Chapter 746: The End of the Merchant's Road

Shang Yizhou had originally been prepared to unify Shanghu.

But things did not go as planned.

He received a constant stream of the latest news from the front lines: dead, they were all dead.

Whether it was the people sent to assassinate Wei Rusi or those intending to take out Jin Lu, they had all met a miserable end right in front of the enemy. A total collapse!

As the night gradually faded, he arrived at the company, supported by Liu Rushi.

The scenes of working overtime through the night were no more.

There wasn't even anyone on duty.

The entire The Group was empty from top to bottom, as if this had always been an empty building.

While passing some of the floors, Shang Yizhou said to Liu Rushi, "We have a lot of foreign trade business, and because of the time difference, many colleagues' schedules are inverted. Under normal circumstances, this would be their working time."

"And that floor over there is where the core business that I used to build this empire was located."

"And here..."

At this moment, Shang Yizhou was no longer Shang Yizhou.

He was just a decrepit old man.

Finally, he took the elevator to the top floor.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window he was most familiar with, looking down at Shanghu from the most familiar angle, his mood was completely different.

He sat in his office at Shanghe International, trembling as he lit a cigar, and closed his eyes tightly.

"Sir, stop smoking. Let's... go home."

A soft voice came from behind him.

Liu Rushi said with a sigh.

Shang Yizhou's gaze was somewhat unfocused. He felt a sharp pain in his heart, but it didn't matter anymore.

Compared to his physical ailments, the mental blow was far more significant.

This was the first large-scale assassination he had orchestrated, and it was destined to be his last.

Ending in a crushing defeat, he knew full well what awaited a loser.

"Yun Shicheng, that old bastard... I should have shot him first... Damn it, that treacherous thing."

Shang Yizhou gazed at the brightening horizon and began to cough violently.

"Cough, cough, cough... Where is Yanxiong? Call him over."

Liu Rushi hesitated, not knowing how to explain things to Shang Yizhou.

In reality, ever since the operation started last night, he had been urging Liu Rushi to find the children.

But until now...

Not a single person had come.

Whether it was Shang Yanxiong or the other heirs, it was as if they had all collectively vanished; no one could be reached.

At this moment, Shang Yizhou was no longer the formidable hero of his past, but a truly lonely old man.

"I told you to call Yanxiong, didn't you hear me?"

Shang Yizhou's voice rose by another octave.

The vast office was filled with a loud echo.

"Where are the people? Where is the rest of the company? Isn't it already past the start of the workday!"

Shang Yizhou roared frantically, slamming the table in anger. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was trembling uncontrollably.

Liu Rushi replied with a sigh, "Late yesterday, General Manager Shang Xinlan sent an email to all employees, saying... that they didn't need to come to work starting tomorrow. She also had the finance department process severance pay, so... nobody came."

Shang Yizhou was about to continue slamming the table, but hearing this news, his heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife.

He clutched his chest tightly, feeling it becoming increasingly difficult to breathe.

[Beep—beep—]

The ringtone sounded, and Liu Rushi immediately answered.

Her demeanor was extremely humble and respectful, and she said with a fawning expression, [Yanxiong, we are at the company. Um... your dad... ah, no, Shang Yizhou is here too. He seems to be having another episode. I haven't called a doctor. Can, can you spare our family?]

[Put the old bastard on the phone.]

Shang Yizhou looked at Liu Rushi with grief and indignation, seemingly realizing something.

Looking at him now, was there any trace of her former affection?

Her gaze was extremely cold. She placed the phone to his ear and turned on the speaker, as if she were doing something completely unrelated to herself.

[Old bastard, do you still remember how my mother died?]

Shang Yanxiong's cold voice came through.

Shang Yizhou felt increasingly pained. He tried hard to keep his voice calm, but the intense physical reaction made his voice tremble even more.

[You rebellious son... you are unfilial... you will go to hell when you die!]

[Haha... Hahahaha, hahahahaha! That's exactly how she was back then, struggling painfully on the bed, while you stopped that bitch Wen Yan from calling for an ambulance, watching her take her last breath.]

