Ning Fei walked out of the police station around noon.
His eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night being interrogated. However, as Ning Pingguo had said, he had already completely severed ties with Ning Fei, so Ning Pingguo's imprisonment would not affect Ning Fei.
For Ning Fei, this was the only silver lining in a string of misfortunes.
On his way home, Ning Fei closed his eyes to rest, veins bulging on his forehead.
He recalled his experiences over the past few days and realized that every setback was related to Chen Jin-chao. Chen Jin-chao had become a thorn in Ning Fei's side, and he would not feel at ease until Chen Jin-chao was eliminated.
Chen Jin-chao must die!
After careful consideration, Ning Fei called Third Master Chu.
Third Master Chu's voice was filled with agitation. "Thank heavens, Young Master Ning, you're finally out. I thought you'd been arrested too, and I was already preparing to flee the country. It's so good that you're alright."
Ning Fei's face darkened.
So, Third Master Chu had already been planning to run away?
"I'm fine," Ning Fei took a breath, his voice laced with a hint of coldness.
Third Master Chu immediately realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly explained that he was merely preserving a lifeline, not fleeing from guilt. He then opportunely changed the subject, asking if Ning Fei had any instructions.
"Do you still remember that Chen Jin-chao from last time?" Ning Fei asked coldly.
"I'll give you three days. No matter what means you use, you must get rid of him. Chen Jin-chao caused the Old Master to be imprisoned, and if there's no turnaround, he's unlikely to get out."
Third Master Chu was in a predicament.
He knew very well who Chen Jin-chao was. His subordinates were not even enough for Chen Jin-chao to chew on.
"This..."
He hesitated.
Ning Fei became displeased. "You can't do it? Then don't bother!"
Third Master Chu quickly said, "Young Master Ning, give me some time, and I promise I'll handle it. Do you remember the Hong Ye I mentioned to you before? From what I know, Hong Ye's rapid rise is because he has overseas organizations backing him. If we can enlist Hong Ye's help, I believe it will be twice the result with half the effort."
Hong Ye?
Ning Fei pondered seriously and then remembered this person.
Hong Ye had been doing exceptionally well in Ninghai in recent years, firmly controlling a portion of the underworld's power.
In front of this Hong Ye, Third Master Chu was nothing more than an ant.
Before, Ning Fei had assumed Hong Ye was a front for some powerful aristocratic families. He hadn't expected him to be from overseas. In that case, there was indeed reason for anticipation.
"Alright."
"I'll leave this to you to handle, but don't make the price too high," Ning Fei hung up the phone.
Third Master Chu immediately rushed to a manor on the outskirts of the city. The owner of this manor was Hong Ye, Hong Fulong, a notorious figure in the underworld in recent years, who controlled many of Ninghai's entertainment venues involved in gray transactions.
He had both power and wealth.
His subordinates were capable fighters and fearless.
This led many people to avoid provoking Hong Ye, lest they be targeted by a pack of mad dogs.
Third Master Chu had previously contacted Hong Ye through intermediaries, so meeting Hong Fulong was not difficult.
Beside the villa's swimming pool.
Several bikini-clad mixed-race beauties were attending to Hong Fulong.
Upon learning of Third Master Chu's arrival, Hong Fulong waved the beauties away and said with a faint smile as he lay on a beach chair, "Third Master Chu, what wind blows you my way today?"
Hong Fulong knew Third Master Chu was associated with the Ning family, so he was willing to give him some face.
Without this connection, he would rather meet a dog than Third Master Chu.
Third Master Chu said nervously, "I am here on Young Master Ning's orders. I hope to ask Hong Ye to take action once. As for the remuneration, we can discuss it."
Hong Fulong replied with a smile without turning his head, "You know, I love peace and haven't done dirty work for many years. Besides, your Ning family has considerable influence. If even you can't handle someone, how could I possibly?"
Third Master Chu looked troubled.
After much hesitation, he explained the Ning family's current situation to Hong Fulong and revealed Chen Jin-chao's identity.
"He has no significant background. The Old Master investigated this Chen Jin-chao before; he's just a retired soldier from an ordinary family. His only notable status is being Yu Mengzhi's boyfriend, but you should know that Yu Mengzhi has already caught the eye of the Qin family's young master. She is destined to soar to the heavens and become a phoenix."
"Hong Ye, you see..."
Hong Fulong fell into thought after listening.
"The Qin young master you mentioned, is it the one from the Qin family in Shangjing?"
"Precisely!"
Hong Fulong's interest was piqued.
As far as he knew, Qin Fengwu would gladly see Chen Jin-chao eliminated.
Coincidentally, the organization behind him also wanted to establish ties with this prodigy of the Qin family. If deeper mutually beneficial connections could be forged with Qin Fengwu, once Qin Fengwu ascended to power, his organization could openly appear in China.
He had been wondering how to approach it, and unexpectedly, the Ning family had presented him with such a valuable opportunity.
Hong Fulong smiled and held up three fingers. Third Master Chu immediately understood what Hong Fulong meant and looked troubled. "Three million is a bit much..."
"Not a penny less," Hong Fulong stated.
Third Master Chu remembered Ning Fei's instructions. If he couldn't handle this matter, he might very well be sent to prison by Ning Fei himself.
He gritted his teeth.
Three million it is. At worst, he would front two million, but he had to get this done.
"Then... Hong Ye, could you act sooner? My young master is watching this closely, and I need to report back." Third Master Chu said with a fawning smile.
Hong Fulong waved him away. "I'll let you know when it's done. Your task is to prepare three million."
Third Master Chu dared not say more.
Under the fierce gazes of Hong Fulong's formidable subordinates, he slunk away from the villa.
Hong Fulong snapped his fingers, and a bald, burly man respectfully approached Hong Fulong's beach chair. "Hong Ye, please instruct me!"
"Xu Ao, please go to Gou Chen Group and bring Chen Jin-chao, Yu Mengzhi's boyfriend, over." Hong Fulong instructed. Xu Ao immediately nodded in agreement and then, with a few henchmen, headed towards Gou Chen Group.
Hong Fulong smiled and gestured for the mixed-race beauties to continue attending to him, resuming what he had been doing earlier.
At precisely six in the evening.
Yu Mengzhi finished work on time, planning to 'casually' drive Chen Jin-chao home.
Mainly because Chen Jin-chao had promised to cook for her today, which had filled Yu Mengzhi with anticipation.
Before Chen Jin-chao could even get into Yu Mengzhi's car, his phone rang. It was Old Mo calling.
"Uncle Mo, what's wrong?"
"Xiao Chen, hurry to the lobby on the first floor. Some unreasonable villains have arrived."
Yu Mengzhi also heard the hurried voice from the phone. After exchanging a glance, Chen Jin-chao said, "Uncle Mo, hold them off for now. I'll be there in two minutes."
Chen Jin-chao didn't get a response from Mo Chengkun.
Instead, he heard a pained cry and the clatter of a phone falling to the ground.
Mo Chengkun had been beaten.