Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 639: Chapter 642: Perish Together

Liu Qingshan stared intently at the drastically changed couple in front of him. He shook his head sadly and then turned his gaze to the dozen or so core elders of the Qinglong Association seated around the conference table. He said, "You have all been with me through thick and thin. I've never forgotten your contributions to the association. I also know you might have grievances against me. But I never thought it would come to this. Do so many years of friendship mean so little that you can sever ties so easily?"

The hall masters remained silent. A few glanced at Liu Qingshan with slightly sad eyes.

Liu Qingshan saw this and smiled helplessly. "It seems you truly have decided that I must die."

"Boss Liu, as they say, success or failure determines a hero. You can't give us any more benefits, but President Xu can. So, of course, we support her for the presidency. But even if you go down the Yellow Springs Road, you don't need to worry too much. After all, Minghao will still become the president one day, so you can consider that your lineage continues," said a bald man nonchalantly, not clear if it was meant as comfort or mockery.

Suddenly, Liu Qingshan burst into a strange laugh.

"Lineage, yes, I still have my lineage..." Liu Qingshan kept laughing, his body shaking.

Gao Yue, holding Xu Ying, exchanged a glance with her. They felt Liu Qingshan seemed a bit odd but couldn't pinpoint why. Lazily, Gao Yue sneered, "Liu Qingshan, at death's door, do you have any last words? If not, I'll send you on your way."

Ignoring them, Liu Qingshan addressed Yang Chen, who had been sitting calmly. "Son-in-law, what do you make of this situation?"

From Liu Qingshan's earlier words, Yang Chen sensed something unusual. Seeing Liu Qingshan's expression now, a realization flashed in his mind.

Ah, that's it. No wonder things felt off earlier. I missed some details.

Yang Chen couldn't help but laugh. "I was a bit moved when you pleaded for me earlier. Now it seems, the older, the wiser."

"You're wrong," Liu Qingshan said. "Believe it or not, I meant what I said sincerely."

Yang Chen was silent for a while. "These things don't mean much to me. Since you've already decided, do as you see fit."

Gao Yue, Xu Ying, and the others listened to Liu Qingshan and Yang Chen's bizarre exchange with furrowed brows. In this situation, could Liu Qingshan really have some miraculous way to escape?

"Hmph, futile struggle, empty bluff—" A ruthless look flashed across Xu Ying's enchanting face. "Liu Qingshan, I've seen your tricks many times. Don't think you can fool us. Since you have no last words, I'll end our decade-long marriage myself and send you off."

She stretched her hand towards a black-clad man nearby. "Give me the gun."

But the man didn't move.

Xu Ying frowned impatiently and turned to him. "Didn't you hear me? Are you deaf?!"

The man stood like a wooden statue, holding his submachine gun without any reaction.

Suspicion flickered in Xu Ying's eyes. She turned to another black-clad man. "You, come and give me the gun!"

The same result. The man stood expressionless, ignoring Xu Ying's command.

At this point, many people in the room finally sensed something was wrong!

Xu Ying and Gao Yue exchanged glances, reading the shock in each other's eyes. Could it be?

"I'll handle this," Liu Qingshan's voice became eerily dark and obscure.

Liu Qingshan adjusted his suit collar, invigorated himself, and stood up leisurely from his seat. With his hands behind his back, he swept his gaze arrogantly across the hall.

"Everyone, take your positions," Liu Qingshan commanded slowly.

With this order, all the black-clad men aimed their submachine guns at the Qinglong Association elders nearest to them!

Simultaneously, the men behind Xu Ying and Gao Yue pressed the cold gun barrels against the back of their heads!

In an instant, the situation took a drastic turn!

Not only did Xu Ying and Gao Yue's faces turn ashen with disbelief, but all the Qinglong Association elders were also stunned, as if in a dream, forgetting to breathe!

