213: Chapter 210 The Queen Arrives

Professional matters are best left to professionals. Cao Xiao didn't understand financial operations himself, and a major plan like this had to be meticulous. The operation was complex, and a mistake at any stage could mean everything going down the drain. Moreover, this business had to remain in the shadows and be handled by someone he trusted, so there was no choice but Hao Linger.

"Cao Xiao, if you don't give me a perfect explanation, you're going to die a miserable death!"

Despite Cao Xiao's 'Emergency Grand Summoning Technique,' and the fact that Hao Linger had rushed to Xiangjiang the very next day, the sight of her gnashing teeth and predatory gaze at the airport chilled Cao Xiao to the bone, filling him with immediate regret.

"Hehe! This isn't the place to talk. Come, I'll treat you to the most authentic seafood feast as a reward for our great hero. We'll chat while we eat," Cao Xiao said with a forced, grinning laugh.

Noticing the gazes from those around her, Hao Linger gritted her teeth and snapped at Cao Xiao, "Hmph! I'll deal with you later! Let's go already. Don't just stand here like a monkey for everyone to gawk at!"

"Right away! Your Majesty, please step into the car. We are proceeding to the Four Seasons Hotel!" Cao Xiao felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty, bowing and scraping as he opened the car door to usher Hao Linger inside.

Regarding Hao Linger, Cao Xiao felt he could never hold his head up in front of her. He wasn't heartless; how could he not notice that sliver of affection she tried so hard to hide? It wasn't just Hao Linger's; he had his own as well. But they had met too late, and having missed their chance, it could only end there. Fortunately, both knew how to restrain their emotions, and he only hoped that time would make them as calm as water.

...

They had agreed on seafood, but upon arriving at the Four Seasons Hotel where Cao Xiao was staying, Hao Linger seemed to remember something and changed her mind on the spot, having the waiter lead them directly to Lung King Heen.

"Staying at the Four Seasons and not even knowing that the world's only Michelin three-star Chinese restaurant is right here? You really are an uncouth brute!" Hao Linger griped.

"Uh, don't you know you need to book a long time in advance here? Besides, it's the weekend. Unless you reserved a table three months ago, you're out of luck today. Let's just go to the Western restaurant for seafood!" Staying here, Cao Xiao naturally knew about Lung King Heen; one could even say he had come because of its reputation. But after checking in, he was informed by the hotel that no reservations were available in the short term. The Four Seasons was decent enough, and since it was just a meal, he hadn't pressed the matter.

"Advance reservations are for ordinary people. Do you think heads of state or the world's billionaires have to book months in advance when they dine here? I think you've been wasting your time. As a nouveau riche, you still don't understand the charm of money. Don't you know there's a strategy called a money offensive?" Hao Linger said with a look of disdain.

Seeing Hao Linger being so persistent, Cao Xiao knew she was in the mood and wouldn't stop until she reached her goal. He explained with a bitter smile, "Stop making a fuss. I'm not an idiot. When I arrived yesterday and heard it wasn't possible, I tried splashing cash. Just for one meal, I went from a hundred thousand to a million, and they nearly kicked us out..."

Hao Linger rolled her eyes speechlessly and looked at Cao Xiao with a look of frustration at his lack of savvy. "Just splashing cash is what a bumpkin does. You're as stubborn and thick-headed as ever. Think about it: they're an internationally renowned hotel; how could they ruin their own reputation for a mere few hundred thousand or a million? Besides, that's not how you splash cash. You have no fame, no social status, and no presence at all. Why would they pay you any mind? You don't even know how to brag, borrow influence, or posture. Forget it, I'm too lazy to talk to you. Anyway, this lady is set on eating this meal today. Figure out a way yourself. Just a reminder: if I get too hungry, I'm going on strike!"

Actually, it wasn't that there were no ways; he could either pull strings or buy a reservation from another guest. It was just that Cao Xiao didn't want to owe anyone a favor just for a meal. But seeing Hao Linger's stance, he had no choice but to ask for help. With a grimace, he pulled out his phone and called Chen Huaiming. Chen Huaiming readily agreed. As a local tycoon, Hong Kong was only so big, and the circle of wealthy elites was even smaller. It was normal for him to know a few shareholders of the Four Seasons Hotel. Everyone saw each other often; for just a meal, others were willing to do Chen Huaiming a favor and earn some goodwill. Since Chen Huaiming had asked, such a simple favor that could be arranged with a single phone call was a small matter they were happy to oblige.

