VIP Volume Chapter 074 - Hostage

Ye Xiaoxuan’s home was separated from Jiaran’s by nothing more than a wall. This was the basic layout of the village—neighbors were nearly all relatives.

Ye Xiaoxuan didn’t have time to circle through the gate; he dashed straight to the middle of the courtyard wall, planted his foot on the chicken coop, and leapt into the air. Suddenly, he soared over the wall like an agile rabbit!

Jiaran and Ye Dajun stared in astonishment. Though the wall wasn’t especially tall, it was nearly three meters high. Even Ye Dajun, who possessed the skills of a martial master, couldn’t have vaulted it so nimbly! What was with this youngest son?

Next came a sharp crash from the other side, mingled with Ye Xiaoxuan’s pained and awkward groan. Ye Dajun slapped his forehead. “I forgot to empty last night’s chamber pot—it’s still sitting at the base of the wall!”

Jiaran stamped her foot in exasperation and cursed at him. “That’s absolutely disgusting!” She rushed toward her house, with Ye Dajun following close behind.

Jiaran’s room was on the east side of the main house, and at this moment, no lights were on. The door was shut tight, a pane of glass shattered, the interior pitch black and silent—nothing could be seen, nor heard.

Ye Xiaoxuan grew anxious and kicked the door, only to find someone inside blocking it completely! He shouted, “Yu’er!”

Still, no response. Ye Xiaoxuan stepped back, lunged forward, and rammed his body into the wooden door with a tremendous crash, only to be bounced back, landing heavily and scrambling to his feet once more.

“Third son!” Ye Dajun, who had caught up, quickly called out to him, grabbing his wrist and whispering, “There’s another door to the main house—”

Ye Xiaoxuan slapped his forehead, realizing in his haste he’d forgotten this. He rushed toward the main entrance, and just as he reached it, a low voice sounded from within: “Don’t come in. Stand right there!”

Ye Xiaoxuan froze. The voice was familiar, but not from the Ye family. Had Yu’er and his uncle and aunt been taken hostage by this person? The thought made him hesitate, unwilling to act recklessly.

Ye Dajun, however, paid no heed. Hearing the unfamiliar voice, he grew furious and cursed loudly, “Who the hell are you?” He clenched his fists and charged inside.

Ye Xiaoxuan tried to grab him, but failed, and Ye Dajun barreled past, neck stiff, bursting into the room. Less than a minute passed before a loud crash sent him flying out!

Ye Xiaoxuan gasped. He watched Ye Dajun clutching his chest, pain etched across his face, and asked with a frown, “Are you hurt? Where?”

Ye Dajun coughed, shook his head, and said, “I’m fine! He held back—if he hadn’t, I wouldn’t be able to get up now.”

The person inside scoffed coldly. “Good you know. Don’t do anything rash, and I won’t harm them.”

Jiaran arrived, nervously supporting Ye Dajun. “What do you want?” she demanded.

The man inside answered in a deep voice, “I’m just looking for something—something brought from the lake.”

Ye Xiaoxuan’s heart skipped a beat. He cried out, “It was you last night!” The man snorted, neither confirming nor denying.

Ye Xiaoxuan took a deep breath and crept forward. At the slightest movement, the man barked, “I’ll say it again—don’t move! Cooperate, and I won’t harm anyone!”

This man was formidable! Judging by his ability to discern their positions by sound alone, he must be of a martial king’s caliber. Aside from Old Shepherd Yang, Ye Xiaoxuan had never encountered such a master. Yet the voice was clearly not Old Shepherd Yang’s.

Ye Dajun clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. “If you dare harm my family, I’ll hunt you even as a ghost!”

The man inside scoffed again, unmoved by the threat—their strength was too mismatched.

Jiaran spoke gently, “Elder, have you found what you’re looking for? If not, it’s not here. Why don’t you leave? No one here can stop you; you certainly don’t need to take our family hostage, do you?”

The man was silent for a moment before sighing with a hint of admiration, “Such a clever girl!”

Ye Xiaoxuan and Jiaran exchanged glances, both raising their brows in surprise. They had questions but kept them to themselves.

The man continued, “I merely wish to ask the young girl a few questions, and I don’t want… don’t want to cause trouble. As long as you behave, I won’t… Who is—”

Before he could finish, a thunderous crash erupted overhead, as if a massive stone had fallen from the sky, smashing through the roof!

Indeed, the roof was breached. Someone leapt down from above, wind whistling through the room, followed by a sudden burst of fire and the aroma of alcohol.

Two shadows darted out, apparently tethered together by a rope. The one behind laughed heartily, “Old Dog, even with your face covered, I’d recognize you anywhere!”

Hearing this, Ye Dajun immediately cried, “Master!”

The two figures nearly reached the exit; the one behind was indeed Old Shepherd Yang, who, without turning his head, shouted, “Untie your parents’ ropes and say nothing about tonight!”

Ye Xiaoxuan was the first to rush in. His night vision was unhindered; he immediately saw uncle and aunt sitting at the bedside, with Xiao Yu’er wide-eyed on a chair nearby.

All three had their hands tied behind their backs, wrists bound, blindfolded, and mouths gagged with cloth.

Ye Dajun and Jiaran hurried in, switched on the lights, and gasped to see their parents bound on the bed, quickly rushing to untie them.

Ye Xiaoxuan swiftly released Wen Xiaoyu, carefully checking her from head to toe to ensure she wasn’t hurt, finally relaxing. He gently stroked her hair. “I’m sorry for frightening you.”

Wen Xiaoyu was about to throw herself into Ye Xiaoxuan’s arms, but at his words, she trembled, biting her lip and shaking her head.

Ye Xiaoxuan turned to Jiaran. “Take care of Xiao Yu’er for me. I’m going out to check.” Ye Dajun followed, saying, “I’ll go with you!”

Ye Xiaoxuan shook his head. “Stay home—be careful, he might come back around!” Hearing this, Ye Dajun dared not insist.

Jiaran worried, “Third son, be careful!” Ye Xiaoxuan nodded, whispering, “Don’t worry, no one can harm me.” He turned and gazed deeply at Wen Xiaoyu before rushing out.

Once Ye Xiaoxuan left, Wen Xiaoyu’s eyes reddened. She said to Jiaran, “Sis, will he be in danger alone? I want to check on him.”

Jiaran walked over, took her hand, and sighed, “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. We shouldn’t go—otherwise we’ll only make things worse, you understand?” Wen Xiaoyu nodded gently.