Chapter 93 Each with their own ulterior motives

"She has some skills, but unfortunately, she wasn't cautious enough. Both cups were drugged; as long as she touched them, she wouldn't be able to escape."

Bai Xiao's body was half-slumped on the ground and half-leaning against the chair. She felt that as the drug's effects fermented, control over her body was slowly returning.

"Is the gun on her?" the woman asked.

"Yes." The Bodyguard's hand had already reached her waist.

"Throw it over." The woman's voice held a hint of excitement as she shot a look at the Bodyguard.

She sat at the head of the table, facing the left side where Bai Xiao and the Bodyguard were. Wen Jianhua was on the right side of the table and didn't see the exchange of looks between the woman and the Bodyguard.

The Bodyguard unfastened the gun from Bai Xiao's waist and made a motion to throw it toward Wen Jianhua, but with a flick of his wrist, he changed direction mid-throw.

Joy at her impending success flashed in the woman's eyes, but as she reached out to catch the gun, she was slammed back into her seat by a powerful force. Just as her backside hit the chair, she was hauled up again. By the time she realized what was happening, Wen Jianhua had already snatched the gun, and the muzzle was pressed against her head.

It seemed he knew the woman had no intention of giving him the gun; he had planned his move before the Bodyguard even raised his hand to throw it. Had he not been prepared, he couldn't have reacted so quickly.

The Bodyguard was also well-trained. After throwing the gun, he planned to pull out his own weapon to kill Wen Jianhua, but the moment he moved, Wen Jianhua had already seized Madam Rao and was using her as a hostage.

Wen Jianhua hid behind the woman, the muzzle pressed against the back of her head. The Bodyguard stood in front of Bai Xiao's chair, aiming his gun at the two of them.

"Wen Jianhua, what is the meaning of this?"

"What do I mean? I haven't even asked what you mean yet!"

Both had intended to double-cross each other; at this point, any words were just a case of dog-eat-dog.

Even with a gun to her head, Madam Rao's expression didn't change much. She tilted her head back and negotiated, "Since neither of us was loyal to our cooperation, let's not blame each other. Regardless, the gun is in your hands now—you've already profited. What good does seizing me do? My Bodyguard is still here. If you want to walk out of the Rao Family's gates alive, let's let bygones be bygones. I'll give you thirty percent more of the supplies we agreed upon. Let me go, and we'll both benefit. How about it?"

Wen Jianhua sneered. He leaned close to the back of the woman's head and whispered, "Look up. Is that really how it is?"

The woman turned at his words. Before her eyes could focus, crimson blood splashed into them, and her world was instantly dyed red.

In the blur, she saw a slender, upright figure standing behind the Bodyguard like a ghost. Holding a thin sword, the figure swung forward like a specter. The blade sliced diagonally upward from the Bodyguard's wrist and sank straight into the man's throat.

Blood sprayed from the man's carotid artery, drenching the entire head of the table.

The Rao Family's gun was a small silver pistol, clearly a collector's item rather than a standard combat model. It had power, though limited, but as a firearm, its close-range lethality and speed were still superior to an air gun. After all, it was a real gun.

Bai Xiao held the dripping sword in her right hand and the gun the Bodyguard had just held in her left. She pointed it at the two and said eerily, "Manager Wen? Wen Jianhua, fire. Kill her."

Madam Rao panicked instantly, her previous composure vanishing. Her voice suddenly turned shrill: "You dare?! Wen Jianhua, in two days, the Rao Family will arrive with the main force. They know Junyu and I are here. If you dare kill me, don't expect to live long either!"

Wen Jianhua knew this couldn't end peacefully. He had originally planned to kill the mother and son and frame Bai Xiao. Once he had both guns, the few people in the Villa Area wouldn't be able to cause any trouble, and he could eventually subjugate the group at the Food Street. That way, all the manpower and resources on Mian Mountain would be at his disposal.

However, Madam Rao's words hit home. Ever since Bai Xiao mentioned that the city's Disaster Relief Department and rescued survivors were coming, he knew he stood no chance against the authorities. If the Rao Family came with the main force, their massive influence and resources would be incomparable to the current isolated mother and son.

He had only seized Madam Rao out of necessity for self-preservation, wanting to renegotiate terms with her rather than actually kill her.

If he really killed her, there would be no secrets in this world. How could the Rao Family's people let him off? They wouldn't even need to show their faces; they could crush him with a flick of a finger. He couldn't take that risk.

Actually, this was also what Bai Xiao was worried about, which was why she wanted to drag The one surnamed Wen down with her.

Seeing him hesitate, Bai Xiao said coldly, "If you don't act, I'll kill her first, then kill you."

Wen Jianhua sneered, as if mocking her confidence. "We both have guns. Which is faster: you killing her and then shooting me, or me shooting you directly?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Xiao simply explained calmly, "The gun in your hand is mine. It's not a real gun, just an air gun. The one in my hand is the real gun. Whose gun is faster and more powerful? Do you dare bet your life on it?"

Learning that the gun in his hand wasn't real, Wen Jianhua was both shocked and suspicious. "You're lying! If this gun has no power, why would you tell me to kill her just now?"

Bai Xiao continued to lie through her teeth: "An air gun can kill at this range. Kill her, and we'll say the Bodyguard betrayed his master. If there's a chance, I can help you kill her son and the other Bodyguard too. What are you afraid of? Retaliation from the Rao Family? It's not even certain they'll come. I know my gun; do you? Think carefully—it's either her death or all of you dying together. Even if the Rao Family wants revenge, will you be alive to see it?"

Wen Jianhua was caught in a dilemma. He couldn't bring himself to release the woman and then risk his life in a shootout with Bai Xiao, yet he was truly afraid of the Rao Family coming up the mountain later to seek revenge.

The gun was cocked, yet his finger lingered on the trigger. However, the scales in his mind were slowly tipping.

"Fire!"

"You dare! Wen Jianhua, the Rao Family won't let you off. Think carefully!"

"Fire!"

"The Rao Family is powerful and wealthy; how could they not come up the mountain!"

"Fire!"

"As long as I live, whatever benefits you want, I can..." satisfy you.

Phut—

A short, muffled sound, like metal gouging into flesh and bone, rang out, followed by several more identical sounds in quick succession.

It was as if Wen Jianhua's body were being controlled; his mind went blank for a moment, and his hand had unconsciously pulled the trigger several times. The woman's unfinished words caught in her throat, and her shrill voice came to an abrupt halt.

Her body slumped to the ground like a wet noodle.

"Mom!" A youthful male voice erupted like a thunderclap, filled with shock.

It was the woman's son, Rao Junyu. He had always been dissatisfied that his mother told him nothing and protected him like a child.

He had been in a standoff with a Bodyguard upstairs for a long time. It wasn't until the noise downstairs grew louder and the Bodyguard realized something was wrong that the two of them hurried down.

He just hadn't expected to witness the scene of his mother being shot to death the moment he came downstairs.

Wen Jianhua turned at the sound, his eyes nearly bursting from their sockets. Just as he was about to say something, a real gunshot erupted like an explosion.

"You... hrrk..." Like air leaking from a broken bellows, blood surged in his throat. His mouth hung open, but he could only exhale; no more breath would come in.