Thus, in less than ten minutes, a waiter appeared before Cao Xiao and Hao Linger, respectfully inviting them into the restaurant and seating them at a window table. They didn't even need to order; within five minutes, a team of waiters arrived, filling the table with desserts and dishes. They were all Lung King Heen's unique signature dishes, accompanied by a complimentary bottle of high-end champagne. With gourmet food before her, Hao Linger transformed into a glutton, no longer caring about business. After eating voraciously with no regard for her image, she slumped in her chair, unable to move. In the end, Cao Xiao had to support her back to the suite to rest.

Even so, she was still clamoring to come back for dinner. Cao Xiao felt it was a bit embarrassing and really couldn't bring himself to ask someone to book a table again. This meal had cost several hundred thousand, yet they hadn't spent a dime; they only enjoyed this free treatment because of Chen Huaiming's influence. To him, there was no need to be formal with Chen Huaiming, but it wasn't worth making him owe another favor for such a trivial matter. So, without a second thought, he firmly cut off Hao Linger's fantasy. At the same time, he was considering hiring a private chef—a master Chinese chef at the level of a Michelin three-star Executive Chef. Otherwise, with the picky foodies in his household, he'd be changing chefs every few days. A chef could travel with him, allowing him to enjoy gourmet food wherever he went without today's hassle.

"Cao Xiao, I can't imagine what you're up to. You've changed too much lately—so much that I can't keep up. What you've said doesn't follow logic at all, but since you won't say, I won't ask. Since you trust me, I'll do it for you. But I hope you don't take too many risks. If... I mean if, that day ever comes, take me with you."

At dusk, in the living room of the suite, after Cao Xiao told Hao Linger his plans, she remained silent for a long time. Her face was full of worry, yet she spoke those words to him with determination.

Cao Xiao hadn't expected that he had still underestimated Hao Linger's intelligence. His carefully fabricated story had made her suspicious, and she had filled in the blanks from her own realistic perspective, even deducing a grim conclusion and foolishly revealing her heart. Besides his wry smile, Cao Xiao felt an overwhelming wave of emotion. What more could a man ask for in life than a confidante willing to live and die with him!

Moved, he couldn't help but stroke her silky hair tenderly, saying softly, "Things aren't as you imagine. I admit the story I told before was made up, but that money really did come from trading gold with the state. You probably can't imagine how I could have so much gold. Since our fates are tied together now, it's time I gave you a hint about some things."

Next, Cao Xiao gave a general introduction to the existence of the world of abilities and told Hao Linger about being a member of the Supervision Department. He even gave a small demonstration of his 'Space Type' ability on the spot and performed his Eight Extremes Fist. He explained those thousands of tons of gold as having been found in a secret wartime Japanese base in Yeren Mountain.

Hao Linger was somewhat dazed, listening to him finish in silence. After a moment, her expression became very complex, unable to hide the loneliness in her eyes, but then she suddenly asked with hope, "You said practicing martial arts can make one as powerful as an Ability User. Can I still practice at my age?"

"Logically, at our age, the body's meridians and bones are already set. Practicing would yield half the result for twice the effort, making it hard to achieve much. But it's not impossible. I've had fortuitous encounters and a vast amount of cultivation resources, so I entered the threshold and reached the Obvious Power realm within a month. While I can't compare to those geniuses, I'm not inferior to martial artists of the same age. I'll even be able to reach Anjin before long, surpassing the older generation. Since you want to practice, I'll arrange everything for you. I have plenty of cultivation resources to support us indefinitely. You've practiced Taekwondo, so your physical fitness is better than average, but it's still far from enough. What you need to do now is spend some time conditioning your physical state, and then I'll find you a good teacher. With your intelligence, it won't be hard to start. With me providing a constant stream of high-quality resources, your future achievements won't be inferior to mine."

Cao Xiao couldn't guess what Hao Linger was thinking, but since she wanted to practice martial arts, he was happy to see it happen and would naturally give his full support. He had long intended to have those close to him practice martial arts; as for abilities, he didn't even dare to hope for that. Firstly, it was to give them the power to protect themselves, and secondly, cultivation could increase one's lifespan to a certain extent. Take martial artists for example: a Mingjin Martial Artist can live to ninety without illness or disaster, and it's not hard for an Anjin Martial Artist to live to a hundred and twenty. The lifespan of a Transforming Power expert is hard to define; as long as their vitality does not decline, they can live at least a hundred and eighty years. The lifespan of an Ability User is more complex; it's said that different types of abilities at the same level have vastly different lifespans. The overall average is slightly lower than that of martial artists, but some are much higher than martial artists of the same realm, while others even have shorter lives than ordinary people. The specifics were beyond his knowledge. The threshold for martial arts is low; as long as their comprehension keeps up, Cao Xiao could forcibly pile up countless Transforming Power experts using resources! Furthermore, he possessed the cheat of Yuan Energy, which determined a martial artist's success. The body is the foundation of lifespan; even a frail idiot could be strengthened into a body-refining expert comparable to an Enhancement Type Ability User!

