Chapter 583: Like A Rat In The Hole
The time slipped by fast and the night had fallen already. Bluestar Villa Complex was the same as usual, with its streetlights brightly illuminating the villa complex, whereas a faint smell of soil floated up amid the drizzling rain.
Yang Le was staying in the Villa #11 while quietly hiding in the attic of the building. He constantly observed the surroundings with a binoculars and occasionally glanced at the Villa #9 next door.
"They are here!"
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. His left hand grabbed a silver pistol and aimed its muzzle at the several figures approaching Villa #11. Despite Tang Xiu not saying a word that he would help him when he called, he was confident that Tang Xiu would act.
As a matter of fact, the reason why he didn't directly leave was that he regarded himself as bait for Tang Xiu to fish several big fish, while also removing trouble for himself.
Inside the villa #9, Tang Xiu quietly stood next to the window in the study room while observing the situation outside through the slit of the curtain. When several ghostly figures silently appeared outside the courtyard of Villa #11, he then dialed a cell number and spoke a few words words, "The fish entered the net!"
At this time, even the apprehensive Yang Le was aware that two experts from the Everlasting Feast Hall were already waiting for a long time in his bedroom. They were holding daggers and bloodlust sparks filled their eyes, whereas eight others hid in the other rooms of the villa.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A martial artist with extraordinary skill easily entered by jumping off the wall, whereas more than a dozen sneaked into the villa using various means. Following which, three figures then appeared from afar.
"I know you're at home, Junior Brother! We came to visit you here, why don't open the door and invite us inside?" Yao Qinglong's loud voice sounded from the courtyard outside.
On the corner of the attic, Yang Le looked through the slit on the window toward the three people standing outside. He was silent for a while before walking out of the attic and standing on the edge of the building, saying, "Since all the people you brought here have already come in, do the three of you still need me to open the door?"
The trio exchanged looks as they immediately jumped over the front gate with ease, and quickly appeared in the courtyard. At this moment, the originally dark villa turned bright, as six stocky men who had sneaked into the villa ahead of time appeared in the first floor hall.
"Junior Brother, you don't need to hide your head and tuck your tail in front of your martial brothers, right?" Said Yao Qinglong lightly.
Yang Le's figure appeared on the stairs. As he stepped down the staircase, his grim eyes swept over the six stocky men before eventually landing on the trio. He then took a deep sigh before coming to their front and saying, "To be honest, maybe I still care about the feeling of fellowship between us, thus I could guarantee your lives if you didn't come tonight. Unfortunately, the moment you step into my courtyard, the only thing between us now is a life and death struggle."
"Tell me, Junior Brother. Who the fuck gives you such confidence?" Du Yanghe jeered. "Life and death fight, huh? Bah… it is you who will die, whereas we'll live."
"We were careless and let you escape from us several times back then, Junior Brother," said Qiu Jian coldly. "But this time, we have laid down an inescapable net for you. It's impossible for you to escape again even if you have wings plugged into your body. Hence, do hand over all the things left behind by our Master before his death if you don't wanna die! Else don't blame for us being ruthless and ignoring our fellowship."
Yang Le shot them a look, as he then suddenly burst into laughter and said, "This is so funny that it's ridiculous! Now I suddenly have a feeling that the death of our Master must be related to you all."
"Huh?" Yao Qinglong, Du Yanghe, and Qiu Jian all had a change in expression.
With his astute mind, Yang Le could observe the tiny changes in their expressions and could sense the problem instantly as he shouted again, "Don't think that I don't know. Master was very healthy back then, yet he suddenly fell ill and passed away early. The three of you are nothing but despicable and shameless scumbags who forgot the grace of Master's teachings, even committed high treason, assaulting the old man treacherously. What a huge disgrace!"
Yao Qinglong only frowned and watched Yang Le in silence.
The hot tempered Du Yanghe, however, couldn't keep the matter inside and directly admitted after hearing Yang Le's words, "Fine! We'll no longer conceal it anymore since you already found out. He was indeed our Master, but he had been very partial and doted on you more than on the three of us. If we didn't kill him, he would likely give all his treasures to you."
