Final Civilization

Chapter 14: Stalking

Beep.

Han Ming glanced at his watch in the car, took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked straight towards the black business vehicle.

Knock, knock, knock.

He tapped on the window.

"What's up?" The bearded man looked him over.

"Are you Wallbreakers?"

The bearded man and his companion exchanged a glance, then looked back at Han Ming with puzzled expressions. "What kind of people?"

"Is he insulting us?"

"Damn, are you cursing at me?!"

...Beep.

Han Ming once again stood beside the business vehicle.

Knock, knock, knock.

He tapped on the window.

"What's up?" The bearded man looked him over.

"Did Yan Jing send you?"

"Who?"

The bearded man looked at Han Ming with a confused expression. "Are you talking to me?"

"You're not here to tail me on Yan Jing's orders?"

"Who's tailing you? Are you out of your mind?!"

"Had a few too many, buddy? Looking for trouble with us?!" The burly man in the driver's seat glared at him fiercely, then pressed a switch to roll the window up.

...

Han Ming looked at his watch and let out a heavy sigh.

From their expressions during his questioning just now, he had seen some panic and surprise, but that wasn't enough for Han Ming to be certain.

"Let's confirm one more time."

His eyes focused with determination. He fastened his seatbelt, started the car, and drove away from the curb.

And that black business vehicle quietly began to follow him.

Following the navigation, Han Ming drove all the way to the underground parking lot of Tianzhou Square. After parking, he walked into the elevator lobby, took the elevator up to the first-floor lobby of the building.

He didn't pause at all. Instead, he quickly turned from the corner of the elevator lobby into the fire escape stairwell, as if with a specific purpose.

A dozen or so seconds later, the bearded man quickly pushed open the fire escape door. He first looked up the stairs above, then ran down a flight, only to find that Han Ming had simply vanished on the spot.

He immediately pressed a button on his earpiece:

"He went into the fire escape. Weird, he's gone. Quick, notify Secretary Jin!"

Thump, thump, thump...

The sound of someone hurriedly climbing the stairs followed.

However, Han Ming, hiding in the corner under the stairs, heard everything clearly.

Time reversed. Han Ming returned to his car in the underground parking lot of Tianzhou Tower and finally let out a sigh of relief.

The 'Secretary Jin' mentioned by that man was precisely Yan Jing's beautiful secretary. Han Ming had seen her that night and remembered her surname was Jin.

"So it really is Yan Jing."

Han Ming leaned back in his seat with a wry smile. "I saved her daughter, and she sends people to monitor me."

"It seems she really suspects I'm connected to that car accident, or at least considers me one of the suspects."

Although he had mentally prepared for this possibility, experiencing the feeling of being comprehensively tailed firsthand still sent a chill down Han Ming's spine.

"No wonder they call her the White Widow of Jinghai. This woman is truly ruthless."

After confirming that the people tailing him were arranged by Yan Jing, a large weight lifted from Han Ming's mind. He was completely unrelated to that car accident and wasn't worried about Yan Jing's investigation at all.

So he took out his phone and called Secretary Jin.

Secretary Jin had already known when Han Ming drove into the underground parking lot of Tianzhou Tower. However, upon receiving Han Ming's call, she didn't show any sign of abnormality.

"Mr. Han."

"Hello, Secretary Jin. I'm currently downstairs at your company. There's a small matter I'd like to discuss with Chairwoman Yan. I'm not sure if the Chairwoman is available. My apologies for coming without a prior appointment."

"Mr. Han, the Chairwoman is not at the company right now. If it's an urgent matter, I can relay the message for you."

"It's not urgent, but that works too..."

In a meeting room, Han Ming saw Secretary Jin again.

"I heard that Tianzhou Group has approached our Fang Tiancheng Law Firm to discuss cooperation on legal matters and specifically designated me as the lead counsel for the legal team." Han Ming got straight to the point.

Secretary Jin didn't deny it, smiling and nodding slightly.

"Yes, that was a special request from Chairwoman Yan. Is there a problem?"

Han Ming smiled calmly and spoke candidly. "First, I am very grateful to Chairwoman Yan for giving our Fang Tiancheng Law Firm this opportunity for cooperation. I also understand the goodwill the Chairwoman is showing me personally. For me, it is a great honor."

"Let me clarify, I am not here representing Fang Tiancheng, but representing myself. I believe that given my current level of experience, if I rashly take on the responsibilities of lead counsel, I would not only be unable to shoulder that burden but would also violate my professional ethics. Of course, this is not to say that Fang Tiancheng lacks the capability to cooperate with your esteemed group. This judgment is based solely on my personal abilities."

Secretary Jin frowned slightly, not quite understanding. "What do you mean...?"

"Fang Tiancheng has several senior lawyers who are well-qualified for this position. I suggest your side re-evaluate the candidate selection." Han Ming said.

