DASFAM_92

Old Master Shang's funeral was naturally held with great ceremony and grandeur.

Inside the memorial hall, decorated with quiet elegance and care, mourners had been arriving in an unbroken stream since morning. The Shang family had also set up tea lounges on either side of the hall where guests could rest and gather.

Many guests, having paid their respects, saw no rush to leave, and lingered to chat over tea.

"Hey, do you all think those rumors about the Shang family are true?"

"Nine times out of ten, probably. Word is that old steward kidnapped the Old Master, but didn't come to a good end himself either. When the police arrived, his intestines had been knocked clean out of him. He's still at the funeral home now, and his son hasn't even come to collect the body."

"What a sin. And the one pulling the strings behind it all was the first branch?"

"Shh! You can't just go saying things like that!"

Someone lowered their voice, "On such an important day as the Old Master's cremation and burial, not a single member of the first branch has shown up. Is there anyone with eyes who can't see what that means?"

"Whatever the case, failing to appear at an occasion like this is truly beyond the pale," Another person sighed, "What a pity, looking at Old Madam's condition, I'm afraid..."

Not long after Old Master Shang's accident, word had spread within the Shang family that Old Madam Shang had fallen gravely ill.

At this morning's funeral, Old Madam Shang, her face deathly pale, had forced herself to see the Old Master off on his final journey, and then collapsed in full view of everyone!

She was immediately taken back to the hospital by the medical personnel accompanying her, and her current condition remained unknown. Many were quietly speculating, dreading that Old Madam Shang too might never recover from her illness.

People had once spoken so highly of the old couple's way of managing the family, praising every member of the Shang family as exceptional. Yet in less than a year, members of the family were dead or disabled, and the whole thing had fallen completely apart!

Anyone who saw it couldn't help but sigh: fate is a cruel thing.

Bai Xu walked out from the back room dressed in a black suit. Passing by the tea lounge, he caught roughly the gist of these conversations. He made no move to intervene, and instead quickened his pace to wait outside the memorial hall.

Before long, a familiar figure came into view.

"Bai Xu."

Zhang Changning approached with his parents, who had come to pay their respects. The family of three were dressed in matching black mourning attire.

Bai Xu gave his friend a nod, "Changning."

His gaze shifted to the Zhang couple beside him. Faced with unfamiliar faces he was meeting for the first time, he spoke warmly and politely, "Mr. Zhang, Madam Zhang, thank you for coming."

Madam Zhang met Bai Xu's face, and a flicker of subtle surprise crossed her eyes, "You..."

Zhang Changning spoke up to make introductions, "Mother, this is Bai Xu, the one I'm always telling you about, and Third Brother's partner."

Zhang Du beside them had heard something of Bai Xu's situation, and spoke on his wife's behalf, "My wife and I have just rushed back from overseas. Please, lead the way so we may offer incense to the Old Master."

"Of course, please this way."

Bai Xu led the Zhang family of three toward the center of the memorial hall, until they had completed the ritual of paying their respects.

Only then did Zhang Changning speak up, "Bai Xu, where are Third Brother and Queyan? My brother came this morning, didn't he?"

Zhang Changxu had a busy schedule at the hospital and had already come to pay his respects earlier.

Bai Xu nodded, "Yanxiao is busy in the back. Queyan has gone to the hospital to keep watch over Grandmother."

Madam Zhang's brow furrowed slightly, her gaze fixed intently on Bai Xu, "How is Old Madam doing?"

Bai Xu lowered his eyes slightly, as though entirely unaware of the glances being stolen from around them, "Not very optimistic. The household has been in near chaos these days."

Zhang Du had no reason to doubt what Bai Xu said, and let out a sigh, "Uncle Hong passing so suddenly, it really is hard to come to terms with. We can only count on you young ones to join hands and get through this difficult time."

Bai Xu responded, "Yes."

