Chapter 39 – Choose One of Two

Volume 3

Wen Yu and Xiao Xue rode on Star, flying swiftly toward Yanjing City.

Star did not have much of a problem with letting his own Boss ride him, but if Wen Yu had not been in a hurry, he never would have mounted Star in the first place.

After all, one flight from Star consumed far more energy than One-Eye did. By the time this high-speed flight was over, Star would definitely need to gorge himself.

"Oh, right."

Wen Yu turned to look at Xiao Xue, whose eyes were practically spinning, and asked bluntly,

"Can I get reimbursed for the plane ticket?"

"What? Plane ticket?"

Xiao Xue asked in confusion.

Wen Yu shrugged.

"You'll know when we get there."

At the same time, Wen Yu spoke directly to his two Soul Pets through their mental link.

"Brothers, it's time to fleece the rich. Once we arrive, think about what you want to eat and how much you want to eat. This is Star's hard-earned labor fee!"

The moment Star heard that, his flight speed surged by a huge margin, drawing a string of screams from Xiao Xue.

…

When Wen Yu rode Star out of Mudanjiang City, countless people naturally saw Star's overwhelmingly domineering appearance.

Those who did not know the situation thought some unknown Mutant Beast was passing through the area. Those who knew the truth naturally understood that Wen Yu had left the city.

Ye Nan sat at home. It was only half an hour after Wen Yu left that he finally recovered his senses.

He looked at the child who had already fallen asleep inside the room, then at his wife, who had stayed by his side the entire time to keep him company. Ye Nan let out a heavy sigh.

"All right. Go inside and stay with the child. I want to be alone for a while."

Ye Nan's wife looked at her husband's increasingly aged face and nodded softly.

At the same time, she squeezed his hand hard.

Ye Nan had endured so much for this family. As his wife, she knew that better than anyone.

Watching his wife walk into the bedroom, Ye Nan sighed heavily and stood up, sweeping his gaze around their little home.

The place was not big, but his wife had arranged it warmly. It felt like home.

Only in this place could Ye Nan find that rare peace, allowing him to forget the schemes and deceit outside, the law of the jungle, the darkness in human nature…

Knock, knock, knock…

A rhythmic knocking interrupted Ye Nan's thoughts. He hesitated briefly, then slowly walked to the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocks were steady and forceful, yet very polite. They carried none of the attitude of those Class Holders collecting protection fees, who would smash on the door with all their strength.

Ye Nan slowly leaned his eye toward the peephole and observed the scene outside.

Then, a slightly pale young face appeared before Ye Nan's eyes.

"What? Aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?"

A voice tinged with a smile rang out. Standing outside the door, Wan Ping slowly spoke.

…

Wan Ping leisurely looked over everything in the room. He paced around the tiny living room for a full five minutes before finally sitting down on a chair by the dining table and carefully examining the food on it.

Beside him, Ye Nan stood there trembling with fear.

After a long while, Wan Ping took out something resembling a jade pendant from his Spatial Ring and toyed with it carefully in his hand. Then he slowly began,

"Do you know what this is?"

Seeing Ye Nan shake his head without even looking at the object in his hand, Wan Ping sighed.

"This thing is called a Teleportation Jade Pendant. A very rare item. It was left to me as a relic by the previous Boss of the Fierce Tiger Warband. As for what it does, it can quickly teleport you to a preset location. For me, it is a kind of safety guarantee. Do you know why?"

Ye Nan shook his head again. At the same time, cold sweat slowly began trickling down his forehead.

This was a human's natural reaction when faced with an irresistible force.

Wan Ping's strength, to Ye Nan, was absolutely an irresistible force.

Wan Ping played with the jade pendant for about three minutes before saying,

"The human heart is so hard to grasp. There will always be people who, for no reason at all, develop these boring feelings like friendship, family affection, or love. Things like that make people lose their judgment and do things they shouldn't do."

"For example!"

Wan Ping smiled slightly at Ye Nan and continued,

"You live across from Wen Yu, so you must have gotten some benefits from him. Take the supplies in the corridor right now, for instance. I can't guarantee that you won't suddenly come up with some idea, like teaming up with Wen Yu to set a trap for me! If I can scheme against Wen Yu, then Wen Yu can naturally scheme against me as well. That's only normal, isn't it?"

"So."

Wan Ping gestured with the jade pendant in his hand.

"This thing is my life-saving measure. Don't blame me for being too cautious. After all, I still value my own life quite a lot."

Ye Nan remained standing off to the side, not making a single sound.

