Romance of Dragons and Snakes

Situated at the Strait of Malacca was the world’s largest treaty port. Prosperous, flourishing, beautiful, a veritable garden city. Even words of praise and compliments would be no use to describe it.

This was considered to be the tropics since it was located near the equator. But because it was by the sea, the ocean wind had brought a humid air that made it feel as if it was spring all year long.

To the east was Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos. To the west was the sea and Indonesia. It could even be said that they were at the center of Southeast Asia. Comprised of all the drug lords from these nations, mercenaries, pirates, and rebels of known name, Singapore City however, remained strong without faltering. They stood with a royal and lofty spirit and life for the citizens within the country was calm and peaceful.

By the seaside of Singapore City was a skyscraper in which the headquarters of the Chenshi Corporation was located in.

This corporation had started out as a family business and was now involved with both the white and black side of business. In addition to electronics, the Chenshi Corporation was involved in many industries like foreign exports, electricity, drugs, ammunition and many others.

The power of their corporation expanded throughout Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Even the Li family whom were in power right now had the backing of several rich American families, earning them little to no enemies. As of right now, the entire Southeast Asia had several large companies tied to them.

With such a leviathan of a family corporation worth billions of American USD, it was far more than enough to warrant a long battle to be the successor.

“The elder is getting on in the years, even if he persists through this, his energy isn’t what it used to be. His successor must be confirmed now.”

In a single conference room, several people could be seen talking in secret.

There were four males and three females within the conference room, each one of them were prospective hopefuls on being the successor to the Chenshi family.

“Chen Aiyang has returned. With his name and reputation as a promising Chinese martial artist, the elder has interest in seeing him be his successor.” A 30 year old beautiful woman spoke with narrowed eyes. Her name was Chen Li and was Chen Aiyang’s older cousin from his father’s side.

“That’s right. The elder’s word is as precious as gold and is equivalent to the law. As long as he speaks it, we have no chance of overturning it.” A single man spoke, “Li’er, do you have any ideas?”

This man was of a higher standing than Chen Li and was Chen Aiyang’s uncle named Chen Daquan.

The current leader of the Chenshi Corporation was Chen Libo, but because he was currently suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, he was sequestered in a hospital for the moment.

Chen Libo was a person of virtue and prestige. Each of his words carried their weight in gold, and he himself carried power entirely in his hands. He had plenty of men, and even more elders who would faithfully follow his command. As long as he gave the order, then even the edicts of an emperor wouldn’t be carried out as swiftly as him.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the elder at all. We’re already in this, so we must carry through with it by hiring someone to poison the elder! I find it hard to believe that after the elder dies, this group of ours will not be able to defeat that bastard child Chen Aiyang.”

A single vicious sounding voice could be heard from one of the young men.

The youth who spoke was around the age of 25 and was named Chen Xin. As a student studying abroad in the United States as a doctor, he had immediately came rushing home to fight for a piece of the family property the very instant he heard Chen Libo had fallen ill.

“Bullshit! How could the elder be rid of that easily? Especially at a time like this! The elder has many people who know the business and are extremely loyal to him. In the case our plan is leaked, then we are all finished. The elder has many skills at his disposal that none of you know about.”

Another middle aged man slapped his hand onto the table in annoyance, “How noisy!” He exclaimed.

“Hmph! Even a tiger has its time of rest. No matter the case, the elder is nothing more than an old and diseased tiger ready to die! The way I see it, you are all just timid little mice, it is no wonder the elder didn’t choose any of you to be his successor!”

Chen Xin sneered, “Even if killing the elder is a hard task, would dispatching a sniper to kill Chen Aiyang be as difficult? Could it be that without Chen Aiyang in the picture, the elder would hand over the spot to an outsider? Just how do you think think Li Shimin planned the Xuanwu Gate Incident?”

His had no qualms talking about murder and his face had been sinister with cruelty. With such an expression, it was no wonder why he had returned from his studies abroad.

“I think it unrealistic to kill the elder. Killing Chen Aiyang however, can be planned. Chen Xin has truly learned to be vicious in his studies abroad.” The other man from the Chenshi family agreed.

