Chapter Fifteen: The One Who Must Die!

Xia Ning was momentarily stunned. She raised her head again to look at Jiang Yu—more precisely, at the enigmatic smile playing at the corner of his lips.

“Sir, please, don’t joke about such things. As long as you can cure my father’s malaria, I promise to reward you handsomely afterward.”

Born into a prominent family, Xia Ning had been steeped since childhood in the unshakable belief instilled by her elders: money could fix anything.

Jiang Yu’s smile grew more amused. “You think I’m joking?”

Xia Ning was briefly at a loss for words. Her slender fingers clenched and unclenched, again and again.

Seeing this stunningly sensual woman genuinely pondering the question, Jiang Yu laughed. “Alright then, I was joking.”

No doubt, the beautiful woman before him was alluring, but with his status and position, Jiang Yu only needed to beckon, and countless beauties would fall into his arms. There was no need to dwell on her.

“Xia Ning, you’d better think twice. Your father isn’t some beast of burden you can drag off the street for treatment. If anything goes wrong, no one can bear the consequences,” interjected the elegant Young Master Shen at her side, his brow furrowed in concern.

Jiang Yu simply smiled, saying nothing. He was far from being the type who roamed the world dispensing charity—life, death, sickness, and health all followed their own course.

The only reason he’d taken the initiative to approach Xia Ning was the faint scent of Biyu Golden Flame she carried with her.

Had it been anyone else, even if they dropped dead at his feet, what would it matter to him?

If you’re too much of a good person, you’re just a fool.

Whether Xia Ning agreed or not was of little importance to Jiang Yu; at most, he could simply follow her home and seize the Biyu Golden Flame at an opportune moment.

Those methods were still relatively gentle.

If it were an ancient immortal herb, Jiang Yu couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t kill for it on the spot.

After a moment’s thought, Xia Ning looked up at Jiang Yu. “Sir, how did you know about my father’s illness? You’ve never met him, yet after only a few words, you accurately described his condition.”

She added, “Recently, many doctors have examined my father. They’re all aware of his illness. I’m concerned someone may have leaked the information.”

Jiang Yu smiled helplessly; she wasn’t just a pretty face—she had some intelligence.

He said, “I can read a person’s illness at a glance. The moment I saw you, I knew what ailed your father and how it came about. I can also tell you with certainty that you, too, have contracted the same illness from your father. Yours simply hasn’t advanced as far, so there are no symptoms yet.”

Xia Ning’s expression changed dramatically at his words.

Young Master Shen sneered, “Nonsense. Miss Xia Ning is lively and energetic—how could she possibly be ill? She’s simply been exhausted from running around lately and appears a bit frail, that’s all.”

Xia Ning parted her lips, her beautiful eyes flickering with fear and uncertainty.

The memory of her father’s agonized cries during his attacks was etched too deeply in her mind.

She couldn’t bear to imagine enduring the same torment—would she survive it?

“Sir, what do you want?” she ventured cautiously.

Jiang Yu stated without pretense, “All the medicinal herbs you’ve ordered will go to me, plus a consultation fee of one hundred million. In addition, I’ll take one item from your family estate.”

A hundred million for a consultation?

Young Master Shen’s heart skipped a beat. He stared in disbelief at the youth before him, who looked no older than eighteen or nineteen.

Such a handsome face, yet such a black heart!

He opened his mouth and demanded one hundred million just like that.

He knew full well that, even as the left branch of the Xia family, Xia Ning’s assets—though worth several billion—were mostly tied up in real estate. The actual liquid funds available were only a little over a billion.

The Xia family was split into the left and right branches, with combined assets exceeding several billion, but all tightly controlled by both sides.

If the left branch had to produce one hundred million in cash, it would be a serious blow to their resources.

“Boy, do you even know what you’re saying?” Young Master Shen’s tone was icy, his eyes glinting with danger.

Jiang Yu spread his hands. “Those are my terms. Now it’s up to you to decide whether his life is worth a hundred million.”

The consultation fee was a mere smokescreen.

Had Jiang Yu asked for nothing but the Biyu Golden Flame, even a fool could see the item was extraordinary.

Robbery was always the last resort.

Xia Ning was startled, her heart pounding wildly.

But then she remembered: her father, as the leader of the left branch, was locked in a mortal struggle with the right. If he died, leaving no one to hold the line, the left branch would soon be devoured by the ruthless right.

The right branch was focused on martial prowess, the left on commerce; together, they split the Xia family’s legacy. For years, the two sides had fought openly and secretly, nearly to the point of open warfare.

Seeing Xia Ning hesitating, Jiang Yu said, at just the right moment, “Let me remind you: I can have your father thriving again within a month, completely cured of malaria.”

