337: Chapter 336 Reactions from All Sides After Zhang Yu's Arrest (Part 2)

The night was as dark as ink, wrapping the Hongmen Asia Branch's island castle tightly in its embrace.

In the dining room, the long rosewood table was covered with a dark gold velvet tablecloth. Chilled Burgundy wine shimmered with a scarlet luster in crystal glasses, and the golden-roasted Australian Wagyu beef was still sizzling with oil. Next to it were fresh caviar and truffles, yet the table full of delicacies could not suppress the faint, lingering gloom in the air.

Lei Poshan sat at the head of the table. His black Tang suit collar was embroidered with dark patterns, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the jade thumb ring. His eyes, usually as sharp as an eagle's, were now veiled in a layer of gloom.

Hong Ying sat on the right side. She wore a black fitted outfit, her long hair tied into a high ponytail. Her gaze drifted toward the head of the table from time to time, her hand gripping the knife and fork tightening unconsciously.

Bai Ruoxue sat on the left side. A goose-yellow dress set off her snow-white skin, but beneath her exquisite makeup, her eyes hid a measure of caution as she observed the others.

"Godfather, why haven't you touched your food today?" Bai Ruoxue broke the silence first, her voice as sweet as honey. She put down her silver spoon and leaned slightly forward. "Is it because the subordinates didn't handle things to your satisfaction?"

Hong Ying didn't reply; she just looked at Lei Poshan, her eyes filled with inquiry.

"It's nothing, I just feel restless today. I keep feeling like something major is about to happen." Lei Poshan's Adam's apple bobbed as he picked up his glass and took a sip of wine, but the mellow aroma of the wine couldn't suppress the irritation in his heart.

"Is there a problem on Zhang Yu's end?" Hong Ying asked tentatively, her cool voice laced with a hint of nervousness.

Lei Poshan set down his wine glass, looked at Hong Ying, and replied, "It's hard to say. I spoke with A-Yu over the phone at noon. According to him, Ye Qingcheng has already left Shanghai and returned to the capital. As for the third one, she has already been emergency handled."

"Emergency handled?" Hong Ying's pupils shrank, her heart sinking abruptly. The knife and fork in her hands clattered against the dinner plate with a "clang."

Although she hadn't worked with Zhang Min for long, they were both part of Hongmen, serving under Boss Lei. To have her gone just like that inevitably chilled one's heart; a sense of sorrow for the fallen crept up her spine.

"Isn't this a good thing?" Bai Ruoxue suddenly smiled, the corners of her eyes lifting. Her tone was full of triumph, without a shred of pity for the third one, Zhang Min. "I told you Brother Yu is capable; there's nothing he can't handle once he makes a move! But, Godfather, you should be happy, why are you still looking so gloomy?"

Watching her jubilant appearance, Lei Poshan helplessly curled the corners of his mouth and picked up his chopsticks. "Maybe I really am overthinking it. Eat."

"Godfather, try this!" Bai Ruoxue immediately fawned over him, using silver chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat coated in sauce and carefully placing it onto Lei Poshan's bone china plate. "I specifically learned this from the kitchen staff. Do you want to try it?" As she spoke, she picked up the wine bottle and filled Lei Poshan's glass. The wine slid down the side of the glass, splashing up tiny bubbles.

Lei Poshan nodded, his gaze sweeping over to the distracted Hong Ying. The steak in front of her was almost untouched, while her eyes were fixed on the night outside the window.

"Ying'er, what are you thinking about?" Lei Poshan asked in a calm tone.

Hearing Lei Poshan call her, Hong Ying immediately pulled herself together and squeezed out a smile. "No, I'm not thinking of anything." With that, she picked up her knife and fork and began to fiddle with the steak on her plate.

"Sister Hong Ying, you aren't afraid, are you? Or perhaps, you think the third one shouldn't have been handled? You think Godfather did the wrong thing?" Bai Ruoxue suddenly interjected, her tone laced with sarcasm.

She put down the wine bottle, crossed her arms over her chest, and continued, "Godfather has said long ago that those who betray the organization will not have a good ending. The third one is an example. Sister Hong Ying, you had better not follow in her footsteps."

Hong Ying raised her head, looking directly at Bai Ruoxue. Her eyes were like tempered ice, cold enough to make one's heart palpitate. "Thanks for the reminder, Sister Ruoxue. However, you should take care of yourself first — the third one at least risked her life for the organization, unlike some people who haven't made a single contribution and only know how to use their mouths!"

"You!" Bai Ruoxue was poked in a sore spot, her chest heaving violently. She wanted to stand up abruptly, but just as she rose halfway, Lei Poshan raised his hand and pressed down on her shoulder.

"Sit down and eat!" Lei Poshan's voice grew colder. "Ruoxue, go turn on the television and tune it to the Dragon Country news channel."

Bai Ruoxue bit her lower lip and glared fiercely at Hong Ying before reluctantly responding, "Yes, Godfather." She then turned to get the remote control.

The television screen lit up, and the opening theme of the news broadcast began to play. The three of them ate with their own thoughts, and the steady voice of the news anchor became background noise.

Bai Ruoxue's good mood had been ruined by Hong Ying. She glared viciously at Hong Ying, stabbing at the vegetables and meat on her plate with her fork. Hong Ying remained heavy-hearted and didn't look at Bai Ruoxue. Lei Poshan occasionally picked up a few bites of food, but his eyes kept drifting toward the television.

