Ning Yunhuan recalled the scene when Su Ying had come to her home for a conversation, as if she now vaguely understood something. But at this moment, where two sides were clashing fiercely, the victor would become king and the loser naturally a bandit. It was like playing chess - one misstep could lose the whole game. This power struggle was too perilous, too cruel, like an invisible blade that killed without drawing blood. Ning Yunhuan shivered at this complex psychological warfare; she had never been able to play such games even after living through two lifetimes. Watching Lan Lingyan's cunning calculations and ruthless cruelty now made her secretly afraid.

Feeling a chill in her heart, Lan Si urged again: "My lady, the master has arrived." With no escape possible now, Ning Yunhuan steeled herself to put on her coat but refused to wear shoes. The cold weather outside felt like those desperate faces she had seen in TV news just then. The storm must be brewing beyond there, yet Lan Jiu who started this mess still dared to roam freely. He was an almighty god, but for a minor female lead like herself, going out now made her secretly light a candle for safety. Gazing through the transparent glass at the dark sky outside, she saw a car parked somewhere - it must have been waiting impatiently long enough. The horn honked suddenly as Ning Xiaohuan shivered and hastily put on her shoes before rushing outside.

Lan Si followed behind holding an umbrella for her. As they reached the car, the door opened and a slender white hand extended outward. After Ning Yunhuan took it, just a slight tug pulled her into Lan Lingyan's familiar chest. Before she could speak, Lan Si had already shut the car door. The vehicle started moving as Ning Yunhuan tilted against Lan Jiu's shoulder dizzily. Her chin was suddenly lifted by an unseen force, and a wet warm mouth pressed onto hers with such intensity that her lips felt numb.

The passionate kiss nearly stole her breath until Lan Lingyan raised his head to give her air. Still pressing her down on the seat without standing up, their foreheads touched as he looked at her with eyes full of amusement: "Why did it take you so long?" He spoke gently, already having removed the decorative glasses earlier when they were inconvenient for kissing. Staring into those sharp yet refined eyes - this man who looked like a cultured scholar from ink paintings suddenly seemed to be the executioner responsible for countless deaths.

"I saw the news." Ning Yunhuan's voice was soft as she leaned close. Seeing her swollen red lips, Lan Jiu smiled happily: "Do you find it beautiful?"

Ning Yunhuan couldn't help smiling at his expression either - not because of fear from Cen Minran or others' deaths but because this situation triggered deep-rooted fears toward Lan Jiu. She wanted to push him away now: "Beautiful, though I wonder if someday I get on your bad side, will it be the same for me?"

Though her words were cryptic, Lan Jiu understood immediately and bit down hard on her lips. Feeling her body shudder without any cry of pain, his eyes darkened but he still smiled when looking up: "How come you're just like them? Do they even deserve to compare with you?"

Though his tone was icy, there was no coldness in those eyes. Ning Yunhuan felt an inexplicable emotion rising as she suddenly embraced his neck and pulled him down.

"Where are we going?" Ning Yunhuan managed to ask despite the heaviness on her chest: "Does Su family know about your involvement in this?"

The Su clan had already become fallen dogs. If they discovered it was Lan Lingyan behind their downfall, they'd want to devour his flesh alive. Lan Jiu narrowed his eyes: "Even if they do? The Lin family has controlled half the nation for decades. Even if my grandfather hates them, he'll never resort to such measures." As a yakuza-born clan, while they didn't engage in forced prostitution which was unprofitable, smuggling weapons and arson were business-as-usual. In criminal underworlds, dealing with various power players was inevitable - be it the priest invited for his wedding or pseudo-philosophers like Eastern Dragon who preached "robbers can also have righteousness", interactions mostly involved mountain gangsters.

The poison Lan Jiu acquired came from a long-time acquaintance of Grandfather's - an emperor-like figure in Golden Triangle with deep ties to Grandfather. When Lan Jiu requested it, the exchange was simple and effortless. The goods were easily obtained before being smuggled into China through this powerful contact.

