They seemed like frightened rabbits, frantically firing bullets down below! Terrified someone might rush into the building, they could only fire, fire, and fire again!
"Foolish bastards, they don't even understand the most basic principle of staggered fire interception! If everyone fires at the same time, it means everyone will empty their magazines at the same time! Then, a time gap will appear in the fire interception!" Tu sneered.
Very quickly, the enemy's concentrated fire suddenly ceased in the silent night. Even I could clearly hear the sound of guns being pulled over from the second floor—the sound of magazines being emptied! These guys didn't know how to fire in groups, and as a result, everyone ran out of ammo at the same time!
Just as they were reloading their magazines, Tu raised his hand, and a large number of people rushed into the building! By the time the people upstairs had reloaded their magazines, most of my men had already rushed in!
Half a minute later, gunfire erupted from inside the building! Immediately, the enemy's fire from the second floor fell silent.
"Boss, the entrance has been cleaned up," Tu reported to me via walkie-talkie.
A few Black men surrounded me and Yang Wei as we ran into the building. The lobby on the first floor was littered with shards of glass and flying wood chips, bullet holes in the walls, and smashed flowerpots and murals.
Everyone inside had already run away; they had all gone upstairs.
We went up the stairs, where several bodies lay on them—all of them the other side's bodyguards. Blood was everywhere, and the pungent smell of blood filled the air! Yang Wei's brows were furrowed. I gently hugged her and whispered, "I told you not to come."
Yang Wei shook her head: "No, I'm needed to clean up the mess here. You can't handle it by yourself without me."
The people inside the building are now in dire straits. They'll find the phone lines cut and their cell phones unable to make calls! (Based on my previous experience of being ambushed, I've prepared several electronic communication signal jamming systems smuggled from the US, which I've already set up around this location under cover of darkness. Cell phone signals are completely cut off here, severing all communication with the outside world. Even my own men are using the most primitive walkie-talkie frequencies.)
The elevators were also shut down, and my men split into several groups and went up the stairs in the building. The target was the casino on the top floor; I remembered that Ye Huan's office was there.
We encountered fierce resistance along the way. In the narrow stairwells, even well-trained soldiers had little advantage over the ragtag gangsters. In such situations, with random gunfire, it was difficult to deploy any tactics in the narrow stairwells.
Neither side had heavy weapons, but our men were equipped with some shrapnel grenades, which allowed them to advance.
Tu charged ahead as the vanguard! With this humanoid super weapon leading the charge, the enemy's hastily organized defenses would often collapse at the first touch! When those gangsters encountered Tu, this god of death, almost none of them could withstand a single blow from him! Tu was covered in blood, as was his face, to the point that his original features were barely recognizable.
Finally, Tu's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "The seventh floor is clean... Boss, there's something here that needs your help."
I frowned and quickly led the people to the seventh floor. On the main staircase leading upstairs, a woman was standing on the steps. She had been shot in the leg, and blood was gushing out, but she was holding onto the railing tightly to avoid sitting down. Her face was pale as she looked down at the people below, at a group of black men pointing guns at her.
She shouted, "Chen Yang! Come out here! I want to see you! I want to talk to you face to face!!!"
Behind her, on the stairs, were Ye Huan's men, their fear and trembling palpable. These men were terrified! They were truly terrified! They were just gangsters, not soldiers! They had never experienced such a scene of bullets flying and flesh and blood being torn apart! And so many people had already died. Their spirits were on the verge of collapse! They instinctively gripped their guns, retreating step by step.
I was led out by several Black men, half of my body exposed. I looked up at the sky.
Cang Yu was wearing a long white dress, which was now stained red with blood. She struggled to support herself, yet still held her head high with pride!
My face darkened as I glanced at Cang Yu. She was a woman standing in the middle of the stairs, blocking the advance of us, this group of killing gods, while the men behind her had already retreated.
"You're injured?" I glanced at her leg. Her once beautiful legs were now riddled with bullet holes in her left calf. There was a bloody, mangled bullet wound on her once straight and smooth leg, from which blood flowed continuously.
Cang Yu's face was contorted with pain, but she bit her lip hard and looked at me coldly.
"Boss, if I hadn't seen her first, she would have been beaten to death. I know this woman. I know you and she are friends," Tu whispered from the side.
I nodded and looked at Cang Yu: "What do you want to tell me?"
"It really is you." Cang Yu suddenly chuckled a few times. But in this setting, her laughter carried a hint of eeriness: "Brother Huan said that one day, the one who comes here will definitely not be Qing Hong, but you! Chen Yang!"
I said coldly, "Cangyu, our friendship was already established in Shanghai. What's the point of you saying all this nonsense now?"
"Chen Yang... this is your second time here, right? Do you remember what you looked like the last time you were here?" Cang Yu's eyes seemed to be red, staring at me intently, as if she wanted to pounce on me and bite me.
