March 12th, the western district of Haojiang.
The westernmost part of Haojiang bordered the sea, and by the sea, there were many docks and fishing villages.
When I, along with Camel and the others, arrived at the fishing village designated by Han Qingmei, it was already around 9:30 AM.
Yes, I was an hour and a half late for the time Han Qingmei had requested, and this was after she had called multiple times to urge me.
During that dragging hour and a half, Han Qingmei was so enraged by me at one point that she threatened to kill Xu Shiyu right then and there on the phone.
At the time, I was genuinely worried, concerned that Han Qingmei might have lost her reason due to my provocations.
Fortunately, just as I was hesitating and deliberating, Han Qingmei relented first.
In that moment, I was grateful that my hesitation had paid off.
After the assassination attempt failed, Han Qingmei, having no other options, decided to play her hand openly. Everything she had done was merely to force me out into the open for a meeting.
Once we met, it would be: a perfect trap, endless killing intent!
...
In front of a civilian house in the small fishing village, I saw a mourning hall constructed in the style of the mainland.
On my way to the mourning hall to meet Han Qingmei, I received a message from Xiao Long.
In the message, Xiao Long informed me that he and Gao Jing had infiltrated the small fishing village and were scouting around. They discovered that most of the fishermen's homes had strangers present.
Clearly, Han Qingmei had made thorough preparations for today, intending to sacrifice me here alive.
I replied to Xiao Long with a simple message, containing only four words.
Wait for the opportunity!
As I, along with Cheng Minglang and Camel, walked to the entrance of the mourning hall, I saw Han Jinlun's black and white photograph hanging on the offering table.
Inside the mourning hall, a coffin was placed, and on either side of the coffin stood bodyguards, all dressed in black suits and black trousers.
As for Han Qingmei, she was dressed in mourning attire, standing to the right of the mourning hall entrance.
Glancing sideways, I saw Han Qingmei staring grimly at the urn containing Han Jinlun's ashes inside the coffin, her teeth clenched, and she remained silent.
Seeing her cold demeanor, I didn't try to greet her unnecessarily. Instead, I led Cheng Minglang and Camel to stand before the mourning hall, preparing to bow to Han Jinlun's portrait.
But before I could even bend down, I suddenly heard Han Qingmei say in a hoarse and indifferent voice, "Chen Xiang, those two can bow to my brother, but you... you are not worthy!!!"
The moment her voice fell, Han Jinlun's gaze, sharp as lightning, fixed directly on me, and he glared at me, shouting coldly, "The one who should have died was you, not my brother. You must pay with your life for him!!!"
Han Qingmei's agitated reaction was entirely within my expectations.
Human nature is inherently selfish, not to mention the bond between siblings is thicker than blood.
Last night, if I hadn't managed to extract that name from Xiao Tianci, and if Han Qingmei had found me without any hope of revenge, I might have simply endured any scolding or punishment and let her deal with me.
But now, with the hope of revenge in sight, I certainly couldn't just surrender and be captured here.
Therefore, meeting Han Qingmei's piercing gaze with my own, I replied with a cold face, "Regarding your brother's death, I express my deepest regrets and sorrow!"
"However, the true culprit has already been brought to justice!"
I knew that the words I was about to utter would greatly provoke Han Qingmei.
But to save someone, I had to present myself as a cold, heartless, and selfish individual.
As expected!
Upon hearing me casually dismiss Han Jinlun's death, Han Qingmei's face instantly contorted with rage. She pointed at me and yelled, "Chen Xiang, you ungrateful beast!!!"
"Why did Jinlun have to take a bullet for you and risk his life? A selfish scoundrel like you should have died and gone to an early grave!"
"He used to mention you to me often, saying how good you were, how righteous you were, and how loyal you were. To think that after he died for you, you would turn your back on him like this!"
"Even if people move on, they don't just go completely cold like you!"
Ignoring Han Qingmei's scolding, I slowly straightened my body and directly asked, "Speak, what exactly do you want?"
"I'm telling you, Chen Xiang, if you want to save your old flame from my clutches today, then stay here and let me deal with you!"
"If you dare to bargain, I'll immediately have someone send your old flame on her way!"
Facing Han Qingmei's blatant verbal threat, I chuckled and replied, "Sister Qingmei, I think you've misunderstood!"
"I'm not here to save anyone!"
"Your brother did indeed die because of me, but it was his own will!"
"After his death, I did everything that needed to be done, including seeking revenge!"
"From the perspective of martial world ethics, haven't I been more than generous?"
"But you are not only unsatisfied, but you have also sent people to kill me several times. This is going too far, isn't it?"
"I didn't hold you accountable before, partly out of guilt, and partly because I didn't have the time!"
"I've come today specifically to tell you..."
"Sister Qingmei, I have fulfilled all the obligations of loyalty and courtesy!"
"If you dare to provoke me again without knowing your place, then don't blame me for turning ruthless!"
After speaking, I turned and left with Camel and Cheng Minglang without looking back.
This unconventional negotiation tactic immediately left Han Qingmei gasping for breath in anger.
As I took a step, Han Qingmei immediately called out to me loudly.
"Wait a moment!"
I did not turn around, but remained with my back to Han Qingmei, waiting for her to continue.
Han Qingmei pointed at a bodyguard standing at the entrance of the mourning hall and angrily shouted, "Call Ah De and have him bring that woman over here!"
"I want to kill your woman in front of Chen Xiang!"
Upon hearing this, the bodyguard had just taken out his phone, and before he could even dial, I raised my hand to stop him, "There's no need for all that trouble!"
Before the other party could react, I turned back and said to Han Qingmei, "Sister Qingmei, women are like clothes. Once worn, they can be discarded at will!"
"You can do whatever you want with that woman, kill her or flay her, it has nothing to do with me!"
"Is there anything else? If not, I'm leaving!"
Seeing that she couldn't control me with Xu Shiyu, Han Qingmei was instantly enraged and shouted, "Want to leave? Not so easy! Stop him!!!"
Hearing this, the bodyguards in the mourning hall immediately swarmed out, surrounding me, Camel, and Cheng Minglang.
Looking calmly at the scene unfolding before me, I slowly lifted my shirt, revealing the homemade explosives strapped to my waist, and said in a deep voice, "How much do bodyguards earn in a month? Is it worth risking your lives like this?"
"If you're not afraid of death, then go ahead and try to stop me!"