249: Five sycophants?

"Beep, beep, beep—"

The Deputy Director hung up the phone in a rage as soon as he finished speaking.

But this time...

Zhao Tiejun's body swayed, unable to even stand steady!

The communicator in his hand fell to the ground, its screen shattering into pieces.

As for the man himself, he seemed to have been drained of all his strength, staggering back two steps before collapsing onto the ground.

He never expected...

That a single attempt to cozy up to the Sima Family would result in his future being completely ruined!

It was over!

Completely over!

His future had been destroyed just like that.

The thought of having to undergo an investigation upon his return made his mental state collapse even further.

But in the next second.

He suddenly thought of Ye Chen and jerked his head up.

However.

Ye Chen had already turned around and said softly to Bing Lan and Li Qin, "Let's go. The farce is over. We didn't get to eat, so let's go back and boil some dumplings."

Bing Lan nodded slightly and took hold of his arm.

Li Qin also hurriedly grabbed her bag and followed them.

Under the gaze of countless complex eyes, the three of them calmly walked toward the car parked at the roadside.

"Mr. Ye!"

Zhao Tiejun scrambled up from the ground and threw himself before Ye Chen, kneeling and tightly clutching his leg, filled with immense regret.

"Mr. Ye! I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong!"

"I was obsessed! My heart was blinded! I believed the Sima Family's lies!"

"I beg you! I beg you to show mercy and put in a good word for me with Old Master Xuanyuan!"

"I can't be fired! I have elders and children at home; they all depend on this job!"

"As long as you're willing to help me, I, Zhao Tiejun, will serve you like an ox or horse for the rest of my life to repay you!"

He wailed while kowtowing repeatedly.

Once expelled from Bureau 749, he would not only lose his power, but his martial skills would likely be stripped away as well.

After all.

Bureau 749 would not allow a person who had committed a transgression to retain extraordinary skills while living in the city...

If that happened, he would truly be ruined.

The surrounding diners and passersby watched this scene with various expressions.

Some felt disdain!

Some sighed in pity!

But most felt a sense of absurdity.

A few minutes ago, he was the majestic Bureau 749 branch operations captain, but now he was like a stray dog, clutching the leg of the man he had framed, weeping and begging for mercy.

Life's great ups and downs were truly nothing more than this.

Ye Chen stopped and looked down at Zhao Tiejun.

"Captain Zhao."

"You say you have elders and children and that it's not easy for you."

"Then let me ask you, if it were someone else today, someone without my strength or background..."

"If they were 'legally' apprehended by you and your Bureau 749 team and labeled an evil cultivator murderer, would it be easy for them and their family?"

Zhao Tiejun froze, his mouth opening, but not a single word could come out.

Ye Chen shook his head slightly.

"Begging me is useless."

"I don't have the power to make Bureau 749 rescind its order."

"Instead of wasting your time crying here..."

"You should go to the capital and cry to the Sima Family, to that Butler Sima Nong."

"See if they will remember your service and give you a scrap to eat after you've fallen to this state for them."

After saying that.

Ye Chen's toe moved slightly, and a burst of energy rippled out.

Zhao Tiejun felt his arms go numb and involuntarily let go, falling back onto the ground.

He stared blankly at Ye Chen as the last glimmer of hope in his eyes was completely extinguished.

Ye Chen didn't linger. He opened the car door, let Bing Lan and Li Qin get in first, and then sat in the driver's seat.

The engine started.

The car slowly drove away from the chaotic street, soon disappearing into the depths of the neon-lit night.

Leaving only Zhao Tiejun slumped on the ground.

He was truly finished...

...

The car slowly entered the underground garage of Dijing Garden.

As soon as it came to a stop, Ye Chen's expression shifted slightly, and he said to the two women beside him, "You two go up first. I have something to take care of; I'll be up when I'm done."

Bing Lan's eyes flickered. She didn't ask further and simply nodded.

"Alright, stay safe."

Li Qin blinked, her face full of curiosity.

But seeing that Bing Lan didn't ask, she had to swallow her words and obediently followed Bing Lan out of the car.

The two entered the elevator, and the numbers slowly climbed.

Ye Chen remained in the car alone. He didn't turn off the engine but lowered the window halfway and spoke calmly: "Come out."

The moment his voice fell.

A patch of shadow seemed to come alive, and a white figure, like a ghost peeling away from the darkness, silently emerged and floated to the side of the car in a few steps.

