First Attempt

In a noisy internet café in Anhe County.

This was an unlicensed cybercafé, one without even surveillance cameras.

The pungent smell of cigarettes mixed with the aroma of instant noodles, while the clatter of keyboards and the shouts of gamers rose and fell in waves.

Su Yang sat at a computer in the farthest corner, wearing an oversized pair of sunglasses that covered nearly half his face.

Topped with a battered wide-brimmed hat, he had concealed his features completely.

His eyes remained fixed on the screen, sharp with concentration.

Despite the disguise, Su Yang’s youthful, vibrant aura stood in stark contrast to the grimy, chaotic surroundings.

When the message from the big shot in Jingzhou came through, his heartbeat quickened slightly.

Su Yang knew this wasn’t just a task—it was a test.

Taking a deep breath, his fingers flew across the keyboard, and the screen was instantly flooded with lines of cascading green code.

His gaze turned razor-sharp, his entire being dissolving into an invisible shadow, slipping silently through the digital wires to infiltrate the vast, heavily guarded fortress of data in Jingzhou.

The firewall of Shengtian Real Estate was, as Zhang Qi had described, formidable.

Three layers of dynamic passwords, seven disguised database entry points, and honeypot traps designed to counter tracking—it was a labyrinth of defenses.

A single misstep would trigger an alarm instantly.

But to Su Yang, though the maze was complex, it wasn’t impenetrable.

His fingers danced across the keyboard, moving so fast they almost blurred.

His mind had transcended ordinary limits, becoming pure data flow.

Time ticked by…

Hours later, Su Yang left the cybercafé, deliberately taking a winding route through several streets before tossing the old sunglasses and hat into a trash bin.

He wandered a few more blocks, even stopping at a stationery store to examine a mid-range pen. After a moment’s hesitation, he bought it, then finally headed home.

---

Lu Family Manor, Study.

When Lin Yuan projected the decrypted files Su Yang had transmitted onto the large screen, even the usually unflappable Zhang Qi couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

"My God…" he muttered, staring at the meticulously recorded transactions in shock.

"This… this isn’t just corporate crime—it’s outright mafia activity! With this, Shengtian Real Estate won’t escape this time. This isn’t just a blade, President Lu—it’s a guillotine heavy enough to crush them!"

Lu Chenyuan’s expression darkened. He had known Li Xiujian’s methods were dirty, but he hadn’t expected them to be this depraved.

As he scanned the "Blood Ledger," anger and sorrow flickered in his eyes.

Then, just as quickly, he suppressed all emotion, and a calculating gleam returned to his gaze.

"Su Yang didn’t disappoint me," he said softly.

"President Lu, what should we—" Lin Yuan began, but his words died as his eyes locked onto a name on the screen. He leaned closer, disbelieving, then his voice cracked. "President Lu, look here!"

Zhang Qi followed his gaze and froze.

Among the hidden shareholder list linked to the "Blood Ledger," a familiar name stood out—Lu Mingshi.

Through an offshore shell company, Lu Chenyuan’s uncle, Lu Mingshi, held a 3% stake in Shengtian Real Estate. Though a small share, it was proof he had long been part of this criminal enterprise.

A flash of realization crossed Lu Chenyuan’s eyes, connecting the dots of past suspicions.

No wonder Uncle Lu Mingshi had been so bold in recent family meetings—he must have thought he’d found a new backer and source of wealth.

"Utterly… idiotic," Lu Chenyuan murmured, his tone icy and unreadable.

He wasn’t surprised that a black sheep existed among the Lu family’s branches, but he hadn’t expected his own uncle to be foolish enough to conspire with wolves, willingly stepping into Li Xiujian’s trap.

"Sir, this…" Lin Yuan faltered. The situation had just become far more complicated. With the Lu family’s second elder implicated, exposing this would deal a massive blow to the Lu Group’s reputation.

"No. This isn’t a complication—it’s an opportunity delivered to our doorstep," Lu Chenyuan countered, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

He walked over to the massive Jingzhou commercial map, his gaze shifting between the Lu Group and Shengtian Real Estate.

"Li Xiujian let Uncle invest because he wanted a scapegoat—someone influential enough yet stupid enough to take the fall when things went south. He never imagined this list would fall into my hands."

Lu Chenyuan turned, his eyes gleaming with strategic brilliance.

"Handing over the 'Blood Ledger' directly would cripple the Li family, but it would also humiliate the Lu name and let Uncle pin all the blame on being deceived. That’s too lenient."

He paused, his voice steady and commanding. "Besides, I have another use for Uncle’s funds."

Lin Yuan and Zhang Qi exchanged glances, both seeing the same awe reflected in each other’s eyes.

They understood—their president had already devised a far grander, more meticulous plan.

In the original course of events, Li Xiujian had smoothly maneuvered Lu Mingshi into taking the fall.

Not only did Lu Mingshi shoulder the mess willingly, but he also poured his entire fortune into it.

This became one of the key factors leading to the Lu family’s downfall.

But now, if they could tie up Lu Mingshi’s funds, they could delay Li Xiujian’s capital flow…

Then…

---

Meanwhile, in another secluded residence in Jingzhou.

Li Xiujian hung up the phone, his face dark with fury.

The call had been from Wang Defa, chairman of Shengtian Real Estate, reporting that their servers had suffered an undetected cyberattack—one so sophisticated it left no trace.

"Useless!" Li Xiujian hissed under his breath.

Though his team insisted no breach had occurred and no data had been stolen, an uneasy feeling gnawed at him.

"Boss, is there… a problem?" a subordinate ventured cautiously.

"Perhaps I’m overthinking it," Li Xiujian waved dismissively, his expression settling back into its usual cold mask.

"Shengtian has been a useful pawn for years, but it’s time to end the game. The rot runs too deep—it’s time to find a patsy and wash our hands clean."

He lifted his teacup, blowing lightly on the floating leaves, a venomous glint in his eyes.

"That second son of the Lu family, Lu Mingshi—hasn’t he been scrambling around like a headless fly lately, desperate for investments?"

"Go. Drop him a hint. Tell him Li Xiujian is willing to make him rich."

Unbeknownst to him, the "perfect scapegoat" he envisioned had already become a pivotal piece on another chessboard—one poised to trigger a devastating checkmate.

The net was closing in.