Homo Sapiens

With a heavy heart, Yang Tianci sat in the car, clutching the few stamps in his hand, lost in thought.

Xu Xue Meng, who had been keeping a low profile the whole time, now offered a reminder, ”Brother Yang, these little things are all produced by Meisha Pharmaceutical.”

”Meisha Pharmaceutical? Isn’t that...” Yang Tianci’s pupils constricted.

Xu Xue Meng gave a knowing smile. ”Brother Yang, Du Jianxin actually already knows about this, but why do you think he didn’t refuse to cooperate?”

’Du Jianxin? That bastard!’ Yang Tianci cursed inwardly.

”As long as we’re discreet and clean up thoroughly afterward, this will be our little secret,” Xu Xue Meng said nonchalantly.

Of course, Yang Tianci knew they had to be clean about it. But doing so also meant giving Thomas and the Xu Clan leverage over him and Du Jianxin’s group.

This was clearly an initiation rite.

Of course, Thomas already had plenty of dirt on them from past dealings.

After all, there’s no smoke without fire.

There was no turning back now. Yang Tianci could only try to minimize the fallout and prevent the stamps from being discovered at the border. This would mean sacrificing a few pawns.

The very thought of it pissed him off.

The car stopped at a red light.

A young man passing out flyers on the side of the road suddenly slapped one onto the car window, which infuriated the bodyguards in the car.

Other drivers who also got flyers slapped on their windows grumbled and cursed. Seeing things were turning sour, the young man quickly ran off toward the next intersection.

A bodyguard was just about to tear the flyer off.

Dejected, Yang Tianci glanced at the flyer. He saw it had some ad copy in Thai, a few colorful pictures, and a logo in the shape of a green leaf.

After tearing off the flyer, a bodyguard from the Xu Clan muttered, ”This Qingye Group glass factory, or whatever it’s called, has been plastering these little ads everywhere lately.”

Yang Tianci didn’t understand the Thai the bodyguard spoke, but the assistant he’d brought along did. The assistant whispered an explanation, hoping to change the subject.

But upon hearing the name Qingye Group, Yang Tianci’s brow furrowed. ”Are you sure the company is called Qingye Group?”

The assistant was taken aback. Worried he’d misheard, he quickly confirmed with the bodyguard again before replying with certainty, ”Boss, the company is called Qingye Group.”

’Qingye! Why that name, of all things? Is it a coincidence? Or...’ Yang Tianci’s mind raced.

Seeing him lost in thought, Xu Xue Meng asked, ”Brother Yang, do you know this company?”

”No, it’s just that the company’s name sounds a lot like an old friend’s. It’s probably a coincidence,” Yang Tianci said, shaking his head.

”My Xu Family has some pull in Siam. Want me to look into it for you?”

Yang Tianci was silent for a moment. Though he felt it was likely just a coincidence, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to check. ’After all, that guy has been missing for two years. He’s probably just holed up in some tiny country, barely scraping by.’

”Then I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Xu.”

”Don’t mention it. We’re on the same side.” Xu Xue Meng treated it as a minor favor, immediately making a call and ordering one of his trusted men to investigate the Qingye Group.

「By the time they returned to the Xu Manor.」

Xu Xue Meng’s aide had already dug up some information. He handed a file to Yang Tianci before instructing the butler to prepare lunch.

Yang Tianci took the file and began to flip through it casually.

Suddenly, his body went rigid, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

Qingye Group...

’Registered in the Cayman Islands... invested in a glass factory and cement plant in Hongsawaddy this year...’

’Company Chairman: Li Qingye, a Chinese national from South Africa...’

’A Chinese national from South Africa...’

The file also contained a screenshot from the Qingye Group’s official website. The photo was unmistakably of Li Qingye. Yang Tianci was now certain: this was the same Li Qingye who had disappeared two years ago.

”So? You really do know him?” Xu Xue Meng asked, curious.

Yang Tianci put down the file and sneered. ”I know him. We’re old friends, grew up together. Looks like he hasn’t given up yet.”

Xu Xue Meng picked up the file and glanced through it. He looked up, a little uncertain. ”Li Qingye? Grew up with you, Brother Yang? Don’t tell me he’s Li Zhonghua’s son?”

”The one and only.” Yang Tianci made no attempt to hide it; after all, he needed the Xu Clan’s help, so there was no point in concealing the matter.

Once he had his answer, Xu Xue Meng asked with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, ”Need me to help... take care of him?”

”I’ll have to trouble you then, Brother Xu. Consider it a favor from us.”

Yang Tianci had said ”us” to make it clear that this wasn’t just a concern for the Yang Family, but for all the vested interests in the current Xinxin Group.

Xu Xue Meng, having taken the initiative, was naturally aware of the underlying politics, which was why he offered to help. In his eyes, a powerless and unconnected Li Qingye was like a grasshopper in late autumn—his days were numbered.

After they had lunch.

Yang Tianci called his father, Yang Haibo, and Du Jianxin. He spoke in veiled terms about what happened with Victor that day, and also about Li Qingye hiding out in Hongsawaddy.

Neither Yang Haibo nor Du Jianxin were surprised to hear about Victor. They had clearly known a few things beforehand; this was the price of their admission.

As for the news about Li Qingye, they didn’t refuse the Xu Family’s proactive offer of assistance.

...

「Meanwhile.」

At a secret stronghold, Chen Jianxiong also received a report. The temp hired to hand out flyers had successfully slapped one onto the Xu Clan’s car window.

By retrieving the surveillance insects hidden in the car and at the Xu Manor, he confirmed that Yang Tianci now knew Li Qingye was still alive.

When Chen Jianxiong saw that Xu Xue Meng had offered to help, he sneered and shook his head. ’The Xu Family is courting death.’

He had also figured out the nature of the cooperation between Victor and Yang Tianci.

’Stamps produced by Meisha Pharmaceutical? That stuff is just one of the new types of ”flour” that have become popular recently.’

’And they plan to smuggle it into Yunnan Province through Old Street.’

’Looks like this Victor is no simple character. He has close ties to an heir of the Morgan Clan, connections to the Siamese Xu Clan, and now he’s roped in the Yang Clan and other powers.’

Chen Jianxiong was all too familiar with this kind of setup.

Chen Jianxiong compiled all the key intelligence, stored it in the bio-chip of a Soldier, and then had the Soldier take a plane back to Manila.

Much of the intelligence involved multiple factions, and he needed a decision from Li Qingye before taking the next step.

Thanks to this physical courier and the Manila intelligence station’s fiber-optic link, Li Qingye, on Kalaqua Island, received the detailed report five hours later.

After reading the intelligence, he felt nothing.

’So this is what they call great families and businessmen. From ancient times to the present, selfishness has been etched into their very bones. The only thing in their eyes is profit; they would sell out anything and anyone, so long as it serves their own interests.’

’The Xu Clan? Then let’s start with you.’

Li Qingye typed some information into his bio-computer—the latest instructions for Chen Jianxiong.

At the same time, he ordered Phil to notify Yang Mengjiao to pay close attention to intelligence from Siam and to watch her back for any enemy plots.

The Soldier acted as a courier, swiftly delivering Li Qingye’s orders by plane.

Li Qingye gazed out the window at the vast, clear sky, feeling the oppressive heat and stuffiness in the air.

It was the sign of an approaching storm.