Tonight, the entire East Sea International Hotel had been booked for a private event, and its banquet hall was filled with exquisitely dressed men and women.
They, who were used to being the center of attention, were all reduced to mere background characters tonight. It was all because of the man sitting in the middle of the hall: Xiao Hongtian, the young master of the Xiao Family from the Provincial City. Dressed in a luxurious white suit with a cigar pinched between his fingers, he squinted his cold, black eyes. An intimidating pressure that sent a shiver down one's spine emanated from him, and everyone who met his gaze looked away in a mixture of awe and fear.
Even in East Sea, many had heard of Xiao Hongtian's reputation. He was said to be formidably powerful and ruthlessly grim. Years ago in the Provincial City, a descendant of the Zhao Family had offended him with a careless joke in a bar. That very night, Xiao Hongtian single-handedly wiped out the entire Zhao Family. Even the eighty-year-old elders and three-year-old toddlers had all their meridians shattered, leading to their agonizing deaths. The Zhao Family estate became a living hell overnight, yet not a single report of the incident ever surfaced. This was the power of Xiao Hongtian. This was the power of the Xiao Family.
Despite his violent character and cruel methods, the Xiao Family's influence was immense. So while people feared Xiao Hongtian, they also desperately sought to curry favor with him. Many eagerly approached to bow and offer toasts, to which Xiao Hongtian merely gave a slight nod. He didn't even bother to lift his glass, yet this small gesture made the guests feel incredibly flattered.
Just then, a middle-aged man in a traditional Tang suit approached, exuding an air of natural authority. On his arm was none other than Xu Yafei. The man had the imposing eyes of a tiger, sharp and glinting with purpose. He walked straight up to Xiao Hongtian and said in a deep voice, "Young Master Xiao, I have arrived late. Please forgive me. As punishment, I will drink three glasses!"
With that, Hong Wu downed three glasses of strong liquor in one go. The bystanders were shocked. Hong Wu, the overlord of East Sea's underworld, had come as well?
Xiao Hongtian looked at Hong Wu and raised an eyebrow. He did not stand, but he did pick up his glass and said coolly, "You're too kind, Mr. Hong. I am merely a junior. Your presence alone is a great honor. This drink is to you."
Xiao Hongtian finished his drink without rising from his seat, leaving the crowd even more astonished. The Xiao Family's power was so terrifying that they showed no deference to even Hong Wu. Hong Wu, however, did not seem to mind. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he led Xu Yafei away to find a seat.
Tonight's banquet was organized by Xiao Hongtian, and virtually every notable figure in East Sea City was present. But they all knew the star of the evening wasn't any of them. It was Xiao Hongtian's fiancée—Lin Qingyun.
A moment later, a figure appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall. Xiao Hongtian's gaze shifted, and everyone else in the hall turned to look as well. At the entrance, Lin Qingyun walked in, clutching her handbag. Her eyes immediately landed on Xiao Hongtian, seated right in the center. In that instant, all color drained from her pretty face, leaving it as pale as a sheet of paper.
Her body trembled as despair surfaced in her heart. This man… he had finally come after all.
For the first time that night, Xiao Hongtian stood up. He spoke gently to Lin Qingyun, "Qingyun, you've finally arrived. Come, sit."
Lin Qingyun's face was ashen. Biting her lip, she said, "Xiao Hongtian, I came tonight to tell you something."
Xiao Hongtian smiled dotingly. "Whatever you have to say can wait. It's not as important as what I'm about to do."
With that, he took a small box from his pocket. He opened it to reveal a diamond ring. Holding the ring, Xiao Hongtian walked gracefully toward Lin Qingyun under the watchful eyes of everyone present. When he reached her, he knelt on one knee, his face full of deep affection.
"Qingyun, marry me. I have waited a long time for this day."
Lin Qingyun shook her head, her face pale. "I'm sorry... I can't marry you. In fact, I came tonight to break off our engagement."
A collective gasp went through the banquet hall, and the atmosphere turned deathly still.
The smile on Xiao Hongtian's face froze. "Qingyun, do you have any idea what you're saying?"
