Chapter 64: It's Cold at the Top

——She stood beside him and saw the abyss beneath the throne.

The hot and humid evening breeze, carrying moisture from the Chao Phraya River, drifted in through the open floor-to-ceiling windows, bringing with it the unique dampness and gloom of the river.

Ruan Xingchen stood in the corner of the conference room, the silver ring on her left ring finger warming from repeated rubbing by her fingertips. This was her first time stepping into Mo Xiaohan's core of power, as his partner, standing in his world—even if it was just to quietly observe this meeting.

Each face on either side of the long table represented absolute power in a particular sector of Southeast Asia. Arms dealers, shipping magnates, the masters of underground banks... They wore suits and ties, chatting and laughing cheerfully, but their eyes couldn't hide the calculation and greed, like a group of wild beasts cloaked in civilized guise.

Mo Xiaohan sat in the main seat, tapping the table lightly with his knuckles. The sound was not loud, but it made the whole room quiet in an instant.

"Let's get started."

His voice was very light, like a sword unsheathed, but everyone straightened their backs.

Ruan Xingchen watched quietly, seeing how he calmly dismantled the disguised peace.

Facing the arms dealer who was so powerful in the Golden Triangle, he casually flipped through the photo album and pushed it past him. Inside was the smiling face of the other party's beloved illegitimate son on a Swiss campus;

Facing the queen who controls the lifeline of Chao Phraya River shipping, he simply played a video, in which her transaction of bed photos with her political enemies was clearly audible in the silence;

When facing the mercenary leader who claimed to have never been defeated, he simply said, "The shipwreck in the Gulf of Siam last year, the survivors are in my hands." The other party signed a letter of surrender on the spot.

As the negotiations entered the fourth round, a silver-haired man suddenly sneered - he was the behind-the-scenes boss of Bangkok's largest casino.

He typed the profit ratio on the document, his voice filled with determined arrogance: "Mr. Mo, I'm afraid no one will agree to this profit ratio."

The air suddenly froze.

Ruan Xingchen saw Mo Xiaohan raise his eyes slightly, and a very cold smile flashed in his eyes.

"No one?"

His tone was calm, even gentle, but the next second—

"Bang!"

Gunshots rang out, and the silver-haired man's right hand was pierced by a bullet, blood splattering on the snow-white contract. He screamed and stumbled back, but was pushed back into his seat by the bodyguard behind him.

Mo Xiaohan slowly put down his gun, took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood that splashed on his sleeve. His eyes swept over the silent crowd, and his voice was as steady as the surface of a frozen river.

"Now, has anyone agreed?"

The whole place was dead silent.

Ruan Xingchen's breathing stagnated slightly, and her stomach felt extremely uncomfortable, but she didn't move or look away.

Because she saw that when everyone lowered their heads to sign, Mo Xiaohan's gaze swept across their frightened faces, and a hint of boredom flashed in his eyes.

At this moment, she understood——

His cruelty is because kindness cannot survive here;

He is cold-blooded because weakness will lead him to eternal damnation.

The so-called power is nothing but walking alone on corpses;

The so-called throne will eventually be lonely at the top.

After the meeting, she walked over to him and gently held his hand. His palm was cold, and his knuckles were slightly stiff from being tense for so long.

"Are you tired?" she asked in a low voice, her voice filled with heartache.

Mo Xiaohan lowered his eyes to look at her, his cold and hard outline seemed particularly lonely under the light.

"I'm used to it."

Just three words made her heart tighten. She didn't say anything else, but just held his hand tighter.

What people standing at the top fear most is not the flash of swords and sabers, but the coldness of having no one to stand by their side.

Therefore, I will accompany you to see your abyss.

I will be that ray of light, lighting up the path called "Morning Star" for you in the darkness, moving towards you step by step, forever.