"Hey, hey, hey. Give me some kind of reaction, would you? Come on, smile for me!"

Wan Ping seemed to realize his own monologue was getting boring. He walked straight over to Ye Nan, grabbed the corners of Ye Nan's mouth, and tugged hard. Only when he saw Ye Nan force out an ugly smile did he nod in satisfaction.

"Oh, right. You still haven't answered my question. Did you or did you not team up with Wen Yu to set me up?"

Ye Nan's lips trembled as he opened his mouth.

"N-No… no, sir…"

Hearing Ye Nan's answer, Wan Ping nodded.

"That's what I thought. Because if you had, I should have crushed this Teleportation Jade Pendant long ago!"

"So, you did well!"

At Wan Ping's words, Ye Nan nodded heavily.

"I… how would I dare to frame you, sir…"

"Mm."

Wan Ping gave Ye Nan the faintest hint of a smile, then continued.

"In that case, let's verify another question."

…

Wan Ping sat on the sofa, looking at the table full of dishes that had yet to be cleared away. Then he spoke.

"By the way, the people in the room are your wife and child, aren't they? Call them out."

With Wan Ping's strength, sensing that there were people inside the room was a simple matter.

Just like how Wen Yu had been able to hear the heartbeats of Ye Nan and his wife.

The moment Ye Nan heard Wan Ping's words, he shuddered.

Thud!

Ye Nan dropped to his knees in front of Wan Ping and pleaded.

"Sir, I was wrong, sir. I failed to do what you ordered me to do. It's my fault, and I'll accept any punishment! But please spare my wife and child. I'm begging you…"

"Shh, shh, shhh…"

Wan Ping made a shushing sound while gesturing for Ye Nan to shut up.

Only then did Wan Ping speak.

"Believe me, I'm not blaming you over such a trivial matter. Truly. You have to trust my capacity for tolerance!"

"I simply want to see what this family you sacrificed so much for is like. Besides, I came to your home as a guest, yet you don't even introduce me to your family members. That makes me feel insulted!!! What do you think?"

Wan Ping looked at Ye Nan seriously. Seeing that Ye Nan was still kneeling before him, pleading in agony, Wan Ping couldn't help but sigh.

"I already told you, I really won't blame you over this little thing. You don't believe me? Do I need to personally invite your wife and child out?"

As Wan Ping's tone grew more and more severe, Ye Nan gritted his teeth, rose to his feet, walked to the bedroom door, and called out his wife and child.

…

Looking at the trembling family of three before him, Wan Ping stood up and nodded at Ye Nan.

"That's more like it. In that case, let me introduce myself first. My name is Wan Ping. I'm the one who told you to poison Wen Yu to death."

"Now then, let's talk business!"

Wan Ping slowly walked over to the dining table and spoke in a low, even voice.

"Just now, Ye Nan and I discussed the subject of emotions. Seeing the three of you together, to be honest, even my soft little heart was touched."

"Tsk, tsk. Ye Nan, look at the two people beside you. Honestly, I envy you. Family, love-you have it all. These are things I don't have. You truly are a man of feeling!"

An exaggerated smile hung on Wan Ping's face as he gave Ye Nan a thumbs-up.

Ye Nan's family of three stared at Wan Ping in terror.

"To tell the truth, when I see this scene, I really can't help but wonder if you might be even more sentimental than that. For example… something like friendship?"

"It's very possible. Really, very possible! You spent time with Wen Yu, and then you developed something like friendship for him. That's highly possible!"

"Then, you couldn't bear to poison him to death, so you never put any poison in the food at all!!!"

The more Wan Ping thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He slowly nodded, sat down in the seat Wen Yu had originally occupied, and said at a measured pace,

"The poison I gave you is quite lethal. Even someone with Level 4 strength definitely wouldn't survive its effects. And most importantly, it's colorless and odorless!"

"Colorless and odorless means Wen Yu couldn't detect poison in the food. It also means I couldn't detect whether there was poison in the food. So did you people put! It! In! Or not?"

At Wan Ping's words, Ye Nan suddenly snapped back to his senses.

"We did! We really did, sir! It was in that pot of thick soup! Sir, we real…ly put… it in…"

Ye Nan seemed to understand what Wan Ping was thinking and shouted desperately. But when he saw the cold look in Wan Ping's eyes, he instantly understood.

He understood why Wan Ping had made his wife and child come out…

He understood that something terrible was about to happen to his family…

He understood that the man before him was the real nightmare…

Then Ye Nan crouched down in agony, tears pouring endlessly from his eyes…

…

"What a smart man!"

