Chapter 26: Fearless

Now, Nie Yunyang finally knew who the mastermind behind the assassination attempt was. Just as Chang Zhicheng had suspected, it was indeed Han Fucheng and Sun Yufan.

Old Qiu and Chang Zhicheng had died in vain to protect Mu Qingyao, and Mu Yin was nowhere to be found—likely having met a tragic end as well. This blood debt had to be paid by the perpetrators!

Cao Weihua could see that Nie Yunyang had developed a murderous intent. The entire situation was incredibly complex, and if it dragged on, the outcome would be unpredictable. If they could take out Han Fucheng and Sun Yufan, Mu Qingyao would be safe.

"I once promised my master that I would not use martial arts to violate the law, but this time, I have no choice but to break that rule," Nie Yunyang said.

Cao Weihua sighed and replied, "Yunyang, you must prepare a meticulous plan. You cannot leave behind any evidence, or you will not be able to stay in Chongqing. As for Master Xue, I will plead your case. He is not a petty man, but to convince him, I am going to have to part with one of my prized possessions again."

"You are an expert in antiques with countless treasures hidden away at home. Once this is all over, I’ll treat you to a drink," Nie Yunyang said.

Cao Weihua felt helpless. "Yunyang, the favor I owed your master is now repaid. If you run into trouble again, don't count on me to clean up your mess."

"Uncle Cao, thank you."

After finishing his words, Nie Yunyang left the office, took the elevator, and headed to the underground garage.

Sitting in the driver's seat of his Audi A6, Nie Yunyang did not rush to leave. Instead, he lit a cigarette and began to contemplate his next move. With his skills, taking out a company chairman was not difficult, but doing so while avoiding bodyguards and leaving no traces behind was indeed a challenge.

Time ticked away, second by second.

Nie Yunyang flicked away his cigarette butt and prepared to drive off, when suddenly, a large group of people poured out from a nearby elevator.

Several burly security guards and white-collar workers in suits surrounded a woman with long, flowing hair. She was about 1.7 meters tall, wore light makeup, and carried an air of elegance.

Nie Yunyang glanced at the woman, but unfortunately, he only caught a glimpse of her profile. As he watched her walk away, a sense of familiarity stirred within him.

*Could it be? Is it really her?*

Before Nie Yunyang could regain his composure, a motorcade consisting of Toyotas and Hondas quickly sped out of the garage. He immediately followed them, desperate to confirm if his intuition was correct.

Unfortunately, after leaving the International Finance Center, he was unable to catch up. By the time he reached a traffic light, the motorcade had already vanished into the distance.

Nie Yunyang felt a pang of frustration. He took a deep breath and let it go; in such a vast sea of people, it was likely just a passing resemblance, not the person he held in his heart.

He pulled out his Xiaomi 11, intending to dial that long-cherished number, but after a moment of hesitation, he gave up.

When the light turned green, Nie Yunyang drove forward, intending to return to the Global Financial Center, but he noticed a tail following him in his rearview mirror.

Nie Yunyang deliberately wove through the streets to confirm that the Lexus RZ behind him was indeed targeting him. He didn't need to think twice to know it was surely one of Sun Yufan's men.

Inside the Global Financial Center, Mu Qingyao was still busy. Despite Miao Xingyu's repeated attempts to persuade her to rest, she remained unmoved.

Miao Xingyu desperately wanted to save the company and carry forward the legacy Mu Bolin had left behind, but he did not fully grasp the internal and external threats facing the Mu family.

"Is it not over yet?"

Nie Yunyang walked into the lounge and found Chen Jiong playing chess with Tan Weibo.

Chen Jiong shook his head and said, "Your boss is a workaholic. I reckon we'll be here until dark."

"I was followed," Nie Yunyang said.

Tan Weibo remained calm. "That’s normal. Since you’ve broken ties with Han Fucheng, if he’s a man at all, he’s bound to come after you."

"Brother Tan, are you married?" Nie Yunyang asked.

Tan Weibo grinned. "A lone wolf like me? How could I ever settle down and start a family?"

