Chapter 035: Another Encounter with Xiaoman

Chapter 035: Encountering Xiao Man Again

Suddenly, Kun City was swept by turbulent winds, without any warning.

Cai Jiu was dead.

He died in his own stronghold, Red Moon Manor, along with dozens of his closest core subordinates—none survived...

This news was quickly confirmed and spread throughout the entire underground world of Kun City, igniting a powder keg that sent the city's underworld into a frenzy.

One of the five dominant overlords of Kun City’s underworld, Cai Jiu, was just gone. Who was the killer?

The remaining big players immediately activated their most extensive intelligence networks to seek information, and those with quick minds began scheming to carve up and annex Cai Jiu’s empire. Cai Jiu was gone, but his assets remained—a tempting feast. While he lived, no one dared lay a finger on them, but now things were different... The idea of looting during chaos occurred to more than one person at that moment, and several acted upon it.

Yet, those who fancied themselves clever were soon terrified into halting all action.

Another shocking message erupted in the underworld of Kun City.

Mr. Hou, also one of the five overlords, was dead.

Less than two hours after Cai Jiu's demise, another was killed—again, one of the five.

This news spread swiftly, and even the cause of Mr. Hou’s death was uncovered...

Mr. Hou’s real name was Hou Bing. Though his reputation in Kun City did not evoke quite the same fear as Cai Jiu’s brutality, his status was unique. He was the city’s largest human trafficker, specializing in flesh trade. Not only in Kun City, but across the East Sea, a significant portion of the flesh business was his domain. The profits were staggering, but few dared get involved—it was too immoral. Hou Bing didn’t care; he cared only for money. Unlike Cai Jiu, for Hou Bing, Kun City was merely his base, but his business stretched throughout the East Sea, even reaching into all of Jiangnan.

Hou Bing was also Cai Jiu’s best friend in Kun City. Cai Jiu was lustful, and whenever Hou Bing acquired new “merchandise,” he would invite Cai Jiu to “sample” it. Cai Jiu often helped him solve problems with force. Over time, their relationship became well-known in the city's underground world.

Yet, Hou Bing’s death was not because of this, but due to his greed. As Cai Jiu’s friend, he understood better than anyone the immense profits in Cai Jiu’s empire. So, once he had confirmed Cai Jiu’s death, Hou Bing immediately acted—not to find the killer or avenge Cai Jiu, but to swiftly annex several of Cai Jiu’s most lucrative venues...

There are no true friends, only eternal interests.

This phrase perfectly describes the relationship between Cai Jiu and Hou Bing.

It was precisely this greed that led Hou Bing to his doom. The men he sent out all lost contact without exception, vanishing without a trace, as if swallowed by the earth...

Hou Bing sensed something was wrong, but it was already too late. Two young men with chilling auras suddenly burst into the nightclub where he was present. His supposedly “formidable” subordinates were utterly helpless before them, slaughtered like chickens and dogs in an instant. Hou Bing himself didn’t even have time to utter a word in explanation...

Hou Bing died with his eyes open, never knowing whose hands took his life.

Yet his death cooled the feverish underground world of Kun City in an instant. Anyone with a brain could see that Cai Jiu’s death was no simple matter—there was a mysterious power orchestrating everything in the shadows. If you wanted to profit, you had better be prepared to die...

Hou Bing was the best example.

The remaining big players immediately recalled their men at once. No matter how enticing the profits before them, none dared touch it. No one wanted to be the next Hou Bing...

Just like that.

Kun City’s underworld descended into chaos quickly, but returned to calm even faster, more tranquil than ever, suffocatingly so, as if a cloud hung over everyone’s hearts...

Who was it?

Who was moving in the shadows?

Anyone capable of eliminating Cai Jiu and Hou Bing so effortlessly could not be a native of Kun City—no locals possessed such power. Could it be someone from the East Sea?

Everyone kept silent and watched coldly, but their hearts were riddled with speculation, growing even more confused. Because Cai Jiu was Lin Shao’s man, and in the East Sea, who would dare so recklessly challenge Lin Shao?

At that moment, the Kun City police mobilized...

A large number of officers began systematically sealing off and investigating Cai Jiu’s assets. Yet even these swift-moving police sensed something was off—the whole city seemed unusually quiet, eerily so...

——

Chu Fei knew nothing of all this. After leaving the police station, he realized he didn’t know Blue Youyou’s phone number—how was he supposed to return her car?

Soon, Chu Fei stopped worrying about it and simply drove home.

“Hm?”

Under the streetlights stood two figures; one was unmistakably Chen Xiaoman.

Chu Fei hit the brakes and stopped by the curb, frowning as he looked. Though the distance was great, he instantly recognized her. Facing Chen Xiaoman was a man in his thirties, tall—nearly a head taller than her—speaking animatedly.

Chen Xiaoman, however, stood silent.

Whatever the man finally said, Chen Xiaoman nodded, took out a wad of cash and handed it to him. The man accepted it, beaming, patted her shoulder, then turned and left quickly...

Chen Xiaoman sighed silently, turned to go, and suddenly found someone before her.

“Chu Fei?” Chen Xiaoman stared in surprise at the handsome young man.

