Chapter Eighty-One: The Plan Takes Shape

There was little left in Fengyang County to occupy his thoughts. Upon returning home, he spent a long time conversing with Old Master Qin. On the third day, as he prepared to leave, he accepted some local specialties prepared by Qin Long and Wang Yue. Before departing, he left Qin Ye with a final remark: “When your college entrance exams are over, if you feel you’re ready to walk a different path, come find me. I won’t promise you riches and glory, but I can guarantee you’ll learn more and know more than the others.”

“Alright, brother, take care.” Qin Ye nodded resolutely.

Having witnessed Qin Yang’s influence and received his help, Qin Ye understood well. He was eager for a chance to venture forth with Qin Yang, feeling it was far better than spending his life as a worker after attending a third-rate university. Even if he failed, he would not regret it.

As Qin Yang walked out of the village entrance, he took a deep breath, preparing to hail a taxi to the station, when suddenly Sun Qi called.

“Qin Yang, Liu Molan was attacked last night. She’s seriously injured and currently unconscious, but she’s out of danger,” Sun Qi’s voice was filled with frustration and remorse.

“Are the police entirely useless?” Qin Yang’s expression instantly turned cold.

“It was my oversight,” Sun Qi admitted, refusing to shirk responsibility. “Qin Yang, when will you return?”

“You’re investigating Zhao Ru—haven’t you found anything yet?” Qin Yang didn’t answer her question but asked coldly instead. “Don’t tell me you got nothing out of Cao Xianhu after arresting him.”

“Cao Xianhu committed suicide,” Sun Qi said bitterly. “All leads pointing to Zhao Ru have been severed. We’re trying to find a new clue, but Zhao Ru is far too cunning. We’re almost out of options.”

“Can’t you use unconventional means?” Qin Yang sneered. “Aren’t these things commonplace for the police?”

“I am a police officer,” Sun Qi replied firmly. “Molan’s injury is entirely my responsibility, but Qin Yang, I won’t let you insult my profession.”

“But I am not a police officer,” Qin Yang said coldly. “Hide Liu Molan away. Let no one see her. Tell anyone who asks that she’s receiving protected treatment elsewhere. I’ll deal with those people myself.”

After hanging up, Qin Yang took a deep breath, feeling a surge of rage throughout his body. He inhaled twice more, squatted by the roadside until the anger subsided, then pulled out his phone and called Ji Liehu. Qin Yang hadn’t said much before Old Ji grumbled, “Old Qin, are you kidding? Why are you sending people to me at random? If anything goes wrong, we’re both finished. If you hadn’t introduced him, I’d have dealt with him on the spot.”

“He’s talented. Let him be your assistant, and you’ll see how wise my decision was,” Qin Yang said. “You’ve heard about Molan’s attack, I assume?”

“I have,” Ji Liehu replied, his tone turning serious. “Liu Molan’s business negotiations had a timing error last night, giving the enemy an opening. Police protection was thorough but not flawless. My people couldn’t get too close without arousing Sun Qi’s suspicion, so they kept their distance. But rest assured, I visited her in the hospital—she’s out of danger, though still unconscious. The attending physician is a friend of a former comrade of mine and will spare no effort in her treatment.”

“How many people have come to Haitianshi now?” Qin Yang asked.

Ji Liehu was silent for a moment. “Quite a few. These guys are eyeing the ten million bounty, all hoping to take it home for the Spring Festival.”

“Help me spread a message,” Qin Yang said, taking another deep breath. “Spread it quietly, so everyone learns without realizing it: Liu Molan has been transferred to Fengyang County for protected treatment, to evade assassins. I’ve had Sun Qi guard her closely. These people—I’ll deal with them one by one.”

“Do you want me to come help?” Ji Liehu asked.

“Not needed for now,” Qin Yang replied coldly. “I’m enough to handle these troublemakers alone.”

“Alright, be careful.”

He hung up.

At Haitianshi People’s Hospital, Sun Qi’s face was pale, her eyes bloodshot, clearly sleepless through the night. She gazed at Liu Molan, who lay in the ward, her body swathed in bandages, and bit her lip as tears streamed down. Her fists clenched until her knuckles cracked. Ling Suyun, standing at the door, sighed and stepped forward: “Everything’s arranged. The doctor taking over is a former comrade of mine—a senior military physician, most experienced with such injuries. Treatment will be in the military district, strictly confidential. You’ll stay here, pretending to be Liu Molan. Anyone who comes—arrest them.”

“Are you certain no word will get out?” Sun Qi wiped her tears. “I don’t want her hurt again.”

“Don’t worry. As long as the military isn’t mobilized, she’ll be perfectly safe.” Ling Suyun pulled out his phone, made a call, and soon seven or eight doctors in white coats entered. Unlike ordinary hospital doctors, these men emanated a chilling, disciplined aura so intense it suffocated the room.

After saluting, they lifted Liu Molan from her bed onto a stretcher and wheeled her away.

Ling Suyun asked, “Has Qin Yang reacted?”

“He might take extreme measures,” Sun Qi frowned. “If so…”

“That’s just right,” Ling Suyun said calmly. “There are too many enemies. If we use only our methods, it’s impossible to eliminate them all quickly. He’s not a policeman—he can do far more.”