"Brother Tan, back when you were in the underworld, did you ever kill anyone?" Nie Yunyang asked again.

Tan Weibo’s gaze remained fixed on the chessboard, sharp as a blade. "Once, to protect the big boss, I beat several assassins until they were critically injured. As for whether they lived or died, I never found out."

"Brother Tan, this time I want to ask you to kill someone. If we mess this up, we’ll likely have to go on the run," Nie Yunyang said, his tone hovering between truth and jest; he still couldn't fully trust the man.

Tan Weibo captured Chen Jiong’s knight with his chariot and said, "The Old Master sent me to Chongqing to help you. I will do whatever you ask me to do, without needing to know the reasons why."

"Haha, Brother Tan, if you lose your life following me, wouldn't you feel it’s a waste?" Nie Yunyang asked.

Tan Weibo shook his head. "A true man’s word is worth its weight in gold. Even if you want to charge into a den of tigers, I won't bat an eye. Besides, life and death are up to fate. Even if I’m killed, it won't be your fault."

"Brother Tan, you are the kind of tough guy I admire most," Nie Yunyang said.

Tan Weibo moved his pawn to take Chen Jiong’s guard, smiling, "One careless move, and the whole game is lost."

"Brother Tan, I never imagined you were not only agile but also such a skilled chess player," Chen Jiong said, resigning the game.

"Move over, let me have a go with Brother Tan." Interested, Nie Yunyang nudged Chen Jiong aside.

At seven in the evening, Mu Qingyao finally finished her work. She walked into the lounge and said apologetically, "Sorry to have kept you waiting!"

"Let's go. Let's all go grab dinner," Nie Yunyang said with a smile.

Just then, Miao Xingyu walked over and patted Nie Yunyang on the shoulder. "Young Master Nie, I know you’re doing all this to protect the young lady. But you were far too reckless to stand up to Han Fucheng in public today. He is not a man to be trifled with."

"Thank you for the reminder, Manager Miao. I will be careful," Nie Yunyang replied.

After exiting the Global Financial Center, Mu Qingyao hooked her arm into Nie Yunyang’s, and they walked side by side, looking just like a real couple.

Once they boarded the Audi A6, Chen Jiong took the wheel, Tan Weibo sat in the passenger seat, and Nie Yunyang and Mu Qingyao sat in the back.

Along the way, Tan Weibo keenly noticed that there were vehicles trailing the Audi—and not just one.

Nie Yunyang took the group to the Chunyang Old Tavern. The dishes there were nothing special, but the taste of his memories made him feel a sense of warmth.

After greeting the owner, Nie Yunyang found a chair and sat down. A few high school students nearby were so shocked to see Mu Qingyao that their jaws nearly hit the floor. In their daily lives, when would they ever get the chance to see such a beautiful woman?

"Back in high school, this was our dormitory’s secret base. We would come here to drink every weekend," Nie Yunyang explained, afraid the others might misunderstand.

Mu Qingyao burst into laughter. "No wonder you didn't get into college—you were a little drunkard!"

"Yaoyao, I think you’re asking for a beating," Nie Yunyang teased.

If time could flow backward, perhaps he would have studied hard and gotten into Chongqing University. If he had, he would have led a very different life.

Mu Qingyao curled her finger at him. "Come on then, I’ll call the police on you!"

"Alright, enough. Are you trying to plot against your own husband?" Nie Yunyang said.

Mu Qingyao rolled her eyes at him. "Phooey! I’m your boss, so you’d better stop daydreaming and trying to climb the social ladder through me."

Chen Jiong and Tan Weibo exchanged a glance, a playful smile appearing on their faces. Young people always seem to spark romance when they least expect it; who knew if this "pretend" act might eventually turn real?

Feeling the two men watching them, Mu Qingyao’s face flushed red, and she lowered her head shyly. To ease the awkward atmosphere, Nie Yunyang took the initiative to serve her a bowl of rice.

Just as they were tucking into their meal, others were harboring their own separate agendas...