Three days after Yan Mei and Xiao He left, Xiao Zihan couldn't forget how they had mistreated him. He dared not dwell on the details, but his body was still covered in bruises, purple marks, and the imprints of numerous sharp fingernails, not to mention several neatly aligned bite marks. It seemed that Yan Mei and Xiao He had not only used their hands and feet but had also employed their mouths.
Standing in front of the gambling den, Xiao Zihan leisurely gazed towards the bend in the nearby alley, where a couple was approaching, embracing each other, chatting and laughing.
Xing Ao stood behind Xiao Zihan, seemingly bored as he looked around. Three days ago, Dong Qing and Yan Mei, along with Xiao He, Duan Jiaojiao, Yan Tiannong, and Lin Jianghu, had all returned to Chang Liao, leaving Xing Ao feeling quite frustrated. It had been so many days since he had seen them; couldn't they have stayed a bit longer, allowing him to enjoy a few more days of tenderness and fragrance?
Turning back, Xiao Zihan smiled slightly as he evaluated the distance between the couple and himself, determining that they couldn't hear their conversation. He asked, "Ah Ao, how is Wei Qinghong doing?"
Xing Ao shrugged, disinterested, and said, "Wei Qinghong is quite good at finding places to hide. It's like she disappeared, and there's no news. I don't know how she's doing."
Xiao Zihan lowered his head, contemplating for a moment, and asked, "And the Steel Tip Gang?"
With pride, Xing Ao said, "They've toned down a lot. Although they are still expanding, they are not as arrogant as before. Some gangs even dared to confront them. Hehe, our move was quite effective. They..."
At this moment, Xiao Zihan's phone suddenly rang, interrupting Xing Ao. Annoyed, Xing Ao looked at the phone in Xiao Zihan's hand, feeling that the tinkling sound was making him irritable.
Staring at Xing Ao's expression of dissatisfaction, Xiao Zihan chuckled, picked up the phone, and asked, "Hello, Xiao He? Don't scold me anymore; I..."
Unexpectedly, Xiao He was crying on the other end, saying, "Wu, Boss Han, please come back quickly. Sister Mei, Sister Mei..."
"What happened to Mei? Speak up!" Xiao Zihan heard Xiao He, usually strong and resolute, crying, and his heart sank.
"Sister Mei, she was ambushed, suffered a severe head injury, and is in the hospital, unconscious. The doctor said she... she may never wake up. Wu wu, Han..."
Xiao Zihan didn't hear the rest of the words. The phone slipped from his hand, falling to the ground and shattering into pieces. The couple passing by, who happened to be near Xiao Zihan, looked at him in astonishment and kindly picked up the fragments of the phone.
Han Ao continued to anxiously ask, "What happened? Boss, what's wrong with Sister Mei? Why don't you say anything?"
Xiao Zihan's face turned deathly pale, and his body swayed unsteadily. Fortunately, Xing Ao was behind him, supporting him.
"Sir, your phone. Sir, your phone," both the man and the woman said simultaneously to Xiao Zihan, handing over the phone components.
Mechanically, Xiao Zihan took the phone and stared blankly at the broken pieces. The man seemed to perceive that something unfortunate had happened to Xiao Zihan. With a gentle smile, he consoled, "Sir, whatever has happened, try to stay calm. Don't be too sad. Look at my girlfriend. Although she only has six months left to live, I have no regrets proposing to her. Six months are enough for us to enjoy a lifetime of happiness. It's not about eternity, just cherishing what we once possessed. Isn't that right?"
After speaking, he looked at his girlfriend, Xiao Ting, who responded with a sweet smile. Hand in hand, the couple left.
Watching their figures gradually fade away, Xiao Zihan suddenly snapped back to reality. He said to Xing Ao, "Ao, go quickly, call Lei Dong and the others. We're going back to Chang Liao."
Xing Ao looked worriedly at Xiao Zihan, sighed dejectedly, and turned to enter the gambling den.