Zhang Changning chimed in sensibly, "Mom, Dad, should we stop by the hospital to see Old Madam on the way later? It would work out nicely, we could wait for Second Brother to finish his shift too."

Zhang Du nodded, "That works."

Madam Zhang kept glancing at Bai Xu, seemingly wanting to say something more, "Child, you..."

Bai Xu, preoccupied with other pressing matters, didn't notice Madam Zhang's hesitation, "Mr. Zhang, Madam Zhang, I'm needed in the back to help out. Please make yourselves at home."

Zhang Changning answered on their behalf, "Of course, go ahead! We'll be fine here!"

Bai Xu gave a polite nod and turned to enter the back room of the memorial hall.

Old Master Shang had already been cremated and laid to rest. The room behind the memorial hall was empty and sparse, with only Shang Yanxiao and Xie Qi's figures inside.

Bai Xu closed the door and walked over quickly, "How is it going?"

Shang Yanxiao reported the outcome first, "Old Yue has already been apprehended."

On that note, it was Shang Qishun's secretary who had tipped off the police anonymously. Though no one knew the former's reasons for doing so, based on the leads and intelligence he provided, the capital police had coordinated with border control—

Just moments ago, they had caught Old Yue attempting to flee the country with the money. Once border control brought him back to the capital, the police could begin their interrogation!

Bai Xu pressed further, "Have you made contact with Shang Qishun's assistant in secret?"

Xie Qi glanced at Shang Yanxiao, and at the latter's signal, spoke plainly, "The one surnamed Xiao asked for two hundred thousand before he'd be willing to share anything."

Bai Xu let out a cold laugh, "Having spent so long at Shang Qishun's side, his appetite has gotten quite large."

Shang Yanxiao offered his take, "He probably knows that Shang Qishun has done quite a lot of illegal things and doesn't want to get dragged down with him. So he's looking to protect himself and pocket something before making his exit."

Bai Xu frowned and clicked his tongue, "You paid him?"

Shang Yanxiao gave a muffled cough and quickly explained, "You have to give him some incentive, but I didn't give him as much as he asked for."

Xie Qi spoke up to help, "Third Young Master also managed to draw quite a few important things out of him."

Bai Xu's frown eased slightly, and he gestured for the two to continue.

Xie Qi answered, "He said that from the looks of it, Shang Qishun has already given up on competing for the group's chairman position."

Bai Xu was unsurprised, "Not after power, then it's money he's after?"

Shang Yanxiao nodded, "Word is that Shang Qishun, through Old Yue's network of connections, has gotten in touch with an overseas underworld financier. He plans to convert the assets in his hands into cash."

Bai Xu connected the dots and it clicked, "So it seems we guessed right? He coerced Old Master into pressing his fingerprint and is trying to privately move assets?"

Shang Yanxiao shared the same thought as his partner, "Doesn't that suit our purposes perfectly?"

Bai Xu smiled slightly, "It does."

Xie Qi listened with growing confusion, "Third Young Master, Young Master Bai, what do you mean?"

A glimmer of something sharp flickered in Bai Xu's eyes, his words laden with meaning, "Shang Qishun was born a golden child, the eldest young master of the Shang family. He's spent over thirty years with everything going his way. Perhaps he's forgotten—"

"That in this world, not everything can go according to his wishes, and not everyone can be manipulated at his will."

Going to underworld dealings with an asset transfer contract that hadn't even been notarized yet?

When a person loses all sense of proportion in their desperation, they will inevitably bring about their own downfall!

...

The rain that had fallen for many days finally let up.

Assistant Xiao brought the car to a stop in the night, and with a barely perceptible shift of his throat, said, "Mr. Shang, we've arrived."

He turned to look at Shang Qishun in the back seat and asked uncertainly, "Shall we go in?"

Shang Qishun picked up the briefcase that had long been prepared and waiting beside him, and looked toward the unassuming low-rise building nearby. His eyes were filled with naked ambition, "Of course."

He had already come this far. There was no stopping now.