"SECOND BROTHER!" Yao Qinglong's expression suddenly changed greatly as he angrily shouted at him.
A disbelieving expression burst from Yang Le's eyes, making his pupil contract, as he said in a thick and heavy voice, "I never thought it was really you who did it!"
Yao Qinglong took a deep breath before taking a step toward Yang Le and saying in the same deep voice, "Since you've discovered the true cause of Master's death from Second Brother—this damned fool, then we don't need to hide it any longer. That's right, it was us who gave that geezer a poison that took effect slowly and finally killed him. So what, do you want to get revenge for that old fogy?"
Yang Le's eyes turned bloodshot as he glared at the trio with a look of full hatred, wishing he could immediately hack their limbs and dismember their bodies into eight pieces. [1]
"Ahhh, today's matter can't end up in friendly terms, it seems." Yao Qinglong shook his head and sighed. "Yang Le, you still have a chance to live. That is to take out all of the wealth of that geezer. Else, tonight will be the time of your death, period."
Yang Le gritted his teeth and bit his lips as he glared at the three aggressive scumbags. He finally looked upward and roared, "TANG XIU, HELP ME KILL THEM! THIS YANG LE PLEDGES TO SERVE YOU AS YOUR SUBORDINATE IN THE FUTURE!"
"IT'S A DEAL!"
Tang Xiu's figure appeared in the hall like lightning. Behind him was Chi Nan, who was playing with a sharp dagger as she shot a playful smile at Yao Qinglong and the others.
The moment Tang Xiu appeared, Yao Qinglong's face greatly changed. He could recognize his identity instantly—a member of the Tang Family, the culprit who ruined his Yao Family.
"IT'S A TRAP!"
Yao Qinglong roared and dashed toward the left corridor.
Neither Tang Xiu nor Chi Nan moved. Just as Yao Qinglong ran across the corridor and was about to pass through the door, a large foot directly kicked his chest, sending him flying upside down and hitting the opposite door behind him and breaking it.
Hmph…
From the smashed door, an expert of the Everlasting Feast Hall easily grabbed his neck and strode to the living room and then threw him before Tang Xiu.
Du Yanghe and Qiu Jian were flabbergasted. They never dreamed that things would turn out this way. Prior to this, they came here with greed filling their hearts, and trying to get the large fortune left by their Master by killing Yang Le. Never once they imagined that they would fall into a trap.
"WHO ARE YOU?"
Panicked, Du Yanghe's horrified gaze withdrew from Yao Qinglong as he stared at Tang Xiu and roared.
"You really are an idiot!" Tang Xiu shook his head and smilingly said. "Given Yang Le's disposition, don't tell me you that didn't have a clue that he had something to rely on by staying here? Hehe, who I am, you ask? That's a very interesting question, you know. But I don't feel like I need to tell you myself, because that eldest senior brother of yours should know, right? Did I speak incorrectly, Yao Qinglong?"
Blood flowed from the corner of Yao Qinglong's mouth as he attempted to get up from the floor. There was hatred in his eyes as he glared at Tang Xiu and spoke, "What you said is not wrong. I hail from the Yao Family who got ruined by you. I just never thought that this stupid Junior Brother of mine turned out to be in cahoots with you and even deployed this trap to pull us in."
"What? Are you scared or something?" Tang Xiu chuckled.
"Afraid? Only a few people in this world can make I, Yao Qinglong, afraid. And you, you're simply not among them!" Yang Qinglong straightened up and sneered. "But I'm curious about something. How does Yang Le know you?"
Tang Xiu pointed to the direction of the building nearby and said, "We're neighbors."
Neighbors?
Yao Qinglong was so vexed, he felt like he got wronged and driven to death. Although the people he sent to investigate Yang Le informed him that he lived in the Bluestar Villa Complex, never once he expected that Tang Xiu would actually live here as well.
"Akka, I need your help!" Yao Qinglong grabbed his mobile and spoke after dialing a number.