“I’m afraid this situation is out of the question.” The beautiful Chen Li shook her head. “The elder is not Li Yuan, and Chen Aiyang is not Li Jiancheng or Li Yuanji. As it is, the elder’s heart is like a mirror. Even if we kill his brother and sisters, do you think that the elder would not know it was us who did it? A’Xin, while you have learned to be vicious, there are some matters that cannot be plotted. You must learn to plot openly and be just and honorable!”

“Learn to plot openly? Be just and honorable? How do you plan on doing that?” Chen Xin seemed to have some misgivings about Chen Li, and instead of sneering in ridicule, he seemed to have withdrawn his earlier aggression.

“The very idea of getting rid of the elder isn’t something we need to think about. Even Chen Aiyang isn’t someone that can be easily killed! Chen Aiyang has learned the business for many years and has just as many subordinates under his thumb, Lin Liqiang and Lin Lijun for example are no ordinary brothers. It was because of Lin Lijun that drug market in the mainlands were opened up. But after being killed by the palace, Chen Aiyang was handicapped in the left hand and crippled on the right arm.”

Lin Lijun was the Wingchun specialist that Zhu Jia had killed with a gun back in the corn field.

“This time, I’ve established a connection with a major person established in Africa at the moment. His name is Thomas Young, and is a leader of the European Union parliament.” Chen Li smiled coldly. “With his promises to support me, does Chen Aiyang stand a chance? So he has a reputation within the martial arts world? I will be the one to break his reputation then. I will do it right in front of the elder in the form of a competition and defeat him honorably and completely. Just think about it, a defeated cripple, would the elder ever appoint such a person as his successor?”

“That’s a good idea! But still, they say that Chen Aiyang’s skill at martial arts has reached perfection itself. After so many years of fighting, he has defeated and killed countless experts. Where would we find such an expert to win over him?”

Chen Daquan asked with narrowed eyes.

“Mister Thomas Young will be secretly arriving by plane today. He has already invited an expert that will definitely complete our mission.” Chen Li spoke.

“What’s his price?” Chen Daquan asked in a hurry.

“20% equity in our Chenshi Corporation.” Chen Li spoke emotionlessly. In an instant, a clamor could be heard all over the table.

“20% equity!”

“This isn’t a deal worth several billion!”

“That is too large of a price!”

“Absolutely not, we cannot accept such a deal!”

“Hmph! How short-sighted!” Chen Li slapped the table angrily. “Do you remember how you treated Chen Aiyang and his sister the previous years? He has turned a new leaf, can you still live such a happy life like this? Think about what type of organization the European Union is! They are bigger than us ten thousand times over and could contend against the Americans even! Our Li family has relied upon the American’s secret support in order to hold our power, but in the future, we must have the support of the European Union so that we will not be stripped of our power by someone else! This is for the benefit of our future.”

After this argument, the surrounding people went silent as if agreeing to this deal.

Just at that moment, a giant private plane was quickly descending upon Singapore City’s Changji Airport.

Within the first class cabin of the airplane sat a purple Tang dress woman with no one else sitting with her. Standing next to her however was a single blonde white man.

The back of the cabin was entirely filled with blank-faced men who all looked machine-like with their lifeless stares.

“Instructor, we’ve arrived in Singapore.”

The caucasian man spoke respectfully.

The purple clothed woman opened her eyes and nodded, “Thomas, sit.”

Thomas gave an embarrassed smile and replied, “Truth be told, I am quite afraid of instructor, so I don’t dare sit.” He spoke in fluent Beijing Accent with perfect articulation and pronunciation.

“What are you afraid of?” The purple dressed woman began to drum her fingers on the table n front of her.

Thomas didn’t dare respond and instead changed the topic smartly, “Instructor, with your status, is there a need to care about such an insignificant Singaporean corporation like the Chenshi?”

“Thomas, Singapore is the heart of Southeast Asia. And the Chenshi Corporation is an important chess piece of Singapore. If we wish to develop Southeast Asia, then we must lay out our chess pieces.”

“That I know, but surely there is no need for the instructor to personally come to Singapore?”

“No no no, that inheritor, Chen Aiyang, is a person of repute in our Chinese martial arts world. If one wants to defeat him in a honorable match, there is no one that has a good chance of success other than me.”