My voice was even colder: "Cangyu, I've forgotten everything from the past. But what I find ridiculous is... when you killed me, you didn't hesitate for a second, nor did you mention the so-called 'past.' Now that I'm killing you, you bring up the past with me... don't you think that's absurd?"
Cang Yu's body trembled, and her eyes lost their viciousness. Suddenly, a trace of despair appeared in her eyes: "I know... I've known all along... Huan-ge's biggest mistake was you..."
I raised an eyebrow, glanced around, and chuckled, "Alright, stop with the pretense and useless talk. Cangyu, what else do you want to say to me? Is that all? Oh, by the way, where's Jinhe? Where is he? Or is he lurking somewhere, preparing to deliver a fatal blow?"
"Jinhe... Hmph, Jinhe... You'll see him." Cangyu suddenly went limp and collapsed to the ground; she could no longer stand. My heart sank, but I didn't go to help her.
Cang Yu sat there panting, and whispered, "Alright, you won this time. Huan Ge is upstairs now. He sent me to see you to ask you a question... Are you really going to go all out?"
I didn't answer the question directly, but instead asked, "No need to beat around the bush, Cangyu. I know you, and you know me. Just say what you want to say."
"What Brother Huan means is: Xiao Wu, if you still have even the slightest bit of old affection for them, then please don't be so ruthless. These people are all Brother Huan's men; they haven't offended you. If possible, spare their lives. Brother Huan said that if you want his life, he's right here in this building, the place where you first met him. He's waiting for you alone. Whatever grudges he owes you, he can settle them with you in person."
I noticed that when Cang Yu finished speaking, all of Ye Huan's timid subordinates behind him showed a hint of shame on their faces. Their panicked and frightened expressions were much less pronounced, and some even showed a resolute expression.
Hmph, trying to win people's hearts? Even at a time like this, they still haven't forgotten this?
"Is this what Ye Huan made you tell me? You've come this far, and you've decided to give up?" I sighed.
Cang Yu clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and gritted her teeth, saying, "You'll understand when you see him. As long as you nod, I can make everyone put down their guns immediately!"
Is it a trick?
It's unlikely. Things have come to this point; Ye Huan has virtually no chance of turning the tables. Besides, he's already gotten his men to lay down their guns; what leverage does he have left to turn the tide?
I nodded: "Okay, anyone who lays down their gun will not die, and I guarantee they will leave safely."
Cang Yu sighed, a sad expression on her face. She hardened her heart and whispered, "Put down your guns. This is Huan Ge's order."
After hesitating for a while, no one moved.
Cang Yu glanced back at the crowd and said, "I told you, put down your guns. The situation is settled; there's no need for further bloodshed."
Snap... Snap snap...
Despite some resentment, and despite the hostile glares from some, it's true that in this world, those who are truly willing to die for honor and loyalty are a tiny minority. Finally, the first person among them laid down their gun, followed by a second, a third…
After everyone put down their guns, my men immediately went over and tied them up, then sent people to take them away in a group.
Another group was sent to search the building. I glanced at Cang Yu and asked, "What about you? Should I find you a doctor?"
Cang Yu snorted: "There's a first-aid kit in Huan-ge's office."
I sent two more men with Cang Yu up there.
"And now?" Yang Wei asked me, her expression somewhat complicated.
"I'm going to see Ye Huan," I said calmly. "Our matter should be resolved face-to-face between the two of us."
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter 135: Brother Huan (Part 1)
This is the first time I've been here, the place where I met Ye Huan...
The smooth, flat marble floor made me smile as I looked at this vaguely familiar place. Tu led two people inside quickly, searched around, and came out about ten minutes later.
"The boss... he's inside, alone. He's safe," Tu said, though his tone was somewhat strange.
I waved my hand and said, "You can all leave now. I'll see him myself."
After a pause, I gritted my teeth and said, "No one is allowed to come in without my permission!"
This time, Tu didn't say anything, and he quickly left with his men.
I adjusted my collar and continued walking inside.
This is a separate changing room. I smiled and gently lifted the curtain. Immediately, a wisp of white steam drifted in.
It was still the same luxurious private bathroom with the same prestigious signboard. I pushed open the insulated wooden door and was greeted by swirling steam. This small bathroom, about fifty or sixty square meters, had a granite bathtub on the left, next to which was a huge Japanese-style wooden tub, and on the right, a small sauna... Everything was exactly the same as before.
The ground beneath his feet was wet and slippery. Amidst the swirling steam, in the bath to the left, sat a man. He sat beneath the statue of the Norse goddess. Hot water spewed from the goddess's mouth and eyes onto him, and he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it.
A white towel was draped over his shoulder. He was shirtless, revealing his muscular physique, and his back was to me. A three-inch-long scar, resembling a centipede, ran down his back.
"Xiao Wu, you're here."
With a calm tone and seemingly casual manner, Ye Huan gently scooped up some water and wiped his face, then turned to look at me. His features were somewhat blurred in the steam, and then... he seemed to smile slightly: "Come on, wash up with me."