"You should be moving the reinforcement, right?" Tang Xiu chuckled. "Alright. I'll give you plenty of time to showcase everything you got. Before this, however, let us remove the garbage—the shrimp soldiers and crab generals you brought here, so as not to be eyesores."
As Tang Xiu's voice faded away, six bodies were thrown into the hall from various places. These people were the hiding martial artists brought by the Yao Qinglong trio. As the trio had their facial expressions changed greatly, Chi Nan dashed in and appeared in front of those stocky men as her dagger rose and fell, instantly slicing their throats. Blood splattered and their bodies fell to the floor, convulsing and gradually embracing their deaths.
"What a thick smell of blood. I really like it!"
A hoarse voice came from outside the hall. There was no footstep sound, but a thin figure appeared at the hall's door. The man was dressed in a black robe and had long, loose golden hair. His handsome face looked pale, making him look like the Grim Reaper.
Chi Nan, who had just acted and killed six men and had returned to Tang Xiu's side, instantly squinted her eyes when she saw the man. She let out a faint playful smile and said, "Grim Reaper Akka, you like the smell of blood, eh? Then stay here, I'll personally make you smell your own blood."
Akka, who had a British look, looked toward Chi Nan and his body suddenly shuddered as he clearly saw Chi Nan's face. His pupils momentarily contracted and moved to run away almost subconsciously.
"COME BACK HERE!"
Tang Xiu's figure streaked toward the outside like lightning and blocked Akka's path in the blink of an eye. Along with a barrage of fists toward Akka's chest, the man was straightly sent back into the hall.
"WHAT?"
Yao Qinglong's body shook, as he could hardly believe his eyes. He knew very well who Akka was—an expert he had hired from that organization for a huge sum of money. But an expert recognized by that organization was so easily defeated by Tang Xiu?
After struggling to get up from the floor, Akka's eyes only stayed on Tang Xiu for a moment before they eventually landed on Chi Nan, as he spoke with a terrified expression, "Lady Instructor, I didn't expect to see you here. It's really a great honor to be able to see your graceful figure once again in my life."
It should be dismembering their limbs by pulling it with horses. It was an ancient practice for those who were guilty of treasons in the past, but I chose to hack their limbs since the term is no longer suitable given the current era.
Chapter 584: Getting to the Root of the Matter
Akka had seen too many existences with dreadful strength. Even though Tang Xiu's strength was extraordinary, he still didn't think he was more dreadful than Chi Nan. In his eyes, Chi Nan was simply a female devil who could kill without batting an eye. She had once purged the Mexican drug dealers and was ranked amongst the topmost international terrifying forces.
Encountering this fiendish instructor who had once trained him the first time he came to China was something Akka had never expected. Moreover, they were actually standing on opposite sides. He still vividly remembered what Chi Nan had once said to him: Perhaps you are now my student, but if we ever become enemies in the future, I will employ the more venomous and ruthless measures to make you regret having me as your enemy.
Mentally disturbed, Akka now hated Yao Qinglong. He couldn't care less if he provoked someone, but he would never involved himself in provoking this fiendish instructor!
"It's been four or five years since the last time we met, right, Akka?" Chi Nan lightly said. "I never thought that you would actually become someone's running dog and also my enemy."
"Lady Instructor, you misunderstood." Akka looked tragic and panicked. "Yao Qinglong only hired me, I have no relationship with him whatsoever. He gave a large sum of money to the organization, which tasked me to help him. Had I known you were here, I wouldn't have dared to come even if I were to be given all the Citibank's money!"
Furrowing his brows, Tang Xiu looked at Chi Nan and lightly asked, "You know him?"
After retracting her cold and proud expression, Chi Nan replied respectfully, "He is someone I once trained back then, Boss; a quite remarkable hitman from the Arabian Stygian Club. However, I don't know about the organization he's currently affiliated with."
Nodding in response, Tang Xiu then looked at Akka and asked, "Tell me the name of your organization."
Akka's lips quivered a few times before he shook his head, "I can't, else I'll face a tragic death!"
