Chapter Fifty-Five: A Turning Point

Yun Hao finally discovered the identity of his captor—Lei the Tiger! The infamous gang leader of Jinyang City, known throughout the city for his influence in the underworld. Well, now he had an enemy. In the course of a lifetime, one must face many people: family, friends, and, naturally, an enemy or two. A life without enmity is not a complete one. Those four words, “at peace with the world,” exist only in books for most people.

Lei the Tiger was still unaware that someone now bore a grudge against him. At present, he was pacing like a tiger in a cage, his anxiety betraying him. Wu Yuanshuang’s words were too alarming. That child might very well have been sent by the sages themselves, and he had unwittingly set foot in the domain of the mighty. The more he thought about the consequences, the colder his back turned. Others had tried such things before, and without exception, all had been torn to pieces by the great clans. The power of the aristocratic families, built up over generations, was not something small-time thugs could ever hope to challenge. In their eyes, Lei the Tiger was less than a fly.

“What do we do now?” Lei the Tiger roared, his voice as fierce as his namesake and perhaps the very reason for it.

“My Wu family, for all that we are, still has standing among the officials. We have connections, more or less. My tutor is Master Li Gang, preceptor to the Crown Prince and now imperial mentor. So, even if something goes wrong, there will be those to shield me! But it’s different for you, Master Lei. If you get into trouble, not only will no one help you, there will be those eager to push you down. You’ve made plenty of enemies in Jinyang’s criminal world, haven’t you? If the authorities decide to come after you, your rivals won’t hesitate to tear you apart.” Wu Yuanshuang spoke with utter confidence.

“I’ll wring your neck right now!” Lei the Tiger snapped back, his eyes blazing like lanterns as he glared at Wu Yuanshuang.

“If you kill me, you’re finished. If you don’t, there’s still a chance.” Wu Yuanshuang showed no fear at the threat.

“If you’ve got a plan, spit it out!” Lei the Tiger clung to this hope like a drowning man to driftwood, barely restraining himself from kneeling.

“There’s only one way—take out the boy. Then, you must flee far away. I’ll prepare some silver for you to use on the road. Once you’ve settled, I’ll see you right. Trust me, I, Wu Yuanshuang, am just sixteen and already a student at the Imperial Academy, apprenticed to Master Li Gang. My prospects are bright; as long as I thrive, you’ll never be left wanting.”

Wu Yuanshuang brimmed with self-assurance. He was an expert at convincing these sorts; as the saying goes, it’s not just about hobbling on crutches—true mastery is conning people from a wheelchair.

First, he had to steady Lei the Tiger before he could move to the next step. Wu Yuanshuang despised Yun Hao, but not so much that he wanted him dead. Initially, he only intended to teach him a lesson, but things had spiraled beyond his calculations, especially with the Duke of Tang’s household involved. This changed everything. Now, Wu Yuanshuang resolved to act decisively: Yun Hao had to die.

Once the boy was dead, with no witness left alive, no one could touch him. Wu Yuanshuang was already envisioning himself as a hero saving a damsel in distress, winning his cousin’s heart in the process. He could rid himself of Yun Hao and win the beauty in one stroke. As for Lei the Tiger, he would deal with him once the time was right.

“I’ve built a great empire in Jinyang—!”

“Whatever you lose, I’ll repay you double. Don’t believe me? You know exactly what kind of wealth my family has in Jinyang. If I become an official, money will be the least of my worries,” Wu Yuanshuang replied dismissively.

“I—let me think it over!” Lei the Tiger slumped onto the couch, utterly defeated.

* * *

“If your boss wants to silence me, then he’ll want to get rid of you too. Because what he’s about to do must not be known. Otherwise, not only will Lei have to face the wrath of the Duke of Tang’s family, but also the vengeance of Master Shan. He cannot afford the risk! Only the dead can keep secrets.” Yun Hao sat cross-legged, speaking calmly to Ma Ying.

“The boss is a man of honor, he—”

“You said ‘should be.’ That means you don’t truly believe it; you’re only telling yourself that. You’re clever. This is a life-and-death moment. Even if you don’t kill him, he’ll make sure you don’t survive.”

“Second Master! Second Master!” came the sudden rasp of a duck-like voice from outside.

“What is it?” Ma Ying asked impatiently. He hated being interrupted when deep in thought.

“Please come out, there’s a message from the boss.”

Ma Ying’s eyes lit up. He glanced at Yun Hao, who merely spread his hands: “I’m just a child. Where could I go? And you’re right outside. There’s no need to tie me up. We’ve managed to build a little trust here. Let’s not ruin that so easily.”

No sooner had Ma Ying stepped out than Zhang Miaoke whispered, barely audible, “I thought you were just a handsome child, but you’re sly as a fox. If my guess is right, your plan is…”

“Hush! Unless you want to suffer a fate worse than mine, keep quiet. They’re just outside; if they hear you, your death will be a hundred times more miserable than mine!”

“I just want to know, how did you figure out which one was Second Master? Was it really just from observation?” Zhang Miaoke was clearly insatiably curious, showing not a hint of fear in such dire circumstances.

“It’s obvious—their voices are completely different. They wore masks; did you really think I had x-ray vision?” As Yun Hao spoke, he began untying Zhang Miaoke from the sack. Of course, he took the liberty of enjoying the process.

The door to the woodshed banged open. Ma Ying appeared, catching Yun Hao leaning against Zhang Miaoke as if seeking comfort. “As you guessed, the boss wants us to kill the hostages.”

Yun Hao glanced at the darkening sky and asked, puzzled, “But the city gates have long since closed. How did you get the message?”

“We have carrier pigeons in the city!”

Yun Hao’s jaw almost dropped. He hadn’t expected people to be training messenger pigeons in this era.

“All right then! Have someone bring us some food. We can’t discuss business on empty stomachs.” He hadn’t eaten since morning—just a bowl of thin gruel, and he was ravenous.

“Here’s your food!” The man with the duck’s voice entered with a food box.

The moment the box was opened, the aroma of the dishes filled the woodshed. Yun Hao stared at the box in surprise, then broke into a sly, fox-like smile. This time, let’s see how you all meet your end!