There was a rumbling sound as the airplane had successfully landed.

The airplane slid forward a little longer before coming to a stop. Straight away, six luxurious cars and three world-famous branded cars came forward to secretly and swiftly take away the people within the airplane away from the airport.

“Oh, Thomas Young, hello!”

Within a large scale hotel belonging to the Chenshi Corporation.

The people that were only just having a meeting secretly greeted Thomas Young.

“Hello, miss Chen, you look as beautiful as always.” Thomas kissed Chen Li’s hand.

“Mister Thomas, our plans…” Chen Li had given a greeting before hesitantly looking at the purple dressed woman standing next to him and the bodyguards who were giving death-stares. No matter how much she looked at them, she didn’t see in just what way they were able to contend with Chen Aiyang.

“Miss Chen, I promise you, we naturally have a plan. I just need to make our arrangements to stay, and when the time comes, we will naturally give you what you desire! The rest of the details you don’t need to worry about since it’ll be useless to say.” Thomas hadn’t bothered to introduce the purple dressed woman.

“That’s fine! As long as you made your preparations, I won’t ask about it.” Chen Li had some doubts in her eyes, but she didn’t dwell upon it. “If you please, we’ve already prepared a presidential suite for you.”

“The rest of you will not reveal our goals, listen to the host’s arrangements.”

Pa! Thomas nodded his head and gave out an order. Straight away, the bodyguards split apart and followed the attendants in a separate elevators to their assigned rooms.

“Instructor, if you please.” Thomas assumed a gentlemanly position.

The purple dressed woman nodded and walked into the elevator with Thomas following behind.

Just as Chen Li was about to follow them in, Thomas blocked her, “Miss Chen, you needn’t make any arrangements. Tomorrow when your leader convenes the family together, we will show up.”

With that, Thomas and the purple dressed woman disappeared into the elevator.

“How arrogant this Thomas is! Who is he? Hmph!” Chen Xin felt angry at this sight in front of him, but there was a mystery to be solved. “That purple dressed woman, is she the expert to go against Chen Aiyang? She can’t be, could she? But that woman has grown to have quite the personality….haha….haha…but what type of woman is she….?”

When he had first seen Thomas and the purple dressed women, Chen Xin’s mind was already thinking at rapid speeds.

The mystery and personality of the purple dressed woman was something he was suddenly interested in.

Just as Chen Li and the others had left, Chen Xin suddenly called out for one of the attendants.

“Where did Chen Li arrange for mister Thomas to stay in?” Chen Xin asked.

“At the highest most presidential suite.” The attendant responded.

“Is the purple dressed woman staying in her own room? Where are their bodyguards living in?”

“A single room, yes. Their bodyguards will be in the room underneath.”

“This will be easy then. Here, do me a favor.” Chen Xin laughed darkly before turning around and bringing the attendant with him to a secluded place.

From his inner pocket, Chen Xin took out a pink colored drug that was clearly used as an aphrodisiac of sorts.

“Take this medicine and put it in the water of the purple dressed woman later tonight, or maybe even her food. After tonight when my business is concluded, I guarantee you will profit!” Chen Xin spoke with a fierce glare.

The attendant could only nod his head repeatedly.

“Thomas, did you notice the youth behind Chen Li?”

At the same time within the presidential suite, the purple dressed woman asked Thomas a question.

“That one?” Thomas thought for a moment. “I believe he is Chen Xin, a relative of hers who recently came back from his studies in America. He too is a legal participant for the role of the successor. Why, does instructor have some business with him?”

“Have him dropped into the Straits of Malacca in secret.” She tapped a finger on the table.

“Instructor! Whatever for?” Thomas exclaimed in surprise. “Does instructor’s motherlands not have the saying, ‘The strong dragon cannot repress a snake’? If we are to kill that youth, it would do us no good.”

“Thomas. You know of such an idiom like that? Impressive.” She smiled, “Perhaps you have heard of the other saying?”

“What saying would that be?” Thomas asked.

“The autumn wind moves not the cicada at first thought, but the dark brings death unknowingly.” The woman smiled, “No more questions, go do it.”

“Yes, instructor.” Thomas knew that the words of the instructor could not be disobeyed.