Inside the luxury car.
Maria let out a sigh of relief as she looked at the bustling crowd fading into the distance.
"That was terrifying! They're absolutely insane!"
"I've never encountered such madness before!"
She still hadn't recovered from the wild behavior of the fans. At this moment, she was still a little frightened.
The dense crowd had rushed forward so forcefully that even someone who didn't have a fear of crowded spaces would feel uneasy—let alone a young girl like Maria.
Chuckle! Angela and the others beside her couldn't help but laugh.
"You've never traveled far, so of course, you've never seen anything like this!"
"The last time we came here unprepared, we were blocked in, and almost couldn't get out."
"If it hadn't been for Ada, we might have still been stuck there."
"This time, we were fully prepared, so no need to worry about being surrounded!"
They seemed to have anticipated this situation well, preparing thoroughly. Even when facing such enthusiastic fans, they remained calm, throwing smoke bombs for cover and swiftly maneuvering their way through the crowd.
From the ease of their actions, Zhao Lun could imagine that they must have encountered such situations before.
"Have you guys encountered something like this before?"
"In Japan, the people were even crazier than this. They surrounded the airport, almost trapping us there!"
"Seriously? That's insane!"
"It's no exaggeration at all!"
With that, Angela pulled out her phone and showed Zhao Lun a video.
The video depicted a bustling airport in Japan's capital, where a sea of people was screaming wildly, calling out several names.
Looking at it, the scene they had just witnessed seemed like nothing in comparison.
"Alright, if you guys go to Japan again for business, be careful!"
As they spoke, the car sped ahead, leaving all the following vehicles behind. When they reached the crowded city center, they drove into an underground parking garage.
The group quickly got out and switched to a different car, leaving the area. Meanwhile, one of their bodyguards took the original luxury car, continuing to drive around to divert attention.
"With this car drawing attention, the paparazzi won't be able to find us anymore!"
Once they were out, they were indeed no longer followed by the paparazzi, and the car moved normally.
Hong Kong was a unique place, its historical baggage making it distinct from the rest of China in this era.
However, these differences were quietly being reclaimed by the powerful mainland China.
The day when this shift would be fully realized was growing closer, and the atmosphere in Hong Kong was growing increasingly restless. As soon as they entered the bustling city, they could sense an unusual vibe.
Zhao Lun didn't speak, instead gazing out the window, and Maria, noticing something, joined him in looking outside.
The place felt like a furnace, radiating intense heat, but the people within the furnace seemed unaware, rushing about in a hurried and unsettled manner. On the streets, nearly no one appeared happy.
They weren't concerned with whether the people here were happy; what concerned them was the eerie resemblance to something they'd seen in Great Britain.
They noticed fleeting figures, hidden residences beneath the bustling exterior, and an invisible force that seemed to isolate them from the past.
Some of these figures appeared to be dressed in a style reminiscent of the Republican era, others wore braids from the Qing dynasty, some were monks or Taoist priests, and others still appeared like normal people, yet their presence was overwhelming. Their auras were intense, their spiritual senses extraordinarily sharp. As they looked, it seemed that these figures noticed them and turned their gazes toward them.
The energy emanating from their eyes was like a sharp blade, unnervingly intense.
Maria, frightened, hid her head behind Zhao Lun, while he unleashed the power of his realm to block the piercing gaze.
The clash of energies, except for Zhao Lun, went unnoticed by the others in the car.
"What's going on? Are we being chased?" Angela and the others, seeing Maria shrink back, thought they were being pursued.
"No, no one's chasing us. Maria just saw some terrifying people!"
"They were fierce! They were glaring at Maria with their eyes!"
Maria explained, and the others, curious, looked out the window. Who would be glaring from the street, especially through the car window?
Hong Kong, fragrant with wood and trees, exuded an air of tranquility and elegance.
In the past, the city had been inhabited mostly by foreign immigrants, with the local Chinese population being a minority.
Recently, as Hong Kong underwent changes, nearly all the foreign immigrants had left, and the place felt much quieter compared to before.
"This place is so spacious!"
As they entered through the crowded streets, their vision opened up to an expansive area.
"In such a cramped space, to have such a place—it's truly a rare environment."
"Of course. This is one of the best Feng Shui locations in Hong Kong. If it weren't for this special time, we could never have bought such a luxury home here!"
Land in Hong Kong was like gold, and even with their financial power, buying here was still a painful expense.
Now, during this special period, rumors were flying, and people were in a panic. Many wealthy individuals had fled the city.
The departure of the rich had severely affected many industries. Among them, the real estate market had been hit the hardest, with many properties rapidly depreciating, and the once-beautiful luxury homes now sat abandoned.
Some developers, unable to meet financial demands, saw their assets shrink drastically, and the unlucky ones lost everything. In desperation to make ends meet, developers slashed prices, and it was only due to such circumstances that Zhao Lun was able to acquire this mansion.
The mansion, after undergoing Zhao Lun's renovation plans, and with Angela carrying out those plans, was now not only luxurious but also incredibly sturdy, almost becoming the most secure home and the most advanced luxury residence.
When they arrived here, the car didn't stop, but continued up the mountain until it reached the summit.
From the top of the mountain, the view gave a sense of seeing all of Hong Kong laid out below.
In the distance, the deep blue sea, the calm bay, the soft sandy beach, and the horizon where the sea met the sky...
"This place is truly magnificent!"
After taking in the view, Zhao Lun couldn't help but praise. It was worthy of being a luxury estate—not only was the location unique, but the scenery was also breathtaking.
"Welcome, Mr. Zhao, to the Zhao Family Estate."
Athena's voice came through the speakers.
"Huh? Athena's voice?"
Maria was surprised to hear Athena's voice in this place.
"Heh, let's go inside."
Zhao Lun smiled, not offering an explanation, letting her figure it out for herself.
In the crowded metropolis, having such a spacious area made Zhao Lun feel quite comfortable, and his mood lightened.
"Athena, display the map of Hong Kong and its surroundings."
Zhao Lun commanded Athena skillfully as usual.
"Understood, sir."
A clear map appeared, and then the map shifted, transforming into a three-dimensional "real" model before them.