Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO-Chapter 676 - Assassin’s Alliance

"Alright then." Seeing Xu Ke's sincere demeanor, Hu Deyao found it difficult to say anything more.

"Additionally, Elder Hu, I have some questions for you," Xu Ke said.

"Please, go ahead," Hu Deyao eagerly responded.

"I'd like to know, what is the current situation at Tao Ranju?" Xu Ke asked.

Asking about such things was delving into private matters and was quite impolite. But since Xu Zhentai said he entrusted Hu Deyao to me, he must already know that I am the new master of Tao Ranju. My question shouldn't be too abrupt.

The reason Xu Ke wanted to ask was because of what his uncle had said. If his uncle still wished to conquer the world, he had to know the extent of Tao Ranju's assets to have a starting point, right?

Upon hearing this, however, Hu Deyao was stunned. He stammered, "Er, that, um..."

"What is it, Left Envoy Hu?" Han Wang and Ye Lang couldn't help but ask, their curiosity piqued. They also wanted to know how strong Tao Ranju was now.

Even Tang Yingchang leaned forward to listen. He was utterly astounded. So the power behind Xu Ke's uncle was Tao Ranju, which had vanished from the Jianghu for many years? No wonder they were so formidable! Tang Yingchang then realized that Tao Ranju would inevitably be in Xu Ke's hands in the future, and he could no longer contain his excitement. I knew it! I didn't make a mistake following Xu Ke. Tao Ranju and the Medical Saint... this will definitely help Xu Ke rapidly reach the peak of Dragon Country.

"Uh..." Under everyone's gaze, Hu Deyao managed to say, "The only people left in Tao Ranju now... are that group you saw last time."

Having said this, even Hu Deyao, who had weathered many storms in the Jianghu, couldn't help but blush.

"Last time? Which time?" Xu Ke looked completely baffled.

When had he ever seen people from Tao Ranju? He couldn't remember at all.

"Ah, the incident at Tianhai University. Didn't your people follow them to their hideout?" Hu Deyao explained awkwardly. He avoided mentioning Xu Yi's name, fearing he would expose their connection.

At his words, Xu Ke froze, his eyes widening in realization. He remembered! When Xu Yi returned to school, Tang Yingchang had told him a group was blatantly monitoring her. He'd had Duan Jia send men to tail them and warn them to leave Xu Yi alone, and they had obediently agreed...

As the memory surfaced, Xu Ke's expression became rigid. He now understood why Hu Deyao was hemming and hawing. Because that group was incredibly weak.

Thinking this, Xu Ke patted Hu Deyao's shoulder and sighed, "It's alright. I understand now."

If that group was all that was left of Tao Ranju's strength... then what hope was there of conquering the world!

After pondering for two seconds, Xu Ke immediately discarded the idea of fulfilling his uncle's wish. He decided it was better for his uncle to just stay home and behave himself.

"Mister Xu, I apologize," Hu Deyao said, looking sheepish. "But of our former elite backbone, the dead are dead and the rest have left. Hardly any remain."

As soon as he said this, the other three immediately understood Tao Ranju's current situation.

"That's normal. It's a classic case of 'once the person leaves, the tea grows cold.' Look, didn't these two also leave?" Xu Ke said, pointing at Ye Lang and Han Wang.

Their expressions immediately turned unnatural. Han Wang coughed dryly and protested, "I had to make a living."

Xu Ke ignored him and continued, "So, what's the situation with the Assassin's Alliance? Can we gather any viable forces from them?"

"No." Hu Deyao shook his head. "The Assassin's Alliance was founded by people who left Tao Ranju, but in reality, it has long since had little to do with us. If we were to command them to return in Tao Ranju's name, it would depend entirely on their own willingness. If you don't believe me, Mister Xu, you can ask them."

Xu Ke looked towards Han Wang and Ye Lang, and they both nodded immediately.

Han Wang explained, "The Assassin's Alliance doesn't have a unified organizational structure. At most, there's a ranking list and bounty orders that create a unique form of self-management. As for the Alliance Hierarch, we haven't seen him in a very long time."

"I see." Xu Ke nodded in understanding, then asked curiously, "So what is the Alliance Hierarch's relationship with him?"

The "him" Xu Ke referred to was Xu Zhentai. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"In the past, Yin Li was the most powerful and loyal general under the Helmsman, but he was naturally vicious. He killed without blinking and had even harmed the innocent. So even though he was incredibly strong, the Helmsman never sent him on missions," Hu Deyao began.

"Later, when the Helmsman decided to disband Tao Ranju, Yin Li was the first to oppose him. He even challenged the Helmsman to a fight, declaring that the Helmsman could only leave if he was defeated.

"With the Helmsman's strength at that time, and with no intention of killing Yin Li, he hardly used any True Qi and won with ease. Yin Li had no choice but to let the Helmsman leave. Afterwards, he rounded up the other assassins from Tao Ranju, went overseas, and established the Assassin's Alliance.

"After that, he disappeared without a trace."

The reason Hu Deyao emphasized that "hardly any True Qi was used" was to let Xu Ke know that fighting Yin Li wouldn't have triggered Xu Zhentai's Sorrowful Heart Art.

Xu Ke understood and nodded, lost in thought.

"Alright then, let's not think about getting outside help," Xu Ke finally said, dismissing the idea of "borrowing" people from the Assassin's Alliance.

It all comes down to me! His uncle can only be used to bluff people at critical moments.

"Mister Xu, with the Helmsman's formidable strength, why would you need to borrow people from elsewhere?" Han Wang said hurriedly. "Even if Alliance Hierarch Yin Li were here, he wouldn't last a single exchange against the Helmsman."

Hearing this, Xu Ke and Hu Deyao, the two who knew the inside story, shared an involuntary, awkward look.

Last a single exchange? If Xu Zhentai really rolled up his sleeves to fight, everyone would probably die.

Their expressions looked strange to Han Wang and Ye Lang. "Is there a problem?"

"There is," Xu Ke said, coughing twice as he started to smooth things over. "What's the use of the Helmsman? Didn't you hear him say he wants to train me? He won't make a move unless I'm in a life-or-death crisis. Don't count on him."

Hearing this, Han Wang had a moment of realization and nodded. "That's true..."

"Ah, my life is so hard," Xu Ke lamented with a sigh. "I'm just struggling to survive, caught between all you great families and master assassins, enduring humiliation like a dog... It's just too difficult."

Han Wang instantly lost any desire to talk to Xu Ke.

You, struggling to survive? Who the hell is the one playing everyone for a fool? Even without the Helmsman's appearance today, I'm sure Xu Ke had some other strange trump card to escape this deadly situation...