"Really! Practicing martial arts won't take up too much time, will it?" Hao Linger asked in pleasant surprise.

"Just practice diligently every morning and evening. You must balance intensity with relaxation; too much is as bad as too little and can actually harm the body. Your master will explain these details once you've officially begun. I'll prepare some pills to strengthen your body; during this time, take one of each kind every day. When we're done here and back home, find me, and I'll take you to meet your teacher." Cao Xiao only said this because it was Hao Linger; he knew she was afraid of martial arts interfering with her work. He had no lack of auxiliary resources, plus he would constantly infuse her with Yuan Energy to strengthen her body, so her practice wouldn't be as grueling as that of other martial artists. Otherwise, without several years of hard work, it would be difficult to even start, let alone reach Obvious Power.

The so-called pills weren't entirely a guise. During this time, he had collected many precious medicinal herbs from various places. Following several recipes recorded in the boxing classic given to him by Hou Jingsheng, and through constant experimentation, he had managed to formulate several types of pills helpful for cultivation. Moreover, the effects were better than those described in the boxing classic. Using the best ingredients, combined with impurity-free essences and precise refining, the resulting pills were nearly perfect. Disregarding factors like the body's drug resistance and individual comprehension, taking the pills in combination could shorten cultivation time by nearly a third. They weren't just useful for martial artists; they could also strengthen the bodies of ordinary people with very obvious effects and no side effects, being dozens of times better than something like the Liuwei Dihuang Pill.

He had formulated three types of pills in total. One was the Peiyuan Pill, made with precious herbs like Polygonatum, Ginseng, Rhodiola, Tiger Bone, and Deer Antler, where the ginseng used was all Wild Mountain Ginseng over thirty years old. Its effect was to consolidate the foundation and nurture the origin, strengthening the physique and nourishing muscles and bones. Another was the Qi Circulation Pill, made from Lingzhi, Eucommia, Gastrodia, Toad Slough, and Bear Gall, which could regulate blood and vitality and nourish the meridians. The third was the Body Lightening Pill, made with Poria, Cassia Seed, Prunella, Wild Chrysanthemum, Scrophularia, Tree Peony Bark, and Snake Venom, which could eliminate toxins accumulated in the viscera and clear the body of impurities. The three pills worked best when taken together; the effects of taking them individually were less than ideal, especially the Body Lightening Pill. While eliminating toxins and impurities, it would consume a large amount of energy. Detoxification isn't done in a single day, and if not taken alongside the Peiyuan Pill for a long time, the body would rapidly waste away, not only burning fat but also directly damaging bodily functions. Even an obese person couldn't withstand such harm, because the more obese a person is, the more impurities and toxins they have. Thus, to some extent, it was a slow-acting poison if used incorrectly.

In addition, he had formulated two types of medicinal incense. The ningshen incense, with ambergris as the main ingredient along with some herbs to clear the mind and focus the spirit, emitted a colorless fragrance that could enhance mental power when burned. Mental power is crucial for any Ability User, and the same goes for martial artists. The stronger the mental power, the better the combat state, and the faster the thinking and neurological reactions, which can increase cultivation speed and improve comprehension. It is said that when mental power becomes strong enough, it will condense and evolve into what Taoism calls Divine Sense, which has infinite wonderful uses. However, techniques specifically for cultivating mental power are extremely rare, and treasures or elixirs that can increase it are hidden from the world. Even the incense recipes in the boxing classic were commonplace; the herbs required were scarce and precious, yet the effects were negligible. Even so, they had been treasured and recorded by Hou Jingsheng. Although the ningshen incense made by Cao Xiao was more than twice as effective as the original due to perfect optimization, the base was too low; without long-term use, one couldn't even feel the increase in mental power. But even so, if a single piece of ningshen incense were released, practitioners would vie to compete for it, and it would be hard to find even for ten thousand gold. For practitioners, they would compete at any cost for any treasure that could improve their cultivation, let alone a rare treasure for enhancing mental power.