Chapter 83: Assassination Strikes Again

Upon hearing this, the Butcher’s lips curled into a cold, cutting smile. His gaze swept over the woman, laced with a hint of amusement.

“Xiaodie, I know your methods well, but this time, our target is no ordinary man. Not only is he trained, but there may be an even greater force lurking behind him. We must proceed with caution, and never underestimate him.”

He sheathed his military knife and rose to his feet, his eyes growing deep and resolute.

“Lao San, go and dig up everything about that kid—especially who he’s connected to. The Butcher Gang may fear no one, but we don’t act blindly.”

The crew-cut man, known as Lao Er, nodded, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Boss. I’ll get to the bottom of this. Anyone daring to cross the Butcher Gang had better weigh his worth carefully.”

Xiaodie let out a soft laugh, her eyes glinting slyly.

“If you say so, Boss, I’ll hold back for now. But if you need me, don’t forget I’m your sharpest blade.”

The Butcher chuckled and patted both on the shoulder.

“We’ve always stood together, unstoppable. This time is no exception. As long as we’re united, there’s nothing we can’t overcome.”

The three exchanged glances—a wordless understanding already forged between them. They knew the road ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty, but they were equally certain that together, nothing could halt their advance.

After answering a phone call, the Butcher’s face grew even darker. He gripped his phone tightly, knuckles white, betraying the anger and unwillingness burning within.

“Wang Lan, your intelligence failure cost us dearly this time. Still, since you mentioned Liu Lele and Li Chao, things have just become interesting.”

He narrowed his eyes, lost in thought for a moment, then his tone turned icy:

“Now that Liu Lele has found a lead and plans to bring Li Chao back, it means they may be close to the truth. But this is our chance too—we can follow the vine to the melon and catch them all in one net.”

He paused, weighing his options, then continued:

“I’ll redeploy our resources. This time, we must not only succeed in our mission but also ensure there are no loose ends. Keep a close eye on Liu Lele and her group. If anything unusual happens, let me know at once.”

With that, he hung up, his eyes glinting with determination.

He knew well the gravity and difficulty of this mission, but as the leader of the Butcher Gang, he had to shoulder this responsibility. No matter the obstacles ahead, his only path was to cut a bloody swath forward with his brothers.

Turning to Lao Er and Xiaodie, he spoke in a low voice:

“Get ready. We have new orders. The targets are Liu Lele, Li Chao, and any clues they might possess. We must eliminate them completely before they return to Huaxi City.”

At his words, Lao Er and Xiaodie straightened, springing into action. They understood this mission was not only a matter of honor and profit but a fight for survival.

Yet they also believed that as long as they stood as one, nothing could block their way.

The Butcher’s words brooked no dissent. He took a deep drag from his cigarette, exhaling a stream of smoke that seemed to carry his resolve.

“Wang Lan, you know our rules. The accuracy of intelligence determines the outcome of the mission. Your mistake nearly cost us dearly, and you’ll have to answer for that.”

He paused, a cunning flicker in his eyes.

“Still, I understand your difficulties—you’re not omnipotent. So, let’s talk terms. For Liu Lele, we’ll proceed as agreed. But that village doctor—he’s far beyond what we anticipated. His strength and skills will cost us more to handle, so I need you to increase the price.”

On the other end of the line, Liu Wan sounded displeased, but the Butcher paid her reaction no mind.

He pressed on:

“This isn’t just to cover our losses—it’s to ensure the mission’s success. You know a powerful opponent demands more resources and effort. We never do business at a loss, so a price increase is a given.”

After a short silence, Wang Lan finally replied:

“Fine, Butcher. I’ll agree to the higher price. But you must guarantee this mission’s success—no mishaps. If Liu Lele and Li Chao make it back to Huaxi City alive, you know what that means.”

The Butcher sneered, confidence brimming in his reply:

“Don’t worry, Wang Lan. I never take on a job I can’t handle. This time, they won’t leave alive. Just get the money ready, and wait for our good news.”

