chsdbacks Chapter 262 Reunion with Wang Ye
Chapter 262 Reunion with Wang Ye
"Tsk." Wang Ye made a soft, ambiguous tsk, seemingly quite displeased at being disturbed from his "peaceful dream." He rubbed his eyes, then yawned widely before speaking lazily in a Beijing accent—a tone thick with nasal resonance, as if he had just woken up, yet exuding an inherent nonchalance:
"Who do we have here... Oh, it's you, Lao Nie. And little Chen Duo." His tone was as casual as if he had bumped into a neighbor in his own backyard. "What are you doing here in this remote mountain forest... oh wait, I mean, in this Zen-inspired teahouse? You're acting like you're meeting with underground agents."
As he spoke, he glanced at the smiling, silent old man beside him and added, "Oh, Mr. Xu, please don't mind. I'm familiar with these two... I used to mooch meals from them and owe them a favor. So, I've been 'conscripted' to pay it off."
Upon hearing this, the elderly man, referred to as Old Master Xu, chuckled, seemingly already accustomed to Wang Ye's mannerisms. He shook his head and said, "Young Master Wang, your mouth is still so sharp. However, since we are old acquaintances, that's even better. I'm afraid my tea-making skills are even less pleasing to your eye."
"Tea is fine as long as it quenches thirst, there's no need to be so particular." Wang Ye waved his hand, picked up his cup of cold tea again, frowned and took a sip, then put it down with disdain. "But the tea here is really not brewed properly. It's bitter when it's cold. It's not as good as the wild tea leaves I just pick from the back of Wudang Mountain."
Nie Lingfeng was already used to Wang Ye's style of finding fault wherever he went, so he automatically filtered out his complaints and cut straight to the point: "What are you doing here? And with Grandpa Xu?" He asked directly because he knew that beating around the bush with Wang Ye was useless; this guy could drive you crazy when he was lazy.
"How did I get here?" Wang Ye yawned again, leaning back to find a more comfortable slumped position. "It's all because of your wife... oh no, it's that Miss Zhao from the 'company,' and that kid Lao Zhang (Zhang Chulan). They kept bombarding me with calls, saying you guys had caused a big commotion in the southwest, stirred up a hornet's nest, and were afraid you'd be ambushed and surrounded. They didn't trust some people in the 'company' here, so they kicked me, this idle guy, here. They called it 'rescue,' but really they just grabbed me to be their bodyguard and cleaner."
He spoke casually, but Nie Lingfeng understood. Chairman Zhao Fangxu and Zhang Chulan were worried about their safety, and not entirely at ease with the personnel of the local "company" in Jinghong (potentially involving internal factions or infiltration risks). Therefore, they asked Wang Ye, a "freelancer" who, although not officially part of the "company," possessed unfathomable strength and was absolutely trustworthy, to come and provide assistance in a private capacity. This was very much in line with Chairman Zhao's cautious style, and it was indeed something that lazy guy like Wang Ye would do—if he wanted to.
"As for Old Master Xu," Wang Ye pointed to the old man opposite him, "he's a truly reliable senior figure here, and also a veteran of the 'company.' He has some connections with my master (Zhou Meng). I came here, so I needed a place to stay and also to find out what was going on, right? That's why I'm staying here with the old man."
Grandpa Xu smiled and shook his head, explaining to Nie Lingfeng, "Although Brother Wang is sharp-tongued, his skills are genuine. With him around, I can rest assured about your safety."
Chen Duo had been listening quietly, but then whispered something to Wang Ye, her emerald eyes looking at him: "Brother Wang Ye, you still love to sleep so much."
Upon hearing this, Wang Ye looked at Chen Duo, a rare gentle smile appearing in his usually half-closed eyes. He reached out and casually ruffled Chen Duo's hair across the table (Chen Duo didn't flinch, but just blinked): "Little Chen Duo seems much more energetic now. Looks like this trip wasn't in vain. But next time, you're not allowed to act recklessly like before, understand? Your brother Nie almost went crazy with worry."
Chen Duo blushed slightly, lowered her head, and whispered an "Mmm".
A simple greeting and explanation of the situation were completed in a few casual words between acquaintances, saving a lot of unnecessary probing and suspicion. Although the atmosphere still retained the tranquility unique to the teahouse, the tension caused by unfamiliarity and potential danger had largely dissipated. With Wang Ye, a reliable and well-known "strong ally," Nie Lingfeng felt the pressure on his shoulders lighten considerably.
However, this relief did not last long.
Although Wang Ye still appeared lazy, his clear eyes, like the most sophisticated scanner, had already taken in the state of the other "guests" at the teahouse. He casually swirled the chilled tea in his hand and said in a languid tone that only the three of them could hear:
"We can catch up later. Right now... a few clueless 'flies' have come looking for us, and they're making a lot of noise."
Nie Lingfeng's eyes narrowed, his senses instantly focusing. Sure enough, inside the teahouse, besides their table and two other tables of genuine tea drinkers, the remaining three tables of what appeared to be tourists were becoming restless and hostile. Their gazes drifted over, intentionally or unintentionally, especially lingering on Chen Duo for noticeably longer, their fingers seemingly clutching something under the table or in their pockets.
Are they from "Viper"? Or some other force?
"See, what did I tell you?" Wang Ye put down his teacup and yawned again, as if he was very impatient with the trouble that was about to come. "There are these clueless people everywhere I go. I can't even have a peaceful cup of tea."
Before he could finish speaking—
"Snap!"
At the entrance of the teahouse, the half-open bamboo door was violently kicked open! The hinges groaned under the strain as they slammed heavily against the wall!
