Conspiracy in progress

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Ivan strolled out of the door, glanced upward, and spotted a gathering of people waiting for him. Leading the group was Zhao Guohua.

At this moment, Zhao Guohua stood there composed and exuded an air of ease. For the past decade, he had been Ivan's protector, seeking advice from Ivan on challenging matters of cultivation. Through years of unwavering dedication, he had finally ascended from Mastery to the legendary realm of Peak Mastery.

Zhao Guohua had a profound respect for Ivan, recognizing that his strength was entirely thanks to Ivan's guidance.

"Dr. Ivan, the plane is ready. Considering your destination's remoteness, the government has arranged a guide for you, Mr. Li Guang."

Zhao Guohua stepped forward, emerging from behind a soldier in his early thirties, who was sharply dressed in military uniform. He extended his hand and said, "Dr. Ivan, I've long admired you. I'll be your guide to Hidden Dragon Mountain. I hope we have a successful journey."

"Of course, I share the same hope, and then I'll defer to Mr. Li Guang." Ivan shook hands with Li Guang and then released, maintaining a respectful, yet somewhat enigmatic gaze.

Ivan and Red Devil proceeded under Li Guang's guidance, soon arriving at a waiting helicopter. After bidding farewell to Zhao Guohua and the others who had come to see them off the previous day, the trio boarded the aircraft and took off.

Watching the plane gradually vanish into the distance, Zhao Guohua's face revealed a complex expression.

Someone approached and inquired, "Aren't you regretful letting him depart? Given his significance, why didn't you try to stop him?"

Zhao Guohua wasn't surprised by the man's appearance, and even the soldiers behind the man showed no signs of surprise. "Certainly, I regret it, but I also don't regret it. Dr. Ivan has been immensely beneficial to us. He's our benefactor, and we shouldn't be greedy.

The man sighed in agreement, "You're right. It's already a tremendous gain. Thanks to his guidance, you've achieved Peak Mastery, and the entire country has benefited greatly. His unique training methods and the information he provided have propelled our nation's technological capabilities to the level of advanced countries worldwide in a short time. Yet, some will never be satisfied. They'll always want more, and neither you nor I can stop them."

Zhao Guohua clenched his fists suddenly, his face taking on a grim expression. "Indeed, I can't halt their ambitions, but I can maintain my neutrality. I can't dictate their actions, but I won't be drawn into ungrateful deeds.

"However, I hope you can differentiate between National interests and Personal grievances. If the state orders you to assist in bringing down Dr. Ivan and compelling him to stay in China for research, can you decline?"

Zhao Guohua suddenly exuded a formidable presence, leaving those around him breathless. The power of Peak Mastery was truly imposing. Comparing him to a God wouldn't be an exaggeration, and it was essential to show at least superficial respect.

"I won't harm Dr. Ivan; at most, I'd consider changing the security detail. I don't anticipate significant trouble. The state has personally asked Dr. Ivan to leave, but some people are driven by greed. If anyone tries to manipulate me, they can't expect me to be lenient. I doubt they can succeed; Dr. Ivan's true strength goes beyond just the Peak Mastery level."

"What? Is it possible he's reached a higher level in martial arts? You've achieved Peak Mastery. How confident are you in a confrontation with him?"

Zhao Guohua didn't answer immediately. He took a moment to reflect before responding: "I'm not entirely sure. You know, as a martial artist, you develop an intuition for danger. Before I reached Peak Mastery, Dr. Ivan seemed ordinary to my senses, but after my breakthrough, I occasionally felt a hidden threat from him. It was as vast as the ocean. My intuition tells me that if Dr. Ivan intended to kill me, I wouldn't stand a chance. I've always suspected he has another ace up his sleeve, a hidden trump card, and his bodyguard, Azazel, feels equally enigmatic."

"Are you serious? Is he truly that formidable? You know my role, and you have a good relationship with Dr. Ivan, so why reveal so much to me?"

