The Wu family compound.
Wu Qizhong paced back and forth in the courtyard, awaiting good news from his family members.
After much waiting, all they managed to gather was a paltry sum, less than a hundred million in total.
A drop in the ocean. What could such a small amount achieve? It was far from the astronomical ten billion yuan compensation. At this rate of fundraising, there was no way they could amass the full amount by morning.
What to do?
Wu Qizhong anxiously paced the courtyard, thinking how wonderful it would be to have a money-printing machine, to print as much as he wanted without any financial worries.
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, something unexpected happened.
The Western Emperor Ji Jianyong, who had already departed, inexplicably returned. And he was furious, even angrier than before!
"Wu Qizhong, you old bastard, get over here!" Ji Jianyong roared, spewing expletives.
Hearing this, Wu Qizhong knew something was wrong. Something terrible must have happened to provoke such an outburst from Ji Jianyong.
With a fawning smile, Wu Qizhong approached. "Emperor Ji, why have you returned? I'm just preparing your ten billion yuan compensation for you, almost done."
"Prepare your ass! You are a deceitful old scoundrel!" Ji Jianyong pointed at Wu Qizhong's nose and cursed. "I kindly helped you, and this is how you repay me?"
This left Wu Qizhong utterly confused.
He said with an innocent expression, "Emperor Ji, what wrong have I, this old man, done to make you so angry?"
"Still playing innocent?" Ji Jianyong sneered thrice and asked, "I ask you, where have all your Wu family members gone?"
Wu Qizhong truthfully replied, "I sent them to raise money. Whether through loans or borrowing, even stealing or robbing, they must gather ten billion yuan by dawn tomorrow! To compensate you. Emperor, I hope you understand my earnest efforts."
While the sentiment was feigned, the actions were real. Wu Qizhong saw no fault in what he had done.
Ji Jianyong let out a cold laugh.
He said chillingly, "Acting, keep acting. You old fool, you're quite convincing. If I hadn't received the news early, I might have actually been fooled by you."
News?
What news?
Wu Qizhong asked, "Emperor Ji, could you please be more specific?"
Ji Jianyong smiled. "Fine, then I shall tear down your hypocritical mask! Old man, while you pretend to be raising money for me, you're actually seeking reinforcements! According to my informants, your Wu family members have gone to the Su family for help! Old man, you're still pretending ignorance?"
"What? Our Wu family went to the Su family?"
Wu Qizhong was greatly alarmed.
Which fool, at such a critical juncture, would run to the Su family?! Wasn't that courting death?
It must be remembered that Ji Jianyong's previous visit was with a mission: to make the Wu family sever ties with the Su family and stay out of their affairs.
And now, it turned out that...
Ji Jianyong's words had no effect, and as soon as he left, the Wu family ran to the Su family for help.
Was this deliberate?
It was as if they had completely disregarded Ji Jianyong's words! Anyone else would have been unable to tolerate such a public humiliation, let alone the Western Emperor himself?!
*Click.*
Ji Jianyong immediately drew his gun and pressed it against Wu Qizhong's forehead.
Wu Qizhong trembled uncontrollably and knelt before Ji Jianyong again, kowtowing and pleading, "Emperor Ji, I truly knew nothing of this. I wouldn't dare defy your orders even if you beat me to death. There must be a misunderstanding. Give me some time, and I will investigate thoroughly and provide you with a satisfactory answer!"
Heh, now you're scared?
Too late!
Ji Jianyong said coldly, "You only realize you need to take off your pants when you're about to shit yourself? You ungrateful wretch. Who do you think I am, for you to toy with me so carelessly? Today, the Wu family ceases to exist!"
With that.
Ji Jianyong fired without hesitation.
With a loud bang, the bullet pierced through Wu Qizhong's temple, penetrated his brain, and embedded itself in the ground.
The man instantly lost his life.
Wu Qizhong, the timid and cowardly patriarch of the Wu family, ended his life just like that.
However, the matter was far from over.
Ji Jianyong continued to vent his hatred, shouting, "Anyone surnamed Wu, every single one of them, do not spare them! Tonight, the Wu family will be massacred!"
*Bang, bang, bang.*
Shot after shot rang out, and no one in the Wu family was spared, from top to bottom; even infants in their cradles, as long as they were surnamed Wu, were not spared.
Tonight, the Wu family was engulfed in sorrow and despair.
Blood stained the ground.
...
At the same time, in the conference room of the Su family's office building.
Jiang Mengxin was the first to receive news from the Wu family. She recounted the events: Wu Lingxuan's visit to the Su family for help had completely angered the Western Emperor Ji Jianyong, leading to the annihilation of the Wu family.
From the elders to the youngest, everyone surnamed Wu was executed on the spot!
Upon hearing this, Wu Lingxuan's limbs went weak, and she nearly fainted.
Su Wanran, quick-witted, embraced Wu Lingxuan and consoled her, "Miss Wu, please rest assured. My Su family remembers this bloody feud. We will surely kill that dog Ji Jianyong and seek justice for the Wu family!"
