C208 Wrath

I was incandescent with rage at Qian Guang's words. He could never comprehend Zhao Kui's significance to me, a bond as unbreakable as the pillar supporting his own existence.

Suppressing my fury, I began, "Qian Guang, brother…"

"Zhao Fei, if Chen Xi wants you gone, do you think he'd return your man? Can you even hope to rescue him? Prepare for the worst; be realistic. He's striking at you to strike at me. Since he's chosen to escalate, I'll retaliate accordingly. Be ready," Qian Guang retorted icily.

Qian Guang's assessment was impeccable. He was right; if Chen Xi targeted me, Zhao Kui's release was inconceivable. Agony washed over me as the call ended. I crouched on the ground, consumed by torment. Zhao Kui was my brother; I couldn't abandon him.

Abandonment was unthinkable. If Qian Guang wouldn't help, I would act alone. He was right, but I wouldn't yield; even a glimmer of hope demanded pursuit.

Malán hastily dressed, snatched her keys, and I scrambled into the car, clad only in shorts, my own attire forgotten in the urgency.

A fragile peace shattered, plunging me back into turmoil. Why was tranquility perpetually elusive?

Chen Xi, you vile wretch…

I called Chen Xi. The phone rang incessantly before connecting. Silence fell from my end, punctuated only by the crackling on the line—a sound like electric shocks. My eyes welled, tears threatening to spill despite my efforts to restrain them. I knew they were torturing Zhao Kui.

Zhao Kui's earlier defiance of Chen Xi left me with no doubt; Chen Xi wouldn't let him off lightly.

"Chen Xi, release my brother," I said, my voice frigid.

Silence again, then Zhao Kui's heart-rending scream pierced the air. Gripping the phone, teeth clenched, I pleaded, "Chen Xi, take it out on me, but release my brother!"

My inner fury raged, a silent tempest, but to no avail. Only Zhao Kui's agonized cries reached my ears.

Then, silence. My heart plummeted. Fear, a suffocating dread of Zhao Kui's demise, gripped me.

"Zhao Fei, your brother's quite resilient. A tough one,"

Chen Xi's insidious voice cut through the quiet.

"Chen Xi, release my brother…" I demanded.

"Beg me," Chen Xi chuckled.

Humiliation and fury warred within me. "I beg you, release my brother. I implore you, Boss Chen…"

"So easily you beg? Such a lackluster plea. Very well, I give you thirty minutes. Meet me at Wandian Bridge. Whether he survives those thirty minutes is his fate. If not, I'll toss him into the Yingjiang River. You can search for his corpse in Myanmar."

The call ended. Wandian Bridge was over fifty kilometers away; I could make it in thirty minutes, but whether Zhao Kui could endure that long was doubtful. Chen Xi would undoubtedly employ the most sadistic methods.

Malán didn't question me, merely flooring the accelerator, pushing the car to its limits. "Should we bring backup?" she asked.

"Useless," I replied. "No number of men will help. I'm going alone."

She said nothing more, driving recklessly, overtaking vehicles with terrifying speed. But fear was a luxury I couldn't afford; my focus remained solely on Zhao Kui's survival.

Chen Xi, a shrewd strategist, didn't strike directly at me, but at those closest. Eliminating Zhao Kui severed my right hand, leaving the rest vulnerable, easily manipulated. My downfall would cripple Qian Guang as well; we were gamblers, and without me, Qian Guang's financial lifeline would be severed. That's why he targeted me first.

Qian Guang understood this, yet he chose not to intervene, opting for direct confrontation with Chen Xi. This was Qian Guang's fatal flaw—his disdain for subterfuge, his preference for brute force.

But I couldn't lose Zhao Kui…

The car screeched to a halt at Wandian Bridge. I leaped out, into the desolate night, the mountain wind howling. The air vibrated with a cacophony of screams. I stumbled towards the source, finding a group gathered beneath the bridge, their flashlights illuminating a bound figure—Zhao Kui. His torso was bare, his muscles trembling violently. I watched as Chen Xi applied the electric cattle prod, eliciting a fresh scream and a spasm of tortured muscle.

"Stop! Stop it!"

