Ye Family's Intelligence

The air in the medical bay returned to a chilling silence, broken only by the monotonous ticking of instruments and Lin Xiao's heavy, suppressed breaths. Qin Bing's thunderous interrogation, Su Qingxue's complex scrutiny, and Ye Qingyan's icy warning receded like a tide, leaving behind deeper undercurrents and ubiquitous restraints.

Ye Qingyan's final words, "Your 'value' needs to be demonstrated as soon as possible," were like an invisible whip, lashing against Lin Xiao's taut nerves. He lay on the soft medical bed, yet felt more tormented than if he were lying on the rubble and trash of a back alley. Passive waiting had never been his style.

I have to do something! I have to recover even a shred of strength as soon as possible and escape this situation where I'm completely at someone else's mercy!

He tried to condense his will again, like a drowning person desperately reaching upwards, attempting to touch the silent, dark screen representing [-1.5] in his mind. The feeling of exhaustion clung to his soul like cold rust, and each attempt brought needle-like pain and deeper dizziness. The "Viper's Kiss" core deep within his right leg lay dormant under the suppressor's pressure, but that cold, lurking sensation felt more like the calm before a storm.

Energy Stones! I desperately need Energy Stones! The three in the brocade box in his arms were within reach, yet felt worlds away. Under the Ye family's strict surveillance, any abnormal energy fluctuation would be tantamount to self-exposure.

It was amidst this anxious predicament that the medical bay door silently slid open once more.

There were no footsteps, only a cold, lingering scent of expensive perfume that preceded the arrival.

Ye Qingyan had returned.

She was still in her deep blue suit, her posture upright, holding the ultra-thin transparent tablet that seemed to never leave her side. Her face was devoid of any expression, as if the brief but intense confrontation outside the door had never happened. She walked directly to the bedside, her gaze like a scanner sweeping over Lin Xiao's pale face and the various sensors connected to him.

"It seems Captain Qin and Miss Su's concern didn't make you feel much better," she said, her voice flat and unwavering, making it impossible to tell if it was sarcasm or a simple statement.

Lin Xiao tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a weak smile tinged with his usual roguish charm. "Thanks to the boss... I'm still holding up. Just... bored out of my mind." He deliberately made his tone sound a bit complain-y and desperate to "demonstrate his value."

Ye Qingyan offered no comment on his performance. She extended her slender fingers, swiped a few times on the tablet screen, and then turned it towards Lin Xiao.

The screen displayed not complex medical data, but seemingly random snippets of text, blurry corners of surveillance screenshots, and fragments of marked map coordinates.

"Since you find yourself idle," Ye Qingyan's voice carried a cold, business-like tone, "here's some 'miscellaneous work' that might suit you... once you can get out of bed."

Her fingertip tapped on a piece of text: "After the Blood Wolf Gang lost Scorpion, there was internal chaos for a while, but now a guy named 'Mad Dog' has emerged, consolidating Scorpion's old subordinates and clamoring for revenge. According to informants, he often frequents the 'Obsidian' bar in the West District; it's one of their new strongholds. The bouncers there are five skilled fighters, all at Martial Disciple peak. Mad Dog himself... is suspected to have just broken through to one star."

She swiped the screen again, opening an extremely blurry photo, seemingly taken from a great distance. The photo showed a hooded figure entering an abandoned factory: "Scorpion's death wasn't that simple. There seems to be something else behind him. We intercepted a fragmented communication mentioning 'Shadow Eater' and 'delivery'... Coincidentally, a week before Scorpion died, a large sum of unexplained funds was injected into his account. We suspect he's involved with some shadowy organization."

When she mentioned "shadowy organization," Ye Qingyan's gaze seemed to sweep over Lin Xiao for an extremely brief, meaningful moment.

Finally, her fingertip landed on an area in the old industrial zone on the edge of the city map, circled with a red marker: "Things have been unstable in the city lately. Several small gangs have been wiped out inexplicably. The scenes were clean and efficient, not like ordinary feuds, more like... 'cleansings.' Vagrants there have seen people 'wearing black clothes, like ghosts' appearing. The Public Security Bureau has been vague, and the Ninth Bureau seems to have gotten involved, but there's been no progress."

