Ten minutes ago, the struggle in the West Sea had only temporarily come to a close, and new waves had risen within the Federation.
Suzhou, Shigu Mountain.
A remarkably low-key black car wound its way up the mountain road until it stopped outside a secluded residence, far from human habitation.
As the car door opened, a smiling man stepped out, surveying the surrounding scenery with admiration and nodding: "What a wonderful place."
A dignified woman waiting at the door, her pregnancy showing, stepped forward to greet him: "At this critical moment, Chairman Chen actually dare come alone, truly bold."
"The entire Suzhou's unrivaled Mountain Lord invited me, and now with the Blood Alliance initially established, how could I dare to be disrespectful?"
Chen Xingzhou extended his hand proactively, greeting: "How is the Mountain Lord's health lately?"
"...The same as usual, the doctor instructed that he can only rest quietly." The woman sighed lightly: "Suzhou is windy and sandy, so he couldn't personally welcome you and had to trouble you to come here; I hope you don't mind."
"Since the Blood Alliance has been established, naturally we're family; why would I mind?"
Chen Xingzhou glanced around and remarked: "However, this place is quite nice, very suitable for an ambush."
The woman was momentarily taken aback, but saw Chen Xingzhou's smile.
"Haha, just kidding, let's go, let's go."
He gestured for the driver to wait outside and, led by a servant, went straight to the inner courtyard and came to the study door at last.
"Please."
The study door opened with a push.
Unfortunately, the scene behind the door was not the elegance of the past; it had long been turned into a sickroom, surrounded by numerous instruments, where a gaunt old man lay in bed, a breathing apparatus attached to his nose and mouth, barely breathing.
The former domineering giant of Suzhou's underworld was now at death's door.
Seeing the visitor at this moment, he struggled to prop up his body, trying to rise, but Chen Xingzhou quickly stepped forward and held his shoulder, softly comforting: "Mountain Lord, no need for courtesy with your illness."
In a stupor, the Mountain Lord opened his eyes wide, confusedly gazing at him, trying to make out his features until, finally seeing clearly, he did not smile.
Instead, he fell into bewilderment and shock!
Immediately, the old man seemed to understand something, using all his strength to pat Chen Xingzhou's hand back, his dry lips trembling as he struggled, choking, to utter, almost voiceless.
The muddled words made Chen Xingzhou's movements stiffen for a moment.
He said, "Run."
No time to turn back.
A cold gun muzzle pressed against the back of his head.
In the silence, Chen Xingzhou spoke no more, staring at the tear-streaked Mountain Lord bedridden, while the woman behind, her smile unchanged but stripped of warmth.
"Never imagined, able to grab all of Suzhou's votes, even luring me into a pit..." He shook his head and sighed: "Mr. Han really is extravagant."
"Sorry, Chairman Chen, orphan and widow, a single tree can't support, want to maintain the family business, always have to be a bit self-serving."
The woman regrettably said farewell: "I had no choice, the price offered by East City was higher than yours."
"That reason isn't uncommon, it's understandable."
Chen Xingzhou sighed, patting the Mountain Lord's hand, on the bed, the drowsy old man braced himself, wanting to say something but gradually fell into unconscious sleep.
Even with the muzzle against his head, Chen Xingzhou suddenly asked: "How much longer does the Mountain Lord have?"
"...Just these days."
The woman answered wearily, helplessly.
Once the news of the Mountain Lord's death spreads, Suzhou will likely descend into earth-shattering chaos. Without strong support, she and her unborn child might face uncertain consequences.
"Heroes weep in their twilight years... The Mountain Lord dominated storms throughout his life, but in his old age, he cannot even protect his family." Chen Xingzhou sighed, stood up, and looked back: "Madam, do you truly distrust me? Distrust I, Chen Xingzhou, can ensure your safety?"
"..."
The woman was silent for a moment, touching her belly, she smiled bitterly, speechless.
Just last night, she learned from the Mountain Lord's private doctor, that her child is a girl...
If it were a boy, with support from the Mountain Lord's old subordinates, there could be hope for the future. But being a girl... In chaos, valueless, how many past grievances would eagerly visit? Who would care about the fate of this orphan and widow?
This is her destiny.
She had no choice.
"At this point, there's no need for more words."
Chen Xingzhou slowly got up, ignoring the gun muzzle pointed at his forehead, and surveyed his surroundings, suddenly asked: "Where is he? It can't be that I've fallen into such a plight, yet your side isn't willing to show your face?"
From the shadows, a gaunt man gradually emerged, his expression lacking contempt, merely solemnly bowing slightly, "Mr. Chen, Mr. Han sends regards to you."
In silence, Chen Xingzhou spoke no more, patted his pocket, took out his cigarette case.
But just opened, seeing the scene in the sickroom and the feeble Mountain Lord, he couldn't help but shake his head, sigh regretfully, putting the case back away.
Just in a blink.
The previously cautious woman suddenly felt her hand empty, the gun aimed at Chen Xingzhou now appeared in his hand.
