Su Family.
“I need your explanation,” Su Yang said coldly into the phone.
Ever since he had contacted the assassin organisation to kill Li Feng, he had stayed at home waiting for news. But a day passed, two days passed, a week passed, and Li Feng was not only alive but thriving. This filled Su Yang with fury, and he was deeply dissatisfied with the assassin organisation. He had paid them so much money, yet they still had not completed the task.
“Mr Su, the target is highly skilled. We need more money,” came a cold voice from the phone.
“Highly skilled? Is that your excuse?” Su Yang sneered. How skilled could a young man be? In his mind, Li Feng was not exactly feeble, but at most on par with an ordinary person. How strong could someone like that be?
“Mr Su, mind your tone. Due to faulty intelligence, we have already lost a bronze-level assassin,” the cold voice replied.
“That is your incompetence. I want to know when you will kill Li Feng,” Su Yang said coldly.
“Add another million, and we can send a silver-level assassin. This time, Li Feng will surely die,” the voice on the phone said.
“I can wire you another million. Do not disappoint me.”
With that, Su Yang hung up abruptly. Thinking of the culprit who killed his grandson still at large, he could neither eat nor sleep properly. He longed to find Li Feng and fight him to the death, but reason told him that doing so would not avenge Su Xin; it would only make him look like a madman.
Thus, his only hope was that the assassin organisation would kill Li Feng. But he had not expected them to be so unreliable, failing to kill Li Feng even now.
Was revenge impossible?
A glint of determination flashed in Su Yang’s eyes. No, absolutely not. He could not let Su Xin die so unjustly. Li Feng must be killed.
Knock knock!
A knock at the door startled him. Who would come at this hour?
Puzzled, Su Yang opened the door and paused upon seeing the visitor. “Xu Yong?”
“Old Su, I came to see you,” Xu Yong said, holding a bag of fruit at the doorstep.
“Come in, please.” Su Yang hurriedly welcomed Xu Yong inside. He trusted Xu Yong immensely now. If not for him, he would still not know how Su Xin had died, so he was always delighted by Xu Yong’s visits.
Entering the living room, Xu Yong set down the fruit and looked at Su Yang in confusion. “Old Su, what is wrong? You seem unhappy.”
“Sigh…” Su Yang sighed and hid nothing from Xu Yong. “It is still that useless assassin organisation. So many days have passed, and they still have not killed Li Feng. If you had not recommended them, I would truly suspect they are a scam.”
“How could this be?” Xu Yong feigned surprise.
“Who says otherwise? They claim Li Feng is too skilled. Hmph, only a fool would believe that. I think they are just incompetent,” Su Yang snorted.
Li Feng had wiped out the Black Stone Gang; how could he not be skilled? Xu Yong chuckled inwardly but outwardly showed anger. “You are right, Old Su. This must be the assassin organisation’s failure.”
With that, Xu Yong slapped himself hard.
“Xu Yong, why did you do that?” Su Yang looked at him in bewilderment.
“Old Su, this is my fault. I recommended this assassin organisation to you, and they turned out to be so useless,” Xu Yong said with feigned regret.
“Xu Yong, you meant well. It is not your fault.” Su Yang shook his head, his eyes growing even more approving of Xu Yong. This was a true friend to Su Xin. Among all Su Xin’s friends, only Xu Yong stood by this old man in his time of need.
“But, Old Su…”
Su Yang stopped him. “Xu Yong, I know you meant well. I am grateful, not resentful. You probably did not know much about this organisation either; you just wanted this old man to avenge Su Xin, so you told me.”
“Old Su…” Xu Yong looked at Su Yang, sighed, and said bitterly, “It is just a pity we still cannot kill Li Feng to avenge Su Xin. Old Su, I am so angry.”
Su Yang rose silently, walked to the window, and gazed at the bustling street below. Tears welled in his eyes as he murmured to himself, “This is fate.”
“No, Old Su, this is not fate. I do not believe in fate. Should Su Xin die so unjustly? Should we let him go with eyes unclosed?” Xu Yong stood, his expression fervent. “Even if the assassin organisation cannot kill Li Feng, I will do it myself. I must avenge my good brother, my best friend.”