Wu Lingxuan closed her eyes gently, unable to utter a word, tears streaming down her face.
Crying.
She wept bitterly.
After a long while, Wu Lingxuan cried out, "I have wronged my grandfather, I have wronged my clansmen, I have wronged the Wu family! I, Wu Lingxuan, am a sinner for all eternity! What face do I have to live in this world? I might as well die!"
Saying this, she charged towards the conference room wall.
Fortunately, Lu Ming's agility saved the day. He quickly grabbed Wu Lingxuan and advised, "It's not your fault. It's Ji Jianyong's fault. Don't use your life to atone for the sins of a scumbag."
Su Wanran also persuaded, "Yes, Miss Wu. What was wrong with you seeking help from our Su family? For such a trivial matter, Ji Jianyong would go on a rampage and kill everyone in the Wu family. This is an outrage! Ji Jianyong is the one who deserves to die!"
Under everyone's persuasion, Wu Lingxuan gradually calmed down.
She said, "Then I want to go home and see."
Lu Ming shook his head. "I think it's best not to. Ji Jianyong is still at the Wu family's residence. If you go back, you'll be walking into a trap. Moreover, you are currently in deep sorrow. Seeing the tragic state of the Wu family upon your return might cause you to be overwhelmed by grief and harm your health."
Su Wanran nodded in agreement. "Lu Ming is right, Miss Wu. Please stay with us for now and fight Ji Jianyong together!"
The most pressing issue now was: how to deal with Ji Jianyong?
He was the Western Emperor, with a formidable army. Tomorrow morning, he would likely march his troops to directly obliterate the Su family!
How could they resist him?
Ji Jianyong was not Zhang Ying; he had no elderly mother to persuade, nor did he even have family members to leverage.
What could be done to deal with Ji Jianyong?
As everyone was at a loss, Wu Lingxuan came up with an idea. She said, "I know something about Ji Jianyong. Perhaps, we can use his past to eliminate him!"
Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to her.
They wanted to hear Wu Lingxuan's plan, especially since it was her idea that had successfully repelled Zhang Ying before. She had a proven track record.
Su Wanran asked, "Miss Wu, what do you know about Ji Jianyong's past? Please tell us."
Thus, Wu Lingxuan recounted some of Ji Jianyong's old affairs; though called old affairs, they weren't that distant, all occurring three years ago.
It turned out.
Three years ago, Ji Jianyong was not the Western Emperor he was now. The Western Emperor at that time was his elder brother, Ji Jiangang.
Their personalities were starkly different.
Ji Jiangang was a valiant warrior, treating his subordinates like brothers, generous and lenient, thus earning their utmost respect. Soldiers were willing to sacrifice their lives for Ji Jiangang!
Ji Jianyong, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.
Despite the word 'Yong' (brave) in his name, Ji Jianyong was extremely afraid of death in battle. He would send others on dangerous missions, but he was always the first to claim credit for any achievements.
Because of this, the soldiers harbored deep resentment towards Ji Jianyong.
If not for their respect for his brother, Ji Jiangang, the soldiers would have long since dealt with Ji Jianyong!
But as the saying goes: good people die young, while turtles live for thousands of years.
The virtuous Ji Jiangang was bitten by a poisonous snake during a jungle mission and fell off a cliff, dying in the jungle!
With no leader, the position became vacant.
Therefore, Fan Wentao smoothly appointed his brother, Ji Jianyong, as the new Western Emperor! Many soldiers were displeased but dared not defy Fan Wentao's orders. They could only suppress their feelings and watch as the scoundrel Ji Jianyong gained power.
Since then, for three years, Ji Jianyong had been extorting and amassing vast sums of ill-gotten wealth; many soldiers, unhappy with him, had deserted.
Among the five Great Emperors, Ji Jianyong was the weakest.
After hearing this account, everyone felt even more contempt for Ji Jianyong. They never imagined he had obtained his position as Western Emperor in such a manner.
It was understandable.
Such a useless, self-serving individual could not possibly win the hearts of soldiers through combat.
However...
Su Wanran asked with great confusion, "Miss Wu, you've said so much. How does it help in dealing with Ji Jianyong? Although Ji Jianyong's rise to emperorship was unconvincing, you don't expect us to use this to attack him and have his soldiers rebel against him, do you? That's completely unrealistic!"
Even though Ji Jianyong had a history of misdeeds, the soldiers still had principles and discipline. They wouldn't revolt against him simply because of his poor character.
Furthermore, with Fan Wentao above them, rebellion was impossible!
Wu Lingxuan narrowed her eyes and said sternly, "Director Su misunderstands. I'm not asking for the soldiers to rebel against him, but to do something else."
"What is it?" Su Wanran asked.
Wu Lingxuan replied softly, "What if I said that Ji Jiangang's death three years ago was not an accident, but a conspiracy orchestrated by Ji Jianyong and Fan Wentao?"