Chapter Four: I Am Someone You Cannot Afford to Offend (Please add to your favorites and vote for recommendations)

Everyone stepped onto the plush red carpet, entering the Azure Sea and Cloud Hall to the sweet voices of two rows of welcoming beauties.

The private room was reserved at the top floor, the Number One Sky Room.

In a sense, tonight’s gathering was initiated by Yuan Tiangang. Although he was more than five years older than the rest, they had all known each other for a long time due to family backgrounds.

They filed in one after another. Jiang Yu was just about to sit down when Sun Wanyue shoved him aside.

“Jiang Yu, don’t sit next to me. You make me sick.”

The word “caustic” found its fullest expression in Sun Wanyue. The others watched with amused smiles and no one intervened.

Jiang Yu moved to another seat, but just as he was about to sit, a pretty girl blocked him. “Sorry, this seat’s taken.”

Embarrassed before everyone, Jiang Yu frowned slightly and found a secluded corner to sit in.

At that moment, a discordant voice sounded: “Anyone able to enter this room has a net worth in the tens of millions at least. Our parents, here in Cloud City, are either in business or politics. In a way, this gathering serves to expand our networks. On a more personal note, within the context of similar status, we meet under the guise of friendship.”

The voice continued, “I don’t understand why Jiang Yu is here. Though he’s a scion of the Jiang family, everyone knows his branch was cast out long ago. His parents were sent to some backwater to run a little shop, and without the family’s support, Jiang Yu will live a mediocre life at best—he may even struggle to feed himself.”

“His presence is meaningless to us.”

With those words, everyone’s attention turned to Jiang Yu.

Jiang Ziyue parted her lips, wishing to defend him, but found herself at a loss for words.

Instead, Zhang Shaoqi, looking smug, waved a hand. “He’s already here. I’m not about to throw him out and have Grandpa hear about it later. No matter what, he’s still Grandpa’s grandson.”

After that, the crowd sang and drank, the atmosphere light and joyful.

Jiang Yu sat alone in the corner, neither drinking nor singing, entirely out of place.

A question from Jiang Ziyue drew everyone’s attention, and they pricked up their ears.

“Brother Tiangang, is it true a general has come to Cloud City? How come none of us have heard?”

Everyone nodded. Indeed, if a general had arrived in Cloud City, how could there be no rumors?

If it hadn’t come from Yuan Tiangang, they would have dismissed it out of hand.

Yuan Tiangang nodded. “It’s absolutely true. General Liu Ban’nan brought me here on personal business. He seems to be meeting with a very important person, and I’ve received confidential information...”

At this point, Yuan Tiangang’s expression turned serious. “It’s not just General Liu Ban’nan. Gu Feifei, Ma Tianzong, Li Hao, and several other big names have all gone with him. As for their purpose, I don’t know.”

A sharp intake of breath swept the room.

What kind of person could warrant a general’s audience?

And Ma Tianzong, the wealthiest man in Jiangbei; Li Hao, Cloud City’s underground emperor; Gu Feifei, once the most celebrated actress in China.

Finally, Yuan Tiangang dropped another bombshell: “As of now, they’re still at Duanyun Cliff in the scenic area. The whole place has been locked down. It seems they’re searching for a corpse—they’re nearly frantic. General Liu Ban’nan told me that if they can’t find it, he might consider deploying military forces for the search.”

Everyone stared in disbelief, finding the story fantastical.

Yuan Tiangang watched the shock on their faces, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Clenching his fist, he thought, “No matter how powerful your backgrounds, to me you’re all just ordinary people. What you understand of this world is merely the tip of the iceberg.”

Since witnessing the captain of the Dragon Soar Squad lift a military Humvee barehanded, Yuan Tiangang’s understanding of the world had been completely upended.

Jiang Ziyue, curious as a child, rested her slender hand on her chin and asked, “Whose corpse are they searching for?”

Yuan Tiangang shook his head. “I’m not high enough in rank to inquire about such matters.”

The chatter and laughter resumed.

Zheng Xuan’s rendition of the Cantonese classic “Loving You” electrified the room. She and Zhang Shaoqi, male and female, sang a soulful duet, their eyes brimming with affection.

When the song finished, Zheng Xuan stood and shot Jiang Yu a glance.

He rose and followed her out.

At the door, Zheng Xuan turned to Jiang Yu. “My parents feel they owe yours. They asked me to slip you this bank card when I could. I checked: there’s a million inside. If you live frugally, it’s enough to ensure a lifetime without worry.”

She produced an Agricultural Bank card from her purse.

Jiang Yu kept his hands in his pockets, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. “I’ve told you before, you don’t owe me anything. In fact, if you really married me, I’d meet any condition you set. Turning Zheng family of Golden City into the next Li Hao would be effortless.”

