One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Chairman Zhao didn't speak, but simply looked at him quietly. His eyes behind his glasses were as deep as a still pool, revealing no emotion. But Nie Lingfeng could sense that the air in the office seemed to freeze for a moment.

The feeling was like a hunter assessing his prey, a chess player looking at the chessboard, or... a shrewd businessman calculating the rate of return on an investment.

After a long silence, Chairman Zhao finally spoke, his voice still calm: "You want to take action against the Wang family?"

"Yes."

"On what grounds?"

"Because I can fight," Nie Lingfeng said bluntly, without any modesty. "And also because... the company needs a knife, a sharp, obedient knife that won't backfire. The Wang family has become increasingly restless in recent years; their ambitions have extended beyond the position of one of the Ten Elders. If we allow them to continue developing, they will eventually threaten the company's authority and disrupt the balance of the supernatural world. If the company takes action then, the cost will be greater, and the resistance will be much stronger."

Chairman Zhao laughed, this time with a hint of amusement, as if he had heard something interesting: "How did you know the company needed this knife?"

"Because what the company needs is balance and stability," Nie Lingfeng said. "The Wang family has already disrupted that balance. Their pursuit of me and Chen Duo is just a personal grudge. But what if one day they feel that their status as one of the Ten Elders is not enough and want to go further? What if they want to become the second 'Celestial Master's Mansion,' or even... replace the company? By then, it will be too late for the company to take action. The world of supernatural beings will be in chaos, and ordinary society will be affected. That is the last thing the company wants to see."

He looked directly into Chairman Zhao's eyes: "Instead of waiting for that day, it's better to nip the problem in the bud now. And I am the most suitable person to do this. I have a motive—the Wang family wants to kill me, and I need to protect myself. I have the ability—I can fight, and I'm not afraid of trouble. I also have... a sufficient 'legitimate reason'—it's a personal grudge, and the company can't interfere."

Chairman Zhao fell silent.

He neither immediately refuted nor agreed, but simply picked up the gold pen again and slowly twirled it between his fingers. The pen was a Montblanc, its gold body gleaming with a subtle, luxurious sheen under the light. His movements were slow and focused, as if he were performing some kind of contemplative ritual.

The office was quiet, with only the slight hum of the air conditioner and the faint, almost inaudible, city noise filtering through the soundproof glass. Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting huge patches of light on the carpet, and dust particles in the air danced slowly in the beams of light.

Time passed second by second.

Nie Lingfeng waited patiently. He knew that Chairman Zhao was weighing the pros and cons, calculating and assessing the risks and rewards of the deal. For someone in a high position with considerable power, every decision involves countless interests, and every action could trigger a chain reaction. He had to be cautious, thorough, and… ruthless.

Finally, Chairman Zhao stopped twirling the pen. He gently placed the pen on the table, making a soft "click" sound.

"Even if the company tacitly approves," he said slowly, his voice lower and deeper than before, "how can you, alone, deal with the entire Wang family? Even if you can fight and kill, the Wang family isn't just about brute force. They have businesses, connections, political capital, and a deeply entrenched chain of interests. Killing a few experts is easy, but how can you shake the entire family?"

"I'm not alone," Nie Lingfeng said. "I have Chen Duo. If I can fully control her Gu poison, it will be an extremely terrifying weapon. I have Longhu Mountain as my backer—the Old Celestial Master owes me a favor, and he has long been disgusted with the Wang family's behavior. I also have friends like Xu San, Xu Si, Zhang Chulan, and Feng Baobao. They can provide intelligence and support within the company."

He paused, leaned forward, and lowered his voice, but each word seemed to pierce the air like a nail:

"Moreover, the Wang family is not monolithic. Wang Ai is getting old and becoming increasingly autocratic, and there have long been discontents within the clan. With Wang Bing dead, the younger generation of the Wang family has lost its most powerful heir, and internal power struggles have already begun. I only need a breakthrough point, to create some chaos and provoke some conflicts, so that I can... disintegrate them from within."

Chairman Zhao stared at him for a long time. Those eyes hidden behind his glasses were like two sophisticated scanners, trying to judge the truthfulness and feasibility of Nie Lingfeng's words from every micro-expression and every change in his eyes.

"Go on," he slowly uttered three words.

Nie Lingfeng knew that things were looking promising.

"I will take action against the Wang family, but I won't make a big fuss, I won't affect ordinary people, and I won't disrupt the stability of the supernatural world," he said, his tone becoming methodical, as if reporting a well-developed plan. "Before I act, I will inform Xu Si, telling him the time, place, and objective. If I fail and die, that's my own business, and it has nothing to do with the company. But the Wang family will inevitably mobilize a large amount of power to kill me, exposing more flaws and weaknesses. At that time, Chairman Zhao, you know what to do—intervene in the investigation under the pretext of 'maintaining the stability of the supernatural world,' take over some of the Wang family's businesses, purge those remnants who have overstepped their bounds, support obedient collateral relatives to rise to power, and bring the Wang family back under control."

"If I succeed," he continued, looking directly at Chairman Zhao, "the Wang family is destroyed, its high-level fighting force is weakened, and internal chaos ensues. The company can also, under the pretext of 'preventing turmoil caused by a power vacuum,' take full control of the Wang family's resources and territory, dismantling, reorganizing, and incorporating them into the company's management system. And Chen Duo and I..."

He paused, then slowly uttered the suggestion he had already prepared: "We can be 'temporary workers' for the company, but not ordinary temporary workers. We can be the most temporary of the temporary workers... or rather, the company's 'shadow,' the ones who handle the 'dirty work' that's inconvenient to put on the surface."

