Chapter 114: Melee

Fu Yuxing glanced over as his walking stick was transmitted to someone a few meters away. A faint smile played on his lips; he lifted his gaze to meet Meng Changdong’s, buttoned his suit jacket with one hand, and stepped out of the vehicle.

Meng Changdong took a step back, clearing the way for him.

Fu Yuxing stood straight, his eyes scanning the gate of the villa.

"I heard you recently underwent minor surgery on your foot," Meng Changdong said. "Shall I assist you inside?"

"I appreciate the concern, Assistant Meng, but there is no need to trouble yourself. It is just a minor injury, not enough to warrant your assistance."

He finished buttoning his jacket and began to walk, moving steadily toward the villa. Every eye was fixed upon him. He walked with such composure that, unless one looked very closely, one would never notice his injury; there was only the slightest suggestion of a limp.

Meng Changdong narrowed his eyes. This was the kind of man one could never underestimate. He quickly followed, leading him into the villa.

The interior was decorated in a minimalist, modern style, dominated by shades of gray and black with almost no ornamentation. Li Ting sat on a black leather sofa in the living room, a tea set on the low table before him, steam rising slowly from the brew.

Meng Changdong walked ahead and said, "Mr. Li, Mr. Fu has arrived."

Li Ting sipped his tea, nodded, and only looked up when Fu Yuxing drew near. A smile touched his eyes, but he did not rise. "Long time no see, Mr. Fu."

Fu Yuxing walked slowly to the other side of the coffee table. "Long time no see, Mr. Li."

Li Ting gestured to the seat beside him. "Sit."

Fu Yuxing sat as instructed. Li Ting moved a cup filled with tea toward him. "Have some."

"Thank you."

However, even after speaking, he did not touch the cup.

Li Ting took a few sips, caught sight of the untouched tea from the corner of his eye, and raised an eyebrow. "What? Do you have an issue with this cup of tea, Mr. Fu?"

Before Fu Yuxing could respond, Li Ting continued, "Youth is a wonderful thing—ambitious and driven. You’ve certainly put in the work in Hong Kong and Macau over these past two years. The 'Fu-Wan' sign hanging on the tallest skyscraper in the commercial center—it’s quite dazzling. You chose your position well, too; I can see it the moment I look up from my office. I’ve stared at it every day for a year and a half, and it has been agonizing."

"I watched it every day, wondering, 'What is the meaning of this?' Soon enough, I understood. You were clearly provoking me, challenging me. I am a man who fears no challenge; you aren't the first to try and usurp my position. I accept your challenge, but I truly underestimated your capabilities. In this past year, you've stolen so much of my business and ruined even more. You’ve got guts!"

He gave a thumbs-up. "A real rising star, truly formidable. To actually target me on my own turf, and in such a direct manner—you are the first."

Fu Yuxing picked up the teacup and blew gently, parting the tea leaves floating on the surface. "Mr. Li is too kind. Yet, here I am, currently in your hands, am I not?"

Li Ting chuckled. "I forgot to tell you. Over the years, so many have wanted to move against me, Li Ting, but none have succeeded. You will be no exception. In Northern City, perhaps I couldn't touch you, but now that you have walked right into my trap and entered my territory, hoping to leave unscathed..."

He laughed softly, then set his teacup down with a sharp *clack*. He leaned back, his gaze filled with a touch of pity. "You are truly a talent. The first person to ever steal my business and spoil my plans. If it weren't for that little cutie, Lin Wanbai, I might never have found your weakness, and I might have struggled to keep your momentum in check."

Fu Yuxing’s expression remained unchanged. His gaze rested on a single tea leaf in his cup. He flicked it gently, sending it flying out of the cup. It looked much more pleasant now.

He still did not drink, placing the cup back down. "Let her go, and I will agree to whatever you want."

"You no longer have the qualifications to negotiate with me." Li Ting picked up a cigarette, which Meng Changdong lit for him. He crossed his legs, took a slow drag, and exhaled a cloud of smoke toward Fu Yuxing. "Fu Yuxing, one must always leave a way out for others. With your way of doing business, do you have any idea how many people are waiting to see you die?"

He smiled in silence.

