Yama Reborn

Chapter Ninety-Six [Important Things Must Be Said Thrice]

Wind Shelter Hall.

The van drove into the small courtyard behind the building.

Wang Lao Hu felt the unease in his heart grow increasingly harder to control. He could manage it while in the car, but now that he was on his own turf, he couldn't help but become audacious. As he got out of the van, he even tried to grab Lu Xixi's hand.

Lu Xixi didn't pay him any attention, deftly dodging his advance, and then just squinted up to survey the place.

The sun had only just set, but the neon lights were already lit.

This seemingly bustling place... who knew how much filth was hidden within.

"Come on, go upstairs. We'll eat upstairs," Wang Lao Hu said, his face glistening with grease as he chuckled loudly.

"Auntie..." trailing behind Song Qiaoyun, Lu Xixi whispered, "Something seems off about this place."

Song Qiaoyun hadn't taken her medication all day!

She stared straight at the elevator door, not replying to Lu Xixi's comment, muttering something under her breath instead, before stepping in, holding Chen Xiaoye close.

Lu Xixi sighed helplessly and followed.

Wang Lao Hu was the last to enter, gesturing to Xiao Yong, "Close the iron gate!"

He then pulled over a subordinate and whispered something in his ear. This subordinate was clearly no good fellow either, lifting his head to reveal a sly grin at Wang Lao Hu, "Boss, don't you worry! I'll make sure it's done perfectly!"

Once the elevator reached the desired floor, they entered a large lounge.

This place was the very room where Li Qingshan had shot Chen Yanluo and then knelt down in submission.

After that huge setback last time, Hall Master Li's enthusiasm for underworld affairs had waned, and he seldom visited Wind Shelter Hall. Gradually, the room had been taken over by Wang Lao Hu for his personal use.

Now in the lounge, Wang Lao Hu gestured grandly with a hand—how people do love to imitate others.

Wang Lao Hu was no major underworld figure, but after years at Li Qingshan's side, what he truly envied was his own boss's manner.

Now that the 'tiger,' Li Qingshan, was gone, the 'monkey,' Wang Lao Hu, had declared himself king of the hill. He had learned to adopt all of Hall Master Li's mannerisms.

A row of leather sofas with a nouveau-riche Southeast Asian flair—a design neither here nor there—lined the room. Wang Lao Hu sat down in the middle one, deliberately spreading his legs, and then extended two fingers.

His subordinate immediately came over to place a cigarette between his fingers and then lit it for him.

Wang Lao Hu took a contented puff and turned his gaze to Lu Xixi.

"Beauty, have a seat, sit wherever you like!"

Lu Xixi didn't sit. Her eyes scanned the place, taking in the vast lounge, then she arched an eyebrow. "Weren't we supposed to have dinner?"

"Yes! Yes! Everything you could want is here," Wang Lao Hu laughed heartily, instructing his men, "Go, have the kitchen prepare a table of dishes, and bring out two bottles of good wine!"

Gu Kang sat cautiously on one of the sofas next to Wang Lao Hu, nervously attempting to maintain a smile. This was particularly evident since Chen Xiaoye had tried to hold Gu Kang's hand twice, and both times he had awkwardly avoided it.

Kidnapping his own daughter and extorting money from others... Gu Kang was deeply ashamed of such vile deeds.

Wang Lao Hu felt like he held all the winning cards, becoming more complacent. Though he didn't show any viciousness as he looked at his three prey: three women, two adults and one child.

"Come on, tell me what you want to eat! We've got everything here, anything that flies in the sky, runs on the ground, or swims in the water," he boasted.

Chen Xiaoye hesitated. "What about my brother?"

"Your brother? He will be here soon."

Wang Lao Hu smiled warmly at Lu Xixi following that, "Beauty, ah, and the godmother of this child, what would you like to eat? Go ahead, order away!"

Lu Xixi shook her head.

Song Qiaoyun suddenly looked up. "Are you treating us to this meal?"

"Of course! You're in my place, naturally I'm the host," Wang Lao Hu responded to Song Qiaoyun, but his eyes remained on Lu Xixi.

"I'd like to have..." Song Qiaoyun inhaled deeply. "Steamed lamb..."

"Sure! No problem..."

"Steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roast duck, roast chicks, roast gosling, stewed salty duck, soy chicken, smoked meat, pine flower stomach, dried meat, sausages, assorted cold veggie plate, smoked chicken, white sliced belly, clear-steamed eight-treasure pig, glutinous rice stuffed duck..."

WHOA!

Aunty Song rattled off a list of dishes in one breath.

Wang Lao Hu was dumbfounded!

What on earth?

