Chapter Thirty-Nine: Flying Freely

After boarding the plane, Xiao Tianci realized that Tian Ni had actually called him. This was definitely something to make a person happy. However, at this moment, Xiao Tianci’s mood was heavy, and he could hardly summon any enthusiasm.

When he learned all that had happened, he could only force a bitter smile. After coming up from below, he went to his room and called Tian Ni. By then, it was already night in their homeland. Perhaps because some time had passed, their conversation was much more relaxed.

“Where are you?” “When will you be back?” “Are you all right?” These words filled Xiao Tianci’s heart with warmth, dispelling much of the chill that the recent battle had brought upon him.

Of course, he had to reassure his family, not letting her worry. If not for today’s events, if not for the sacrifice of the guards, Xiao Tianci would have been truly happy.

He asked a few questions and said a few things himself, deftly intercepting Tian Ni’s attempts to voice her own concerns. When the call ended, Tian Ni, wearing her pajamas and clutching the phone, was left bewildered. When she tried to call again, his phone was already turned off.

He had ended the call so quickly because he didn’t want to share these things with her. Yet, Tian Ni was now his closest person, and he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to hold back. He didn’t want to drag her into all this, nor let her know the truth, so after their conversation, he switched off his phone immediately.

Leaving the bedroom and entering the living room, he found that, despite being on a plane, everything was fully equipped. Chief Steward Lin Jian and King Kong Fang Meng were standing there. Xiao Tianci, exhausted and powerless, slumped onto the sofa, gestured to the seat next to him, and said to Fang Meng, “Sit down, let’s talk.”

Fang Meng sat where Xiao Tianci indicated, and Xiao Tianci waved his hand. “Bring the wine.”

“Yes, sir.”

Strong liquor burned down his throat, as though igniting a fire in his chest. Chief Steward Lin Jian poured the drinks while Fang Meng accompanied Xiao Tianci.

Though Xiao Tianci could hold his liquor, drinking several glasses of strong spirits on an empty stomach left him feeling dizzy.

“Boss, I will avenge our brothers,” Fang Meng said, drinking as much as Xiao Tianci, but his face betrayed little change.

Lifting the glass that Lin Jian had just filled, Xiao Tianci forced a smile. “Forget it. This was an accident, not anyone’s fault. Those who needed punishing, I believe, you’ve already dealt with. Well... I’m not dwelling on this. You should know why I came to find you in person this time, don’t you?”

Xiao Tianci’s words spared Fang Meng from embarrassment and eased his guilt.

Fang Meng nodded. “I know. He’s surfaced again.”

“Heh... Honestly, I’d really like to meet this Ghostly Uncle of mine. There are so few of the Xiao family left; what’s the point of all this fighting?” Turning to Fang Meng, he asked, “Can you help me find him?”

At the mention of Ghost, Fang Meng’s expression darkened. “Boss, it’s best if you don’t have that thought. I’ll do my best to handle this matter as quickly as possible. Don’t worry.”

Xiao Tianci, his eyes drunkenly blurred, stared at the glass in his hand. “You know him best. Just stay by my side. Since he’s made a move, I want you to help me find him. I really do want to meet a fellow Xiao.”

“He’s very dangerous.”

“Heh... The monkeys today were dangerous too. Pour us another.”

Fang Meng understood Xiao Tianci’s meaning—defense, not offense. Still, even he couldn’t guarantee that a purely defensive stance would be foolproof.

“His methods have changed a lot. Now, I can barely recognize any trace of his old style. Take the attack on your wedding night, for example. That kind of thankless, childish action is something he would never have done before.”

“Oh? Then could it have been someone else?”

Fang Meng replied with conviction, “From all the evidence and analysis, it must have been him. That’s why I’m so uncertain.”

Xiao Tianci mused, “Perhaps he did it on purpose, to muddy the waters, to make his next move harder to predict. If that’s the case, he must have something else planned—and I think you are his main concern.”

Most of Fang Meng’s skills were learned later, under Ghost’s tutelage. In terms of combat ability, he had long surpassed Ghost. But in terms of strategy and cunning, he was still far behind; all the planning in the past had been orchestrated by Xiao Tianci’s father, Xiao Lin.

Fang Meng said, “That’s unlikely. He knows exactly what I’m capable of. As a warrior, I’m more than qualified, but compared to my fighting skills, I’m lacking in other areas. Though I followed him for many years, my understanding of him is still quite limited. That’s why he trusted me back then. All I ever did was relay what I knew to the master, who would then plan everything out. I was just the executor.”

“I see,” said Xiao Tianci, finally understanding the many intricacies involved. It seemed, as Fang Meng said, he could only know so much. Then again, for Fang Meng to have acted as an undercover agent all these years, things couldn’t have been as simple as he claimed. When he said he was lacking, he was only comparing himself to his own combat prowess—which was truly monstrous. In that sense...

“All right, for now we’ll focus on defense. Tell me more about Ghost—give me all the details.” He put down his glass, a little dizzy but still clear-headed.

Fang Meng thought for a moment, then began his story from when, at age eleven, Xiao Lin had sent him undercover. He detailed how he accumulated achievements, earned Ghost’s trust, became his right-hand man, and worked with Xiao Lin to oppose him. Every detail was laid out clearly.

Xiao Tianci listened intently, knowing he had to prepare thoroughly for this mysterious, singular Ghost of the Xiao family. As Fang Meng spoke, Xiao Tianci interjected with questions. Unconsciously, several hours passed, until Xiao Tianci’s stomach growled in protest—he realized he hadn’t eaten all day.

He immediately ordered food to be prepared so he could continue talking with Fang Meng over their meal. At that moment, Chief Steward Lin Jian asked, “Boss, Will and the others have been waiting for over a day. What do you wish to do?”

“Oh, it’s been over a day? Where are we now?”

“We’re on the return flight, but we can change course at any time.”

Xiao Tianci smiled. “It’s only been a day. Here’s what we’ll do: just have the plane keep flying for now, don’t head home yet. Let’s circle in the air for a day, then fly to Las Vegas.”

It was as if he’d asked a taxi to just drive him around for a while. But this was a plane. Still, the Chief Steward agreed and went off to make arrangements, since this would require aerial refueling. Such details were not Xiao Tianci’s concern. He truly seemed to be getting into the swing of things now.