By then, my men had rushed up to him, first kicking the metal pipe out of his hand. Then two of them pinned him down. I shouted, "Grab him! Keep him alive!!"
Just then, two of my men ran over to push the cake cart away. Suddenly, I felt a pang of unease and abruptly raised my voice, shouting, "Everyone, lie down!!!"
I pushed over the wood and Aze next to me, then flipped over and tackled Yan Di and Qiao Qiao to the ground. Because I used too much force, I ended up holding Yan Di, and the two of them tumbled to the ground and rolled off the platform.
Then I heard an explosion... Boom!
As cake crumbs flew everywhere, various cheeses, candies, and other things splashed out, accompanied by terrified screams from the crowd, and the scene instantly descended into chaos!
Suddenly, an explosion occurred at the wedding. The crowd scattered like startled ducks. I managed to get up from the ground and saw Aze and Mutou also looking up. They both looked disheveled, but thankfully, they weren't injured. Qiaoqiao also looked bewildered. I quickly looked at Yandi next to her. Her eyes were closed, as if she had fainted. I was startled and quickly checked her body, only to see a wound on her back! Blood was flowing, instantly staining her snow-white wedding dress red!
My mind went blank for a moment, and I was so scared that my legs went weak and my face turned pale. All I knew was to desperately cover her wound with my hands.
Crimson blood flowed from between my fingers, already soaking through the wedding dress. I pressed hard on her wound, gently nudged Yan Di, and cried out in alarm, "Yan Di..."
In my terror, even my voice trembled slightly. But Yan Di kept her eyes tightly shut...
Just when I was completely at a loss, I heard Wood shout at me, "Get out of the way! I'll do it!!"
Wood rushed over and sat down beside me. It suddenly dawned on me: Wood is a doctor!! Wood didn't care about anything else. He immediately ripped open Yan Di's wedding dress from behind. With a tearing sound, the dress ripped, revealing her back with a wound about an inch long. Wood glanced at it, then breathed a sigh of relief and gave me a hard shove: "Don't worry, she's fine. She was just grazed by shrapnel, nothing serious, just a minor injury."
It took me a moment to come to my senses. I was stunned to see the bride collapse beside me, her white wedding dress stained with blood. Now, as I came to my senses, a fierce murderous intent suddenly surged within me!
Damn it! This kind of thing happens at my wedding!!
I ripped off my dress and draped it over Yan Di, then said to Mu Tou, "You take care of her!" Two of my men ran over from a distance, but I called them back to stand guard beside Yan Di, and I dashed off!
By this time, the scene was in complete chaos, but even in my haste, I quickly grasped the situation.
There was clearly a bomb hidden in that cake, but it didn't seem very powerful; it was probably meant to ambush me. So when it exploded, no one was injured, just shrapnel scattered, and a few people sustained minor injuries.
Now the crowd has scattered in all directions. My men are still trying to maintain order.
I grabbed one of my men next to me and, without saying a word, pulled a gun out of his pocket!
Seeing the crowd surge forward, I was furious. I raised my gun and fired several shots into the air, then shouted at the top of my lungs, "Everyone be quiet!!! Anyone who moves again will be shot!!!!"
As soon as I took the lead, my men immediately followed suit. Several of my men fired warning shots into the air, and the scene immediately quieted down!
Some people were lying on the ground, some were frozen in place, some were crouching with their heads in their hands, and some were preparing to flee towards the exit.
My face was contorted with murderous intent, and my heart was filled with rage. I wanted nothing more than to find the enemy and tear them to pieces! I held my gun in my hand and shouted through gritted teeth, "Everyone, quiet down!! No running around or moving!! Brothers in the big circle, listen up! Those at the exit, continue guarding the exit. No one is allowed to enter or leave!! Those inside, maintain order and gather everyone together! All guests, please follow my instructions!!"
I was furious. Just as I finished shouting and my men in the arena were restoring order and starting to gather the scattered crowd, I suddenly caught a glimpse of someone lying on the ground to my left. He pulled a gun from his pocket and quietly pointed it at me…
I suddenly yelled, grabbed a chair next to me, and threw it! Caught off guard by my shout, the man panicked and lost his aim. The chair flew over and hit him squarely on the head! He immediately bled profusely from his head, which lolled to one side.