"You'll die even more tragically if you don't." Tang Xiu indifferently replied, "Don't be fooled by the thought of surviving, though. I'm hailed as a divine doctor in China. I have the means to make you suffer unimaginable pain and yet still remain alive to taste it. Tell me! Else you will be in for hellish pain for days and nights."
Akka had a change in expression. Though Tang Xiu spoke in very lame English, he could still understand what he said. He also heard that the so-called divine doctors in China had very mysterious abilities. He also dreaded the doctor profession because there existed a doctor-killer in the organization who possessed both the ability to save lives and kill people, and using it for torture was absolutely terrible.
"I can't say it, else my entire family will be implicated." Akka bitterly shook his head.
Tang Xiu squinted his eyes as a few silver needles appeared out of nowhere in his hand. As his figure flashed, the needles pierced Du Yanghe and Qiu Jian's bodies. He then moved again as his body flicked back to his previous spot.
Aaargh…
Even in their dreams Du Yanghe and Qiu Jian had never expected that Tang Xiu would strike at them because of Akka's refusal. The most painful thing for them was that the hellish pain that burst out inside their bodies when the silver needles pierced their bodies.
The two men's bodies fell to the floor a few seconds after, as each muscle in their bodies twitched. Their faces distorted. Greenish veins and blood vessels bulged out all over their bodies, causing them to fall down, twitching and rolling about on the floor.
Tang Xiu no longer paid attention to them and even ignored Akka. He looked at Yao Qinglong instead and smilingly said, "It's needless for me to elaborate kind of fate you will face, no? Since I have the ability to kill the patriarch of your Yao Family and ruin them, it explains that I possess terrifying power and surpass what you had imagined. Therefore, tell me everything you do overseas, all your wealth, what organization you've joined, and so on… Of course, if you honestly and sincerely hand them over, and pay quite a hefty price, I can promise to keep you alive."
While looking at his two junior brothers who were wailing in anguish and rolling about on the floor, a chill ran through his whole body and invaded his heart at this time. Tang Xiu's threat to Akka just now was, in fact, also a threat to him. He knew perfectly well what kind of abilities the so-called divine doctors possessed. He even knew that Chinese divine doctors were even more terrifying than international professors and doctors who engaged in the Western Medical field.
"Can you really guarantee my life?" Yao Qinglong shot Tang Xiu a deep look, glancing at Chi Nan and Akka, as he finally asked with a helpless and desperate expression.
"Of course." Tang Xiu nodded. "But it depends on your performance, too. I am by no means a butcher, nor do I like to kill people. Else, it would definitely be impossible for your Yao Family to keep on living."
"Alright. Then, I'll tell you everything. I just want you to keep your word," replied Yao Qinglong in a deep voice.
Akka's expression greatly changed as he shouted, "Did you forget the death rule of the organization, Yao Qinglong? You will die a tragic death if you dare to tell others!"
"I know I'll die a tragic death if I expose it, but I'm afraid my death will be even worse if I don't speak now." Yao Qinglong shook his head. "Akka, Tang Xiu is very terrifying, the most dreadful existence I ever encountered. Don't tell me you haven't realized it yet since he can make even your instructor his subordinate?"
Akka's breathing turned heavy and fell into silence.
Afterward, Yao Qinglong told everything in great detail. More than 10 years ago, the Yao Family's Head—Yao Qingzun ordered him to manage the family business overseas.
The Yao Family operated many types of businesses overseas, where they invested a colossal amount of funds. After several years of development, Yao Qinglong ruthlessly annexed the businesses of several families, and the total assets had finally reached tens of billions USD. Later on, he trained a large number of men abroad with aid from the Stygian Club, secretly swallowing many small families and the wealth of rich and powerful people as his own. The power he held was only slightly inferior to Beijing's Yao Family.
The Stygian Club was an organization composed of three major forces at the core, with twelve families and more than forty affiliated forces. As of today, the Stygian Club definitely ranked among the top three organizations with the most powerful forces in the world.
