BL Ch94

The weather today was exceptionally fine. Yu Duqiu opened the sunroof, reclined the passenger seat to its lowest position, nearly lying flat, and leisurely watched the white clouds drift across the blue sky overhead.

“No salary. You won’t hold a grudge against me, will you, Xiao Bai, you little ingrate?”

“I won’t.” Bai Zhao focused intently on steering, navigating the winding mountain road.

“Since you’re so understanding, I’ll share some good news with you: I’ve set up a supplementary card for you, no spending limit, use it as you please.” Yu Duqiu paused, then added, “But if you’re buying a plane or a yacht, you’d better check with me first. Let me weigh in so you don’t waste money on a pile of industrial scrap.”

The corner of Bai Zhao’s lips curved upward. “Can I buy a heartfelt confession from you?”

“Don’t push your luck.” Yu Duqiu pointed to the poppy flower tucked into his suit’s boutonniere. “You’ve already got the flower. How much clearer do I need to be?”

Bai Zhao said, “When I first arrived, you kept saying you liked me. Now you won’t even say it.”

One trap after another, but Yu Duqiu wasn’t falling for it. He deliberately teased, “Well, it’s been three months. I’m over it.”

“You didn’t seem over it last night when you were holding me and kissing me.”

“That’s just physical. Going to bed with you is never boring. It’s quite satisfying.”

When it came to shameless banter and scandalous talk, Yu Duqiu never lost. His words left Bai Zhao momentarily silent, his Adam’s apple bobbing as if recalling something. After a long pause, he cleared his throat. “Don’t distract me while I’m driving. Mountain roads are dangerous.”

Having had his fun teasing, Yu Duqiu said casually, “We do need to be careful. If I were to crash and plummet off a cliff here, dying the same way as Miss Cen twenty years ago, that’d be a field day for the media’s KPIs. Even I’d start believing there’s a curse on this brain-computer interface thing.”

Bai Zhao didn’t respond, and Yu Duqiu didn’t press further, as his phone suddenly rang. The caller was Hong Liangzhang, whom he hadn’t heard from in days. As soon as he picked up, he was startled. “What’s wrong, Uncle Hong? Why are you crying?”

Hong Liangzhang’s low sobs came through the speaker, filled with such heart-wrenching pain that one could imagine the deep furrows of wrinkles on the old man’s face at that moment.

“Young Master… I’m so sorry… I truly, truly don’t have the face to see the old master…”

Yu Duqiu was baffled. “What are you apologizing for? What does this have to do with Grandpa?”

“Little Zhou… they told me everything, about how you almost didn’t make it back… It’s all my fault. Why didn’t I stop you? Why did I… why did I… Oh, I was so foolish!”

Yu Duqiu chuckled. “That’s all? I’m back safe and sound, aren’t I? Don’t blame yourself. I was prepared for the worst before I came. Tomorrow I’ll be back in the country, and you won’t have to spend your days worrying anymore. Baoguo and the others mentioned you haven’t been sleeping well these past few days. Take care of yourself.”

Hong Liangzhang’s sobs only grew more anguished. “This old bag of bones could drop dead any day, but you’re different, Young Master. The old master entrusted you to my care, and I… I’ve failed his trust…”

The crying went on endlessly. Since the old butler, who had watched him grow up and was like family, was on the other end, Yu Duqiu couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh. He patiently comforted him. “Please don’t think like that. I can’t do without you, and Yuanhang can’t do without its grandpa. Alright, crying any more will hurt your health. Go take a nap, and by the time you wake up, I should’ve passed the checkpoint.”

Hong Liangzhang sniffled. 

“Alright… Young Master… don’t stop on the road, and absolutely don’t get out of the bulletproof car… Once you’re somewhere safe, remember to let me know you’re alright…”

“Yes, yes, yes, don’t worry.” Yu Duqiu agreed repeatedly, soothing the old man.

After hanging up, he let out a long sigh, holding the phone as he reflected for a moment. “Tell me, was I really too reckless this time? I actually made the old man cry for me. I’ve never seen Uncle Hong so guilt-ridden before.”