Xiao Zihan was in a state of urgency. When he first heard the news of Yan Mei's severe injury, he almost fainted. The importance of Yan Mei in his heart was incomparable to anyone else. Yan Mei loved him more than her own life, and Xiao Zihan's love for Yan Mei was not less than for his own life. Mei, you must hold on. In the corridor outside the intensive care unit of the Loving Heart Hospital in Chang Liao City, Xiao He, Yan Tiannong, Duan Jiaojiao, Lin Jianghu, and Yue Feiyang were all present. Xiao Zihan, under the gaze of everyone, walked briskly.
Seeing Xiao Zihan's slender figure approaching, Xiao He, with red eyes, rushed towards him. She embraced Xiao Zihan's tiger waist, choking, "Sister Mei may never wake up, Boss Han, we might lose Sister Mei."
Hearing this, Xiao Zihan's heart was cut as if with a knife, a kind of pain he had never experienced before.
At this moment, the door of the ward opened, and the doctor walked out. He said, "We have conducted further tests on the patient. Due to a severe head injury, there is a blood clot in the brain, leading to a high degree of cortical inhibition. If she doesn't wake up within a month, it's likely she may never wake up. You, as the family, need to be psychologically prepared. During this period, we will provide advanced care and treatment for the patient. Family members should come often and talk to the patient about things she likes to hear. This may stimulate the patient's subconscious desire to recover. Now, you can go in and visit the patient."
"Doctor, please save my daughter. We've only reunited for three days, and I don't want to lose her. Wu wu..." Duan Jiaojiao grabbed the hand of the attending physician, crying.
Yan Tiannong, standing beside her, also shed tears, choked with speechlessness.
"Don't worry; we will do our best. You also need to have confidence; the patient will get better. Go in and see her now." The attending physician smiled and said.
Xiao Zihan hugged Xiao He and walked in first.
Since Xiao He met Yan Mei, a profound friendship had developed between them, as close as sisters, as intimate as siblings. Watching the familiar but pale and weakly beautiful face on the hospital bed, Xiao He couldn't suppress the flooding tears.
Sitting by the bedside, Xiao Zihan gently caressed every part of this woman he loved the most, recalling every moment spent with Yan Mei, thousands of words flooding his mind. Thinking of her charming allure, her pure innocence, her gentle obedience, and her clever wit.
At this moment, Yan Mei's eyes, once filled with charm and grace, were naturally closed, appearing as if in a peaceful sleep. But in the days to come, whether they would open again depended on the will of heaven.
Her nose remained exquisitely shaped, but her lips were no longer crimson. Like withered flowers, they lacked the vitality of the past.
Xiao Zihan's heart ached like never before. Mei, who had always been so obedient to him, who trusted him so much, and he hadn't fulfilled his responsibility to protect her. Regardless, Mei's injury was his unavoidable responsibility.
Xiao Zihan continued to watch Yan Mei, accompanied by the silent and sorrowful Xiao He.
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"Xiao He, why would Mei be ambushed without reason? Who did it?" Xiao Zihan spoke calmly, but in his slightly narrowed eyes, a chilling killing intent emerged.
Gritting his teeth, Xiao He said, "San Dao Gang. Damn it, I don't know what madness Chen Muzheng has fallen into, daring to send someone to attack Sister Mei. Watch me annihilate him and relieve my hatred. At that time, Mei was coming out of Xinglong Supermarket. Suddenly, someone swung a stick at her from behind. If Mei hadn't instinctively tilted her head to dodge, that blow would have taken Mei's life. Two brothers who were secretly following Mei immediately called me when they sensed something was wrong. Mei's skill, Boss Han, you know it; she can approach people silently and unnoticed. So, this person must not be an ordinary one. And in Chang Liao, there aren't many experts who like to use sticks. Gong Jun from the San Dao Gang is undoubtedly the one. Gong Jun is usually low-key. If it weren't for Chen Muzheng's orders, how could he have attacked Sister Mei?"