He hung up, a cold, merciless smile curling his lips.

The following morning, after breakfast, Li Chao maintained his usual routine and set off for the clinic.

Soon, Sun Peng arrived again with his father—their third visit for treatment. After a skillful session of acupuncture, Sun Peng’s father’s eyes regained their former brightness. His steps and speech were as steady as any healthy man’s—a sign of complete recovery.

With tears of gratitude, Sun Peng thanked Li Chao repeatedly, then rode off on his motorcycle with his father, swearing to visit the clinic every day henceforth to express his appreciation and support.

Li Chao’s day then turned to the work of passing on his medical skills. As he saw patients, he patiently guided Yuxin in the art of medicine. Time slipped by in a flurry of fulfilling tasks.

By noon, after lunch, a sedan quietly pulled up outside the clinic, bearing the distinctive logo of Jiangnan Spring.

“Sister-in-law, I need to take care of some things in the county this afternoon. I’ll have to trouble you to watch over the clinic for a while,” Li Chao said, leaving a brief word before stepping outside.

Out of consideration for Chunlian’s feelings, Li Chao didn’t reveal his true purpose, so as not to worry her.

Yuxin stood in the doorway, watching the car drive off. Though curiosity flickered in her heart, she refrained from asking.

From afar, the villagers’ chatter drifted on the wind, filled with admiration and speculation about Li Chao’s achievements:

“That boy Chao has really made something of himself—even Jiangnan Spring sends a car for him!”

“I hear the owner of Jiangnan Spring is a lady. Do you think she’s taken a liking to Li Chao?”

“In all these parts, where could you find a more handsome young man? If I were one of those city ladies, I might fall for him myself!”

“Ah, youth is precious—so many opportunities!”

These words reached Liu Juhong, who was resting at the village entrance. Her eyes flickered with calculation, and moments later, she hurried home, clearly hatching new schemes.

Meanwhile, Li Chao’s car sped steadily towards the county seat. Passing the civil affairs bureau, he glanced out the window and abruptly told the driver to stop:

“Let me off here, I have business to take care of. You can head back; I’ll make my own way to Jiangnan Spring later.”

The car pulled over, and Li Chao stepped out with determined strides toward the bureau, a sense of unspoken concern and resolve in his heart.

What caught his eye was a scene on the roadside—three figures, two women and a man, standing quietly together.

He knew the women well: Liu Dan and Xiangxue. The man was Liu Dan’s husband, Huang Xiaofan.

Today, Huang Xiaofan was dressed with particular formality—crisp shirt, pressed trousers, a fine watch on his wrist, a briefcase under his arm, and a BMW key dangling conspicuously from his belt—projecting the air of a successful man.

Yet for Li Chao, this was hardly an occasion to interject himself. He’d only learned the night before from Liu Dan that she and her husband were planning a divorce, and from the look of things, they’d just finalized it—the divorce certificate was in hand.

But what compelled Li Chao to approach was Xiangxue.

Normally, as Liu Dan’s close friend, Xiangxue should have been offering her support. Yet the scene before him was startling: Xiangxue was clinging intimately to Huang Xiaofan, their manner that of a couple. The sight made Liu Dan’s face twist in pain, her eyes red, chest heaving with anger.

“Dan!” Li Chao called out, striding towards them.

Liu Dan turned at the sound, surprise flickering in her eyes. She asked, a tangle of emotions in her voice, “Chao, what are you doing here?”

Drawing near, Li Chao replied with a calmness that barely concealed his tension, “Dan, I’m just here on some business.”

He tried to sound casual, but when his eyes landed on Xiangxue and Huang Xiaofan, a cold light flickered within.

Confronted by Huang Xiaofan’s provocation, Li Chao’s lips twisted into a mocking smile, his gaze sharp as a blade.

“Huang Xiaofan, what kind of act are you putting on here? Whatever Xiangxue’s said is nonsense. As for Dan and me, our friendship is aboveboard—don’t you dare slander us.”

