Chapter Thirty-One: Betrayal

Hearing Cheng Hu’s words, Huangfu Tian’s expression was one of astonishment, tinged with a hint of delight in his heart. He had never expected that the Jianghai Merchant Alliance still harbored intentions toward him.

However, upon hearing what Cheng Hu had said, Xiao Ye suddenly let out a cold laugh.

“So, what now? Are you planning to make a move against me?”

“I wouldn’t dare. It depends on whether Lord Xiao is willing to give me and the Jianghai Merchant Alliance a chance,” Cheng Hu replied, his face unchanged, though his tone had suddenly hardened.

“And if my answer is still no?” Xiao Ye responded, prompting Cheng Hu’s voice to rise sharply.

“In that case, I’m afraid I must apologize!”

As soon as his words fell, the door to the private room was kicked open. Several burly men burst in from outside and charged directly at Xiao Ye.

At the same moment, Cheng Hu grabbed Huangfu Tian by the arm and dashed toward the exit.

Unexpectedly, the other party truly dared to act. Xiao Ye reacted almost instantly, appearing at Cheng Hu’s side in a flash.

Cheng Hu, though now the vice president of the Jianghai Merchant Alliance and skilled in honeyed words, was once a notorious thug. Seeing Xiao Ye rushing at him, he actually struck first, swinging his palm at him.

Xiao Ye was slightly surprised that his opponent would take such an approach, so he hastily raised his hand and responded with a palm strike of his own.

Cheng Hu, after all, was just an ordinary man. How could he possibly contend with Xiao Ye in a clash of strength?

Almost simultaneously, Cheng Hu spat a mouthful of blood, a crack resounding from the bones of his right hand, and his entire body was sent hurtling backward.

Xiao Ye found it odd—Cheng Hu obviously lacked the power to challenge him, so why would he dare to confront him head-on?

Before he could ponder further, the man before him burst into laughter and called out, “That’s my escape route—thank you, Lord Xiao, for your help!”

With that, Cheng Hu managed to steady himself, turned sideways, and leapt out the window of the private room.

Huangfu Tian, dragged by him, dove out as well.

This was entirely beyond Xiao Ye’s expectations; he hadn’t thought the other party would resort to such a lowly trick. He immediately tried to pursue them, but was blocked by a constant stream of Jianghai Merchant Alliance guards flooding in.

Seeing this, Wang Yang realized the opportunity had come. He mimicked Cheng Hu and jumped out the window as well. But as soon as he landed, he found Cheng Hu waiting for him.

“Vice President, let’s go quickly!” Wang Yang exclaimed in terror, having just escaped the tiger’s den and unwilling to return.

But Cheng Hu, breathing heavily, only smiled more fiercely.

“No rush,” he replied, eyeing Wang Yang up and down, as if appraising a lamb among wolves. The bloodthirsty look in his gaze sent a chill through Wang Yang’s entire being.

“All these years, the dirty deeds you and President Jiang have done behind our backs—we know them all! It’s scum like you that have hindered the development of our alliance. So, you might as well atone for your sins with your life!”

A cruel, savage grin split Cheng Hu’s face, the scar across his cheek making him look all the more menacing.

Wang Yang was naturally indignant—calling him a scoundrel? Hadn’t the kickbacks from his dealings lined the pockets of others as well? But before he could speak, Cheng Hu’s fist crashed into his chest.

Wang Yang spat blood and was sent flying backward.

At that moment, Xiao Ye vaulted out the window as well. Seeing Wang Yang hurtling toward him, Xiao Ye’s eyes turned cold, and he reacted instantly.

“Get lost!” he barked, raising his foot and violently kicking Wang Yang, forcibly altering his trajectory mid-air.

With a crash, Wang Yang was sent flying back into the room, landing heavily on the floor.

By the time Xiao Ye looked up again, Cheng Hu had already fled with Huangfu Tian in tow.

There was no way Cheng Hu could be unscathed after taking a palm strike from Xiao Ye. Taking two people with him was out of the question; abandoning Wang Yang was a decision he had made long before.

Wang Yang knew too many secrets of the Jianghai Merchant Alliance. Since they were going to sever all ties with Xiao Ye today, they couldn’t afford to leave him any leverage.

Wang Yang had to die.

His interference bought Cheng Hu ten seconds to escape. Regaining a bit of strength, Cheng Hu took off at a brisk pace toward the teahouse.

Xiao Ye snapped back to his senses and gave chase. It was as if Cheng Hu had anticipated this, setting up ambushes along the way. One group of guards after another poured out from the corridor, completely blocking Xiao Ye’s path.

“Insects!” Xiao Ye spat contemptuously. These people posed no threat to him at all.

The lead guard charged at Xiao Ye with a punch. In the narrow corridor, it was the perfect place for Xiao Ye to strike. He used his palm as a fist and swung at the man.

As soon as they made contact, Xiao Ye twisted the man’s arm backward at the joint, subduing him instantly. The man howled in pain and collapsed to his knees.

Without a flicker of emotion in his eyes, Xiao Ye kicked him hard, sending him flying, blood spraying in the air.

A bloody stench permeated the corridor. The leader crashed into his comrades behind him. As they struggled to rise, Xiao Ye—eyes flashing coldly—charged at them.

...

About three minutes later, Xiao Ye used the same method to knock all the guards blocking his way to the ground. But by the time he gave chase again, Cheng Hu and Huangfu Tian were nowhere to be seen.

On the first floor of the teahouse, a crowd had gathered, all shrinking back in fear at the sight of Xiao Ye, his body covered in blood.

“They got away,” Xiao Ye muttered, curling his lip. He didn’t linger, but headed straight back upstairs.

By now, the Crimson Dragon had disposed of all the guards who had arrived. The entire room was strewn with bodies.

He was glaring at the moaning Wang Yang on the floor, ready to finish him off, but Xiao Ye stopped him.

“Lord Xiao, please, I beg you—save me! I’ve been betrayed by the Jianghai Merchant Alliance! If you help me, I’ll tell you everything I know!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ye immediately asked, “Let me ask you a question—how many families are there in the Jianghai Merchant Alliance?”

The sudden question left Wang Yang momentarily stunned.

“Th—thirty-nine!” he stammered truthfully.

“That’s enough. You can rest in peace now.”

“Wait, Lord Xiao!” Wang Yang cried, but Xiao Ye’s foot pressed down hard on his neck.

A suffocating sensation overwhelmed him, blood—already congealing—gushed anew from his mouth and nose. Breathing became even more difficult; his face flushed purple, eyes reddening as if about to burst.

He trembled, limbs flailing desperately, clutching at the air for some last hope of survival.

But nothing could stop Xiao Ye.

In the end, Wang Yang breathed his last, blood flowing over the check Huangfu Tian had just signed for him.