I pounced on him, grabbed his wrist and dislocated his wrist joint! His gun fell to the ground, and I grabbed his neck and lifted him up! My face was full of murderous intent and ferocity. I held him high by the neck, and the man immediately turned red in the face, struggled desperately, and kicked his legs wildly, but he couldn't budge me an inch.
"Who sent you?! Tell me!!" I was furious, and I kept increasing the pressure on my fingers.
He made a gurgling sound in his throat, his eyes bulged out, staring at me like a dead fish, his body off the ground and his legs kicking wildly, but he couldn't utter a single word.
"Speak! Who sent you?! Speak! Speak up!!" I roared, my face contorted with rage. "Speak up!!!"
Finally, his face turned purple, and he seemed on the verge of death. I was filled with rage, wanting nothing more than to strangle him. Just as my anger became uncontrollable, a strong hand pressed down on my arm, gently pushing me down. My arm went limp, and the man fell to the ground, coughing violently. I turned around and saw it was my senior brother.
"How can he speak with his throat like that?" He looked at me and said in a deep voice, "Don't kill him, leave him alive."
Seeing the guy at my feet had turned into a limp puddle of mud, I gritted my teeth and kicked him again, then waved to two of my men: "Take these two guys to the garage... Have someone keep a close eye on them! Leave them alive!"
The situation was finally under control. The guests were all very obedient, especially when facing my fierce and ruthless brothers. Although these men were all from prominent backgrounds, and many had brought entourages or bodyguards, they wisely chose not to confront me under these circumstances. They all obediently followed orders and cooperated with us to maintain order.
I ran over to Yan Di, and Mu Tou had already given her some basic first aid to stop the bleeding. Qiao Qiao was kneeling on the ground next to her, helping Mu Tou.
"My suitcase." Wood looked up at me and said, "My medical supplies are in the suitcase I brought."
I quickly waved for someone to fetch it. Qiaoqiao glanced at Mu Tou and asked, "You brought this with you?"
"I'm a doctor, that's my livelihood, of course I carry it with me." Mu Tou smiled.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Since Mu Tou could joke around, it meant that Yan Di was indeed alright.
"Go ahead and get busy, leave this to us, don't worry," Mu Tou reassured me.
I glanced at the three jackals, then stood up and resumed giving orders to my men.
The eldest brother and Lei Xiaohu led a group of brothers from the martial arts school to inspect everywhere. I had Xiluo take some men to carefully inspect every room in the house and every place in the yard.
Finally, the baker's body was found in the kitchen. He had been strangled with a rope, and his body was thrown into a cupboard.
"It's no use, let them go." Buck-toothed Zhou also had a dark face. Such a thing happening at the wedding of the leader of the prestigious Big Circle was a disgrace to him, a high-ranking member of the Big Circle. However, he still wisely advised me: "These guests are not ordinary people. You can't detain them. These are people you can't afford to offend. Besides, I don't think the assassins infiltrated from among the guests."
I calmed down a bit by then and followed the advice of the buck-toothed Zhou, going out to apologize to all the guests. However, I still asked everyone to leave in an orderly manner, and I had people carefully check the exits, giving each person a copy of the guest list to verify the guests' names and numbers!
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter Eight: The Role of the Four Jackals
Bucktooth Zhou looked around and said with a wry smile, "Your house is just an ordinary mansion. Although we took security measures for today's wedding, these measures cannot prevent real assassins."
Indeed, my house is surrounded by low walls, walls that anyone with good agility could easily scale. With such a large house and yard, I can't possibly have people surround the entire property.
At this moment, Ciro returned with his men. He told him that the two assassins had been locked in the garage, and that the house had been thoroughly searched. Finally, he told me that they found some traces behind the wall in the yard on the left side of the house, traces of someone climbing, very subtle.
"Xiao Wu... I'm sorry." Xi Luo's face was full of guilt, his eyes revealing undisguised remorse. "I was supposed to be in charge of security today... I..."
