After learning that Shi Xingwu was out of danger and had been transferred to a regular ward, and enduring a further two-hour flight, Xia Qingtian had calmed down considerably.
Her sole purpose for this visit was to have Third Young Master Lei grant Shi Xingwu justice. Even a sincere apology from him would have been enough for Xia Qingtian to consider the matter resolved.
However, his condescending attitude of throwing money around had truly infuriated her.
"Ten million to buy Shi Xingwu's life is too little. To buy Third Young Master Lei's life, that's just right!"
These words were a provocation that struck a nerve with the Lei family members as well.
This was, after all, the Lei family's territory. To dare to speak so presumptuously, to threaten the life of Third Young Master Lei, was an act of immense audacity!
The atmosphere in the entire main hall instantly plummeted to freezing point.
Third Young Master Lei's face also darkened.
Had he been too amiable, making this Xia Qingtian believe he was so easily manipulated?
If not for Gu Yaoyang and Lei Xirui, a mere Xia Qingtian would have been thrown into the sea the moment she first offended the Lei family!
"Xia Qingtian, what audacious nerve you have." Third Young Master Lei's voice boomed, and his subordinates simultaneously drew their guns, the black muzzles pointed directly at Xia Qingtian.
"Third Brother!" Lei Xirui abruptly stood up and shouted, "If you dare to harm her! I will never forgive you in this lifetime!"
Upon hearing Lei Xirui's words, Third Young Master Lei's expression became extremely unpleasant. He glared at Lei Xirui.
This person who turned her back on her own kin!
He truly couldn't fathom what kind of spell these Xia Qingtian sisters had cast on her, to make her defy him time and time again!
"Get back to your room!" Third Young Master Lei berated.
Lei Xirui remained standing in her spot, her eyes wide with defiance as she stared at Third Young Master Lei.
"It's early in the morning, why the fuss," Miao Tong said, standing behind Xia Qingtian and yawning lazily. "It's just a negotiation, is it really necessary."
As he finished speaking, Miao Tong snapped his fingers. The subordinates in the hall suddenly lost their strength, collapsing onto the ground. The guns they held felt impossibly heavy.
Their faces were more unsightly than when Third Young Master Lei had scolded Lei Xirui. Their consciousness gradually faded, until their vision went completely black, and they lost consciousness.
Third Young Master Lei scanned the room, his brow furrowed. He immediately looked at Miao Tong, realizing at this point that the matter was related to the young man behind Xia Qingtian.
Upon a closer look, Third Young Master Lei recognized who this person was: "From the Miao family?"
"Heh heh." Miao Tong chuckled, scratching the back of his head. In a tone of reason and impartiality, he said, "Third Young Master Lei, please don't blame me for being meddlesome. That young fellow Shi Xingwu has a significant relationship with me, and your Lei family truly went too far this time."
"Why bother talking to him! He's making me so angry!" Erya exclaimed, crossing her arms and stomping her feet in anger. "What a scumbag! He hurts people and dares to be so arrogant! Is being rich something to be proud of!
Qingtian! Let me poison his entire family! Then, I'll convert all your Lei family's wealth into ghost money so you can spend it to your heart's content in the underworld!
I'm so furious!"
Even if Third Young Master Lei didn't know Erya, he could infer her identity from her words: "From the Tang family?"
Having confirmed the identities of the young man and woman behind Xia Qingtian, Third Young Master Lei's eyelids twitched.
He knew Xia Qingtian was no ordinary person, but he hadn't expected her to be able to enlist the support of both the Miao and Tang families.
Setting aside the influence of the Miao and Tang families, the mere fact that Xia Qingtian could orchestrate their cooperation, given their deep-seated animosity, was remarkable.
Even his own Lei family found it difficult to maintain a delicate balance between these two families, yet Xia Qingtian could manage it?
Third Young Master Lei shifted his gaze from Erya and Miao Tong back to Xia Qingtian, his eyes also darkening.
