VIP Chapter 103: Exile to Fragrant Sand Island

Emerging from the ancient forest, Ye Xiaoxuan looked up at the sky. The rain had stopped, and dawn was approaching.

Grinning at Elder Gou Qi, Ye Xiaoxuan said, “It’s still good to have your backing, Elder Qi. Those assassins actually let us go when you told them to!”

A cold snort came from behind. “If I hadn’t been there to cover, do you think those brats would’ve obeyed so readily?”

Ye Dajun turned around, surprised, and shouted, “Master, you’re here too?!” The old shepherd shot a sharp glance at Elder Gou Qi and said, “Even an old dog like me is here to save his disciple. Though my disciple is a bit foolish, he’s far more precious than that guy’s. I naturally wouldn’t just stand by!”

Elder Gou Qi spat and cursed, “If your dumb disciple were lying on the street, no one would bother to pick him up. Whether I save him or not makes no difference!”

The shepherd’s goatee twitched as he cracked a whip onto Hao Liuzhi’s leg and snarled, “You think your disciple’s a treasure? A coward through and through, born to be a traitor!”

Seeing the old man strike, Elder Gou Qi swung his bullhook, striking Ye Dajun, cursing, “Your stupid disciple isn’t afraid to die—just incredibly foolish! Born to be cannon fodder!”

The shepherd was furious and about to retort when Hao Liuzhi, clutching Ye Dajun, had already fled far away, grimacing as he shouted, “You two can fight all you want, just don’t use us as practice!”

Ye Xiaoxuan, unwilling to see the two old men bicker upon meeting, waved his hand and said, “Enough nonsense. Liuzhi, go start the tractor and take Chen Tianlei and my brother to the village clinic!”

Chen Tianlei shook his head immediately. “I can’t go! The Qi Tian Group has people here in the village. If I return, it’s certain death!”

Elder Gou Qi snorted coldly. “Staying here is death as well! The Five Elements Assassins will be back, and in the next few days, the Wolf Squad will come. They’re ruthless and never leave survivors!”

Chen Tianlei shivered, sighed deeply, and said, “Then just leave me here. If I’m to die, so be it—I can’t escape anyway. I don’t want to return to the village after what happened to my second uncle. I have no face to show him.”

Ye Xiaoxuan cursed angrily, “I didn’t come out in the dead of night just to pick up your body! If I managed to save you from the assassins’ bullets, then I’m confident I can keep you alive!”

Staring fiercely at Ye Xiaoxuan, Chen Tianlei felt an inexplicable wave of awe. He dared not meet his eyes and looked down timidly. “Why… why did you save me? We’re not friends!”

Ye Xiaoxuan snorted coldly. “I keep my promises. I promised Tian Feng and the others to save you, so I will. Besides, we’re not sworn enemies, and you’re not entirely without merit.”

Ye Dajun scoffed, “He’s just a big thug, always robbing and bullying. What merit could he have?”

Ye Xiaoxuan shook his head. “At least he’s loyal. Knowing he’d die once his deeds were exposed, he didn’t drag his brothers down with him. Loyalty means even if he’s bad, he’s not utterly corrupt, so he doesn’t deserve death.”

Hao Liuzhi asked curiously, “Then where do you plan to hide him?”

Ye Xiaoxuan furrowed his brow, then thought of a good place and smiled faintly. “First, we’ll get some medicine from the village doctor to treat the wounds, then have the brothers make a bamboo raft.”

Everyone asked puzzled, “For what?”

Ye Xiaoxuan smiled mysteriously. “Mountain folk have their own clever plans.”

Daylight had fully broken. Chen Tianlei, clutching his freshly bandaged wound, stepped out of the village clinic and said to Ye Xiaoxuan, “Brother Ye, even though you’re helping me, that thing…”

Ye Xiaoxuan frowned. “That bracelet, right? Don’t even think about it. It’s not something you should covet.”

Chen Tianlei’s eyes blazed with anger. “What do you mean? I risked my life to get that! It was meant for Cai Yi. Are you playing some kind of dirty trick on me?”

Ye Xiaoxuan looked at him coldly. “You want to please her? You’re trying to get her killed! Chen Tianlei, use your brain. Do you think you deserve that bracelet? Do you know how many people’s blood stains it? Don’t you understand the saying: ‘An innocent man who possesses a treasure often suffers suspicion’?”

Chen Tianlei opened his mouth to argue but had to admit the truth of Ye Xiaoxuan’s words. Yet admitting it stirred a thousand regrets in his heart—it was something he had won with his life.

Ye Xiaoxuan patted his shoulder. “If you want to pursue Yuan Cai Yi, you’d better give her something else. You know about the murder at Great Immortal Lake. If you really gave her that, do you think she’d dare wear it?”

Chen Tianlei nodded reluctantly, sighing, “I guess you’re right. I’m just a bit attached. It’s valuable.”

Ye Xiaoxuan clapped his shoulder again. “Men should know when to hold on and when to let go. Rather than desperately chasing something that could cost you your life, it’s better to give up and live peacefully. Now come with me to the lakeside.”

Chen Tianlei was stunned, then asked curiously, “Why the lakeside?”

Ye Xiaoxuan explained, “Tian Feng and the others made you a bamboo raft. You’ll float downstream slowly—no need to rush—just drift until nightfall.”

Chen Tianlei was surprised. “What’s the plan?”

Ye Xiaoxuan smiled slightly. “So the Qi Tian Group’s spies will know you escaped. Don’t worry, I’ve arranged protection for you—no one can match it on the water! At night, it will take you to Xiangsha Island. When the heat dies down, you’ll come back. I’m only giving you food for the day; you won’t lack anything on the island.”

Chen Tianlei looked at Ye Xiaoxuan suspiciously, trying to judge the truth of his words. Tian Feng approached and said, “Boss, the bamboo raft is ready!”

Only then did Chen Tianlei believe Ye Xiaoxuan wasn’t deceiving him. Tears welled in the corner of his eyes as he gratefully looked at Ye Xiaoxuan. “I’m sorry for everything before. I owe you one, Chen Tianlei.”

Ye Xiaoxuan smiled faintly. “It’s nothing. Go now. I’ll send someone to pick you up in a month. I’ve prepared many books and a radio to keep you entertained. Let Tian Feng see you off. I’m going back to check on my brother.”

Chen Tianlei wiped his tears. “Thank you so much! I don’t know how to repay you…”

Just as he was about to leave, Chen Tianlei turned back with a confused look. “Wait, Brother Ye, why do I feel like you’re getting something so cheap for the thing I risked my life for? Hey, don’t run off! Explain yourself—I’m a bit confused…”

Breathless, Ye Xiaoxuan returned home, finally at ease. There was no chance Chen Tianlei would still be obsessed with that bracelet. Which tiger spits out meat once it’s in its mouth? Not a chance!

Chen Tianlei was indeed pitiful. He’d sold his beloved car cheap for that bracelet, attracted the wrath of the Qi Tian Group, only to have his treasure handed over to Ye Xiaoxuan for nothing.

His reward was a wound on his belly, a box of comic books, and a nearly as old semiconductor radio—sent by Ye Xiaoxuan to Xiangsha Island to endure a lonely, miserable month. Clearly, anyone who offends Ye Xiaoxuan is destined for a tragic end…