Chapter 15: My Woman, Dare You Touch Her?

Silence! The entire room fell deathly silent. Hiss! Everyone in the room gasped in disbelief at what they were witnessing. 'The Director of the Zhonghai Bureau of Supervision, Kwame Liu, ignoring Paul Mu, Patrick Yue, Ethan Yue, and even Deputy Director Luo, paid respects to Ben Xiao?' 'What a joke! That's Kwame Liu, the third most powerful person in Zhonghai's administration, bowing to Ben Xiao?' 'What background does Ben Xiao have to command such fear?' Everyone's gaze towards Ben Xiao turned into one of terror. Even a fool would realize now. Ben Xiao was no simple scion of the Xiao family from Dongyong Mountain. Patrick Yue, Ethan Yue, Cooper Lei, Deputy Director Luo, and the Mu family felt their hearts racing, sensing something was amiss. Mermaid Su and Pearl Mu were also dumbfounded. Especially Pearl Mu, who stared blankly at Ben Xiao as if seeing this young man for the first time. But the more terrifying event was yet to come... Ben Xiao, facing Kwame Liu's grand gesture, didn't respond but casually poured himself a glass of wine, sipping slowly. He completely ignored Kwame Liu. Kwame Liu remained bowed at a ninety-degree angle, not daring to straighten up. "Mr. Xiao, if I have done something wrong, please enlighten me." Kwame Liu said, his clothes soaked with cold sweat. Ben Xiao sipped his wine and finally looked at Kwame Liu, "Raise your head." Kwame Liu looked up in terror. Ben Xiao raised his hand. Slap! A loud slap struck Kwame Liu’s face. The entire room was horrified. What? The Director of the Zhonghai Bureau of Supervision was publicly slapped by Ben Xiao? Kwame Liu was the third-ranking administrative official in Zhonghai. Everyone expected Kwame Liu to retaliate, but then... Thump! Kwame Liu knelt down, his posture even lower, "I don't know where I went wrong, please enlighten me!" The entire room was petrified. What background does Ben Xiao have? It's terrifying! Pearl Mu felt a chill, thinking Ben Xiao had gone too far... "Why don't you know where you went wrong? Alright, I'll tell you!" Ben Xiao took a fierce swig of his drink and coldly said, "Patrick Yue, as Chief of the Jiang Bei Bureau of Supervision, did not act impartially, but colluded with Eric Ye, abused his power for personal gain. I had him jailed, yet he was released just because Deputy Director Luo said so." "The Zhonghai Bureau of Supervision, which holds the law, affects the interests of twenty million Zhonghai citizens and represents Xia Country's image. Yet, it harbors corruption, lacking fairness." "How can such a bureau benefit the people or enforce justice? You, as the head of the Zhonghai Bureau of Supervision, what crime do you bear?" "Do you know how hard it was to establish Xia Country forty years ago? To quell the chaos, and create a new nation, countless soldiers went to battle, their bodies wrapped in horsehide!" "This era of peace was bought with the blood and lives of countless soldiers! If not for their sacrifice, how could we enjoy this peaceful time? Is this the response your Bureau of Supervision gives to this land and the souls who died for it?" Ben Xiao's voice grew louder, his anger more intense, "Your father also followed David Hua to quell the Binh Giang Province rebellion, contributing to the nation's founding! You're a descendant of a general. Have you forgotten your original intent? Are you worthy of the military rank on your father's shoulders?" With these words, the room exploded. Pearl Mu felt her scalp tingle, her blood rushing to her head. Such righteousness, caring for the world's greater good. A true man! This is the man that Pearl Mu admires most in the world. This is how all men should be! Boom! Kwame Liu prostrated, tears streaming down his face. "I'm sorry! I failed to discipline my subordinates. Please give me a chance to atone." Ben Xiao finally relaxed, "Alright, I'll give you a chance today. If you can't give a satisfactory answer, you don't need to be the Director. If you can't control the Bureau of Supervision, then... it's time for a reorganization!" "Thank you, Mr. Ben Xiao, for waking me up!" Kwame Liu slowly stood up, his respect for