Chapter 119: Codename Ratcatcher

Ye Dong could tell that the two men before him not only had no fondness for him, but seemed to harbor an inexplicable hostility toward him.

“They’re actually hostile toward me? I can’t back down now.”

The corner of Ye Dong’s mouth curled upward as he smiled. “That’s right. I am He Wentian.”

“I heard you want to be Huiyan’s boyfriend?” Kaixuan’s gaze sharpened as he stared straight at Ye Dong.

“Oh? So he’s a rival in love?”

Seeing that both Tianxia and Kaixuan were unfriendly in both tone and manner, Ye Dong had already more or less figured things out. He wagged a finger and said coldly, “It’s not that I want to be her boyfriend. I already am.”

“You!”

Hearing Ye Dong’s provocative words, Kaixuan stepped forward and demanded menacingly, “Say that again!”

“I can say it ten more times if you like!”

Ye Dong chuckled, his voice brimming with provocation. “Listen carefully. I said, ‘I am already Huiyan’s boyfriend!’”

“Do you know that Huiyan is the woman our Second Senior Brother, Yuan Guosong, loves?”

Kaixuan was visibly agitated. When he spoke the name Yuan Guosong, the corners of his mouth rose involuntarily, and his expression revealed both pride and admiration. Clearly, Yuan Guosong held a very lofty place in his heart.

“I don’t know. He may be very powerful, but I really have no idea,” Ye Dong said, rubbing his chin with a smile. “My friend, all I know is that I am the man Huiyan loves.”

“You’re pretty arrogant!”

Kaixuan’s eyes blazed with fury. Slowly extending his palm toward Ye Dong, he said provocatively, “I’d like to see what gives you the right to be so arrogant!”

Smack!

Ye Dong did not yield an inch. He seized Kaixuan’s massive hand and grinned. “Then you’d better take a good look!”

The two men inhaled sharply and exerted their strength at the same time.

Their tightly clasped hands began to crackle loudly. Clearly, each of them intended to give the other a sharp warning.

“I never imagined this kid would have such a powerful grip!”

Kaixuan was inwardly astonished. “My Eagle Claw technique gives me one of the five strongest grips in the Fivefold Gate, yet I still can’t subdue him?”

“Damn, it hurts!”

Although Ye Dong’s expression remained unchanged as he stubbornly held on, he was cursing bitterly inside. “If I didn’t have my superhuman body helping me, this hand of mine would probably be crippled already!”

“Looks like you do have some ability after all!”

Kaixuan exerted himself with all his might, trying to force Ye Dong into surrender.

“Not bad, I suppose. I’m actually ranked last in our sect. Every now and then, I sweep the floors, and I’ve only practiced a few crude tricks,” Ye Dong said through clenched teeth, still grinning. “I wouldn’t claim they’re good for bullying people, but they’re fairly useful for staying alive.”

Ye Dong’s words were so sarcastic and cutting that Kaixuan grew even angrier.

“Damn it, why is this man always spouting such irritating nonsense? I’ll teach him a lesson!”

“Let go.”

Suddenly, a man’s voice came from behind the two men, who were still locked in fierce combat.

Everyone turned around and saw Zilong staring coldly at Kaixuan, a faint killing intent in his eyes.

“Senior Brother Zilong.”

Ye Dong was delighted. “Reinforcements have arrived!”

“Kaixuan, let go first.”

Tianxia cupped his hands toward Zilong and said, “I never expected every one of Brother Zilong’s junior brothers to be such formidable warriors. The Orthodox Unity Sect truly conceals dragons and crouching tigers. My respects.”

Seeing Zilong arrive and hearing Tianxia order him to release Ye Dong, Kaixuan had no choice but to snort and let go.

Only after the enormous force gripping Ye Dong’s hand disappeared did Kaixuan secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

“I nearly had to burn him with the True Fire of the Three Flavors. Damn, that hurt!”

Seeing that Tianxia was treating him with courtesy, Zilong lightly cupped his hands. “This hospital is no place for sparring. We will certainly pay you a visit another day.”

Tianxia and Kaixuan exchanged a smile before cupping their hands toward Zilong as well.

“Then we shall await Brother Zilong’s esteemed arrival.”

“Then I shall take my leave first.”

Zilong smiled and reminded Ye Dong, “Junior Brother, do not let trivial matters interfere with important business.”

Before he had even finished speaking, he turned and walked away.

Watching Zilong’s retreating figure, which seemed to embody the spirit of a man who had achieved greatness without seeking recognition, Ye Dong was filled with admiration.

“It seems Senior Brother Zilong has truly inherited Master’s teachings. That swaggering back is damn convincing!”

“Consider yourself lucky this time, but you won’t have so many benefactors next time.”

Kaixuan snorted. “Why don’t you come to the Fivefold Gate sometime for tea and a chat?”

“No problem. But I have to sweep the floors first!”

