Chapter 61: Chapter 29: Ruthless 2
Fang Rui had always kept a low profile. In the Black Market, very few people even knew his surname, and Cao She was naturally among them.
"Lord! Lord Fang!"
Gao Yao also looked at Fang Rui, his body stooped and his eyes full of pleading. He clenched his fists, his palms slick with cold sweat.
"Forget the generous reward!"
Hearing this, Gao Yao’s face lit up with joy, while Cao She’s expression turned grim.
But in the next moment, Fang Rui took a step back and continued, "I did have some dealings with this man before, but it was just a business relationship that ended long ago... Other than that, there’s no connection between us."
"Your feud has nothing to do with me. Do as you please."
He was making it clear: he wouldn’t get involved.
The reason?
Fang Rui had no real friendship with Gao Yao. In fact, there was even a bit of bad blood between them. Why should he stick his neck out for this man and provoke a powerful enemy?
Fang Rui had heard of this "Snake Handler," Cao She. He was an Entry Grade Martial Artist, and his skill with snakes was said to be impressive. Rumor had it he had even killed another Entry Grade Martial Artist.
Cao She was a formidable man. He had no quarrel with him, and he was even speaking politely. Fang Rui would have to be bored out of his mind to meddle in this.
He wasn’t some bleeding-heart protagonist who went around preaching peace and harmony.
’Besides, Gao Yao is clearly trying to drag me into his mess. He’s up to no good. If I help him this time, he’ll surely be using my name to get his way in the future, which could lead to even bigger trouble!’
Fang Rui shot Gao Yao an amused glance but didn’t leave, staying to the side to watch the show.
"My thanks, brother!"
Even though Fang Rui had refused a reward, by stating he wouldn’t interfere, he had done Cao She a favor that had to be acknowledged.
He cupped his fist to Fang Rui, then turned, his gaze falling coldly upon Gao Yao.
Seeing Fang Rui refuse to get involved, Gao Yao’s hope was shattered and instantly turned to despair. As he lowered his head, a flash of resentment flickered in his small eyes.
But when he looked up at Cao She, his face was once again plastered with a servile, fawning smile. "L-Lord She... about that... I’ll give a refund... no, compensation... You name the terms, just please spare my life..."
"Me, name the terms? Heh heh!"
Cao She let out a cold laugh. It was a laugh, yet it sent an involuntary chill down one’s spine. "Compensation, of course there will be compensation. Your entire fortune should just about cover it! On top of that, my cousin is paralyzed. You’ll have to suffer the same fate to quell the hatred in my heart!"
’Harsh! He’s taking all of Gao Yao’s money and wants to paralyze him. For a man like him, that’s a fate far worse than death!’ Fang Rui thought.
What Fang Rui could figure out, a wily old fox like Gao Yao naturally could too. His expression instantly became frightful; he knew there was no peaceful way out of this.
He had been groveling to try and escape his fate, but now that things had come to this, he dropped the act. He straightened his back, turned his head, and started to walk away.
But Cao She, with his two lackeys, followed him step for step.
Gao Yao panicked. "Cao She, you have some nerve! You dare to make a move in the Black Market?"
His shout immediately attracted the attention of the Black Market’s patrol.
"Of course I wouldn’t dare. But I can follow you, shadowing your every step, until you leave!" Cao She stepped closer and whispered sinisterly in Gao Yao’s ear.
He was resorting to any means necessary!
Generally, even when cornering someone, there was a certain etiquette. For example, when Zhou Changlin and Gao Yao’s group wanted to ambush Fang Rui, they had simply waited at the Black Market’s exit.
Following someone so openly like Cao She was blatant, walking right on the edge of the rules.
In truth, Cao She had no other choice. Gao Yao was a slippery one. He had, of course, tried waiting at the Black Market exit, but for some reason, he had never managed to catch the man.
As for this borderline behavior?
He had long been prepared for it.
"Go." Cao She jutted his chin.
His two lackeys immediately understood, nodding. They approached the patrolmen with ingratiating smiles and handed over a money pouch.
A moment later, the leader of the patrol said, "No fighting in the Black Market. Once you’re outside, you can settle your grudges however you like," and then left.
They had clearly been bribed.
’Gao Yao must have some skill to have pushed Cao She this far!’
Fang Rui’s eyes flashed as he saw past the surface to something deeper. ’But this time, he’s in real trouble!’
’Of course, the man is cunning. It’s not impossible he still has an ace up his sleeve...’ he thought.
"Lord Fang!"
Gao Yao was indeed stunned by Cao She’s move. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he turned to look at Fang Rui pleadingly once more.
Cao She’s heart also tightened, and he looked at Fang Rui with a grave expression.
"Heh! I’ve already said it. This is your business!"
Fang Rui shook his head with an amused smile, turned, and strode away.
The show was over, so there was no reason to stay. He still had things to buy and wanted to get back soon, lest he make Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Fang Ling worry.
...
Fang Rui’s luck was good today. He found a dried rabbit at a casual farmer’s stall and, after a bidding war with a reseller, managed to buy it for a relatively low price.
After all, resellers had to consider their costs when stockpiling goods. Once the price reached a certain point, they would give up.
Afterward, Fang Rui browsed around some more. Finding few other scarce goods like meat, beans, or oil, he shopped around and bought a jar of lard and twenty eggs from a reseller.
Seeing it was getting late, he prepared to leave the Black Market.
...
「Black Market Exit.」
As Fang Rui was leaving, he once again ran into Gao Yao and Cao She’s group.
Gao Yao was a little ahead, his face pale and his mind clearly elsewhere. Cao She and his two lackeys were a bit behind him, cold smiles plastered on their faces.
’What a coincidence!’
Fang Rui looked ahead. The group was three to five meters in front of him, also waiting in line to get out.
