The iron gates of Quancheng No. 4 Prison slowly opened.
"Quick!"
"Surround them!"
Dozens of burly men waiting in the square outside immediately rushed forward, sealing off the iron gates completely.
Today, eight prisoners were being released after serving their sentences.
The prisoner at the front was dumbfounded.
What was going on?
Dozens of burly men, all dressed in identical black suits, stood with their hands behind their backs, their expressions stern and clearly unfriendly.
Leading them was a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man held a photo in his hand, comparing it to each prisoner emerging from the prison, as if searching for someone, causing the prisoners to break out in a cold sweat, suspicion rising in their hearts: "Could it be that among those being released, there's an enemy of these people?"
To be sought out for revenge right after release—what rotten luck!
And so, they ran faster than ever.
Two minutes later.
The first seven prisoners gradually left, with Xiao Zhan being the last to exit the prison. He casually closed the iron gate, glanced at the scene outside, his expression calm as water, and asked, "Are you looking for me?"
"Young Master!"
The middle-aged man's pupils suddenly contracted.
The dozens of men around him instantly tensed their muscles, as if facing a formidable enemy, staring intently at Xiao Zhan's every move, ready to pounce and capture him at any moment.
Xiao Zhan, however, seemed oblivious.
"Don't call me Young Master."
Xiao Zhan shook his head, brushing past the middle-aged man: "Five years ago, from the moment I was framed and imprisoned, cast out from the Xiao Family, I was no longer the Young Master of the Xiao Family."
The middle-aged man reached out to block Xiao Zhan's path, stopping him.
"Whether you admit it or not, you have the blood of the Xiao Family flowing in you. The Old Madam has ordered us to bring you back to the Capital City to see her..." he said, signaling to the burly men around him.
Instantly, dozens of men swarmed forward, rapidly closing the circle.
Layers upon layers.
Not even a fly could escape.
"What if I refuse?"
Xiao Zhan showed no fear, but his gaze suddenly turned cold as he sneered, "Did that old woman tell you what to do if I resist to the death?"
"Alive, we see the person; dead, we see the corpse!"
The middle-aged man turned around, locking eyes with Xiao Zhan, making no attempt to hide the murderous intent emanating from him.
They dared to kill!
Moreover, with the Xiao Family's influence in the Capital City, even if they returned with Xiao Zhan's corpse, they wouldn't face any consequences.
"Is that so?"
Xiao Zhan paused for a moment, then laughed.
The smile was somewhat desolate.
Five years ago, Xiao Zhan was still the Young Master of the Capital Xiao Family, a true scion of a prestigious family. The Old Master adored him, grooming him as the future heir of the Xiao Family, and had even arranged an engagement with the daughter of the Lin Family in the Capital City, promising a bright future.
However, fate is unpredictable.
The Old Master passed away, and the Old Madam took control.
Contrary to the Old Master, the Old Madam had never liked Xiao Zhan, because Xiao Zhan's mother was from Quancheng, from a small, insignificant family.
Not a match, not a fit!
In the Old Madam's eyes, Xiao Zhan's mother was merely a woman clinging to the Xiao Family, and Xiao Zhan, just the child of such a woman, was unworthy of inheriting the Xiao Family's estate.
In fact, unworthy of the Xiao name!
Thus, five years ago, when Xiao Zhan and his mother returned to Quancheng for a visit, a strange woman appeared in Xiao Zhan's bed, and he was caught in the act by people sent by the Xiao Family, charged with rape, and sent to prison!
His mother was heartbroken, yet helpless, returning to the Capital City, kneeling at the Xiao Family's gate for three days and nights, begging the Old Madam for mercy to spare Xiao Zhan's life. Three days later, she was sent to the hospital, where she died despite rescue efforts!
Five years, five long years!
The hatred in Xiao Zhan's heart had not faded, and the Old Madam had no intention of sparing him either. The moment he stepped out of prison, she wanted him dead!
"Young Master, come with us."
In the current situation, Xiao Zhan had no room to resist. The middle-aged man called him Young Master, but his tone and expression showed no respect: "Once back in the Capital City, if you can kneel at the Xiao Family's gate and repent like your mother did, perhaps the Old Madam, with her merciful heart, might spare your life."
To the middle-aged man, Xiao Zhan now was as wretched as a dog.
"Spare my life?"
Xiao Zhan's gaze was as cold as a blade, staring directly into the middle-aged man's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Unfortunately, even if you kneel before me and repent now, I won't spare your life!"
Bang!
The moment he finished speaking, the middle-aged man's body suddenly curled like a shrimp, flying backward like a cannonball, crashing into several burly men behind him.
Instantly, everyone was dumbfounded.
Xiao Zhan's speed was too fast.
So fast that no one saw how he struck, only that their vision went dark, and a group fell.
"You! Ungrateful wretch!"
The middle-aged man spat out a mouthful of blood, clutching his stomach and struggling for a long time, unable to stand, roaring, "Get him! Kill him! I want him dead! I'll take responsibility for any consequences!"
The dozens of men around snapped back to reality, raising their fists to attack Xiao Zhan.
Bang!
However, at that moment, another muffled sound came, and one of the burly men's fists had just been raised when a glaring hole appeared in his wrist.
Blood spurted, splattering on the faces of others.
Everyone was stunned again.
That was a gunshot!
And the bullet that instantly pierced the burly man's wrist was genuine!
"All of you, stop right there! Anyone who dares to move will be killed without mercy!"
A roar came from afar.
The burly men instinctively turned their heads, only to see the previously empty street now filled with dozens of dark green military jeeps, forming a long line, roaring as they approached.
On each jeep stood several soldiers in camouflage uniforms, each holding a submachine gun.
The scene was incredibly shocking!
"Surround them all!"
In the blink of an eye, dozens of jeeps stopped in the square outside the prison, and all the soldiers jumped out, forming another three-layered circle around the burly men, raising their submachine guns, the dark muzzles aimed at their heads.
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp...
The scene was terrifyingly silent, with only the sound of frantic swallowing echoing.
Those burly men were specially trained bodyguards of the Xiao Family, bold and experienced in killing and looting, but in front of a regular army with live ammunition, they were still insignificant.
If it were ordinary people, they might have been scared into wetting their pants by such a scene.
"You, you all..."
The middle-aged man lying on the ground was pale, his clothes soaked with cold sweat, and said in disbelief: "Who are you? Is there some misunderstanding? We are bodyguards of the Capital Xiao Family..."
Capital City! Xiao Family!
The middle-aged man's gaze locked onto the middle-aged general who had just given orders, hoping the name of the Capital Xiao Family would have some effect.
The middle-aged general had a star on his shoulder, indicating the rank of Major General.
However, the middle-aged general didn't even glance at the middle-aged man, ignoring his words, and walked straight to Xiao Zhan, respectfully saluting, then said with a tone of guilt, "Wolf King, I'm sorry, I'm late."