Chapter 734: Xu Jijun

The next evening at nine o'clock, in the western suburbs of Wu Zhou, Wangjiang Pavilion.

This viewing pavilion built on the edge of a cliff stood alone in the night; below it rushed the Canglan River, its water shimmering with cold silver under the moonlight.

The late wind was strong, making the copper bell under the eaves chime.

Li Zhenyang stood alone in the pavilion, wrapped in a dark windbreaker with the collar up, half his face covered. He had arrived half an hour early, keeping his eyes on the mountain path.

No car lights, no people in sight.

Will Xu Jijun come?

Or is this altogether a trap?

Just as Li Zhenyang began to doubt, a faint footstep sounded behind him.

He turned sharply and saw a man in a black hoodie and mask standing on the other side of the pavilion—he did not know when the man had arrived.

The man was tall and thin, his cap brim pulled low, but his eyes shone brightly in the darkness.

"Secretary Li is punctual."

The man spoke, and it was Xu Jijun's voice.

Li Zhenyang stared at him, his hand slipping toward his waist—there he kept a pocket pistol: "How did you get up here? I didn't see a car."

"I arrived two hours ago and have been on the mountain." Xu Jijun lowered his mask, revealing a face Li Zhenyang knew yet did not know.

It was still that sharply defined face, but much thinner than four years ago, his skin pallid from long lack of sun. A shallow scar ran from his cheekbone to his jaw on the left side, as if left by a sharp blade.

What most startled Li Zhenyang was Xu Jijun's gaze—calm, unfathomable, like two frozen lakes. That was the look of one who had faced death and rebirth, who had seen through everything.

"Sit."

Xu Jijun sat on the stone bench, took out a small metal flask from his pocket, took a sip, then offered it to Li Zhenyang: "Warm up?"

Li Zhenyang did not take it: "Speak plainly—how will you help me? And what do you want?"

Xu Jijun put the flask away and smiled: "Secretary Li, you're still as impatient. All right, let's get down to business."

As he spoke, Xu Jijun's smile faded.

He continued: "First, I'll handle the evidence in Liu Shu's hands. Although Lin Dongfan sent bodyguards to protect him, I can make him 'voluntarily' hand it over, even make him stay silent forever."

Li Zhenyang was doubtful: "How?"

"You don't need to worry about that." Xu Jijun waved a hand: "You only need to know that at most three days, Liu Shu will cease to be a threat."

"Second..." Xu Jijun went on: "You can't confront Lin Dongfan head‑on. He now holds Li Hengbo and Liu Shu as his two cards, his momentum is high. What you must do is show weakness and contact him first."

Li Zhenyang frowned: "You want me to bow to the Lin family?"

"Not bowing, but buying time." Xu Jijun said lightly: "If you approach him, he'll think you've surrendered and lower his guard. During that time I will do three things in the shadows—"

He raised three fingers:

"One, eliminate everyone in Wu Zhou who could become a hidden danger. Zhao Qiang is already crippled; Fang Zhanhong… he knows too much—you decide whether to keep him or not."

Li Zhenyang's heart jolted: "Fang Zhanhong has followed me for fifteen years..."

"Fifteen years, and he knows how many of your secrets?" Xu Jijun countered: "Secretary Li, to achieve great things you must cut what needs cutting. Every hidden danger you keep adds to your risk."

Li Zhenyang fell silent.

After Along while, Li Zhenyang gritted his teeth: "... You arrange it."

"Wise." Xu Jijun nodded: "Two, I will restart the funding chains of several key projects in Wu Zhou. Li Hengbo fell, the Rebirth Group changed hands, but those projects remain. As long as money flows again, those who benefit will return to your side. Interest is the strongest bond."

"Three..." Xu Jijun paused, lowering his voice: "I will make contact with people in Jingcheng. Although our Xu family has fallen, we still have some old connections we can use. Lin Dongfan wants to move against you; evidence alone isn't enough—he also needs support from above. If I can silence those supporters, or even turn them…"

He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

Li Zhenyang stared at Xu Jijun and suddenly asked: "You're doing all this—what do you really want? Don't say it's just to help me."

Xu Jijun smiled: "Of course not. I want three things."

"Speak." Li Zhenyang locked eyes with Xu Jijun.

Xu Jijun said: "First, I want priority participation rights in all major projects in Wu Zhou for the next five years. You don't need to show up—I'll operate under a new identity and a new company."

"Second..." Xu Jijun's gaze turned cold: "Lin Dongfan once spared my life; I owe him a favor. So I won't move against him directly this time. But I need your promise: if one day you replace Lin Zhenhua, you must not harm his family, nor exterminate them. This is the bottom line."

Li Zhenyang was stunned.

Xu Jijun is actually pleading for Lin Dongfan?

