Chapter Sixty-Four: Fukang Entertainment Club

Leaving the Nangong family, Ling Tian took a car back to Qingcheng Group.

As soon as Ling Tian arrived at the Public Relations Department, Wang Yong approached him with a cheerful smile, serving tea and water so attentively that Ling Tian felt a bit embarrassed.

"Wang Yong, do you have nothing to do all day? Are you bored out of your mind?" Ling Tian asked.

Wang Yong chuckled and replied, "Boss, the company hasn't had much going on lately, so things are pretty relaxed."

"I see." Ling Tian nodded. "Stop fussing over me and go find something useful to do."

Just then, Xue Kun came over with a beaming face and said, "Ling, are you busy these days?"

"Not too busy," Ling Tian responded. "Why? Is there something you need me to do?" Recently Ling Tian truly had little to occupy him, besides attending a class reunion and occasionally visiting home with Mu Qingcheng. As for cultivation, since the spiritual energy in the Gathering Array had been absorbed by Ling Tian, it would take some time for more to accumulate.

For now, Ling Tian could only rely on the Gathering Array for his cultivation.

Xue Kun smiled and handed Ling Tian a dossier. "Ling, this debt has been outstanding for two years already. With the company investing in new product development, funds are tight. Would you be able to collect it?"

Helping the company meant strengthening it and gathering more cultivation resources for himself, so Ling Tian was quite motivated. He took the dossier and scanned it with his spiritual sense, instantly grasping all its contents. Wang Yong sneaked a peek, and his expression turned grave.

"Wang Yong, do you think you can handle this?" Ling Tian handed the dossier to him.

Wang Yong read through it carefully, his face growing more serious with every page. When he finished, he spoke in a heavy tone, "Boss, this is a tough one. Two years ago, this guy was just a small herbal dealer. But over the last two years, he suddenly got rich and is now closely tied to the underground syndicates of Yunhai City."

Xue Kun added, "We couldn't collect the debt before because he controls many of the channels for purchasing medicinal herbs. If we confront him outright, he could cut off our supply. With our group's reserves, we'd last no more than a month."

"Source your supplies in advance. Don't put all your eggs in one basket," Ling Tian said calmly. "Surely you've heard the story about not putting all your eggs in a single basket?"

Xue Kun replied, "We've already found new suppliers, so now we're planning to collect the debt."

"That makes things easier," Ling Tian said.

Wang Yong leaned in close to Ling Tian and whispered, "It's said this guy got rich over the last two years because he invested in casinos and made a killing. He's also closely connected with the underground syndicates in Yunhai City. You've only just arrived here, so you might not know, but those syndicates are quite powerful."

"Go on," Ling Tian said. "I want to know the details."

Wang Yong continued, "The syndicates don't dare provoke the four great families, but the families don't mess with them lightly either. It's a delicate balance. The reason this debt has become dead is because he relies on the syndicates backing him."

Ling Tian nodded. "I understand—he's using the syndicate's power and control over herb channels as leverage, making excuses to avoid paying. I know what to do now."

Xue Kun said, "Ling, this guy is just a minor player. The real threat is the syndicate behind him. The bosses backing him are not to be underestimated. So be careful when you go."

"Wang Yong, prepare the car." Ling Tian said his farewells to Xue Kun, then swiftly returned to his small courtyard, gathered materials, and crafted a fake Thunder Talisman. The talisman was of a high grade; not only would it be challenging for Ling Tian now, even if he reached the Qi Transformation realm, crafting a real Thunder Talisman would be difficult.

When Ling Tian returned to Qingcheng Group, Wang Yong was already waiting at the gate. After getting in the car, Ling Tian instructed Wang Yong to drive to a firework shop, where he bought a fuse, then to a toy store for a toy grenade and a toy bag.

Wang Yong was puzzled about why Ling Tian bought these things.

"I'll keep it secret for now. You'll understand soon enough. To deal with enemies, you need more than brute force—you need a bit of cunning," Ling Tian said mysteriously.

Forty minutes later, Ling Tian and Wang Yong arrived at their destination, Yunhai City's renowned entertainment venue, the Fukun Entertainment Center. This was a project invested in by Liu Zhiping—though it was just a front. Liu Zhiping's real purpose was to conceal an underground casino.

"Boss, this is Liu Zhiping's turf. The underground casino is here too." Wang Yong parked the car, pointed to the luxurious building ahead, and explained.

"Let's go in and try our luck. Carry this," Ling Tian handed Wang Yong the prepared items.

The two entered Fukun Entertainment Center, but were stopped at the entrance by security.

"Please halt. We're not open at this hour," said the guard, a burly man with a scar across his face—a menacing presence, clearly not someone to trifle with.

Ling Tian spoke calmly, "Isn't it open twenty-four hours?"

"It is, but only for members," the guard replied in a deep voice.

Wang Yong took out a card from his pocket and handed it to the guard. "Can we go in now?"

The guard examined the membership card and handed it back. "Only one of you can enter."

Wang Yong turned to Ling Tian, "My cousin got this for me. I've never used it before, but it seems only one person can enter. Why don't you go in first?"

Ling Tian shook his head, stepped forward, and slapped the guard, stunning him. With a look of disdain, Ling Tian said, "You claim it's open twenty-four hours, and then try to fool me by saying it's closed? You must be asking for trouble."

The bewildered guard clutched his face and stared at Ling Tian, muttering, "You must be a member to enter."

Ling Tian kicked the guard in the stomach and said coldly, "If you don't let me in, how am I supposed to get a membership card? You're clearly just making things difficult."

"You dare lay hands on me?" The guard, eyes rolling from the pain, was livid. Before he could retaliate, Ling Tian kicked him again.

Just before losing consciousness, the guard reached for his walkie-talkie, but as his hand closed around it, darkness engulfed him and he fainted.

"Boss, isn’t this a bit much?" Wang Yong whispered.

"Too much? If we don’t deal with him, we can’t even get through the door," Ling Tian replied coldly.

The two entered through the main gate, encountering no further obstacles. It was afternoon, so Fukun Entertainment Center was not yet lively. In the vast hall, only a dozen guests were present, enjoying drinks and entertainment with scantily clad women.