Chapter 475: Wishful Thinking!
The wine is beautiful, but the person is even more beautiful! Long Hao, having been reborn two and a half years ago, already knew about Dream Night Bar and its proprietress, Situ Yueying. This was the territory of Han Qi, the Dragon King Consort, a future prominent figure, and Situ Yueying was Han Qi's right-hand woman, the second-in-command of the Dragon King Society.
According to the timeline burned into Long Hao's memory, in just over a year, the Dragon King Society would explode onto the scene. It would consolidate its power, growing into an unstoppable force that dominated the entire underground world of Yanxia's southern region. It was then that Han Qi, the man currently dismissed as a worthless, live-in son-in-law of the Liu family, would finally make his move. He would launch a thunderous campaign of revenge against Han Xiu, the reigning Da Shao of the prestigious Emperor Capital Han Family, and seize the clan's throne for himself.
The stories of Han Qi's years of silent suffering and meticulous planning would eventually leak out, becoming legendary tales whispered in every corner of the country. His journey was the stuff of epics: a discarded young master from a titan-like family in the Emperor Capital, cast out and reduced to the humiliating status of a kept man for a second-rate family in Modu. He had swallowed insults, endured mockery, and patiently bided his time for years, all while weaving a web so intricate that he could topple the colossal Han Family in a single, decisive strike.
Even Long Hao, in his previous life, had been deeply moved when he first heard the story. Back then, he was a broken man, utterly demoralized after Su Hongmian had shattered his world by publicly annulling their engagement. The tale of Han Qi's comeback had ignited a brief, fiery spark within him.
After that momentary surge of adrenaline, however, Long Hao had simply rolled over in bed and continued playing Genshin Impact.
'Cough, cough... I was so useless in my past life because my cultivation was a complete dead end. No matter how hard I tried, I hit a wall,' Long Hao mused, a bitter memory flashing through his mind before being replaced by a sharp, predatory glint. 'But things are different now. I'm a reborn transmigrator with an investment rebate system. This time, I will soar to the heavens.'
A cold light flashed in Long Hao's eyes as he reviewed the flawless plan taking shape in his mind—a strategy that would kill two birds with one stone.
He knew Dragon King Consort Han Qi was not a man to be trifled with. The man's mind was a razor-sharp labyrinth of schemes, his patience was inhuman, and his methods were brutally efficient. Earning his trust was nearly impossible. Long Hao hadn't dared to invest in him earlier for this very reason; not only was it a monumental challenge to get close to Han Qi, but there was a significant chance of being seen as a threat and eliminated without a second thought. An ambush from a man like that was a death sentence.
Even if he summoned his father, Long Qing, the patriarch of the Long Family in Sichuan, their combined strength would be insufficient to bring the Dragon King Consort to heel. Long Hao estimated that Han Qi's current power was, at minimum, at the peak of the Grandmaster realm. And he had an ace up his sleeve: Tianfeng Ichiro, a terrifying Grandmaster of the Sword Dao, whose loyalty was absolute.
But Sword Immortal Nie Yun... he was another matter entirely. He could crush a man like Han Qi.
Nie Yun was a legend, one of the top ten powerhouses in all of Yanxia. After his recent breakthrough into the Land Immortal realm, his fame had reached celestial heights. He was a figure spoken of in the same breath as Sword God Ye Linyuan, with whom he was destined to clash in a decisive battle by the East Sea.
Long Hao's calculation was precise. First, he would befriend Sword Immortal Nie Yun and successfully invest in him, securing his favor. Then, leveraging the Sword Immortal's overwhelming prestige and power, he would approach Dragon King Consort Han Qi. Subdued by a greater force, Han Qi would be far more receptive. It was a roundabout way to gain his trust, a necessary stepping stone to the second, even more lucrative investment.
'Hehe, once my two-birds-with-one-stone plan is complete, I'll have more than enough power and capital to stand on my own two feet,' Long Hao thought, a triumphant smirk spreading across his face. 'Hmph, Shen Anyu... even if you are the vaunted young master of the Yanxia Shen Family, I will drag you down from your pedestal. I will make you kneel at my feet and beg for mercy!'
At that very moment, Sword Immortal Nie Yun, who had been listening with a drunken haze over his features, heard Long Hao's words. His bleary eyes suddenly sharpened, focusing with an intensity that belied his inebriated state.
"The best wine in Modu? 'Dream Night'?" he slurred, his voice thick with anticipation.
Long Hao chuckled, the sound crisp and confident. He snapped his fingers with a theatrical flair.
"Bingo," he declared. "That's the one. The best cocktail in Modu, maybe even in all of Yanxia. The legendary 'Dream Night'!"
Pivoting slightly, Long Hao raised his voice, projecting it across the opulent bar to catch the attention of the manager who stood observing from a distance.
"Manager! Get your proprietress out here. Tell her to mix us a round of 'Dream Night'."
He paused, letting the weight of his next words sink in. "Money is not an issue!"
In his past life, Long Hao had heard whispers and rumors about this famous cocktail. It was said that a single glass cost a staggering 130,000 yuan—an utterly exorbitant price that seemed to defy logic. Yet, everyone who had tasted it gave it rave reviews, describing it as a transcendent experience. He had been too deep in his spiral of despair over Su Hongmian to ever consider visiting Modu back then.
This life, however, presented the perfect opportunity. He could finally taste the miraculous cocktail and, in the process, secure the allegiance of a Land Immortal. It was a perfect gesture of borrowing flowers to offer to the Buddha.
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