Chapter 658: The Last Chance

Li Xiao zoomed in on the map a bit more; here... it looks like there is a farm...

He looked carefully again, confirming that apart from the farm, it was nothing but the wilderness.

What is Viper going there for?

Does he still have a hideout over there?

Or is he truly at the end of his rope?

And the explosion tonight...

Li Xiao's mind was rarely this cluttered.

The only ones capable of creating such a commotion without fear of being investigated are Viper's "superiors" on this side.

Could it be that they have already decided to discard Viper as a chess piece?

But why specifically tonight, just when I was preparing to take action...

Li Xiao's gaze flickered for a moment, then he suddenly slammed his fist onto the table!

A classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!

If I hadn't spotted the light from the bomb tonight first... then I fear it would have been us who died!!!

"Shura, the situation on our end is not good. We can't keep following; there are no more cars on the road ahead. If we keep following, it will be too obvious."

A voice rang out in the earpiece again, abruptly pulling Li Xiao back to his thoughts.

"Then ditch the car."

Li Xiao's tone was cold and sharp.

"Yes."

The person on the other end of the phone did not hesitate at all, instantly understanding his meaning.

"Send it to me once the location is confirmed."

Li Xiao gave another order and hung up the phone directly.

The study door was pushed open just at that moment.

"How is it going?"

Li Beijue asked with a grave expression.

"Still following. Viper went to the outskirts of the city. I don't know what he is doing there either. Right now... no matter what we do, we are risking Tiantian."

Li Xiao let out a long sigh, his brows knitted tightly together.

"We can't push too close, otherwise Viper might be driven to desperate measures, which would be even more unfavorable for Tiantian. But if we stay too far back... we have no way to confirm Tiantian's condition, nor do we know when to strike to minimize the harm..."

Li Xiao paused for a moment before continuing: "There is another possibility..."

"He is already at the end of his rope and will take the initiative to use Tiantian to bargain with us."

Li Beijue took over Li Xiao's words, his tone icy.

"I've thought about it. His villa exploding today was likely done by the people above him. He caused such a huge incident in the country; if I were his superior, I wouldn't keep him around either."

Li Beijue had already guessed roughly what was going on; his tone held no trace of inquiry, only certainty.

"Correct."

Li Xiao took off his earpiece and gently patted Li Beijue's shoulder.

"Once the location is confirmed on Viper's side, I will have everyone go over to lie in ambush. At the slightest sign of trouble, we will act immediately to rescue Tiantian! But..."

Li Xiao suddenly paused for a moment, leaving the sentence unfinished.

Li Beijue did not press for an answer.

Both of them knew that this was the most dangerous of all methods.

Because there is no way to predict the other party's reaction, no one can guarantee Tiantian's safety.

If the other party is driven to a dead end and truly decides to go down in flames, causing heavy casualties, it is not impossible.

The study was silent.

"Buzz—!"

Li Xiao's phone suddenly rang.

He hurriedly pulled himself together, glanced at it, and answered the call.

"I'm finished on my end, how are things on your side?"

Mu Liusu asked on the other end of the phone.

"Not very smooth. Tiantian is still in their hands, but... the one surnamed Lin seems to have already planned to dispose of Viper."

Li Xiao gritted his teeth slightly when mentioning "the one surnamed Lin."

"Dispose?"

Mu Liusu paused slightly: "I'll fly over directly in a while. I will have people investigate. Let's talk when we meet once there are results."

"Mm, I leave it to you."

Li Xiao didn't say much more and hung up directly.

"Whose call was that?"

Li Beijue asked.

Li Xiao's gaze flickered for a moment. Seeing that he couldn't hide it anymore, he had no choice but to confess truthfully, "It was Mu Liusu. He... is of the same rank as me in the Dark Gate."

"The Mu Family?"

Li Beijue raised an eyebrow slightly.

"The Mu Family doesn't participate in these things, just as you didn't know about my affairs in the past."

Li Xiao explained simply and added: "The areas we each oversee are different. His people are more inclined toward investigation, helping me cover up information, and handling the aftermath."

"I see..."

Li Beijue looked thoughtful, frowned, and asked, "What did he find out?"

Li Xiao shook his head slightly, his thin lips pressed into a straight line: "He is still investigating. He should arrive tomorrow morning. Once it is confirmed that Viper is a discarded pawn, then... we must prepare for both possibilities."

On the other side—Viper's car finally stopped outside a dilapidated farmhouse.

He stopped the car irritably and slammed the door shut with a "bang."

Then he pulled open the back door with a "swish."

"Get out."

He spat out the two words with a sinister expression.

Lu Qing'er dared not disobey his order and immediately scrambled out of the car in a panic.

Tiantian also didn't make a sound, clutching Xiaoshi's clothes tightly, her eyes wide as she looked at the surrounding environment.

"Second Master, where is this? Why does it feel so eerie..."

Lu Qing'er hugged her arms and leaned coquettishly toward Viper.

Viper, however, couldn't be bothered to pay attention to her and just said to Xiaoshi, "Follow me."

Xiaoshi followed obediently, subconsciously pulling Tiantian's hand tightly.

"Brother Shitou..."

Tiantian was a little scared and muttered in a low voice.

Xiaoshi immediately signaled her with his eyes not to speak and pulled her even closer.

There wasn't a single light inside the farmhouse.

It looked as if it had been abandoned for a long time.

Moreover, the house was very old; with a light push, the door let out a hoarse creak.

The air was filled with the smell of decay.

It was also Xiaoshi's first time here, and he couldn't help but frown.

"Second Master!"

After a few people went inside, a voice suddenly rang out; it was one of Viper's confidants.

The man ran in, panting, and reported to Viper: "Second Master, no cars followed us. It is safe here for now, and only a few of the brothers have minor injuries. What do you think..."

"You take a few people and stay behind; the others can find a place to settle down on their own. Wait for my notification."

Viper's tone was gloomy, clearly suppressing his own anger.

"Yes."

The man took the order and left.

Viper's expression, however, did not look much better.

He took his phone directly and dialed a number with a dark face.

"Beep—beep—"

The phone rang twice before it was answered.

"What is it?"

The man's lazy voice sounded.

"Mr. Lin, that question... should be mine to ask you, right?"

Viper's sinister tone formed a sharp contrast with the leisurely ease on the other end of the line.

The next second—"Hmph."

The man let out a cold snort: "How did you promise me last time? Today... Asura even took the initiative to show up at the door. Since you can't handle it well, then I will have to handle it for you."

"Is Mr. Lin planning to help me handle the small fry, or do you want to just handle me along with them?"

Viper's tone was somewhat aggressive.

"Aren't you still alive?"

The man on the other end of the phone asked back, still nonchalant.

Viper felt a surge of anger in his heart, but the words he was about to say were swallowed back down.

Then he heard the man say: "I have already given you one chance. If you still can't handle it well, there are plenty of people who want to take over your business in the country."

After the man finished speaking, he hung up the phone directly.