Ye Dong did not give him an inch, answering with the same cheeky grin.

“Let’s go.”

Wang Xiongfei strode away without even greeting Ye Dong, taking Tianxia and Kaixuan with him.

“Wang Xiongfei doesn’t seem to like me very much.”

Ye Dong smacked his lips. “That won’t do. My future father-in-law doesn’t approve of me.”

“Dong, what happened between you just now?” Huiyan asked.

“Nothing. I only exchanged a few words with your senior brothers.”

Ye Dong smiled faintly, then asked, “Huiyan, is that Second Senior Brother of theirs, Yuan Guosong, really powerful?”

“Second Senior Brother?”

Huiyan was startled, then gave a wry smile. “Why are you asking about him?”

Seeing her reaction, Ye Dong smiled bitterly. “Tianxia and Kaixuan said I stole Yuan Guosong’s beloved woman.”

“Sigh. I grew up playing with Second Senior Brother. I’ve always regarded him as an elder brother, but he… he developed feelings for me.”

Huiyan let out a bitter laugh and glanced at Ye Dong. Seeing the helplessness in his expression, she seemed to feel somewhat uncomfortable herself, but she answered his question nevertheless.

“Second Senior Brother is upright and courageous, and he comes from a prominent family. In the Fivefold Gate, his martial skills and spiritual power are surpassed only by my father’s and Big Senior Brother’s. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he is a master of both strategy and warfare.”

“I see. Then he really is very strong.”

Ye Dong gently cradled Huiyan’s injured hand. “He has accompanied you from childhood until now. Then I’ll accompany you for the rest of your life.”

Hearing him suddenly speak so sweetly, Huiyan’s cheeks flushed. Lowering her head, she giggled softly.

“Do you always sweet-talk girls like this?”

“No, no. The Idiot taught me. He said that when you’re with the person you love, you should express your feelings openly instead of hiding them.”

Ye Dong stroked Huiyan’s dark hair and smiled. “Do you like hearing it?”

Huiyan pressed her lips together in a smile.

“Mmm.”

Seeing her shy and breathtakingly charming expression, Ye Dong could not help swallowing. His thoughts began to wander once again.

Knock, knock!

At that very moment, someone knocked on the door.

“Brother Tian, it’s time for the meeting.”

Hearing Little Wang’s voice, the two exchanged helpless smiles. After tidying themselves up, they went out together.

Because of the unusual nature of the case, the injured Nianxue and Huiyan had both temporarily returned to the safe house to recuperate.

“Tonight will be the final step of the plan: capturing Huang Wuchang. The operation’s code name is ‘Mouse Trap’!”

Officer Li pointed to the materials in his hands and continued, “According to Master Chen’s analysis, the Eternal Life Tomb has other entrances besides the ancient well—the rest of which are unknown to us.”

“If Ye Dong follows Huang Wuchang and the others in there alone, won’t he be a lamb walking into a wolf’s den?”

Nianxue became agitated, and the wound in her lower abdomen began to ache again.

“That’s right. Ye Dong has a vital responsibility this time. Nothing can be allowed to go wrong.”

Officer Li looked firmly at Ye Dong. “Once the time comes, we will coordinate from within and without and wipe them all out in one operation.”

“This is the most advanced long-distance positioning system recently developed by the Technology Department. It will be implanted in Ye Dong when the time comes.”

Officer Li held up something about the size of a small pill.

“For safety’s sake, this device contains no additional functions. It is nothing more than a simple tracker.”

“The simpler something is, the more complicated it can be. The more functions a device has, the more flaws it is likely to contain.”

Ye Dong naturally understood the principle. “What Officer Li means is that I should find a way to make contact with our support team.”

Although that was what Officer Li had said, everyone already knew that the purpose of the plan devised by Officer Li and Chen Yao was not merely to capture a criminal. They also wanted to discover Huang Wuchang’s true purpose in entering the Eternal Life Tomb.

If they knew nothing about his motives, then even if they captured Huang Wuchang, there would surely be a second—or third—Huang Wuchang with ulterior motives continuing to harm people.

“They must have found suitable bait by now, right?”

Ye Dong pressed his lips together thoughtfully. “People of extreme yin energy are the ideal bait. If we can rescue them, that would at least make our efforts worthwhile.”

“That’s right. Saving one is better than saving none.”

Officer Li nodded. “These people used as bait are not like grave robbers, who deserve whatever punishment they receive. The bait is entirely innocent, so we must do everything we can to rescue them.”

Chen Yao added, “Your grand martial uncle will also come and lend us his aid.”

The moment he said this, everyone’s eyes lit up.

“Grand Martial Uncle is coming personally?”

“Damn, that greatly increases our chances of winning!”

Officer Li then gave a cold laugh. “Daoist Weizi will also take part in the battle. With both Elder Chen and Daoist Weizi joining forces this time, I’d like to see how Huang Wuchang plans to escape.”