Gao Wu: I'll enjoy the benefits, but you'll bear the side effects.

Hou Youcai bowed slightly, his posture seemingly respectful, but in reality, it revealed a hypocritical affectation.

With an extremely obsequious smile on his face, he assured Xu Wenfeng on the other end of the phone.

"Don't worry, sir, I have everything under control and I will handle this perfectly. I guarantee that no one will find out about this, and no one will know anything about it."

A hint of cunning and smugness flickered in his eyes, as if he had already firmly grasped the fruits of victory in his hands.

He could already see his meticulously planned scheme running smoothly like a sophisticated machine, until it reached that magnificent final scene. Every step was under his control, without the slightest error.

After Hou Youcai finished speaking, his face was filled with excitement like a surging tide, instantly engulfing him. His smile was so unrestrained that it almost tore his entire face apart.

He knew all too well that in the past, Xu Wenfeng was like the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, or a tight band binding him, making him always feel like he was walking on thin ice and acting timidly.

Even if one has a thousand thoughts and plans in mind, one dares not overstep the bounds in the slightest, and can only bury those ambitions and desires deep in one's heart.

However, at this moment, everything is completely different.

Xu Wenfeng has made it clear that he will not get involved, which is like a magic key that unlocks the shackles that have bound him for so long.

He could finally unleash his full power without restraint, to fully implement the plan he had been scheming in his heart for so long, almost to the point of decay. It was a joyful sense of regaining freedom, a ecstatic feeling of about to take control of everything.

"Gao Jie, why can't you behave yourself? Xu Wenfeng gave me orders not to lay a hand on you, but how can I not do it now?"

Hou Youcai sat lazily in the spacious, almost luxurious carriage, leisurely crossing his legs, his eyes filled with undisguised disdain and annoyance.

He seemed to be lecturing a naughty child, or showing off his authority and impending victory to an overconfident opponent.

"I didn't expect you to dare to turn against Xu Wenfeng. To be honest, you are indeed much more capable than I imagined. But have you thought about what will happen after you make a move? Young man, you've caused a huge disaster. Now that you've made a move, just wait to be dealt with by Xu Wenfeng. I guarantee you will not escape his grasp."

His voice echoed in the carriage, carrying a smug tone. Every word was like a sharp blade, trying to carve deep marks on Gao Jie's unknown path of destiny.

His face was full of smugness, and he looked like an emperor who had just conquered the world.

With great interest, he opened a bottle of red wine that he had been treasuring for a long time. Under the soft lights in the carriage, the wine shimmered with a charming and profound luster, like a ruby ​​imprisoned in a glass bottle.

He gently swirled the wine in his glass, the red wine rippling slowly against the glass like a vibrant red lake, releasing an intoxicating aroma.

He squinted slightly, brought his nose close to the wine glass, and took a deep sniff of the aroma. His expression was incredibly pleasant and smug, as if all the troubles of the world had left him, leaving only this wonderful moment and the glory to come.

The girl next to Hou Youcai was filled with curiosity when she saw him like this. That curiosity was like an invisible little hand gently scratching at her heart.

She smiled and leaned closer, her smile as beautiful and captivating as a flower blooming in spring.

"Mr. Hou, what are you laughing at? What good news is it? Can you share it with me? I'm very curious about what you were laughing about."

She blinked her big, watery eyes, her gaze carrying a hint of coquetry and ingratiation, like a kitten yearning for its owner's affection.

Hou Youcai put down his wine glass with an elegant and composed gesture, like a refined gentleman.

He reached out and gently hooked the girl's chin with his long, slightly rough index finger, a playful smile on his face that seemed to conceal countless unknown secrets and temptations.

"To tell you the truth, I'm really rolling in money now, the kind of super-rich! I can finally get my revenge. After I'm done, I'm going to sell all my possessions and travel the world. How about I take you with me?"

His voice was filled with confidence and aspiration, the confidence like a towering mountain, unbreakable; the aspiration like a vast, boundless blue sky, without limit. It was as if the whole world was already at his feet, at his command to trample and roam freely.

Upon hearing this, the girl's eyes lit up instantly, her bright gaze like twinkling stars in the night sky.

She nodded immediately, and like a happy little bird, she eagerly snuggled up to Hou Youcai, her intimate manner making one want to vomit.

She clung tightly to Hou Youcai, as if trying to merge herself with him and share the impending wealth and endless joy.

At this moment, Sister Wen was trapped in the small and cramped space at the back of the carriage, surrounded by darkness, like a huge black monster, tightly devouring her.

Only a few faint rays of light, like candles flickering in the wind, struggled to penetrate through the narrow gap, leaving a few bleak streaks in the darkness.

She simply couldn't understand why, even now, she was still being imprisoned like this.

Her heart was filled with doubt and resentment, like a burning flame that stubbornly flickered in the darkness.

She tried to struggle, driven by an instinctive will to survive.

She twisted her body, trying to break free from the ropes that bound her tightly, but the ropes were like a tenacious python, mercilessly tightening around her body, making each struggle accompanied by excruciating pain, and she simply couldn't break free.

Sister Wen could only stare blankly at the tiny light in the distance, which seemed to be the only beacon of hope in her dark world.

She held a sliver of hope in her heart, like a drowning person clutching at the last straw, expecting a miracle to happen in the next moment.

Unfortunately, no miracles were going to happen. Only endless darkness and despair surged towards her wave after wave, completely drowning out her faint glimmer of hope.

