“So, Li Feng still isn’t dead?”
In a room in Tianhai City, Song Zhiyuan looked up at Uncle Ning, his expression tinged with disappointment. When Li Feng was ambushed at the crossroads, Song Zhiyuan was the first to hear about it. He was thrilled—someone trying to kill Li Feng was fantastic news. Having suffered multiple setbacks at Li Feng’s hands without getting revenge, it was a pity if Li Feng died, but only a slight one. Song Zhiyuan would rather see him dead.
But he hadn’t expected Li Feng to be so resilient, surviving a gunshot. Unwilling to accept this, Song Zhiyuan wanted to go to the hospital to mock him, but Uncle Ning stopped him. Uncle Ning warned that if he went now, Li Feng might suspect Song Zhiyuan had hired the assassins. While Li Feng himself wasn’t a threat, his parents were not to be trifled with, which would be bad for the Song family and Song Zhiyuan.
So, Song Zhiyuan suppressed his impulses and waited for developments. As expected, the assassins didn’t give up and attacked Li Feng in the hospital.
Despite police protection, Song Zhiyuan saw the police as useless, incapable of stopping the assassins. With another gunshot wound, Li Feng seemed doomed.
Yet, unbelievably, Li Feng emerged unscathed again. How could Song Zhiyuan not be furious? Was Li Feng’s life really that charmed?
“Yes, our source in the police says Li Feng single-handedly defeated several assassins. Of the three, he killed two, and one escaped,” Uncle Ning replied.
“Useless! These assassins are all useless. If I’d known, I would’ve sent my own people to stir things up,” Song Zhiyuan said coldly. “Li Feng might already be dead by now.”
“Young Master Song, you mustn’t think like that,” Uncle Ning said, alarmed.
“Why not? Doesn’t Li Feng deserve to die?” Song Zhiyuan glared at him coldly.
“Young Master, I don’t know if Li Feng deserves to die, but what do you think will happen if he keeps getting targeted like this?” Uncle Ning countered.
“The consequence is obvious—the assassins won’t give up and will keep trying to kill him,” Song Zhiyuan replied matter-of-factly.
“Young Master, Li Feng is the son of Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng. He’s been attacked twice in broad daylight. Do you think they’ll stay silent?” Uncle Ning inwardly scorned Song Zhiyuan’s naivety, but having chosen to serve him, he had to accept it.
Song Zhiyuan’s expression shifted. He understood what it meant if Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng were provoked. If he got involved, he could face their wrathful retaliation.
“Young Master, these two attacks show that Li Feng himself is highly capable,” Uncle Ning added.
“So what?” Song Zhiyuan asked coldly.
“I suggest you put aside past grudges and cooperate with Li Feng,” Uncle Ning said.
“What?” Song Zhiyuan’s face changed, his gaze sharp as knives. “How much did Li Feng pay you to speak for him?”
Disappointment flashed in Uncle Ning’s eyes. He hadn’t expected Song Zhiyuan to suspect him of taking bribes after all his efforts to plan for him.
“Why cooperate with Li Feng?” Song Zhiyuan, as the Song family’s second young master, wasn’t a fool. His earlier words were spoken in anger, but knowing Uncle Ning’s loyalty over a decade, he realized there must be a reason. Calming down, he asked quickly.
“Young Master, in Tianhai City, you need an ally,” Uncle Ning said deliberately.
“An ally? Is that necessary?” Song Zhiyuan frowned. “I can get the Nine Dragon Jade and that item without one.”
Uncle Ning shook his head, handing him a few A4 sheets. “Young Master, things have changed. This is the latest intelligence from the family.”
Song Zhiyuan glanced at it, his expression shifting.
Uncle Ning continued, “All eight major families have sent people to Tianhai City, and other forces have arrived too. You’re not facing just one or two opponents. Without an ally, you might struggle to make progress.”
