Chapter 43: Li Yan Arrested

The purchase of the house was finalized quickly. Twenty thousand was paid in cash, with the remaining twenty thousand to be settled after the title transfer.

The two moved into their new home overnight. They had planned to handle the title transfer the next day, but the owner suddenly threw a wrench in the works, claiming he had lost the property deed and needed to apply for a replacement, asking them to wait two days.

They initially suspected he was playing games, but after observing him, they realized it wasn't the case. His ex-wife had stolen the deed, demanding that he transfer the property to their child and forbidding him from selling it.

The owner ignored her entirely. It was his own property, purchased in full before the marriage, so he would sell it if he pleased; if the document was missing, he would simply get a replacement. Cao Yang and Li Yan had no interest in his domestic drama; they only wanted to urge him to expedite the process.

...

One day, Li Yan returned to the small shop to pick up some items. No sooner had she opened the door than a group of people surrounded her.

The leader flashed his badge. "We are from the Qinghe Village Police Station. You are suspected of operating a gambling den. Come with us to assist in the investigation."

As soon as he spoke, the others handcuffed Li Yan and hauled her into a police cruiser. Their two slot machines were also seized as evidence.

Cao Yang was completely unaware of this. When he returned home that evening and found Li Yan missing, he gave her a call.

A man answered the phone, informing Cao Yang that Li Yan had been arrested for operating a gambling den. He then asked what their relationship was, adding that if Cao Yang was an accomplice, he should turn himself in immediately.

Cao Yang hung up, his face ashen.

There were so many places with slot machines, yet they chose to target Li Yan—and she hadn't even been operating hers lately.

Cao Yang went to the Qinghe Police Station that night, hoping to bail Li Yan out, but the authorities showed no mercy, insisting they would prosecute her to the full extent of the law.

Cao Yang offered money, but even when he pushed the offer to one hundred thousand, they wouldn't even entertain the idea.

He pulled aside a passing officer and forcibly stuffed two thousand yuan into his pocket to fish for information.

The officer looked left and right, and upon confirming no one was watching, whispered, "Kid, this is a tough one. The station chief has personally ordered a strict crackdown. This girl is likely looking at two years inside. You’d better go find a lawyer."

After hearing this, Cao Yang's expression turned grim.

Was operating slot machines illegal? Certainly. There was no denying that.

But with so many machines in the city, why arrest only Li Yan? Furthermore, the police usually handled slot machines by simply smashing the equipment and issuing a fine. Rarely did they make arrests, and even then, it was usually just administrative detention.

An arrest for the crime of "operating a gambling den" was extremely rare. The fact that they wouldn't even take a bribe made it clear: they were targeting Li Yan on purpose.

Li Yan had no enemies; it wasn't about her. At the end of the day, she was being punished because of him.

"Tie Xiong! You son of a bitch!"

A murderous intent flared in Cao Yang’s heart. When he told Li Yan he wanted to kill Tie Xiong, it wasn't a lie—he truly wanted him dead.

He knew Tie Xiong would come for him. To know someone was coming for you and just sit there waiting for their move was an act of extreme stupidity.

Back then, he hadn't made up his mind because he knew that once he killed, there would be no turning back; he would have to walk that dark path to the end.

Sitting outside the Qinghe Police Station, he lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, his mind racing to decide what to do next.

He wasn't overly worried about Li Yan being arrested; she would suffer a bit, but she wouldn't come to any real harm. As for her being sentenced to prison, he didn't believe it for a second.

He knew Tie Xiong was waiting for him to beg. As soon as he agreed to Tie Xiong’s demands, Li Yan would be released immediately.

Tie Xiong simply wanted him to fight in the underground ring to make money for him.

Cao Yang didn't necessarily object to underground fighting; he just didn't want to be used as a tool for someone else’s profit, and he hated being threatened into doing things he didn't want to do.

If Tie Xiong had shown him enough respect from the start and sat down to talk about the split in a civilized manner, Cao Yang might have agreed. But now, even if Tie Xiong wanted to talk, Cao Yang wasn't going to give him the chance.

If you want to be evil, if you want to be ruthless, I will be even worse and more ruthless than you!

Cao Yang made up his mind. If he had to walk a dark path, he would walk it to the very end, and never again give anyone the chance to threaten him!

He took a taxi to the Pearl Nightclub. It was peak business hours; the entrance was packed with cars, and the club was filled with young women in revealing clothes.

Cao Yang met Tie Xiong in the conference room. Tie Xiong wasn't surprised by his arrival, though he feigned astonishment.

"Brother Cao Yang, what brings you here?" Tie Xiong asked with feigned warmth.

"My sister was taken by the police," Cao Yang said coldly.

"Oh? How could such a thing happen? Let me check into it for you."

Tie Xiong put on a show of making phone calls, and Cao Yang watched his performance in silence.

"Brother, this is a tricky situation. I checked with some friends at the precinct. They said there’s a crackdown on slot machines, and your sister just happened to be the unlucky one they chose to make an example of to warn the others."

Cao Yang said nothing, just stared at him.

"Brother, what’s with that look?"

"You don't think I had something to do with this, do you?"

"Even though we didn't end on the best terms last time, I wouldn't resort to such low-life tactics!"

"Cut the crap. Tell me what it takes to get her out," Cao Yang said, done with the show.

"That’s not easy, but it’s not impossible. I have some connections at the station. I can try to pull some strings, but those guys have big appetites. It might cost a bit."

Tie Xiong knew Cao Yang saw through his act, but he kept it up; he didn't want to burn bridges just yet, and appearances still had to be maintained.

Cao Yang sneered, "So, you need money? How much are we talking?"

Tie Xiong held up a hand.

"Fifty thousand?"

"Five hundred thousand!"

Tie Xiong didn't know that Cao Yang had come into a windfall, and he assumed five hundred thousand would stun him into submission.

It did stun Cao Yang. He could get that amount by cancelling the house deal, but he knew this wasn't about the money. It was just a pretext for Tie Xiong to threaten him into fighting. If he actually produced the five hundred thousand, Tie Xiong would just come up with another excuse.

"Brother, I know you don't have that kind of money, but don't worry. I have it. That’s what brothers are for!"

"But my money is the gang's money. I can borrow it for now, but it will have to be paid back eventually."

"You want me to fight to earn it back, don't you?"

"Exactly."

"I'm not trying to take advantage of you. I just think it's a waste to have your skills and not use them to make money."

Cao Yang cursed Tie Xiong internally as a piece of trash. Last time, he offered fifty thousand per fight; now, he didn't want to pay a cent—he wanted free labor.

Tie Xiong smirked inwardly. *I tried to persuade you nicely last time and you wouldn't listen. Now you have to beg me to take you to fight. I spent money to set this whole thing up, and you’re the one who’s going to pay for it.*

"Fine. I agree. But you have to get my sister out first."

"Brother, once she’s out, you aren't going to run away, are you?"

Cao Yang’s quick agreement surprised Tie Xiong, leaving him slightly suspicious.

"I won't," Cao Yang thought to himself. *But before I run, I'm going to kill you.*