Seeing these people, Yang Xiangming's face paled with fear.
Because all of them came from families he had offended in the past—not just minor families, but even a few major ones.
"Settle accounts? What accounts?"
Yang Xiangming feigned composure, his face twisting into anger as he berated the newcomers.
"Patriarch Yang, you really do have a short memory. Three years ago, you sent someone to kill my father—have you forgotten that debt?"
"And my Huang family! If not for your Yang family's underhanded tactics, the top-tier family in Zhou City would have been ours, not yours!"
"Don't forget, the heir of my Qi family was also murdered by your men!"
One by one, they recounted their grudges against the Yang family.
Yang Xiangming's expression turned increasingly grim, while the Yang family members beside him trembled with fear.
With so many enemies arriving at once, it was clear they were leaving the Yang family no way out!
"Do you really think the Yang family is so easy to bully?" Yang Xiangming roared.
"Yang Xiangming, stop pretending. Even Qian Biao has left—what does the Yang family have to fear now?"
A middle-aged man sneered at Yang Xiangming before suddenly barking an order: "Surround this place! Let's see who dares to leave!"
The Yang family members, who had just prepared to flee, were instantly encircled by dozens of men.
Yang Xiangming's face flickered between shades of green and purple as he glared at the middle-aged man leading the group, gritting his teeth. "Chen Hao, the Yang family has no feud with your Chen family. As a top-tier family in Zhou City, isn't it excessive for you to target the Yang family now?"
"Excessive?"
Chen Hao scoffed. "Yang Xiangming, so you *do* remember that the Chen family is a top-tier household in Zhou City? But have you ever shown us any respect?"
His aura surged as he snapped, "You relied on Qian Biao's protection to ignore even the Chen family's face. Back then, when we tried to shield the Yuan family, you sent Qian Biao that very night to kill their patriarch—then dispatched Yang family experts to massacre the rest! Was *that* not excessive?"
Yang Xiangming clenched his jaw. "The strong prey on the weak. The Yuan family broke their word, refused to admit defeat, and still opposed the Yang family. Was I supposed to tolerate that?"
"What a fine 'strong prey on the weak'! In that case, today, I'll make sure the Yang family is the one that falls!" Chen Hao spat through gritted teeth.
"Who dares try?!"
Yang Xiangming bellowed. "I admit the Yang family has hit some snags in business, but anyone who thinks they can destroy us had better weigh their own strength first!"
With that, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Qian Biao, return to me within ten minutes!"
The confidence of the assembled families wavered the moment Yang Xiangming made that call. Many began to reconsider, fear creeping into their hearts.
Qian Biao's reputation was too fearsome—in Zhou City, he was practically a demon god. Whenever the Yang family sent him after a target, failure was unheard of.
Even Chen Hao, heir to a top-tier Zhou City family, felt a flicker of unease.
Twenty minutes ago, Jiangzhou's headlines had blared news of the Yang family's downfall and Qian Biao's departure—but no one had confirmed it.
To prevent Yang Xiangming from escaping, Chen Hao had immediately rallied forces to the Yang residence. Given the Chen family's status, it took little effort to gather the smaller families with grudges against the Yangs.
When they saw the Yang family preparing to flee, they'd assumed the reports were true—hence their bold encirclement.
But now, Yang Xiangming had publicly called Qian Biao, demanding his return within ten minutes. Chen Hao and the others found themselves in an awkward stalemate.
"Qian Biao stayed with the Yang family for eight years. I paid a heavy price to keep him by my side—do you really think he'd *want* to leave?"
Yang Xiangming coldly noted their hesitation before adding, "The Yang family may have failed in business, but so what? We have plenty of people. One day, we'll regain our glory."
His gaze swept the crowd as he issued a chilling warning: "I advise you all not to act rashly. Yes, we've had our conflicts, but they're in the past. If the Yang family had truly wanted to wipe you out, would you even be alive today?"
"The Chen family is a top-tier household. If they oppose us, fine—we can't match them. But the rest of you? Crushing you would be effortless."
