Chapter Seventy-One Master Wang

Chapter 71: Master Wang

Blue, translucent glass reflected specks of light onto the table under the lamp. Huang Xuan poured the clear liquid from the bottle into his glass and drained it in one gulp.

Tu Wenhong sat motionless on the sofa, lost in thought. Liu Shaoyu, too, was deep in contemplation.

Neither Liu Shaoyu nor, if asked, Tu Wenhong would deny that Huang Xuan was a scoundrel of the worst kind. If the words Huang Xuan had just spoken ever got out, they would cause an uproar, and no one would believe that the third son of the illustrious Huang family, so polished in appearance, could stoop to such despicable acts.

But that was the truth, and Huang Xuan’s vile deeds were not limited to just one or two. Yet no one seemed to know; with enough money, even the devil can be made to work, and with power, the millstone grinds the devil in turn.

Huang Xuan truly relished the taste of wealth and authority—a pleasure that had led him down a path of no return. But who could possibly stop him?

His eldest brother served in the military, his second brother in politics, and with a clan of elders wielding influence throughout the Federation, “lawless” was hardly an exaggeration.

“I need to think this over carefully. After all, I’m not the only one with something at stake,” Tu Wenhong finally answered after a bout of silent deliberation.

Huang Xuan smiled as he set down his glass, knowing Tu Wenhong was already tempted.

“Once it’s done, not only will I fulfill everything I promised before, but I’ve also heard that when you escaped, you left behind a newborn son—Wei Bohan, was it? Funny, he doesn’t bear your surname. I guarantee that when you return, your whole family will have a new identity and live out the rest of your days in happiness,” Huang Xuan said unhurriedly.

Tu Wenhong’s eyes widened in shock at those words, and for the first time, his unchanging face was etched with terror.

“How do you know that?” he asked, his voice trembling with anxiety.

“Don’t worry, I have your best interests at heart. Since I promised you a happy future… I’m sure you wouldn’t want your son bearing the name of another man,” Huang Xuan replied, fixing him with a chilling smile.

Tu Wenhong understood: this was a blatant threat. Though he believed he’d been discreet, he knew he could never withstand the scrutiny of someone like Huang Xuan. Once again, he felt how powerless he was before such a powerful family.

“Fine, I agree. Please, Young Master Huang, remember your promises when it’s all over,” Tu Wenhong said at last, forced to board Huang Xuan’s pirate ship, so to speak. He’d considered resistance, but cautionary tales quickly dissuaded him. Besides, the benefits seemed substantial—after all, what was one more life to someone with blood already on his hands? His only concern was using the Wang family’s daughter as bait; if things went awry, Huang Xuan would wash his hands of it, leaving Tu Wenhong to face the consequences. The Wang family was not to be trifled with.

“That’s more like it. Now that business is settled, let’s drink, shall we? Hahaha!” Huang Xuan’s face again wore the smirk befitting a scoundrel, making both Liu Shaoyu and Tu Wenhong want to slap him until he spat teeth.

Tu Wenhong restrained himself, knowing that a single misstep could cost his son his name.

Having achieved his aim, Liu Shaoyu had no intention of lingering. This time, it was clear Huang Xuan was targeting him.

“So, you came to provoke me before I even came for you!” Liu Shaoyu fumed. Anyone would be angry if their life were threatened, especially with Wang Yuyan involved.

He needed to think carefully about what to do next—time was short.

Wang Yuyan’s communicator could no longer be reached; even unauthorized tracking yielded nothing.

Returning to the space station, Liu Shaoyu was torn. Should he tell Master Wang about all this? Given what he’d uncovered, he suspected Huang Xuan was putting on a show. Moreover, it seemed he wasn’t the only intended victim—using Wang Yuyan as bait to lure him in.

Huang Xuan clearly aimed for a double strike. But why? Besides his personal grudge—Liu Shaoyu had embarrassed him and foiled his schemes—what was the true motive? On that desolate planet, Huang Xuan hadn’t even known Liu Shaoyu was present.

But now, with moves being made against both the Shen and Wang families, Liu Shaoyu sensed a storm brewing within the Federation. He, adrift in a frail boat, was caught in the very heart of it, where a single mistake could spell utter ruin.

Heavy-hearted, Liu Shaoyu lit a cigarette and exhaled slowly.

At last, he reached a decision. When he was at the brink of death, Shen Qingyi had saved him; when he had nothing, Master Wang had given him command of a fleet. Though Master Wang had his own motives, Liu Shaoyu chose to trust the old man. He didn’t want to be cold and heartless—an orphan, he’d never known the warmth of a mentor’s care, which made him treasure every bond: family, friendship, love.

Jiuzhou Island, Earth

Master Wang sat upright at his desk, his expression calm. On the holoscreen before him was a report—the very report that had left him silent for so long.

It detailed the incident in which Shen Qingyi had been wounded.

He rose and walked to the window, his eyes sharp as he gazed into the distance.

“So, you really can’t sit still anymore, old friend?” Master Wang muttered, as if the report on Shen Qingyi’s injury contained secrets only he could decipher.

“File transfer from Liu Shaoyu,” intoned the office AI.

“What’s that boy want with me now?” Master Wang wondered aloud, curious at this unexpected transmission. Yet, at the mention of Liu Shaoyu’s name, an involuntary smile touched his lips.

With a sigh of relief, Liu Shaoyu sent the video recording to Master Wang. His message was merely a warning, out of familial concern. Given the distance, he knew Master Wang would be furious upon viewing the footage, but he suspected the problem would ultimately fall to himself to resolve. In the end, this matter had started because of him.

Without him, perhaps Wang Yuyan would have already fallen into evil hands—or perhaps nothing would have happened at all. Fate was inscrutable, after all.

Earth

Master Wang’s fists clenched. If the earlier report had merely displeased him, this video infuriated him to the core.

With a resounding crash, a deep dent appeared in his desk.

“So, you think I’m too old to matter!” Master Wang’s voice was laced with murderous intent. Looking at his reddened knuckles, he sighed, “Or am I truly getting old?”

The pain in his hand, mingled with the fury in his heart, seemed to transform the old man. Any of his former students or subordinates would have known what his wrath could unleash.

“Connect me to Liu Shaoyu!” he commanded.

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