It was White Charm.

She bowed slightly with a respectful posture.

"Master, I have arrived."

Ye Chen glanced at her. "Did you lure them here?"

White Charm nodded quickly.

"Reporting to Master, I have already lured five of them here."

"I told them that Black Fiend was killed, that I was isolated and had barely escaped with my life. I said I discovered a massive secret regarding you, Master, and desperately needed support to plan together."

"As soon as they heard that, they all came."

"They are currently in a private booth at the 'Night Passion' bar in the west of the city."

"I have already used Soul-Soothing Incense to handle them slightly, making them lower their guard and settling them in for now."

Hearing this, Ye Chen's eyebrows rose slightly. "Oh? You moved quite fast."

How long had it been?

From their parting in Beijing until now, it had only been a little over a day at most.

White Charm had already managed to lure five people here and settle them down?

This efficiency was a bit too high.

White Charm felt a bit uncomfortable under Ye Chen's gaze. Her fair cheeks flushed slightly as she explained in a low voice.

"They used to have... a relatively good relationship with me."

"Especially after hearing that Black Fiend was dead and that I was heavily injured and fleeing alone, they..."

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, and her gaze became somewhat evasive.

Ye Chen sneered.

"Good relationship?"

"More like simps, right?"

White Charm: "..."

Her charming face instantly turned bright red. She opened her mouth to retort but found no words.

In the end, she could only lower her head awkwardly, admitting it silently.

Indeed.

They were simps.

Those five Soul Emissarys of the Soul Hall had, like Black Fiend, all once madly pursued her.

It was just that she eventually chose the strongest and most to her taste, Black Fiend.

Although the other five were unwilling, they had no choice but to suppress those feelings in their hearts.

But what one cannot have is always in a state of agitation.

This obsession didn't dissipate with time; instead, upon hearing that Black Fiend had fallen and she was in trouble, it was instantly ignited, turning into a desire to protect and show off.

So, upon receiving White Charm's call for help, the five of them had rushed over at maximum speed without even thinking.

They could play the hero saving the beauty, join forces to deal with their great enemy Ye Chen, and perhaps even take the opportunity to win her heart...

No matter how they calculated it, it was a win-win.

They just never imagined...

That the beauty in distress in their hearts had already aimed the slaughtering blade at them.

Ye Chen looked at White Charm's awkward and embarrassed state and shook his head.

"Fine."

"Lead the way."

White Charm's spirits lifted, and she immediately responded, "Yes, Master! I have already prepared a car; it's right outside."

Ye Chen pushed the door open and stepped out.

At the garage exit, a black sedan was indeed parked.

White Charm stepped forward quickly and opened the rear door.

Ye Chen sat inside.

The car drove silently out of Dijing Garden.

After a while.

The car stopped in the back alley of Night Passion.

White Charm got out first and respectfully opened the door.

Ye Chen stepped out of the car and looked up at the neon-lit building before him.

"This is the place?"

"Yes, Master. They are in the 'Dream' booth on the third floor."

White Charm answered in a low voice and then led the way.

She didn't take the busy main entrance but led Ye Chen directly to the third floor via the side fire escape.

Soon.

White Charm stopped before a heavy soundproof door and knocked—two short, one long—clearly a prearranged signal.

A rustling sound came from inside, and then the door lock clicked open.

White Charm pushed the door open, stepped aside, and made a "please" gesture to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen walked in with his hands in his pockets and a calm expression.

The booth was large, the lighting adjusted to an intimate dark red, and the air was thick with the smell of cigars and a faint aroma of alcohol.

Five people were sitting on the sofa.

A bald Black man.

A blond-haired, blue-eyed White man.

In the middle was a Korean man with a mustache, his small eyes glinting with shrewdness.

To the right was a short, thin Japanese man wearing a kimono.

The last one was an ordinary-looking Chinese man.

Five people, five styles, yet they all exuded a chilling aura.

As soon as White Charm entered, the five of them simultaneously turned their gazes toward her, their eyes filled with undisguised heat and desire...

The Black man even stood up directly, opening his arms.

"Oh! My dear Charm!"

"You've finally come. I was almost dying of loneliness!"

However, his enthusiastic movements and words came to a grinding halt.

Because he saw Ye Chen walking in calmly behind White Charm.

The Black man's movements froze, his brow furrowing. "Charm, who is this?"