After speaking, she retracted the tablet, and the screen went dark. She looked at Lin Xiao, her cold eyes unwavering. "These scattered bits of information might be useful for you to 'regain your footing.' Of course, intelligence has its price."

Lin Xiao's heart pounded violently in his chest, his blood seeming to accelerate. Each of these "fragments" provided by Ye Qingyan was like a key, precisely fitting into the fog that had been troubling him!

The Blood Wolf Gang's new stronghold, the "Obsidian" bar! The leader "Mad Dog's" strength and location!

Clues connecting Scorpion to "Shadow Eater" (very likely the Shadow Alliance!)! The fund injection! The abandoned factory!

Traces of what seemed to be the Shadow Alliance's "cleansing" operations! The old industrial zone!

If he had to investigate all this information himself, it would take an unknown amount of time and effort, possibly even leading him into another deadly trap! Yet here it was, casually presented by Ye Qingyan, as if she were tossing out a few bones!

The price? He certainly knew there was a price. Ye Qingyan wasn't helping him; she was investing, using this intelligence as bait and pressure to drive him, this hungry wolf, to quickly tear at her enemies and prove his "value"!

"The price... how is it calculated?" Lin Xiao's voice was dry, but his eyes sharpened, carrying the gaze of a lone wolf spotting its prey.

"It depends on what you want, and how much you can achieve," Ye Qingyan replied calmly. "The specific targets and rewards will become clear when you prove you have the ability to take on 'jobs.' For now, consider this... a pre-paid sweetener, to give you something to think about, lest you truly get sick from boredom."

She paused, then added, "However, a reminder. The toxin in your body, 'Viper's Kiss,' the version circulating in the black market is rarely this pure. Its formula... is said to have some connection to an organization that likes to hide in the shadows. You know best the trouble you've gotten yourself into."

This statement was like a cold dagger, completely piercing the veil of secrecy! She knew indeed! She not only knew about the Shadow Alliance but might even suspect Lin Xiao's pursuit was related to it! She was warning him, and also reminding him—your trouble is immense, and you have no choice but to rely on me!

Lin Xiao remained silent for a few seconds, then slowly raised his head. Meeting Ye Qingyan's cold, appraising gaze, a near-ferocious smile spread across his pale face. "Sweetener... I've received it. Boss, don't worry, once this leg can move, I'll handle the 'miscellaneous work'... beautifully."

He knew that from this moment on, he would not only have to face the pursuit of the Blood Wolf Gang, the threat of the Shadow Alliance, the investigation by the Ninth Bureau, and the scrutiny of the Su family, but also Ye Qingyan's cold reins, woven from intelligence and resources.

The path ahead was even more perilous. But at least, it was no longer completely dark.

Ye Qingyan seemed somewhat satisfied with his declaration, nodding slightly. "Very good. I look forward to your performance." She said no more, turning to leave, as abrupt as her arrival.

The door closed.

Lin Xiao lay there alone, his chest rising and falling slightly. The fragments of intelligence provided by Ye Qingyan were branded into his mind.

Blood Wolf Gang... Shadow Alliance... Abandoned factory... Old industrial zone...

Each word represented danger, and also... opportunity! The chance for revenge! The chance to gain Source Energy Points! The chance to uncover the truth!

And all of this required strength!

He instinctively tried to sense the screen in his mind again, to sense that desperate [-1.5].

This time, besides the exhaustion and intense pain, there seemed to be a faint... a very faint stirring, born from intense desire and clear goals?

[Strong mental drive... core's inherent activity slightly increased... attempting to link information flow... consuming Source Energy Points: 0.001...]

[Source Energy Points: -1.5 - 0.001 = -1.501!]

A negligible, yet utterly real consumption figure flashed by!

Lin Xiao was stunned for a moment, then his eyes suddenly blazed with terrifying brilliance!

Analyzing intelligence, formulating plans... also consumed Source Energy Points?! Although minuscule, it meant... thinking itself was a form of "modification"? Modifying one's perception and strategy of reality?

This path to replenishing Source Energy Points, though difficult and demanding, seemed to have been opened!

In this desperate situation, a faint sliver of light finally penetrated.