The Heir to the Seven Killers in the City

Chapter 43: Intrigue and Scheming

Luo Jiang drove the car into the downtown area of Jiangcheng, then continued on as if he knew the way by heart until they pulled up next to a villa, where Yang Yong got out. “Do you want me to come with you? I still don’t think this is quite right,” Luo Jiang said with a worried expression as he watched Yang Yong get out of the car. Yang Yong smiled and said, “It’s fine. Who would dare touch me? Besides, who could possibly take me down? Wait for me in the car.” Hearing this, Luo Jiang stayed put, while Yang Yong walked to the door and rang the doorbell. A moment later, someone opened the door. It was Lin Hao’s assistant who opened the door; this was one of Lin Hao’s properties and also his current office. The assistant, of course, recognized Yang Yong. Seeing Yang Yong show up at his doorstep, he was so frightened he nearly collapsed to the ground, but he still managed to say in a trembling voice, “Mr. Yang… what brings you here?” Yang Yong could clearly see how nervous the assistant was. He reached out to pat the assistant on the shoulder, but the assistant quickly took a few steps back, looking extremely frightened. “Don’t get so worked up. I just want to see Lin Hao,” Yang Yong said, sounding slightly awkward. The assistant froze for a moment, then paused to think before saying, “Please wait a moment, Mr. Yang.” He then slammed the door shut, leaving Yang Yong standing outside. Luo Jiang, sitting in the car, saw everything clearly. He looked a bit annoyed, but Yang Yong waved his hand and said self-deprecatingly, “It’s fine. He was clearly terrified. And honestly, with an enemy coming to our doorstep like this, who wouldn’t be scared?” Before long, the assistant opened the door again. This time, he seemed a bit more relaxed as he bowed to Yang Yong and said, “I’m sorry for my rudeness just now.” Yang Yong waved his hand again and said, “It’s no big deal. Just show me in.” The assistant gestured for him to enter, and Yang Yong walked in, following the assistant up to the second floor. The assistant opened the door, and there, sitting right in the center, was Lin Hao, waiting for Yang Yong. Yang Yong walked in, and after a moment’s hesitation—noting the look in Lin Hao’s eyes—the assistant closed the door behind them. “I bet you didn’t expect me to come back—and certainly not today,” Yang Yong said, showing no sign of being a stranger, as he sat down on the sofa directly across from Lin Hao. “It’s no surprise—the people from Yuanshan Group had just left when you showed up,” Lin Hao said casually, handing Yang Yong a cigar. “Given the Fire Scorpion Gang’s current situation, the Yuanshan Group did send people a few days ago to inquire about the specifics. I figured they’d probably come to see you too—after all, it’s only proper for a major shareholder to pay a courtesy call. I didn’t expect them to show up today—that really is a coincidence,” Yang Yong said, accepting the cigar and lighting it without giving it much thought. “They didn’t ask much—just what I was doing back in Jiangcheng, and then a few questions about your recent activities. I didn’t say a word,” Lin Hao said. “What could you possibly say? Thanks to you?” Yang Yong said, a smile still on his face. Compared to Yang Yong’s hearty smile, Lin Hao’s was more benevolent—but just as Qin Yu suspected, if anyone were to learn of what he’d done, Lin Hao’s smile would be terrifying. “I have to admit, that was a pretty underhanded move on your part. We wanted the other guy dead, but we were only held back by that tiny stake he held. Yet, precisely because of those shares, we couldn’t take matters into our own hands—especially not while people from Yuanshan Group were still in Jiangcheng,”Yang Yong spoke—this was the very reason he dared to come see Lin Hao, and it was also why Lin Hao had let Yang Yong in without any guard. “You’re just trying to use the police to pressure me. Jiangcheng is already going through a sensitive period right now. Last night, you even had your men carry out a massacre at an underground casino in Miaojiang. I think that’s enough to attract attention this time. How exactly do you plan to get the police to take notice?” “By then, the Fire Scorpion Gang—which is already nothing but a shell—will be wiped out with just a little stir-up during this crackdown. Without the Fire Scorpion Gang, I’ll be worthless to the company, and then you’ll take my place. What a clever move—taking my life without actually killing me.” Yang Yong continued, but as he spoke, he was smiling while clenching his fists. Lin Hao gasped in surprise and said, “I didn’t expect you to figure it out so quickly. But let me explain: your small stake is certainly nice, but it’s not all I want. Yang Yong—it’s precisely because you’re too smart. There’s no room for two tigers on one mountain; Jiangcheng can only have me.” “Why don’t you just ask me if I’m willing to step down on my own?” “You wouldn’t be willing.” Yang Yong burst out laughing, unclenching his fist as he said, “Old man Lin Hao, you really do understand me. All right, then—I, Yang Yong, will see this through to the end. This bloodless war is actually much more fun.” Both Yang Yong and Lin Hao understood this: if Qin Yu didn’t make it through this period—or even if he merely survived it—Jiangcheng’s underworld would surely face a major downturn. At that point, Yang Yong would be nothing more than a worthless burden who couldn’t create value for the company. The shares that had been given to him could then be taken back from Yang Yong just as easily as they’d been handed over. But if Yang Yong managed to weather this storm and make a comeback, it would be Lin Hao who lost. “Lin Hao, you don’t know this yet, but Miaojiang is dead,” Yang Yong continued. Lin Hao raised an eyebrow; he really hadn’t known about this, and Yang Yong didn’t seem to be bluffing. “So what? Are you just going to take over Miaojiang’s businesses like that? Setting aside everything else, even if you could, what good would it do? The police are cracking down hardest on Miaojiang’s operations right now. Plus, I’ve killed so many of their brothers—are you telling me they’ll just let it slide?” Lin Hao said. Yang Yong understood what Lin Hao meant. He knew about the police crackdown. He’d explained the stakes to Miaojiang’s former subordinates, but since he hadn’t yet earned their full loyalty, he couldn’t force them to comply. If a group of them decided to seek revenge on Lin Hao without thinking twice, it would end in a total wipeout for everyone. “Revenge? Of course I’ll seek revenge. They were all my brothers, after all. They didn’t just die for nothing. Oh, and by the way, I’ve already avenged them,” Yang Yong said, looking at Lin Hao with a smile as he stood up. He turned away and added, “You think you’re the only one who can plant undercover agents? Goodbye!” With that, Yang Yong walked out, leaving Lin Hao completely baffled. As Yang Yong opened the door and stepped out, his assistant—seeing that Yang Yong had left—didn’t even bother to see him off but headed straight back inside. He took a few quick steps to reach Lin Hao’s side, then leaned in and whispered. “There’s a fire at our store. It’s huge, and it hasn’t been put out yet.” Lin Hao’s eyes suddenly widened as he looked down the hallway; Yang Yong had already vanished from view. Lin Hao’s face turned a deep, purplish-gray. He crushed the cigar in his hand into two pieces and said through gritted teeth, “Kid, you’re ruthless.”