Chapter 278 - 270: Grand Gift

The man froze, then lowered his head. "I'm not saying this to make excuses for Mr. Wen," he said softly. "It's just that..."

"Big Cat!"

Fu Juemin's tone turned cold. "Show him out."

Big Cat stepped forward, his shadow falling over the man.

A flicker of panic crossed the man's face. He instinctively retreated two steps, but gritted his teeth and stubbornly said, "Wait! I have something else to say!"

Big Cat paused, glancing silently at Fu Juemin.

Before Fu Juemin could respond, the man spoke in a rush, as if afraid he'd be thrown out at any moment.

"We've found a boat to leave Shenghai. We saved a spot for you, too.

When are you planning on leaving?"

The man stared at Fu Juemin without blinking.

Fu Juemin's expression was serene. Without looking at him, he said, "My work isn't done. Why would I leave?"

"What more do you want to do?!"

The man's brow furrowed deeply, his voice laced with incredulous urgency.

"Don't you know? The Xin Republic Central has already issued the order for Mr. Wen's removal!"

He began to tick off the points on his fingers.

"You killed Nan Xiangcheng, several major compradors who worked for the Westerners, burned down the Da Gong Newspaper Office, killed Chen Huaijin's son, crippled Luo Chengying, and washed Starlight Road in blood..."

With each item on the list, his face twitched violently.

Any one of these incidents alone would have been enough to rock all of Shenghai.

Who would believe it was all the work of a single man? The whole of Shenghai, thrown into chaos and turmoil by one person.

In that battle on Starlight Road, the Woodcutter Gang lost over a thousand men. Blood flowed into the sewers, dyeing half the Su River red. The stench of blood lingered over the water for three whole days before dissipating...

"Mr. Wen is no longer the mayor of Shenghai City!"

The man's voice grew louder. "There's no one left to protect you!"

"The Westerners are furious! Wanted posters with your name, Fu Juemin, are plastered all over the streets!"

"If you don't leave now, what are you waiting for?!"

He took a step forward, then stopped and gestured wildly.

"Are you waiting for Luo Zhengxiong to call in troops from the Jianghai Defense Command and surround the entire city with an iron cordon?!"

Fu Juemin finally turned his head.

His gaze fell on the man's face, calm as a stagnant pond, like a mirror reflecting nothing.

"You're right,"

Fu Juemin said.

The man froze.

"I'm waiting for Luo Zhengxiong to mobilize his troops."

Having said that, Fu Juemin looked away, his gaze returning to the vegetable patch before him.

The man stood there, staring at him dumbfounded. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

After a long moment, he pressed his lips together, pulled a slip of paper from his pocket, and handed it to Fu Juemin.

"I've said all I can."

His voice dropped, becoming almost inaudible. "You're on your own."

With that, he walked briskly out of the courtyard.

A short distance from the farmhouse, the man caught up with Wen Zhiqiu, who was waiting for him.

"What did he say?"

Wen Zhiqiu asked, looking at the man.

The man shook his head, his expression conflicted. "He still refuses to leave. I don't know what more he wants to do."

Wen Zhiqiu was silent for a moment. He put the unlit cigarette he was holding back into his pocket.

"Get the others away first."

Wen Zhiqiu's voice was calm. "We'll stay behind and wait for him."

"Mr. Wen!"

The man grew anxious and took a step forward, about to protest.

But Wen Zhiqiu raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Let's go."

The man's expression was conflicted for a moment. He looked at Wen Zhiqiu's retreating back, then glanced back at the closed courtyard gate.

Finally, he could only nod and slowly follow.

.....

「Inside the small courtyard.」

Fu Juemin glanced down at the slip of paper the man had left him, which detailed the boarding location and time. He casually tore it to shreds and dropped it on the ground.

He turned to Big Cat. "What was Shen Yijun's response?"

"He's delivered what you asked for, Young Master," Big Cat replied.

"So cooperative?"

Fu Juemin was rather surprised and couldn't help but sigh. "I thought he'd try to go back on his word. It seems I underestimated him."

Big Cat replied impassively, "Aside from him, the other three of the former Four Young Masters of Shenghai have all fallen at your hands, Young Master.

He's probably worried you'd want to 'complete the set' with him."

Fu Juemin paused for a second, then chuckled and shook his head.

He thought for a moment, then gave an order. "Have everyone gather here."

Big Cat nodded and withdrew. Fu Juemin turned and walked back into the memorial hall.

Before long, Cao Tian, Xu Hengjiang, and the others had gathered in the small courtyard. They stood outside the memorial hall, watching as Fu Juemin lit incense for Madam Ding's memorial portrait.