Ben Xiao increasing. Swoosh! He turned and slapped Deputy Director Luo. "You fool! I was only away for two days, and you caused so much trouble. You've always been unruly, and it's my fault for indulging you." "From now on, I order—remove Deputy Director Luo from his position. Arrest him for a judicial review! Any Bureau of Supervision members involved with Luo, prosecute them, no leniency!" Deputy Director Luo was terrified. Thump! Kneeling down, he begged for mercy. "Director Liu, I've followed you for over a decade. Please spare me!" Kwame Liu kicked him away, "You, worthy of mercy? Get lost!" Realizing something, Deputy Director Luo crawled to Ben Xiao's feet, "Mr. Xiao, I'm sorry. I was wrong about everything. I won't interfere with your conflict with the Lei family anymore. Please, give me a way out." He finally understood that his life was in Ben Xiao's hands. Ben Xiao scoffed, "Oh? Begging for mercy now? Weren't you acting tough before? Telling Patrick Yue to kill me and you'd cover for him? Can you? Your flaunted power is worthless before me." "Deputy Director Luo, the Bureau of Supervision is for the people of Zhonghai, not just yours. Behind your power lies a responsibility to benefit the people. Alas, you don't understand." "Take him away!" At Kwame Liu's command, two guards handcuffed Deputy Director Luo and took him away. Thump! Thump! Ethan Yue and Patrick Yue, seeing their superior's fate, were terrified. They knelt before Ben Xiao, begging for mercy. "Mr. Xiao, I'm sorry, I was blind before..." "Mr. Xiao, please give the Yue family a way out. We'll be your loyal dogs!" Ben Xiao drank his wine, indifferent, "Didn't you boast you could be released with just a call? Try it this time and see if you can come out." Patrick Yue burst into tears. Kwame Liu, decisive, gave the order, "Remove Patrick Yue from his position as Chief of the Jiang Bei Bureau of Supervision. Given Ethan Yue's previous position in the Bureau, order—seize the Yue family, and investigate every member. Any wrongdoing, prosecute harshly." "Take these two away for a judicial review!" Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh! Guards took the Yue family away. The entire room was in an uproar, everyone chilled to the bone. They all knew, although Kwame Liu said it was a review, it was just a formality. The Yue family was finished! The Luo family, too! This was the biggest case in Jiang Bei in years, and who knew how many would be implicated! The entire Zhonghai Bureau of Supervision will be shaken to its core! After all this, Kwame Liu bowed to Ben Xiao again, "Mr. Xiao, I'll immediately reorganize the Bureau of Supervision. Is this acceptable?" Ben Xiao sipped his wine, "You're still worthy of your military heritage." "You can go. I have private matters to attend to, and it's inconvenient for you to stay." "Understood. I'll return to clean up the Bureau of Supervision. Once done, I'll personally report to you." Relieved, Kwame Liu turned to leave. But upon seeing the hundreds of Lei family mercenaries, he paused and looked back at Ben Xiao, "Mr. Xiao, do you need me to intervene?" Ben Xiao, "No need." Kwame Liu left without another word. Silence! Dead silence! Only the sound of Ben Xiao drinking wine filled the large banquet hall. Everyone looked at Ben Xiao as if he were a monster, not daring to breathe. After a while, Ben Xiao spoke slowly, "Cooper Lei, is the power and influence accumulated by your Lei family over the years in Jiang Bei only this much?" "Why don't you bring out all the Lei family's connections in Zhonghai's political and military spheres... See if you can compete with me." Cooper Lei's face was heavy, unable to refute. In his understanding, the Lei family's top political and military contacts were led by Deputy Director Luo. Now that Luo had fallen... Moreover, with Ben Xiao having Kwame Liu, the third highest-ranking official on his side, how could the Lei family possibly contend? After a long time, Cooper Lei stood up angrily, "Ben Xiao, I admit I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to have such a good relationship with Kwame Liu. Presumably, your earlier annihilation of the King