That day, Tang Si led many men straight to the Western District Research Institute. Many brothers lost their lives in the process, with twenty-two men falling.
Although Qing Muye and Tang Si remained tight-lipped about the incident, when He Kalinuo visited yesterday, she specifically inquired and learned that many people had died that day.
Some of those men were Qing Muye's confidantes, while others were talents Qing Muye had cultivated for years, all of whom ultimately met their demise at the word of Old Shen Tou.
Her dagger embedded itself inch by inch into Old Shen Tou's body, piercing his thin clothes, then the surface of his skin. Blood gushed out, staining a patch of fabric red.
Old Shen Tou stood there motionless, like a sculpture, rendered speechless and unable to refute Meng Jingwei's fatal question.
"From my childhood until now, you were always involved. So, the first time you attacked A Ye, I endured it. But you should never have continued to harm him with such malice, without any remorse!"
As she spoke, Meng Jingwei's eyes gradually reddened. Every word was directed at Old Shen Tou, yet she too was enduring agonizing pain.
The ache she felt was no less than the pain of plunging the knife into Old Shen Tou's chest at that very moment.
"My children are my absolute bottom line. But for the sake of so-called 'national righteousness,' you sacrificed me and even used my children as leverage. Do you think I, Meng Jingwei, am a puppet for you to manipulate at will?"
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. "I'll ask you one last time, where are my children?"
"Damn it, that's truly despicable."
Beside them, Tang Si listened to Meng Jingwei's words, his face flushing with anger. He longed to kick Old Shen Tou's head, to see just how much water was filling his brain.
However, with Meng Jingwei’s dagger slowly piercing Old Shen Tou's chest, and almost provoking him to lash out, he dared not make a sound.
They were both masters. If a fight broke out between them, it would be like an explosive explosion of their inner universes, and he would be completely unable to intervene.
Old Shen Tou gritted his teeth, looking down at the knife in his chest, then at Meng Jingwei, a benevolent smile appearing on his face. "Girl, I watched you grow up. I know you can't bring yourself to strike."
"Is that so?"
Meng Jingwei scoffed, her grip on the dagger tightening, yet she still hesitated to plunge it deeper.
He was right; she couldn't bear to.
She couldn't bear it!
But, more importantly, the whereabouts of her two children were unknown.
If she killed Old Shen Tou, the children would be in even greater danger.
Yet, at this very moment, without any warning, Meng Jingwei and Tang Si's vision went black, and they collapsed.
Watching the two fall to the ground, Old Shen Tou’s expression turned exceptionally cold. He reached up and pulled the dagger from his chest.
Because Meng Jingwei had held back, the wound was not deep and not fatal.
*Whoosh—*
Suddenly, a strange sound came from outside the window, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. Several figures leaped into the room from the window.
Old Shen Tou simply said, "Take them away!" then turned and walked out of the living room, closing the room door behind him as he swaggered downstairs.
...
Tea House, Private Room.
Qing Muye looked at He Kalinuo, seated opposite him. "This is the complete plan between Ah Wei and me."
Last night, Meng Jingwei tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After much deliberation, she shared her thoughts with Qing Muye, and they discussed countermeasures late into the night.
Once the plan was finalized, Meng Jingwei asked Qing Muye to arrange a secret meeting with He Kalinuo the next day, solely to avoid alerting their target.
He Kalinuo leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and looked at him. "One must say, Meng Jingwei is truly a remarkable woman. It's no wonder you like her so much. Intelligent, wise, dignified, brave, and resourceful. Who wouldn't like such a woman?"
He sighed. "Alas, this young master admits defeat wholeheartedly."
Qing Muye: "..."