Song Zhiyuan began to accept Uncle Ning’s words but was reluctant to work with Li Feng, having suffered at his hands multiple times in Tianhai City.
“Why Li Feng?” he asked.
“Because Li Feng is skilled, and he’s the son of Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng,” Uncle Ning said. “More importantly, few know of his prowess. Others will think you’re allying with a weakling, which could catch them off guard.”
To Uncle Ning, Li Feng was cunning, hiding his abilities for over twenty years. He wasn’t easy to deal with. Song Zhiyuan’s goal was the Nine Dragon Jade and that item, so it was unwise to make an enemy of Li Feng.
Instead, cooperation was the best choice. The Song and Li families, one in the south and one in the north, rarely had direct conflicts. An alliance would be a powerful combination.
“Li Feng survived these attacks. Won’t others suspect his strength?” Song Zhiyuan shook his head.
“Young Master, if you hadn’t crossed paths with him, would you believe it?” Uncle Ning countered.
Song Zhiyuan fell silent. Without clashing with Li Feng, he wouldn’t have believed his strength. Wanting to kill Li Feng before and now considering cooperation felt too jarring.
“Young Master, those who achieve great things don’t sweat the small stuff. There’s no deep enmity between you and Li Feng,” Uncle Ning said, knowing Song Zhiyuan’s pride was both his strength and weakness.
“But a few days ago, your plan to use others to kill him…” Song Zhiyuan hesitated.
“Young Master, that was just to teach him a lesson, not to kill him. Besides, those people haven’t acted yet, and even if they do, it has nothing to do with you,” Uncle Ning said casually. That plan was merely to annoy Li Feng. He believed Li Feng wouldn’t fuss over it in the face of greater interests.
Seeing Song Zhiyuan still hesitating, Uncle Ning continued, “Young Master, what’s more important: becoming the family heir or your grudge with Li Feng? With so many forces in Tianhai City for that item, they might already be allied. If you don’t find an ally, how will you compete? If you fail this mission, will the eldest young master let you off?”
Song Zhiyuan shuddered. He could ignore other reasons, but for the family heir position, he couldn’t fail. Compared to that, his grudge with Li Feng was nothing. Once he controlled the Song family, he could deal with Li Feng later if he wanted.
Between families, only eternal interests mattered. He and Li Feng represented two families, not just individuals.
“Young Master, according to intelligence, the Jinling Zhu family and the Fu family have started cooperating,” Uncle Ning added.
“What?” Song Zhiyuan’s face changed completely. The Nanling Song family and the Jinling Zhu family were two major southern powers, long at odds, clashing multiple times over decades. In Tianhai City, the Zhu family would be the first to target the Song family.
The Fu family, like the Song and Zhu families, was one of China’s eight major families, dominant in the central plains. Previously an ally of the Song family, they helped counter the Zhu family during conflicts.
But ten years ago, a shocking event nearly turned the Fu and Song families into enemies, and they became estranged.
Song Zhiyuan never imagined the Zhu and Fu families would unite, a devastating blow to him and the Song family.
“Is this true?” Song Zhiyuan stared at Uncle Ning, as if trying to see through him.
“The intelligence says so. The family is verifying its authenticity, but I believe it’s likely true,” Uncle Ning said, glancing at him. “Young Master, whether it’s true or not, you must prepare. Otherwise, you’ll be caught off guard and suffer heavy losses.”
“So, I have no choice but to work with Li Feng?” Song Zhiyuan’s expression darkened.
“Of course, you could ally with others, like the Qin family,” Uncle Ning said, shaking his head. “But do you know them?”
Song Zhiyuan paused. Raised in Yanjing and later returning to Nanling, he knew little about the other major families. Compared to them, he knew Li Feng better.
“Besides, working with Li Feng has one advantage for you,” Uncle Ning added.
“What advantage?” Song Zhiyuan asked, surprised.
Uncle Ning said two words.
Song Zhiyuan’s eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, “Let’s go find Li Feng now.”
