"What on earth is happening?" Mr. Ford panicked, grabbing his daughter and hiding among the crowd, shouting nonstop: "Is this how the Qu family treats their guests? We came from far away—are you trying to lock us up?"
Thanks to Mr. Ford’s outburst, the scene erupted into chaos. People screamed, shoes were trampled off, and it was a total mess.
Someone fired a gun into the air. After a round of screams, the crowd quickly fell silent.
"Honored guests, we have no intention of locking you up." A man wearing sunglasses and American-style camouflage stepped out from the crowd. He looked at the distinguished guests, smiling broadly as he said, "It’s just that a criminal has snuck in and kidnapped the Qu Family Patriarch. We’re here to rescue Mr. Quinn! As long as you don’t run around, we won’t harm anyone."
Several wealthy guests were so terrified their legs went weak. They kept explaining, "We don’t know anything! We’re just here as guests—this has nothing to do with us!"
The man ignored them, sweeping his gaze across the crowd, then suddenly fixed his eyes on Max Mo.
His expression suddenly changed!
Damn it!
Shit!
Why did no one tell him Mo Zixin would be here?!
If he’d known Mo Zixin would be here, he wouldn’t have come for anything in the world!
Max Mo noticed the man looking his way and immediately flashed him a subtle smile.
The previously swaggering man in camouflage instantly toned it down, acting as if he hadn’t seen anything. He directed some people into the manor to rendezvous with Eric Qu (Second Son).
Max Mo’s assistant leaned in and whispered a report: "Our people are waiting outside. Just give the word..."
Max Mo replied calmly, "No rush."
Since that man already spotted him, he wouldn’t dare harm any innocents now.
Cecilia Gu replied, "Thank you."
Cecilia Gu glanced over at Max Mo, noticing his calm expression. Clearly, everything happening was within his expectations.
Cecilia Gu’s heart, for some reason, suddenly felt at ease.
She believed that with Max Mo here, she’d be safe.
W-What’s going on here?
Clap, clap, clap—
All the lights went out.
The crowd stirred again, screams and curses echoing throughout.
Xiao Wang shielded Gu Xixi tightly, making sure no one bumped into her.
Yu Jie whispered to Gu Xixi, "When things get messy, I’ll get you out. President Mo has arranged people to meet us. It’ll take about ten minutes to get out from this side."
Gu Xixi replied, "Thank you."
Gu Xixi glanced over at Mo Zixin, noticing his calm expression. Clearly, everything happening was within his expectations.
Gu Xixi’s heart, for some reason, suddenly felt at ease.
She believed that with Mo Zixin here, she’d be safe.
Mo Zixuan calmly retreated behind the safety line, then turned to her brother: "Are you planning to take it all?"
Mo Zixin chuckled, "The Mo family never puts up with this kind of humiliation. If you want to play big, be ready to lose big. The Qu family has built up a hundred years here—they must have some good stuff."
Mo Zixuan gave a look of ‘I knew it.’
She’d known her brother wouldn’t come all this way just to celebrate a birthday for no reason.
Everything here must have been part of his plan.
Still, she was curious—who was he betting on?
Mo Zixin saw those cars approaching and finally gave the order: "Retreat."
At his command, Mo Zixin’s people immediately cleared a path, escorting several women to the rear.
The team sent by Yin Sicheng moved nimbly, coordinating perfectly with Mo Zixin’s men as they withdrew.
Just as they broke away from the crowd, they ran into another group.
"President Mo, where are you heading?" A burly mercenary blocked their way. "It’s so lively here—are you sure you don’t want to stay and watch?"
Mo Zixin looked at him calmly. "Is this Viper’s idea, or your own orders?"
Viper was the man in sunglasses and American camouflage from earlier.
"Don’t try to use Viper to threaten me." The burly mercenary scoffed. "I’m not afraid of him."
Mo Zixin realized there were two groups here.
Looks like Qu Ershao hired two sets of mercenaries.
"Looks like there’s no chance for a friendly agreement tonight." Even in this situation, Mo Zixin remained composed.
The burly mercenary was about to speak when a figure lunged at him from the darkness—so fast he couldn’t react. He was quickly subdued.
A small hand held a gun to his temple.
"Can we talk now?" Mo Zixin smiled.
The man’s face changed instantly. He raised his hands above his head, all arrogance gone.
"This whole place is surrounded. You won’t escape." The man snarled. "Even if you have people, so what? We brought three hundred men, all heavily armed!"
"Escape? No, I’m leaving." Mo Zixin slipped on a pair of white gloves, took an American submachine gun from someone nearby. "No one can stop me. If you don’t believe me, look over there."
The man followed Mo Zixin’s gaze. When he saw what was there, his face went pale and sweat poured down his forehead.
Behind them, someone was driving a tank straight over.
Surrounding the tank were rows of heavy weapons, encircling them completely.
Now he understood why Viper, usually so arrogant, had gone silent when he saw Mo Zixin.
Turns out, they were well prepared.
That idiot Qu Ershao!
The man wisely stepped back. "I get it, President Mo. Please, go ahead."
Mo Zixin nodded with a smile. "Thank you for your cooperation."
With that, Mo Zixin nodded to the others, and his group quickly escorted Gu Xixi and Mo Zixuan to safety.
No one dared stop them. They could only watch as Mo Zixin led his people away.
Just then, Mr. Ford—who’d come along—spotted them in the crowd and shouted, "President Mo, save us!"
Suddenly, everyone’s eyes turned to Mo Zixin.
The guests, scared stiff, saw Mo Zixin about to leave and panicked, rushing toward him.
Rat-tat-tat-tat—
Dust flew up from the floor and several people screamed and fell.
Viper grabbed a loudspeaker and shouted, "Lights on!"
Clap, clap, clap!
Several floodlights lit up one after another, illuminating the entire manor courtyard.
It also lit up those distinguished guests who’d looked so dignified during the day, now in a sorry state.
"Sorry, everyone, but you can’t leave just yet." Viper announced. "Until Old Master Qu is rescued, you’ll have to stay here with us."
"What?! Why do we have to stay? We’re honored guests of the Qu family!"
"Yeah! Who are these people? Why are we being locked up?"
"What’s going on with the Qu family? Why are there mercenaries? I want to go home—I don’t want to stay here!"
"Where’s Old Master Qu? Why isn’t he out here explaining?"
...
A wave of protests echoed through the crowd.
Viper’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
These rich people are so used to throwing their weight around with money, they can’t even see what’s happening now!
Right now, they’re the ones in charge.
"Quiet, quiet!" Viper warned the crowd. "If you don’t quiet down, I’ll have to feed you peanuts!"
Instantly, the place went silent.
Someone trembled and asked, "If we all have to stay, why are they allowed to leave?"
As soon as he finished, Viper’s gaze turned to Mo Zixin.
Mo Zixin met Viper’s eyes without fear.
Viper sighed. "You idiots! I’d love to stop him, but I can’t! Here’s the deal: you can beg him. If that gentleman is willing to take you with him, I’ll let you go. How’s that?"