[You are just a piece of human trash. If I go to hell... then we shall meet in hell, but you will have to go first. Liu Rushi, you can leave now. Take your son and get lost, go as far away as possible.]

Listening to the busy signal on the other end, Liu Rushi was incredibly excited.

She couldn't help but feel a sliver of relief.

She was relieved that she hadn't been present when the first wife died, and even more relieved that she had been cautious for so many years, never provoking Shang Yanxiong and the others, which had finally left her a way to survive.

Not only that, but there was also a very substantial pension.

She was still very young this year, even younger than Shang Rongyan.

It's so good... I can start a new life...

"Where, where are you going? Call a doctor for me, I, I'll give you money! Liu Rushi... you, you bitch! You were nothing but a low-class actress before; it was I who gave you such a good life! You, you come back here!"

Shang Yizhou felt increasingly pained, falling directly to the floor and curling up in tremors.

He struggled to reach out, attempting to grab Liu Rushi as she walked further and further away.

His breathing became increasingly difficult, and he even began to roll his eyes.

His limbs shook violently and uncontrollably.

"You old fossil, did you really think I liked you? It was only because you had money! But where do you have a single cent now? Heh, Shang Yanxiong has already given me enough money for my retirement, so just die here on your own."

After saying this, Liu Rushi left directly and closed the office door behind her.

She didn't look back even once.

She hurried to the underground parking lot, preparing to go back and take her son to the airport. She picked up the phone and ordered, "Auntie Zhang, hurry up and take Jianchi away. We'll meet at the airport. I've already bought the tickets..."

[Bang—!]

A deafening sound rang out.

The crying on the other end of the phone stopped abruptly.

"Jianchi! Jianchi!"

Liu Rushi's pretty face turned deathly pale. She kept calling her son's name, but there was no response!

Her whole body trembled violently, and an incomparable terror filled her heart.

"Shang Yanxiong? Is it Shang Yanxiong? You... why did you..."

At this moment, a gun barrel appeared in front of her car window.

She suddenly bowed her head and saw a pair of cold, emotionless eyes.

Pulling the trigger, [Bang—]

Her head bloomed, shattering on the spot, with red and white matter instantly splattering out.

He lit a cigarette, with no intention of leaving. Instead, he opened the car door, climbed in, and sat in the passenger seat.

[Liu Rushi, Shang Jianchi, and Shang Jianyu—all three confirmed dead.]

[Good, you can end your life now.]

[Understood.]

[Do a final check to confirm if the targets are dead, then end your lives. I'll go first. In hell, I will witness the fourth prophecy of Fatima. Amen.]

[The fourth prophecy of Fatima, Amen.]

After speaking, several people in different locations simultaneously pulled the triggers against their temples.

Putting down the communicator, Shang Yanxiong turned and returned to the room.

Looking at Wen Yan on the bed, disheveled and with eyes full of terror, he handed the knife over and said to Shang Mo, who was kneeling on the floor, "Little sister, today is the day you embark on the path of Odysseus. After you kill our mother, I will formally acknowledge you. Thirteen stabs in total, don't kill her outright. Remember, not one stab more, not one stab less."

Shang Mo bowed piously to Shang Yanxiong.

Then she slowly rose, took the dagger, and her face was devoid of any emotion.

Wen Yan was tied up and bound, her mouth gagged, and her body covered in countless whip marks.

She no longer had the strength to struggle. From last night until now, she had suffered unimaginable torture and had only one breath left.

Looking at her own daughter, she shed tears of pain.

"Brother... how about we just kill her directly? And... there was actually no need to kill Liu Rushi..."

Shang Rongyan pursed her lips tightly, seemingly even more terrified than Wen Yan.

She had arrived here five minutes ago. She knew Shang Yanxiong wanted to avenge his mother, but she hadn't expected him to be this cruel.

In her impression, Shang Yanxiong had always been a very gentle brother, although she also knew he often made people "disappear"...

But witnessing this harsh and cruel scene in person still brought her a strong shock.

She even felt that this most beloved brother was so like a stranger.

"She deserves this punishment. Alright, do it."

Shang Mo walked forward without hesitation.