Jiangnan, Ninghai.
The night was already deep, but Yu Lingxiao couldn't sleep.
The events of this evening had swept through Jiangnan like a storm, making even him realize that Jiangnan might be in for a change. What made him feel even more apprehensive was that this incident clearly targeted the Qin family behind the Ye family, yet the Qin family could not come up with any effective countermeasures, shattering their myth of invincibility.
Yu Lingxiao understood the principle of a cunning rabbit having three burrows.
With Qin Fengwu preoccupied with consolidating his position, he likely wouldn't have the time to help the Yu family suppress these matters. If it were to backfire, it would be detrimental to both Qin Fengwu and the Qin family.
Thus, Yu Lingxiao had to prepare for both eventualities.
He paced back and forth in his study and finally decided to have his subordinates issue a bounty order overseas, offering a reward of 30 million US dollars to assassinate Chen Jin Zhao.
"There is nothing in this world that money cannot solve. If there is... it's just that the money isn't enough!" Yu Lingxiao muttered to himself.
As soon as the bounty order was issued, it was accepted by a killer organization.
The killer organization that accepted the bounty order was called Shadow, ranked among the top globally. Shadow's missions rarely failed. Moreover, Shadow promised to deliver Chen Jin Zhao's head within a month.
Yu Lingxiao still felt uneasy.
So, he immediately increased the bounty to a staggering 100 million US dollars, hoping Shadow could shorten the timeframe to seven days!
A month was too long; every moment counted.
After careful consideration, Shadow accepted Yu Lingxiao's request once more.
Having done all this, Yu Lingxiao breathed a sigh of relief, gazing at the night outside and murmuring, "I don't care who you are. To offend me is to court death. If you don't die, I will."
Three in the morning.
Everyone in the Yu family had already fallen asleep.
A furtive figure moved under the cover of night, arriving at the door of Yu Lingxiao's study. He took out a key and, holding his breath, opened the room.
Not a sound was made from beginning to end.
Inside the study, the figure opened Yu Lingxiao's drawers and computer, took pictures of some things with his phone, and then tiptoed out. Seeming to think it was not quite right, he crept back into the study and wiped away any fingerprints he might have left.
Returning to his own room.
Yu Meng gasped for fresh air, her heart pounding.
She had found Yu Lingxiao's secret!
Her previous conversation with Yu Lingxiao was actually a ploy to deceive him, designed to make him let down his guard. Coupled with the fact that Yu Lingxiao's capable assistant, Shen Liangping, had already been killed, Yu Meng found it easy to get her hands on Yu Lingxiao's study key and make a copy. After understanding Yu Lingxiao's habits, Yu Meng dared to act.
And so, the scene just now unfolded.
She sat at the desk by her bed, lost in thought, finding it hard to believe that her grandfather had issued a bounty order through his overseas contacts, and the target of this bounty was none other than Yu Meng's beloved, Chen Jin Zhao!
What was even harder for Yu Meng to accept was that she had also found the forged medical record in Yu Lingxiao's drawer. This meant that Yu Lingxiao had never had Alzheimer's disease at all; it was all a lie!
"Grandfather, why would you do this?" Yu Meng felt a deep ache in her heart.
From childhood.
The person she trusted most was not her father, but her grandfather, Yu Lingxiao.
Who would have thought that Yu Lingxiao would deceive her in such a way, making her feel as confined as a bird in a cage.
As the sky began to show the first hint of dawn, Yu Meng finally made a firm decision, murmuring, "Grandfather, you are indeed old. In the future, I will manage the Yu family."
Through this incident, Yu Meng understood a profound truth—
This world is cruel!
To avoid being controlled, one must hold power.
She was tired of a life dictated by the Yu family. She wanted to forge a different path for herself and re-plan her life.
After dawn broke.
Yu Meng put aside any lingering sentiments of kinship and drove towards Chen Jin Zhao's home, intending to inform him of the news.
Meanwhile, at the Jiangnan Military Region.
Shangguan Yu'an woke up and knocked on Chen Jin Zhao's door, bringing him a hearty breakfast.
Chen Jin Zhao had already finished his morning exercises. After thanking Shangguan Yu'an, he noticed she was still standing at the doorway. He said calmly, "If you have something to say, come in. We can have breakfast together."
"Then I shall gratefully accept," Shangguan Yu'an replied without hesitation.
The two sat opposite each other.
While eating breakfast, Shangguan Yu'an revealed a piece of explosive news to Chen Jin Zhao, "Late last night, someone posted a bounty order targeting you on the dark web. It started at thirty million US dollars and rose to one hundred million US dollars, and was accepted by the Shadow organization. According to the information we have, the Shadow organization will launch an assassination within seven days."
"For the next seven days, try to stay outdoors as much as possible and remain at the Jiangnan Military Region."
"I want to see how those people dare to extend their reach here."
Chen Jin Zhao's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this. The Shadow organization was a top-tier assassin group globally, having been involved in the assassinations of prominent figures domestically, and they rarely failed.
Being targeted by this organization was not good news.
"Can you find out who issued the bounty order?" Chen Jin Zhao asked.
Shangguan Yu'an shook her head. "That person is very cunning, contacting the dark web through multiple layers of structure, not directly. It will take us at least half a month to get results."
But by then, it would be too late.
Chen Jin Zhao nodded, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I cannot stay at the Jiangnan Military Region. I will go to a place that makes it convenient for them to act. The Shadow organization is no less formidable than Black Blood. If I don't show myself, they will definitely target those around me to force me out. You know I don't like being in a passive position; I prefer to be in control."
"Alright, then I will accompany you," Shangguan Yu'an said.
Chen Jin Zhao chuckled, "If your grandfather found out, he'd likely grab a stick and beat me."
Shangguan Yu'an said expressionlessly, "Although I am from the Shangguan family, I am also a soldier of China. Now my superior is in trouble, how can I flee at such a time?"
Chen Jin Zhao didn't intend to persuade her, knowing Shangguan Yu'an was a stubborn woman, impossible to sway.
"By the way," Shangguan Yu'an changed the subject.
"What are your chances of winning in the martial arts competition this afternoon?"
Chen Jin Zhao replied truthfully, "Seventy-thirty."
Shangguan Yu'an was surprised. Chen Jin Zhao was so confident? However, Chen Jin Zhao soon smiled wryly, "I'm the three, he's the seven. Xuanwu is, after all, among the very top. And I haven't had systematic training for three years, so having a thirty percent chance of winning is already quite good."
"No, I will always believe in you," Shangguan Yu'an said.
At this moment.
Chen Jin Zhao's phone suddenly rang, from an unfamiliar landline number, registered in Ninghai, Jiangnan.
"Excuse me for a moment, I need to take a call."