Immediately afterward, five or six burly men, dressed in brightly colored shirts, wearing sunglasses, with buzz cuts or shaved heads, faces full of scars, fierce eyes, and weapons visibly bulging at their waists or under their armpits, surged in like demons! The leader, with a hideous centipede-shaped scar running diagonally from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth, his left eye covered by a black eyepatch, his only remaining right eye gleaming with a cold and cruel light like a venomous snake—this was none other than "Viper," the outlaw leader of northern Myanmar that Yan Wen had mentioned!
As soon as "Viper" entered, his single eye swept across the teahouse like a searchlight, instantly locking onto the window seat where Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo were! Especially when he saw Chen Duo remove her hat and glasses, revealing her true face, his single eye flashed with an undisguised ferocity mixed with greed, cruelty, and a hint of perverse excitement!
"Haha! Sure enough, it's here! Little girl, I've been looking for you for ages!" "Viper" let out a strange laugh like an owl, his voice hoarse and grating. His men behind him also grinned maliciously, their hands reaching for their waists.
The other genuine tea drinkers in the teahouse were terrified by this sudden turn of events, screaming in alarm and hurriedly getting up to try to escape. However, Viper's men had already blocked the doorway, and the dark muzzles of their guns (though covered by clothing, their shapes were clearly visible) were faintly pointed at them, causing the tea drinkers to shrink back in fear and tremble.
"Gentlemen, this is the Zen Tea Garden of Dafosi Temple, a pure Buddhist place. Please..." The teahouse owner (a middle-aged lay Buddhist dressed in a monk's robe) stepped forward tremblingly, trying to dissuade them.
"Get out of the way, you bald monk! Don't get in my way!" "Viper" didn't even look at him, slapped him to the ground, and then led his men to stride toward Nie Lingfeng's teahouse! The heavy footsteps broke the tranquility of the teahouse, bringing with them a strong sense of killing intent and the smell of blood.
Chen Duo's face instantly tightened, her emerald green eyes fixed on the approaching "Viper" and the others. Her small hands once again formed the Phoenix Seal, with golden-red flames faintly flowing at her fingertips. Although she was afraid, she felt more of a beastly anger and fighting instinct, as if her territory had been invaded.
Nie Lingfeng slowly stood up, shielding Chen Duo behind him. His eyes were icy as he looked at "Viper." The fused power within him began to circulate and gather momentum, like a ferocious beast about to awaken. The "Suppressing Mountain" scepter on his chest also trembled slightly, as if disturbed.
Old Master Xu also put down his tea set, stood up with a solemn expression, and although his body appeared old, it exuded a strong aura, clearly indicating that he was ready to take action.
Only Wang Ye remained slumped in his chair, not even fully lifting his eyelids. He merely glanced lazily at the menacing "Viper" and his group with his half-closed, seemingly perpetually sleepy eyes, before letting out a long, helpless sigh.
"Sigh..." The sigh was filled with complaints about how troublesome it was to have to move again.
He looked at Nie Lingfeng and said in his signature lazy, irritating tone, "Old Nie, see? Trouble's coming."
"It's a deal, I came all this way not to be your henchman. Those noisiest 'flies' by the door, and that disgusting 'rotten flesh snake,' are mine. The rest... I don't think there's much left?"
"You guys figure it out yourselves, don't bother me... Hmm, I need to stretch my muscles."
Before the words were finished—
"Bang!!"
A dull, muffled thud, like a heavy object striking rotten leather, suddenly exploded behind "Viper"!
The two Viper henchmen blocking the teahouse entrance were suddenly struck head-on by an invisible locomotive. Without warning, they were sent flying backward at an even faster speed than when they had rushed in! They crashed heavily into the bamboo wall, leaving two dents in the wall! Before they could even scream, they slumped to the ground, blood gushing from their mouths and noses, unconscious!
Wang Ye, who had been slumped in his chair as if too lazy to even move a finger, was now slowly retracting his right foot, which he had just casually kicked out and was wearing ordinary canvas shoes. He even wiped non-existent dust off his trouser leg as if he were disgusted.
He remained slumped in his seat, his posture barely changing, but that kick was faster than the limits of visual perception! Not to mention "Viper" and his men, even Nie Lingfeng, who was right next to him, only saw Wang Ye's leg seem to blur for a moment before the two men at the door were sent flying!
quiet!
Deathly silence!
Everyone in the teahouse was stunned, including "Viper" and his remaining men! They hadn't even seen what happened before two of their companions were dead?!
The sneer on Viper's face froze instantly, his single eye filled with unbelievable horror! He turned his head sharply to look at the young man who was still slumped in the chair, as if he hadn't done anything, or even seemed to be about to fall asleep again. A chill instantly ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!
"Who the hell are you?!" Viper roared, both shocked and furious, his voice trembling with fear, and instinctively pointed his gun (an old-fashioned Type 54 pistol) at Wang Ye.
Wang Ye seemed to be disturbed by his roar, barely lifting his eyelids to glance at him. His gaze was as if he were looking at a wild dog that was barking wildly at him but could not even be considered a tickle.
"Who am I?" Wang Ye yawned again, his tone so lazy it was maddening. "I am... someone who finds you all noisy and wants to quickly swat the flies so I can continue drinking tea... Oh, the tea is cold, never mind, I'll continue taking a nap."
Before he could finish speaking—
Beside "Viper," another of his fastest-reacting and most fearless henchmen roared, pulled out a machete, and swung it down at Wang Ye's head! The blade was sharp and fierce, clearly indicating that he was also a trained fighter!
However, halfway through its trajectory, the blade seemed to strike an invisible, incredibly flexible wall, unable to descend any further! The subordinate's face flushed red as he exerted all his strength, but the blade creaked under the strain and even began to bend slightly!