of Jiang Bei and his family was also supported by Liu. However, my Lei family's power in Jiang Bei doesn't just rely on influence. It's backed by a force beyond it." "You're too insignificant, merely a mortal. Soon, you'll understand how terrifying the true trump card of the Lei family is." "I won't argue with you today, but my Lei family isn't finished with you!" Having said this, Cooper Lei stood up and swept out of the room. Having experienced what had just happened, Cooper Lei was somewhat intimidated. He knew the situation was serious and beyond his ability to handle it alone. He needed to immediately return and consult with the Lei family's higher-ups. But still confident in the Lei family's support, he was not afraid of Ben Xiao. Just as he was about to leave the banquet hall, Ben Xiao spoke up coldly. "Did I let you go?!" His voice wasn't loud, but it was full of deterrence. Cooper Lei turned around, waving his hand. Swoosh, swoosh! Hundreds of Lei family's mercenaries stepped forward, their guns aimed squarely at Ben Xiao. With this backing, Cooper Lei became more arrogant, "I want to leave. Can you stop me?!" "Ben Xiao, you only rely on Kwame Liu. Now that Liu isn't here, what will you use to stop me? If you provoke me, do you believe I can order you to be shot on the spot?!" The atmosphere once again became heavy and stagnant. Pearl Mu, frightened by the scene, stepped forward worriedly, "Ben Xiao, let him go..." This time, she lowered her stance in front of Ben Xiao. Ben Xiao gazed at this woman and shook his head, "You are my wife. I can bully you, but others can't!" With that, Ben Xiao stood up and coldly looked at Cooper Lei, "Who told you that I, Ben Xiao, only rely on Kwame Liu?" "Shoot me? Haha... Jacob!!!" As his words fell, Jacob suddenly turned into a blur. Jacob lunged forward like a tiger descending the mountain, attacking the hundred mercenaries. Almost simultaneously, some of the mercenaries opened fire. Bang, bang, bang! But the gunfire lasted only a moment. All hundred mercenaries lay in a pool of blood. None survived! Jacob, like a demon god, holding a long knife, walked over the bodies to stand beside Ben Xiao. Blood still dripping from the knife. The crowd had never seen such a brutal scene. Everyone was chilled to the bone! Paul Mu, Oliver Mu, and Odelette Mu were shaking with fear. Cooper Lei's eyes bulged, his legs trembling, his clothes soaked through. A single person, in just a breath's time, had slain a hundred armed mercenaries. Was this even human? Ben Xiao, hands behind his back, coldly looked at Cooper Lei, "You said earlier, killing me is like slaughtering a dog? And after killing me, you have a thousand ways to torment my wife?" "My woman, do you dare to touch her?!" With that, Ben Xiao took the long knife from Jacob's hand and slowly placed it on Cooper Lei's right shoulder. Cooper Lei panicked and shouted, "Ben Xiao, I am Roger Lei's only son. My father is a great master in the realm of transformation, and my Lei family has a martial arts master. If you dare to harm a single hair on me, my father will tear you to pieces!" Ben Xiao suddenly smiled, "Since you still think your Lei family can suppress me, let's see." The knife rose and fell. Accompanied by Cooper Lei's wretched screams, his right arm was severed. "Ahh, Ben Xiao, you're so cruel. My Lei family will never let you go!!!" Cooper Lei writhed in pain on the floor. Ben Xiao, without a second glance, carefully wiped his hands with a napkin, "Jacob, take this arm to Roger Lei. Tell him, in three days, I, Ben Xiao, will visit." Jacob nodded and pointed at Cooper Lei, "What about him?" Ben Xiao, "Capture him. In three days, take him to the Lei family. In exchange for my aunt." "Yes!" Jacob, holding the severed arm and dragging the screaming Cooper Lei, left the room. Randy Chen followed. The entire banquet hall was silent. The Mu family, including Paul Mu, Mermaid Su, Pearl Mu, and Angus Mu, were all trembling with fear. Their eyes, full of horror, were fixed on Ben Xiao. Swoosh! Ben Xiao turned his head, looked at Paul Mu, and cracked a smile, "Now that Cooper Lei's matter is settled, it's your turn." ----------