Chapter 20 Who Wants Me Dead

Li Xia sized up the man who had burst in. He was no longer young, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties, with sparse, greasy hair plastered against his scalp. His complexion was a sallow, muddy yellow, the muscles along his jaw twitching rhythmically, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Old Liu? You... what are you doing?"

Yan Ya quietly tucked the silver coin into an inconspicuous corner, his expression deepening with bewilderment. Old Liu was also the proprietor of an antique shop; they moved in the same circles and were well-acquainted. While not exactly wealthy, they were certainly better off than the average person. How could he have resorted to something like this?

"I'm sorry, Old Yan, but I... I have no choice. You’re raising cash... I understand."

Old Liu’s expression grew increasingly manic. Tears streamed down his face as he waved the strange-looking gun back and forth, pointing it at the three of them. "Close the shop now! Pull the rolling shutter down!"

"Old Liu, you—"

"Bang!"

The muzzle spat fire, accompanied by a thick, acrid smell of gunpowder, shattering a vase displayed on the counter. Yan Yi couldn't help but scream. Yan Ya fared slightly better, though his body shuddered.

"Calm down, Old Liu. I’m closing it now!"

The rolling shutter rattled as it began to descend. Old Liu, familiar with the layout, had already switched on the pendant light by the door.

Standing to the side, Li Xia’s mind raced. If he acted now, there was a good chance he could subdue the man. But that would invite trouble—the police, for example. Just as he was weighing his options, he saw Yan Ya cast him a sidelong glance. Li Xia was startled. Did that mean... he didn't need to worry?

He shifted his gaze and noticed that although Yan Yi was still clutching her head as if terrified, she was actually subtly shifting her feet. Oh? A backup plan? These people were not to be underestimated; they were truly thorough.

"Old Yan! Tell your daughter to stop moving! Your alarm button is installed right there, isn't it?"

Damn it! Yan Ya almost cursed aloud. Helplessly, he shook his head at his daughter. These coin shops all operated with the same routine; the alarm buttons were almost always in the same place.

"Old Liu, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but I heard about that business the other day. There’s no hurdle you can’t get over, so why do this?"

Since sneak tactics were useless, Yan Ya began playing on their history, trying to ease the tension with small talk. Li Xia stood quietly to the side, listening. It seemed he had just been caught in the crossfire and wasn't the primary target.

"Look, who hasn't paid their tuition when first entering the trade? You branched out into jade, and the gambling didn't go your way—that’s normal, isn't it? If you have difficulties, talk to us. Why pull a gun?"

Yan Ya rambled on, hands raised, pleading earnestly. "If you fire that gun, do you think you can get away? Old Liu, if you stop now, I promise I won't call the police. We can't let one mistake ruin a lifetime—"

Under this barrage, Old Liu’s expression seemed to soften, but the gun in his hand remained rock steady. He merely shook his head, his voice choked with sobs. "I’m sorry, my friend. I have no choice. My wife and son are being held hostage. I have no choice, I have no choice!"

Yan Ya’s face darkened instantly. Old Liu had fathered a son late in life and doted on him; it was that very son who had goaded him into gambling on stones in Myanmar. He had heard they had lost a fortune, draining their life savings, and now they were being held captive...

"Old Yan, have your daughter connect her phone to the television for screen mirroring—"

Yan Yi looked at her father, then complied.

"Open your banking app. Don't try any tricks. I know which banks we are VIPs with. Transfer to these accounts. Twelve million in total." Old Liu tossed over a note with several account numbers scrawled on it.

Yan Ya’s heart skipped a beat. He was furious at how long this bastard Liu Mingguang must have been planning this, to know exactly how much liquid capital he had. He wanted to stall, but didn't know how. Then he heard his daughter say:

"Uncle... Uncle Liu... this transfer... it can be frozen... doing this... isn't... isn't..."

*Sigh.* Yan Ya closed his eyes and let out a long breath. Still so young.

"Once the twelve million is sent, it will be split and transferred into many parts within half an hour. They are professional money launderers. I’ll stay here and watch you for half an hour. Once they say it’s done and release the hostages, I’ll turn myself in. I’ve been diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer anyway; I don’t have much time left..."

There was no way out.

Li Xia shook his head. The situation was indeed unsolvable. Faced with his life and his daughter’s, Yan Ya would certainly choose to give up the money. Sure enough, Yan Ya closed his eyes and waved his hand, signaling his daughter to begin the transfer. During the process, the bank triggered a large-transfer alert and even called to verify. Yan Ya didn't try to signal that he was under duress; he cooperated proactively.

This was actually a very clever move. Old Liu was currently fixated on trading his own life for his wife and son; if things didn't go smoothly, he might very well take both him and his daughter out. He knew what was at stake. Time ticked by second by second. The Bluetooth earpiece in Old Liu’s ear kept flashing as he whispered, confirming something with the person on the other end. His tone was humble, filled with supplication.

"It’s been transferred. Can you... can you release my wife and son first? Let my son go first, at least... Then let me hear their voices?"

Li Xia felt a pang of distress listening from the side. Yan Ya sighed repeatedly, his eyes drifting toward his daughter from time to time. Fortunately, his daughter wasn't entirely useless.

Whatever sound came through the earpiece, Old Liu let out a long, wailing "Ah," and began to wipe his tears. For a moment, it was hard to tell whether he was pitiable or hateful.

Suddenly, Old Liu froze and turned his gaze toward Li Xia.

An ominous premonition suddenly rose in Li Xia’s heart, and he heard Old Liu ask, "Old Yan, this young man... is his surname Li?"

Yan Ya was stunned, his eyes involuntarily darting over. "Why are you asking that? Let me tell you, Old Liu, this is between us. It has nothing to do with this young man—"

"That’s him, then..."

Under everyone’s horrified gaze, Old Liu slowly shifted his focus to Li Xia. "I’m sorry..."

A deep sense of crisis surged in Li Xia’s heart. In an instant, the world around him seemed to become incredibly vibrant and responsive; a profound and mystical sensation washed over him. With a flash of intuition, he realized his innate talent had activated. In the blink of an eye, he willed it, and an exquisite green treasure chest appeared in his palm.

*Open!*

In an instant, a blinding light erupted from the lid—the radiance of pure luck!

The entire shop seemed to have a miniature sun rise within it. Old Liu, facing the box directly, felt his vision turn completely white and let out a terrified shriek. In his panic, he blindly raised his gun and pulled the trigger.

"Bang!"

Gunpowder smoke dispersed. Amidst Yan Yi’s scream, there was a sound like a great whale inhaling water. In an instant, power flooded his entire body!

*Full Focus Breathing!*

*Crack.* Two fissures appeared on the terrazzo floor. He crossed the five-meter distance in a flash. Old Liu felt a tremendous force strike him, and the gun vanished from his hand.

When the light faded, Yan Ya and Yan Yi, blinking away tears, looked on in astonishment as the situation had completely reversed. Old Liu sat on the floor, trembling, while Li Xia stood there, his expression grim, holding the crudely made gun in one hand and Old Liu’s earpiece in the other.

He placed the earpiece to his ear.