Chen Xiaoye listened, recognizing the list, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She began to laugh, then pulled at Song Qiaoyun. "Godmother! I've heard this one, I know..." She pointed at Wang Lao Hu. "...he didn't bring any money!"

Song Qiaoyun stared intently at Wang Lao Hu. "Oh, then you can forget it!"

"???"

Wang Lao Hu was utterly baffled.

What is this?

A fierce expression appeared on his face.

Are you kidding me?

He waved his hand. "Gu Kang, you make the call! You know what to say, right?"

Gu Kang nodded, not daring to look at his daughter.

"Dad?"

"Stop calling him Dad. He's going out to call your brother," Lu Xixi interjected smoothly.

Gu Kang coughed twice, took out his cell phone, and dialed Chen Nuo's number.

Chen Nuo was washing his hands.

The cold tap water poured over his hands, and Chen Nuo let out a breath, trying to dispel the hostility that lingered in his heart.

The phone in his pocket rang. Chen Nuo didn't hurry to answer. He calmly turned off the tap, then pulled a paper towel from the dispenser to dry his hands, and threw the crumpled towel into the trash can.

Only then did he take out his cell phone.

"Hello?" Chen Yanluo's voice was very steady.

"Kid, you recognize it's me, right?"

"Yeah, Gu Kang," Chen Nuo replied calmly.

"Ye Zi is with me. I took her out for a meal." Gu Kang sounded quite pleased with himself. "You understand what I mean."

Chen Nuo was silent for three seconds and then sighed softly. "Gu Kang, Gu Kang... what can I say to you?"

He paused, and it seemed like he laughed slightly. "All right, I'd rather not call you inhuman. Just tell me what you want."

"A hand's worth!" Gu Kang demanded a hefty sum.

Chen Nuo laughed.

Fifty thousand?

He knew full well that Gu Kang had deliberately asked for an exorbitant sum—in this era, fifty thousand was a significant amount of money. Never mind an eighteen-year-old high school student; even an average working-class family might not have this much in savings.

Actually, Gu Kang didn't know exactly how much money Chen Nuo had. He just wanted to start high and wait for Chen Nuo to bargain.

But...

"Okay! Fifty thousand, I'll give it to you," Chen Nuo answered straightforwardly.

"What?"

"What do you mean 'what'? You want fifty thousand, I'll give you fifty thousand," Chen Nuo said firmly. "Tell me where you are. I'll come over and personally deliver the money to you!"

Gu Kang seemed a little slow to react, but his voice quickly came through the phone.

"Wind Shelter Hall! You know where it is, right? Come find me at Wind Shelter Hall! Just give your name when you arrive, and someone will naturally bring you up to see me! Kid, don't play any tricks! You've heard of Wind Shelter Hall, haven't you?"

Wind Shelter Hall?

Chen Nuo couldn't help but laugh.

Then he nodded. "Yeah, Wind Shelter Hall, I know it... It seems Uncle Gu has found himself a powerful backer."

"Enough talk! I'm giving you one hour. Can you make it?"

"I don't need that long. I'll be there in half an hour."

The call ended.

Chen Nuo put away the phone, then walked out of the kitchen.

In the living room...

It was a mess!

Gu Kang's brother lay on the ground, his face bruised and swollen, almost half his teeth knocked out.

At that moment, lying there, he lifted his head to look at Chen Nuo walking out. With a mouthful of blood, he pleaded, "Chen Nuo! I... I really don't know where Gu Kang is..."

Chen Nuo nodded. "Yeah, I won't ask you. I already know."

Gu Kang hung up the phone and glanced at Wang Lao Hu. "In half an hour, the guy will be here."

Wang Lao Hu felt relieved.

Lu Xixi looked at the two men, raised an eyebrow, and said to Gu Kang, "Can I borrow your phone?"

"What?"

Lu Xixi frowned. "I didn't tell my husband when I left the house. I'm worried he'll get anxious if he comes home and I'm not there. Lend me your phone so I can call him."

Wang Lao Hu grinned. "Use mine, use mine!" He pulled out the latest Motorola model as he spoke.

Lu Xixi didn't even glance at the man who was always eyeing her; her gaze was fixed on Gu Kang.

Gu Kang subconsciously handed his phone over to her.

Taking the phone, Lu Xixi recalled the note Chen Nuo left for her before he left the house today, which had his mobile number written on it.

Yep, Lu Xixi had memorized it well.

Pressing the buttons, she dialed the number...

Chen Nuo stepped over the head of Gu Kang's brother and then walked to the door, leaving the Gu Family's house.

He'd just descended two steps down the stairs when his phone rang again.

