Suddenly, Chu Lingtian's eyes snapped open, and he sat up. Bai Mei, asleep in his arms, didn't react. She was utterly exhausted from Chu Lingtian's attentions, her fair skin still trembling slightly even in sleep. Chu Lingtian gently moved the naked Bai Mei off him, then quickly dressed and went downstairs.
In the main hall, he saw his two trusted female bodyguards sleeping on the sofas, completely unaware of the commotion outside. He picked up a pistol from beside one of them, attached a silencer, and walked towards the main door. The entire villa was now surrounded by nearly a hundred elite bodyguards from the four major families. They had discovered that the bald, muscular man and his four associates had come to this villa looking for Bai Mei before disappearing.
"Brother, should we just break in and capture that slut Bai Mei?" a young man anxiously asked a middle-aged man beside him.
The middle-aged man frowned and asked, "Are the surroundings of this villa strictly controlled?"
"Brother, don't worry. I've sent my men to control the entire villa complex. Not even a fly can get in or out without our permission," the young man replied confidently.
The middle-aged man and the young man were brothers; the elder was Hua Wen, and the younger was Hua Wu. Hua Wen and Hua Wu were leading the joint force of hundreds of armed elites from the four major families.
"You take your men and charge in. Remember, capture them alive first. If Bai Mei and her people resist to the death, then kill them!" Hua Wen ordered his brother.
"Yes!" Hua Wu replied excitedly.
*Clang!* The villa door was opened. Chu Lingtian walked out, a freshly lit cigarette in his mouth and a silenced pistol in his right hand.
*Rumble!* Dozens of gun barrels were immediately aimed at Chu Lingtian's head.
"Who are you?" Hua Wen asked, staring coldly at Chu Lingtian.
Chu Lingtian retorted, "And who are you?"
"Hmph, we are from the four major families. Tell your boss Bai Mei to come out and see us immediately!" Hua Wu snorted, shouting arrogantly at Chu Lingtian.
Chu Lingtian smiled and replied, "Bai Mei is sleeping in her bedroom. She's too tired today. Tell me what you need."
"Talk to you? What do you think you are? You're just Bai Mei's subordinate and not worthy of speaking to us brothers!" Hua Wu scoffed, cursing Chu Lingtian.
*Puff!* Chu Lingtian, a man of few words and swift action, shot Hua Wu in the head. Hua Wu collapsed instantly, blood and brains splattering from the gunshot wound. His face contorted in agony, his eyes wide with terror. He likely never dreamed he would die so easily, and so tragically.
"Brother..." Hua Wen cried out, seeing his brother's body twitch a few times before falling still.
Everyone was stunned. Faced with dozens of guns pointed at his head, Chu Lingtian had actually dared to fire first. It was an act completely beyond normal comprehension. By the time everyone recovered from their shock, Chu Lingtian had already placed the gun against Hua Wen's forehead.
"You... who exactly are you?" Hua Wen's face showed fear, his voice trembling as he asked Chu Lingtian.
Chu Lingtian asked, "Do you want to die, or do you want to live?"
"What happens if I want to die? What happens if I want to live?" Hua Wen asked, forcing himself to control his fear of death.
"If you want to die, it's simple. I'll blow your head off, and you can reunite with your brother immediately. If you want to live, you have to do as I say," Chu Lingtian said.
"You're very skilled. My brother has practiced martial arts since he was young, but facing your surprise attack, he didn't even have time to react. Your combat ability is terrifying. You're also incredibly brave, being held at gunpoint by dozens of people and not showing any fear, even daring to shoot first. But, don't forget, no matter how capable you are, you're only one person. We have over a hundred armed elite bodyguards..." Hua Wen's attempt to threaten Chu Lingtian was cut short by an angry shout.
"Who says he's alone?" Bai Mei's voice echoed from inside the villa. She then emerged, wearing a bathrobe and holding a gun, accompanied by her two personal bodyguards.
*Crack-crack-crack!* Suddenly, a large group of people, numbering three to four hundred, rushed from all directions of the villa complex, all armed. They surrounded the nearly one hundred bodyguards from the four major families. These were members of the Red Flower Society, Bai Mei's subordinates. After the incident with the bald, muscular man and his group, Bai Mei had sensed trouble. She had ordered her trusted female bodyguards to summon the armed members of the Red Flower Society for guard duty, and they were now proving useful.
"Bai Mei, what is the meaning of this? Are you really trying to oppose the four major families?" Hua Wen asked furiously, glaring at Bai Mei.
Bai Mei replied, "Oppose? I don't have that intention. My Red Flower Society and the four major families have always minded our own business. It was you who disturbed me repeatedly tonight, trying to cause trouble first. I am merely retaliating."
"Since you don't want to oppose the four major families, why don't you order your subordinate to lower his gun?" Hua Wen said, looking at Chu Lingtian.
Bai Mei walked forward, nestled into Chu Lingtian's embrace, and said with a sweet smile, "You're mistaken. I'm not his boss; he is my man."
"Your man?" Hua Wen was shocked. Bai Mei was a notorious beauty and boss in the underworld of Da Chang City. Many influential figures in both the legal and illegal worlds had desired her, finding her fiery personality irresistible. But Bai Mei had rejected them all, even resisting with her life. The sight of the ruthless female boss acting so demurely with Chu Lingtian was hard for Hua Wen to believe.
"Yes, he is my man! You all can scram. I, Bai Mei, and the Red Flower Society will absolutely not work for the four major families," Bai Mei said, her expression happy and proud.
Chu Lingtian thought for a moment and lowered the gun from Hua Wen's forehead. Hua Wen clenched his fists tightly, but there was nothing he could do. His side was now at a disadvantage. A direct confrontation would result in heavy losses, so he could only lead the elite gun team of the four major families and his brother's corpse away from the villa.
"Ling Tian, this is bad! The four major families must know that we killed the bald, muscular man and his group. We'll face annihilation next," Bai Mei said to Chu Lingtian, her expression filled with worry.
A sinister smile played on Chu Lingtian's lips. "You go back to sleep first."
"Where are you going?" Bai Mei asked urgently as she watched Chu Lingtian's retreating back.