Su Yang turned, looking at Xu Yong. “Child, I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot let you ruin yourself for Su Xin. Now, I only hope the assassin organisation can avenge him. No matter the cost, I will pay it.”
“And if they cannot?” Xu Yong asked.
“Cannot…”
Su Yang turned back to the window, his gaze vacant and lost. “If they cannot, then it is fate. Unwilling as I am, what can I do?”
Xu Yong rose and stood beside Su Yang, looking down at the street. After a long pause, he said, “If the assassin organisation fails, there is only one way left.”
Su Yang whipped around. “You have another way?”
“Old Su, you misheard me. How could I have a good way?” Xu Yong seemed startled, shaking his head in denial.
“Xu Yong, that is unfair. You clearly said there is a way just now. Why deny it now? Do you not take this old fool seriously?” Su Yang said discontentedly.
Xu Yong bit his lip, glanced at Su Yang, and said helplessly, “Old Su, this is a method that is no method at all. It cannot be used unless absolutely necessary. I, I would rather not say.”
“We are at that desperate point now. If not now, when? Do you want to wait until this old fool joins Su Xin before you speak?” Su Yang roared in anger.
Seeing Su Yang’s agitated and furious expression, a flicker of triumph gleamed deep in Xu Yong’s eyes. This Su Yang truly was a research fanatic, utterly clueless about human relations or worldly experience. Too easy to fool. What renowned professor, what celebrity in academia? He was still dancing to Xu Yong’s tune.
“Xu Yong, speak up,” Su Yang urged impatiently.
“Old Su.” Xu Yong sighed, paced a few steps, and just as Su Yang was about to lose patience, he said, “Old Su, I know of an organisation with the strength to kill Li Feng.”
“An assassin organisation?” A flash of disappointment crossed Su Yang’s eyes.
“No.” Xu Yong shook his head. “This is not an assassin organisation, but they possess even greater power. However…”
“However, what?” Su Yang asked hastily.
“However, getting them to act comes at a steep price,” Xu Yong said.
“This old man has nothing left but money. As long as they can kill Li Feng and avenge Su Xin, I do not care how much it costs,” Su Yang said.
“Old Su, it is not about money.” Xu Yong shook his head.
“What then? Do they not want money?” Su Yang blinked in disbelief. In his view, such murderous dealings were always about taking money to eliminate disasters. If not money, what?
“They want people,” Xu Yong said, looking at Su Yang.
“People?” Su Yang paused, then smiled bitterly. “So I have no chance. They would hardly want this old fool, would they? Sigh, I never thought avenging Su Xin would be so hard. Is Su Xin truly doomed to die in vain?”
“No, Old Su. The ‘people’ they want are talents. They are a vast organisation that recruits talent worldwide.” Xu Yong looked at Su Yang. “If I approached them, they might not take me, but you are different. Old Su, you are a luminary in research with outstanding contributions. That is exactly what they need. If you offer to join them in exchange for killing Li Feng, they might agree. But from then on, Old Su, you would have no freedom. That is the price.”
Su Yang shook his head. “My only grandson is dead. What use is freedom to me? My sole wish is to avenge Su Xin. Nothing else matters. But Xu Yong, will they truly help kill Li Feng? Can they?”
Su Yang could not help recalling the assassin organisation. They had repeatedly assured him they would complete the task and kill Li Feng, but now? So much time had passed, and not only had they failed, but they claimed Li Feng was too skilled. So he worried this new organisation Xu Yong mentioned might be the same.
“Old Su, I cannot guarantee that, but it is an opportunity. How will you know without trying?” Xu Yong shook his head. He avoided absolute promises, lest it arouse Su Yang’s suspicion.
“Indeed, how will I know without trying?” A spark ignited in Su Yang’s eyes as he looked at Xu Yong. “Xu Yong, tell me this organisation’s name and how to contact them. I want to join.”
“Old Su, you have decided?” Xu Yong asked.
“Yes, for Su Xin, I must try.” Su Yang nodded. “Tell me, what is the organisation called? How do I contact them?”
“Contacting them is easy. The Emperor’s Pavilion in Tianhai City is their outpost. As for the organisation’s name, it is…”
Here, Xu Yong looked at Su Yang and said, “The Imperial Alliance.”