Bai Zhao kept his eyes forward. “When are you not reckless? Hurry back so he doesn’t worry.”

Yu Duqiu seemed touched by Hong Liangzhang’s call. He raised the seatback and sat up properly. “No wonder the old man’s so worried. I nearly got myself killed this time. Aside from saving Mu Hao, I didn’t gain a single thing. Bai Zhiming is far more cunning and ruthless than I imagined, and the people around me aren’t as loyal as I thought. Pei Ming, in particular, I can’t figure out. What role does he play in these cases? King? Chariot? Bishop? Knight? He doesn’t seem to fit any of them.”

Bai Zhao said calmly, “Maybe he’s just an ordinary pawn, and you’ve all overestimated him.”

Yu Duqiu shook his head. “You can’t underestimate a pawn. If he catches us off guard and reaches the opponent’s baseline, he can promote to a knight, bishop, chariot… or even a queen. Then he’d be a real problem.”

“But no matter what, he can’t become a king, right?”

Yu Duqiu looked at him with newfound respect. “You’ve studied well. You even know that rule. You’re right, no matter which side, there’s only ever one king. The question is, if Pei Ming isn’t the king, then who is the real king? Not only has he completely hidden himself, but he’s also created a fake king to mislead us. I’ve never felt so foolish, being played like a fiddle.”

Bai Zhao said, “Whoever he is, this person is either close to you or has planted a spy near you. You just haven’t noticed.”

Yu Duqiu sighed. “Exactly. I feel like I’m locked in a dark room, only able to peek through a keyhole. Occasionally, I catch glimpses of what people outside are doing or what they intend, but I can’t see the full picture. The other side is just beyond the door, so close, yet I can’t find the key to open it in the dark… But that’s fine. I’m about to find it.”

Bai Zhao glanced at him. “What’s your plan?”

Yu Duqiu flashed a cryptic smile. “Remember the saying? ‘Don’t even tell the gods about the things you truly intend to do.’ You’ll find out soon enough.”

Bai Zhao frowned slightly, seeming puzzled, but didn’t press further.

The car drove smoothly through the desolate mountain ridges. The scenery along the way was beautiful, but neither the road ahead nor the rearview mirror showed a single vehicle. It felt as though they were alone in this vast, lonely wilderness, which couldn’t help but stir a faint unease.

After descending a slope, they followed the car’s navigation onto a narrow path through a valley. They hadn’t yet left the Mugu mining area, and the dirt road was mixed with small stones, crunching under the tires. The sound echoed clearly in the empty, quiet valley, and the car rocked slightly with the uneven terrain.

Bai Zhao eased off the accelerator, slowing down, and said, “Zhou Yi’s car is behind us, right? Tell them to speed up and stay one kilometer behind us. This terrain is perfect for an ambush.”

Yu Duqiu, however, wasn’t the least bit concerned, replying breezily, “No worries, just keep driving.”

Bai Zhao tightened his grip on the steering wheel, saying nothing more, and continued at a cautious thirty kilometers per hour, his eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings, occasionally flicking to the rearview mirror.

With a three-kilometer gap, at normal speed, Zhou Yi’s car should have caught up in five or six minutes, or at least been visible in the distance.

But at that moment, there was nothing behind them.

And ahead, at the end of the narrow path, just before the valley’s exit, the way was conveniently blocked by a few rocks.

Falling stones were common on mountain roads, especially after days of heavy rain. They were lucky not to have encountered a full landslide blocking the entire route. The rocks were slightly higher than the car’s chassis and would need to be moved, but they weren’t too large. Two grown men should be able to handle them.

Yu Duqiu reached to open the door, only to be yanked back by the man beside him. “Wait for Zhou Yi and the others to move them. They should be here soon.”

“No need, I’m not that delicate.” Yu Duqiu looked at him oddly. “What’s with you today? You’re being so cautious.”

Bai Zhao’s face was grim, almost angry. “I should be asking you, why are you being so careless today?”