"Let me make this clear: any family that leaves before Qian Biao returns will be spared. But those still here when he arrives? Don't blame me for what happens next!"
Yang Xiangming's face showed no trace of fear—only the same arrogance and confidence as always.
The moment he finished speaking, someone immediately stepped back from the encirclement, nervously declaring, "In that case, the Huang family withdraws!"
"The Qi family withdraws too!"
"The Liu family as well!"
One after another, nearly all the families—except the Chens—retreated without hesitation, fleeing as if Qian Biao might appear any second.
"Chen Hao, a word of advice: don't meddle in what doesn't concern you. Yes, the Yang family once disregarded the Chen family's face—but what could you do about it?"
Yang Xiangming smirked at Chen Hao. "Don't think I don't know how your family has schemed against us over the years. You even spent fortunes hiring international assassins—and what happened? Qian Biao killed them all!"
"If I've let it slide, it's not out of fear. I just didn't want to make enemies by wiping out the Chens. Otherwise, with Qian Biao's strength, who could stop him from slaughtering his way into your family alone?"
Chen Hao's face drained of color. He stared at Yang Xiangming, torn. His group was small—killing Yang Xiangming now would be easy, but what if Qian Biao really returned?
"Three minutes left. Qian Biao should be here soon." Yang Xiangming deliberately checked the time, his tone calm.
"Yang Xiangming, arrogance has its limits. Sooner or later, someone *will* deal with you!"
Chen Hao gnashed his teeth. "Let's go!"
With that, even the Chen family departed.
Every member of the Yang family exhaled in relief, their admiration for Yang Xiangming soaring. They knew the truth: Qian Biao was gone. He wasn't coming back.
"Everyone, evacuate Zhou City at once! If they realize Qian Biao isn't returning, they'll be back!"
Yang Xiangming issued the order and was the first to speed away by car.
By the time Zhou City's families realized they'd been tricked, the Yang family had already vanished.
---
**Zhou City, Chen Family.**
Inside a lavish villa, Chen Xinghai—patriarch of the Chen family—flew into a rage upon learning the Yangs had escaped.
*Slap!*
He struck Chen Hao across the face. "You useless fool! You had them surrounded, yet you let the entire Yang family slip away? What good are you?!"
"Father, I never imagined the Yang family had truly fallen or that Qian Biao had really left!" Chen Hao stammered in panic.
"Since the Yangs are gone, someone else will have to answer for this." Chen Xinghai's eyes burned crimson.
"What do you mean?" Chen Hao asked cautiously.
"The Yangs left, but their assets remain. Whoever took over their empire—we seize it all!"
Chen Xinghai's voice was icy. "Zhou City is *our* territory. Who dares steal from the Chen family?"
---
**Meanwhile, at Cloudpeak Summit.**
Yang Chen had just brought his daughter and wife home when Luo Bin called.
"Chairman, the Yang family has fled Zhou City!"
"Oh? The other families just let them go?"
This news surprised Yang Chen.
Luo Bin recounted everything that had happened at the Yang residence.
After listening, Yang Chen narrowed his eyes. "That Yang Xiangming is quite the strategist. If he managed to escape, so be it—let them live."
"There's one more thing. The Chen family, Zhou City's top household, is making moves on the Yang family's assets."
"Trying to snatch food from the tiger's mouth? Do they even *think* about why the Yang family fell? Fools." Yang Chen wasn't worried. "Don't fret. I'll send Qian Biao to Zhou City tomorrow."
If Qian Biao's name carried such weight there, he might as well put it to use.
Just as he hung up, Qin Xi approached anxiously.
"Yang Chen, my father's been missing for days. Can you use your connections to find him?"
Before moving to Cloudpeak Summit, Qin Dawei had already stopped coming home. Now, after two days in their new residence, there was still no sign of him.
Yang Chen nodded. "I'll look into it now."
But before he could dial, Qin Xi's phone rang. After a brief call, her face turned ashen.
"What happened?" Yang Chen asked.
"My friend saw my father at King's City Casino. He's still gambling." Qin Xi's eyes reddened.