I shook my head. Although I was furious about what had happened today, I still sighed, "Siro, don't talk nonsense. This isn't your fault. This has nothing to do with you. Someone is secretly plotting against me. You can't prevent this kind of thing..."
The last to leave was Doug. He remained relatively calm, but when he came to say goodbye, his eyes were filled with worry: "Mr. Chen Yang... well, I regret what happened today. If you need the police's help..."
"Thank you!" I said immediately. "I will definitely come to you if I need any help."
He frowned but said nothing. Doug knew very well that in Vancouver, he could investigate things much more efficiently than the police. The police had already arrived and were conducting a thorough search of my property, taking statements. I cooperated fully with all of that. Then I handed the matter over to Bucktooth Zhou to handle.
As for the two assassins in the garage, after I saw the police arrive, I had them put in a car and ordered them to be moved to the warehouse at the dock.
The police officer in charge was also in a dilemma. He wasn't an idiot; he knew very well that this kind of case was beyond his purview. First of all, the guests were all prominent figures, from both the underworld and legitimate circles. Moreover, I was now a powerful and influential person in Vancouver; anyone daring to attempt an assassination at my wedding must be someone of considerable influence. And all those guests were important figures. He didn't dare to take them all to the police station for investigation.
Doug whispered something to the officer, who nodded, then finished his work and left with his men.
"Chen Yang..." Doug said before leaving, looking at me with a complicated tone, "I know you must be very excited right now. But I still want to advise you, you can investigate this matter, you can do something... but please don't go too far! Vancouver has only just stabilized, and I don't want to see any trouble... do you understand?"
I sensed the threat and warning in his words. I was a little annoyed, but I didn't show it on my face. I said calmly, "Doug, my wedding is being plotted against, my bride is injured... Do you think I can stand idly by?"
Doug's expression changed slightly, then he sighed and patted my shoulder: "Old friend, I know you're angry. But please calm down. Don't put me in a difficult position... okay?"
I smiled and looked him in the eyes: "Don't worry, I won't put my friend in a difficult position. I'll handle this carefully and won't make a big deal out of it."
Having received my assurance, Doug left satisfied, taking the police with him. He knew I would handle the matter on my own, and the police were of no use staying. All he wanted was my guarantee that nothing serious would happen.
The guests had all left, and the police had all left too. The courtyard was in complete chaos. The once-laid-out red carpet was now covered in police footprints, and the lawn was a mess. There were overturned tables, spilled drinks, broken glasses, scattered food, broken ribbons, and popped balloons...
I don't know how I feel, I just feel like my heart is about to explode.
I took two slow steps, bent down, and picked up a lily. This once white lily had been trampled by countless shoes, covered in grass clippings and dirt. I picked up the bouquet, gently brushed off the dirt, and then used two fingers to straighten the crumpled petals, quietly gazing at the bouquet in my hand…
After a long while, I seemed to have calmed down, and I stood up, holding the flower in my hand. At this moment, Buck-toothed Zhou saw the police off and came to my side. I looked at him and suddenly smiled, "Attorney Zhou, it's been almost a year since we last saw blood, hasn't it?"
"……Um."
I smiled faintly, gently brought the flower to my nose and sniffed it. My smile grew even calmer, and the buck-toothed Zhou's gaze became increasingly strange. I said softly, "Is it because I've been quiet for too long that some people think I'm easy to bully? Humph..."
"Boss, you need to calm down..." Zhou with buck teeth frowned.
"Calm down?" I glanced at him and said slowly, "Am I not calm enough as I am now?"
Then I gently tossed the flowers away: "Alright, you and Xiluo stay here to handle the scene, I'm going to the hospital to see Yan Di... Um, we'll meet at Warehouse No. 3 at the dock in two hours."
Xiao Zhu drove, and I took Hammer with me as we drove to the hospital. Yan Di had already been taken to the hospital, and beside her were the three wolves, Senior Brother, Lei Xiaohu, and others.