"Right now, the Patrol Offices of the Six Major Concessions and the entire Hua Realm are looking for me.

And I'm still here in Shenghai, not leaving..."

Fu Juemin placed three long sticks of incense into the burner before Madam Ding's memorial tablet. Then, he turned to face the crowd, his expression calm. "You should all know what I'm going to do next."

A subtle shift went through the crowd. A sharp glint flashed in Xu Hengjiang's eyes, and he was the first to speak, his voice slow and deliberate. "The remnants of the Ghost Camp have followed you for a long time, Young Master Fu. We've been waiting for this day."

Fu Juemin gave a slight nod. His gaze swept over Xu Hengjiang, then over Cao Tian, Big Cat, and Kitty, finally settling on Zhang Yi, who stood with his head bowed in silence.

His eyes flickered. He took a step closer to Zhang Yi and said softly, "You followed me for wealth and status. You don't have to wade into these muddy waters with the rest of us.

Tonight, I'll have someone escort you and your son out of the city with Wen Zhiqiu's group..."

As he spoke, Fu Juemin's gaze shifted to Xu Xinyi, who was standing nearby.

Xu Xinyi stood there obediently, dressed in a black dress with a white flower in her hair.

Fu Juemin looked at her and said coolly, "You'll go with them too."

When Xu Xinyi heard this, her expression immediately grew frantic.

She rushed forward and gripped Fu Juemin's sleeve, her hands clutching the fabric so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"I'm not leaving!"

Her voice was desperate and pleading. "I'm staying here with you!"

"Be good."

Fu Juemin reached out and stroked her hair, as if calming a startled animal.

But Xu Xinyi, her eyes red, only shook her head relentlessly.

Just then, Zhang Yi lifted his head. "I thank you for your consideration, Young Master," he said calmly.

"However, a man must see things through to the end.

If you could arrange for my son, Zhang Xuan, to be sent away, I would be eternally grateful, Young Master..."

Fu Juemin watched him, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If you stay, you and your son may never see each other again."

Zhang Yi lowered his head, silent for a moment.

"Two months ago, in the Rain Listening Corridor at Ink Garden."

His voice was quiet but steady. "I already thought it all through."

Seeing his resolve, Fu Juemin didn't press the matter.

His gaze swept over each person before him once more, and with a calm expression, Fu Juemin began to speak.

He laid out what they were going to do—who was assigned what task, when they would do it, and how. Every detail was perfectly clear.

Fu Juemin's voice was steady, neither rushed nor slow, as he methodically arranged every aspect of the plan.

By the time he finished laying out the plan, the sound of breathing in the courtyard had changed.

Everyone stood rooted to the spot, staring at Fu Juemin, their breathing unconsciously quickening.

A light shone in nearly everyone's eyes, glinting with something indefinable—was it nervousness? Excitement? Anticipation? Or perhaps... fear?!

No one could say for sure.

They only knew one thing—

This was a plan that would tear the very heavens asunder.

If it succeeded, the shockwaves would be felt not just in Shenghai, but across the nation and even overseas.

Even just hearing Fu Juemin describe it in his calm, measured tone was enough to make their blood pump with adrenaline.

"One question!"

Xu Hengjiang suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

"Go ahead."

Fu Juemin looked at him.

Xu Hengjiang frowned. "Young Master, there's no issue with the first half of the plan.

But the second half..."

Xu Hengjiang paused, then continued in a grave tone, "Once we do this, under pressure from both the Westerners and the Xin Republic, Luo Zhengxiong will be forced to mobilize his troops and enter the city.

But the Jianghai Defense Command has a standing force of over ten thousand men. Even if they dispatch a portion to quell the riots, the remaining forces...

With just the few dozen of us from the Ghost Camp, I'm afraid we won't even be able to break through the gates of his headquarters."

"You won't be going to the Jianghai Command."

Fu Juemin's tone was placid. "When the time comes, I'll go alone."

At his words, everyone froze, their heads snapping up to look at Fu Juemin.

"I know your martial prowess is godlike, Young Master, but—"

"Don't worry."

Fu Juemin smiled faintly and casually took Xu Xinyi's hand. "Since I'm daring to go," he said slowly, "it's only natural that I've already figured out how to deal with Luo Zhengxiong's remaining forces.

"This special gift..."

Fu Juemin lifted his head, his gaze passing through the farmhouse's open door toward the distant, gray sky. "...is something I've been preparing for Luo Zhengxiong for a very, very long time."

Inside the memorial hall, Fu Juemin's voice was soft.

A light breeze drifted in, rustling the memorial scrolls in the hall with a soft, whispering sound...