It seemed he had truly underestimated Xia Qingtian's methods of winning people over.
Lei Xirui had been too well-protected since childhood and was ignorant of the world's wickedness. Being manipulated by Xia Qingtian was not an injustice to her.
However, for Xia Qingtian to target him, Third Young Master Lei, was indeed wishful thinking.
Having spent so many years in the Lei family, he had seen all sorts of people, endured countless assassination attempts and schemes. He had survived to control a significant portion of the Lei family's influence not through "luck," but through his own abilities.
The treasure could completely revitalize the Lei family, and he would not hand it over.
Even if Xia Qingtian brought members of the Miao and Tang families, it wouldn't matter.
"Third Young Master Lei," Xia Qingtian said, taking a deep breath. "For Xirui's sake, I'll give you one more chance. This is the final chance."
If Third Young Master Lei was willing to personally apologize to Shi Xingwu and his family with a sincere attitude, discuss compensation with Master Shi face-to-face, and hand over the person who injured Shi Xingwu for Master Shi and his wife to deal with, then this matter would be considered settled.
However, Third Young Master Lei had gone too far, first causing harm and then resorting to humiliation. Xia Qingtian, out of consideration for Lei Xirui, was giving Third Young Master Lei another chance, which was a shred of lucidity remaining after desperately suppressing her anger.
"Xia Qingtian, don't think I don't know what you're after," Third Young Master Lei said, looking at Xia Qingtian. "You want the treasure, but you need to see if you have the capability to swallow it."
Treasure?
Upon hearing this word, Xia Qingtian was a little bewildered. This wasn't the first time she had heard the word "treasure" from Third Young Master Lei.
Miao Tong and Erya also wore expressions of confusion. They exchanged a rare glance, then turned their attention to Xia Qingtian in unison.
Huh?
Is there something more to this?
What treasure?
Third Young Master Lei caught the movement of Miao Tong and Erya, his eyes lighting up.
He had found a breakthrough.
If the members of the Miao and Tang families joined forces, he would indeed be in a dire situation today. But if he could find a way to compromise and turn them against each other, then the one truly in peril would be Xia Qingtian!
With this thought, Third Young Master Lei curled his lips and said, "What? Dare to do it but not admit it?"
Tapping the table with his fingertips, Third Young Master Lei continued, "After you cracked the secret of the White Jade Dice, you learned of the secret of the treasure belonging to the three families: Lu, Miao, and Tang.
For the sake of that treasure, you deliberately approached Xirui. After I stopped you, you didn't hesitate to pursue her to Northern Europe, using your sister Xia Qingyu to brainwash Xirui, snatch the fiancé I had chosen for Xirui, and even incited Xirui to run away from home.
You did all these wicked deeds simply to obtain the Lei family's secret regarding the treasure map, didn't you?
It's just that you didn't expect that Xirui, as a Lei family daughter, knew absolutely nothing about this matter.
After repeated attempts and realizing that Xirui truly knew nothing about the treasure, you casually handed her over to that fellow named Shi Xingwu and had to make other plans.
Now that that fellow named Shi Xingwu is in trouble, you immediately devised a new plan, using this incident to bring the Miao and Tang families here under the guise of seeking justice, when in reality, you are here to force out the whereabouts of the treasure map!
Xia Qingtian, I'll tell you the truth! Even if I die here today, you will not get the treasure map!
You should thoroughly abandon this idea!"
Third Young Master Lei said, looking at Xia Qingtian with cold eyes. "I must admit, you are meticulous, exceptionally astute, skilled at manipulating people, and possess strong execution. You deceived everyone with a beautiful, hypocritical facade, but you cannot deceive me."
Upon hearing this, Xia Qingtian fell silent.
It was Erya who suddenly understood, clapping her hands together: So, Qingtian is the villain!
With this realization, Erya put her hands on her hips and let out a very fitting villainous laugh: "Hehehehehehe~"