Chapter Thirty: Vice President

“Xiao Ye, it’s you!”

Outside the office, two figures strode in, their presence overwhelming and powerful. Their arrival instantly caused Wang Yang and Huangfu Tian’s faces to change dramatically. Wang Yang, in particular, felt his mind go blank with a buzzing sound, his complexion drained of all color.

He had just been speaking ill of the King of the Wang family. Now, trembling with fear, he silently prayed that Xiao Ye hadn't overheard his words.

Huangfu Tian was even more terrified. He had never imagined that his carefully concealed movements would be fully uncovered by Xiao Ye.

“You two seem to be in rather good spirits, still finding time to enjoy tea here?”

“Instead of discussing me, why don’t we discuss your futures instead?”

Xiao Ye drew out a chair and sat down, a faint curve at the corner of his mouth, two sharp beams of light shooting from his eyes.

“Patriarch Huangfu, since you have other guests today, I’ll take my leave,” Wang Yang said, feigning calm as he ignored Xiao Ye before him and addressed Huangfu Tian. He then rose, intent on departing.

Given the circumstances, he had no way of looking after Huangfu Tian’s safety; he could only save himself!

But just as he was about to leave, Chilong moved first, blocking the door to the private room.

“I didn’t say you could go,” Xiao Ye said coolly.

“Move aside! I’m warning you, no one in Jianghai City has ever dared stop me. And let me tell you, the Jianghai Merchant Alliance is not under your control!”

Only Wang Yang’s furious shout remained in the room. When his words fell, silence descended.

At that moment, Chilong stepped back two paces. Wang Yang, thinking his threat had worked, was about to leave when a large hand struck him squarely on the face from the side.

In the next second, Wang Yang’s body shuddered, and he was sent sprawling to the ground by the slap.

“I told you to sit back down,” Xiao Ye said.

“You—!”

Wang Yang clambered to his feet, clutching his face, his expression a mix of fury and shock as he looked at Xiao Ye. But the murderous aura radiating from Xiao Ye kept him silent; he feared that if he resisted, he might be killed in the very next instant.

He snorted coldly, covered his face, and sat back in his original seat.

Xiao Ye nodded in satisfaction and turned to Huangfu Tian.

“Patriarch Huangfu, you should know I’ve been seeking you lately.”

At these words, Huangfu Tian’s body trembled violently.

“King Xiao, everything before was my fault. I was deceived by those three families—that’s the only reason I did such heartless things. Please, have mercy! I’m willing to serve as your dog!”

Huangfu Tian, trembling all over, half-knelt on the ground, unable to stop himself from shaking.

Facing Xiao Ye, he dared not show any further bravado. He knew well that the Jianghai Merchant Alliance wouldn’t come to his rescue; it was better to declare his loyalty to Xiao Ye at once.

But Xiao Ye only smiled faintly. “Patriarch Huangfu, you remember the Green Bamboo Jade Flute, don’t you?”

At these words, Huangfu Tian’s heart lurched violently. He knew well the value of that item—it was for treasures like this that he had acted against the Xiao family.

But he had already used it as an entry fee to join the Jiangzhong Tao; without it, he wouldn’t have been admitted.

“King Xiao, the Green Bamboo Jade Flute is... is no longer in my possession!” Huangfu Tian gritted his teeth and forced out the words.

Hearing this, Xiao Ye’s face instantly darkened.

“To whom did you dare give away what was mine?”

“To the Jianghai Merchant Alliance!” Under Xiao Ye’s mounting pressure, Huangfu Tian finally broke and confessed. If the Jianghai Merchant Alliance couldn’t guarantee his family’s safety, he had no choice but to shift the blame.

“We of the Jianghai Merchant Alliance have never seen any Green Bamboo Jade Flute. Huangfu Tian, don’t go slinging mud!” Wang Yang muttered, clutching his bruised face.

The two began to argue fiercely in the private room, hurling personal insults, their words growing more unpleasant by the second.

“Enough!” Xiao Ye had reached the limit of his patience. He slammed his teacup on the table with a thunderous crack—the porcelain shattered to dust in his hand.

The two men fell instantly silent.

“Huangfu Tian, since I gave the other three families a choice, naturally, you shall have one as well.”

“Three days from now, return the Green Bamboo Jade Flute to me and I’ll spare your life.”

“If not, prepare to die.”

There was not the slightest hint of warmth in Xiao Ye’s gaze as he pronounced his verdict.

How could something already given away be retrieved? Sweat poured from Huangfu Tian, his body shaking like a leaf, his face ashen with despair.

Just then, the door to the private room opened again.

A man with a scar across his face strode in. At the sight of the newcomer, Wang Yang’s expression brightened with delight.

It was none other than Cheng Hu, Vice President of the Jianghai Merchant Alliance.

“Vice President!” Wang Yang exclaimed, as though seeing a savior.

Xiao Ye frowned, eyeing the man who had entered.

“We’re conducting business here. Outsiders should leave,” Chilong said, blocking Cheng Hu’s path.

But Cheng Hu ignored him, walking straight into the room.

“Hearing of King Xiao’s arrival, forgive me for not welcoming you sooner,” Cheng Hu said with a polite smile to Xiao Ye.

“You know who I am?” Xiao Ye raised an eyebrow.

“Who in the world hasn’t heard of King Xiao? I came today just to witness your prowess,” Cheng Hu replied respectfully, taking a seat as Xiao Ye remained silent.

“Having seen your strength today, I am thoroughly convinced. I have a humble request, and I hope the King of the Foreign Surnames will grant it,” Cheng Hu continued, bowing deeply to Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye waved his hand, inviting him to speak.

“I beg you to let these two men go. They are pillars of our Jianghai Merchant Alliance. Please, show mercy.”

With those words, Cheng Hu knelt on one knee before Xiao Ye, raising his voice.

He had, in fact, guessed that Xiao Ye was here for these two men.

Xiao Ye smiled coldly, the cruelty evident at his lips.

“And what if I refuse?”

“King Xiao, you’ve only just returned to Jianghai City and may not yet be familiar with the situation. The Jianghai Merchant Alliance is willing to follow your lead in all matters.”

At that, Xiao Ye raised his eyebrows again.

“You want me to join forces with you?”

“I dare not presume,” Cheng Hu replied submissively. “I only hope to make your path smoother.”

Xiao Ye nodded. As for Wang Yang, he didn’t mind letting him go. But as for Huangfu Tian, that was another matter.

“The others are yours, but Huangfu Tian must stay,” Xiao Ye said coldly.

“To be frank, that is the very purpose of my visit,” Cheng Hu replied. “If we cannot take him with us, then the Jianghai Merchant Alliance will not hesitate to take him by force from your hands.”