If the raid happened faster, then there must be a reason why. Does it have something to do with Shao Yufei and Meng Yaoshu's disappearance?

Detective Tang was also here until an hour ago. Was his meeting with Meng Yaoshu here having something to do with these people's attacks?

"Argh!"

Meng Renshu's groan of pain snapped her to reality. Her pupils dilated in horror when one of the men pressed his head to the marble floor, with the dangerous-looking gun pressed to the back of his head.

"No, please! Don't hurt him!" Li Caiyi involuntarily screamed out.

"Xiaoyi, don't struggle. It's dangerous."

Li Caiyi felt like crying. No matter how much she resented him or was indifferent to him, she had never wished to see him getting hurt or worse, dying. Her heart was in pain like something slashed it apart.

"Wh-what is your purpose? I assume it isn't for money, so what is your true aim? If it's something we can provide then say it and we can talk this out. Please don't hurt anyone here!"

Out of desperation, Li Caiyi blurted out what was in her mind. The man behind her snickered and caressed her jaw with his rough hand. The motion felt so frightening, that it sent shivers down her spine. He could easily break her neck with such a big hand.

"As you say, our aim is not money, but it's not something you need to know. If I were you, I'd probably want to watch my tongue, little missy. No one here has any qualification to propose negotiation with us. You are not worthy."

The low voice beside her ears was full of warning and threat. Li Caiyi's body trembled all over, and her hand unconsciously raised beside her thigh, ready to take out the knife if necessary. She kept it as an emergency weapon, but she wouldn't hesitate to hurt these people if needed.

"Hey, be careful with that one. The boss wants her alive and unhurt."

"I know, but she is too cocky. I just want to scare her."

Li Caiyi hadn't registered the meaning of their words when she was suddenly pulled to stand roughly. "Ouch!"

"Xiaoyi! Where are you going to take her?!" Meng Renshu struggled to stand but pressed down again immediately.

"Sit down, pretty boy. Our boss wants your girlfriend and even heaven can't defy that!"

"This guy is starting to annoy me. Should we teach him a lesson? It can set examples for others too."

"Nice idea."

Those people in black closed into Meng Renshu with violence written all over their faces. Li Caiyi knew Meng Renshu had learned a few self-defense techniques, but with all these people, he wouldn't stand a chance.

"Wait, don't hurt him! If you do, then I won't go anywhere with you!"

"Little missy, you seem to be misunderstanding something. We will drag you by feet if we must, and we aren't going to let the pretty boy that easily, even if it was just to spite you. Hahahaha!"

"Guh!"

Meng Renshu groaned in pain when one of the men landed a kick on his side, causing him to lie on his back while coughing hard. Li Caiyi gasped in shock, as the pained expression numbed her senses.

She clenched her hand in a fist when another man landed another attack on Meng Renshu. His sophisticated suit was covered in dirt and blood splatter in no time. Throughout all that, Li Caiyi begged them to stop, while the rest of the guests averted their eyes, pretending not to see.

"Heh, watch it carefully and burn it in your mind. Your turn will come soon, don't worry."

Facing the burly man, Li Caiyi just couldn't fight back when he dragged her away.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she kept screaming 'stop' repeatedly. She couldn't even hear Meng Renshu's gasp of pain anymore.

If this continued, he'd die!

Li Caiyi clenched her fist. Anger surged inside her and it fueled her courage. If they thought they could take her just like that, then they got another thing coming!

She quickly pulled the knife inside her skirt and swung it with a ferocity she didn't know she had.

"Agh! This bitch is hiding a knife all this time!" The man shouted in pain as he held his bleeding arm. "Restrain her!"

"NOBODY MOVES!"

Anyone who saw her right now probably thought she had gone crazy. Her eyes were red from crying as she glared at those who tried to get close to her. Her hair and dress were disheveled while she swung the knife around.

The people in black were taken aback by her desperate moves and dared not to get close to her. Only then did Li Caiyi stop slashing.historical

In all seriousness, if it weren't for their boss who demanded her to be delivered to him unhurt, she probably would never have the guts to do it. But a desperate situation called for desperate measures. She couldn't just sit down watching them beat Meng Renshu to death.

'Don't falter now, Li Caiyi. You don't have to win, just try to buy time as much as possible until the police come. This isn't your first time doing this. You can do it!'

That's right, among all guests here, for some reason, she was valued highly by these people. She could use this as her bargaining chip.

Li Caiyi took a deep breath before pointing the blade at her neck decisively. "If you dare to harm anyone again, then I will hurt myself here. Let's see if your boss will be delighted to hear that or not."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself bitch!"

Li Caiyi pressed the blade into her neck more, causing a slit to appear on her flawless neck. Blood trickled from it, and for once, it caused panic among the people in black.

As expected, these people treated this boss of theirs like their god. If a small threat like this was enough to rattle them, then maybe she really could pull this off!

"Get away from him. Now!" Li Caiyi glared at the men who still pinned Meng Renshu to the ground. Under her threat, they had no choice but to reluctantly retreat.

She crouched down to check on Meng Renshu's condition while still holding her knife tightly. He was hurt and bruised all over, with blood dripping from his temple and mouth. Li Caiyi hoped he had no internal injuries from how much he got beaten.

"Xiao..yi?" Meng Renshu called out in a barely audible voice.

"Brother Renshu, are you alright? Can you hear me?!"

"Xiaoyi...Don't hurt her... Don't take her away.."

His voice was so low that nobody could possibly hear it beside her, but it stiffened her. Even when he was half-conscious, he was still thinking of her? That was ridiculous.

Meng Renshu was indeed not acting like himself tonight. He was usually more composed before taking action. Why would he risk getting hurt by shielding her? It wasn't like he knew Li Caiyi was carrying a knife with her.

Li Caiyi bit her lips as inexplicable emotions washed over her.

Was she really not knowing the reason he did that? Shouldn't she, out of all people, know just how much Meng Renshu treasured his beloved people and would fight to any length to defend them?

'You foolish man. Why do you keep confusing me like this? You only make me hate myself more and more.'

As she drowned in self-blame, the wounded man she slashed earlier stepped forward, before saying in a coaxing tone, "Little Missy, we promise we will not harm anyone again, so can you go meet our boss now?"