When I arrived at the hospital, Yan Di's injuries had already been treated, but I still made a big fuss and arranged for her to stay in a separate intensive care unit.
When I arrived, I found that there were police officers in the hospital, and the one leading them was Jeff, a Chinese police officer I knew. I glanced at him, and he smiled at me and said, "Mr. Doug sent us here to protect your fiancée."
“No. Not my fiancée.” I smiled. “The wedding is over. The woman lying inside is my wife.” I looked Jeff in the eye. “Thank you.”
With the police protecting me, I felt much more at ease.
I'm not afraid of anyone targeting me. But I have to be wary of someone harming my family.
Yan Di was lying in the hospital bed, still unconscious. When they saw me walk in, both Senior Brother and Lei Xiaohu glanced at me, then quietly left.
"She'll be fine, don't worry," Mu Tou comforted me, then pulled A Ze out of the room. Only Yan Di, Qiao Qiao, and I remained in the room.
Qiaoqiao sat on the edge of Yandi's bed. She looked at me with a strange expression: "Do you know where she's injured?"
"Um?"
"She was grazed by shrapnel under her shoulder blade and bled a little, but it's not a big problem and she'll recover quickly."
I frowned and said, "Then why hasn't she woken up yet? Could she have been given anesthesia?"
"...No." Qiaoqiao's answer almost made me furious: "The external injuries weren't a big deal originally. But you tackled her to the ground to protect her. You both rolled off the table, and Yan Di's head hit the ground first. The doctor said she has a mild concussion? Oh, don't worry, it's nothing serious. She'll probably wake up in three to five hours, at most with some dizziness and nausea. She'll recover in a day or two."
Damn! I almost slapped myself. Turns out, it was me who accidentally hurt her.
Seeing that I didn't speak, Qiaoqiao stood up and walked to my side. She gently took my hand and whispered, "Xiao Wu, I know you must be furious right now. But you can't act rashly... A lot of people are watching you, you absolutely can't act rashly! Don't worry, I'll take care of Yan Di here... With me here, not a single hair on your wife's head will be missing!"
I looked into Qiaoqiao's eyes, opened my mouth, and said, "Qiaoqiao..."
“You must have a lot to do right now. Go quickly, don’t worry about the hospital,” Qiao Qiao said quickly. “You’re not worried I’ll take advantage of your wife while she’s unconscious, are you?”
I finally managed a smile, then sat by Yan Di's bedside for a minute, watching her sleep soundly. I leaned over and kissed her cheek before standing up again and leaving the room.
I gathered several trusted brothers from the martial arts circle, all former gym members. Four stayed here, and my senior brother also said he would stay and keep an eye on things. I immediately decided that once Yan Di woke up and was discharged, we definitely couldn't stay at home anymore; we'd simply move to my senior brother's martial arts gym. With the invincible senior brother there, Yan Di would definitely be safe. As for the wooden-headed Aze… I glanced at them.
"Sorry, brother," I said with a wry smile, "I was planning to go out to sea with a bunch of us on the yacht tomorrow after the wedding. Now that's probably not going to happen. You guys stay here for a few days until I've sorted things out..."
“I’ll go with you,” Wood suddenly said.
“Me too,” Aze chimed in.
I was taken aback for a moment, and Aze said calmly, "Yan Di is also our good friend. We want to help out when something like this happens."
I hesitated for a moment. In the end, this matter would most likely involve fighting and killing, and neither of my two friends were probably suitable for doing such a thing.
Aze saw my concerns and smiled, "Don't worry, we just want to do our part and won't cause you any trouble... Besides, we might be more useful than your men. Some things can't be accomplished by fighting and killing alone."
Then he glanced at me and said, "Have you forgotten the slogan we used to say when the four of us were hanging out in Nanjing?"
I laughed, looked at him and the wooden figure, and shouted, "We'll eat anything, we'll never be at a disadvantage!"
Aze and I exchanged a smile, while Mu Tou silently brought his suitcase over to my side: "Let's go."
He paused for a moment, his face blank, and slowly said, "You should be going to interrogate those two captured prisoners now... I'm afraid I can help you with something about this."