Li Zhenyang could not understand: "You and he…"

"Old classmates, once friends." Xu Jijun looked out over the dark river beyond the pavilion, his voice carrying a rare tremor: "Back in Haishan I was shot and fell into the sea. The maritime police never recovered my body; the investigation team once questioned whether I had really died, and Lin Dongfan suppressed those doubts."

As he spoke, Xu Jijun turned his head to gaze at Li Zhenyang.

He added with feeling: "I know he spared me out of old affection, leaving me alive. I must repay that debt. This is the precondition of our deal—after you succeed, you must not move against the Lin family's descendants."

Li Zhenyang remained silent for Along time, then finally nodded: "All right. What's the third?"

Xu Jijun produced a photograph from his pocket.

He placed it on the stone table.

The photo showed a man in his fifties, wearing prison garb, face gaunt but eyes still sharp.

That man is Xu Jijun's father—Xu Chuping, sentenced to life imprisonment four years ago for massive bribery and abuse of power, now held in Qincheng Prison.

"I want my father's sentence reduced." Xu Jijun stated each word: "Not necessarily released, but at least cut to twenty years or less. He's old; I don't want him to die in prison."

Li Zhenyang picked up the photo, stared at it Along time before saying: "Sentence reduction requires procedure, justification, and…"

"I'll handle that." Xu Jijun cut him off: "When you eventually rise to power, you only need to make the right gesture at the right time, and naturally someone will speak up for the 'great scholar'."

Li Zhenyang set the photo down, drew a deep breath.

Three things—project priority rights, sparing Lin Dongfan, reducing Xu Chuping's sentence.

The price is not small.

But compared with saving his own life and position, it seems acceptable.

"How can I trust you'll do what you say?" Li Zhenyang posed his final question.

Xu Jijun stood up, walked to the edge of the pavilion, and gazed at the rushing river beneath his feet: "Secretary Li, when I 'died' four years ago, how many people clapped in delight? You know that in your heart."

Li Zhenyang blinked, without denying it.

Xu Jijun turned to look at him, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes: "Back then, many in the Jing circle rejoiced at my death, rejoicing that no one would threaten them anymore."

He paused for a moment.

Xu Jijun gave a wry, self‑mocking smile: "I, Xu Jijun, can 'die' once and come back to life—not by luck. I rely on the network of connections, leverage, and those people's most feared secrets built up over the years; that is the confidence I have to help you. If you don't believe me, you can go down the mountain right now, as if I never came."

The night wind blew past, and the bronze bell ding‑dang.

Li Zhenyang stared into Xu Jijun's eyes, trying to find a flaw. All he saw was an unfathomable calm and a near‑ruthless confidence.

Could this person really turn the tables?

He didn't know.

But he knew he had no other choice.

"All right." Li Zhenyang finally spoke: "I'll trust you once. What do you need me to do?"

Xu Jijun pulled a new phone from his pocket.

He handed it to Li Zhenyang:

"First, tomorrow morning, use this number to call Lin Dongfan and arrange a meeting. Set the place in Wu Zhou, saying you want to discuss the Duan Xinhua case and are willing to provide clues."

"Second, copy all the lists, accounts, and key evidence you have regarding the Wu Zhou interests network and give me a copy."

"A photocopy or electronic version is fine; the original is not needed."

"Third, prepare the money. I want fifty million in cash, old bills, non‑consecutive serial numbers. In three days I'll have someone come pick it up."

These demands made Li Zhenyang frown outright.

Li Zhenyang said: "Fifty million? Where can we possibly get that much cash in such a short time……"

"Secretary Li, stop pretending you're poor." Xu Jijun gave a faint smile: "Even a fraction of your overseas accounts exceeds that amount. Fifty million buys your life and position—it's not expensive."

Li Zhenyang's face changed, and he clenched his teeth without retorting.

"Then it's settled."

Xu Jijun put his mask back on, turned, and prepared to leave.

"Wait." Li Zhenyang called him back: "One last question—why are you helping me? Is it really just for Madam Xiang and your father?"

Xu Jijun stopped at the pavilion entrance without turning back.

The night wind poured into the pavilion.

It made the hem of his clothes flutter and snap.

Along while……

He finally spoke slowly: "These past four years, I've hidden like a rat, watching the Xu family collapse and former friends turn into enemies…… Sometimes, staying alive takes more courage than dying."

He paused.

He added: "I want to stand in the sunlight again, even if it's borrowed. Because I have a woman I deeply love, and she needs the sunlight."

Having said that, he stepped into the darkness and soon vanished along the path beside the cliff.

Li Zhenyang stood alone in the pavilion, gripping that disposable phone, motionless for Along time.

The Canglan River beneath the pavilion rushed on eternally, sending out an endless roar. And his fate, starting tonight, would change once again.