Li Ting smoked for a while, then said, "I didn't believe Lin Wanbai when she told me, but now I do. Keeping you alive is a disaster waiting to happen. I really should have listened to her; I shouldn't have spared you back then."

"But I am curious. After everything Lin Wanbai did to you, why are you still willing to save her? Knowing full well it’s like walking into a lion's den, you still dared to come."

Fu Yuxing replied, "How she treats me is irrelevant. It is enough that I love her."

Li Ting burst into laughter, as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world. He laughed so hard he couldn't even inhale the smoke. He waved his hand immediately. "Apologies, apologies. It’s just too funny; I couldn't help myself. I believe you—I truly believe you love her. If it weren't for love, she would have died hundreds of times over by now. If any woman around me dared to plot against me, I would have thrown her into the ocean to feed the fish."

"I am humbled by comparison. In the way I treat women, I am not as deep or loyal as Mr. Fu. Don't worry, when you die, I will make sure Lin Wanbai sees just how much you felt for her."

"Then I must thank Mr. Li for his fulfillment of my wishes."

"You're quite welcome. I, for one, love to fulfill wishes. What I love most is witnessing the parting of lovers at death's door. It is such a delight."

He raised his eyebrows, took the final drag of his cigarette, and crushed it in the ashtray.

***

Lin Yao arrived at the villa for dinner in a car arranged by Li Ting. She had dressed up specifically for the occasion. Meng Changdong stood at the door waiting for her. As night fell and the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky began to darken, and the villa was bathed in bright lights.

"Mr. Li didn't hire a chef today," Meng Changdong said. "Miss Lin, you might need to prepare the meal yourself."

"Oh, that's fine. Are the ingredients ready? If not, I'll have to go out and buy some."

"The ingredients have been prepared."

Lin Yao nodded.

Meng Changdong did not move; he continued to watch her. "There is a guest here today, besides Mr. Li."

"Oh?" Lin Yao paused, her lips twitching slightly. "In that case, should I ask my mother to come and help? I'm afraid I won't cook well and will cause Mr. Li to lose face."

"It doesn't matter. I was just letting you know in advance. There is no need for any pressure."

With that, Meng Changdong stepped aside and gestured for her to enter.

Sensing something was amiss, Lin Yao couldn't help but glance into the villa, but she walked in regardless. What else could she do? Even if it were a den of wolves and tigers, she had no choice but to enter.

Meng Changdong led her into the living room, where Li Ting was playing billiards alone.

He looked up and waved at her. "You're here."

Lin Yao walked over, hugged him, and kissed his cheek, acting coy. "If you wanted to eat my cooking, you should have told me earlier so I could prepare. You know my culinary skills aren't great, and now that you've invited a guest, I won't be responsible if you lose face."

"If anyone dares to say my woman's cooking is bad, I'll cut out their tongue." Li Ting pressed a hand onto her shoulder, lifted his chin, and said, "Changdong will help you. His cooking is decent."

"That would be wonderful." Her eyes filled with smiles, and after planting another kiss on Li Ting’s lips, she followed Meng Changdong into the kitchen.

The kitchen was spacious, and all the ingredients for the day's meal were already laid out on the counter. Looking at them, Lin Yao felt quite inept.

She didn't really know how to cook. Although she was the daughter of a mistress, after Lin Jingyu accepted her and agreed to let her stay in the Lin household, despite Lin Zhouye’s cold attitude, Lin Jingyu and Lin Zhaowei had actually treated her quite well, like their own child. They had never made her do chores, raising her like a true young lady.

Consequently, she had never lifted a finger until she began seeing Li Ting. Zhou Lin had urged her to learn to cook, saying that to capture a man, one must capture his stomach. She hadn't originally intended to learn, but one day Li Ting casually mentioned wanting home-cooked food. She learned, but after doing it once and being criticized by Li Ting, she never did it again, preferring to let the nanny prepare the meals rather than putting in the effort for no reward.

However, Zhou Lin remained persistent, forcing her to cook lunch and dinner to hone her skills.

She had improved, but she had never cooked for Li Ting again.