He picked up the call to see the caller ID...

It was Gu Kang again? What's he calling for now? Wants to hike up the price? Humph!

Chen Nuo frowned and pressed the answer button.

"Hello?"

"Honey~~~~"

F*CK!!

Chen Yanluo's heart was initially brimming with murderous fury! But then, he heard Empress Lu's voice come from the phone.

Oh my god!

Despite his high-level cultivation, he almost failed to hold the small phone steadily in his grasp, nearly dropping it to the ground!

"Hello?!!!?"

"Honey~~"

Chen Nuo looked utterly bewildered. "Auntie?"

"Honey, I'm sorry, I left home~ Are you home yet? I... I ran into a bit of trouble here; could you come and pick me up?"

Chen Nuo stammered, "...You..."

"Sorry, honey, I didn't listen to you and ran off again~" Lu Xixi spoke in a tender voice, yet it seemed like she lowered her voice. "Honey, I met a few people... they seem to be bad guys! There's one who keeps staring at me, so annoying! Can you come and pick me up quickly? I'm so nervous..."

Big sis! Like I'm not more nervous here!!

A million question marks raced through Chen Nuo's mind!

Just ask Chen Yanluo, surprised or not? Thrilled or not? No! How could Lu Xixi be with Gu Kang?!! Wait a minute! If Lu Xixi is with Gu Kang... doesn't that mean she's with Xiao Yezi too? Holy sh*t!!!

Chen Yanluo was sweating bullets!

Murderous intent? What murderous intent? Where the hell did the murderous intent come from?

"Auntie... uh... are you okay..." Chen Yanluo started, then shook his head. "No... that's wrong... I mean, are *they* okay?"

"They're fine, doing well," Lu Xixi continued on the phone, glancing at Wang Lao Hu and the others sitting beside her.

Wang Lao Hu's expression turned awkward.

Seriously, beautiful lady, if you're going to whisper sweet nothings with your husband and call us bad guys, could you at least try to be a little more discreet? You might have lowered your voice... but damn it, we're sitting right next to you! We're not deaf!

Lu Xixi quickly spoke into the phone, "Honey, so you'll come pick me up?"

"Pick you up? I'm on my way right now!!" Chen Nuo felt like his brain was a volcano erupting with lava, absolutely boiling!

Taking a deep breath, Chen Yanluo earnestly cautioned his wife.

"Auntie! Before I get there, don't do anything rash, okay? Please, please, don't do anything rash, okay?"

"Oh, I'll try my best~"

"Okay! Wait for me; I'll be there soon!"

CLICK. The call was disconnected.

Lu Xixi held the phone and then casually tossed it back to Gu Kang.

Huh... That doesn't seem right? Did I just forget to tell my husband where I am? Did I say it just now?

Chen Nuo froze in place.

After standing dazed in the staircase for three seconds, he suddenly sprang into action and dashed madly downstairs!

It's not enough! He had to hurry!! If he was late, people might die!!

After all, this was a large establishment.

A table full of good food was quickly served up.

In the lounge, there was a large round dining table where Wang Lao Hu warmly invited everyone to sit down and eat.

One of Wang Lao Hu's subordinates who brought the dishes cast a knowing look at him and then glanced at the pitcher of freshly squeezed watermelon juice on the table.

Wang Lao Hu understood the signal.

Sitting at the table, he immediately picked up a glass and poured one for Lu Xixi.

Lu Xixi watched Wang Lao Hu.

"Hey girl! It's fate that we're meeting for the first time, isn't it?" Wang Lao Hu said with a cheery grin. "About what you said on the phone just now... Ah, misunderstanding! Big brother here is no bad guy! Come on, it's so hot, have a drink to cool off first!

"Look, I'm an open and straightforward guy! I would never do something like spiking a woman's drink, rest assured! This meal, you just stick to the beverages."

Lu Xixi blinked her eyes.

"But... I do like drinking alcohol."

"Ah?"

Wang Lao Hu was taken aback, ecstatic in his heart!

Holy cow? All this for such a bargain? If I had known, I wouldn't have had my men drug the watermelon juice! She likes to drink? That's perfect!

"Beauty! What kind of drink would you like? Beer, red wine, white spirits, or imported liquor? We have it all here! Which one do you fancy?"

Lu Xixi's eyes shone.

"Then... how about a bit of each?"

As the brightest disciple of the Star Sky Empress, that crazy woman, nine-year-old little miss Yu Naitang had always stayed by her teacher's side, with two most important tasks.

One was to make sure her teacher didn't do anything foolish.

The second was...

To stop her from drinking!

To stop her from drinking!

To stop her from drinking!

Important things must be said three times!!