Holy Sea.

As a coastal city, its prosperity and economic output were on a completely different level from Qiyun Road's. If Qiyun Road was a second-tier city, then Holy Sea was unquestionably first-tier.

The sky had already darkened by the time the business van entered Holy Sea. The vehicle headed west, finally stopping at the entrance of a five-star hotel.

Chen Yang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. "We're here?"

"Boss, a young master from the Yang Family is holding his birthday party here. Should we go in and ask him for directions?" Yang Hu asked with a grin.

On the way, Yang Hu had already done a thorough investigation of the Golden Summit Yang Family. This generation of the family, aside from the three who had already died in Qiyun Road, included a fourth son named Yang Li. Like in many other powerful families, the youngest son was doted on the most, and Yang Li was no exception. He was truly the apple of everyone's eye.

Evidently, the fact that his three older brothers had led an army to Qiyun Road and had been out of contact for a full day wasn't enough to stop him from throwing a grand banquet for his twenty-fifth birthday.

"Let's go." Chen Yang stretched lazily, said nothing more, and pushed the door open to get out of the car.

Luxury cars lined the hotel entrance, and everyone coming and going was either fabulously wealthy or of high status. Chen Yang glanced up at the five-star hotel, named "Meilin Bay," before he and Yang Hu headed inside.

「Eighth-Floor Banquet Hall」

Four violinists stood in the four corners of the hall, their soothing music wafting gently through the air. Dozens of young men and women in evening gowns mingled with drinks in hand, each exuding an air of nobility, their faces all smiles.

One young man, in particular, was surrounded by a crowd, the center of attention like the moon among stars. This was, of course, the man of the hour, the birthday boy, Yang Li.

He was tall like his brothers, but his face still held a trace of immaturity. Facing the fawning adulation from the crowd, he was smiling from ear to ear, clearly enjoying himself.

A short distance away, those who lacked the standing to get close watched the sycophants flattering Yang Li not with scorn, but with deep envy. The Golden Summit Yang Family was the most powerful clan in Holy Sea. Befriending them was like striking a gold mine; the smallest scrap they could offer would be enough to sustain a sizable family. Even just having a brief conversation and leaving a good impression would bring untold benefits.

"Mr. Yang, I heard that your Yang Family sent out all eighty thousand of its Personal Guards, their blades aimed at the Qin Clan Royal Family of Qiyun Road! What a domineering and awe-inspiring move!" a tall, thin young man with black-framed glasses exclaimed after downing his wine. He squinted his beady, triangular eyes, his gaunt face plastered with a wide smile.

"That's right, I heard that too! The Qin Clan Royal Family must have been completely wiped out, right?"

"Are you kidding? With eighty thousand Personal Guards on the march, who in this world could possibly stand in their way? It must have been a swift and unstoppable rout."

The crowd chimed in with agreement.

Yang Li accepted all their fawning and exaggerated compliments without a shred of modesty. He scoffed, "What bullshit Royal Family? They only get to act high and mighty in a backwater like Qiyun Road."

"In the eyes of my Yang Family, they're not even worth a fart!"

"That old fool Qin Lie, he's always coming to suck up to us, thinking his flimsy connection to my grandfather means something. He has no idea that a country bumpkin like him could never hope to associate with my Golden Summit Yang Family!"

As he spoke, a ferocious glint appeared in Yang Li's eyes. His own third brother had been killed by the Qin Family. How could he possibly quell the hatred in his heart without annihilating every last one of them? He kept this detail to himself, however, as it was ultimately a matter of his family's pride.

"Grandpa wouldn't let me go this time, otherwise!" Yang Li's face was a mask of cold contempt. He threw his head back, drained his glass, and declared indignantly, "I would have personally taken up a sword and beheaded that old fool Qin Lie!"

"And as for all the young women of his Qin Family, I'd have every single one of them dragged back to Holy Sea to be my slaves!"

"Once I'm tired of them, I'll give them to you as rewards! One for each of you, everyone gets a share!" Yang Li proclaimed with an air of magnanimity, unbuttoning his suit jacket and placing one hand on his hip while holding his glass with the other.

"Mr. Yang, you're so generous!" The young man in black-framed glasses, Xu Huan, quickly scurried over, offering Yang Li a cigarette and lighting it for him.

Yang Li accepted it without a second thought. Taking a drag, he squinted and added with a sinister tone, "However, I've already spoken with my second brother. He's going to bring all of the finest women from the Qin Family back for me."

"When that time comes," Yang Li said, a smirk playing on his lips as he gestured to the crowd, "there will be rewards for all!"

"Thank you, Mr. Yang!"

"Mr. Yang, you've got class."

Another barrage of fawning compliments followed.

Yang Li's smile grew wider, and he threw his head back with a hearty laugh. He loved this feeling—being held in high esteem, showered with gratitude. It gave him an exhilarating sense of standing above all of creation, with everyone else being mere dust beneath his feet. As the saying goes: one must enjoy life to the fullest when fortune smiles.

CLAP. CLAP.

Suddenly, the sound of applause cut through the din.

Many people turned toward the sound, their curiosity piqued. Two figures were stepping into the banquet hall. One of them, a tall and burly man, was the one clapping. But from the ambiguous half-smile on his face, it was clear he wasn't genuinely cheering for Mr. Yang.

"Whose men are those two?" Yang Li asked.

Everyone shook their heads. Servers? No, their clothes don't look right.

"Get them out of here. They look like maggots. Just looking at them is annoying," Yang Li ordered with an impatient wave.

"Right away!" Xu Huan immediately agreed and strode purposefully toward the two men at the entrance.

The newcomers were, of course, Chen Yang and Yang Hu.

"I've heard of killing for plunder, but I've never heard of killing a man to steal all the women in his family. This Mr. Yang is truly one of a kind," Yang Hu said, clapping slowly. He completely ignored the approaching Xu Huan, his eyes fixed on Yang Li with that same mocking smile.

These spoiled brats from powerful families really are all the same. They think they're the Heavenly King just because they have some backing. Do they really believe they can do whatever they please? Ridiculous!

"I don't care who you are. You have three seconds to disappear. Otherwise, even if the generous Mr. Yang decides to let you off, I, Xu Huan, will personally throw you into the sea to feed the fish!" Xu Huan sneered, looking down on Chen Yang and Yang Hu from his greater height.

Many in the crowd inwardly cursed, slapping their thighs in frustration. This had been a perfect chance to curry favor with Mr. Yang, but they had been a step too slow, and Xu Huan had snatched the opportunity.

"What's wrong? Are you deaf, or were you born without ears? Didn't you hear me?" Xu Huan's expression darkened when he received no response. His voice rose an octave as he raised a hand and pointed right at Yang Hu's nose.

CRACK.

Yang Hu seized Xu Huan's outstretched finger and bent it backward. The bone snapped loudly. "What was that? I couldn't hear you."

Xu Huan was speechless.

Yang Li was speechless.

Everyone was speechless.

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