Chapter 157: Subduing the Liu Family

Xue Bengui was, after all, a man of commerce by background, and it was impossible for him to blindly and casually trust Ye Fei's words. Looking straight into Ye Fei's eyes, he said word by word, "Little Daoist, what proof do you have that our family was framed by the Liu family?"

Of course, a matter of framing could not be established by a mere one or two sentences from Ye Fei. It was not that Ye Fei was spouting nonsense, but rather that his investigation had indeed revealed that Liu Beiliang was the one who hired someone to poison the Xue family's child.

In the struggles between great families, casualties were sometimes inevitable, but poisoning another person's child clearly violated basic ethics and morality.

That fellow Brother Huang was quite unreliable and always betrayed his employers. Ye Fei had noticed that the bead bracelet on this man's wrist looked somewhat familiar, resembling the insignia of a notorious and covert sect universally loathed throughout the martial world.

There was a sect in the martial world called the Black Rakshasa. Naturally, this was no orthodox sect; not only was it reviled by everyone, but it also dealt in thoroughly disreputable business. They specialized in poisoning specific individuals or carrying out assassinations, functioning much like an overseas assassination organization.

Back in the day, Ye Fei had followed his master to help eradicate this sect, but he had never expected that remnants of this organization were still running amok and wreaking havoc in the martial world.

When Ye Fei questioned him, Brother Huang turned pale with fright and hurriedly spilled the whole story. To solicit business, the Black Rakshasa would give every customer a bracelet to expand their commercial network.

Brother Huang had been approached by members of the Liu family and acted as the middleman to poison the Xue family's child.

"This is the evidence. Believe it or not, Mr. Xue, I have told you everything I know."

Hearing this, even if Xue Bengui was reluctant to believe it, he had no other choice.

He slumped back into the chair in his study. Having just dismissed his children, he was now conferring with Ye Fei alone. At this moment, Xue Bengui had developed complete and utter trust in Ye Fei's logic and execution capabilities.

"So, Mr. Xue, there is another way. Care to hear it?" Ye Fei sat opposite him, looking entirely unhurried and at ease.

If the Xue family were to confront the Liu family directly, it would be akin to an egg striking a stone. However, if the Xue family were willing to join forces with the Sun family to take on the Liu family together, wouldn't the results be achieved with half the effort?

Everything now depended on whether this stubborn old patriarch of the Xue family was willing to ally with the Sun family.

"Let's hear it." Matters having reached this stage, Xue Bengui understood Ye Fei's true objective; he had never believed that anyone would come to help him out of sheer altruism.

"Ally with the Sun family, and together we will take on the Liu family. What do you say?"

***

Just as expected, Xue Bengui had long since guessed their intentions. Currently, in South China Province, only an alliance between these two families could stand up to the Liu family.

"However, have you actually managed to convince Sun Yao?"

"Of course! Fully convinced. Now we need to implement a suppression campaign against the Liu family. As far as I know, the Liu family is about to launch a new product line. Therefore, as long as the shopping malls of both your families completely ban their new merchandise, this battle of ours is as good as won."

Xue Bengui shook his head slightly and worried with a frown, "It's not that simple. After all, within this vast South China Province, the shopping malls don't belong solely to us and the Sun family. What about all those smaller retail outlets?"

Ye Fei smiled faintly and snapped his fingers. "You're overthinking it! If your two great families refuse to use them, where on earth would anyone else find the confidence to use them?"

The following day, after hosting a grand press conference, the Liu family began rolling out their new products. To Liu Beiliang's utter astonishment, however, neither the Sun family nor the Xue family sent a single representative. Forget about congratulatory remarks; not even the managers of their shopping malls made an appearance.

Liu Beiliang stood on the top floor, gazing down at the bustling traffic below.

His assistant said softly, "Boss, I heard that a young man named Ye Fei has recently moved into the Xue residence. Furthermore, according to intelligence gathered by our people, this Ye Fei has also visited the Sun family."

Liu Beiliang's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He had never even heard the name Ye Fei before—why on earth would this individual, with whom he had no prior grievances, seek to frame him?

"Bring this man to me! I want to see for myself why he is trying to ruin me!"

The assistant hesitated anxiously nearby. Given that Liu Xiaonan was also currently searching for someone named Ye Fei to exact revenge, could this possibly be a coincidence?

"Spit it out if you have something to say! What are you dawdling for?" Liu Beiliang bellowed, startling the assistant into a shiver. The assistant quickly stammered, "The young master... is also looking for Ye Fei."

Liu Beiliang's massive beer belly heaved. He wondered why he had ever fathered such an unfilial son; this fellow was simply his nemesis.

"Make it clear! What is that idiot looking for Ye Fei for?"

The assistant recounted the events of that day from start to finish. Liu Beiliang furrowed his brow deeply. "Since the Bai family is determined to set themselves against us, cut off their funding. Cut it off entirely! I want to see if he can still manage to send his daughter over. And another thing! Tell Bai Lin I want to see Bai Yaoyao checked into our Liu family by tonight."

Bai Lin had still been waiting for the Liu family's funds to arrive, but upon receiving this message delivered by the Liu family's representative, he collapsed onto the floor in sheer terror, his face streaming with tears.

***

"The Bai family has been ruined in my hands. I... have failed my ancestors!"

After a bout of wailing and crying to the heavens, the Liu family's representative turned and left, leaving Bai Lin to howl in grief alone in the courtyard.

"Aiyo, who could this be? Isn't this our respected Uncle Bai?" Hearing the voice, Bai Lin raised his eyes to see a refined-looking young man whom he felt he had seen somewhere before.

"Who the hell are you?" Bai Lin leaped up from the ground, instantly summoning the imposing demeanor of the sole heir to a prominent family.

"My name is Ye Fei, and I am Bai Yaoyao's junior fellow apprentice."

"That was just childhood play, and you call yourself a junior apprentice! Back then, some old codger came along and said that if we let him take Yaoyao as a disciple, he would pay us a bounty of two hundred million. How many hundreds of millions did you actually give back then? How much is left now? Can you help your uncle through this crisis?"

Goodness gracious, Master's trick was truly formidable!

Ye Fei couldn't help marveling at his master's lavish wealth. While he himself had been left to starve and struggle for every bite since childhood, whenever it came to a female disciple, his master's opening offer was a staggering two hundred million!

"I'm sorry, Uncle, I'm afraid I can't help you! I'm just a pauper. I came here simply to tell you that even if you refuse to send Senior Sister to their household, they won't dare to do anything."

Bai Lin let out a cold snort. This kid certainly knew how to talk, but if the Liu family withheld their funding, the Bai family would face imminent acquisition.

"You talk a good game, really! You're just like your master—full of smooth talk and completely devoid of any real ability. If I don't send Bai Yaoyao to the Liu family, the Bai family will be finished! Besides, that's the Liu family! For them to take a fancy to our Bai Yaoyao is a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes. Furthermore, what man doesn't have a wife and concubines? It's already great just to have money to spend! Don't you agree?"

This fellow's emotional intelligence was on the exact same level as Bai Yaoyao's, though fortunately Bai Yaoyao had a conscience, while this man had none at all!