Jiang Mengxin hit him on the head as soon as Lu Ming finished speaking, scolding, "What are you meddling for? You're just a grave keeper, struggling to save yourself, how can you help others?"
Xiao Wenrong also said, "Indeed, the mastermind behind that debt collection company is no simple figure. It's Xia Yunyan, who has connections in both the underworld and the legitimate world. This man is ruthless and cunning. Countless big names have fallen at his hands, and many have been ruined! Lu Ming, I advise you to think carefully before you get yourself into trouble."
They expected that hearing the name 'Xia Yunyan' would scare Lu Ming into not acting recklessly. To their surprise, Lu Ming became even more energized.
He said, "So, this Xia Yunyan has committed many evils and deserves to die? Then I don't need to be polite to him."
Jiang Mengxin almost choked.
She exclaimed in anger, "Lu Ming, that's enough! What do you mean you don't need to be polite? Do you know how powerful Xia Yunyan is? He can wipe you out with a single breath!"
This… made Lu Ming sound like a candle, easily blown out.
Lu Ming waved his hand, "I have my plans. You don't need to worry about the rest; I'll handle it myself."
With that said.
He first arranged a room for Wen Yinghui to rest, then, under the cover of the vast night, he left the Xiao family, intending, in his own words, to settle the score with Xia Yunyan!
Everyone in the room was stunned.
He truly was fearless of death!
Jiang Mengxin said with annoyance, "This scatterbrained idiot. Let him go, let him die out there!"
After Lu Ming left, he went to a small bar where Long Wang had been waiting for him for a long time.
The two met.
Long Wang handed Lu Ming a cocktail and said, "I've investigated. This Xia Yunyan is indeed no simple person. His mahjong parlors are spread throughout the entire city, and he also owns a massive debt collection company. He has people in both the underworld and the legitimate world, with deep roots. It will take considerable effort to deal with him."
Long Wang looked at Lu Ming and continued, "Warlord, are you planning to act now? Should we storm Xia Yunyan's house and take him down!"
Lu Ming waved his hand.
He analyzed, "Xia Yunyan could have come for me directly, but he didn't. Instead, he chose to abduct Chang Yuyang to force me out. Why?"
Long Wang pondered, "Simple, it's a trap to lure out reinforcements. This way, he's in the dark and we're in the open, allowing him to ambush us effectively."
"Mm."
Lu Ming nodded, "So if we know his plan, why deliberately fall into his trap?"
Long Wang asked, "Then how do you plan to proceed, Warlord?"
Lu Ming thought for a moment and uttered four words: "Scare the snake by beating the grass!"
...
Xu Hui, Mahjong Parlor.
Xia Yunyan was playing mahjong with Murong Ba and others when a subordinate walked in to report.
"Boss Xia, everything has been handled as you instructed. Chang Yuyang has been locked up, and Wen Yinghui has been notified to inform Lu Ming to rescue him. The ambush is set, and we're just waiting for Lu Ming to take the bait! Once he dares to come, we'll make sure he has nowhere to be buried!"
Xia Yunyan nodded with satisfaction, "Mm, well done."
Despite Xia Yunyan's strong capabilities, he still preferred to employ such schemes and tricks. Being stronger and smarter than others, most people couldn't withstand it.
Even Murong Ba was astounded.
Murong Ba said, "Boss Xia's methods are truly formidable. With this, Lu Ming won't be able to escape even if he had wings."
Xia Yunyan smiled without replying.
As everyone in the room was smugly confident they had Lu Ming cornered, an unforeseen event occurred that no one expected.
Suddenly, the sound of urgent police sirens filled the air.
Before anyone could react, a group of police officers rushed in, shouting, "Everyone, hands behind your heads and stand against the wall!"
What's going on?
Why are the police here?
Xia Yunyan had connections in the legitimate world, and any disturbance would be reported to him immediately.
Yet, with the police here, he hadn't received any news.
This didn't make sense!
Xia Yunyan walked towards the police and asked, "Officers, what's happening?"
The police sternly shouted, "Stand against the wall!"
He wasn't even allowed to ask another question!
With his cunning, Xia Yunyan had already sensed something was wrong.
He and Murong Ba and the others obediently stood against the wall, undergoing questioning by the police one by one. Only after being cleared did they regain their freedom.
According to the police, someone had reported the mahjong parlor for suspected large-scale gambling, which was why the police had arrived so quickly.
And indeed, large-scale gambling was discovered!
Because Xia Yunyan's establishment was considered 'safe,' many wealthy individuals frequented it to gamble. However, they never imagined that even Xia Yunyan couldn't protect them.
All these people were arrested, and Xia Yunyan's mahjong parlor was ordered to cease operations for rectification.
This closure would last for at least three months!
Standing at the entrance, Xia Yunyan's face was pale, and his body trembled with rage.
He didn't know which scoundrel had reported them, nor did he understand why the police hadn't contacted him beforehand. Where were his connections?
Murong Ba chuckled, with a hint of sarcasm, "I thought playing cards at Boss Xia's place was foolproof. But I never expected it to be so unreliable. Alas..."
With a wave of his hand, Murong Ba got into his car and left.
These words only fueled Xia Yunyan's anger further!
He quietly walked aside, took out his phone, and called his contact in the legitimate world. His first words were, "Director Zhao, what's going on? Why did they come so suddenly? Didn't they notify anyone?"
Xia Yunyan expected a reasonable answer.
But to his utter shock...
The reply from the other end of the phone left him completely dumbfounded!
"Notify what?"
"Who are you? Do I know you?"
"We operate according to regulations and never do anything illegal!"
"Don't call me again in the future. I'm going to block you."
"Do you understand?"
Beep, beep, beep... The call ended.
Xia Yunyan was utterly stunned. He couldn't have imagined that his trusted connections in the legitimate world would be so unreliable, severing ties at a moment's notice!
From the other party's words, it was clear that they were under immense pressure and dared not have any further contact with Xia Yunyan.
Pressure?
Who could it be?
Xia Yunyan sifted through all his 'enemies' but couldn't find anyone with such immense power.
Who could it be?
Who could sever his connections in the legitimate world without him even realizing it?
As he was pondering, several subordinates rushed over, informing Xia Yunyan of even more dire news.
"Boss Xia, three of our mahjong parlors in Jinshan have just been sealed!"
"The four establishments in Pudong are also gone!"
"The shops in Minhang are finished too!"
"..."