Over the past few days, Shang Qishun had been having people quietly keep tabs on everyone in the Shang family—

Old Madam Shang had fallen gravely ill. The Shang family and the group were in complete disarray, with no bandwidth to deal with anything else.

He had to convert the "hot potato" in his hands into cash and be rid of it as soon as possible. Otherwise, once Shang Yanxiao and the others came to their senses and persuaded Old Madam Shang to inherit the estate and divide the family assets, things would only get thornier.

As long as the transaction went smoothly later, once tonight was over, he would have enough capital to start over and establish himself anew.

Behind his glasses, Shang Qishun's desire was impossible to conceal, "Stay here and wait. I'm going in."

Bang!

The car door slammed shut.

Assistant Xiao watched Shang Qishun's figure disappear into the depths of the night, and ultimately chose to protect himself, "Mr. Shang, I'm sorry."

He had only ever wanted to stay by the man's side for the high salary and the prestige that came with the title of Shang Group's chief assistant. He never had any intention of going down with him!

...

Shang Qishun strode quickly toward the low-rise building.

The burly man standing guard at the entrance spotted his approach and immediately moved to intercept, his menacing appearance brooking no challenge.

Shang Qishun was unfazed. He tapped his thick briefcase with his fingertips, "I have an appointment with Mr. Sander. Right on time."

"......"

The burly man signaled one of his men to go inside and announce the arrival, while he himself proceeded to search Shang Qishun from head to toe. Only after confirming there were no dangerous items did he step back.

The closed iron door opened once more, and a face marked by a knife scar emerged, "Mr. Shang, is it? Our boss invites you in."

Shang Qishun pushed up his glasses, deliberately bumped the burly man's shoulder as he passed, and walked in with a cold smile.

The interior was a different world entirely, the entire space thick with the smell of perfume.

Shang Qishun looked at the middle-aged, crew-cut man on the sofa, who was in the middle of having sex. A frank disgust stirred within him, and he let his gaze drop slightly to avoid the sight.

About five or six minutes passed before the man finally stopped, thoroughly satisfied, and casually picked up a bathrobe to cover himself.

"Get out."

A single word from him, and the woman beneath him immediately scurried into another room, barely clothed.

Sander's subordinate, entirely unsurprised by this, stepped forward and considerately handed his boss a freshly trimmed cigar, "Boss, this is the Mr. Shang who's here to discuss a big deal with you."

Sander fixed a dangerous stare on Shang Qishun and said nothing.

Shang Qishun followed his gaze and stepped closer, "Mr. Sander, is this how you treat your guests?"

Sander took a leisurely drag of his cigar, "That depends on what kind of big deal Mr. Shang wants to make with me. I came for a fat slice of meat, don't you dare offer me just a bit of skin."

He exhaled the smoke, and the seemingly casual words concealed a deadly threat, "If Mr. Shang wastes my time, I'll have your skin."

"......"

Shang Qishun felt a chill inside, but still had enough confidence in his leverage. He took the asset transfer contract out of his briefcase and tossed it over.

"Three billion. All of it."

Quite the bold claim.

The subordinate's eyes flickered with a small flash of shock upon hearing that figure. He quickly picked up the documents, briefly confirmed the transfer details in the contract, then reported everything to Sander one by one.

Sander held his cigar and leaned over to murmur something to the subordinate, "Look into this carefully, find out whether the deal Mr. Shang has brought is actually solid."

The subordinate acknowledged the order, and with good situational awareness, poured Shang Qishun a glass of champagne as a formal welcome.

Shang Qishun picked up the glass but did not drink, "Mr. Sander, how do you plan to absorb these three billion of mine?"

Sander smiled, "As long as the assets Mr. Shang has brought check out, I have my own methods."

Run the dirty money through several rounds of laundering, turning it into assets. Then transfer those assets through several more hands before cycling it back to him.

By then, even if someone wanted to investigate, there would be nothing to trace.

