Chapter 14: Trouble at the Bar

"What did you just say you were going to do to Lin Aoxue? Hmm?"

Ye Xuan hoisted the pampered, greasy-haired dandy into the air with one hand, glaring at him with icy eyes.

The sudden sensation of his feet leaving the ground sent a jolt of fear through the young man’s heart. However, a second later, when he got a clear look at who was holding him, that fear instantly morphed into overwhelming rage. He struggled violently while cursing at Ye Xuan.

"Damn it, Ye Xuan! You pathetic kept man! You useless leech! Put me down right now, or I won’t hold back!"

Hearing insults like "kept man" and "useless" once again, Ye Xuan’s eyes flooded with killing intent, making him look like a demon fresh out of hell.

"Do you want to die?" Ye Xuan’s face darkened terrifyingly. His hand, which had been gripping the dandy’s collar, slid up to firmly wrap around his throat.

Suffocation forced the young man’s eyes wide open. His mouth gaped as a sickening GURGLE tore from his throat. His legs flailed wildly in the air, resembling a frog in its death throes.

"Ye Xuan! Do you even know who he is? If you kill him, you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison!"

Jiang Feng and the others grew frantic as they watched the young man’s face turn a deep, suffocating purple. They immediately reached out, desperately trying to pry the dandy from Ye Xuan’s iron grip.

But who was Ye Xuan? He was the majestic Cyan Dragon Chief. Even if ten more outwardly imposing but inwardly spineless rich kids like Jiang Feng came at him, he wouldn’t bat an eye. Despite the combined efforts of Jiang Feng and three other men, they couldn’t pry Ye Xuan’s fingers open even a fraction of an inch. The dandy’s eyes were already rolling back into his head, his body convulsing involuntarily.

Fortunately, Ye Xuan retained his rationality. His eyes flickered briefly, and after pursing his lips for a moment, he finally tossed the dandy aside like a piece of garbage.

Truthfully, Ye Xuan didn’t care about this kind of scum at all. However, actually killing the man would invite unnecessary trouble, and right now, he didn’t have the spare energy to deal with such trivial matters.

"Su Xiaobai, was it? You’d better stay away from Lin Aoxue. If I find out you’ve laid even a single finger on her, I will make you wish you were dead!"

Ye Xuan turned around, glaring coldly at Su Xiaobai, whose face was as dark as thunder, and delivered his warning with the absolute authority of a king.

This arrogant display infuriated Su Xiaobai. After all, within Jianghai City, Su Xiaobai was practically a king himself. Everyone who crossed his path bowed and scraped to curry favor. This was the first time anyone had dared to speak to him in such a tone—and worse, it was coming from a fucking gigolo who lived off a woman’s wealth.

"Ye Xuan, I’m going to show you exactly what it means to wish you were dead right now."

As soon as he gave the order, several burly men surrounded Ye Xuan from behind. Yet, even completely encircled, Ye Xuan’s face didn’t betray the slightest hint of fear.

By now, the dandy who had just been choked had caught his breath. He snatched up a bottle of red wine and viciously swung it toward Ye Xuan’s head. The onlookers gasped in horror, all assuming Ye Xuan’s skull was about to be busted open.

However, what seemed like swift movement to the dandy was practically in slow motion to Ye Xuan. He stood perfectly still, watching the young man with cold, detached eyes. Seeing that Ye Xuan wasn’t dodging, the dandy thought he was scared stiff. But just as he was secretly rejoicing over his impending strike, Ye Xuan grabbed his wrist with lightning speed.

With a simple twist, Ye Xuan ruthlessly snapped the dandy’s wrist. A bloodcurdling scream pierced the crowd’s eardrums as the wine bottle dropped to the floor, rolling beneath the sofa with a loud CLATTER.

The expressions on the faces of the bystanders froze entirely. They stared at the scene unfolding before them in utter disbelief.

That wine bottle had practically been touching Ye Xuan’s head! Yet he had somehow reversed the situation in a mere fraction of a second. What kind of monstrous speed was that?

The insufferably arrogant Su Xiaobai’s expression twisted wildly. Furious and humiliated, he roared at his bodyguards. "What the hell are you waiting for?! Get him!"

The dazed bodyguards finally snapped back to reality. Just as they braced themselves to lunge forward, a slightly aged voice called out from behind them.

"Young Master Su, it seems rather inappropriate to cause a scene here, doesn’t it?"

Upon seeing the newcomer, Su Xiaobai’s face paled. He hastily waved his hand to halt his men. Dropping his previous arrogance in an instant, his tone became significantly more respectful.

"Uncle Xiang, what brings you out here today?"

A gray-haired, slightly hunched older man stepped out from the parting crowd. Uncle Xiang slowly crouched down to retrieve the wine bottle that had rolled across the floor, then looked up at Su Xiaobai at his own leisurely pace.

"Young Master Su, Nightly Revelry isn’t your own home. If you break my property or injure anyone here, you will have to pay the price."

Uncle Xiang’s seemingly casual remark made cold sweat break out across Su Xiaobai’s forehead.

"Rest assured, Uncle Xiang. We were just fooling around, simply playing a joke. How could I dare act out of line on your turf?" Su Xiaobai frantically shot a pointed look at Jiang Feng and the others, forcing a laugh as he beat a hasty retreat.

Once Su Xiaobai’s group was gone, Uncle Xiang dispersed the remaining crowd. He then turned to Ye Xuan, bowing his head respectfully.

"Dragon Chief, this was my dereliction of duty. Please punish me."

Uncle Xiang was merely the nominal owner of the Nightly Revelry bar, while Ye Xuan was its true mastermind behind the scenes. Years ago, after marrying Lin Aoxue, Ye Xuan had single-handedly founded this establishment.

"It’s fine." Ye Xuan waved a dismissive hand, clearly not holding it against him. He then reached for the wine bottle on the table, fully intending to pour himself another round.

But he had genuinely had too much to drink. He swayed on his feet and nearly toppled over, saved only by Uncle Xiang’s quick reflexes as the older man caught him by the arm.

"Dragon Chief, you’re intoxicated. Let me help you downstairs to rest."

The drunken Ye Xuan proved entirely uncooperative, stubbornly demanding to leave. "No need! I want to go home. Send me home."

Left with no other choice, Uncle Xiang called White Snake and the others, instructing them to come and pick Ye Xuan up. Although White Snake and her team hadn’t been stationed in Jianghai City for long, they had integrated efficiently. Having already grown well-acquainted with Uncle Xiang, White Snake immediately dispatched a team upon receiving the call.

Outside, the cool night breeze brushed against Ye Xuan’s face, clearing much of the dense fog from his mind. He rubbed his throbbing temples, a distinct trace of exhaustion lingering in his voice.