Chapter 98: The Assassination of Chen Xue Wen
After Chen Xue Wen and Li Tie Zhu were taken away, Hao Wen and Uncle Quan exchanged glances before rising from their seats.
“Brother Snake, it’s getting late. We’ll head back and rest now!” they said with smirks, leaving without another word.
Snake’s face darkened. He knew that tonight’s events would soon be spread far and wide by those two.
His grand setup had been meant to expose Chen Xue Wen, ruin his reputation, and then execute him publicly, reasserting his authority. But things had gone terribly wrong. Instead of disgracing Chen Xue Wen, he had inadvertently enhanced his standing. By tomorrow, once the news spread through Peaceful City, his Electronic Dynasty business would be finished!
Zhou Jing Hui turned to Snake, his tone grim. “Brother Snake, what now?”
“That bastard Chen Xue Wen is too cunning,” Snake growled. “Bringing him down won’t be easy.”
Clenching his teeth, Snake continued, “Hmph, he’s just one man. It’s not a big deal. I said he must die, so he must die!”
Zhou Jing Hui relaxed slightly. He could tell that Snake had made up his mind—he was truly intent on assassinating Chen Xue Wen. Grinning, he quickly excused himself. “Brother Snake, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
Snake’s expression remained cold. With a dismissive wave, he signaled for Zhou Jing Hui to get lost. Not wasting another second, Zhou Jing Hui slipped away.
Standing by the window, Snake watched him disappear into the night before summoning his trusted men.
“Things have come to this. We must kill Chen Xue Wen, or our business is doomed!” His voice was deadly serious. “Who among you is willing to do it?”
Leopard was the first to step forward. “Brother Snake, I’ll do it! I’ve been wanting to personally kill that bastard for a long time!”
The others, unwilling to volunteer for something so dangerous, remained silent.
Seeing Leopard’s determination, Snake nodded but added, “Three Eye, take some men and assist him. Scope out the area carefully.”
“Chen Xue Wen may not even make it out of the Law Enforcement Squad tonight. If he does, strike tomorrow night.”
Three Eye responded immediately. “Understood, Brother Snake!”
Snake stood at the window, his gaze fixed on the dark horizon. His expression was as grim as ever.
“Chen Xue Wen, this is what happens when you go against me!” he muttered through clenched teeth.
Law Enforcement Squad Headquarters
Chen Xue Wen and Li Tie Zhu spent the night in detention. Despite Huang Jin’s efforts, he found no further evidence against them.
He Xiang insisted that the incident had been orchestrated by Wang Kai, shifting all the blame onto him. In the end, Wang Kai took the fall for everything. Though Huang Jin was furious, he had no choice but to charge Wang Kai with public endangerment, detaining him for a few days before releasing the others.
By morning, with nothing more to hold them on, Chen Xue Wen and Li Tie Zhu were free to go.
After leaving the station, the two grabbed breakfast and headed straight for Brothers Game Arcade. Despite the chaos of the previous night, Chen Xue Wen remained unfazed by the possibility of Snake seeking revenge.
The situation had actually worked in his favor. The Law Enforcement Squad had increased patrols around Old Square, knowing full well the animosity between him and Snake. With the New Year approaching, they wanted to prevent any further incidents, ensuring heightened security in the area.
As a result, Snake, despite his seething hatred, wouldn’t dare make a move in broad daylight.
Meanwhile, business at Brothers Game Arcade was booming. After last night’s spectacle, Chen Xue Wen’s reputation had only grown, while Snake’s Electronic Dynasty had plummeted into decline.
Hao Wen and Uncle Quan had already spread word of the events, further tarnishing Snake’s image. His dishonorable tactics had been exposed, causing his clientele to flee. The once-bustling Electronic Dynasty now stood nearly empty, with barely ten customers lingering inside. And they weren’t high-rollers—just casual players with little to wager.
Conversely, Brothers Game Arcade was packed. Chen Xue Wen had completely taken over Snake’s turf.
But everyone knew this wasn’t the end.
Chen Xue Wen had won a battle, but Snake was a mad dog. A man like him wouldn’t stop at humiliation. He would kill.
Nightfall
At 7 PM, Chen Xue Wen, Lai Hou, Wang Zhen Dong, and a few others left Brothers Game Arcade early.
They grabbed a quick meal at a bustling night market stall, then hopped on their motorcycles, weaving through the city streets.
Unbeknownst to them, Leopard and his crew were trailing them. However, halfway through the pursuit, they lost sight of their targets.
Leopard erupted in frustration. “Damn that Chen Xue Wen! That bastard must’ve noticed we were tailing him and deliberately threw us off!”
One of his underlings hesitated. “Brother Leopard, what do we do now?”
Leopard’s face darkened. “How the hell should I know? Keep looking!”
They searched for a while longer, but still found nothing.
Suddenly, Leopard’s phone rang.
He answered, “Three Eye, what’s up?”
On the other end, Three Eye’s voice was laced with irritation. “Leopard, what the hell are you guys doing? Brother Snake sent you to take out Chen Xue Wen—where the hell did you all go?”
Leopard spat on the ground, cursing. “Damn it, don’t even mention it. That bastard Chen Xue Wen led us in circles around the city. We chased him for a while, then lost him. We’re still looking!”
Three Eye clicked his tongue. “Looking? What’s the damn point? I just got word—those guys are back at the hotel, sleeping!”
Leopard’s eyes widened. “What?! That son of a bitch actually had the balls to go back and sleep? Damn it! I’ve been running around like a madman all night, and he’s just lying in bed?”
Three Eye chuckled darkly. “That little snake is as sly as they come. He must’ve realized you were tailing him, so he deliberately ran in circles to shake you off before heading back to rest. Lucky for you, I had my guys keep watch at his hotel, or you’d never have known.”
Leopard clenched his jaw. “That bastard is as cunning as a fox. Fine! Keep your men on him. I’m heading there now. Tonight, no matter what, I’m cutting that piece of shit down!”
He hung up and turned to his crew. “Let’s move!”
The group, brimming with rage, stormed toward the hotel where Chen Xue Wen was holed up.
Upon arrival, Leopard didn’t immediately make a move. Instead, he met up with Three Eye, who had been lurking in the area.
“You sure he’s back?” Leopard asked in a low voice.
Three Eye sneered. “Positive. Since Brother Snake put me on backup duty, I’ve been keeping tabs on him. I found out he’s staying in rooms 305 and 307. I had my guys rent the rooms directly across from them. They’ve been watching through the peepholes all day and night.”
“An hour ago, three of them went inside. No one’s come out since. I bet they’re fast asleep.”
Leopard hesitated for a moment. “Three? Wasn’t it four?”
Three Eye shrugged. “Only saw three. Maybe one of them’s out running an errand.”
Leopard dismissed the thought with a wave. “Doesn’t matter. As long as Chen Xue Wen is inside, the rest don’t matter.”
Three Eye nodded. “He’s there. Room 305.”
A sinister grin stretched across Leopard’s face. He unsheathed his long blade, wrapping a strip of white cloth tightly around the handle for a better grip.
“Then it’s settled. Tonight, Chen Xue Wen dies.”
The men behind him followed suit, each drawing their weapons and gripping them with grim determination.
Leopard turned to Three Eye. “Keep an eye out. Make sure he doesn’t escape.”
Three Eye smirked. “Don’t worry. I brought five guys. We’ll block the doors. The windows here have security bars—there’s no way they’re getting out.”
Satisfied, Leopard nodded. “Let’s move.”
With that, he led his crew into the hotel, their weapons concealed but their intent deadly clear.
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