Huang Xiaofan’s face twitched, but he quickly recovered his cocky demeanor. He deliberately groped Xiangxue more boldly, shooting Li Chao a provocative look.

“Oh? Is that so? Then explain to me—what’s so ‘aboveboard’ about the way you and my wife have been exchanging glances?”

Xiangxue, meanwhile, affected a coy shyness, though her eyes flashed with pride. She relished her role in this drama and the thrill it brought.

But Li Chao was unmoved. He looked steadily at Liu Dan, as if seeking silent support and trust.

Then he retorted coldly to Huang Xiaofan:

“Huang Xiaofan, don’t assume everyone is as filthy as you. Whatever happens between Dan and me is none of your business.”

His words were not just a direct rebuke to Huang Xiaofan, but also a firm defense of his relationship with Liu Dan.

In the street, though neither cared for appearances, Li Chao’s words rang out like a fresh breeze, earning new respect for his integrity and courage.

The scandals of Huang Xiaofan’s private life had only grown since his return, spreading beyond the home. Even more shocking, as soon as he came back, he became entangled with Xiangxue—a relationship that began while his marriage was still in a grey area.

No wonder Liu Dan had said her heart had long since grown cold toward him. Behind that final resolve, there must have been countless disappointments and heartbreaks.

Faced with Li Chao’s challenge, Xiangxue was unfazed. She only smiled more brilliantly, her tone openly taunting:

“Li Chao, have you ever heard the saying?”

She paused, a cunning glint in her eyes.

“When a man comes into money, his nature is liable to change. And if a woman wants to change her fate, she often needs to use certain ‘means’ to gain wealth.”

With that, she raised her hand, showing off a dazzling diamond ring on her finger. She wiggled it as if displaying a rare treasure.

“Last night, when I heard Fan had returned, I threw him a welcome party. As thanks, he gave me this extraordinary ring.”

Her voice dripped with pride and ostentation, especially as her gaze swept over Li Chao and Liu Dan, making her sense of superiority all the more overt.

“What a pity—some people still don’t have a single piece of jewelry to show their status.”

Her words were a direct provocation to Li Chao and an indirect jab at Liu Dan. She seemed determined to prove, through her actions, that she had easily won Huang Xiaofan’s favor, and that Li Chao’s previous rejections had merely paved the way for her present happiness.

“Savor the taste of regret!” she seemed to say.

Liu Dan sighed inwardly, reflecting on the past. Once, Xiangxue had been her closest friend, but at some point, she had silently crossed the line.

Just days earlier, Liu Dan had happened to glimpse Xiangxue’s phone and was shocked to find she had long since added Huang Xiaofan’s social account—without her ever noticing.

More shocking still, by browsing Huang Xiaofan’s social feed, she had uncovered a startling truth: he had just pulled off a major project in the province and struck it rich overnight.

Flush with cash, Huang Xiaofan became increasingly flamboyant, eager to shed his marriage and set up a new home with his lover.

Without hesitation, he came clean with Liu Dan, then raced back to Kaiyuan County to be with his new flame.

Xiangxue, learning of all this, pounced on the opportunity. Feigning concern, she schemed with calculated care, and ultimately pushed the affair into the bedroom.

Her actions embodied the very image of the scheming “green tea” seductress.

To Liu Dan, Xiangxue was now a source of both pain and helplessness. She tried appealing to her conscience:

“Xiangxue, we’re friends! How could you do this to me? Besides, Huang Xiaofan has other women outside. Does this mean anything to you?”

But Xiangxue only laughed, her indifference unshaken.

“What do I care what he does outside? I never planned to marry him. It’s just mutual advantage. He likes novelty, and I enjoy the material perks. One night in bed for a sparkling diamond beats a lifetime of drudgery at a nine-to-five!”

Having said her piece, Xiangxue seemed more certain than ever of her choices, while Liu Dan could only shake her head in silent, complicated sorrow.