Seeing Ye Nan's expression, Wan Ping nodded in satisfaction.

"Looks like you've already figured out what I'm going to do. To be honest, I like smart people. You're very smart, and I'm willing to deal with you."

Wan Ping slowly gathered his thoughts, then spoke gently to Ye Nan, who was sobbing too hard to speak, and to Ye Nan's wife and child, who were terrified beyond measure.

"There are always some boring people who ask boring questions. For example: if your wife and child fell into the water at the same time, which one would you save?"

"Coincidentally, Wen Yu didn't get poisoned today, and that made me a little unhappy. So I got angry. Then I realized I might not be able to kill him in the short term, which means my life has become boring again!"

"Boring people always do boring things. So right now, I need someone to test the poison for me, to verify whether you actually poisoned the food or not! To prove your innocence! But I didn't bring any subordinates with me today! So…"

"Ye Nan, your wife or your child. Pick one!"

…

Ye Nan raised his trembling head and looked at the smiling man in front of him, clenching his fists with all his strength.

After a long while, as if he had used up every last bit of strength he had, Ye Nan slowly rose to his feet and walked mechanically to the table. Then he said in a hoarse voice, "I… I won't choose either of them. I'll do it myself. I only beg you, please let them go. Spare my wife and child…"

But before he could finish, a powerful slap smashed across Ye Nan's face.

Wan Ping coldly withdrew his hand. Ignoring the child's piercing cries, he simply shook his head.

"When I say pick one of two, I mean pick one of two. There is no option where you don't choose!"

"Tell me. Who do you choose? I'll give you ten seconds. If you can't decide, no problem. I'll decide for you!"

"Ten, nine, eight…"

Wan Ping ignored Ye Nan, who was kneeling on the floor and wailing in despair, as well as the loudly crying woman and child. He just kept counting on his own.

Like the tolling of a bell, Wan Ping's voice struck Ye Nan's heart again and again, making him feel as if he were suffocating.

"One…"

When he counted to one, Wan Ping quietly looked at Ye Nan, who was still kneeling on the ground and pounding the floor, then shook his head in disappointment.

"Zero!"

"I'll do it. Let me do it…"

The moment Wan Ping finished counting down to zero, Ye Nan's wife slowly stepped forward and walked straight up to Wan Ping.

"I'll do it. I'll test the poison for you… But can you let me say a few words to my husband and child first?"

Wan Ping pursed his lips, raised an eyebrow, and nodded directly.

Ye Nan's wife slowly walked to Ye Nan's side, hugged his head tightly, and gently kissed him on the forehead.

"When I'm gone, remember to take good care of yourself, and take good care of our child. When you sleep at night, make sure you keep the blanket on. You have rheumatism, so pay attention to your health. Also, there are some elementary school textbooks in Little Ye's room. No matter how busy you are, you have to find time to teach Little Ye something…"

Ye Nan listened to his wife's mundane reminders, the sort of nagging he used to find annoying. For the first time, he heard the deep concern and reluctance to part hidden within her words.

"Please… I beg you… I'm begging you, let us go… Please…"

Ye Nan kept kowtowing to Wan Ping, smashing his forehead against the floor until it was bleeding. But the only response he received was a single sentence from Wan Ping.

"Madam, time's up…"

Ye Nan's wife wiped the child's tears with all her strength, then straightened the child's clothes. Only then did she turn and walk to the dining table, pick up a bowl of thick soup, and gulp it down.

Through his blurred eyes, Ye Nan watched his wife set down the empty bowl. He watched her body collapse limply to the floor. He watched her corpse melt directly into a puddle of blood and pus. Then, in a daze, he looked at Wan Ping, who was sitting at the table and slowly applauding.

"Your wife has proven your loyalty. That's good. That's very good!"

Wan Ping slowly stood up. Perhaps the stench of blood in the air was too strong, because he frowned and covered his nose.

"You did poison the food. I've confirmed that. You really are excellent!"

Wan Ping walked up to Ye Nan and gently patted him on the head.

"Very good. I'm a reasonable person. I already said just now that I wouldn't blame you for failing to poison Wen Yu to death. Look at this. Isn't it perfect? You've proven that you did put poison in the food, so this matter has nothing to do with you anymore."

Seeing Ye Nan on the floor, staring blankly at the puddle of blood and pus his wife had turned into, Wan Ping shrugged and slowly walked over to Ye Nan's child.

"Little friend, what's your name?"

