanted a quiet place to be alone.

He decided to drive out of the city toward Mount Qinglong.

Just as he was about to head up the mountain, his phone rang. He frowned slightly upon seeing the caller ID, but answered anyway. "Mr. Fang, I just heard some news and wanted to verify it..."

A humble voice came from the other end. "I heard that you just got a divorce; is it true?" The speaker was an elder of about fifty, his voice tinged with nervousness.

If anyone were to witness this, they would be shocked. This elder was none other than Meng Yong, the powerful and influential president of the Tenglong Chamber of Commerce in Deep City!

"Hmm, your sources are quite efficient... is that all you called about?" Fang Tao replied, showing little surprise, as he was well aware of the man's capabilities.

He hung up the phone and continued along the rugged path toward the summit.

Meng Yong did not take offense at being hung up on; instead, he wore a look of relief.

"Old Meng, why are you so happy just because someone got a divorce?" the woman sitting on the sofa asked, confused.

"You don't understand," Meng Yong said with a smile. "I had intended to invest one hundred million in the Wang family at this year's trade fair, purely for Mr. Fang's sake."

"So what? It's an investment either way; what's wrong with investing in the Wang family?" The woman stroked her pregnant belly, looking perplexed.

Meng Yong shook his head gently, a trace of disdain on his face. "The Wang family? I truly don't hold them in high regard. If it weren't for Mr. Fang, the Wang family would have collapsed long ago."

Meanwhile, in a dense bamboo forest halfway up Mount Qinglong, a white-haired old man was observing the newly sprouted bamboo shoots with great interest. Beside him stood a stunningly beautiful young girl and an imposing, heroic-looking young man.

"Grandfather, the wind in the mountains is strong; shouldn't we head back soon?" The old man coughed twice, and the girl quickly stepped forward to support him, speaking with concern.

"Don't worry, my constitution is still sturdy enough," the old man said with a smile, waving his hand despite the slight effort the movement required.

"Sister, do not worry. Although Grandfather is elderly, his foundations as a martial artist remain, and his health is far superior to ordinary people," the young man said coldly, his eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

The girl wore a red dress that swayed gently in the breeze, making her look like a delicate flower. Her skin was as white as snow, contrasting beautifully with her fiery attire and adding to her charm.

Hearing her brother's words, she frowned and gave him a reproachful look. "You just love to talk; you know full well that Grandfather's old injuries have flared up recently, and he's in great pain..."

Before she could finish, the young man suddenly shouted, "Who's there!"

He then flashed forward, darting out of the bamboo forest like an arrow released from a bow.

At that moment, Fang Tao was navigating the winding mountain road, and he would reach his destination once he passed through this bamboo forest. However, the moment he stepped inside, he heard a shout, and a figure lunged at him.

Reacting on instinct, he sidestepped, easily avoiding the attack. His gaze fell upon the aggressive young man before him.

"A practitioner of martial arts?" A sharp glint flickered in the young man's eyes.

Without another word, he braced himself, his right hand thrusting forward with a fierce palm strike aimed directly at Fang Tao's vitals.

Seeing this, the old man shouted urgently, "Lei Yuan, stop!"

But it was too late. The young man's palm whistled through the air, striking toward Fang Tao's ribs with great force. Fang Tao merely waved his hand dismissively, as if brushing away an annoying fly.

"Don't attack!" the old man shouted again in distress, knowing his grandson's strength—even a martial artist would struggle to withstand such a blow!

With a dull thud, the old man and the girl stood nearby, terrified, assuming Fang Tao would be gravely injured. However, a figure went flying, snapping several bamboo stalks and creating a crisp sound of breakage.

"Oh no!" they both thought, their hearts tightening.

"Lei Yuan, didn't I tell you to stay calm? If you had hurt an innocent person..."

The old man's words were cut off by shock. He stared with wide eyes at the scene before him. Standing there was not his grandson, but a refined, handsome young man.

The old man was stunned, taking a long moment to collect himself. Looking at the figure that had been sent flying, he said in disbelief, "How is this possible?"

It turned out that the one who had been knocked away was his grandson, Lei Yuan.

The result was truly unexpected!

Lei Yuan was quite famous in the martial arts world; ordinary practitioners were no match for him. Yet, just now, with a mere flick of his hand, Fang Tao had rendered Lei Yuan utterly defenseless.

At this moment, Lei Yuan was drenched in sweat, sitting amidst the broken bamboo, his eyes full of confusion and bewilderment. He stared at Fang Tao, wondering to himself: Could there really be such immense power in this world?

That previous strike felt to Lei Yuan like slamming his fist into an iron wall—it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

"Grandfather, Sister, run!" Lei Yuan shouted anxiously.

The old man shook his head, however, and said to the girl beside him, "Jingyao, help your brother up."

Lei Jingyao did as she was told. Lei Yuan tried to say something, but the old man waved his hand to signal him to stop. "He is not an enemy. If he truly wanted to take our lives, we would have no way to escape."