“I just got back from outside,” Chu Fei explained, then asked, “Did you run into some trouble?”

“No, nothing,” Chen Xiaoman shook her head, a little guilty, knowing Chu Fei must have seen what happened.

“Who was that man just now?” Chu Fei glanced at the direction the tall, thin man left. “Was he bullying you?”

“No, not at all, Chu Fei, you misunderstood. That was my older brother,” Chen Xiaoman quickly waved her hands, not wanting him to get the wrong idea.

“Your older brother?” Chu Fei was momentarily stunned, then understood. Besides Er Gou, Chen Xiaoman did have another brother, though no blood relation. From Er Gou’s stories, Chu Fei knew that both he and his sister lost their father young; their mother struggled to raise them, eventually remarrying a widower with a son older than both Er Gou and Xiaoman. But the man was no good—an incorrigible gambler. Only after marrying did Er Gou’s mother realize her mistake, but it was too late. The marriage brought no relief, only more hardship. The stepfather and older brother were harsh to Er Gou and Xiaoman, constantly beating and scolding them. Worse, Er Gou’s mother developed a terminal illness within five years of marriage; the man wouldn’t spend a cent on treatment, and she was consumed by disease. Afterwards, the stepfather and brother became even more cruel, forcing the siblings to drop out and work to support the family. Er Gou fought desperately to let Xiaoman continue school, dropping out himself to work until he joined the army at eighteen, always worrying about his poor, unfortunate sister...

According to Er Gou, Xiaoman moved out and lived on her own after starting high school, with living expenses covered by Er Gou’s salary. In college, she worked to support herself, becoming fully independent.

By rights, Chen Xiaoman should have cut ties with those two scoundrels, so why was there still contact?

Seeing Chu Fei’s face darken, Chen Xiaoman instinctively explained, “Yes, he’s my older brother. He came because my father is sick and needs money for treatment.”

“Is that so?” Chu Fei said nothing more. He didn’t probe further, but sighed inwardly. Whether it was true or not, it showed Chen Xiaoman was a kind-hearted girl, so kind it pained him.

“Hey, you’re just getting off work now?” Chen Xiaoman asked, eager to change the topic.

“Yeah, working late at the company,” Chu Fei lied casually.

“Your boss is really stingy, keeping you so late!” Chen Xiaoman pouted in protest, siding with Chu Fei.

Chu Fei broke out in a cold sweat, wondering if Ximen Lu was sneezing now.

Suddenly, Chen Xiaoman said, “Are you hungry? I’ll treat you to a late-night snack.”

“Alright,” Chu Fei agreed after a moment. He’d been wanting to spend time with Chen Xiaoman, so he naturally didn’t refuse.

So the two walked side by side to a small street nearby, stopping at a mala tang stall. Chen Xiaoman seemed to know the owner well, greeted him, and carefully selected skewers, asking Chu Fei what he liked.

Chu Fei replied “anything,” then stood quietly watching Chen Xiaoman pick out meat and vegetable skewers with care. He recalled Blood Fox’s comment about her: not stunning, but a natural beauty, pleasing to the eye.

Up close, Chu Fei had to admire Blood Fox’s judgment. Though Chen Xiaoman wasn’t dazzling, the more he looked, the prettier she seemed—a young beauty in the making. It was no wonder Er Gou was inordinately handsome; in the army, he’d left many female soldiers lovesick.

“What are you looking at?” Chen Xiaoman turned around after handing her choices to the boss, finding Chu Fei smiling at her. Her cheeks flushed slightly.

“Nothing, just realized you look pretty good,” Chu Fei blurted, instantly wanting to slap himself. What nonsense was he spouting? The words sounded like a tease. Er Gou’s dying wish was for him to take care of his sister, not take advantage. If Er Gou heard this, he’d probably claw out of his grave to strangle him.

“Nonsense.”

Chen Xiaoman couldn’t guess Chu Fei’s thoughts, but her cheeks reddened further at his words. She wasn’t angry, though; she turned to chat with the stall owner. Soon, the food was ready. Chen Xiaoman carried two disposable bowls, beckoning Chu Fei to sit at a corner of the stall.

“Chu Fei, Uncle Li’s mala tang is the most authentic. Try it once and you’ll want to come again,” Chen Xiaoman said warmly, placing a bowl before him and one before herself.

Chu Fei glanced at his bowl and frowned—his was filled with meat skewers, while Chen Xiaoman’s contained only vegetables, not a single meat skewer.

Chu Fei grabbed several meat skewers and dropped them into Chen Xiaoman’s bowl. “You’re so thin—how can you eat only vegetables? You need more meat.”

“Huh?” Chen Xiaoman was stunned, seeing Chu Fei’s serious face, she didn’t dare refuse, only murmured, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome; you’re treating tonight,” Chu Fei smiled, biting into a skewer. Chen Xiaoman hadn’t lied—the taste was superb...

His words swept away the earlier awkwardness. Seeing him nod as he ate, she smiled and asked, “How is it? Tastes good, right?”

“Yeah, authentic,” Chu Fei nodded.

“Hehe—” Chen Xiaoman giggled, picking up a meat skewer herself. Just as she was about to eat, an irritated voice sounded from the roadside, “Chen Xiaoman, is that really you?”

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