Chapter 14: The Bloody Banquet (Part 1)
The most crucial point was, because when Ye Xuan returned home, he had maimed Tiger's underling, if she really didn't show up, she feared she would implicate her family.
Ye Ling'er was naturally aware of what kind of fate awaited her at this location; Tiger had coveted her for a long time, and it was only because she had kept up a facade of acquiescence without actually giving in that she hadn't been violated by him.
Whether for her mother or that detestable Ye Xuan, Ye Ling'er knew she had to attend, but the nature of today's event clearly indicated that they would not let her go, which tightened the grip of dread on her mind, leaving her constantly seeking a way to cope.
To drink, to keep drinking with Tiger, was Ye Ling'er's simple idea. To dodge this calamity, she could only drink him under the table; only then could she find a way out.
Unfortunately, after several bottles of foreign liquor, Ye Ling'er was already dizzy, while Tiger showed no change of expression. This caused Ye Ling'er to bite her lips and her complexion to pale as she couldn't help but think to herself, could she really not avoid this disaster today?
"I'll tell you, Ye Ling'er, our boss Tiger has admired you for a long time. If it weren't for his reluctance to force you, he would have had his way with you by now. Tonight, there's no way you're leaving," a burly man, tattooed with a green wolf, reeked of alcohol as he loudly joked with Ye Ling'er.
"Yeah, Ling'er, with our looks, even boss Tiger wouldn't cast a second glance. If I were you, I would have thrown myself into his arms long ago," another young girl taunted Ye Ling'er as she sat on a man's lap.
At this moment, Tiger, with a ruddy complexion, gazed at the downcast Ye Ling'er beside him, a lecherous gleam flitting across his eyes.
"Ling'er, your brother broke the hand of one of my men. I let it go out of consideration for you. If it were someone else, they'd already be dead," Tiger remarked as he reached to place his hand on Ye Ling'er's shoulder, but she evaded it discreetly, prompting a subtle change in Tiger's expression; he hadn't expected Ye Ling'er to resist.
"I remember your kindness, Tiger, and I toast to you," said Ye Ling'er with a forced smile, picking up the cup from the table and downing the foreign liquor in one gulp.
Unfortunately, Tiger didn't even lift his cup. With many years in the underworld, how could he not see that Ye Ling'er had no intention to accompany him?
"No need for drinks, I'm feeling a bit tired too. Ling'er, how about you walk me back to the hotel?" Tiger's voice was chilly and ruthless, his fierce eyes locking onto the young girl before him.
As Tiger's words fell, Ye Ling'er's complexion instantly turned ashen. She knew she couldn't escape, which made her bite her lips tighter, her voice trembling as she said, "Tiger, it's very late tonight, and there are still things to do at home. How about I accompany you another time?"
Bang!
Suddenly, Tiger stood up abruptly, the wine bottle in his hand shattering on the floor, his expression extremely ugly.
"You little bitch, me sleeping with you is a favor to you, do you really take me for Buddha or Law?" Tiger tore through his last shred of decency, his ferocious voice echoing through the entire cabaret, silencing the laughter of his subordinates, who now looked at Ye Ling'er like menacing deities.
Ye Ling'er, after all, was just a young girl; how could she have gone through such an ordeal? All she had in her eyes was despair, knowing she couldn't escape and even beginning to entertain thoughts of ending her life.
"Damn it, I hoped you would come willingly, but it seems today I must play the part of a tyrant forcing the bow," Tiger said without any hesitation, reaching straight for Ye Ling'er, his actions stirring excitement among his subordinates.
Facing Tiger's actions, Ye Ling'er paled, her figure continuously moving backward, grabbing an empty wine bottle with her hand as if it was her last line of defense.
It was at this moment that Ye Ling'er's eyes glazed over, and the image of Ye Xuan surfaced in her mind unbidden. She remembered clearly, when she was in elementary school, whenever older students bullied her, Ye Xuan, her brother, would stand up for her.
There was even a time when, because of her, Ye Xuan was beaten bloody by several older students. At that time, she hugged him tightly, crying, and wiped away his blood, while he, with his arms around her, comforted her.
"Brother, where are you?" With her thoughts swirling back, Ye Ling'er murmured deliriously, her eyes misting over.
Suddenly!
A cold and harsh voice timely rose in the card room.
"If you want to die, take one more step and see."
"Huh?"
The sudden appearance of the voice directly startled Brother Tiger and his men, who all turned their heads to look towards the source of the sound.
At that moment,
the card room's curtain was lifted, and Ye Xuan casually walked in, his face extremely somber.
As Ye Xuan appeared, Ye Ling'er was completely dumbfounded. In just a few breaths, her face turned pale, and with great worry in her eyes, she loudly shouted at Ye Xuan, "Get out, just get out! I don't need you to interfere."
Clearly, Ye Ling'er knew all too well what kind of people Brother Tiger and his gang were, and how Ye Xuan couldn't possibly be their match. If Ye Xuan was crippled by them, Ye Ling'er absolutely did not want to witness such a scene.
"Kid, who are you?" Brother Tiger narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice somewhat ferocious.
"She's my sister, and I'm taking her home."
At this moment, the coldness on Ye Xuan's face disappeared, his voice even calmer; but if any creature from the Blood Sea Battlefield were to see Ye Xuan's demeanor, they would probably scream out in fear because Ye Xuan in this state was the most terrifying.
"Your sister?"
"Today, I'm going to sleep with your sister. Where could you possibly take her?"
Brother Tiger laughed coldly, pulling a chopper out from behind the sofa. The chilling shine of the blade was dazzling, as though it would chop down on Ye Xuan the next moment.
With the boss ready to make a move, the rest of the underlings also snickered, brandishing various blades, seemingly ready to encircle Ye Xuan.
Watching this scene unfold, Ye Ling'er was terrified and quickly stepped in front of Brother Tiger, forcing a smile, "Brother Tiger, please let him go, I'll go with you tonight."
"Ha ha!"
Getting Ye Ling'er's response, Brother Tiger laughed loudly, "Kid, did you hear that? Your sister has decided to go with me. You can leave now."
"How would you like to die?" Ye Xuan's voice was calm as he casually walked towards Brother Tiger.
As Ye Xuan's figure got closer, Ye Ling'er's expression drastically changed. She couldn't understand why Ye Xuan was asking for death like this. Couldn't he see the current situation?
"Friend, which faction are you from?"
Suddenly, before Ye Ling'er could stop Ye Xuan's suicidal move, Brother Tiger's face turned cautious and his voice more wary.
This scene left Ye Ling'er utterly astonished. She couldn't understand why Brother Tiger's attitude had suddenly changed and why he hadn't made a move against Ye Xuan.
In fact, Ye Ling'er didn't know that, as a minor leader of the Beichuan Gang, although Brother Tiger wasn't a big shot, his years of fighting in the underworld meant he clearly knew who he should provoke and who he shouldn't, better than anyone else.