"However, Mr. Shang is asking too high a price."

Sander, entirely unconcerned with the value within the contract, set his own pace, "One and a half billion. I'll take everything. Sign and I'll give you the deposit, with the remainder paid upon completion."

"......"

Shang Qishun's expression shifted sharply. He was displeased, "Is Mr. Sander treating me like a fool and doing charity?"

Sander paid no mind to his dissatisfied protest and stubbed out his cigar on the table, "The assets in Mr. Shang's hands didn't come through proper channels, did they? Otherwise why would you be in such a rush to offload them?"

"......"

Shang Qishun's vulnerable spot had been struck, and his expression was anything but pleasant.

"I've looked into your background and circumstances. I dare say there isn't a single person in all of China who would dare take on your deal."

Sander raised his right palm with an air of absolute certainty, "Before the transaction is officially completed, paying a deposit of this sum in one go, and keeping you entirely out of it throughout, who else but me could do that?"

"I may be making a little less, but Mr. Shang certainly won't be at a loss."

"......"

A little less? This was daylight robbery!

Shang Qishun knew full well that the other man was deliberately bleeding him dry, yet had no way to argue against it.

Sander had a firm grasp on his thinking, "Mr. Shang, I believe you Chinese people have a saying, opportunity knocks but once?"

"I can't stand being pushed around. I'm still willing to give you this price right now, but if you hesitate any longer, I may not be so inclined."

"......"

Shang Qishun's breath tightened, feeling for the first time the torment of having no choice but to act.

Just as Shang Qishun was about to give his answer, the subordinate returned with the contract, a flicker of contempt rising in his eyes, "Boss, the transfer contract Mr. Shang has brought is invalid."

Shang Qishun's expression shifted slightly, "What did you say?"

"All the asset holders named in this contract are Shang Yanan. The assets were notarized half a year ago. Not under Shang Hong."

In other words, Old Master Shang had never been the asset holder at all. This asset transfer contract, whether signed willingly or under coercion, was fundamentally void!

How could this be!

How could it be like this!

Shang Qishun's face turned ashen in an instant. He shot to his feet and snatched the contract back, "Are you deliberately trying to swindle me?"

Sander was still studying the expression on Shang Qishun's face, trying to make sense of it, when the closed iron door was suddenly flung open from outside.

The burly man walked in, his fierce eyes carrying a dangerous wariness.

"Boss, the lookout at the junction reports police cars! Move!"

"......"

A single sentence, and the atmosphere froze solid.

Sander kicked the coffee table aside and rose to his feet, murderous intent rising around him, "You dared to collude with the police to set me up?!"

Shang Qishun grew more bewildered by the second.

Before he could even process what was happening, the burly man beside him acted without hesitation and pinned him down onto the sofa, the force nearly enough to snap both his arms clean off.

The burly man looked down at the feeble Shang Qishun with contempt, "Boss, how do we deal with him?"

The contract scattered across the floor, reduced to the most worthless pile of black ink on white paper.

Sander stepped over the sheets strewn across the ground, and looked at Shang Qishun still struggling on the sofa. The brutality in his bones surfaced, "Whichever hand he used to hand over the fake contract, chop it off!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Let's go!"

Sander had no desire to invite further trouble on China soil. Had tonight taken place overseas, on his own turf, Shang Qishun would have died on the spot.

"It wasn't me! Let go of me!"

Shang Qishun had never imagined that such a turn of events would ever happen to him. He felt agonizing pain shoot through his arm and struggled all the more violently.

"Mr. Sander! This has nothing to do with me!"

For once, Shang Qishun had lost all composure. His entire face flushed crimson with terror and panic, "Don't go! This is China! You can't do this!"

His glasses fell to the floor, blurring his vision, and heralding the arrival of his ruin.

All Shang Qishun caught in the corner of his eye was a flash of cold light. Then, an agonizing pain on the edge of death made him lose all control and cry out.

"—Ahh!"

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