She would never forget the words he had used to belittle her first meal. Besides, she had no hope for this man, nor did she harbor any plans to become his legitimate wife—so why bother? It was entirely meaningless. Why suffer? Isn't it better to just put on a show and take the money? Why make life so difficult for herself?

So, she refused to do anything for him anymore.

"There are so many complicated dishes here, I can't do this," she said, looking at Meng Changdong. "You can do it, right?"

"It’s very simple. I’ll just teach you as we go."

"Do I *have* to do it myself?"

Meng Changdong nodded.

She curled her lip, cursing him silently in her heart, put on an apron, and began to cook under his instruction. It was a long and agonizing process. She was splattered by oil several times—on her face, and even leaving blisters on the back of her hand. She complained internally but kept a smile on her face. Halfway through, she took a breather and couldn't help but ask, "Who is the guest? If they were a VIP, surely they wouldn't ask me to cook for them."

"You'll know soon enough."

"Is it someone I know?"

"Not only do you know them, you know them very well." The voice came from Li Ting, who had appeared at the kitchen door.

Lin Yao’s heart skipped a beat. She forced a smile and went back to cooking. As she worked, she began to wonder who it could be.

Suddenly, she remembered what he had said two days ago. Could it be Fu Yuxing?

The mere thought made her heart race. Ever since she had followed Li Ting to Hong Kong, she had stopped inquiring about Fu Yuxing. He had ruined her family, and the memory of how he had used her filled her with bitterness. People like her were nothing but stepping stones to him; once used, they were trash in his eyes. He had even used her to amuse Lin Wanbai.

These were knives stuck deep in her heart. When they were pulled out, they bled profusely. Even if the wounds had begun to heal, they still ached.

When the meal was finally ready, she and Meng Changdong carried the dishes to the dining table. Outside, the sky was completely dark. Meng Changdong checked the time, looked outside, and felt a hint of unease. He set down his chopsticks, walked to the door, and looked out. Only a few streetlights shone in the distance; the road was silent and still. There was not a single car.

He immediately made a call, but both numbers he dialed were busy or went unanswered.

He turned around to see Li Ting already standing behind him, face dark.

Meng Changdong paused. "I'll send a few men to check the situation. Perhaps they were delayed on the road."

"Let's hope that's the case."

"You can count on me."

Li Ting looked at him deeply before turning back to the living room.

Meng Changdong’s heart sank slightly. He immediately dispatched another team to investigate, pulled up GPS tracking and surveillance footage of the route, and continued to make calls.

Another half-hour passed, and still, there was no feedback.

Li Ting decided to wait no longer and ordered his men to bring Fu Yuxing down.

***

Earlier that afternoon, at five o'clock sharp, Li Ting’s men had left the village house with Lin Wanbai. It should have taken at most forty-five minutes to reach the villa. To ensure there were no accidents, Meng Changdong had arranged for ten men to accompany them.

However, before the car had even left the village, it was blocked.

It was unclear who the opposing party was, but five or six cars were lined up, cutting off the path. The cars were likely modified; they all turned on their high beams simultaneously, blinding the guards for several seconds.

In those few seconds, the windows were smashed to pieces. The attackers wore black masks and moved with ruthless efficiency, capitalizing on that brief window of opportunity. The guards were instantly overwhelmed.

They were seasoned veterans, though, and had contingency measures. Two men stayed to protect Lin Wanbai while the others fought back.

Just as the two sides clashed, another group of four or five men appeared, moving like a special operations team, aiming precisely for the car where Lin Wanbai was held. Fortunately, the two guards protecting her were skilled and managed to fend them off for a while. That delay gave their companions time to come to their aid.

Lin Wanbai, her hands and feet bound and her eyes covered, could hear the chaotic sounds outside but had no idea what was happening. Finding the car unattended, she used her fingers to pull down the blindfold. Turning her head, she saw a man’s contorted face pressed against the window, covered in blood. She was startled and instinctively recoiled.

There were no streetlights in the area, and it was pitch black outside. She could only see shadows flickering, like a massive brawl.

*I have to escape now.*

She lifted her legs and used two fingers to try to undo the knot. This specific type of knot had a unique method, and with only two fingers, it was cumbersome. But miraculously, she knew how to undo it; the method flashed into her mind. She forced herself to stay calm and began to work on it methodically.

