71. The Assassin (About to be released—please add to your favorites and recommend)

Bai Weiqi returned home feeling increasingly irritable; the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Finally, unable to swallow his resentment, he set out on a path of no return. He dialed a number once given to him by an unsavory acquaintance—a supposed elite assassin organization called "Heaven Slayer," which claimed to be the second-best in the world.

When the call connected, Bai Weiqi stated his request. The other party quoted a price of ten million. Having lost all reason, Bai Weiqi agreed without hesitation. After hanging up, he burst into maniacal laughter; in his eyes, Ye Feng was as good as dead.

Meanwhile, Bai Shaofeng began seeking people to deal with Ye Feng. In his mind, Ye Feng was merely relying on Xu Wen’s protection. The provincial bureau chief was indeed a significant official, but for those with connections in the capital, it was nothing special. Not to mention, Zhao Dabao, the mayor of Haifeng City, was someone Ye Feng couldn’t handle.

Yet, Bai Shaofeng was ultimately disappointed. He hadn’t expected Zhao Dabao, who had always been close to him, not only to refuse his request but to turn hostile immediately. This surprised Bai Shaofeng greatly; he thought he had already overestimated this brash youngster Ye Feng, but he had still underestimated his influence—he hadn’t imagined his reach in Haifeng City was so formidable.

Still, Bai Shaofeng didn’t take it to heart. After all, the Bai family had cultivated connections in the capital for many years. But after a few phone calls, his heart grew colder and colder. Everyone politely declined his request, advising him that he could always have another son, but if the Bai family collapsed, they would lose everything. Besides, his son was hardly a good person anyway.

Now Bai Shaofeng was truly alarmed. Could Ye Feng be the illegitimate child of some great family in the capital? Was he really to abandon his own son?

…

While Bai Shaofeng wrestled with whether to submit to Ye Feng completely, Ye Feng had already handed the video of Bai Weiqi drawing a gun to Xu Wen. Zhao Dabao had also called to inform him of Bai Shaofeng’s maneuvers, but Ye Feng paid these matters little mind.

After spending a day in the hospital, Amy was fine. Ye Feng wanted to personally escort her home, but she refused and took a taxi instead.

As for Ye Feng’s three sworn brothers, they had long since left to avoid disturbing his time alone with Amy, driving off in his flashy Maserati before they went.

Ye Feng looked up at the sky; it was a fine day. It had been a long time since he could stroll along the street so freely. As he neared an alley he had to pass to reach his ancestral home, Huaihuai’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind, grave and urgent: “Ye Feng, stop. That alley is dangerous. If you go in recklessly, you might not come out alive.”

Ye Feng was stunned by Huaihuai’s warning—this was the first time the AI had been so serious. “What’s in there?” he asked, settling naturally at a nearby wonton stand and ordering a bowl.

“My scans show three people inside. The one in the center is armed with an anti-materiel sniper rifle. Two others, to the southwest and southeast, each have rocket launchers—heavy weaponry, enough to take out tanks, let alone you,” Huaihuai analyzed methodically. If he hadn’t been monitoring their surroundings, Ye Feng might already be dead.

“Any idea whose people they are?” The stall was busy, and Ye Feng’s wontons took a while to arrive, giving him more time to think.

“No idea. They look very professional—probably career assassins or mercenaries. What’s your plan? Take a detour?”

Ye Feng was silent for several seconds. When the wontons finally arrived, he spoke: “Call Xu Wen, tell him the situation, and have him bring plainclothes officers. Tell him to be careful.”

After Huaihuai called Xu Wen, he asked, “What now?”

Ye Feng took a bite of wonton—it tasted quite good. “When they’re almost here, we’ll go through the alley. But first, calculate the angles—how can I get shot but not seriously hurt, and leave them no time to escape? If they want to play games, I’ll play big.”

“You’re gambling with your life! You’re not even level two yet, and my energy isn’t enough to shield you from such heavy firepower. One mistake and you’re dead!” Huaihuai was anxious—this was no joke. “Xu Wen will be here in twenty minutes. Just wait here and you’ll catch them for sure.”

“Huaihuai, you don’t understand. You may be an AI and surpass humans in calculation, but you don’t understand the human heart. I only intended to take out Bai Weiqi and weaken the Bai family. But since they’re offering themselves up, why be polite? If I get injured, the Bai family is finished. I trust you can calculate a safe position for me.” Having said this, Ye Feng began eating heartily, as if he weren’t about to walk through a hail of bullets.

Seeing Ye Feng was determined to take the risk, Huaihuai said no more and focused on calculating every blind spot, finally mapping out a bloody path and transmitting the route directly into Ye Feng’s mind.

After some thought, Ye Feng called Ye Tianhua to ask how much liquid capital Maple Leaf Financial Investment Company currently held. Learning there was over five billion remaining, Ye Feng told him not to touch it for now—he would wire over more, and starting tomorrow they would begin a hostile takeover of Bai Corporation shares.

Then Ye Feng called Huang Luan.

As soon as the call connected, Huang Luan’s teasing voice came through: “So, youngest, how’s your little romantic world going?”

“Third brother, no time for jokes—I need to borrow some money,” Ye Feng said, not in the mood for banter.

“No problem. How much, and when?”

Huang Luan was the heir the Huang family had raised from childhood, trained to have a keen investment eye. Ye Feng was always a valuable prospect, and with their sworn brotherhood, Huang Luan had no reason to refuse.

“I need fifty now.” Huaihuai had estimated that four billion would be enough to acquire fifty-one percent of Bai Corporation’s shares, but Ye Feng asked for a little extra to be safe.

“All right, give me your account number,” Huang Luan replied without hesitation.

“I’ll text it to you in a moment. Thanks, third brother,” Ye Feng said sincerely.

“You don’t need to stand on ceremony with me, youngest. I should punish you—make you treat us to a feast when you get back,” Huang Luan joked.

“Of course, of course. When I’m back, dinner’s on me. I’ve got things to do—talk later, third brother.” With that, Ye Feng hung up.

After eating his wontons slowly, about half an hour had passed. Huaihuai informed him that Xu Wen was nearly in position, and would reach the three men’s hideout in about a minute.

Ye Feng stood, paid the bill, took a deep breath, and strode toward the alley.