Yang Chen sighed in amazement, staying silent. He realized he had underestimated his shrewd father-in-law. Liu Qingshan, who had built the Qinglong Association from scratch and reigned as the underground emperor of Yandu, wouldn't be so easily overthrown.

It dawned on Yang Chen that if Liu Qingshan were in Zhonghai, Situhu Mingze would have been eliminated long ago, and his own Rosy wouldn't have had the chance to grow up.

Yang Chen had just noticed something odd. Earlier, he felt something was off because Liu Qingshan didn't have any bodyguards around him, which was unusual for a crime lord. Even if they were hidden, Yang Chen should have sensed them.

Seeing that the other hall masters in the conference room also lacked bodyguards, Yang Chen thought it might be a convention for the meeting and didn't dwell on it.

But after the sound of gunfire from the old man Zhang's execution, it became clear. The sound of submachine guns was not quiet, and the room was not sealed. The noise would have traveled far outside, yet there was no commotion from outside. This was suspicious.

Given that this was a crucial stronghold of the Qinglong Association and a crowded resort hotel, even if Xu Ying and Gao Yue had bribed a lot of people for their coup, it was impossible for all Qinglong Association personnel to follow their orders.

In such a critical moment, no one came to investigate after the gunshots. This indicated a pre-arranged situation.

To say Xu Ying and Gao Yue had bribed everyone here or replaced them with their own people would be too blatant. Such a public coup was nearly impossible. Therefore, the most plausible explanation was that this was all Liu Qingshan's setup! Everyone around had received orders to stay put!

Liu Qingshan had been testing the loyalty of those present with this scenario!

"How could this be?" Xu Ying muttered, her knees buckling as she knelt to the ground in disbelief.

Gao Yue trembled all over and knelt down with a thud, kowtowing to Liu Qingshan. "President! Please spare me, President! I've followed you for years; if not for merit, at least for the hard work! Please don't kill me! It was this woman who incited me! I was momentarily confused! President, it's all her fault!"

Hearing Gao Yue's pleading, Xu Ying stiffly turned her head and spat in Gao Yue's face. "Gao Yue, a loser is a loser. You're not a man," Xu Ying sneered, but her eyes were filled with regret and despair.

Liu Qingshan glanced at the two without a word, then looked at the seated elders. "You might be surprised why I, who was supposed to be framed, ended up framing you instead."

He paused, seemingly enjoying the terror on everyone's faces, then said indifferently, "You won't understand. Because you don't understand, I'm the president, and today, all of you will leave this world."

"President! Spare Old Deng! It was Xu Ying and Gao Yue who incited us! It's not our fault!" The bald hall master, Old Deng, sweating profusely, kowtowed, trembling like a frightened dog.

Liu Qingshan nonchalantly rubbed his fingers. "Old Deng, you're always saying useless things. Earlier, I asked if you wanted to sever ties with me, and none of you stood by my side. Since you can't live and die with me, there's no need to keep you. I gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it."

All the meeting members showed regret and resentment. They never expected that Liu Qingshan had been in control from the start. Xu Ying had played them, but she was just as much a pawn in Liu Qingshan's game!

Over the years, Liu Qingshan seemed to have lost his former vigor, and everyone gradually lost their fear of him. However, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Liu Qingshan, once he moved, was as formidable as a thunderbolt, capturing everyone in one fell swoop!

Everyone present understood that in their world, rebellion and betrayal carried heavy penalties. If one failed, death was the inevitable outcome.

Liu Qingshan didn't hesitate for long. He had said everything he needed to say. At this moment, the man who had unified the underworld of Yandu seemed to return to his prime, his gaze fierce as he shouted, "Kill—"

"Wait—"

Almost simultaneously, Old Deng, who had been kneeling, suddenly stood up and tore open his suit!

"You can't kill me, or we'll all perish together."

Old Deng's face twisted with madness as he yelled. Around his abdomen, a row of glowing bombs was strapped!

It was evident that if a bullet hit him or he activated some suicide mechanism, the row of bombs would explode instantly!