Pointed at her forehead.
"Surprised?" Chen Xingzhou laughed: "Even when I'm reduced to this state, I still have the strength for a desperate struggle."
The woman's face turned pale, breathing heavily, but quickly, she gradually calmed.
Now inside and outside the study, there were more than just one person watching; even giving Chen Xingzhou a gun, what could he do?
In the silence, the man in the shadows smirkingly watched, not in a hurry to act.
Enjoying his desperate struggle like a cornered rat.
"Chairman Chen, it's best not to do anything unnecessary..." She shook her head and reminded, "Considering the friendship you had with Old Han, wouldn't it be more dignified?"
"Precisely for dignity, we must make a last-ditch effort, a fight to the death."
The muzzle of Chen Xingzhou's gun inched closer, resting on her forehead. But then he smiled, "It's just that, madam, with such decisiveness and courage, how come you've never used a gun?"
Saying this, he released his grip, unlocked the safety of the handgun, cocked it, and placed it into the woman's hand in front of him.
"The Blood Alliance is the Blood Alliance, Suzhou may betray, but Hai Province cannot."
He patted the cold, trembling hand, "If madam is truly determined to join East City, then kill me yourself, to give everyone an explanation."
"...Chairman Chen, do you still hope to gamble on me turning back?"
In the brief silence, the woman's expression gradually changed, mournful yet mocking. Then she picked up the handgun and aimed it at Chen Xingzhou's forehead.
Nothing more to say.
Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger!
Bang——
A loud bang erupted, the bullet fired, but Chen Xingzhou was unharmed.
The bullet disappeared as if it had evaporated.
Yet in that instant, an unforeseen terrifying upheaval arose from the narrow infirmary.
It was as if the ground shook and the mountains moved.
The mountains trembled, a furious torrent surged, an unfathomable and terrifying mass spontaneously exploded, collapsed, transforming into a magnificent, visible vortex, charging forward like a rolling stone!
Suddenly, the vortex completely tore apart the infirmary, then engulfed the man in the corner whose face had dramatically changed.
In a series of nerve-wracking cracking sounds, crimson splattered, evaporated, and vanished without a trace.
Only a piece of black stone fell from the dissipating vortex, landing on the ground.
So crisp.
And all of this... was simply because the dying old man on the hospital bed clenched his fist.
Just like that, he used up his last ounce of strength, like an extinguished flame at the end of its life.
With the sharp sound of the alarm, there were no more signs of life.
In the final moment, his cloudy eyes looked towards Chen Xingzhou one last time, yet it was unclear what meaning they held.
He was dead.
Chaos spread, screams rang out, and soon, everything returned to calm.
The sound of knocking echoed, and Old Lin's figure appeared from outside the door, politely reporting: "Mr. Chen, it's all cleaned up."
"Thank you."
Chen Xingzhou nodded slowly, "Let me speak with madam alone for a moment."
The door closed once more.
In the shattered infirmary, between two corpses, the two remaining living people looked at each other.
Chen Xingzhou was the first to extend a hand, carefully pulling up the woman who had collapsed on the ground, leading her to a remaining chair, ensuring she was seated steadily.
The woman on the chair was dazed, turned her head blankly to look at the breathless man on the bed, and couldn't stop her tears from spilling forth.
Whether she was grieving her own futile cunning or sorrowing over the sudden passing of the man she once admired so deeply...
Chen Xingzhou said nothing, letting her calm down.
Now, he finally lit the cigarette in his hand, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled, watching the smoke disperse into nothing under the sunlight.
Until the woman finally awoke from her tearful sorrow.
"No need to panic, madam, in the end, the Mountain Lord still protected you... He wasn't as cold-blooded as you thought, nor are you as weak as you think.
A hero of a province wouldn't entrust his affairs to an enemy, would he?"
Chen Xingzhou turned to her and said, "Please rest assured, since the Mountain Lord ultimately chose to trust me, then madam and the child in your womb, leave it all to me.
My younger brother is a good person, unlike me, who holds goodwill towards everyone. He wouldn't mind having one more goddaughter."
The tearful woman looked up at him, asking numbly:
"Is Chairman Chen pitying me?"
"This is assurance."
Chen Xingzhou slowly shook his head, "The Mountain Lord is dead, but the Blood Alliance remains, as long as that child lives, the Blood Alliance can continue to endure...
This is my sincerity."
Saying this, he extended his hand towards her:
"Happy cooperation between us?"
The woman said nothing more, after a long time, she reached out her hand, grasping firmly.
From then on, the alliance was renewed.
Buzz...Buzz...
On the wall, a nearly falling-off television suddenly emitted a burst of static noise.
The shattered screen showed misaligned patterns, amidst numerous noise and flickering, one could vaguely see the host sitting in front of the camera, interrupting the previously broadcast animation, struggling to maintain a solemn expression:
"We now interrupt with an emergency news—"
In the distorted images, the prosperous scene of East City flashed repeatedly, flames spread, thick black smoke rose straight upward, reaching the sky.
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