Moments later, she succeeded. Her feet were free, and her chances of escaping were much higher.

She moved to the door and pressed her face against the window, observing the scene. People kept rushing toward the car—she seemed to be their target—but because they were all fighting each other, no one could get close.

She scanned her surroundings. Seeing no one immediately near the car, she opened the door and quickly scrambled out.

As soon as she appeared, the attackers became even more frantic, tearing at each other to get to her. Their combat strength was evenly matched, and for a moment, no one could reach her.

*This is a good thing.*

Lin Wanbai looked around, noticed a direction that was clear, and stood still, staring at the men. She took a step forward, which made them fight even more fiercely. She took another step, and then, suddenly, she turned and sprinted into the wild field, running frantically toward the thicket.

Because the attackers were preoccupied with each other, no one was able to give chase.

She ran wildly. Just before she reached the trees, someone emerged from them. She couldn't stop in time and crashed into the person, and her wrist was immediately seized.

He dragged her toward the left. They ran aimlessly through the village, finally reaching the outskirts where two cars were waiting. The man pushed her into a car, and she fell onto the seat, her head hitting the door, causing a wave of dizziness.

By the time she recovered, the car was already on the main road, having left the village behind.

Lin Wanbai turned to look at the person beside her, her eyes filled with vigilance. She licked her lips and poked him to get his attention.

Lu Peng turned his head, met her confused gaze, and smiled without speaking immediately, reaching out to untie her ropes.

When he reached out, Lin Wanbai instinctively pulled back, but he grabbed her hand and untied the ropes in a few quick movements. Before he could hold her hand again, she pulled back instantly, her vigilance high, her eyes fixed on him as if asking, *Who are you?*

Lu Peng remembered Liang Zhixia saying she had lost her memory. She might not have remembered him to begin with, and now that she had amnesia, she would certainly have no idea who he was.

She was remarkably cold, just like she was in high school. Even in this situation, she remained so composed—not only did she not scream or shout, she didn't even ask a question.

He chuckled. "Fu Yuxing is dead. You're free."

The words caught Lin Wanbai off guard. Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Frustrated, she pounded the seat.

Lu Peng finally noticed something was wrong. He leaned in, just about to say something, when the car suddenly slammed on the brakes. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt and flew forward. The driver had stepped on the gas so suddenly that Lu Peng was flung toward the dashboard; fortunately, he had quick reflexes and grabbed the back of the passenger seat, preventing himself from smashing into the windshield.

"Damn it! What’s going on!" he cursed.

Before he could finish, the car door was ripped open. A hand grabbed his ankle, and a masked man pulled him right out of the car.

The strength was superhuman!

As he hit the ground, Lu Peng threw a punch, which the stranger easily blocked. With one hand and one foot pinned, he had almost no power to resist. He tried to see who the man was, but the stranger wore a mask and had long bangs, hiding his face completely.

The next second, he was tossed aside, and Lin Wanbai was snatched away.

Lu Peng wouldn't give up. He lunged forward, grabbed Lin Wanbai’s hand, and pulled with all his might. He couldn't pull her back, but he was nearly dragged along with them.

The man didn't even acknowledge him, pulling Lin Wanbai to the car and opening the door. As he went to shove her inside, he glanced at Lu Peng. "Let go."

"You think I will?" Lu Peng was determined. He gripped Lin Wanbai’s wrist tightly, glaring fiercely. "That’s my line! Let go, or don't blame me for what happens next."

They pulled in opposite directions, and Lin Wanbai felt like her arms were going to be torn off.

She looked from one to the other and finally kicked the masked man in the leg. Comparing the two, she felt the one who showed his face was more reliable.

The masked man looked at her, perhaps understanding her intention, and relaxed his grip. He walked over and, while Lu Peng was off guard, kicked him squarely in the stomach with eighty percent of his strength.

Lu Peng collapsed, and in the next second, Lin Wanbai was shoved into the car. Lu Peng lay on the ground, sweating from the pain, unable to stand. He could only watch as the car drove away.

