Chapter Thirty-One: The Yacht Won for Nothing
A few minutes later, Hou Li, standing atop the yacht and gazing into the distance, spotted a rubber speedboat approaching from the far side of the river’s confluence. The speedboat darted left and right, dodging as if bombs were exploding behind it, sending water erupting in continuous bursts.
As it drew nearer and he focused more closely, Hou Li suddenly felt his legs weaken. He saw a terrifying black shadow trailing the speedboat, attacking it sporadically—the reason for its frantic, serpentine route. From afar, it was impossible to discern the nature of the shadow, but it was certainly monstrous.
Below the yacht, the mercenary known as Jackal suddenly heard Red Fox’s urgent voice crackle through his headset: “Eagle, abandon the equipment and jump ship—now!”
Eagle obeyed without hesitation, ripping off his headset and unnecessary gear, then stood up, took a few running steps, and leapt into the Qiantang River.
A splash rang out. Hou Li turned to look down and saw the mercenary who had been responsible for the equipment already swimming swiftly toward the riverbank.
Now, with the speedboat closing in, the cries, the roar of engines, and the sound of Ao Guang thrashing the water were all audible.
Fear struck Hou Li—he realized this damned band of mercenaries intended to use him as a shield and scapegoat.
He immediately shouted toward the cabin, “Start the yacht! Get away from that speedboat—quickly!”
These bloodthirsty bastards, he vowed, must be reported on the International Mercenary Network.
...
“Damn it, that scheming businessman has spotted us—get moving,” Fang growled, seeing the yacht begin to slowly pull away.
“He won’t make it,” Red Fox, sweating profusely, kept his eyes nervously on both the front and rear. He had been steering from the start, bearing the brunt of the psychological pressure.
...
“It’s too late,” Wu You said with a wry smile, eyes closed.
Ao Guang’s vision far surpassed that of any human; in a clarity akin to daylight, he had already sighted the hastily-started yacht at the confluence of the Qinglong River and Qiantang River.
At this place, at this time—a white luxury yacht stopping here, no one would believe it wasn’t connected to the attackers.
“Ao Guang, don’t let a single one escape.”
...
The rubber speedboat, now close to the yacht, was about to veer around and cut ahead, but before it could complete the maneuver, the dragon that had been following behind suddenly accelerated.
Ao Guang’s tail lashed beneath the river.
With a thunderous roar, waves surged and the entire azure dragon rose from the water. Ao Guang slithered across the surging waves, seemingly weightless, overtaking both the speedboat and the yacht within seconds, sweeping his tail across the surface of the Qiantang River.
The river water on one side surged upwards, instantly raising hundred-meter-long waves several stories high, rolling toward the yacht and speedboat.
Hou Li on the yacht and the Jackal mercenaries on the speedboat stared dumbfounded at the massive wave sweeping in from the river.
The roar of the torrent felt like the end of the world.
Red Fox was the first to react, shouting frantically, “Hold on tight, brace for impact!”
No sooner had he spoken—
...
A thunderous crash. The raging river smashed into the speedboat, then the yacht, sweeping both vessels and everyone in the water back into the Qinglong River, even catching Eagle, who had already jumped in and swum a considerable distance.
At some point, a faint mist began to spread across the river and its banks. Soon, the fog thickened so much that nothing was visible beyond five meters.
Hou Li and his men, along with the nine Jackal mercenaries—eleven in total—were swept onto a sandy riverbank corner in the Qinglong River, with both vessels stranded nearby.
Some were unconscious, others awake; those awake stared in terror at the river. Though the fog obscured everything, they knew—the dragon might be right outside.
Hou Li coughed and retched, expelling river water from his stomach. Just as he tried to stand, a large hand grabbed his collar and hoisted him up.
“How much have you been hiding from us?” Red Fox demanded, veins bulging with fury as he shook Hou Li.
“Do you have any idea what we’re facing? Do you?!”
Hou Li struggled for breath. “Let… go… I don’t know… what you’re talking about…”
He had indeed seen the speedboat being chased by some river monster, but it had nothing to do with him; it was the mercenaries who brought disaster, now trying to shift the blame.
