Medical and Martial God

Chapter 248: The Most Arrogant Hostage in History

"Then let’s go. Come with me to the Lian family to apologize," Shen Shihao threatened softly, his eyes narrowed. "If you dare to pull any tricks on the way, this War God beside me doesn’t pull his punches."

In his view, Ye Xiu had only surrendered so readily because he’d brought so many men, making escape impossible. He was likely just playing along, planning to find a way to slip away on the road. That’s why he’d brought up the Ghost King, to deliberately intimidate Ye Xiu.

After he finished speaking, he turned to Shen Shijie. "Big Brother, you’re Monong’s father. Since she’s caused such a huge mess, shouldn’t you go to the Lian family and personally apologize?"

"Yes, yes, of course," Shen Shijie nodded repeatedly.

Shen Shihao shot Shen Shijie a disdainful glance, snorted coldly, and led the way out.

As he watched two bodyguards escort Ye Xiu out, one on each side, Shen Shijie deliberately slowed his pace. He quickly took out his phone and sent a text to Shen Monong: "Monong, I heard about what happened at the bar last night. The young man who humiliated Lian Zhengrong was taken away by Shen Shihao. I have to go with them to the Lian family to apologize."

Shen Shijie was truly panicking. If it were anyone else who had killed Lian Zhengrong’s bodyguards and humiliated him, the timid Shen Shijie would have gladly handed them over to appease the Lian family’s wrath, as he dared not offend them. But Ye Xiu was different. He was his artistic confidant, and he had even helped him teach Shen Mufan a lesson. Yet, he lacked the courage to stop Shen Shihao from taking Ye Xiu away. He could only notify Shen Monong and hope she could figure something out.

After leaving the gallery, Shen Shihao and the Ghost King watched Ye Xiu carefully, ready for any sudden escape attempt.

However, contrary to their expectations, Ye Xiu showed no intention of escaping. Instead, he opened the RV door himself, slid inside, and even grinned cheerfully, as if he were on his way to an awards ceremony.

This was completely abnormal! In his experience, anyone he captured to be dealt with by the Lian family should have been terrified, desperate, or at least anxious. But why was Ye Xiu so... excited?

After getting into the RV, Shen Shihao sneered, "Do you think this little act of yours will make us let our guard down? You’re seriously underestimating me!"

Yes, Ye Xiu was clearly acting, deliberately putting on this cooperative front to lull them into a false sense of security and find a chance to escape.

"Is my acting that obvious?" Ye Xiu asked, looking slightly disappointed. "So, in my current predicament, how do you think I should be acting?"

Inside the RV, the faces of Shen Shihao, Shen Shijie, and the Ghost King darkened. Is this really the time to be discussing method acting?

Shen Shihao said to the Ghost King, "If he makes a single sudden move, break his legs."

"There’s no need for that," the Ghost King said with a cold smile. He took out a small vial, tipped out a pill, and tossed it to Ye Xiu. "Swallow this."

"What’s this? A Liuwei Dihuang Pill?" Ye Xiu asked.

"This is a Cartilage Elixir," the Ghost King explained patiently, not at all worried that Ye Xiu would refuse after learning its effects. "Even a War God would feel drained and powerless for two hours after taking one. Anyone below the rank of War God would be completely incapacitated for over twelve hours."

"Oh!" Ye Xiu said, then tossed the Cartilage Elixir into his mouth, smacked his lips, and remarked, "The taste is just so-so. Add a bit of licorice, and it might be better."

The Ghost King, Shen Shijie, and Shen Shihao were utterly baffled by his behavior. They had expected Ye Xiu to refuse the pill after hearing what it did, forcing the Ghost King to take action. Instead, he had not only swallowed it readily but had even critiqued its flavor.

This kid’s brain isn’t wired right!

"Ah..." Just then, Ye Xiu suddenly went limp as a noodle, slumping back against his seat.

The Ghost King was stunned. Since when did the Cartilage Elixir work that fast?

Putting on a weak voice, Ye Xiu said, "Got anything to drink? I’m thirsty!"

The Ghost King, Shen Shihao, and Shen Shijie laughed in exasperation. What is with this guy? He’s been captured, forced to take a Cartilage Elixir, and is on his way to be executed by the Lian family, yet he’s still in the mood for a drink?

"No!" Shen Shihao snapped.

"If you don’t give me a drink, I’ll kill myself," Ye Xiu said petulantly. "I may not have much strength right now, but I can still manage that."

The Ghost King and the Shen brothers were speechless. Are you kidding me? We’re the kidnappers! You’re the hostage! Since when does the hostage threaten the kidnappers?

In the end, however, Shen Shihao poured Ye Xiu a glass of red wine. He was afraid Ye Xiu might actually kill himself, which would make things impossible to explain to the Lian family.

"I’m too weak to hold it. You feed me," Ye Xiu said.

"Give you an inch and you take a mile, don’t you?" Shen Shihao snapped.

"Are you going to feed me or not?" Ye Xiu glared.

"Fine, fine, fine..." Shen Shihao quickly held the glass to Ye Xiu’s lips, his spirit completely crushed. He felt like he was a disgrace to the entire kidnapping profession. Who has ever heard of a kidnapper waiting on their hostage like a servant?

"Great wine! Another glass!" After downing the first glass, Ye Xiu seemed to want more.

Shen Shihao was speechless.

「They had finally arrived at the Lian estate.」

Shen Shihao breathed a sigh of relief. On the way over, Ye Xiu had somehow managed to drink an entire bottle of red wine, with him playing server the entire time. His legs were numb from squatting next to Ye Xiu.

"We’re here. Get out of the car!" Shen Shihao said irritably.

"I’m too weak. Carry me," Ye Xiu said limply.

"You have got to be kidding me..." Fuming, Shen Shihao sucked in a sharp breath, then opened the door and ordered a bodyguard, "Get in here and carry him out."

The bodyguard was speechless.

And so, Ye Xiu was comfortably carried on the bodyguard’s back into the Lian family’s ancestral home, where the family patriarch, Lian Haidong, and his wife resided.

As they entered the estate, the bodyguard carrying Ye Xiu felt something was off. Didn’t Shen Shihao say Ye Xiu had taken a Cartilage Elixir and was completely drained of strength? So why were the legs wrapped around his waist squeezing so tightly?

In the courtyard of the Lian mansion stood a large crowd. Aside from the seated family patriarch, Lian Haidong, and the old madam, everyone else was standing. And they were all armed with swords and blades.

When they saw Ye Xiu’s group enter, the faces of everyone in the Lian family twisted with anger. Lian Zhengrong’s expression was especially ferocious, his eyes practically shooting fire.

"Lord Lian," Shen Shihao began with an awkward apology, "due to Shen Monong’s actions last night, Zhengrong and the Lian family lost face. My brother and I have brought the main culprit here to atone for the offense."

It wasn’t that the Shen family feared the Lian family; there was simply no need for a falling-out. An alliance between them would bring immense benefits. A rift would not only erase those potential gains but also result in significant losses. Lowering one’s head to apologize was simply a quality that those in power had to possess.

"Lord Lian, Monong is just a child who doesn’t know any better. Please don’t let this upset you and harm your health," Shen Shijie said weakly, his legs nearly giving out at the sight of the courtyard filled with murderous intent.

"Where is this culprit?" Lian Haidong asked coldly.

"Reporting! Right here!" Ye Xiu, still draped over the bodyguard’s back, cheerfully raised a hand.