Chapter 20: Better to End It with a Single Death

Xu Lin left the Qin family in high spirits, thinking of Brother Tiger who frequented the black market. They must have awakened by now, she mused. She wondered if Brother Tiger had sought out the person for the transaction, and decided to check in. However, when Xu Lin arrived at the black market, she was surprised to find it shuttered; the alley was deserted. A hint of disappointment tugged at her, and she turned back, resigned.

As she passed through a narrow alley, a furtive figure—one that seemed oddly familiar—caught her eye. Xu Lin halted, concealed herself, and observed quietly. Ah, she recognized him; it was indeed an acquaintance. She hadn’t expected to see her father, his face obscured, skulking through the alley in broad daylight. What was he up to?

Curious, Xu Lin followed him. Her father moved with extreme caution, pausing every few steps to survey his surroundings. Only after confirming nothing was amiss did he proceed. If anything seemed out of place, he changed direction, scrutinizing repeatedly before drawing closer to his destination.

After winding through several twists and turns, her father stopped in front of a dilapidated courtyard. The stone path before the gate was narrow, slippery, and reeked of stench. Not far from the yard stood a heap of garbage, the refuse of nearby residents piled high, the smell pungent enough to assault the senses. It was February, still cold; thankfully, there were no flies or mosquitoes. Come summer, the living conditions here would be abysmal—only the hardiest could endure it.

Her father knocked on the gate, three light taps and three heavy ones, totaling six. The gate soon opened, revealing a head of white hair. The old man peered out, scanning the surroundings before stepping aside to let her father in, quickly shutting the gate behind.

Xu Lin lingered in the shadows, pondering, and crept closer to the courtyard. She scanned the area, silently estimating distances, then found an inconspicuous corner to hide. Once hidden, she used her spatial ability to open a tiny black hole to observe the courtyard.

Inside, piles of garbage and miscellaneous items cluttered the yard—seemingly chaotic, yet arranged with purpose. Should anyone disturb the items, the resident would notice instantly. Through a crack in the door, Xu Lin saw her father seated in the main hall with the white-haired man. Even indoors, their voices were low, their fingers dipped in water as they wrote and drew on the table.

Xu Lin realized eavesdropping alone wouldn’t suffice, so she opened a black hole above their heads, pressing close to observe and listen. What she heard astonished her.

Her father confided to the old man that his house had been robbed, and there was risk of exposure. He had come to relay important information, and would not return for a long while, at least until the crisis passed. The old man asked what was stolen. Her father admitted everything—money and valuables, even treasures buried in the yard—was gone. Given such commotion, he should have noticed, but he hadn’t detected a thing. The situation was riddled with anomalies, so her father decided to investigate quietly, refusing to report it to the authorities.

The old man approved; reporting to the law enforcement bureau would only bring trouble and unwanted attention. The crucial point was her father’s identity—as a spy, scrutiny could only spell disaster. Not reporting was the right choice.

Her father felt the same, convinced he had acted wisely. After discussing work matters, he brought up Xu Lin, noting her dramatic transformation. He speculated endlessly, even suspecting the missing treasures might be linked to her. Alas, he was no match for Xu Lin, so he hoped the old man might help.

“Do you intend to act at home, or elsewhere?” the old man asked.

“Doing it at home would be too conspicuous. I plan to strike when she’s out. She’s currently negotiating with the Qin family about kinship, and the Qin family has been making some moves. It won’t be resolved in one or two meetings; she’ll have to make several trips. Here’s the route map between the Qin and Xu families. From my investigation, she’s used this route twice now. Yesterday, she returned via this alley, which leads to the black market. I suspect she visited after returning from our house. I think we could set an ambush here,” her father explained.

“Are you sure? If she doesn’t take that path, the ambush will be wasted. Frankly, I think it’s better to act at your home,” the old man suggested, stroking his beard, “At home, you can use poison, drugs, or a blunt weapon. Any method would be convenient.”

At the mention of poison and drugs, her father’s expression darkened. He’d tried all those methods.

That wretched girl was unnervingly cunning—none of the tactics had worked. Worse yet, she had beaten the whole family to the ground. Remembering the pain, her father realized he couldn’t afford another mistake; he feared the girl might, in a ruthless moment, wipe out the entire household.

After some further discussion, the old man proposed, “Let’s do this: I’ll find some skilled men to lie in wait at your house. First, you use knockout gas. For extra safety, deploy poison spray as well. Then—” He pulled a silenced black pistol from his belt. “—equip yourselves with this. If all else fails, use it to kill her.”

Her father’s eyes glinted; this plan seemed secure. If the girl survived such a deadly trap, he’d have to admit her superiority.

“But nothing is absolute. You must prepare for the worst. If you can’t deal with her, what then?” the old man asked.

“If all else fails, I’ll send her to the countryside. She won’t dare go against the state,” her father replied.

The old man nodded; sending her away was indeed an option, albeit a last resort.

Suddenly, the old man slapped his forehead. “You mentioned the Qin family knows about her. If you act ruthlessly now, aren’t you afraid they’ll suspect?”

“Even if they do, it can’t be helped. That wretched girl won’t obey control, and keeping her is a greater threat. Besides, Fangfang sent word back: the Qin family isn’t fond of her, and plans to take her in only as an adopted daughter. But the girl’s ambitions are too great; she refuses to accept that status, insisting on either full recognition or a complete severance. She believes blood ties can overcome everything—how laughable.

Since Fangfang became aware of her true identity, she’s been ingratiating herself with every member of the Qin family, mastering their preferences. Even if Fangfang wanted to leave, the Qin family would be reluctant. If a choice must be made, it would be the wretched girl who gets abandoned. Fangfang’s view is that the girl cannot be kept—either send her down to the countryside for life, or seize an opportunity to cripple or kill her. Given her current temperament, crippling her carries too much risk; better to end her outright.”