Chapter 45: A Heart Ablaze with Fury—To Touch Is to Die

Ling Xiao and Xiu’er arrived on the seventh floor. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, they ran into Zhang Wenhe.

“Young Master! What a coincidence! What brings you here?” Zhang Wenhe’s eyes widened in delight.

But Ling Xiao paid him no heed and strode straight toward the end of the corridor.

Zhang Wenhe was left utterly bewildered.

“Senior Sister Xiu’er, the Young Master doesn’t look to be in a good mood.”

“Stop talking nonsense and follow.”

“Right away!”

Zhang Wenhe could hardly wait to run errands for Ling Xiao; with such an opportunity, he certainly wouldn’t let it slip by.

Ling Xiao stopped at Suite 706, pushed open the door, and entered. In the outer hall, a few secretaries were having their meal. Upon seeing Ling Xiao, they frowned and said,

“Hey! Who are you?”

Before Ling Xiao could answer, Keke hurried over.

“Young Master Ling, please help our lady! The executives inside keep forcing her to drink—she’s already about to throw up!”

Ling Xiao’s eyes narrowed, and instantly, the room’s temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

The secretaries couldn’t help but shiver in unison.

He brushed past Keke, stepped forward, and with a single kick, flung open the inner hall’s door.

With a resounding crash, the door flew open. Ling Xiao took in the scene at a glance, and murderous intent poured from him.

Mu Yiren was already swaying unsteadily, while several older men continued to ply her with alcohol, coaxing and cajoling her into just a few more drinks. Another two glasses, and Mu Yiren would collapse for sure.

Those men looked invigorated, their eyes shining with a terrifying gleam, as if lightbulbs had been lit within them. Ling Xiao didn’t need to think twice to know what horrors would follow once Mu Yiren passed out.

If he hadn’t arrived today, Mu Yiren’s life would have been utterly ruined.

Mu Yiren was the one Ling Xiao cherished most. If she were destroyed, his heart would be destroyed as well.

At that moment, Mu Yiren no longer knew which way was which, still trying to raise her glass. Ling Xiao stepped forward and snatched it from her hand.

“No more.”

Mu Yiren looked at Ling Xiao and gave him a silly, absent-minded smile.

“Huh...? Ling... Xiao? Why... Why are you here?”

“Foolish girl, sleep for a while.”

Ling Xiao gently patted her on the back, and Mu Yiren instantly slumped unconscious into his arms.

The older men’s faces darkened immediately.

“Hey! Who are you supposed to be?”

“We got her drunk, and you think you can just swoop in and take advantage? Dream on, kid!”

Ling Xiao cast a cold glance over the group, cradled Mu Yiren in his arms, and sat in her chair.

“Who was the most insistent about her drinking just now?”

They shot each other looks, and one slammed his hand on the table.

“What’s with the attitude, kid? Who are you to question us about drinking?”

“Yeah, who the hell do you think you are?”

Ling Xiao’s voice was icy. “I’ll ask one last time—who was the most insistent about her drinking?”

Bald-headed Director Niu could no longer contain himself and slammed his palm on the table. “You arrogant brat, had enough of your act yet? Believe me, I’ll kill you right now!”

Ling Xiao ignored him and glanced at Zhang Wenhe.

“Hold his head in the toilet and drown him.”

Zhang Wenhe grinned broadly. “As you command!”

With that, he swaggered forward.

Director Niu’s expression changed. “What are you doing? I’m warning you, don’t do anything crazy. I’m Niu Dabao! You’d better ask around about me—”

“Ask around? In front of my Young Master, do you think you qualify to act tough?”

Before he could finish, Zhang Wenhe kicked him to the floor, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him into the restroom.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing? In broad daylight, are you really going to commit murder? Help! Hel—mmm...”

After a few screams, he fell silent.

Moments later, Zhang Wenhe emerged from the restroom, wiping his hands with a tissue, his eyes shining with excitement as he looked at the remaining men.

Back in Africa, his hands had been stained with blood. Since returning to China, he’d been holding back for too long. Now, with such a rare chance, how could he possibly let it go?

The others, seeing that Zhang Wenhe had truly disposed of Director Niu, shuddered with terror.

Looking at Ling Xiao, they stammered, trembling, “You… you… you’re a lunatic!”

Ling Xiao’s face remained cold and impassive. “I gave you a chance to answer, but you refused. Now, there’s no need for you to speak anymore.”

“What do you want?”

“Killing Director Niu wasn’t enough for you?”

Ling Xiao snorted.

“Zhang Wenhe, order all the red wine, white wine, and beer in this hotel. Pour it down these fools’ throats until they’re dead drunk.”

“Yes, Young Master! I’m on it!”

Zhang Wenhe ran out, brimming with excitement, while the faces of the remaining men turned ashen.

Ling Xiao had already dealt with Director Niu—he wasn’t bluffing.

“You… You’re out of control! Murdering people left and right—do you have no regard for the law?”

“Hmph! I’m done with this madness. I have business to attend to at my company. I’m leaving!”

With that, they tried to get up and make their escape.

Ling Xiao stroked Mu Yiren’s cheek tenderly, his gaze gentle as if caring for a newborn child. Yet his voice was cold as ice.

“Stop them.”

At his command, Xiu’er blocked their way.

The men leered. “Pretty girl, with those slender arms and legs, you’d better get out of the way, or don’t blame us if you get hurt later.”

“Yeah, this is men’s business. You’d better stay out of it, little lady.”

Xiu’er gave them a cold glance, then slapped General Qi across the face, sending his plump body flying across the room. He landed with a heavy thud and lay motionless.

The remaining two or three were frozen in terror.

Xiu’er let out a soft snort, wiped her hands with a tissue, and said coldly, “Without the Young Master’s command, no one is to take a single step out of this room. Otherwise, you’ll be killed on the spot.”

Just then, Zhang Wenhe kicked open the outer hall’s door, lugging in a crate of white liquor, his face alight with joy.

“Young Master, I’m back!”

The three men, seeing the crate of liquor, lost their nerve entirely and immediately fell to their knees, kowtowing to Ling Xiao and begging for mercy, all bravado gone.

“Please, Young Master, spare us! We won’t dare again—never again!”

Ling Xiao’s face remained unmoved.

“Pour.”

That single word, cold as frost, plunged them into utter despair.

“No—! Please, have mercy! Have mercy!!”

They kowtowed even harder, their foreheads thudding against the floor, but Zhang Wenhe paid them no mind.

This man was a battle-hardened killer, utterly devoid of compassion.

He chuckled, uncorked a bottle of white liquor, and shoved the neck of the bottle straight down one of the executives’ throats.