Romance of Dragons and Snakes

Chapter 35: Taking part in a dangerous operation (First)

What is the most profitable target for business? Without a doubt, it would be the government.

On the inverse, the least profitable way of business is with the public.

One way is profitable, the other is not, but the only thing dividing the two ways was the single word, “Connections.”

If one had the proper connections, then after an investment of millions, it was possible to get a return profit of almost a billion. Furthermore, this profit could then be used to give as a loan; this was the biggest realm a wolf could climb to. In the eyes of Wang Chao, this was the same as reaching the Transforming Jin.

With no connections, then even the competent would only be able to watch the profit go to others. Even if they were to get the business of the government, it would only come in the form of an IOU.

The moment when he had helped start the Tianxing Networking company, he had taken up loss after loss. It could be ascertained that if no major change were to occur, then in three months, the company would be forced to shut down. The stock shares by this point would be worthless.

Back when Wang Chao had invested 50,000 RMB, it was in part due to Yao Xiaoxue’s logical, but hyped words. The other half was because of his idea to make money. In the end, the Taekwondo dojo couldn’t be his workplace for his entire life. He needed the wages to be more, and so he began to help other people.

It was only because he himself didn’t understand how to earn money as a business. Because of that and the fortunate encounter of these university students wanting to start a startup that he had decided to give it a try. He never would have known that he would be taking up a loss each day in thanks due to the rent, utilities, commerce, inspections and other fees that had left him in turmoil.

“Business seems simple, but it is far more complex than Chinese boxing.”

Wang Chao could only sigh when he thought about that.

Yao Xiaoxue and the three other girls had been worried as well. Even after running everywhere to and from to find clients, there was still not enough business to make up for their experience.

“To say something is one thing, to actually do it is another.” After this personal practice, each of the six university students finally grasped the meaning behind the phrase. Because of the performance, Yao Xiaoxue had found it quite embarrassing to talk to Wang Chao.

Even after everything, more than half the company had been funded by him. In three months, the deficits they had taken would eat up all of their money. Meeting each other was an awkward experience, and because they were still both students, they had not yet been able to master the art of the poker face.

The sky had been reflected in the waters that night. With the moon shining straight through the the lotus flower like clouds and the waters from the lake slapping against the shore, it was a very emotional sight.

After speaking with Cao Yi, Wang Chao began to think, “How fortunate, this is the power of connections. Old man Cao, with your patience and mysterious identity, are you conspiring against me somehow? I only know how to practice Chinese boxing and nothing else. The barefoot doesn’t fear ruining their shoes and to not earn profit with money is not my way of living. Let’s see what happens from now.”

Knowing that bait was being hung over him, Wang Chao couldn’t help but bite at it.

While the Tianxing Networking company wasn’t large, it was still Wang Chao’s first investment so he didn’t wish for it to fail. He knew that if he could get Cao Yi’s recommendation, then it would prove beneficial for him.

After some thinking, Wang Chao finally composed himself and drew out a long breath. Holding the end of the staff, he began to get into position once more.

This position that Wang Chao was standing in was the stance for the Assault of Dragon and Snake.

Sis Chen had left behind a staff that was neither thick or thin and was 2.9 meters long. The body was sleek in design and in the color red.

The staff was heavy to the touch and was flexible yet strong. Any ordinary person wouldn’t be able to understand the staff’s power even if they were to use it.

But this was still a weapon. The spear was the king of all weapons, and as Lao She had written, “The blade for a year, a staff for a month, and a spear for all eternity.”

The spears were specifically made with quality in mind. After planting a tree to maturity with constant trimming so that the tree would not deviate from branching apart or any scars. After several years, it was processed to become a pole. After being smoked to prevent decay, it was fitted to its current state, a spearhead was attached to it.

With such a careful and extensive production like this, then with a good horse, one would be able to kill hundreds like grass on the battlefield.

Without a doubt, the spear that sis Chen had left behind was an expertly made spear without Wang Chao having any idea of where she had it made.

Wang Chao held the staff with one hand by the end and with a part of it touching against his rib. Using his hips, he kept them at an equal level with his arms.

The body of the spear began to tremble as Wang Chao began to draw circles with the spearhead. As if it was a brush, Wang Chao began to write words in midair.

As his spear moved, Wang Chao’s entire body shook as well. By this point, it was almost unclear which was the more accurate description of this scene. Was it the man driving the spear, or was it the spear controlling the man?

This one move of the Dragon and Snake style had incorporated the Horse Stance, Snake Posture, Dragon Posture and the Eagle Posture. Even the movements of the circular rotation of the spearhead followed the teaching of Taichi.

This one move from the Dragon and Snake style seemed as if it incorporated the mysteries of many martial art disciplines.