Xia Ning gritted her teeth. “Fine. Deal. But if I find you’re deceiving me, I’ll make you regret it.”

Jiang Yu chose to ignore her threat.

“Please give me your contact information—I’ll be in touch soon,” Xia Ning said.

They exchanged contacts. Xia Ning turned and returned to her Bentley, which slowly drove away.

“Miss Xia Ning, you—” Young Master Shen protested anxiously.

“My mind is made up; say no more,” Xia Ning replied calmly. “Desperate times call for desperate measures. If this boy fails, he won’t get a thing anyway.”

Even if there’s only a one-in-a-million chance, I won’t give up.

With the fate of the left branch at stake, seeing Xia Qinghan recruiting supporters for the right branch day after day, Xia Ning’s anxiety grew.

“How pitiful that my family has no worthy sons, leaving that girl Xia Qinghan to throw her weight around,” Xia Ning lamented inwardly, slowly closing her eyes.

This matter required careful discussion with Uncle Xia—a hundred million for a consultation was no trifling sum.

...

As the Bentley carrying Xia Ning disappeared from view, Jiang Yu glanced at his watch.

“It’s nearly midnight. Seems there’s someone else who must die tonight.”

The smile faded from his lips as he dialed Li Hao’s number.

“Teacher?” Li Hao’s voice was laced with surprise and deep respect.

Jiang Yu said, “Find me the address of that fat man, Qingfu Jiang Ziyue.”

After a brief pause, Li Hao asked, “Do you want me to handle it for you, Teacher?”

Jiang Yu refused. “If I want someone dead, why have someone else do it?”

“In half an hour, I’ll send the address to your phone.”

Ending the call, Jiang Yu lit a cigarette. “Did you really think it would be so easy to cheat me?”

Ten minutes… twenty… half an hour later, Li Hao sent the fat man’s detailed information to his phone.

The man was an out-of-province businessman worth over a hundred million. He was still in Cloud City, apparently in the Commercial Hotel negotiating a deal with some officials.

After ending the call, Jiang Yu immediately headed for the Commercial Hotel.

Jiang Yu was never arrogant; he treated everyone with a breezy smile, his trademark calm and affable demeanor.

But those like Li Hao knew he had a bottom line.

Once crossed, whether in heaven or on earth, no one could protect his intended victim.

Late at night, Jiang Yu stood at the entrance of the Commercial Hotel, neon lights reflecting in his deep black eyes.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve killed someone in the mortal world,” he murmured, striding inside.

As Jiang Yu stepped through the hotel doors, a BMW 7 Series pulled in behind him.

Jiang Shaoqi, Zheng Xuan, Jiang Ziyue, Han Chen, and Sun Wanyue all got out of the car.

Zheng Xuan wore a knee-length skirt and high-heeled sandals, her figure tall and graceful. She smiled demurely, already showing the budding beauty of a young woman.

Jiang Shaoqi stood proudly by her side, handsome and self-assured—the perfect golden couple.

Jiang Ziyue’s expression was cold; she stood silently among them.

Sun Wanyue, meanwhile, was all smiles, her words laced with flattery toward Han Chen.

“Han Chen, I never imagined your family’s business was this big,” Sun Wanyue marveled, gazing up at the towering Commercial Hotel, her eyes flashing with envy.

Han Chen was dressed in designer brands, an expensive Chameau watch on his wrist worth well over a hundred thousand. Among the city’s elite—excluding the likes of Yuan Tiangang—he was considered quite a young master.

Han Chen waved modestly. “Tonight, my father is hosting a coal tycoon from out of province, worth over a billion. If they close a deal, my father stands to make at least eight figures.”

The others couldn’t help but react. Even Jiang Shaoqi was visibly astonished; his family’s assets were barely over ten million, yet Han Chen’s father could make several million in a single deal. The disparity was stark.

Jiang Ziyue spoke coolly, “Your father may hold a senior official’s rank, but I suggest he not be too flamboyant. There are too many taboos in officialdom. It’s better to hold shares discreetly than to be in the spotlight.”

Han Chen’s father’s rank was the source of his confidence.

“Come, if there’s a chance, I’ll introduce you to the coal boss,” Han Chen offered.

Sun Wanyue moved closer to Han Chen, smiling sweetly. “Brother Han, you’re already at a height we can only look up to. When will we ever catch up?”

Han Chen smiled, “This is nothing. Compared to Yuan Tiangang, it’s no big deal.”

Though his words were modest, his tone was full of pride.

“Let’s go. I’ve booked a private room—tonight, let’s drink until we drop.”