Chapter Eighty: Clearing the Obstacles

“You think such a petty trick can keep me restrained? How naive!” the refined man sneered with disdain, engaging in a contest of strength with Xiao Ye’s legs.

He summoned every ounce of strength he had, but it was all in vain. Helpless, he could only swing his fist fiercely toward Xiao Ye. Yet before his attack could land, the man opposite him suddenly dropped his body downward, and in an instant both crashed to the ground!

Xiao Ye’s body pressed squarely down on the man’s ankle.

A sharp crack rang out; he could clearly feel his ankle snap. His face paled, the ominous feeling in his heart deepened. His hands flailed more frantically in the air, but the more desperate he became, the less able he was to touch even a corner of Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye could tell his opponent was rattled.

With the time for his shift at the port drawing near, he knew he had to finish this quickly.

“If you have the guts, let me go! Enough with these cheap tricks!” the refined man, unable to escape Xiao Ye’s hold, shouted loudly at him.

But how could Xiao Ye possibly let him go?

Before the man could even react, Xiao Ye twisted with force, and the man’s leg bone broke with a sickening crack.

A scream tore from his lips as he clutched his thigh, writhing on the ground. His lower leg, under Xiao Ye’s manipulation, had twisted into a grotesquely unnatural angle.

“Xiao Ye, you bastard!” For the first time, the refined man’s composure shattered, and a barrage of curses poured from him.

With his life in serious danger, the man could no longer keep up his facade. Besides the searing pain in his lower leg, all he could feel now was terror.

Once certain the man could no longer move, Xiao Ye released his hold and stood before him.

“Stay back! I warn you, I’m a martial artist from Mount Dragon and Tiger!” the man blurted out, his true colors revealed. His breathing was ragged, panic written plainly across his face. His pupils dilated in fear, and his body instinctively tried to retreat.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that what seemed like a simple assassination would turn into a fight for his life.

He’d spent a lifetime hunting hawks, only to have his eyes pecked out by one.

Xiao Ye’s expression remained unchanged as he stepped steadily closer.

The terror on the man’s face only deepened. His arm stretched out, trembling, as he feebly tried to ward Xiao Ye off—but it was futile.

Xiao Ye bent down and seized him by the throat.

As the man’s face flushed red, his words shifted from arrogance to pleading.

“Please, brother, I beg you, let me go! I was only helping someone else, I never meant to make trouble for you!” Tears and snot streamed down his face as he pleaded desperately.

A lesser man might have relented at such a pitiful sight, perhaps even let him go.

But unfortunately for him, he had crossed paths with Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye’s face showed not a trace of pity. His grip only tightened, steadily cutting off the man’s air.

Slowly, the man’s face turned crimson. The crushing force on his neck robbed him of breath, and his cries for mercy dwindled to faint whimpers.

Until, with a chilling snap, Xiao Ye twisted his neck, breaking it cleanly.

With a casual motion, Xiao Ye flung the man’s corpse aside as if discarding garbage.

Then, in an icy tone, he pronounced two words.

“Useless trash.”

All four men from Mount Dragon and Tiger had fallen by Xiao Ye’s hand.

...

Xiao Ye stood up. Red Dragon was still unconscious, his wounds clearly severe.

Equipment could wait; there were more urgent matters.

He called Mouse, instructing him to move the gear into storage first.

He himself carried Red Dragon and rushed to the hospital.

Half an hour later, he arrived and carried Red Dragon—bloodied as he was—into the emergency room, startling the doctors and nurses into quick action.

“No need for a room, just give him an injection of adrenaline,” Xiao Ye instructed calmly.

Whenever Red Dragon had suffered similar episodes before, Old Xue had always treated him this way.

Though skeptical, the doctors, unfamiliar with such cases, decided to follow his advice.

To their surprise, after the injection, Red Dragon slowly regained consciousness.

“King Xiao!” were the first words from Red Dragon’s lips as he awoke, his mind still set on eliminating the four men and protecting Xiao Ye.

“It’s all right. I’ve taken care of all four—they’re no longer a threat. You’re safe now,” Xiao Ye soothed, pressing a hand to Red Dragon’s chest.

Hearing this, Red Dragon nodded, his face clouded with disappointment.

“Don’t worry about the equipment for now. I have something more important for you,” Xiao Ye said, taking a seat beside him.

“I have some leads on those four. This time, focus your investigation on a few names: Mount Dragon and Tiger, and the Ye family of Jiangnan District.”

Red Dragon paused, unfamiliar with these names.

“Rest and recover for now. Rejoin the team when you’re better,” Xiao Ye said with a faint smile.

...

Meanwhile, at Jianghai First People’s Hospital.

In a private ward, Ye Gang lay on the bed, his body swathed in bandages, his neck immobilized in a special brace.

Xiao Ye’s kick that day had left more than just physical scars; the psychological shadow lingered. Even though his injuries weren’t severe, any time he ventured outside, Xiao Ye’s face haunted his thoughts.

Moreover, the hired thugs he’d signed on that day had contacted him only yesterday.

They assured him that Xiao Ye would be dealt with by professionals on their end. The men from Mount Dragon and Tiger were said to be highly skilled—dealing with Xiao Ye should pose no problem.

Just then, a man entered the room.

“Young master,” he greeted respectfully, approaching Ye Gang and lowering his voice.

“Any progress on the investigation?” Ye Gang asked from his bed, a garishly dressed woman at his side popping a slice of orange into his mouth.

“We couldn’t uncover much, only that Xiao Ye owns a company here in Jianghai,” the man reported truthfully.

Very few in the entire Dragon Nation—no more than five—had the means to dig into Xiao Ye’s background.

Hearing that his adversary had business interests in Jianghai, a cold gleam flashed in Ye Gang’s eyes.

The Ye family might have little presence in Jianghai, but in Jiangnan District, who would dare disrespect the Ye family’s eldest son?

“Since someone’s already gone to deal with Xiao Ye, I’ll just add some fuel to the fire,” Ye Gang smirked, his smile cruel and chilling.