Chapter 720: Confrontation Under the Sniper Scope

A loud "shut up," full of momentum!

Li Zhenyang's will to steady the "big picture," combined with the authority of a high-ranking provincial official, made his deterrent force extraordinarily strong.

To prevent Li Hengbo from leaking those unsavory matters, he even ignored the gun in Li Hengbo's hand and forcibly cut off Li Hengbo's right to speak.

The room fell into a brief silence.

So quiet that one could almost hear the nervous heartbeat of negotiation expert Wang Ming; Li Shuting likewise tensed her nerves, daring not to make a sound.

Li Zhenyang stared at Li Hengbo with a blank expression, his hands folded on his knees, his posture as steady as if presiding over a standing committee meeting.

But deep in his eyes flashed a hint of calculation—time, he needed to buy time!

Downstairs, Liu Shu should have already arranged the sniper, perhaps on the opposite rooftop, with the barrel aimed this way.

Just one opportunity away—a chance to kill Li Hengbo with a single shot!

"Li Hengbo."

Li Zhenyang spoke again, his voice returning to calm: "We don't need to threaten each other. You want a way out; I want Shuting safe. That's the basis for us to reach an agreement."

Without waiting for Li Hengbo's response.

Li Zhenyang then put on a sincere, open-hearted posture:

"The car is already waiting at the back door. The money—five million in cash—will be delivered within ten minutes. If you want me to personally send you out of the city, I can do that. But once out of the city, you must release Shuting."

Upon hearing this, Li Hengbo narrowed his eyes.

Today's negotiation went smoother than he had imagined.

Li Hengbo pointed the gun at Shuting's temple, then threw out his inner doubt: "Secretary Li suddenly being so agreeable? I feel… there's a trick."

"Do I still have a choice? You don't need to be so suspicious here."

Li Zhenyang gave a bitter laugh, his smile just right mixed with a father's anxiety and a politician's various helplessness.

He added: "Shuting is in your hands; I can't afford to gamble. The daughter of Wu Zhou's top official being killed by kidnappers… such a political scandal, I likewise cannot bear."

That statement was half true, half false, yet reasonable, with a hint of compromise.

The so-called political scandal actually referred to his own deeds in Wu Zhou, such as the truth behind the deaths of Duan Xinhua and his son……

Li Hengbo naturally understood the meaning of these subtexts.

Li Hengbo stared at Li Zhenyang for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled: "Fine, we'll do as Secretary Li says. But before we set off, I want to see the money first."

"All right." Li Zhenyang nodded: "Chief Liu is preparing."

Having said that, Li Zhenyang lowered his head to glance at his watch; it was already 2:34 a. m.

The sniper should already be in position, the best shooting angle being by the window. But now the living-room curtains aren't drawn, so the sniper can't precisely lock onto the target.

Moreover, Li Hengbo constantly kept himself behind Shuting, exposing only half his face.

We need to find a way to make him move.

"Relax, don't be so tense." Li Zhenyang rose slowly, his steps natural as he walked toward the window: "It's already the dead of night; that works in your favor for escaping."

Speaking, he swished the curtains open, as if merely wanting to show Li Hengbo the hazy night outside.

"Pull the curtains back!"

Li Hengbo gave a cold warning, at the same time pointing the gun at Li Zhenyang.

Li Zhenyang furrowed his brows slightly, feigning ease: "I just opened the curtains to get some air; what are you nervous about? Don't be so sensitive…"

"Bang!!!"

Before Li Zhenyang could finish speaking, Li Hengbo fired.

But……

Li Hengbo's shot wasn't aimed at Li Zhenyang's head, but at Shuting's left leg! The gunshot rang out, and Shuting let out a miserable scream.

The beauty's long legs now had a bloody hole.

Shuting was in so much pain her soul seemed to flee.

The next second, Li Hengbo hauled Shuting up from the sofa, using her as a shield before him, and further warned Li Zhenyang: "I told you to pull the curtains back!"

This time, Li Hengbo pressed the gun muzzle against Shuting's head.

Seeing his daughter's pained, silent tears, Li Zhenyang's heart leapt to his throat! He never dreamed Li Hengbo's vigilance would be this strong.

He also never imagined Li Hengbo's methods would be so ruthless, firing without any warning.

For safety's sake.

Li Zhenyang dared not harbor any further hope; he could only grit his teeth and pull the curtains shut tight!

Without a doubt, pulling the curtains back will inevitably block the sniper's line of sight from the opposite building; tonight, killing Li Hengbo will be no easy feat.

"Don't play tricks!"

The gun muzzle in Li Hengbo's hand pressed tightly against Shuting's temple, his voice icy to the extreme.

Blood quickly stained Shuting's nightgown red.

Li Zhenyang's face turned ashen; he stood rooted, unmoving, only softly saying: "First stop Shuting's bleeding—is that request too much?"

"You come!"

Li Hengbo pointed his gun muzzle at the nearby negotiation expert—Wang Ming.

Wang Ming was already so nervous his back was sweating cold; he dared not say another word, seeing a medical first-aid box on the coffee table, he opened it on his own.

He took out disinfectant and gauze, and helped bandage Shuting's leg wound.

The bullet is lodged in the flesh; without surgery it definitely can't be removed, so for now only a simple bandage to stop the bleeding can be done.

Throughout the process, Shuting gritted her teeth in silent pain, tears welling in her eyes.

Li Zhenyang saw it in his eyes, felt it in his heart, his face paling considerably at this moment. But he kept forcing himself to stay calm, possessing the composure a politician should have.

"Li Hengbo." Li Zhenyang's voice was level, yet resentment showed clearly: "Shuting is innocent, and you even like her—are your methods too cold-blooded?"

"Better I let the world down than let the world let me down! Have you not read Romance of the Three Kingdoms?"

Li Hengbo gave a cold smile, directly comparing himself to Cao Cao, the mastermind behind the scenes.

If placed in a rebirth at the end of the Eastern Han.

Little Li truly could become a generation's hegemon.

He has a heart more ruthless than Lin Dongfan's, and a backbone that can bend or stretch; when needed, he doesn't mind kneeling to be someone's lackey.

"Secretary Li, you should understand now—I'm not joking with you, pull back the snipers immediately!" Li Mobo directly exposed Li Zhenyang's intention.

"!!!"

Li Zhenyang's face remained expressionless; after hesitating only half a second, he picked up his phone and notified Chief Liu to withdraw the snipers.

Finally…

Li Zhenyang put away his phone and then advised Li Hengbo: "Stay calm; impulsiveness solves nothing—you want survival, not death."

"If you insist on making me die, I'll definitely drag your Li family down with me!"

Li Hengbo decisively pointed his gun at Li Zhenyang, the threat level maxed out! He had the resolve to look past life and death, and to fight if not satisfied.

At this moment, no one could threaten him.