"They're members of our Six Great Families, and Xu Ke is nothing but trash. Do you really intend to oppose us?" Huang Qi roared.

Wong Qifu paid him no heed. Idiot.

On the tablet screen, a burly man immediately raised a club and brought it down hard. Two sharp cracks of breaking bone echoed out.

Ye Chen and the others' faces turned grim. Seeing their relatives go limp and collapse to the ground like heaps of mud, they were rendered speechless. In this situation, their opponents held all the cards. They could no longer use Xu Ke to bargain for any greater benefit.

No one had expected Wong Qifu to act so quickly.

"Alright, now let's talk about how to make the exchange." Wong Qifu's voice was as glacial as a wind blowing from the Ninth Circle of Hell, utterly frigid.

A flicker of fear showed on Huang Qi's face.

But Ouyang Shuang was completely unfazed, simply repeating her previous words. "We want the port, and the release of our family members."

"Break their other legs," Wong Qifu said indifferently.

Hearing this, Ouyang Shuang's eyes widened. "Family Head Wang, are you determined to offend two of the great powers for a piece of trash?"

"I want to see some sincerity," Wong Qifu declared.

"Is your fiancé worth less than the port business?" Ouyang Shuang stated coldly. Just moments ago, she was dismissing him as trash, but now, in an attempt to extort Wong Qifu, she had changed her tune.

"At worst, we can just call this whole thing off," Ye Chen suddenly stepped forward, a sneer on his face. "Wong Qifu, the most that happens is your fiancé dies here. You can spend the rest of your life clinging to those land deeds."

He had just received instructions from his family. The Ye Family was willing to abandon the hostages held by the Wang Family. Therefore, Ye Chen was no longer afraid of threats. Now, his goal was to haggle with Wong Qifu for as much as he could get.

"That's right," Ouyang Shuang also sneered. "If you don't want to make a trade, we can just kill Xu Ke. This isn't you negotiating with us anymore. We are the buyers, and you are the seller."

Ouyang Shuang now understood the situation completely. Even though the Huang Family hadn't given instructions, she knew that by giving up on their captive family members, their side was in an almost unbeatable position. It all depended on how much Wong Qifu valued Xu Ke. If she truly didn't care, then there was nothing they could do.

"The knife is already at your fiancé's heart. A slight push is all it will take to send him to his grave," Ye Chen said, walking up to Xu Ke with a playful smirk.

At this, Wang Wu's expression became thunderous. He had looked for an opportunity to snatch Xu Ke more than once. However, the silent Song Zhong was watching his every move, and Ouyang Shuang had him subtly locked down... Even though he could kill both of them in an instant, they only needed to stall him for a single moment, and he would have no chance to save Xu Ke.

The atmosphere in the factory grew heavy and stagnant. No one knew what Wong Qifu would do or say next...

"Speak," Ouyang Shuang's hoarse voice demanded.

Wong Qifu finally spoke. "Fine. Release him."

As soon as she spoke, Ye Chen and the others were overcome with joy. Huang Qi burst into loud, brazen laughter that echoed through the factory. The once domineering Wong Qifu was now being forced to submit, wasn't she?

The faces of Wang Wu's subordinates turned ashen. When had they ever suffered such humiliation? If only Xu Ke had been more cautious, knowing he was already the Family Head's fiancé... How could she be forced to lose so much?!

"You're lucky," Siao Jia muttered. She was perhaps the only unhappy person on Ye Chen's side. She stared at Xu Ke, whose leg dangled limply, her eyes filled with venomous resentment.

If she had her way, she would rather he died right here. Xu Ke was a permanent stain on her life. Moreover, a part of her was intensely jealous of him... If it were her, no one would be willing to trade such priceless properties and businesses for her life. What gives Xu Ke the right?

"How do we make the exchange?" Ouyang Shuang asked nonchalantly.

"Release him first," Wong Qifu stated flatly.

Ye Chen sneered. "We're not releasing anyone until we see some real assets."

Wong Qifu fell silent.

Seeing Wong Qifu at a loss, Ye Chen's smile grew even more satisfied. A flash of excitement lit up his eyes. When I return to the Ye Family and present tonight's achievements, everyone will shower me with praise. I never thought I'd see the day I could render the tyrannical Wong Qifu completely helpless. This feeling is just too damn good.

In reality, Wong Qifu's rationality had shattered the moment Xu Ke's leg was broken. From that point on, she had been trapped in an impossible stalemate. No one is perfect. The Wong Qifu of the past had been as tyrannical and willful as she pleased... But the moment she developed a weakness, she became flawed.

Xu Ke was her greatest weakness.

At this moment, the unspoken anger, and even the guilt, that Wong Qifu felt was already crushing... In her mind, if it weren't for her own reckless actions, for announcing the engagement to all of Tianhai, how could Xu Ke have possibly ended up in this state?

Just then, a voice, snarling with murderous intent, gritted out, "Go fuck yourself, Ye Chen! I'll fuck your ancestors!"

As the words fell, everyone's head snapped toward Xu Ke.

Ye Chen, however, remained unfazed, even regaining his graceful composure. "The impotent fury of a liability. What's the point of that?"

A liability. Impotent fury. Yes, that was Xu Ke tonight.

Even Huang Qi's men broke into raucous laughter, shattering the silence and openly mocking the members of the Wang Family and Xu Ke. How could Wong Qifu choose such a worthless loser for a fiancé?

Meanwhile, Wang Wu's subordinates sighed to themselves. The Family Head had so many better options. Why did she have to choose Xu Ke?

The derisive laughter ringing in his ears, Ye Chen's contemptuous gaze boring into him... Xu Ke's eyes were bloodshot, swimming with guilt and remorse.

Why am I such a burden to Wong Qifu? Why am I so useless?

Xu Ke hated himself, but he hated the people in front of him even more. He refused to endure it any longer. He knew how to break Wong Qifu out of this predicament. He would not bear it!

"You want to use me as a bargaining chip? Dream on," Xu Ke said, looking up at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen smiled faintly. "But you're already at my mercy."

"Am I? You must be dreaming," Xu Ke sneered.

"You're the one who's dreaming, Xu Ke!" Siao Jia scoffed.

The crowd erupted in laughter.

But Xu Ke no longer responded. He closed his eyes, the frantic madness within them slowly receding. I'm sorry, Mom, Dad. Your son has failed you.

Ye Chen and the others stiffened.

A hint of relief crept into Xu Ke's voice. "Qi Fu... if there's a next time, I'll call you that."

"See you in the next life."

On the other end of the line, Wong Qifu froze, the color draining from her face at an alarming rate. She understood. He's resolved to die.

"Don't...!" Wong Qifu screamed instinctively.

Ouyang Shuang was the first to sense the aura of death emanating from Xu Ke. Her expression changed drastically. "Stop him!"

But it was too late.

Time seemed to freeze, capturing everyone's expressions: Siao Jia's shock, Huang Qi's utter horror, Ye Chen's stark disbelief.

He muttered, "It's all over."

In full view of everyone, Xu Ke threw his body forward.

He would break today's stalemate with his own life!

The blade was sharp, aimed to pierce bone and heart.

SQUELCH.

The blade plunged through his chest, staining it dark red as blood flew.

Everyone stared in stunned silence at the scene before them.

THUD!

Xu Ke's body collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The light in his eyes slowly faded to nothing.

At that moment, a roar of pure grief and fury erupted. "Attack! Leave no survivors!"

Wang Wu stomped a foot down, and a terrifying aura erupted from his body, instantly causing the faces of Ouyang Shuang and the others to drain of all color.

Outside the factory, lights and shadows flickered. The night seemed to grow even darker.

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