Chapter 71: Neither Dead Nor Alive! (Please Subscribe!)

Both parties parted on bad terms.

As soon as he got into the car, Huo Dongbai spoke bitterly, “That kid is far too arrogant. Who does he think he is? Just because he saved the princess once, does he think he can throw his weight around on the New Star and do as he pleases?”

“How long does he think this favor will last? If the princess’s attitude changes, or if he offends the wrong people, the only thing waiting for him is death. Since ancient times, when has a favored courtier ever met a good end?”

“Let’s not worry about others’ fates for now; the most important thing is that Yan Wangshu and his daughter are on the verge of death.” Huo Zhenwei leaned back against the soft leather seat, massaging his temples lightly with two fingers.

Even with his cultivated composure, facing someone as reckless and unpredictable as Tang Fei still gave him a headache.

“Why do we have to go to him?” Huo Dongbai asked in confusion. “The Mandala Chamber of Commerce has plenty of influential people behind it. If you asked them to speak up, would they really turn you down?”

Huo Zhenwei shook his head. “It’s not that simple. If this had happened before, it would have been no problem. We had plenty of channels and options to resolve it.”

“But Princess Xiuxue was just the target of an assassination on the Old Earth, and the royal family is clinging to the matter, hunting down suspects everywhere. Now the Yan family has gone and provoked Tang Fei at this very moment—even Princess Xiuxue has publicly identified them.”

“In such circumstances, who would dare plead on their behalf? They don’t fear being associated with the Yan family, but they absolutely dread being linked to the Old Earth incident.”

“Anyone who steps up now will immediately become the prime suspect in the eyes of the royal family. Isn’t that a terrible bargain? Who would risk their own head to save someone else?”

“Then why don’t we just visit Princess Xiuxue directly?” Huo Dongbai’s eyes lit with admiration, and he said fervently, “Princess Xiuxue is gentle, cultured, and considerate. I’ve met her a few times—she’s a reasonable person. Why waste words on some uncultured, petty thug from the Old Earth?”

“You think I haven’t tried?” Huo Zhenwei opened his eyes and glanced at Dongbai, perfectly aware of his thoughts. “The moment the Yan family came to us, I sent a visiting card straight to Phoenix Palace. It was returned, with the message that Tang Fei had been given full authority over the matter.”

“She trusts him that much?” Dongbai was startled, but more than that, he was jealous.

Why should it be so?

Huo Zhenwei looked at his grandson. “Dongbai, I know what’s on your mind. I don’t care what kind of girl you like—even if you wanted to marry a village girl from an orchard, I’d support you with both hands. With our family’s wealth, you and your generation couldn’t spend it in ten lifetimes. But I have just one rule: don’t touch royal women.”

“Grandfather… I understand.”

“So, you see, only the one who tied the knot can untie it. We have to go to him. There’s no other way,” Huo Zhenwei said aloud.

“Just seeing his arrogance in front of you makes my blood boil,” Dongbai growled. “What right does he have to sit at the table with you as an equal?”

“Dongbai, think carefully—do you really believe this man is simple?” Huo Zhenwei cautioned.

“What’s so complicated about him? He pulled that childish trick when we walked in—utterly immature.” Dongbai held no fondness for Tang Fei, dismissing his behavior as beneath contempt.

“Immature?” Huo Zhenwei smiled and shook his head. “Would you have done the same in his place?”

“Of course not. The Huo family always conducts itself with dignity and poise. We’ve been trained for years in etiquette—no one can find fault with us.”

“And that’s exactly the problem,” Huo Zhenwei sighed softly. “When I saw that wild youngster, I suddenly realized that perhaps I’ve been too strict with you all. You’ve lost that elusive, agile spirit—like the horn of an antelope, leaving no trace.”

“Grandfather, why are you speaking in his defense? You sound as if you admire him,” Dongbai said, puzzled.

“I certainly do,” Huo Zhenwei replied. “Take that little trick when we entered—hiding his identity. You think it’s childish, but I think he handled it well. Does he need dignity? No. Does he care for others’ opinions? Not at all. He acts entirely by his own thoughts—saying and doing whatever he pleases.”

“Did you notice any embarrassment or awkwardness when he admitted he was Tang Fei?”

Dongbai thought for a moment. “No.”

“Anyone else would have felt at least a bit uneasy when their lie was exposed, but he didn’t—he acted as if it was perfectly natural. What does that tell you?”

“What?”

“It means he has no bottom line.”

“That doesn’t sound like praise.”

“It is praise,” Huo Zhenwei turned to Dongbai. “People without bottom lines are the most dangerous of all. They’re not bound by morality or law—only their own interests matter.”

“Isn’t that exactly the kind of person who can negotiate with us? We didn’t gain any advantage over him in these talks.”

“He refused our terms, but didn’t return the gifts either. What a shameless scoundrel.”

