Tonight in Paris was freezing cold, with relentless pouring rain that had not stopped since the previous day.
Pitter-pattering raindrops splashed, with thunderclaps drowning out the most dreadful sounds of this dark night.
Arthur and Zhang Assistant both dared not intervene, even though their umbrellas were up, their clothes were drenched through.
The two waited for half an hour in front of the factory before Huo Shao Ting finally emerged.
His suit was soaked, his usually impeccably groomed hair clinging to his knife-sharp features.
An aura of lethal menace, brimming with vicious malice!
The blood stains on his white shirt were washed out by the rain, blurring into a bloodied garment.
He pursed his thin lips and walked over to the two men.
"Make sure the prison takes good care of him, I want him to suffer a fate worse than death!"
The man's voice was icy cold, laced with cruel viciousness, his deep phoenix-like eyes black as pitch, radiating a chilling glint.
As he spoke, he tossed his gun into a box held by a nearby bodyguard.
The gun barrel met the rainwater, wisps of white vapor trailing from it.
He took off his suit jacket and bulletproof vest, eyes slanting towards Arthur.
"You did well this time, you can take over Huo Ersi's assets."
Arthur respectfully replied, "Thank you, Mr. Huo."
"I've prepared a hotel for you, why don't you go rest first, Mr. Huo? I'll take care of the remaining matters."
Although he coveted Huo Ersi's possessions, Arthur had always been cautious by nature.
If Huo Shao Ting did not bring it up, he would not dare use this as leverage.
A man like Huo Shao Ting, who had expanded the Huo empire to such formidable heights, was not someone Arthur dared to provoke.
Such a person only did what he wanted or did not want to do.
Any threats would only enrage him and prompt his retaliation.
Huo Ersi had made a foolish decision this time.
"No need," Huo Shao Ting coldly refused, stripping off his bloodied white shirt and putting on a clean one handed to him by Zhang Assistant before getting into his car and leaving without a backward glance.
It was only after Huo's taillights had disappeared that Arthur led his men into the factory.
The sight of Huo Ersi inside was gruesome - even a man like Arthur, no stranger to the underworld's brutality, could not help but feel a chill run down his spine.
Huo Ersi bore no gunshot wounds, but the injuries on his body were as severe as if he had been shot - all inflicted by fists!
"Tsk, tsk, Huo Ersi, you finally met your match today."
"I thought I'd have to wait much longer for this day."
Arthur squatted beside him, only Huo Ersi's eyeballs still able to move.
The once over six-foot tall figure now lay on the ground like a lump of mud.
"As they say in China, you were just unlucky."
"Paris will have no more figures like you from now on."
Arthur shook his head with a light laugh. The rise and fall of empires, be they business or otherwise, all followed the same pattern.
Let alone people like them whose hands were not exactly clean - they especially had to be wary of formidable figures like Huo Shao Ting.
...
Huo Shao Ting returned to the hotel, showered to cleanse himself of any remaining traces, and changed into a fresh set of clothes before going to the hospital to see Rong Dai.
Rong Dai had not yet regained consciousness. Seeing how much thinner she had become during this time in Paris pained Huo Shao Ting's heart deeply.
Even though Huo Ersi had been taken care of, the vicious fury within him was still difficult to quell.
If his beloved wife had not been fortunate yesterday, he could have truly lost her.
His world had always been solitary and dark.
Until her arrival brought radiance into his life.
Only then did he understand that his existence could have greater meaning.
The man took off his jacket and gently climbed into her hospital bed, pulling her into his embrace.
Only at this moment did the days of longing and worry finally subside, her fragrance a balm to his soul as Huo Shao Ting closed his eyes and slept.