Xiao Zihan contemplated for a moment, his tone dark, "Mei has Jianghu accompanying her, hasn't she?"
"No, Sister Mei said she wasn't used to having Lin with her. It's actually Auntie Duan who sticks to Lin. Boss Han, this is my fault. I should have assigned more people to protect Sister Mei; otherwise, this wouldn't have happened." Xiao He lowered his head, expressing deep regret.
Xiao Zihan patted Xiao He's shoulder and sighed, saying, "Let's step outside first and let your father and mother-in-law come in."
As the two stepped out, Xiao He's phone rang. Answering it, she heard the voice of Zhang with a smile, saying, "Sis He, just got some information. San Dao Gang and Xiye Gang are involved. Recently, Chen Muzheng, the leader of San Dao Gang, secretly visited the mansion of Wei Tuo, the head of Xiye Gang, located in the western suburbs. The details of their discussion are unknown, but it is highly likely related to the attack on Sister Mei. Otherwise, even with the audacity of San Dao Gang, they wouldn't dare to attack Sister Mei."
"Good, I got it. Old Zhang, keep investigating. If there's any new information, inform me immediately." "Rest assured, Sis He."
After hanging up, Xiao He relayed the information to Xiao Zihan.
Xiao Zihan sighed and said, "In the hotel business, Mei has always been cautious. It shouldn't be someone trying to harm her to death. The problem should lie with you and me."
After thinking for a while, Xiao He couldn't figure out the reason.
At this moment, Xing Ao, Yue Feiyang, and Lin Jianghu were silently observing the two. Lin Jianghu had an expression of deep guilt, hesitating to speak several times.
Xiao Zihan patted his shoulder and said, "This is not your fault, Jianghu. You don't need to blame yourself. This time, Mei was obviously well-prepared, and you couldn't always follow her. The enemy is hidden, and I am in the open. They will always find an opportunity."
Lin Jianghu lowered his head and then raised it again. Just as he was about to say something, Xiao Zihan interrupted him with a gesture and said to him, "Jianghu, a few days ago, I heard that Uncle Lin wanted a set of methods for practicing Qi. Coincidentally, I have a set of exercises here. Give it to Uncle Lin to fulfill his wish and ease his mind."
Upon hearing this, Lin Jianghu was deeply moved, almost in tears. Thinking that Xiao Zihan was still considering his matters at this time showed that Xiao Zihan truly regarded him as a brother. In the future, even if Xiao Zihan asked him to go through fire and water, he wouldn't frown. Otherwise, he would be ungrateful for Xiao Zihan's heartfelt kindness.
Late in the night, past eleven o'clock, in the meeting room of the Howling Sky Hall, important members of the hall gathered around a large rosewood table measuring four meters in length and one and a half meters in width.
Xiao Zihan sat at the head of the table, with Xiao He and Yue Feiyang on either side. Others present included Qiao San, Ah Guang, Smiling Zhang, and Fat Qi. Xing Ao was absent, as he, along with Lei Dong and four others, guarded the entrance of Yan Mei's hospital room, preventing any further mishaps. With Xing Ao and Lei Dong on guard, Xiao Zihan felt reassured to return to the Howling Sky Hall.
Key figures from the Howling Sky Hall, such as Qiao San, didn't harbor any dissatisfaction due to Xiao Zihan taking Xiao He's position. They understood that Xiao Zihan had the qualifications for that seat.
With a solemn expression, Xiao Zihan surveyed the room before letting out a long sigh. "Share your thoughts, everyone. My mind is in turmoil, and I can't make sense of anything right now."
The group understood Xiao Zihan's emotional state and pondered in silence. After a moment, Qiao San spoke, "During this period, Sister Mei frequently stayed with Sister He. Although Sister Mei's movements were secretive, there are no impenetrable walls in this world. Someone must know about the relationship between Sister Mei and Sister He. It's possible that due to the recent actions of the Howling Sky Hall, we've attracted the attention of certain individuals. Unable to harm Sister He directly, they sought another point of vulnerability. If they could harm Sister Mei, it would indirectly deal a significant blow to Sister He."