With the gentle rays of the moon shining down onto Wang Chao as if bathing him. He suddenly felt as if he had transformed into a python that was crawling around the shores and drinking in the moonlight.

As the moonlight gradually wrapped around him, Wang Chao started to feel scales sprout up from his skin and two heavy like dragon horns began to grow from his head.

“The snake will transform to become a dragon!”

Suddenly, a bright ray of light speared through the dark skies, awaking Wang Chao from his thoughts.

The skies had already grown bright with the sun rising up into the air. That ray of light that had hit Wang Chao had been from the sun.

“Practicing my posture took up the entire night?” Wang Chao suddenly thought about the scales and horns that he had imagined growing out from his body, he shook himself from his delusions. In order to make sure nothing was wrong, he touched at his temples just to see if there were any horns.

“So it was a dream!”

With a laugh, Wang Chao thought for a moment, “I probably sealed my pores for too long, that’s why it felt like scales were forming. My Qi probably went up to my temples, make it seem that horns were forming as well.”

But after inspecting himself, Wang Chao didn’t feel tired at all as if he had instead slept for the entire night.

“This must be the stage of enthrallment. When practicing stances, this is where progress will be shown best.” Retrieving his spear, he returned to the villa. Yesterday night’s events was still weighing on his mind as if there was a magical effect on him. It was only after half a day that he had figured out what had happened. “Yesterday night, my ideas were not in control of my body, but my body still responded? Is this the instinctive motions of Taichi? When fighting an opponent, one can use their own strength against them without thinking. When the opponent doesn’t move, neither do I. When the opponent makes a move, I move first!”

“But I was only in a dream like state by accident. Right now there’s no way I could do it again. If I wanted to use it in an actual fight, aren’t I far too away for that still?”

Thinking about the entranced state he had been in, he tried to imitate it once more, but after several attempts, he failed to feel anything. He only knew that he would sometimes be able to sense something.

“Something like this can’t be forced out. I can only come across this state at random while training. With time, the frequency I enter this state should go up as well.”

After thinking for some time, Wang Chao knew that he couldn’t try to force it any more and gave up.

Just at that moment, another phone call came from Cao Yi, “Are you going to do it or what? We’ve already mobilized.”

“I’ll be there straight away!” Wang Chao had given Cao Yi’s words plenty of thought the day before. Immediately jumping into a car, he flew towards the Public Safety Bureau as quickly as possible.

Arriving at the doors, Wang Chao could see several guards standing still with a serious expression on their faces as they watched the passerbys walk by them. With one look, Wang Chao knew that he wouldn’t be able to get it. Just as he was about to call Cao Yi, two people wearing camouflage clothing came out from the building.

“Are you Wang Chao?”

These two camouflage clothed men looked to be around 28 years old. One had a squared face while the other had thick eyebrows and both stood at 1.8 meters tall. From the way they walked, Wang Chao could tell they were both capable and experienced fighters that had gone through special SWAT training.

“I am.” Wang Chao replied.

“Chief Cao told us to bring you inside, let’s go!” The two men looked at Wang Chao for a moment with a small look of surprise and disbelief.

The two SWAT members gave each other a look before schooling their emotions. Then, the squared faced man held out his hand.

Seeing such a friendly gesture, Wang Chao couldn’t be rude and quickly held out his hand.

The moment when the two men shook hands, Wang Chao could feel the other person exerting all of his force as if he was using an iron plier. Firmly squeezing Wang Chao’s hands, Wang Chao could feel a slight pain come from his muscles and bones.

“Eh? Is this a test?” Wang Chao suddenly realized what was happening then shook his arm slightly.

At the same time, his thumb had managed to grab hold of the other person’s hand right in between the thumb and index finger before pressing on it.

“Ow, hssssh!” The SWAT member could only feel his arm grow numb as a large amount of energy went past his waist before he himself was forced to the ground because of the numbness in his legs.

But his reaction had been quite fast and immediately straightened his knees the moment he realized what was happening so that he wouldn’t fall to the ground.

While this was going on, Wang Chao silently took back his hand with an empty smile on his face.

After the test, the two SWAT members gave each other another knowing look. “Chief Cao is inside giving the mission, come in!”

Wang Chao nodded his head and followed them in. Walking around several circles, they finally arrived right outside spacious conference room.

“We have returned!”

“Enter!”

The doors to the conference room opened up, allowing Wang Chao to see a group of SWAT members all seated down inside. In the middle, there was a giant map and judging from the saliva on it, Cao Yi had been talking about it enthusiastically.

Aside from them, there was the beautiful news reporter Zhu Jia and her video reporter who was also seated.

When Wang Chao entered, everyone’s eyes swiveled onto him in interest.