Red Fox, seeing Hou Li’s stubborn denial (or so he imagined), felt an urge to snap his neck. But suddenly, Hou Li stopped struggling and stared wide-eyed, pale, at the river behind Red Fox.
The voices of the other mercenaries abruptly fell silent.
Red Fox’s body stiffened; he released Hou Li, who fell to the sand but kept his eyes fixed on the river.
The sound of water splashing grew louder.
Ao Guang’s massive form parted the mist, striding across the waves and coming into view, his dragon eyes fixed mockingly upon them. Two whiskers danced elegantly around the azure dragon.
“It’s… it’s a dragon…” Hou Li stammered, stunned.
Strangely, his mind didn’t freeze, but instead started racing. Hou Li realized the disasters he’d caused lately were escalating—the people he provoked grew ever more dangerous, and now, his ill-fated luck seemed to be upgrading, reaching beyond the realm of mere humans.
Ao Guang surveyed the others briefly, then focused solely on Hou Li.
Hou Li lamented inwardly, Of course it’s me!
Red Fox and the other Jackal mercenaries saw it clearly. In that instant, anger briefly overcame fear, their fists clenched tightly, minds screaming: It’s him!
...
Wu You had long since recognized the man standing on the yacht—it was the one who’d come for Old Bai.
...
A stream of water reversed course from the river onto the sand, tracing a series of numbers on the ground.
All eleven instinctively looked down.
“150XXXXXXXX,” Hou Li read aloud, staring at the string of numbers beneath his feet.
He pondered its meaning—it felt strange. Wait, could it be a phone number?
In that tense atmosphere, Hou Li fished out his waterproof fruit-brand phone.
At that moment, everyone inexplicably understood the approving look in Ao Guang’s dragon eyes.
Swallowing hard, Hou Li dialed the number.
It rang only once before connecting. Wu You’s clear voice came through.
One sentence dashed all hope.
“Hello, Mr. Hou. Old Bai mentioned you—I believe we met in Shanyin last time. Do you remember?”
“Mr. Wu? Yes, yes, I remember!” Hou Li stammered.
“Well, since you know I’m Mr. Wu, it’s clear tonight’s people were sent by you.”
Cold sweat poured from Hou Li. “Mr. Wu, please let me explain—I wouldn’t dare cross you. I just wanted to ask Old Bai Yanxi—no, no, I mean, ask Dr. Bai for help treating a patient. The patient has a powerful background, and I accidentally offended them. I had no choice!”
He rattled off his explanation at lightning speed.
Wu You scratched his ear. “Enough, enough. I never said I’d do anything to you. If you are to be dealt with, it’ll be up to Old Bai.”
“Yes, yes, the Hou family owes Old Bai so much. If he gives me a chance, I’ll kneel and beg forgiveness!”
Wu You found it all rather dull. The other party was so quick to surrender, not even trying to threaten or posture.
But how to deal with them—kill them?
Ao Guang’s gaze shifted, a thick aura of death enveloping the group.
Don’t get excited, Ao Guang—I’m only considering!
For a moment, everyone on the riverbank felt as if they were teetering on the brink of death, balanced on a single foot, their lives hanging by a thread.
Luckily, the feeling soon receded like a tide, leaving only a sense of exhaustion.
“Mr… Mr. Wu, please… forgive me this time…” Hou Li pleaded, not daring to say another word for fear of offending Wu You.
Wu You suddenly thought of an amusing idea. He smiled, his tone mysterious as he spoke into the phone:
“You are mere mortals. Since this is your first offense, I won’t pursue it today. Take the speedboat and leave.”
Hou Li felt as if he were granted amnesty. “Rest assured, Mr. Wu, I’ll transfer the yacht to your name as soon as I return.”
Wu You smiled faintly—talking to a clever man was always easier.
“About tonight’s events, I trust you know what can and cannot be said, without needing my reminder.”
Hou Li nodded so vigorously it was like pounding garlic. “Yes, yes, understood, understood! We’ll leave immediately, and I’ll personally visit Old Bai to beg forgiveness!”
...
Wu You stretched lazily in bed, having acquired a luxury yacht for free. Hou Li was truly a bringer of fortune.