Huo Zhenwei broke into a wide grin. “Isn’t that a good thing? If he’d sent the gifts back, it would mean no negotiation at all. Accepting them means he’s willing to bargain.”

“He’s already named his terms. Now it’s up to the Yan family to decide if they’ll accept. Not that they have much choice.”

Dongbai was utterly confused. “When did he name his terms? He said to leave no room for mercy.”

“You…” Huo Zhenwei looked at his grandson and sighed.

House cats can’t compare to wild ones; only a wild dog can chase off a wolf.

His own children had been too well protected, too little of the fierce cunning left.

But he was still his grandson—he had to teach him.

“Did you catch his last words? That was his condition.”

“Which words?”

‘They want me left with nothing, so I’ll do the same to them—that’s his condition.”

“You mean—?”

“Exactly.” Huo Zhenwei nodded, his gaze dark. “He wants to take everything from Yan Wangshu.”

——

“Brother, they’ve left,” Little Fatty said as he returned after seeing the guests out and closing the gate.

Tang Fei nodded, still pondering what to name his small courtyard.

Phoenix’s home was called Phoenix Cottage—what if his was Dragon’s Den?

Dragon and Phoenix in harmony—auspicious indeed.

“Brother, are you going to kill them?” Little Fatty sat in the seat Huo Zhenwei had just vacated.

“Kill them?” Tang Fei’s lips curled into a radiant smile.

Little Fatty, who knew him well, realized things were far from simple.

“That would be letting them off too easily,” Tang Fei replied.

Little Fatty was baffled—was there anything worse than death?

“So what do we do?”

“Wait till they come tonight. Then you’ll see,” Tang Fei said.

“They’ll come back tonight?”

“They have to.”

Little Fatty suddenly didn’t want to sit in front of Tang Fei anymore, a chill running through him. He got up. “Brother, I’m off to throw some stones.”

“Go,” Tang Fei nodded, eyeing Little Fatty’s plump figure. “The more you exercise, the more you can eat.”

“Got it.”

Sure enough, after Tang Fei and Little Fatty finished dinner and were lounging on the sofa watching “Bikini Party,” the doorbell rang again.

Little Fatty ran to the monitor, glanced at the screen, and exclaimed, “Brother, they’re really back!”

Tang Fei nodded. “Let them in. I’ll go boil water for tea.”

When Huo Zhenwei entered, Tang Fei already had the black tea ready.

He looked at Tang Fei with a genial smile. “Mr. Tang, you must have been waiting for a while?”

“A bit slower than I expected,” Tang Fei replied. “But I’m in no hurry.”

“Of course. You’re the angler, we’re the ones biting. We’re the ones who ought to be anxious,” Huo Zhenwei said.

Tang Fei glanced at the people behind Huo Zhenwei. “This time, you’re here in earnest, I hope?”

Huo Zhenwei clapped his hands. The suit-clad, tie-wearing business elites immediately lined up and opened their document folders for Tang Fei to see.

“All you need to do is sign these papers. Every company, share, property, and even the antiques and calligraphy owned by the Yan family will be yours. The only condition is that Yan Wangshu and his daughter are returned alive.”

“What a generous offer.” Tang Fei glanced at the documents. “Originally, I intended to fight to the bitter end, but with all this temptation, I’m truly torn.”

“I’m just a refugee from the Old Earth, never seen the world—how could I resist such allure?”

“A man of letters and spirit in his prime—when you reach my age, temptation won’t come so easily.” Huo Zhenwei laughed, treating Tang Fei entirely as an equal.

Huo Dongbai, standing aside, turned away, unable to bear the sight.

His grandfather, a figure of fame and power—why stoop so low?

“I accept the Yan family’s offer.” Tang Fei pondered for a moment. “I’ll make a call, and you can collect your people from the Royal Guard shortly.”

“Mr. Tang, your mercy and generosity spare their lives—the Yan family owes you everything,” Huo Zhenwei said, bowing deeply.

——

At the Royal Guard prison.

Huo Zhenwei, Huo Dongbai, Yan Wangshu’s wife Chen Ting, and others waited quietly outside the gates. After a while, a group of men in black carried out two people.

“Wangshu… Wangshu, can you hear me?”

“Xinyou, my precious daughter…”

“Get them in the car,” Huo Zhenwei ordered. “Let the doctors examine them.”

Yan Wangshu and his daughter Yan Xinyou were lifted into the medical vehicle. The waiting doctors crowded around, immediately beginning their examinations.

A long, long while passed.

“Well?” Huo Zhenwei finally asked.

No one answered.

“What’s the outcome?” Huo Zhenwei demanded. “Tell me the truth.”

“They won’t die,” the lead doctor replied cautiously, “but they won’t really live, either.”

“Wangshu…”

“Xinyou…”

Crying broke out all around.

(End of chapter)