"I do! I'm sorry, Young Master Xiao, but I really can't marry you." After saying this, Lin Qingyun turned to leave. She had only taken two steps when Xiao Hongtian's chilling voice came from behind her.
"Lin Qingyun, I'm giving you one last chance. Think carefully. Will you marry me, or not?"
"I won't."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the doors to the banquet hall slammed shut.
Lin Qingyun's pupils contracted. She whirled around and shouted angrily, "What are you trying to do?"
Xiao Hongtian stood up and crushed the diamond ring under his foot. He walked toward her, and with each step, the murderous aura around him intensified. "I wanted to give you a chance to come to your senses. Since you insist, don't blame me for what happens next."
Before his words had faded, he was in front of Lin Qingyun. In an instant, his hand was wrapped around her throat.
Xiao Hongtian stared directly into her eyes, his own filled with a bloodthirsty savagery. "Did you really think I didn't know you were sleeping with another man behind my back? Now, guess... am I going to kill you?"
Lin Qingyun was nearly suffocating. She spoke through tears of pain, "You beast! So what if I slept with another man? If you have the guts, then kill me! I would rather die than marry you!"
Xiao Hongtian's face was a dark mask as he rasped, "I won't kill you. You are a daughter of the Lin Family, after all. But I will ravage you. I'll make you wish you were dead!"
As he spoke, he took out a small bag of powder and poured it into Lin Qingyun's mouth, then forced a cup of water down her throat. He only let go once he was sure she had swallowed. Powerless, Lin Qingyun collapsed to the ground, her pale neck already marred by bruises.
Pain, despair, humiliation, grievance… A thousand emotions churned within her as tears streamed down her cheeks. Biting her lip, she asked venomously through her tears, "Xiao Hongtian, you animal! What did you make me drink?"
Xiao Hongtian squatted down with a sinister smile. "Something wonderful, of course. Something that will make you writhe in ecstasy." With that, he suddenly seized her chin and slapped her hard across the face.
An angry red handprint instantly appeared on Lin Qingyun's cheek, and her hair flew loose from the force of the blow. Clutching her face, she sobbed hatefully, "Xiao Hongtian, may you die a miserable death!"
Her words were met with another brutal slap.
Lin Qingyun spat out a mouthful of blood that mingled with her tears as it dripped to the floor. She lay there, crying silently.
Xiao Hongtian stood and looked down at her with cold indifference. "Look at you. So pathetic and foolish. Where's that coward you slept with? Why hasn't he dared to come out and help you?"
Lying on the floor, Lin Qingyun began to tremble uncontrollably from a deep, gnawing agony. The drug was taking effect. Her entire body grew feverishly hot, as if ten thousand ants were crawling over her skin, gnawing at her very bones. The torment was so intense that she was close to losing consciousness. Her body writhed on the ground, and a strange, feverish flush appeared on her face.
Clinging to her last shred of consciousness, she glared at Xiao Hongtian with pure venom. "Xiao Hongtian! You will go to hell... You will!"
Xiao Hongtian gave a grim smile. "I don't know if I'm going to hell, but I do know you're about to be screaming and writhing beneath me. And when I'm done with you, I'll send you to a construction site. I'll let that whole crew of filthy workers have their turn. How many rounds do you think you can last?"
Lin Qingyun shivered violently, her tears overflowing as if a dam had broken. "Xiao Hongtian… you're a monster!"
Xiao Hongtian smiled coldly, then lifted Lin Qingyun into his arms and started toward the staircase that led to the third-floor guest rooms. Everyone present remained silent. They knew what was about to happen, yet not a single person dared to speak up. No one could afford to offend Xiao Hongtian.
Lin Qingyun closed her eyes as a final tear traced a path down her cheek. In that moment, her heart died completely.
However, just then, the doors to the banquet hall were kicked off their hinges with a deafening BOOM! A furious shout erupted through the hall.
"Xiao Hongtian, let go of my woman! If you don't, I swear I will kill you today! I swear it!"
Under everyone's stunned gaze, Zhao Dong walked in, one step at a time.