Zheng Xuan laughed and shook her head, her gaze tinged with sadness.

“Jiang Yu, when did you become so fond of empty boasts? Li Hao of Golden City? Do you know the weight of that name? Why do you speak of it so lightly? Or is it that talk is cheap and has no consequences?”

Her beautiful eyes were full of disappointment. “Don’t you see? That only makes me dislike you more. By contrast, Zhang Shaoqi is my ideal match. The Zheng family will rise with his achievements.”

“Oh, and by the way, Shaoqi told me he gave up his guaranteed place at Peking University. After graduation, he’ll enter the army for training. Our families have arranged it; at minimum, he’ll be a major, perhaps more.”

Jiang Yu was silent.

Zheng Xuan continued, “And you? If I married you, I’d only suffer alongside you, living a mediocre life. Everyone has the right to pursue happiness. Why must people call me mercenary for choosing otherwise? Must I marry a useless man like you to be considered a good woman?”

Her emotions ran high as she finished.

Jiang Yu smiled and pushed Zheng Xuan’s hand back. “No need for compensation. I promise you, when you marry, I’ll send you a great gift.”

She shook her head and smiled, not taking his words to heart.

If someone of Yuan Tiangang’s caliber had said them, she might have harbored some hope.

Now, Zheng Xuan couldn’t help but feel grateful for her earlier decision.

“Jiang Yu, take care of yourself.”

She turned and reentered the room, leaving only a faint, lingering fragrance where she’d stood.

There was no denying it: in looks and figure, she was truly exceptional.

Jiang Yu didn’t return either. He disliked the atmosphere inside. Bored, with a cigarette between his lips, he wandered the Azure Sea and Cloud halls.

He recalled that when Li Hao had first built this place, he’d wanted Jiang Yu to run it. But at the time, Jiang Yu only wanted to transcend the mundane and hadn’t even considered it.

Now, seeing the familiar place again, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion.

Those disciples of his probably thought he was long dead and gone.

I wished to ascend to the heavens, to ride the wind and return—but the world would not allow me!

Jiang Yu’s eyes grew wistful, and he shook his head.

A few minutes later, an urgent shout came from behind: “Call Grandpa at once. Tell him to come and save her!”

Turning, he saw Zhang Shaoqi running toward him, panic written across his face.

Zheng Xuan, Sun Wanyue, Yuan Tiangang, and the others followed, confusion in their expressions.

Jiang Yu grabbed a girl by the arm and frowned. “What happened?”

She blurted out, “When Jiang Ziyue went out just now, it seems she offended someone important and was forcibly taken away. It’s in the Imperial Suite. We’ll wait outside. If we’re not out in half an hour, call the police.”

Jiang Yu, unfazed, went with the others toward the Imperial Suite.

Pushing the door open, they entered a room thick with smoke, the coffee table crowded with expensive bottles. The silence was intense; three middle-aged men sat on the couches.

Jiang Ziyue, lips pressed tight, stood stubbornly before them.

Around them were seven or eight burly men, all in matching attire.

“Gentlemen, I am Yuan Tiangang. May I ask what Ziyue has done to offend you?”

Only Yuan Tiangang dared to speak. The others, pampered and sheltered all their lives, had gone pale with fear at the sight.

“Wolf Head?”

When Yuan Tiangang recognized one of the men, his pupils contracted in shock.

Wolf Head—Li Hao’s right hand, manager of Azure Sea and Cloud. A former special forces soldier, master of lethal techniques and MMA, who once, carrying cleavers in both hands, fought his way through over a hundred men to rescue Li Hao.

Over the years, he had served Li Hao faithfully, earning countless merits. In Cloud City, he was a man second only to the very top.

It’s over. How did we get mixed up with him?

Zhang Shaoqi’s legs buckled; he nearly collapsed.

“Yuan Tiangang? The Yuan family’s little stud. Didn’t expect a few years in the army would make a man of you,” Wolf Head mocked.

Yuan Tiangang fell silent, knowing that before Wolf Head, family backgrounds meant nothing for any of them.

Their only hope was that Jiang Ziyue’s offense wasn’t too great, that Wolf Head would vent his anger and let them go.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, no one daring to speak.

Jiang Yu shook his head and spoke softly, “Let Ziyue go. They’re just kids—no need to make things difficult.”

Hearing Jiang Yu’s words, everyone’s faces changed. Zhang Shaoqi shouted, “Jiang Yu, shut up!”

Wolf Head smiled faintly and pointed at Jiang Yu. “Who are you to speak to me as an equal?”

Jiang Yu met his gaze. “I am someone you can’t afford to cross.”