The Choice

“Although I knew from the start that you would be trouble, it seems I still underestimated you. As expected of the Bureau—the elite of the Bureau.”

After Jiang Xun and Su Mian stepped into the auction hall together, the surrounding mist vanished inexplicably. This time, they could easily see the expression on the old man’s face.

However, Yu Fu didn’t show much emotion. His aged face was as indifferent as ever. He waved his hand to dismiss the trembling Shen Junying to a corner, and then his gaze suddenly landed on Su Mian.

He hesitated slightly.

He was likely wondering who she was.

Despite racking his brains, Yu Fu couldn’t recall when his household had hired such a maid. Noticing that her clothes clearly didn’t fit and seeing her striking beauty, he quickly categorized her as another operative from the Bureau.

While he didn’t know how she had managed to sneak in, at this stage, Boss Yu couldn’t be bothered to ponder such details. His gaze shifted back to Jiang Xun, and he spoke very directly.

“Since things have reached this point, I won’t waste time on nonsense. Mr. Jiang, how about we make a deal?”

“Before we talk about that, tell me first—where are my two companions?”

Jiang Xun took a step forward, his gaze as sharp as a blade. An ordinary person facing such eyes would likely crumble under the immense pressure.

But a man of Yu Fu’s stature was clearly not so easily intimidated. He simply spoke calmly, “There is no need to worry. In fact, they are safer than you are.”

“So, where exactly are they?”

“Outside.”

The answer gave Jiang Xun pause, leading him into deep thought. Boss Yu, as if showing sincerity, continued, “I never intended to make enemies of the Bureau. Keeping you here would bring me nothing but trouble. Therefore, the safest course of action was naturally to ‘invite’ you all out.”

“Then why did you leave me behind alone?”

“Because you are special. I had no way to move you out.”

At this, Yu Fu sighed, sounding somewhat helpless.

He was indeed telling the truth.

Knowing that the Bureau was not to be trifled with, he naturally wouldn’t leave them here to sabotage his plans. However, while the other two were easily dealt with, Jiang Xun was the exception; Yu Fu’s methods simply didn’t work on him.

And as it turned out, he was indeed a major problem!

The man had effortlessly destroyed half the ritual and easily eliminated the demonic people sent after him, forcing Yu Fu to choose negotiation.

“So they were left in the normal world and weren’t trapped here. No wonder I couldn’t find them anywhere.”

Jiang Xun was somewhat speechless at this revelation. When he had lost contact with them, he thought they had met with an accident.

Of course, he had considered the possibility that they were in the normal world, but because he couldn’t figure out why only he had been left behind, he assumed Yu Fu had some sort of conspiracy.

As it turned out, the man simply couldn’t get rid of him!

Thinking about it, it was actually quite funny.

Now that he knew Old He and An Ye were safe, Jiang Xun could finally relax his racing heart. He stole a glance at the girl standing not far away; she was just blinking her eyes without any reaction. He looked up and continued, “Fine then. Let’s hear more about your deal.”

“It’s simple.”

Yu Fu stood on the stage and snapped his fingers. In the next second, everyone seated in the hall opened their eyes simultaneously. He pointed to the crowd, who looked like puppets, and said, “Stop interfering with my business, and you can take them and leave this place right now.”

“You kept them here sitting quietly just to use them for negotiations now?”

“You can think of it that way.”

Yu Fu didn’t mind Jiang Xun’s mocking tone, but the tall youth suddenly changed the subject. “And what about the people in the restaurant?”

“They are beyond saving. They are more valuable remaining here.”

On the high stage, the old man’s expression and eyes remained cold. It was as if those people downstairs were not living souls, but merely meat on a chopping block.

This gaze, viewing others as mere ants, was exactly what Jiang Xun loathed most. Even Su Mian, who had been acting as a silent observer, couldn’t help but frown.

Sensing the faint killing intent emerging in the air, the white-haired man’s expression finally shifted. However, it wasn’t a look of compromise or guilt, but a flicker of madness.

He stared down at the man and woman below, his cold voice carrying a rare trace of resentment. “Don’t go blaming everything on me. I didn’t want to do this originally. If it weren’t for your Bureau—if you hadn’t disrupted my original plan…”

“The original plan? You mean the people you secretly kidnapped?”

“Exactly!”

Yu Fu didn’t back down from Jiang Xun’s accusation. Instead, his voice grew more intense, and his eyes turned bloodshot. “But those were just the scum and dregs of society! I only wanted to use the remainder of their lives for something more valuable. This was never supposed to harm anyone else, let alone turn into this farce! It was you—you caused all of this!”

The old man’s voice grew louder, finally reaching a hysterical pitch.

“I have done charity for decades! I have donated tens of millions, even hundreds of millions every year, helping countless people in this society! Now, I only wanted to make some waste a little more useful. Why do you have to stop me? Why!”

Yu Fu’s momentum was powerful; a different person might have actually been shaken. But the young man below remained expressionless.

“Whether they are scum or dregs is not for you to define. Moreover, even if they were, it is not your place to judge them.”

Jiang Xun’s voice was icy, filled with remorseless mockery. “And you, who dragged these truly innocent people into this—what difference is there between you and the scum you talk about?”

“Shut up!”

The old man panted heavily, his body trembling as if he might collapse at any moment. His emotional state was very wrong; it certainly didn’t match the steady character of a man who had navigated the business world for decades.

It was obvious that, as the mastermind of this farce, he had also been affected.

Whether Yu Fu hadn’t noticed or simply didn’t care, his chest heaved as if he were about to explode. Eventually, he suppressed the rage and resentment that were nearly consuming him. He took a deep breath and forced himself to speak in a calm tone.

“Enough. Speaking of this now is meaningless! Either take them and leave, or stay here with them forever. Choose!”

Before his voice even faded, everyone in the audience stood up simultaneously and looked at Jiang Xun and Su Mian. Those pairs of hollow, lifeless eyes were exceptionally chilling.