Ning Yunhuan naturally understood from Lan Lingyan's words that Su family likely knew who orchestrated everything behind the scenes. Her scalp prickled as she thought of Su Ying's weary face when he had come to her home earlier, now feeling some sympathy toward him. As for where those goods came from, she no longer cared.

As they spoke, music played in Ning Yunhuan's bag. Lan Jiu still lay on top and didn't move until Ning Yunhuan pushed him slightly before retrieving the phone. After checking it, he passed it to her.

Unable to push him further, Ning Yunhuan took the call when she saw Gu Yingnuo's name saved in the contacts: "Miss Ning, you're amazing! I'm truly convinced now," Gu Yingnuo's excited voice came through the receiver. "With Cen Minran in his current state, he must die for sure. Thank you so much - if not for you, my revenge would have taken forever to achieve. From now on, wherever you go east I'll never go west. You helped me out, and this life of mine is yours to command!"

Gu Yingnuo's joy mixed with complexity as she exhaled in relief over Cen Minran's downfall, her laughter like wind chimes ringing clearly. After saying a few more words Ning Yunhuan hung up, tossing the phone aside as she flinched at Gu Yingnuo's cruelty: "Truly, don't anger women." Though she had once taught Li Panpan to be either ruthless or quit altogether, seeing Gu Yingnuo's extreme ruthlessness still made her heart cold. Yet strangely enough, Ning Yunhuan felt a subtle admiration for this woman who never forgave grudges and returned every slight with hundredfold vengeance.

"If you like it," Lan Lingyan smiled, watching her flushed face before lifting her into his lap, "I could also have the leg reattached." He wrapped her in his arms: "It's just a simple matter to make it move and walk again - just not run. Rainy days or old age might bring some pain."

Ning Yunhuan blinked in surprise: "Maybe another time." She knew Lan Jiu's lab had all sorts of experts. After all, Gu Yingnuo's leg wasn't severed from necrosis to begin with. Finding a matching leg type or even regenerating one through her own genes would work just fine. This world's technology was more advanced than the previous life she remembered, and with various talents in Lan Jiu's lab, his words weren't mere jests. Still remembering herself as that experiment subject from before, she inevitably felt some shadows clouding her mind again.

Noticing her low spirits, Lan Lingyan said no more and simply drove toward Lin family's direction. Though Lin Maoshan hadn't shown up in public for a long time and had indeed left China previously, he returned under Grandfather's protection at dawn today to clean up the mess caused by Su father's political scandal which made people start rejecting Su father's leadership team. Only this respected elder with high moral standing could settle things down now - either through his prestige or position.

"Did grandfather plan for this day from the beginning?" After everything was decided, Lan Lingyan naturally no longer needed to hide anything and told her all details. This bloodless battle had already claimed so many lives without even drawing real weapons. For Ning Yunhuan, it was a first direct experience of politics' cruelty.

"He's governed for years - what do you think?" Lin Maoshan looked unremarkable in Ning Yunhuan's eyes as just some frail yet sprightly old man. Now he truly lived up to the saying "never judge a book by its cover" as she straightened her expression: "Then Su family?"

"The Lin family lacks worthy heirs, so someone needs to pave way for them," Lan Jiu spoke clearly. After ruling five years according to regulations preventing re-election, power transition was his game. If Su family could withstand the test, they'd enjoy peace and retire honorably while living out their days in leisure. But if not, they must pay price for their ambitions.

Lan Lingyan had penetrating vision about such matters - Lin Maoshan was an excellent leader with sharp eyesight, complex mind, decisive yet calm nature who knew his family lacked suitable heirs to inherit position. Rather than choosing seemingly capable sons with hidden flaws, he would rather bear the resentment of descendants and entrust power to Su father, who wasn't necessarily exceptional himself.

Many in Lin family thought old man was senile as hell but no one truly understood him. Years ago Lan Lingyan had already sensed something wrong when just returning home after four years of training. Because of this, among all his grandsons and nephews, Lin Maoshan most admired not his own descendants but this grandson. No one knew that decades ago when passing on power, the old man had already plotted how to recover it completely.

（：RS，）

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