Just as Sister Wen was lost in thought, suddenly, a piercing screech of brakes, like a sharp sword, mercilessly shattered the suffocating silence inside the carriage. The screech was sharp and urgent, like the howl of death before its approach.

Before she could react, she heard a cacophony of shouts and curses coming from outside. The shouts and curses were like surging waves, one after another, filled with anger and hostility.

Hou Youcai was immersed in his wonderful fantasy, his mind filled with romantic images of traveling the world with the girl, planning to get intimate with her and enjoy the pleasure before victory.

But the car suddenly stopped, which puzzled him greatly. That puzzlement was like a dark cloud, instantly obscuring the bright sunshine in his heart.

He frowned, his brows forming deep furrows, clearly showing his impatience. He impatiently rolled down the car window, the movement slightly rough, as if venting his frustration.

He peeked out, his eyes filled with searching and wariness.

Suddenly, a powerful hand shot out like lightning and grabbed his neck tightly. Then, he was pulled out of the car by a tremendous force.

Hou Youcai's sharp, high-end suit was instantly covered in mud, making him look disheveled.

His face was filled with panic, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the group of fierce-looking people in front of him, his heart filled with fear and shock.

He never expected that Gao Jie and the others would appear in front of him in this way. A strong sense of resentment and anger welled up in his heart, and the more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became.

He secretly vowed to make these people pay the price, and even wanted to get up and lash out at them immediately. However, his wishful thinking was futile, as his body became limp with fear, making it impossible for him to do so.

Gao Jie, his face full of anger, grabbed his clothes and lifted him up.

"Where's Sister Wen? I just want to find her right now. I don't want to say another word to you, but if you don't bring her out here, I absolutely won't let you off the hook!"

His eyes seemed to spit fire, and his powerful aura made the surrounding air seem to freeze.

Hearing this, Hou Youcai put on an indifferent expression, but secretly sneered in his heart.

He knew they were there to find that woman, which meant they were unaware of his true plan, so he remained calm.

He feigned composure and said, "I don't know what you're talking about. What Sister Wen? I don't have any Sister Wen here."

Hou Youcai's lips curled up, his face full of smugness, as if he had already won.

"Interesting. You want to deal with me, huh? Then go ahead and try. If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll retaliate immediately and take all your lives. Of course, before that, I'll take that woman's life first. Do you all understand?"

His eyes revealed arrogance and conceit, as if he didn't take Gao Jie and the others seriously at all.

Enraged, A Bao suddenly held a knife to Hou Youcai's neck and threatened him fiercely.

"Don't give me that nonsense. I'm just asking you one thing: where's my sister? You'd better release her right now, or you'll regret it."

A Bao's eyes burned with fury, and the knife in his hand trembled slightly, as if he were about to slit Hou Youcai's throat at any moment.

However, Hou Youcai remained calm and composed. He knew that as long as he could continue to stall for time with them, there might be a turning point.

His composure seemed particularly strange in this tense situation, especially to Gao Jie, who found the whole thing particularly odd.

Logically speaking, Hou Youcai should be aware of his situation now, and since he's already in everyone's hands, he definitely won't have a good ending.

Then why does he still dare to speak so arrogantly?

Thinking of this, Gao Jie came up with a plan. He immediately ordered his men to get everyone else out of the car and forcibly take them all to an open space.

"Listen up, I'm going to choose one person to live, and the rest of you will die. I hope you'll cooperate with me obediently, or I really will take your lives, do you hear me?"

Gao Jie's voice was cold and authoritative, echoing across the open space and sending chills down one's spine.

Hou Youcai smiled coldly, completely disregarding Gao Jie's words. He firmly believed that Gao Jie was just bluffing and wouldn't dare to actually make a move.

But just then, A Bao and one of his brothers whispered something to each other.

The man looked panicked and spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

"You better not get this wrong. I've heard that blank rounds can kill people. You don't want to actually kill me."

Ah Bao impatiently slapped him on the forehead.

"I told you, we were just trying to scare those bastards. We're not actually going to fire bullets. Do you know how much more expensive real bullets are? Anyway, if I fire, you'll be down on the ground. By the way, is the blood pack ready?"

After checking and confirming that there were no problems, A Bao immediately had the brother slip into the crowd of Hou Youcai and his men.

After Gao Jie finished speaking, he casually dragged out a person and immediately fired a shot in front of them.

A loud "bang" rang out, particularly jarring in the open space.

Hou Youcai was still arguing, believing that Gao Jie would never dare to kill him.

"I know you have no chance of killing me, so I'm not afraid at all. Go ahead and try to lay a hand on me, and see if I don't stand up and slap you across the face. Let me tell you, if you touch me, you're really asking for death. The people behind me will take your lives. I'm not kidding, they'll kill you."

Just as he finished speaking, Gao Jie gave A Bao a wink, and suddenly there was another "bang".

Ah Bao quickly reached out and pulled the person who had been knocked down to the side.

This sudden turn of events completely stunned everyone. Even Gao Jie and his group seemed surprised that A Bao would act so decisively.

Hou Youcai felt his calves go weak, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight up to his heart. He didn't know why, but he just couldn't help but want to kneel down.

His body began to tremble slightly uncontrollably. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, only feeling that his legs were so disobedient.

He couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, his face filled with terror, and his voice became stammering.

"Do you really dare to kill me?"

Ah Bao had already pointed the gun at his head; the dark muzzle resembled an endless abyss, exuding an aura of death.

Gao Jie shook his head and slowly pointed his gun at the woman they had imprisoned, his eyes revealing a hint of coldness and determination, as if to show Hou Youcai his resolve.