Ah Guang nodded in agreement. He had no doubts about Qiao San's words.
Fat Qi, however, raised a question, "What Third Brother said makes sense, but in our recent expansion, we haven't encroached on any territory of the San Dao Gang."
Smiling Zhang scoffed and looked at Fat Qi, saying, "Don't forget that the San Dao Gang has already colluded with the Xiye Gang. Considering the situation, it's highly likely that the Xiye Gang wants to kill Sister Mei. They both are among the four major gangs in Changliao. If they act directly against us, it would be a direct declaration of war. If handled poorly, it could lead to a battle between the two gangs, benefiting the other two gangs. So, in my experience, it's likely instigated by the Xiye Gang."
After pondering for a moment, Xiao He added, "Old Zhang is right. If the San Dao Gang knew about the relationship between me and Sister Mei, they wouldn't dare to touch her, no matter the reason. The only plausible explanation is that the Xiye Gang is backing them up."
Upon hearing this, everyone was surprised. The four major gangs had always maintained a balance of power, mutually restraining each other. If the San Dao Gang had the support of the Xiye Gang, their power would surpass that of the other gangs, especially considering the three formidable leaders of the San Dao Gang. This trio of leaders, known as the Three Blades, were renowned in the Changliao underworld.
At this moment, Yue Feiyang suddenly spoke to Xiao Zihan, "Big Brother, I remember when you were injured in the leg, you told me that the person who attacked you claimed to be from the Xiye Gang. Those people were all arranged by Huang Xin."
Xiao Zihan's sturdy body trembled slightly. He turned sharply toward Yue Feiyang, squinted his eyes, and after a brief thought, stood up with a heavy expression. In a cold tone, he said, "Huang Xin must be eliminated. Howling Hall will never find peace as long as he exists."
The others present were momentarily stunned, as the attackers on Yan Mei were supposed to be from the San Dao Gang. How did Huang Xin become involved? Yue Feiyang's lips curled up, revealing a faint smile. He explained, "If they want to overthrow the Howling Hall, they must first weaken the most significant branch of the hall—the Howling Sky Hall. Huang Xin, being a traitor who knows the hall inside out, should be their prime target. Considering his attack on a seemingly unrelated figure like Sister Yan Mei, there's a deeper strategy at play. Not many people know the details about Sister Yan Mei, but Huang Xin is undoubtedly one of them. Killing Sister Yan Mei not only strikes a blow against Sister He but also indirectly impacts you, Big Brother, and, by extension, all of us. Moreover, in terms of protection, Sister Yan Mei was the most lax, making her the primary target. Now, he is using the Xiye Gang as a cover to involve the San Dao Gang in killing Sister Yan Mei. He likely has three objectives: First, he knows that you have been to Ping Gang, and with the help of Wei Qinghong, you thwarted their plans. If you continue to stay in Ping Gang, you will be a stumbling block for their expansion. Therefore, you must return to Changliao as soon as possible. Second, he wants to strike at Sister He and you, causing us to attack the San Dao Gang. During the crackdown period, if we take any action, the authorities will investigate rigorously. By pulling strings, the Xiye Gang can take advantage of our situation. This explanation is consistent with the recent actions of the Xiye Gang, as we have become more visible."
Yue Feiyang's explanation was thorough and clear. After listening, everyone suddenly understood why Xiao Zihan had suddenly mentioned killing Huang Xin. Simultaneously, they felt a deep admiration for Yue Feiyang. In their hearts, Yue Feiyang's status rose once again.
Yue Feiyang paused, then continued, "Third, use this opportunity to assess the sincerity of the collaboration between Xiye and Sandao. Think about it, Huang Xin is from the Steel Tip Gang, and Sandao relies on Xiye. From this, we can deduce that the three gangs have joined forces and are ready to deal with the Howling Gang."
