Chapter 123: Outside Forces

While Red Dragon was busy gathering information, Xiao Ye decided to pay a visit to Rat to inquire about the current situation. He did not even take the time to change his clothes before heading straight to the harbor.

Rat clearly did not expect Xiao Ye to come looking for him. Seeing the bloodstains on Xiao Ye’s clothes, he was startled, assuming Xiao Ye had been injured. Just as he moved to help him inside, Xiao Ye waved him off.

"I'm fine. Let's go in."

The two stepped into the warehouse. Although it was only a temporary living space, Rat had managed to keep it quite tidy. He turned to the refrigerator, pulled out two beers, and handed one to Xiao Ye.

"I’m here to ask you one thing: how much do you know about a man called Tiger?" Xiao Ye asked, frowning as he took a sip of his beer.

"Tiger? What happened to him? Did he get into trouble?" Rat’s expression was surprised as he clutched his beer bottle, looking at Xiao Ye.

"Answer me."

Xiao Ye’s tone was calm, yet it carried an irresistible weight. Rat nodded, gathered his thoughts, and began to speak.

"I’ve heard people say that Tiger treats his men well and is very generous with his money. Back when he was at the bars, he’d have a great time and put the whole bill on his tab!"

Rat was still reminiscing about the glory days when Xiao Ye mercilessly cut him off.

"I don't need to hear about that. Tell me about his status and things I might not know."

"Things you don't know?" Rat frowned, pondering for a moment before continuing. "Tiger is effectively the second-in-command of his organization. He holds a high position, which is why he’s usually quite arrogant and holds significant sway in the underground world. However, starting this year, he had a falling out with his former boss and struck out on his own. Fortunately, things didn’t get completely ugly, so they still have some dealings."

Xiao Ye was lost in thought. He had hoped to trace Tiger’s connections upward, root out a big player, and dismantle the entire underground network. He hadn't expected Tiger to be operating entirely on his own.

"Do you know who his backers are?" Xiao Ye asked again.

This hit a blind spot for Rat. "Backers? I honestly don't know. He has always been a lone wolf. Even the henchmen he has now were recruited only after he left his old organization."

Xiao Ye sighed. It seemed Rat only knew the surface-level details. In his view, for someone to break away from an established organization, they must have found a more powerful patron. Otherwise, there was no logical explanation for why he would take such a risk and abandon all his previous dividends. Xiao Ye speculated that the support Tiger had received was likely the very reason the underground world had become so convoluted, as Rat had previously described.

"By the way, you mentioned last time that the situation in the underground world has become very complex. Do you know which factions have joined in?" Xiao Ye shifted his approach and asked again.

"About that, I only heard it from others—they say several families from the Jiangnan District have become involved in the underground trade."

Several families from the Jiangnan District? Xiao Ye frowned slightly, involuntarily thinking of the families he had already crossed paths with. Could it really be them?

The information Rat provided was crucial, even if further questioning yielded nothing more. Just as he was about to leave, Rat called out to him.

"Young Master Xiao, are you planning to make a move against the underground world?"

Rat’s question did not surprise Xiao Ye. He remained silent, merely looking at the man before him.

"I don't mean anything else by it; I just want to contribute what I can. I’ve long despised this underground world. The factions are so tangled and complex that people are left dead in the streets every day. I want to see things change."

Rat’s gaze was resolute. Long ago, he had truly considered the underground world his home. But gradually, the environment had become impossible to survive in. Coupled with the fall of the Xiao family back then, his life had become even more difficult. Now, however, times had changed. Xiao Ye had returned, bringing with him power far greater than before. Since Xiao Ye intended to strike at the entire underground world, why shouldn't he jump on this bandwagon?

Hearing Rat’s words, Xiao Ye nodded.

"Very well. From now on, help me gather intelligence on the underground world and keep watch over the equipment here. If you need anything, include it in the operational expenses; someone will transfer the funds to you."

Seeing the excitement in Rat’s eyes, Xiao Ye added a warning, "But let me remind you: the tasks within this warehouse remain the top priority. If anything goes wrong here, you know what the consequences will be."

Seeing the grave expression on Xiao Ye’s face, Rat nodded instantly, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination. "I will complete every task you assign, Young Master Xiao!"

Seeing Rat’s reaction, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Xiao Ye’s mouth. He turned, pushed the door open, and left.

...

Meanwhile, at a high-end hotel in the Jiangnan District, Ye Cheng sat in a room, waiting for his VIP guest.

Ye Gang had been recuperating lately. After the beating from Xiao Ye, although he had managed to keep his life, he was left completely paralyzed from the waist down. As the head of the Ye family and the father of the victim, Ye Cheng had taken him to every doctor he could find. Sadly, the consensus among them was unanimous: there was no possibility of Ye Gang ever standing again.

Upon hearing this, Ye Cheng had aged significantly. He could not accept that his son was now a cripple. As for the man responsible for this calamity—Xiao Ye—he would take his revenge personally!

Soon, Ye Cheng recalled what Scorpion had told him. The person he was meeting tonight was Jiang Zhongtao.

Not long after, the sound of footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway. The door to the private room opened, and Jiang Zhongtao walked in.

"Brother Jiang, I have heard of your great name for a long time. It is an honor to finally meet you!"

The expression on Ye Cheng’s face instantly brightened as he walked toward Jiang Zhongtao. The two men shook hands firmly and sat down with smiles. The dishes were served quickly, and without much small talk, they began to eat. Behind them, several Ye family guards stood at attention.

After three rounds of drinks and the meal was well underway, the atmosphere reached its peak, and the two began to open up.

"Brother Jiang, I have something that has been weighing on my heart, and it is proving difficult to handle," Ye Cheng said midway through the meal.

"Mr. Ye, please speak freely. Let’s see if I can help you resolve your worries," Jiang Zhongtao replied with a smile.

"Xiao Ye, from Jianghai City—I wonder if you’ve heard of him?"