Just as the news broadcast was about to end and the anchor was preparing to report the weather forecast, the screen suddenly paused, and the anchor's expression became serious. "We are now interrupting with a breaking news report."

Hearing the commotion, Lei Poshan's heart sank abruptly, as if it had been gripped by something. He subconsciously put down his chopsticks, looked up, and stared fixedly at the television screen.

"This station has just received news from the National Security Bureau. The perpetrator of the Songbei City Jingyuan Residential Complex rainy-night serial murder case, who has been on the run for ten years, has been successfully arrested today in a private house in the eastern suburbs port of Shanghai, following a joint operation by the Shanghai Security Bureau, the Shanghai Public Security General Bureau, and the Shanghai Special Police Detachment!" The anchor's voice came through clearly, every word sounding like a heavy hammer striking inside the dining room.

"Clatter!" The silver chopsticks in Bai Ruoxue's hand fell onto the dinner plate, making a crisp sound.

She turned to look at Lei Poshan and asked in disbelief, "God-Godfather, the perpetrator mentioned in the news... it couldn't be Brother Yu, could it?"

Lei Poshan didn't speak; his Face was already so gloomy that it seemed as if rain could drip from it the next second.

Bai Ruoxue looked at Hong Ying again. Hong Ying's eyes were also filled with disbelief. She looked at Lei Poshan, suppressing the shock in her heart, and asked, "Godfather, didn't you say that Ye Qingcheng had already returned to the capital? Then how could Brother Yu be caught by the Security Bureau? Or perhaps, could you try contacting Brother Yu again? Could there be a mistake?"

Lei Poshan stood up abruptly, his chair scraping harshly against the floor.

His brows were furrowed into a knot as he said in a deep voice, "No need to contact him! Six or seven hours have passed since noon, yet A-Yu hasn't sent a single message; this in itself is abnormal! Now that the Dragon Country news has broadcast it, what else is there to doubt?"

"Then, what about Brother Yu? Godfather, we have to go save him!" Bai Ruoxue stood up with an eager Face, grabbing Lei Poshan's arm.

"Save him?" Lei Poshan suddenly shook off her hand and scolded sternly, "Tell me how to save him? Should I storm the Security Bureau alone? Or should I have Hongmen go to war with the Dragon Country and get everyone involved?"

Bai Ruoxue shrank her shoulders after being scolded, but she still wouldn't give up. "But Brother Yu can't be in trouble! If we don't rescue him as soon as possible, we will also be at risk of exposure!"

Hong Ying took a deep breath, stood up, and looked determined. "Godfather, let me go to the Dragon Country again. I am familiar with Shanghai, and I have the Disguise Technique, so it won't be easy for me to be exposed. Perhaps I can find out about Brother Yu's situation."

"No rush!" A hint of ruthlessness was in Lei Poshan's voice. "A-Yu would not betray the organization! Otherwise, the Dragon Country would not have chosen to break this news! The reason they did this is to make us take action!"

Lei Poshan said this not because he trusted Zhang Yu that much, but because of the Gu inside Zhang Yu's body.

That Gu was a means used by the upper echelons of Hongmen to control its members. Because the cost of refining the Gu was extremely high, this type of Gu was only planted in members who were truly powerful.

Of course, besides controlling members, the Gu could also increase the speed of Cultivate. Therefore, within Hongmen, being planted with the Gu was considered an honor!

If Zhang Yu were to harbor thoughts of betrayal, the organization wouldn't need to intervene; the Gu would backlash against the host, rapidly absorbing the True Qi within the host's body, and then, at the cost of bursting itself, cause the host to explode and die instantly!

"Then what about Brother Yu?" Bai Ruoxue looked pleadingly at Lei Poshan.

Lei Poshan ignored her, turned, and walked out of the dining room, his black hem tracing a cold, hard arc in the air.

Seeing this, Hong Ying also wanted to leave, but after taking only two steps, she was blocked by Bai Ruoxue.

Bai Ruoxue grabbed her shoulder, her eyes fierce, as if she wanted to eat someone. "Hong Ying! Was it you? Tell me! Was it you who sold Brother Yu's information to the Security Bureau?"

Hong Ying slapped her hand away, her eyes cold. "Bai Ruoxue, what kind of madness is this! Let me tell you, I'm only yielding to you for Godfather's Face; don't be ungrateful!" As she spoke, Hong Ying flipped her wrist, and the knife she had just used to cut the steak was now pressed against Bai Ruoxue's neck.

"Bai Ruoxue! You say I leaked the secret, where is the evidence? If you can't produce evidence, shut up. If you dare to bite blindly again, don't blame me for being impolite!" After saying this, Hong Ying pushed Bai Ruoxue away and walked straight upstairs, leaving Bai Ruoxue frozen in place.

Bai Ruoxue touched her neck, which had just been pressed by the knife, and stared at Hong Ying's departing back with eyes full of resentment. Gritting her teeth, she cursed in a low voice, "Hong Ying, you bitch! It must be you! When I find the evidence, I will make you wish you were dead!"

At this moment, the music signaling the end of the news broadcast came from the television. The cheerful melody echoed in the empty dining room, appearing exceptionally ironic.