The group was shocked. Xiye Gang, on its own, was comparable in strength to the Howling Gang. If combined with Steel Tip and Sandao, the Howling Gang could be in serious danger.
However, Xiao Zihan coldly snorted, his eyes shining brightly. A wild and captivating aura emanated from him as he spoke with a chilling tone, "Huang Xin is quite calculating, but I won't let him have his way. Whoever harms Mei, there's only one outcome—death. Rumors abound about the prowess of Sandao's three blades, but I'll show them how I can make those three blades vanish overnight."
Xiao Zihan's words were arrogantly confident, yet the determination in his demeanor, the unwavering resolution to achieve his goals, and the disdainful dominance in his demeanor left everyone in the room with no doubt about the authenticity of his words.
"Boss, what's your plan?" Yue Feiyang, seemingly affected by Xiao Zihan's aura, spoke with a slight tremor in his voice.
Bloodlust flashed in Xiao Zihan's eyes as he let out a cold laugh, saying, "In these three days, you all guard Mei well. Three days later, deep into the night, the Chen brothers from the Chen family will lose their lives."
With these words, to the astonishment of everyone in the room, Xiao Zihan left the meeting room.
On Mount Mutu, dense and lush foliage covered the landscape. Despite it being early winter, the air was filled with the lively sounds of birds, creating an atmosphere of vitality.
On the winding path leading to Mount Mutu, Xiao Zihan moved with incredible speed. In no time, a small cabin made of logs came into view. Xiao Zihan's eyes revealed a strange expression, and his pace suddenly quickened. After a short while, he stopped in front of the cabin's door.
Xiao Zihan was about to push the door open but hesitated, his hand pausing at the edge of the door. Letting out a long sigh, he turned around and circled to the back of the cabin, where an ancient towering tree stood. He handed the shovel he had been holding in his left hand to his right hand and began digging forcefully.
After digging a hole about a meter deep, he continued, and the shovel was blocked by something beneath. Xiao Zihan placed the shovel by his side and descended into the pit. Bending down, he started digging with his hands. As he threw out handfuls of soil, a rectangular wooden box gradually became visible.
Xiao Zihan lifted the wooden box from the pit, cleared away the loose soil, and carefully opened it. Inside the box lay an object that resembled both a sword and a knife. More accurately, it was a knife because of the curved tip characteristic of knives. However, the width and straightness of the blade resembled that of a sword.
The knife was two and a half feet long, with a dark red hilt engraved with peculiar patterns. At the center of the blade, there was an embedded round object about the size of a bean. This object, blood-red and crystal clear, looked like a drop of blood solidified and embedded in the blade.
Xiao Zihan gripped the hilt and pulled out the knife. Once the blade left the box, it drooped softly, revealing that it was a flexible blade. Xiao Zihan smiled mysteriously, and with a slight flick of his left thumb on the blade, a drop of blood flowed along the blade, heading straight for the red object in the center. As the blood gathered at the peculiar object, a burst of red light erupted, and immediately, the curved blade straightened. On one side of the blade, as thin as cicada wings, a pool of azure brilliance shimmered, resembling light smoke or flowing water.
Xiao Zihan swung the blade, and suddenly, a red radiance illuminated the surroundings, creating a mesmerizing and eerie sight.
Due to the unique shape of this knife, it possessed the dominance of a blade and the agility of a sword. Satisfied, Xiao Zihan wiped away the blood that had gathered at the center, allowing the blade to return to its flexible state.
Xiao Zihan strapped the belt-like item from the box around his waist and placed the blade within it, feeling no discomfort whatsoever. Once again, he picked up the box containing the knife, revealing four characters written in seal script—Demon Blade Red Blood.
With a cruel smile, Xiao Zihan took out the last item from the box, carefully buried the box again, and turned to descend from Mount Mutu.