“But…”

“No buts,” Ling Suyun said. “We both know Qin Yang’s temper. If we stick to conventional methods now, we’ll truly anger him, and then the trouble will be even worse.”

Sun Qi implemented the police plan: she would impersonate Liu Molan to lure the enemies and catch them all at once. Meanwhile, Ji Liehu got busy, needing to quietly spread Qin Yang’s message in a way that wouldn’t arouse suspicion. For them, it wasn’t difficult—they had plenty of channels, and with the Golden Pavilion, the underworld’s own pleasure house, spreading the word was easy. Yet Ji Liehu wasn’t satisfied. He regarded Qin Yang as a true brother; now that his brother suffered, he couldn’t just stand by. He rallied his subordinates for ideas, treating this as the beginning of their resurgence.

Ji Liehu also gave Qin Yang plenty of respect. He recommended Liu Long, who now had the chance to attend such a meeting. As a fan, Liu Long was quite excited upon receiving the call—nervously standing in a corner of the grand office, not qualified to sit, only to serve tea and water. Still, just being present thrilled him. Back in Fengyang County, he was escorted by thugs and hoodlum students, but now he was surrounded by seasoned underworld veterans, including his idol—how could he not be excited?

“One day, I’ll sit with them and discuss matters as equals,” Liu Long gritted his teeth, determined.

Ji Liehu noticed him and nodded quietly. Not overly ambitious, but motivated enough—proof that Old Qin’s judgment was sound. Whether Liu Long had real ability depended on himself.

“Alright, gentlemen,” Ji Liehu clapped the table. “You all know the situation. Though we haven’t known Qin Yang long, all of us treat him as a true brother. His wife was attacked—he can’t swallow the insult, and neither can I. We must help him. But how?”

“Boss Ji, these people are well hidden in Haitianshi. Our eyes and ears can’t root them all out,” Zhang Qi said calmly. “And the police crackdown is severe. We must avenge Qin Yang, but we need to be clean and thorough, leave no evidence. According to Qin Yang’s plan, he wants to lure everyone to Fengyang County and catch them all at once. We can’t disrupt his scheme; we must help him carry it out perfectly.”

Everyone discussed and debated for more than two hours.

Many suggestions were offered—some ridiculed, some praised. They continued to seek the best plan. When Cao Long returned from dealing with the aftermath left by Cao Xianhu, he was met with a conference room full of men, faces flushed, spitting as they argued, the air thick with smoke and alcohol.

“Damn, are you here to hold a meeting or to pollute the air?” Cao Long opened the windows, grumbling. “What, you think you’re the mafia? Black curtains everywhere—aren’t you suffocating?”

“Cao Long, quit the nonsense. Any ideas?” Ji Liehu waved him over.

“Liu Long, your turn. I saw you deep in thought when I came in,” Cao Long didn’t answer directly, but turned to Liu Long. “If you’ve got something, say it. We’re all brothers—worst case, we mock you and make you buy us dinner.”

Cao Long did this because Qin Yang had asked him to, worried that Ji Liehu’s group might exclude Liu Long. As a mediator, he could help Liu Long integrate quickly.

Liu Long glanced gratefully at Cao Long—without him, he’d have struggled to speak up. Ji Liehu had wanted to hear from him, but waited for the right moment. Now, with Cao Long’s prompt, he followed up, “Go ahead.”

“Alright.” Liu Long bowed to the group. “Your ideas are all practical and will greatly help Qin Yang’s plan. What I add is just the finishing touch. First, we must dig to the root—find out who’s behind the ten million bounty on our sister-in-law. Next, since she’s now strictly hidden and none of us knows her location, it’s the perfect chance: we can have women pose as her to confuse the enemy and lure them in—but leave a subtle clue pointing to Fengyang County. Third, pour gasoline on the fire. Some may suspect so many Liu Molans mean a trap in Fengyang County, but we can raise the bounty even higher. Greater rewards breed greed. If we spread the word covertly, rumors will snowball, and Fengyang County will become her supposed hideout!”

“But won’t that attract even more people?” Cao Long frowned. “That’ll make things harder for Qin Yang.”

“Brother Cao, do you think Qin Yang is afraid of trouble?” Liu Long said excitedly. “Right now, there’s a nationwide crackdown. The police want to present a stellar report to earn bonuses and bright futures. We can even provoke the police to keep striking at these incoming underworld types. Once all their attention focuses on them, brothers, what can we do, forgotten in the shadows?”

Ji Liehu’s eyes gleamed.

Indeed—while the police are distracted by these invaders, those of them who remain inactive can do plenty: seize drugs, handle diamonds, anything.

“We don’t even need the southeastern underworld experts wiped out—just breaking up Haitianshi’s gangs will give us a huge boost for our comeback. Brothers, you know this better than me,” Liu Long was almost exhilarated.

“Let’s do it!” Ji Liehu declared, slapping his hand on the table.

“Agreed!” The others chimed in, the kid’s words stirring them deeply—especially those last two lines, which struck right at their hearts.