Chapter 25: A Desperate Gamble

Who is Han Fucheng?

He is the Vice Chairman of Xinhai Technology Co., Ltd., a prominent and influential figure in Chongqing. With his iron-fisted tactics, he has kept senior executives like Chen Yunze and Miao Xingyu under his thumb. Yet, Nie Yunyang, who appears remarkably young, dared to threaten Han Fucheng in front of everyone—a classic case of a newborn calf not fearing the tiger.

Chen Yunze and Miao Xingyu chose to remain silent; if Han Fucheng wanted to be the first to stick his neck out, they were more than happy to let him. Meanwhile, Chen and the others had been observing Nie Yunyang closely. They had long since caught wind of the events in Zhen'an: how Old Qiu and Chang Zhicheng were killed by assassins, and how this young man had saved the young heiress.

Han Fucheng pulled out a cigarette, lit it without haste, and took a deep drag, exhaling a cloud of smoke. He looked up and sneered, "Kid, I don't want to bother with you, but let me give you a piece of advice: don't be too arrogant while you're young."

"If you aren't arrogant when you're young, are you even young?" Nie Yunyang retorted.

Han Fucheng’s face turned livid. "You’ve got guts, kid. I just hope you don't live to regret this."

"Whatever game you want to play, I’ll see it through to the end," Nie Yunyang replied.

"Hmph. Since Mu Qingyao has decided to put the company through bankruptcy reorganization, I have nothing more to say. Everyone can find their own way from here on out." With that, Han Fucheng rose and left, his expression as sour as if he had swallowed a fly.

The others looked at one another in silence. With the Vice Chairman washing his hands of the matter, the bankruptcy reorganization became a foregone conclusion. The board meeting ended on a sour note. Miao Xingyu remained behind to discuss company affairs with Mu Qingyao; she had to sign documents to inherit Mu Bolin’s shares and then begin dealing with the company’s creditors—there was no shortage of work to be done.

Nie Yunyang instructed Chen Jiong and Tan Weibo to stay at Xinhai while he drove to the International Finance Center in the Liangjiang New Area.

Once the secretary ushered Nie Yunyang into the office, Cao Weihua got straight to the point: "Have you found your help?"

"Uncle Cao, I’m here to have tea with you, not to collect debts," Nie Yunyang said.

Cao Weihua’s expression darkened. "Is this something that can be settled with money?"

"My help has already arrived. Xinhai held a board meeting today, and Mu Qingyao announced the bankruptcy reorganization. You should have seen the looks on those people's faces—it was priceless!" Nie Yunyang said.

Cao Weihua leaned back in his chair and picked up a cigar. "Bankruptcy reorganization won't affect those people much. They’ve already lined their pockets and secured their escape routes."

"Uncle Mu’s body is barely cold, and instead of trying to save the company, they are colluding to force Mu Qingyao out so they can carve up the assets," Nie Yunyang said.

Cao Weihua lit his cigar and took a puff. "The chairman is dead; who wants to stay in a sinking ship? The world is driven by profit. Any rational person knows how to seek advantages and avoid harm."

Nie Yunyang understood this logic, but the fact that they had banded together to bully a defenseless girl filled him with rage.

"Uncle Cao, do you know this mysterious 'Master Xue'?" Nie Yunyang asked thoughtfully, his tone casual.

Cao Weihua’s expression turned grave. "Yunyang, I advise you not to do anything foolish. If Master Xue wants to finish you, it would be easier than crushing an ant."

"Uncle Cao, I understand that provoking Master Xue is no different from seeking death. I only hope you can pass a message to him: whatever he wants from the Mu family’s legacy, he can take. But Mu Qingyao is innocent. I hope he can show some mercy and not make things difficult for a girl who has just lost her father," Nie Yunyang said.

Cao Weihua pondered this for a moment. "Last time, to protect you, I gave Master Xue a landscape painting from the Wei and Jin dynasties. Do you have any idea what that’s worth? It’s not impossible for me to pass the message, but you must agree to one condition, otherwise, I can't help you."

"What condition?" Nie Yunyang asked.

He had heard his master mention that the Wei and Jin periods produced many brilliant painters, such as Gu Kaizhi, whose "The Goddess of the Luo River" was a legendary masterpiece.

Cao Weihua finished his cigar and said, "You must admit that Mu Qingyao is your girlfriend. Only then can I plead the case on behalf of my future daughter-in-law."

"As long as you can get this done, you can say whatever you like," Nie Yunyang replied.

Cao Weihua nodded. "I am confident I can handle Master Xue. However, Sun Yufan is more troublesome. He was Mu Bolin’s mortal enemy and will never let Mu Qingyao go."

"Who exactly is this Sun Yufan?" Nie Yunyang asked.

"Sun Yufan is the boss of a tech company, and his status is similar to Mu Bolin's. Compared to Master Xue, he’s a small fish, but he’s still a threat. Mu Bolin was able to build his fortune by hitching his wagon to a powerful patron from Sichuan. Unfortunately, that ship sank, and Mu Bolin lost his backing. He had offended Master Xue in the past, and in the end, he couldn't escape his fate."

"What if I kill him?"

Cao Weihua’s expression changed drastically. "Yunyang, have you lost your mind? This is Chongqing. Not to mention that murder is a crime, but Sun Yufan’s background isn't simple either."

"Sun Yufan must have plenty of enemies. If I take him out without leaving a trace, even the police might not be able to pin it on me. I don't have the strength to confront him head-on, so I have to go all-in and win through a desperate gamble," Nie Yunyang said.

Cao Weihua furrowed his brows. "Yunyang, how certain are you?"

"I have enlisted a master from Mount Longhu, a protégé of an old immortal there. If I join forces with him, Sun Yufan won't stand a chance," Nie Yunyang said.

Mount Longhu? Cao Weihua was surprised. He hadn't expected Nie Yunyang’s help to be connected to Mount Longhu; that made things interesting.

"Yunyang, if your mind is made up, then go ahead and try. But during the operation, make sure you don't leave a single shred of evidence. I don't want to see your name in the crime news." After a long period of contemplation, Cao Weihua finally agreed.

Nie Yunyang was surprised. "Uncle Cao, are you really supporting me?"

"Want to know why?" Cao Weihua asked.

Nie Yunyang raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"The assassin you encountered in Zhen'an was arranged by Sun Yufan, and the person colluding with him is Han Fucheng, the Vice Chairman of Xinhai. They have been in close contact lately," Cao Weihua revealed.

Thinking of the deaths of Old Qiu and Chang Zhicheng, Nie Yunyang gritted his teeth. "So the masterminds were Sun Yufan and Han Fucheng! I will never let those two bastards get away with this!"

Miao Xingyu, Chen Yunze, and Han Fucheng were all key figures during Mu Bolin's lifetime. Miao Xingyu, the General Manager, lacked such grand ambitions; he merely hoped to use the Xinhai platform to achieve his own goals. Chen Yunze and Han Fucheng were different, especially Han Fucheng, who became the company's largest shareholder the moment Mu Bolin died.

However, Han Fucheng was too impatient. Desperate to eliminate Mu Qingyao, he didn't hesitate to collude with Sun Yufan and betray the company's interests. But because Mu Qingyao inherited Mu Bolin's shares, she remained the primary shareholder. For Han Fucheng to seize the chairmanship, he had to get rid of her.

And that was how the assassination attempt in Zhen'an came to pass.