Chapter Forty-One: Reeling in the Big Fish

“Big brother, please, don’t!”

Almost instantly, Liu Hao cried out in terror. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, the gun pressed against his head—he didn’t want to die.

“What’s wrong? Are you scared now?” Xiao Ye asked coldly.

Scared? How could he not be!

Liu Hao shook so hard his teeth chattered. With a gun against his head, anyone would be terrified—there was no way he could pretend otherwise.

“Big brother, I know I was wrong. Please, let me go. I promise I’ll never cross you again!”

His face was drawn tight with anxiety. If the trigger slipped, if anything went wrong, he’d be done for. Better to swallow his pride for now and settle scores later.

But then, to his surprise, Xiao Ye suddenly withdrew the gun, tucked it into his belt, and sat back down at the table.

“In that case, you may leave.”

“Huh?”

For a moment, Liu Hao stared in disbelief. Had he heard right? He was being let go that easily?

“What’s the matter? Don’t you want to leave?”

At Xiao Ye’s words, Liu Hao snapped back to his senses, scrambling to his feet.

“I’m leaving—right now!”

He grabbed his blood brother Liu Hu and hurried away, not sparing a glance for anyone else.

“Brother Dong, are we really just going to leave like this?”

Clutching his stomach, Liu Hu’s voice was full of resentment. After all, he’d just been given a harsh beating by Xiao Ye.

“Idiot! Unless you think you can beat him?”

Liu Hao cursed. Xiao Ye had taken the gun from his hand with ease—how could they possibly take on someone like that?

“We’ll get our revenge, but only after we’re ready!”

A look of hatred flashed in Liu Hao’s eyes. He might not be a match for Xiao Ye now, but he wouldn’t let this go.

Meanwhile, as Xiao Ye let Liu Hao go, Chi Long’s eyes filled with doubt.

“King Xiao, why let them escape?”

“Chi Long, you’re too simplistic. Arresting them won’t solve the real problem,” Xiao Ye replied with a faint smile.

“But… they had firearms. That alone is enough for a hefty sentence!”

Chi Long’s face was puzzled, his voice low with concern.

“Chi Long, the old ways don’t apply here,” Xiao Ye said with a smile.

His words made Chi Long pause in thought. Before he could respond, Xiao Ye pulled out the gun he’d taken from Liu Hao.

“Look at this. What do you see?”

Chi Long glanced at the weapon on the table and recognized it instantly.

“That’s a Desert Eagle, isn’t it?”

“Exactly. But have you considered why a common street thug would have a Desert Eagle?”

Chi Long’s body stiffened as he realized what Xiao Ye was implying.

In the Dragon Kingdom, even those who secretly kept weapons usually only had homemade guns or relics from past wars. As for a finely crafted firearm like the Desert Eagle, ordinary people couldn’t possibly get their hands on one.

For someone like Liu Hao, a low-level thug, having such a weapon was all but impossible.

“King Xiao, are you suggesting Liu Hao has someone backing him?”

Chi Long asked.

Xiao Ye nodded, his expression brightening with a smile.

“Until we reel in the big fish, not a word of this must get out.”

“I understand, King Xiao. I’ll send someone to investigate those thugs right away!”

Chi Long sprang to his feet and hurried after Liu Hao and his men.

With him gone, only Xiao Ye, Ouyang Nana, and a few other curious onlookers remained in the restaurant.

Moments ago, Xiao Ye had single-handedly taken down dozens of men. It was only natural that everyone kept casting glances his way.

“Brother Xiao Ye, now it’s just the two of us. Do you have any plans?”

Ouyang Nana batted her eyes at him, her gaze sparkling. She had been hoping for Chi Long to leave, so she could have Xiao Ye all to herself.

“I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

Seeing that Ouyang Nana was about to sidle up to him, Xiao Ye’s expression turned serious, and he walked off to the bathroom.

“Where should we go next?”

While Xiao Ye was in the restroom, Ouyang Nana’s mind whirled with countless romantic ideas. She took out her phone, searching for inspiration.

Suddenly, a dark figure loomed in front of her, and her face immediately cooled.

“Xiao Ma, I told you—I’m having dinner with King Xiao. You’re not to come within ten meters of me!”

The figure before her was dark-skinned, powerfully built, with a stern face and a silent demeanor. A scar ran along his temple, as if a bullet had grazed him.

“Miss Ouyang, King Xiao has already left,” Ma Liu replied calmly.

“What!”

Ouyang Nana cried out in alarm, leaping up and drawing everyone’s attention.

“He went to the restroom—how could he have left?”

Her eyes were wide with shock and disbelief; she had seen Xiao Ye go into the bathroom herself.

Ma Liu bowed slightly. “He went into the restroom, then climbed out the window and left.”

“Damn it!”

Ouyang Nana slammed her chopsticks down in frustration and sat back at the table, cheeks puffed with anger.

She couldn’t believe it—after finally getting this chance, after all her anticipation, Xiao Ye had simply slipped away.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ye was already on his way home, a smile on his face. With Xiao Ma guarding Ouyang Nana, he had no worries for her safety. In terms of skill, Ma Liu was on par with Chi Long.

...

Back at the Xiao family villa.

Qin Xue’er hurried home, having received a call from her mother. She had been busy with work and had social engagements that evening, but her mother had said it was urgent.

“Mom, why did you need me back so urgently? I have business to discuss tonight,”

She sought out Old Lady Li as soon as she arrived, still preoccupied with work.

If it hadn’t been for her mother’s insistence, she wouldn’t have rushed home.

Seeing her daughter so oblivious, Old Lady Li slapped her own thigh in agitation.

“Daughter, you’re still thinking about business? Your husband is about to be snatched away!”

“What?”

Qin Xue’er froze, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion and shock.

“You mean Xiao Ye? What happened to him?”

Seeing her daughter’s face go pale, Old Lady Li’s worry deepened.

“Daughter, you don’t know. Today Xiao Ye accompanied me to the Li family, and then he was taken away by another woman!”