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“What? Long Er failed?” Zhan Yunzheng exclaimed in shock. He knew what this failure meant. Why? He couldn’t accept it. He had sent the most elite assassin—why wouldn’t he just die? Why couldn’t he meet the same fate as his father? His so-called great elder brother had died after just one attempt.
Zhan Yunzheng’s face twisted with rage as he asked furiously, “Wasn’t he seriously injured? How could Long Er fail?” He had assigned Long Er to ensure absolute success, yet the mission had failed. This failure had completely exposed him.
Zhan Rongting, standing grimly to the side, said, “Father, we may have fallen into a trap. He was never injured.”
Second Master Zhan slumped into his chair. “Impossible. Our men saw him being carried away and admitted into the ICU. Even the surgeons were our people. There’s no way.”
“Father, maybe this was a setup from the very beginning,” Zhan Rongting said, suppressing his frustration. He had warned his father before, but his arrogance had prevented him from listening. Instead, he had foolishly sent Long Er to assassinate him. Zhan Rongting felt increasingly disappointed in his father. Perhaps it was time for a shift in power within their family.
Back home, Zhan Rongting entered his study, twisted the inkstone on his desk, and opened a secret chamber. Inside, he retrieved a memory card hidden beneath a flowerpot. Watching from behind, Zhan Lei was shocked. “Second Young Master, are you really going through with this?”
Zhan Rongting stared at the memory card and said, “Our branch of the family can’t be buried along with my father’s mistakes. Zhan Rongxuan has been like a rabid wolf these past years, relentlessly coming after us just to avenge his father. Well, let’s give him what he wants.”
“But even if we do, we may not escape unscathed.”
“That’s why we need to share the fire with someone else. Third Uncle has been fanning the flames all these years, reaping the benefits while staying in the shadows. That can’t continue.” Zhan Rongting gripped the memory card tightly, his eyes turning icy.
At the Bamboo Courtyard of Second Master Zhan’s residence, the butler rushed in. “Second Master, Young Master Zhan has stormed in with his men!”
Zhan Yunzheng panicked, feeling uneasy. Soon, a group of men in black entered, with four of them carrying a corpse—Long Er’s body—and throwing it at Zhan Yunzheng’s feet.
Seeing Long Er’s horrific death, Zhan Yunzheng closed his eyes in pain.
“Second Uncle, I’m returning him to you. And I expect an explanation,” Zhan Rongxuan said, stepping inside and locking eyes with his uncle.
Regret filled Zhan Yunzheng’s heart. He should have killed him when he had the chance. “Rongxuan, what do you mean? I don’t understand.”
“So, Uncle wants to play dumb?” Zhan Rongxuan said coldly.
“You need evidence for accusations like these.”
Zhan Rongxuan smirked. “Do you think I would come here without it?”
“Should we start with your multiple assassination attempts on me, your years of arms deals and illegal trades, or the evidence of your involvement in my parents’ murder? Which one would you like to hear first?” Zhan Rongxuan watched him with amusement.
Zhan Yunzheng’s eyes widened in shock. “You… You’re bluffing! There’s no way you know about that…”
“Father,” a voice called from outside.
“Big Brother.”
Zhan Rongxuan glanced at Zhan Rongting and smirked. “You’re right on time, Second Brother.”
Zhan Rongting looked at Long Er’s corpse before turning to his elder brother. “Big Brother, I’ve heard everything. On behalf of my father, I apologize. I will make sure you get justice.”
Zhan Rongxuan eyed him carefully. “And how do you plan to do that? If Father hears about what Uncle has done, he might decide to purge your entire branch of the family.”
In response, Zhan Rongting took out the memory card and handed it to Zhan Rongxuan. “I will make sure you get the justice you seek.”
Zhan Rongxuan passed the memory card to Zhan Feng, who whispered something in his ear after reviewing the contents.
Looking back at Zhan Rongting, Zhan Rongxuan said, “Since you’re so sincere, I’ll be watching.” With that, he turned and left, leaving an eerie silence behind.
Second Master Zhan collapsed into his chair, suddenly feeling exhausted. “Rongting, what do you plan to do?”
“Father, leave this to me. You’ve worked hard enough. Go abroad and find Stepmother and A-Jing. Take some time to rest.”
Second Master Zhan nodded. He believed his son could handle everything. He had the ability to be the Zhan family’s heir—if only he had been born into the main branch. But in their family, bloodline took precedence over competence. He was unwilling to accept this.
Zhan Rongting exchanged a look with Zhan Lei, who nodded in understanding.
On the way to the airport, Zhan Yunzheng sat in the backseat, resting with his eyes closed. Suddenly, the car jolted. He opened his eyes impatiently. “What’s going on?”
Sweat dripped from the driver’s forehead. “Second Master, the brakes seem to have failed!”
The driver stomped on the brakes, but nothing happened.
Panic set in. Then Zhan Yunzheng saw something—under the driver’s seat was a miniature bomb. He understood everything in that instant. This was the same method he had used to kill his elder brother and sister-in-law.
Fear gripped him. Was this Zhan Rongxuan’s doing? No, a voice inside him whispered—this was his son, Zhan Rongting.
Zhan Yunzheng let out a bitter laugh. So, he’s truly my son.
A deafening crash—the car slammed into a barrier. Blood covered Zhan Yunzheng’s face. In his daze, he saw a vision—his elder brother, smiling at him, holding a woman’s hand. “Yunzheng, this is your sister-in-law, A-Rou. A-Rou, this is our Yunzheng.”
Zhan Yunzheng softly called, “Big Brother…”
Boom! The explosion erupted into a sea of fire.
“Second Young Master, Second Master’s car exploded on the way to the airport. He died instantly,” Zhan Lei reported.
Zhan Rongting closed his eyes for a moment. “Inform A-Jing to return for Father’s funeral.”
“Understood.” Zhan Lei left.
Zhan Rongting opened his eyes, gazing at a photo of himself and his father. “Father, I will protect our lineage. Rest in peace.”
At Liyuan, in Zhan Rongxuan’s study, Zhan Feng received the news. “Young Master, Second Master’s car exploded on the way to the airport.”
Zhan Rongxuan wiped his gun and asked, “Are you sure it was him?”
“Positive. Our men were watching.”
Zhan Rongxuan sneered. “My dear younger brother never ceases to surprise me.”
Zhan Feng hesitated. “Young Master, compared to Second Master, Second Young Master is much more dangerous. He even killed his own father.”
“It doesn’t matter. Without his shield, let’s see how he survives next time.”
Zhan Rongxuan then smirked coldly. “But my dear Third Uncle… I underestimated him. Turns out, he has ambitions of his own.”
Zhan Feng was equally disturbed. He never imagined that Third Master had known about Second Master’s crimes yet remained indifferent—even when his most beloved elder brother and sister-in-law boarded that booby-trapped car.
“Young Master, what will you do?”
Zhan Rongxuan’s eyes darkened. “Both the open and hidden contenders want the position of heir. Tell me, Feng—do you think it’s really worth it?”
Zhan Feng remained silent. Power, wealth, and status—such temptations had driven people mad.