Ye Nan's child trembled all over while looking at Wan Ping. The grief of having just lost their mother left Little Ye unable to say even a single complete sentence.

Wan Ping gently stroked Little Ye's head and said softly, "Don't be sad. Mommy just went to a place without conflict. She'll be very happy there."

Seeing that Little Ye was still sobbing, Wan Ping gently picked the child up and walked straight to the living room window.

Then…

Wan Ping pointed at the somewhat gray, overcast sky and said to Little Ye, cradled in the crook of his right arm, "Look. Mommy went there. Mommy will definitely be happy there."

Behind him, Ye Nan slowly got to his feet. His hoarse voice sounded out, slow and strained. "Sir, if there's nothing else, could you please give me my child back?"

Wan Ping slowly turned his head. With a smile on his face, he said to Ye Nan, "Ye Nan, has your kid ever been bungee jumping before?"

"What are you trying to do? What are you-"

Before Ye Nan could finish, Wan Ping grabbed Little Ye by the collar and then…

Flung Little Ye out with one hand!!!

From midair, Little Ye let out a heart-wrenching wail.

"Daddy, save me…"

"Splat!!!"

Ye Nan took two stiff steps forward, staring at the huge bloom of blood on the ground. His lips trembled a few times, but no sound came out.

Not until Wan Ping's voice slowly rang out.

"I'm a very reasonable person. When I counted down to zero just now, the one I chose was your child. Unfortunately, your wife decided to seek death on her own!"

"Of course I wouldn't stop someone who wants to die. But her choosing to die doesn't mean I need to change my choice."

"So, Ye Nan, your wife died for nothing!"

Ye Nan turned his head back in a daze. Savage bloodshot veins slowly spread through his eyes as he stood there without moving, staring at Wan Ping.

But faced with that gaze, so full of hatred and killing intent, Wan Ping merely gave a simple shrug.

"Since I'm done here, I'll be taking my leave."

"Oh, right."

Wan Ping had just been about to leave Ye Nan's home when he seemed to suddenly remember something. He took a large amount of food and drinking water out of his Spatial Ring.

"Look at that. I nearly forgot these. I never mistreat the people who do things for me. Since you really did poison it, that means you completed my task. Mm, at least half of it!"

"These are your mission rewards."

Wan Ping threw the supplies onto the floor. Then he stared seriously into Ye Nan's scarlet eyes for a long while before laughing.

"I think you should say thank you to me. After all, these supplies would be enough for you to spend half a year searching for on your own, don't you think?"

Ye Nan stared fixedly into Wan Ping's eyes. After a long while, he gently pulled the corners of his mouth apart.

"Thank you…"

Red liquid slowly trickled from the corners of his eyes. No one could tell whether it was blood or tears. His mouth stretched open to its widest, revealing a mouthful of slightly yellowed teeth. A savage, eerie expression appeared on Ye Nan's face.

It was impossible to tell whether that expression was crying or laughing…

Wan Ping nodded in satisfaction. He gently wrapped an arm around the back of Ye Nan's head, brought his mouth to Ye Nan's ear, and whispered, "Do you know what everything that happened today means?"

"It means I shoved my dick into your mouth, stirred it around as hard as I could for a long, long time, then sprayed white fluid all over your face-and you still smiled and thanked me!"

"Isn't that interesting? I killed your whole family, and you still have to thank me."

"Tsk, tsk. This world really is getting interesting!!!"

After Wan Ping finished speaking, he slowly looked at Ye Nan's wide-open eyes and lightly patted his cheek.

"I'm very satisfied with your performance. You're a grown man-what's with all the crying and sniveling?"

"Live well. Remember, you have to spend the rest of your life in resentment and regret! Regretting why you were so weak, so useless!"

"Also, I'm leaving. No need to see me out. Goodbye!"

"Mm, actually, it should be goodbye forever, because I still have to go to Yanjing for revenge."

With that, Wan Ping walked straight out of the room.

"Oh, right."

Wan Ping suddenly looked back and said to Ye Nan with a smile all over his face, "You're welcome!!!"

"Bang!!!"

The front door shut tight. Then Wan Ping's footsteps slowly faded away down the corridor.

Ye Nan stood there in a daze for a long, long time. Slowly, he raised his head, looked at what had once been his warm and cozy home, and began to laugh.

The laughter grew louder and louder, more and more terrifying. In the end, it was impossible to tell whether he was laughing or crying. It was impossible even to tell what kind of creature could make such a horrifying sound.

Waves of piercing, terrifying noise spread through the entire building, like an evil ghost from hell letting out a dreadful howl!