The Li Mansion.
"Master, we followed Gu Chenan today and have mapped out his movements."
Several young disciples hurried into the main hall, reporting to Li Rufeng who sat cross-legged in meditation.
"You weren't detected, were you?" Li Rufeng slowly opened his eyes.
"Absolutely not. We were very careful, changing vehicles at every intersection to tail him," the disciples replied.
"Good."
Li Rufeng stood up, glanced at Liang Bufan's bedroom, then paced to the center of the hall with his hands behind his back. "Tomorrow, we ambush and kill Gu Chenan!"
"Yes, Master!"
The disciples celebrated with glee.
Yet Li Rufeng's expression betrayed a hint of unease and hesitation.
Although they were in Suhang, Donghai was so close that if they really killed Gu Chenan, the powerful Gu Family of Donghai would surely seek vengeance.
But if he didn't kill Gu Chenan, he would lose all face!
His own disciple had his arm brutally broken by Gu Chenan in front of the entire martial arts world. How could Li Rufeng not retaliate?
With that thought, Li Rufeng's face hardened, his eyes instantly sharpening with determination.
Kill!
What's the big deal about the Gu Family of Donghai?
No matter how powerful their forces, could they really wipe out the entire Li Family?
...
At the same time, in a villa on the outskirts of Suhang City, a group of men in black suits knocked on the door.
Old Dao opened it, his face brightening as he greeted them respectfully, "Mr. Gong, please come in."
The man called Mr. Gong was a grizzled middle-aged man with long hair. He had an unlit, wrinkled cigarette dangling from his mouth and an unkempt beard, giving him a haggard, world-weary appearance.
Yet he was one of The Twelve Owls, an elite group of assassins, and had once made a name for himself by single-handedly assassinating the head of a prominent Yanjing martial arts family.
No one knew the true extent of his abilities, but his assassination skills were said to be no less formidable than those of Hoshino Kannon.
The five or six men behind him all looked like vicious, hardened killers that would terrify any ordinary person with just a glance.
The group entered the villa, and Old Dao hastened to brief Gong Fei on the current situation.
But before he could say much, Gong Fei cut him off, "No need for details, we have the basic picture. We'll strike directly tomorrow."
Old Dao hesitated, "But Mr. Gong, the Xiao Family has many local martial artists in Suhang on their side. With them present, I fear we may..."
"Enough," Gong Fei stubbed out his cigarette and lit another. "Since there are martial artists involved, assassination is no longer an option. We'll assault them directly, all of us together at noon tomorrow."
Old Dao gulped and nodded, "Yes, Mr. Gong."
Tomorrow, two major events would unfold - Li Rufeng's ambush to kill Gu Chenan, and Gong Fei's direct assault on the Xiao Family compound.
But Gu Chenan remained unaware of either threat.
He drove back to the Gu Family manor and entered the main hall to find Bai Yutian sprawled unceremoniously on the sofa, snoring loudly with her mouth wide open.
Her petite feet in white stockings were haphazardly splayed, and her skirt had ridden up around her waist, exposing her patterned bloomers.
"Ahem."
Gu Chenan cleared his throat, but Bai Yutian merely rolled over, smacked her lips a few times, and continued snoring in a new position.
"What an ungodly sleeping position."
Gu Chenan sat down beside her and began caressing her bloomers.
[So round and supple. So bouncy.]
After fondling her for a while, Gu Chenan suddenly struck her backside with a firm slap.
"Yeowch!"
Bai Yutian jolted awake, clutching her bottom. Upon seeing Gu Chenan, she let out a sigh of relief and plopped down beside him, rubbing her stinging rear.
"You scared me, Young Master Gu."
Gu Chenan pulled her close with a smile. "You can't just sleep like that where others could see you."
Bai Yutian glanced around, then said, "All the guards left the manor today, so no one could see."
Then, shyly nudging Gu Chenan with her shoulder, she added, "Does that mean it'll just be the two of us tonight, Young Master?"
Realizing her implication, Gu Chenan's eyes widened with a hint of panic. "Well, yes, but..."
Before he could finish, Bai Yutian straddled his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and purred, "Then let's... get started, right here."
"Gulp…"
Gu Chenan swallowed hard.
...
The next day at noon, Gu Chenan emerged from Bai Yutian's bedroom, holding his lower back with a grimace.
[Another night of torture for me.]
[This girl is just too ferocious, relentlessly attacking all night.]
He went to the main hall and called Ma Bing to check on the situation.
Contrary to expectations, Hoshino Kannon had not only remained in position overnight but had been standing there the entire time.
Gu Chenan found this quite surprising.
Soon after bidding Bai Yutian farewell as she slept, Gu Chenan left the Gu Family manor.
He was certain Black Owl would send someone to assassinate Xiao Jian.
As for who would come and when, Gu Chenan had no idea.
Not long after leaving, his phone rang.
Gu Chenan answered, "Hello?"
The caller hesitated, "Are... are you Young Master Gu?"
"Speaking. Who is this?" Gu Chenan asked.
There was a long pause, and just as Gu Chenan thought the call had been disconnected, the voice finally spoke, "I... I am Liu Hong."
Gu Chenan raised an eyebrow at that name.
Liu Hong, the head of the Liu Family of Suhang and the one who had commissioned the assassination attempt on Xiao Jian!
Gu Chenan immediately responded, "Head of the Liu Family, let me be clear - I know you ordered the hit on the head of the Xiao Family, and I've already successfully prevented the assassination attempt."
"I know everything." Liu Hong's tone was deflated.
He then added, "Young Master Gu, what do you intend to do?"
"You tell Black Owl to call off the assassination plot. In return, I'll keep this confidential and not inform the head of the Xiao Family," Gu Chenan stated coldly.
"But..." Liu Hong faltered. "Alright, I can do that, but how can I trust you'll keep your word?"
"Heh."
Gu Chenan scoffed, "You still haven't grasped the situation, have you, Head of the Liu Family?"
"I'm not negotiating with you - I'm threatening you. Think it over, then call me back." With that, he hung up abruptly.
Although Gu Chenan was the one asking a favor, he couldn't afford to seem desperate about this matter.
On the contrary, the more confident Gu Chenan appeared, the more flustered Liu Hong would become.
Gu Chenan steered his car off the main road onto the small path leading to the Xiao Family compound.
At that moment, three cars that had been parked along the road suddenly started up and followed Gu Chenan onto the path.
Inside one of the cars, a young man shouted into the phone, "Brother, Gu Chenan has entered the side road. We can intercept him - don't let him escape!"
...
Thank you to the generous patron <.Low-key Handsome.> for the gift of a full body massage and bonus chapters! This is likely the biggest gift the author has ever received.
The author prostrates in deep gratitude to the esteemed patron.
The author also sincerely thanks all other readers who gifted rewards, bowing in humble thanks.