Chapter Fifteen: A Cry for Help

Xiao Ye’s roar thundered like the heavens, making everyone present feel weak at the knees, nearly collapsing on the spot. The sky itself seemed to darken with his words, heavy clouds gathering as distant thunder rumbled ominously.

Fear seized Xiao Minghui’s face, his feet involuntarily stumbling backward. Though he didn’t know Xiao Ye’s true identity, he understood now why his own father had been killed. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, his breath coming in ragged, desperate gasps.

“Young master, don’t be afraid,” whispered Zhao Liu urgently in Xiao Minghui’s ear, seeing how panic-stricken he was. “We belong to the Situ family now. Xiao Ye can’t do a thing to us!”

A tremor ran through Xiao Minghui’s body, and a strange light flickered in his eyes. That’s right! He was part of the Situ family now. With their power, even if Xiao Ye were a king of gods, he wouldn’t dare lay a finger on him. And the Situ family had just joined the Jianghai Merchant Alliance—Xiao Ye would have to think twice before crossing them.

With this thought, courage surged within him. He sprang to his feet, a twisted smile spreading across his face. “Xiao Ye, let me tell you, I’m now a member of the Situ family! If you dare lay a hand on me, they’ll never let you go!”

Pride shone on Xiao Minghui’s face as he flaunted his new allegiance before Xiao Ye. But Xiao Ye’s anger only grew, fists clenching tight.

“And yet you have the nerve to speak? All the Xiao family’s wealth and honor, handed over by you without a fight? Such an unfilial wretch—you’re even less worthy than your father to call yourself a Xiao! You shame our ancestors, disgrace your own blood!”

The more Xiao Ye spoke, the deeper his fury burned. No matter what, these four great families were the true culprits behind the Xiao family’s downfall. And Xiao Minghui—he had betrayed his clan for personal gain, seeking shelter with the very family that destroyed his kin!

Never, in his wildest thoughts, had Xiao Ye imagined Xiao Minghui capable of such treachery.

“Xiao Ye, may you die a dog’s death!” Xiao Minghui spat back. “It’s because of you we had to sell off our assets just to survive! Say what you will—it’s all done and finished! Do you think you can take on the Situ family single-handed?”

“If you were truly capable, why did you only show yourself after five years? Worthless as ever! If anyone is unworthy of being a Xiao, it’s you!”

His jeers poured forth, treating Xiao Ye with utter contempt. Emboldened by their master, the rest of the Xiao family adopted the same insolent attitude. Unable to protect their own, they now heaped all blame on Xiao Ye.

A chorus of shouts rose up against Xiao Ye, dismissing him completely. Crimson Dragon’s eyes flashed with a cold, dangerous light. He stepped forward, about to teach these insolent fools a lesson, but Xiao Ye raised a hand to stop him.

His expression icy, Xiao Ye uttered just one sentence. “Do as you wish—we are not the same kind. I have but one request: return my diamond bracelet.”

He could not bother with them any longer; stopping Crimson Dragon was only for the sake of shared blood. But Xiao Minghui had no intention of yielding, his face twisting in mockery.

“You mean that diamond bracelet from five years ago? I gave it to the Situ family long ago. If you want it, go ask them yourself!”

The moment the words left his mouth, a dark shape shot forward—Xiao Minghui was hurled through the air, crashing into the wall behind him with a deafening thud. Blood gushed from his mouth as Xiao Ye’s figure loomed over him.

“And what right did you ever have to touch my things?” Xiao Ye’s voice was cold as frost, a savage aura radiating from him. In that instant, he wanted nothing more than to flay Xiao Minghui alive. That bracelet—his gift to Qin Xue’er—had never been returned, but it was not Xiao Minghui’s to give away.

Xiao Minghui’s back struck a stone pillar, and blood spurted from his lips. Xiao Ye’s blow had shattered the bones in his back. As Xiao Ye approached, step by step, Xiao Minghui, wracked with agony, pleaded in terror:

“Xiao Ye, don’t move! I’m with the Situ family now—they’ll avenge me if you hurt me!”

His eyes bulged, panic and dread twisting his features. His bones had been pulverized, the electric agony rooting him to the spot. He wanted desperately to retreat, but couldn’t move an inch.

The others looked on in horror, drawing sharp breaths, blood turning to ice in their veins. Before the god of slaughter that was Xiao Ye, none could utter a word. No one wished to end up like Xiao Minghui.

And yet, not a soul dared intervene. Staring at the broken heap that was Xiao Minghui, a cold smile played on Xiao Ye’s lips.

“So you think that being part of the Situ family makes you untouchable? It only means I have even fewer scruples—now I can skin you alive and tear you apart!”

Crack! Xiao Ye stomped on Xiao Minghui’s knee, shattering the joint to pieces. Blood and flesh burst out in a gruesome spray.

“Aaah!” Xiao Minghui’s shrieks echoed, his eyes nearly leaping from their sockets, red with agony—one could almost imagine blood pouring from them the next instant.

“Help me! Someone, help!” he howled, desperation consuming him. He knew that for Xiao Ye, killing him would be as easy as reaching into a sack.

Faced with death, his will to live forced him to beg for rescue. The Xiao family members shuddered uncontrollably at the sight, realizing Xiao Ye’s power was beyond anything they’d imagined.

“Zhao Liu, what are you waiting for—help me! Get the Situ family here, now!” Xiao Minghui bellowed, veins bulging, face red as though it might explode.

But Zhao Liu’s eyes turned cold as he watched, a slow smile curving his lips. With a sudden thud, Zhao Liu ran before Xiao Ye and dropped to his knees.

“Your Majesty Xiao, I, Zhao Liu, have already worked with the Situ family to recover the Xiao clan’s assets. All the contracts are here in my hands—please accept them, my lord!”

He pulled a stack of contracts from his jacket, raising them reverently. The sight made Xiao Minghui’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets.

“Zhao…Zhao Liu, you bastard—you lied to me!”