Furthermore, the Stygian Club also had a special department dedicated to assassinations, intelligence, regulatory bureau, mercenary groups, security companies, financial teams, and many more. The number of talents under it was simply too many to count. Akka was a member of the assassination department and was ranked in the few hundreds inside the department.
After listening to Yao Qinglong's narration, everyone in the room was quite shocked. Even Tang Xiu himself looked solemn as he could faintly sense the terror this Stygian Club posed.
"Who is the person who holds the highest authority in the Stygian Club?" Tang Xiu found that Yao Qinglong didn't say this point and immediately asked in a heavy voice.
"I don't know." Yao Qinglong shook his head.
Tang Xiu looked at Akka and coldly asked, "What about you? Can you tell me?"
"I wouldn't tell you even if I knew it." Akka said, "But that's out of my knowledge, too. Nobody knows the leader of our Stygian Club except the three major forces and the senior members among the twelve families."
Tang Xiu nodded, "Yao Qinglong, I will not ask anymore since you only know this much. What I want to know next is, why did you return home and even eyed the Magnificent Tang Corporation? Is it because you want to get the products' formula, or is it due to someone from the Stygian Club wanting to get those formulas?"
As if he was ready to stake everything, Yao Qinglong said, "It's Duff, the Patriarch of the Moyes Family, one of the twelve family powers."
Tang Xiu nodded and ordered, "Kill all of them except Yao Qinglong!"
The experts of the Everlasting Feast Hall acted instantly and easily killed Akka, Du Yanghe, and Qiu Jian.
Yao Qinglong secretly felt fortunate that his choice was correct. He knew that Tang Xiu was ruthless, hence chose to cooperate well and told everything. Even if he hid some things, he was sure that everything he said had great effect on Tang Xiu.
"I just found that you're the only outstanding one left among the Yao Family, Yao Qinglong." Tang Xiu smilingly said, "I had given you my word that I won't kill you, but I never said that my men won't. You're very good, nevertheless, so I'll give you a chance to live."
Along with these words, the restlessness inside Yao Qinglong's heart finally vanished. He realized that the price he would have to pay was enormous, but he would never refuse it for a chance to go on living. Thus, he replied with all seriousness, "Mr. Tang, please do speak…"
"Transfer all the wealth under your control to my name." Tang Xiu said, "I'll send you with my men abroad to receive all of them from you. You should have understood clearly that the more capital you have, the more threat you pose to me. So, what do you say?"
Yao Qinglong was silent for a while, and then answered, "Let me make a phone call first to tell my men to transfer all the money to my account in the Bank of Switzerland. Also, the floating liquidity of several big company groups under my control will be handed over to you along with their extension industries."
"One who knows how to act according to circumstances is a wise one, and you are a very good one at that." Tang Xiu gave a thumbs up and praised. "Chi Nan, I'll hand over the full authority to handle this matter to you. I'll contact Xiaoxue later to send some men to aid you."
"Understood!" Chi Nan's eyes lit up and immediately replied with an excited expression.
The authority Tang Xiu gave her was quite enormous. She knew perfectly well that if she could handle this matter to perfection, her status in the Everlasting Feast Hall would be greatly elevated, and even be on par with Hao Lei and Tian Li.
"Is this solution agreeable to you?" Asked Tang Xiu as he looked at Yang Le.
As a matter of fact, Yang Le wanted Yao Qinglong to die, because the man was nothing but trouble for him. However, since Tang Xiu wanted to get his wealth, he knew that it would probably be difficult for him to kill Yao Qinglong. However, he still nodded silently despite feeling a bit dissatisfied inside.
"Alright. I'm sure Yao Qinglong will no longer bother you again. Yao Qinglong, is what I said understood?" Said Tang Xiu.
"I swear that I'll take a detour whenever I see Yang Le ever again in the future," said Yao Qinglong quickly.
Tang Xiu nodded with satisfaction as he spoke to Yang Le in a very low voice, "I think it would be a very good choice for you to go with Chi Nan since you want to go overseas. You may deal with Yao Qinglong as you like when everything's done."