The Heir to the Seven Killers in the City

Chapter 34: Let’s Work Together

The downtown area of Jiangcheng had always been like this—peaceful and bustling, without a trace of the wildness and desolation found in the suburbs. Perhaps for most people, this was the true face of Jiangcheng. Qin Yu couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in the city center, so when he saw the order and neatness, his first reaction was actually one of bewilderment. Only then did he realize just how terrifying his previous life had been. Now, wearing Zhang Xiaofei’s new clothes, Qin Yu looked like a heartthrob—with his delicate features, upright posture, and muscles faintly visible through his shirt—so he didn’t seem out of place at all. Qin Yu walked on, passing through one bustling street after another, until he finally stopped beside an unassuming loft. Through the glass, he saw Lin Hao giving him a kind smile, so he walked inside without hesitation. Qin Yu sat across from Lin Hao, who handed him the menu, but Qin Yu waved it away. “I’m not hungry.” Lin Hao tossed the menu aside and said, “I’ve already ordered. If you’re not afraid it might be poisoned, have a couple of bites.” “I’ve always loved the peace and quiet here, and the food—though light—is quite tasty. But I suppose it’s not really your style, young man; you prefer something with a stronger flavor.” Qin Yu remained silent, so Lin Hao continued, scrutinizing him as if he were a benevolent elder. Qin Yu didn’t see it that way. He’d witnessed what this so-called benevolent old man was capable of, so he couldn’t resist a sarcastic remark: “I thought Mr. Lin’s taste in food would be even more extreme than mine. Is this light fare because you’ve been eating so heavily that even you’ve started to feel sick of it?” “If that’s how you feel, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m not going to explain what I did before—the more I explain, the less clear it becomes,” Lin Hao said calmly. “Sir, do you think I’m accusing you unfairly? Wasn’t everything that happened before part of your plan?” Qin Yu asked suspiciously. After saying this, he continued, “Of course, I wanted to see you, but not to talk about this. What I’m about to say is something you’ll surely be interested in as well—though, of course, I have my conditions.” Lin Hao waved his hand, signaling Qin Yu to continue. “I want money and a house in downtown Jiangcheng. To be honest, Yang Yong captured me once before. His condition for letting me go was that I kill you. If I refused, my friends would have been harmed. If you agree, I’ll give you all the intelligence they have.” Lin Hao smiled, pulled a large suitcase from beneath his feet, and said, “There’s five million inside. As for the house, if you trust me, I’ll have it in your hands very soon.” Qin Yu took the box and set it down at his feet without even glancing at it. “Go ahead.” Qin Yu began to recount in detail everything he’d discussed with Yang Yong that day. After finishing his story, Qin Yu continued, “The reason Yang Yong left only Luo Jiang on the island is likely because he realized that among the remaining members of the Fire Scorpion Gang, there must be one of your undercover agents. And this, in turn, means that Yang Yong must have another unit under his command—otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to still be after your life when he’s barely managing to protect himself.” Lin Hao listened intently. As he heard these words, he couldn’t think of a single inconsistency. Finally, he let out a smile that was no longer benevolent and said, “Yang Yong’s reaction was even faster than I imagined.” “Of course, this is all your business now. From this point on, we’re no longer connected. It’s no use for you to back out now—no one in Jiangcheng can keep me here.” As Qin Yu spoke, he picked up the box and started heading for the door. Before Qin Yu could leave, Lin Hao said, “Don’t be in such a hurry. I have something to show you.” Before Qin Yu could reply, Lin Hao pulled out his i Phone and played a video—the very footage from that day at the Honghan Restaurant, showing Qin Yu shooting the second-in-command of the Fire Scorpion Gang and his henchmen. “You didn’t expect that, did you? There were surveillance cameras in the room,” Lin Hao continued with a smile. “I think you should sit down and listen to my terms.” Qin Yu raised an eyebrow, surprised by this turn of events. He sighed to himself, thinking, “Of course—how could things possibly be resolved that easily?” So he sat back down in his chair. “I’m the only one who has this video, so you can rest assured. Lately, quite a few people have died in the suburbs because of you. Originally, the police didn’t want to get involved, but this time the incident has blown up so big that the higher-ups can’t stand by and watch anymore—they’re conducting a thorough investigation into all these matters.” Just then, the waiter brought over the dishes. They were indeed light, vegetable-based dishes, but they looked quite appetizing. “Go ahead and eat,” Lin Hao said politely before continuing, “But rest assured—what they’re cracking down on this time is the underworld in the suburbs. They still believe that the vast majority of the previous disputes were internal conflicts within the underworld. And right—how could they possibly think you single-handedly killed them all?” Hearing Lin Hao’s words, Qin Yu didn’t hesitate to take a bite of the dish. Ever since he’d begun practicing the Seven Slayings Sutra, his body had become immune to all poisons—why would he be afraid of poison now? “Sir, just get straight to the point,” Qin Yu said bluntly. “This time, Yang Yong and I aren’t just going to exchange a few blows—it’s much more than that. So I hope you’ll temporarily pledge your allegiance to me. Don’t worry—once this is over, I’ll let you go. In the meantime, your friends will be safely settled in Jiangcheng, and I’ll arrange for several bodyguards to ensure their safety at all times.” “I’ll pass on the bodyguards… How can I trust you?” “That’s easy to explain. As I’ve said, the police are cracking down on these shadowy forces operating on the outskirts, and the Fire Scorpion Gang is the largest among them. If we can root them out completely, this whole affair will be settled. By then, you’ll be a hero—consider it atonement for your past mistakes.” Qin Yu raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Are we really going to team up with the police?” “Of course. We’re eliminating a menace—it’s a contribution to the country.” Lin Hao didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed as he declared this with righteous conviction. Qin Yu, however, was momentarily baffled—in his view, these utterly depraved villains were actually going to cooperate with the police. “By the way, Xiaorui misses you too. It’s been a long time since you two saw each other, hasn’t it?” As Lin Hao said this, the smile on his lips grew wider. For a split second, Qin Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Surprised, he blurted out without thinking, “Lin Xiaorui is back with you?” “What kind of thing is that to say? She’s my adopted daughter—I’ve raised her since she was a child. But if you like her, once this matter is settled, I can have her go serve you.” Qin Yu found this smiling tiger truly terrifying, but he had no other choice. He’d originally planned to live a peaceful life once this matter was over, but now it seemed he’d have to wait until it was all settled. One thing after another—when would it ever end? Still, Qin Yu had no choice but to face it. “I agree.”