Secretary Jin looked at Han Ming with a smile. "Mr. Han, you should understand that the sole reason Chairwoman Yan chose Fang Tiancheng is you personally. If not for this reason, there would be no need for us to change our legal advisory team."

"Allow me to be frank."

Han Ming leaned forward slightly, his expression composed. "Lawyers are not salespeople. There is only one core principle: whether we can use our professional expertise to address our clients' needs and consistently safeguard the legal security of the enterprise. If I knowingly accept a task beyond my capabilities just for the commission, that would be a betrayal of your trust and a violation of my fundamental principles as a lawyer."

After speaking, he stood up, straightened his suit, and looked at Secretary Jin. "Please convey to Chairwoman Yan that Han Ming appreciates her generous offer, but respectfully declines."

"Mr. Han."

Seeing Han Ming about to leave, Secretary Jin quickly stood up to stop him.

"Is there something else?" Han Ming asked.

Secretary Jin looked at Han Ming with an appreciative gaze, then spoke. "Your firm has already submitted a proposal to us, recommending you as a member of the legal team, responsible for the group's civil litigation and external legal governance services. Under this proposal, would you be able to accept?"

Han Ming was silent for a moment, then looked at Secretary Jin. "From a commercial perspective, you are the client. So, if it's the firm's arrangement, I will naturally fulfill my duties. I'll take my leave now."

Even as he said this, Han Ming still felt uncomfortable. Opportunities born from favors and debts ultimately feel improper and unearned.

However, he had said what needed to be said. He still had to give face where it was due, otherwise he'd be acting against common sense.

Watching Han Ming leave, Secretary Jin's gaze held a complex mix of emotions. Having been by Yan Jing's side for many years, she had seen plenty of sycophantic, petty individuals, but this was the first time she had encountered someone actively refusing benefits handed to them on a silver platter.

This left her momentarily unsure: Was it due to the unique nature of the legal profession, or was this man truly extraordinary?

After Han Ming left, she took out her phone and dialed Yan Jing's number.

...

Inside a certain abandoned factory, the smell of rust hung in the air, punctuated now and then by muffled groans of pain.

A glaring xenon lamp shone directly on a man suspended by chains. Under the torture of several men in black suits, his body was already covered in bloodstains. Bloody froth bubbled constantly in his throat, a state worse than death.

Buzz, buzz.

The vibration of a phone sounded.

Yan Jing reclined on a folding chair, her long legs crossed. She flipped her hand to answer the call, placing the phone to her ear as her red lips parted.

"Speak."

"Chairwoman Yan, Han Ming just came..." Secretary Jin on the other end relayed the events.

Yan Jing's eyebrows lifted slightly, revealing only a hint of interest. "Let him be. But add a requirement to the contract."

"Please go ahead."

"He must be stationed at the group headquarters for at least two days a week."

"Understood. And... arrange him on which floor?"

"The 46th floor."

Pfft...

At that moment, the man being tortured ahead sprayed a mist of blood. A few drops of blood landed squarely on the tip of her high heel.

Seeing this, a subordinate beside her immediately stepped forward and carefully wiped the blood droplets from Yan Jing's high heel.

Yan Jing lifted her gaze. The man hanging there, caught by that look, immediately trembled all over, pleading in a shaking voice.

"Chairwoman Yan... Chairwoman Yan, I really don't know! This matter really... has nothing to do with me!"

"I heard Wang Wenzhi lost his Tianjiu Bar to you five days ago?" Yan Jing said calmly.

"Yes... yes..." The man spat blood foam, speaking urgently. "He owed me over two million. He wanted to use that bar to settle the debt, but his luck was terrible, and he lost it all to me."

"Oh..."

Yan Jing lowered her gaze to stare at the crimson blood spots blooming on the floor, speaking slowly. "Using a bar worth over twenty million to settle a two-million debt. Boss Wang certainly has a strong gambling spirit."

The man trembled as he spoke.

"He... he really does love to gamble. A couple of years ago, he lost several properties. Later, he borrowed money from me to go to Macau and made a fortune. That guy, after making money, didn't pay me back. I looked for him many times. He just wanted to welsh on my two million too, so he gambled with me."

He pleaded desperately. "Chairwoman Yan, believe me! The car accident really has nothing to do with me at all!!"

Yan Jing looked at him, her calm gaze tinged with a hint of mockery. "Strange. For such a scoundrel to be so willing to accept his loss and hand over a twenty-million bar to you, and then his wife and son, who were kidnapped in Malaysia, suddenly get rescued. Tell me, isn't that too much of a coincidence?"

As these words fell, the man was struck with shock. He looked at Yan Jing with disbelief, his mouth opening and closing, unable to speak.

At that moment, a bodyguard with a sinister aura slowly walked towards him, holding a large industrial bolt cutter.

"Wait... Chairwoman Yan..."

"I... I..."

Crack!

"Ahhh!!"

The moment the hydraulic ram pressed down, the sound of bone shattering mixed with a blood-curdling scream echoed towards the ceiling.