I noticed a round plate beside the bathtub with a bottle of red wine and a wine glass on it. Ye Huan spoke, then picked up the glass and took a sip. She sighed softly, "What are you standing there for? Come over and talk."
I took a few steps forward. With a stern face, I said calmly, "Ye Huan, you seem quite interested at a time like this."
"Why not?" Ye Huan chuckled softly. "Being able to take a comfortable bath before you die and then leave this world clean is already the most precious enjoyment in life."
His straightforward admission of defeat surprised me somewhat. However, I quickly replied, "Ye Huan, it's quite rare to hear you say something like that, admitting defeat."
“Winning is winning, losing is losing. There’s nothing more to say.” Ye Huan waved his hand. “However, ever since you returned to the country, I’ve known for a long time that the person who will come here to send me on my way one day will definitely not be one of the Green Gang, but you, Xiao Wu!”
"Why?"
“Because…” Ye Huan raised her eyelids and looked at me: “I understand you.”
Looking into Ye Huan's eyes at such close range, his gaze remained as unique as ever. It wasn't the sharp, aggressive kind, but rather gentle, calm, like a spring rain, nourishing silently, as if he had seen right through you without you even noticing. When he smiled, you felt as if a spring breeze were caressing your face. And when he was angry, you felt that nothing in this world could escape his eyes…
The eyes before me, the gaze, are just as they were back then!
I know that at this moment I should be angry, or I should feel a sense of satisfaction, a kind of exhilarating sense of revenge! Perhaps I should stand in front of him, looking down at Ye Huan, facing him with the attitude of a victor mocking a loser! Perhaps I should question him with a mocking tone about why he used such unfair means against me! Or perhaps I should curse him for deserving it, and denounce him with words like "You got what you deserved"... and so on and so forth.
All of these images flashed through my mind, but... they were just fleeting moments. Once my mind calmed down... what lay before me, submerged in the water, was actually just an old and weary man!
Yes, Ye Huan... has grown old.
Despite his best efforts to hide it, he still showed signs of fatigue.
He already had deep bags under his eyes, and the muscles in his waist were loose. When he sat like this, he, who was originally strong and muscular, even had a belly.
"Xiao Wu, sit down and talk to me for a while." Ye Huan sighed, "You've already won, and I've already lost. I've given you back everything I owed you. But in the end, can you sit down and talk to me for a while?"
Hearing Ye Huan call me "Xiao Wu"—that familiar address, spoken in a familiar voice—made my heart tremble slightly.
Without hesitation, despite the wetness around the bathtub, I sat down and casually took off my coat, throwing it on the floor.
Ye Huan seemed slightly happier. He rested his arm on the edge of the bathtub, his fingers lightly tapping the marble, and chuckled, "I still remember the first time I brought you here. You were just a clueless lad, a little timid and hesitant. Hmm, you were such an innocent young man back then. You called me Brother Huan, and when I told you I planned to have you come and help me with things here, you were quite excited..."
He seemed lost in memories, a glint in his eyes… I suddenly had a question. Was his expression genuine, or feigned?
He could have killed me without hesitation back then, but now, his reminiscing posture and his eyes seem to come from the heart.
“You’re the one who turned me into this.” I couldn’t help but stab him in the back.
Ye Huan glanced at me, then fell silent. He grabbed a towel, soaked it in water, and vigorously wiped his face, sighing deeply, "Xiao Wu, do you remember what I always told you back then... In this world, for every gain you make, you also have to pay the price!"
I remained silent, but I still didn't quite understand what Ye Huan meant.
He suddenly smiled, a hint of desolation in his smile: "Money, power, status—these are all things I gained. And you… are the price I paid. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
My facial muscles twitched, and I looked up to stare at Ye Huan!
"Xiao Wu, I know I was unfair to you back then, and that incident deeply hurt you. However, you didn't understand it back then because you were just a penniless kid! But now, you and I are equals. Considering things from this perspective, you should have a judgment in your heart about what I did to you back then." Ye Huan sneered, "You're very good. You're the young man I admire most. I took you under my wing, nurtured you, promoted you, and treated you like my own little brother, even like a son. But... when one day your life threatens everything I have... I will still eliminate you without hesitation! Because, given the circumstances, if you don't die... then I will die!"
Actually, I've thought about this question many, many times myself.
That incident, for me, the betrayed one, naturally filled me with immense grief and indignation! But for Ye Huan, a powerful and ruthless figure... it was merely an inevitable act! As a powerful figure, when his own interests are threatened, he can only make choices! And I was the pawn that had to be sacrificed!
In that situation, any powerful and ruthless figure would probably have made the same choice.
"Moreover, judging from today's outcome, what I did back then wasn't wrong." Ye Huan smiled. "See, you didn't die, and now it's me who's finished. If I could have killed you back then, my situation wouldn't be so bad now. So..."