Yu Duqiu blinked, not understanding why he was upset. He reached back and took Bai Zhao’s hand. “I’m not careless. It’s really fine, trust me.”

Bai Zhao didn’t relax; instead, he grew more agitated, constantly glancing back. “Why hasn’t Zhou Yi’s car shown up? I’m calling them.” He reached for his phone.

Yu Duqiu grabbed his hand and leaned in, patting his face. “Don’t call them. Look at me, babe.”

Bai Zhao’s breathing grew unsteady, his anxious eyes meeting Yu Duqiu’s.

“I know you’re worried about me, but you don’t need to be paranoid. We’re perfectly safe.” Yu Duqiu flashed a mischievous grin, leaned forward, and pressed that grin to the other man’s lips before pulling back. “I was going to wait until I’d achieved my goal to tell you, but since you’re so anxious, I’ll let you in on it now.”

He pointed to the route on the car’s navigation screen. “We’re the only ones on this route.”

Bai Zhao’s face froze. “What?”

“I told you, I’m close to finding the ‘key.’” Yu Duqiu said smugly, “I’m certain Bai Zhiming won’t just sit and wait. To escape Mugu, he has two options: trek hundreds of kilometers over mountains or hijack our bulletproof car to force his way through the checkpoint. Given his age and audacity, I’m betting on the latter.”

“I already know there’s a traitor among us. How could I give him another chance to harm me? For this trip, I personally assigned the personnel for each car. I told every driver a different route, making them think there are cars ahead and behind. In reality, each route has only one car.”

Yu Duqiu tapped the screen. “So, whichever route runs into trouble, the person who tipped off Bai Zhiming is in that car. Pretty brilliant idea, right?”

Bai Zhao’s expression didn’t relax as Yu Duqiu had expected. Instead, it turned ashen and rigid, like hardened cement. His bloodless lips trembled slightly, but no words came out, only a flicker of pained struggle.

Yu Duqiu looked at him curiously. “What are you still worried about? Only you and I know this route. It’s absolutely safe. Let’s not waste time—let’s go move those rocks.”

Bai Zhao’s eyes widened abruptly. “Don’t open the door!”

But his warning came half a second too late. Yu Duqiu had already pressed the button, and the bulletproof car’s door popped open, revealing a narrow gap.

Yu Duqiu turned back, bewildered. “Why are you shouting like that?”

Before he could finish, a cold sensation pressed against his temple—not the autumn breeze, nor rain, but a chilling metal weapon forged by human greed and cruelty.

It was something that had haunted his nightmares, now shattering the safety he had taken for granted.

The gun’s icy chill seeped through his skin, into his blood, and deep into his bones.

Yu Duqiu stared blankly at the man before him, as if unable to comprehend—or unwilling to accept—that the man who had plucked a flower for him from the gates of hell last night, the man who promised to spend every autumn with him henceforth, could be the one aiming to end his life on the first day of autumn.

Bai Zhao looked back at him, transformed in an instant. His eyes were as lifeless as an ancient well, devoid of emotion, even numb. Then, calmly, he spoke to the hijacker behind Yu Duqiu. “Dad, don’t shoot. He’s still useful.”

“I know,” came a sinister, raspy laugh, eerily familiar. “Good boy, you’ve done well.”

Ah… so that’s how it is. That’s how it is.

Yu Duqiu’s lips twitched, attempting a self-mocking smile, but they were too heavy and soon fell. His strength drained away.

Each breath felt like swallowing shards of glass, the sharp fragments piercing his flesh, lungs, and heart, blood seeping everywhere. The pain made him want to scream, collapse, or lose his mind.

But in the end, he did nothing, not even bothering to resist. He sat there, expressionless and rigid, until a surge of electricity hit him from behind. He convulsed for less than a second before his consciousness slipped away from his body.

In the final moment before unconsciousness, he still faced the driver’s seat. The electric shock clouded his mind, blurring his vision until only a vague outline remained. The other seemed to reach out toward him, and instinctively, Yu Duqiu lifted his hand—

But before their fingertips could touch, darkness descended, dragging him into an endless abyss.