“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 top assassin—why wouldn’t that man die? Why couldn’t he just die like his father? That good elder brother of his had died after just one attempt.
Zhan Yunzheng’s face twisted with rage as he demanded, “Wasn’t he severely injured? How could Long Er make a mistake?” He had sent Long Er to ensure absolute success, yet he had failed. Long Er’s failure had completely exposed him.
Zhan Rongting stood gloomily to the side and said, “Father, we may have fallen into a trap. He was never injured at all.”
Second Master Zhan slumped into his chair. “Impossible. Our people saw him being carried away and entering the intensive care unit with their own eyes. Even the surgeons included our people. It’s impossible.”
“Father, perhaps it was a setup from the very beginning,” Zhan Rongting said, suppressing his impatience. He had warned his father before, but his father had been too arrogant to listen. He had even foolishly sent Long Er to assassinate him. Zhan Rongting was growing increasingly disappointed. Perhaps it was time for their family to undergo a change of leadership.
After returning home, Zhan Rongting went to his study. He rotated the inkstone on the desk, opening a hidden chamber. Once inside, he retrieved a memory card from beneath a flowerpot. Zhan Lei, who was standing behind him, asked in surprise, “Second Young Master, are you really going to do this?”
Zhan Rongting looked at the memory card and said, “Our second branch cannot be dragged down by Father’s actions. Zhan Rong Xuan has been clinging to us like a mad wolf all these years, seeking revenge for his uncle. Let’s give him what he wants.”
“But even then, we may not be able to escape unscathed.”
“That’s why we need someone to share the blame. Third Uncle has been fanning the flames from the sidelines all these years, reaping the benefits without lifting a finger. That won’t do.” Zhan Rongting tightened his grip on the object in his hand, his eyes turning cold.
At the Bamboo Garden of Second Master Zhan’s residence, the butler hurriedly reported, “Second Master, Zhan Shao has barged in with his men.”
Zhan Yunzheng felt a wave of panic and unease. Soon, a group of men in black entered, with four at the front carrying Long Er’s corpse and throwing it at Zhan Yunzheng’s feet.
Zhan Yunzheng closed his eyes in agony at the sight of Long Er’s lifeless body.
“Second Uncle, I’ve brought the man to you. And I’ll need an explanation from you as well,” Zhan Rong Xuan said as he entered last, locking eyes with Zhan Yunzheng.
Zhan Yunzheng looked at his nephew and regretted not having eliminated him when he had the chance. “Rong Xuan, what do you mean? I don’t understand what you’re saying, Second Uncle.”
“Second Uncle, are you planning to deny everything to the end?” Zhan Rong Xuan asked coldly.
“Shouldn’t there be evidence for everything?”
Zhan Rong Xuan sneered. “Second Uncle, do you think I would dare to come here and act recklessly without evidence?”
“Countless attempts to assassinate me, your arms deals and shady businesses over the years, or the evidence of you killing my parents back then—which would you like to hear first?” Zhan Rong Xuan looked at him with a mocking expression.
Zhan Yunzheng stared at him in disbelief. “You… you’re bluffing. There’s no way you could know about back then…”
“Father,” Zhan Rongting’s voice rang out from outside.
“Elder Brother.”
Zhan Rong Xuan looked at him with a faint smile. “Second Brother, you’ve arrived just in time.”
Zhan Rongting glanced at Long Er’s corpse. “Elder Brother, I’ve heard about what happened. On behalf of my father, I apologize to you. I will definitely give you an explanation.”Zhan Rong Xuan looked at Zhan Rongting and said, “I wonder what kind of explanation you plan to give me, Second Brother. After all, if what Second Uncle did reaches the old master, it’s entirely possible that your entire branch will be purged.”
Upon hearing this, Zhan Rongting took out a memory card and handed it to Zhan Rong Xuan. “I will give Eldest Brother a satisfactory explanation.”