My roar was swallowed by the night. Seven or eight men seized and pinned me to the ground, my struggles futile against their combined strength.

I watched helplessly as Zhao Kui endured the torment, this stoic man shedding blood but not tears, a far stronger man than myself.

Chen Xi ignored me, continuing his sadistic game, each jolt of electricity tearing at my soul.

I thrashed, but they were too many. Malán shouted at Chen Xi, "Chen Xi, what are you doing?"

Chen Xi glanced at her, discarded the cattle prod, and approached me. "You used to call me uncle. Now, not even that. You've certainly grown up."

"Chen Xi, you want to play? I'll play, but I doubt you can handle it," Malán countered icily.

Chen Xi smirked. "With you? I couldn't possibly. Even if your father, the Seventh Master, weren't your father, tonight, my men would have finished you off."

Malán glared at him. I tried to rise, shouting, "Chen Xi, take it out on me!"

Chen Xi knelt, cupping my face, then backhanding me. Hair whipping in the wind, he looked at me, saying, "Zhao Fei, this is what happens when you refuse a kind offer. Why fight when we could make money together?"

"Damn you! You paid four million for my jade. It was mine!" I raged.

Chen Xi shook his head. "It wasn't yours. It was Ma Qing's. Remember, I bought it from her. It's none of your business. If you have grievances, take them to Ma Qing. Why me? Your brother had a loose tongue; I was merely teaching him a lesson."

As he spoke, a man approached Zhao Kui with a shoe, its steel-reinforced sole clearly visible. He brought the sole down hard on Zhao Kui's mouth, drawing blood. I roared, "Have the guts to come at me!"

Chen Xi laughed. "You're too valuable to risk. Zhao Fei, you're a cash cow."

His laughter echoed. I wanted to kill him, but my captors held me fast.

Malán said, "Chen Xi, think carefully. If you harm Zhao Fei or his brother tonight, I'll fight you to the death, no matter the cost."

Chen Xi stood. "Understood, Miss. You're the young miss, I listen to you. But I'm still the boss. This kid insulted me in front of my men. Do you think I can tolerate that?"

"Can't tolerate it! Kill them!"

A chorus of enraged voices rose. Chen Xi raised his hand, saying coldly, "Miss, my men can't tolerate it…"

"What do you want?" Malán demanded.

"Simple. He needs to apologize," Chen Xi said.

I looked at him. "I'm sorry, Boss Chen. I failed to control my brother."

"Sounds good, but lacks sincerity," Chen Xi sneered.

"What do you want?" I asked again.

He placed his leg on the car tire. "Crawl under it, and say 'sorry' ten times."

My eyes burned. This bastard…

"Brother Fei… no…" Zhao Kui's weak cry was cut short by another beating.

I looked at Chen Xi. "Fine, I'll do it."

I crawled under his leg, repeating, "Sorry, sorry…"

No shame, no humiliation. To save my brother, anything was worth it. Emerging from under his pants, I said, "Release my brother."

"Zhao Fei, you're loyal. That's what brotherhood's about, right? Applause for Zhao Fei!" Chen Xi boomed.

Amidst the jeers and applause, I bit back my resentment.

Chen Xi continued, "Zhao Fei, I'll spread your story. The Ma Gang needs men like you. I've recorded this; the brothers will see your loyalty. Join the Ma Gang, and you'll be revered."

"Haha… Boss Zhao Fei, so loyal…"

I endured the mockery, watching as they piled into their vehicles. Chen Xi approached. "Zhao Fei, let me tell you, following me is better than following Qian Guang. I'll take him down eventually. Let me tell you something: the Seventh Master doesn't like Qian Guang. Don't think that because the Second Miss Ma is fond of him, he'll inherit everything. You college students should understand the concept of appeasement, right?"

He drove off. I rushed to Zhao Kui's side. He was covered in blood, tears finally streaming down his face.

"Brother… Fei… no…"

I held him close. "It was worth it. As long as you're alive, it was all worth it. Don't speak!"

Relief washed over me. Zhao Kui's life was worth more than anything.

A/N

Heyy, you reading, thanks for reading this far please don't stop, support me in any way that youcan. Your reviews, your comments, your criticism, all of it, l would appreciate them. l love you.

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