"I'm sharing this because I understand your role. You're here because someone is trying to exploit Dr. Ivan, but it's bound to fail, and it could result in angering Dr. Wen. I'm sharing Dr. Ivan's strength to make these individuals think twice and avoid overstepping. We don't want to provoke Dr. Ivan into taking action against our country; that would be a disaster."

"I understand your point, and I'll convey your message to them, doing my best to prevent their actions. Some things aren't within our control, but I hope we can avoid making them irreversible."

"It shouldn't come to that. Those individuals respect Dr. Ivan's brilliance and won't resort to lethal means. At most, they may cause some inconvenience, but I've always had a hunch. Dr. Ivan possesses an unusual affinity for China. Despite being an outsider, he collects many Chinese artifacts, but his contributions in terms of information and solving complex issues for various research departments far outweigh these collections. It's remarkable, almost beyond imagination. Sometimes, I can't help but think that while Dr. Ivan may look Western, he's more Chinese at heart."

"Your observation is astute. As head of the intelligence department, I understand the significance of Dr. Ivan's intelligence. Many indicators suggest that he has distinct Chinese traits in his habits."

"It seems Dr. Ivan came to China not only to provide much-needed scientific and technological materials but also to willingly assist us with numerous challenges. He may be intentionally helping us. If this angers him, we could lose a valuable ally."

"I understand your point, and I'll report this promptly to discourage those actions. Frankly, I had reservations about this from the start. Someone who's done so much for us shouldn't be a target of aggression. Ivan's brilliance surpasses ordinary human limits; he could singlehandedly revitalize our nation. We must keep him on our side, no matter what."

Watching the departing man, Zhao Guohua's concern remained undiminished. After all, his earlier words were mere speculation. Everyone has their interests, and when immediate gains are at stake, few can resist them. Dr. Ivan's extraordinary brilliance transcended human bounds, and it was paramount to keep such a treasure in our hands for the nation's sake.

Ivan, who had already boarded the plane, did not know about the recent events. Even if he did, he wouldn't have cared. After spending nearly a decade in China, he saw his efforts to bolster China's national strength as a form of repayment. His sole desire was to relax, and he paid no heed to any covert schemers lurking in the shadows.

The helicopter soared through the skies for three to four hours before finally landing in a mountainous area at an open spot.

Upon disembarking from the plane, Ivan, Red Devil, and Li Guang stepped out, with Li Guang being the last to alight. He discreetly produced a small object from his pocket and tossed it into a corner of the plane, trying to remain unnoticed. However, Ivan had been covertly observing him from the beginning. With his exceptional mental prowess, nothing escaped Ivan's notice.

"It's absurd to think you can use something fashioned from the information I provided to handle me," Ivan quickly discerned that the item Li Guang had thrown was a tracking device. However, his vigilant protection of the pilot suggested the pilot was safe.

Before boarding the plane, during their handshake, Ivan sensed some ill intentions in Li Guang's mind. He probed his memory and discovered that the government had divergent plans for handling him. Moderates preferred maintaining a cooperative relationship, given their prior harmony. Radicals, on the other hand, advocated for direct control, forcibly detaining Ivan in China for their benefit. Ultimately, the moderates' stance prevailed.

"Dr. Ivan, this mountain is the Hidden Dragon Mountain, our destination. The sacred water you mentioned can be found in the Shenlong Temple on this mountain, in a well in the backyard. You can fetch some with a bucket if needed."

"Alright, let's head up the mountain now. I can't resist the urge to study the origins of this miraculous healing water."

"Dr. Ivan, please follow me."

Ivan watched as Li Guang led the way, holding a trekking stick, occasionally tapping it, and sending covert messages. Ivan pretended to be oblivious and followed.

The Hidden Dragon Mountain was indeed remote, surrounded by mountains. There were only a couple of small villages within a radius of more than 100 miles, and the rugged mountain paths made the journey quite arduous.

After several hours of trekking, they reached the mountaintop, and a temple came into view.