Zhan Rong Xuan passed the memory card to Zhan Feng. After a moment, Zhan Feng whispered something into Zhan Rong Xuan’s ear.
Zhan Rong Xuan looked at Zhan Rongting and said, “Since Second Brother is so sincere, I’ll wait and see.” With that, he turned and walked out. Soon, the room fell silent.
Second Master Zhan slumped into his chair, suddenly feeling powerless. “A-Ting, what do you plan to do?”
“Father, leave this matter to me. You’ve worked hard these past few days. Go abroad to find Stepmother and A-Jing and take a good rest.”
Second Master Zhan nodded. He believed his son could handle everything. This child’s abilities were more than enough to become the Zhan family heir. It was a pity he was born into their second branch. And in the Zhan family, succession was based on birth order, not ability. He couldn’t accept it.
Zhan Rongting glanced at Zhan Lei beside him, and Zhan Lei nodded in response.
On the way to the airport, Zhan Yunzheng sat in the back seat with his eyes closed, resting. Suddenly, the car jolted violently. He opened his eyes and asked impatiently, “What’s going on?”
The driver broke into a cold sweat. “Second Master, the brakes seem to have failed.” The driver stomped on the brakes repeatedly, but it was useless.
Zhan Yunzheng panicked. Suddenly, he spotted a miniature bomb under the driver’s seat and understood everything. This was the same method he had used to kill his elder brother and sister-in-law. Fear gripped him. Was it Zhan Rong Xuan? A voice in his heart told him it was his own A-Ting who had done this. Zhan Yunzheng smiled bitterly. Truly worthy of being his son.
Suddenly, with a loud crash, the car slammed into the guardrail. Zhan Yunzheng’s face was covered in blood. In his dazed state, he seemed to see his elder brother leading a young woman toward him. His elder brother smiled at him as always and said, “Yunzheng, this is your sister-in-law, A-Rou. And this is our Yunzheng.”
Zhan Yunzheng softly called out, “Eldest Brother.”
Boom! An explosion rang out, followed by a sea of flames.
“Second Young Master, Second Master’s car exploded on the way to the airport. He died on the spot,” Zhan Lei reported.
Zhan Rongting closed his eyes. “Go inform A-Jing to return and see Father off one last time.”
“Understood,” Zhan Lei acknowledged and left.
Zhan Rongting opened his eyes and looked at the photo of him and his father on the desk. “Father, I will protect our branch. Rest now.”
In the study at Li Yuan, Zhan Feng received the news and reported, “Zhan Shao, Second Master’s car exploded on the way to the airport.”
Zhan Rong Xuan, cleaning his gun, asked, “Are you sure it was him?”
“Confirmed. Our people have been watching the entire time.”
“My Second Brother truly continues to surprise me,” Zhan Rong Xuan said with a cold laugh, his eyes icy. Truly a member of the Zhan family—their blood runs cold indeed.
“Zhan Shao, compared to Second Master, Second Young Master is unfathomable,” Zhan Feng said worriedly. Someone who could kill his own father—how terrifying must he be?
“It doesn’t matter. Without his shield, let’s see how he escapes unscathed next time.”
“But my Third Uncle, I underestimated him. It turns out he has ambitions too.” Zhan Rong Xuan thought of what he had seen and felt a wave of disgust, almost nauseated.Zhan Feng looked at Zhan Shao with concern. He never expected that Third Master, who had always doted on Zhan Shao, would know about Second Master’s actions yet remain indifferent, watching as his most beloved elder brother and sister-in-law boarded the tampered car rigged with explosives.
“Zhan Shao, what do you plan to do?”
“Both families, one openly and one covertly, are eyeing this successor position. Ah Feng, tell me, is this position really that desirable?” A profound sorrow surfaced in Zhan Rong Xuan’s eyes.
Zhan Feng said nothing. The head of the Zhan family not only possessed immense wealth but also supreme power and status. Such immense temptation was enough to cloud anyone’s judgment.