Chapter Forty-One: The Bounty Hunters' Guild

Yan Yuanqing was interrogating the unfortunate man he had caught the previous night in his room.

The man had lost several fingers at Yan Yuanqing’s hands and been immobilized with acupoint techniques for an entire night. His energy and strength were utterly depleted, and only after a long period of unconsciousness did he finally awaken.

“Speak. Who are you people? Who sent you? Why did you try to harm my wife?” Yan Yuanqing lightly slapped the man’s face and spoke in an indifferent tone as soon as the black-clad figure regained consciousness.

Anyone who witnessed Yan Yuanqing’s actions the previous night would carry a lifelong shadow in their hearts, and this man was no exception. Whenever he recalled the golden light as Yan Yuanqing struck and severed two of his fingers, terror seized him, making his whole body tremble.

“Sir, if I confess, will you let me leave?” the man whispered.

Yan Yuanqing let out a cold laugh. “You’re being asked to confess, so why the chatter? Will you speak or not? If you refuse, I have plenty of ways to make you talk!”

No sooner had he spoken than Yan Yuanqing raised his right hand and made a slicing gesture downward.

The man shuddered violently in fright, sweat beading on his forehead. He hurriedly pleaded, “I’ll talk! Spare my life, sir—I’ll tell you everything!”

“I am a member of the Bounty Hunter Guild. A few days ago, our leader accepted a mission: to infiltrate the Shi family and abduct the eldest daughter, Shi Yurou. The reward is ten million.”

Yan Yuanqing’s brows arched slightly at the mention of the Bounty Hunter Guild. The name was hardly unfamiliar to him. Although such organizations were heavily restricted in China, they still held considerable influence in the shadows and the underworld. Abroad, the guild was a formidable force.

“And the client?” Yan Yuanqing asked.

The man shook his head. “We bounty hunters are not entitled to learn the client’s identity. Everything is handled through the guild as an intermediary—money is paid and collected through official channels. I’m truly sorry; I don’t know who the client is. All I know is that completing the mission means getting paid.”

His voice was filled with anxiety, fearing Yan Yuanqing would be dissatisfied with this answer and kill him on the spot.

Yan Yuanqing pondered for a moment, sizing up the thoroughly frightened man before him. Disgust flashed in his eyes.

The black-clad man, adept at reading faces, immediately thought his fate was sealed.

But in the next moment, he felt a numbing sensation at his neck and lost consciousness.

After temporarily incapacitating the man, Yan Yuanqing quickly went to the window. Outside, shadows were swiftly approaching his home.

“Damn it, they’re still coming. Will these people ever stop?” Yan Yuanqing cursed inwardly. The newcomers were clearly hostile, likely hired for the same deadly purpose as the black-clad men from the previous night.

“Yurou, take Mother to the basement. Lock the door tightly. No matter what happens outside, don’t open it!”

“Even if I come, don’t open the door unless you can confirm it’s truly me! Do you understand?”

Yan Yuanqing rushed to the living room, where mother and daughter were conversing.

Both wore expressions of confusion after hearing Yan Yuanqing’s instructions. Ji Chunyan, in particular, looked ready to protest, but Shi Yurou quickly stopped her.

“Mom, did you forget what I just told you? This is a critical time—we’re in real danger.”

“I trust what Yuanqing just said. If you don’t want trouble, come with me now. Let’s take shelter in the basement.”