The driver, who had been hiding in the car, finally stepped out to help him, trembling. "Brother Peng, what do we do now?"

Lu Peng, furious, punched him in the head. "What the hell were you doing?"

"I..." he stammered.

Lu Peng didn't have time to yell. "Get in the car! Chase them!"

"Yes!"

That kick had left Lu Peng with agonizing chest pain. The driver was acting strangely; although he said he was chasing them, he drove slowly, and the other car was long gone. He didn't even run the yellow lights, slowing down well in advance.

Lu Peng clutched his chest, staring at him. After a long silence, he suddenly asked, "Who are you? You aren't one of my men. When did you infiltrate my group?"

***

Lin Wanbai sat quietly, occasionally glancing at the person beside her. He kept his mask on the entire time, with no intention of taking it off. The car sped along, heading to an unknown destination.

She felt lost. She didn't know whose hands she had fallen into, nor where she was. She had lost her voice, so she couldn't even ask questions.

The driver seemed to notice her and suddenly spoke. "You are safe now."

His tone was pleasant, even a little gentle.

Lin Wanbai was stunned. She looked toward the rearview mirror and could only see the mask he wore. It featured a panda pattern, unlike the plain black mask of the man beside her. This panda, sticking out its tongue, miraculously made her feel less afraid.

She blinked but did not react.

The man asked again, "Did they feed you?"

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

Lin Wanbai thought for a moment and nodded immediately to indicate she was hungry.

At this, the man beside her, who had been silent until now, spoke coldly, "She isn't hungry."

Lin Wanbai frowned and looked at him.

"Focus on driving and stop yapping," the driver said.

He chuckled. "Don't be so serious. You'll scare her."

***

Meng Changdong received the latest news: she had been kidnapped.

His heart tightened. He glanced into the dining room. The three of them sat together, and Fu Yuxing seemed perfectly normal, yet he felt something was fundamentally wrong.

He immediately ordered reinforcements.

Just then, Fu Yuxing’s phone rang twice and then cut off.

In the quiet space, the ringtone sounded piercing. Li Ting glanced over. Fu Yuxing’s phone was sitting in a basket nearby. Li Ting raised an eyebrow—he hadn't survived this long by being naive.

He knew exactly what those two rings signified. He pulled out the gun he kept on his person and pressed it against Fu Yuxing’s forehead. "Tell your people to get lost."

Fu Yuxing merely raised his eyelids, looked at him, and smiled. "Mr. Li, what are you talking about? I don't quite understand."

Li Ting glared, his finger curling around the trigger. Just as he was about to fire, a *bang* echoed. A bullet shattered the window and pierced Li Ting’s wrist.

Blood splattered across the table.

Lin Yao shrieked instinctively, covering her head with her hands.

Hearing the commotion, Meng Changdong rushed in, and all the men pointed their guns at Fu Yuxing.

Li Ting gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and glared at Fu Yuxing. At that moment, a red laser dot appeared on Li Ting’s forehead—a silent threat.

Meng Changdong pressed his gun against Fu Yuxing’s temple. "I want to see who dies faster!"

Fu Yuxing remained indifferent. He smiled and said, "Feel free to try."

He pulled out a tissue and wiped the blood from his face in a leisurely manner. He glanced at Li Ting’s blood-gushing wrist. "If I were you, I’d stop the bleeding first."

A second red dot appeared, aiming at Li Ting’s temple.

The villa was backed by mountains. They weren't sure how many men Fu Yuxing had, but despite their numerical advantage, Fu Yuxing’s posture made them lose their nerve. He didn't seem afraid; instead, they were the ones who were panicking.

If a real firefight broke out, they would all end up dead alongside Fu Yuxing. By that calculation, they were the ones at a disadvantage.

Lin Yao finally calmed down. She stared at the red dot on Li Ting’s head. After a few seconds, she stood up, shielding him with her body, and glared at Fu Yuxing. "Fu Yuxing, you’ve fallen into my hands today, and you won't be getting out! You used my family as stepping stones, as pawns! You destroyed us, and I’ve wanted to see you dead every single day! I will not let this opportunity pass!"

She grabbed the gun from Meng Changdong’s hand and fired at him without hesitation.