Chairman Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly.

"A temporary worker among temporary workers?" he repeated in a low voice, a clear interest appearing in his tone for the first time. "Be more specific."

"We don't need a formal position with the company, we don't need salary or benefits, and we don't even need public recognition from the company," Nie Lingfeng said, speaking slowly but carefully, every word carefully chosen. "We are just... partners. The company provides us with intelligence support, necessary resources, and cover for our identities in certain special circumstances. In return, we help the company handle some... 'tricky issues' that the company is inconvenient to deal with or cannot handle on its own."

He listed examples: "For instance, hunting down those remaining members of the Quanxing sect who have fled abroad and are endangering society. For instance, purging those families or sects that overstep their bounds and break the rules. For instance, investigating internal personnel who collude with overseas supernatural organizations. Even... if one day the company needs to deal with foreign supernatural forces, we can also act as the spearhead and carry out some special missions."

"We operate outside the rules, yet we're still under the company's control," Nie Lingfeng summarized. "We do the 'dirty work,' but we ensure the company's 'cleanliness.' We don't need honor, we don't need fame, we just need... a place to settle down and a promise that we'll no longer be hunted down."

A long silence fell over the office.

Chairman Zhao leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands over his stomach, and stared at the ceiling, as if deep in thought or weighing his options. His expression was calm, but Nie Lingfeng could sense that his eyes, hidden behind his glasses, were engaged in extremely complex calculations.

Benefits, risks, costs, returns, controllability, long-term impact... countless variables raced through this man's mind, combining into different possibilities, which were then evaluated, screened, and eliminated one by one.

Nie Lingfeng didn't urge him. He knew this decision couldn't be made on the spot. Chairman Zhao needed time, more information, and... a suitable opportunity.

Finally, Chairman Zhao slowly sat up straight and looked at Nie Lingfeng again. His expression remained unchanged, but a hint of determination appeared in his eyes.

"What the company needs is balance and stability," he said calmly, as if stating a fundamental principle. "The stability of the supernatural world and the peace of ordinary society are the company's top priorities. Any factor that disrupts stability or threatens peace must be eliminated."

He neither explicitly agreed nor refused.

But Nie Lingfeng understood.

This is tacit consent.

"I understand." Nie Lingfeng stood up, nodded to Chairman Zhao, his movements neither humble nor arrogant. "I will inform Xu Si before taking action. If successful, I will come to see you again to discuss the details of the cooperation."

Chairman Zhao didn't say anything, but simply waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.

Nie Lingfeng turned and walked towards the elevator. His steps were steady, his back straight, without any hesitation or doubt.

The elevator doors closed and began to descend.

Only then did Chairman Zhao slowly pick up the pen on the table, twirl it between his fingertips, and then gently press a button under the desk.

"Review all the information on Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo again," he said softly to the air. "Focus on their behavioral patterns, psychological assessments, and... controllability analysis."

A soft "yes" came from the air, as if it were coming from a hidden speaker.

Chairman Zhao put down his pen and looked out the window. The panoramic view of the city unfolded before him, with towering buildings and a constant flow of traffic, a scene of bustling prosperity.

But his eyes were cold, like a frozen lake.

"A knife..." he muttered to himself, "Sharpness is a good thing, but too sharp, and it's easy to hurt yourself. I need a... scabbard."

---

The elevator descends, returning to the underground parking garage.

The black minivan was still waiting there. The burly man in sunglasses opened the car door, Nie Lingfeng got in, and the door closed silently. The car slowly drove out of the garage and merged into the afternoon traffic.

This time, the route was direct, without any detours. In less than twenty minutes, the car was back in front of the coffee shop.

Nie Lingfeng got out of the car and watched the van disappear into the traffic. He stood there for a few seconds.

As the sun sets, golden rays bathe the streets, casting long shadows of pedestrians. People hurry by after get off work, their faces showing weariness or anticipation. Vendors set up their night market stalls, the aroma of food filling the air. Everything seems so normal, so… vibrant.

But Nie Lingfeng knew that beneath this calm surface, undercurrents were surging.

He turned and walked towards the hotel. His steps were slow, but each one was firm.

Back at the hotel, she pushed open the door. Chen Duo was sitting by the window, gazing blankly at the sunset. Hearing the door open, she turned around, her eyes lighting up when she saw Nie Lingfeng.

"Have you reached an agreement?" she asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"It's settled." Nie Lingfeng walked over, sat down next to her, and casually ruffled her hair. "Next, we're going to do something big."

"What is it?"

"Destroy the Wang family," Nie Lingfeng said, his voice calm, but each word sounded like steel that had been tempered in fire.

Chen Duo paused for a moment, but quickly nodded, her eyes as calm as a deep pool: "Okay. I'll help you."

"You don't need to lift a finger." Nie Lingfeng looked at her, his eyes serious. "This time... I'll do it myself. You just wait for me here, practice your skills diligently, and get your body back in good shape. When I return, we'll be free."

Chen Duo looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her emerald eyes—worry, reluctance, and dependence, but in the end, it all turned into a firm trust.

"Be careful," she whispered, her fingers instinctively gripping his sleeve, but quickly letting go.

"Hmm." Nie Lingfeng smiled, looking out the window at the darkening sky.

As night falls, the lights are on.

The city remains bustling, and the streets remain noisy.

But beneath the calm of the night, a storm is brewing.

At the eye of the storm is a boy and the girl he wants to protect.

And... a family that is about to be consumed by flames.

The hunt has begun.