Seeing Xia Yu’s utterly baffled expression, Feng Shi gave a mysterious smile. “Didn't I tell you things would get serious? Right?”

“Sister Feng, please let me off!” Xia Yu’s face was slick with cold sweat. Seeing Yang Yi and the other two approaching, his legs trembled uncontrollably. “Actually, I’m not afraid of Boss knowing, it’s just…!”

“Hmm?” Yang Yi reached the side of the car and suddenly spotted a somewhat familiar face. A strange curve played on his lips. “Who is this person? He looks awfully hot!”

“B-Boss!” Xia Yu called out nervously, before finally stepping out of the car.

Yang Yi paused for a moment, then looked surprised. “Isn’t this Xia Yu? What are you doing here?”

“Uh, well, that!” Xia Yu stood there shuffling his feet awkwardly, looking utterly embarrassed.

However, at that very moment, Feng Shi, standing nearby, suddenly exclaimed with equal surprise, “Lian Xue, isn't that Lian Xue?”

“Hehe, Sister Feng, long time no see!” Murong Lian Xue giggled.

“Alright, we can catch up later. Let’s go back first!” Yang Yi glanced meaningfully at Xia Yu and chuckled.

“Yes!” Everyone got into the car.

Once seated, Yang Yi asked, “En, Xia Yu, you still haven’t answered me. Why are you showing up here? Aren’t you supposed to be…?”

“That thing!” Xia Yu still seemed unable to speak, hiding slightly and fidgeting coyly, making Yang Yi observe him as if he had become somewhat effeminate.

“Pfft!” Feng Shi snickered while driving. “Young Master, Xia Yu is different now.”

“Different?” Yang Yi observed Xia Yu with great interest. “En, he certainly is a bit different. He’s grown up so much, and he’s as handsome as this Young Master!”

“Young Master, it’s not that!” Feng Shi almost had to slam on the brakes. Sometimes she knew Yang Yi loved to joke, but making this kind of joke now was maddening, especially for Feng Shi.

“Then what is it?”

“Xia Yu is now the person in charge of the Black God Gang in City A!” Feng Shi smiled sweetly.

“What?” Yang Yi looked at Xia Yu with unexpected astonishment upon hearing this.

“I didn’t know Boss was the leader of the Black God Gang. Um, Boss, could you promise me one thing!” Xia Yu knew getting past Yang Yi wouldn't be hard, but the real challenge was facing his older sister and family. He pleaded immediately.

“Before I promise you anything, you need to give me a proper explanation, don’t you think? En?” Yang Yi looked at Xia Yu with a smile full of meaning.

Seeing Yang Yi’s smile, Xia Yu felt a chill run down his spine. He thought to himself, I never noticed Boss’s gaze was this sharp before; I almost don’t dare look him straight in the eye now. He let out a heavy breath and explained everything in detail.

It turned out that Xia Yu was originally a superstar jock from the sports department. During a car accident, he saved Zhou Hu and earned his admiration, joining the Black God Gang. In just two years, he was already running things independently, becoming the overlord of the underworld in City A, successfully achieving an absolute position of power there. An absolute figure of power, in this context, meant the ruler of all underworld forces within City A—the so-called person in charge.

The Black God Gang currently categorizes its internal members as follows, descending from the Gang Leader: Dragon Lord—Steward—Chief Executive—Deacon—Person in Charge—Hall Master—Senior Gang Member—Junior Gang Member—Outer Affiliate. The Six Paths of Reincarnation, the Ten Army Generals, the Black God Guards, the Five Elements Death Gods, and the Five Elements Death Soldiers are all personal bodyguards of the Dragon Lord, representing the core power of the entire Black God Gang; they only execute orders given by those at the Dragon Lord and Chief Executive levels. This was the complete structure of the Black God Gang.

Undoubtedly, Xia Yu now being a Person in Charge meant, as the title suggested, that he had bypassed the primary positions of Junior and Senior Gang Members, and the Hall Master rank, to achieve the position of Person in Charge. This clearly required both strength and sharp intelligence. The rules and qualification screening of the Black God Gang were extremely rigorous.

“Wait, did you already go through the screening for Senior and Junior Gang Members, kid?” Yang Yi asked.

“Yes!” Xia Yu nodded. “Although I passed, it required extremely arduous and strict training and preparation to achieve this success today.”

“Oh! I see now!” Yang Yi gave a roguish smile. He fundamentally approved of Xia Yu joining the underworld. After all, this little fellow had once told him he wanted to be his brother, and how could one be his brother without sufficient strength? This was the current thought process of a certain ruffian. However, he suddenly smiled wickedly, “Then what about your family?”

“Boss, Boss, I just… I….” Xia Yu looked at Yang Yi’s smile and simply couldn't continue, trembling inwardly. It seemed this kid had lost his former expressions in front of Yang Yi.

“But, I really miss those times. Just a few years ago, you were still just a little guy; I never thought you’d grow up so much in just a few years.” Yang Yi rested his chin on his hand. “Do you plan to keep hiding this from your family?”

“This… I don’t know!” Xia Yu lowered his head.

“However, I advise you to tell your family. If I don’t get your family’s consent, I don’t mind revoking all your authority!” Yang Yi suddenly said with a cold face, an oppressive aura emanating from his entire body.

Inside the car, everyone froze at his words, their expressions filled with confusion. Except for Murong Lian Xue, likely no one understood why Yang Yi would say that. Xia Yu stared at Yang Yi in utter shock, seemingly just as confused as to why he would say that. Suddenly, he shouted, “Stop the car!”

“Screech!” The car halted, and Xia Yu bolted out.

“Xia Yu!” Feng Shi called out.

“Xia Yu!” Xuanyuan Bing followed, hesitating slightly. “Yi, is this okay? He’s still just a…!”

“Please watch your words. Even if you are Yi Gege’s woman, if you violate Yi Gege’s will, I will kill you!” Murong Lian Xue’s voice, filled with ice and killing intent, suddenly burst out.

“Lian…!” Xuanyuan Bing looked at Murong Lian Xue in disbelief.

“Don't think I'm joking. If you’re in the underworld, you must be prepared to die!”

“Lian Xue!” Yang Yi frowned. Murong Lian Xue said no more, just burying her head in Yang Yi’s embrace, settling down.

Xuanyuan Bing seemed deeply wronged and moved to the side without speaking. Feng Shi glanced at everything in the rearview mirror and couldn't help but shake her head. What she had considered a serious matter was not just about Xia Yu’s family; it was about this whole affair. Those who walk the path of the underworld are gambling with their lives; if you don't have the capital or the resolve to risk your life, what are you doing in the underworld? This isn't playing with mud, nor is it a parlor game.

Night fell. On the top of a certain high-rise building, a figure stood overlooking the heights, gazing up at the sky with a face full of unwillingness. “Why? Why? Why is even Boss treating me like this? Why!”

“Yan Ran, go check on him.”

“Young Master!”

“Go.” Yang Yi appeared at the A City headquarters of the Black God Gang, waving a hand to Feng Shi.

“Yes!” Feng Shi smiled faintly, nodded, and walked toward the door.

Xuanyuan Bing complained softly, “Yi, aren't you being a bit too strict?”

“Bing’er, he is different from you. Those who are spoiled since childhood will never understand true pain.” Yang Yi felt that in Xia Yu’s shadow, he saw something resembling himself.

Since his debut, if he hadn’t experienced countless hardships, perhaps Yang Yi would have also joined the underworld simply on a burst of youthful fervor, like Xia Yu—a path where several lives wouldn't be enough to lose. This was the change Yang Yi underwent along the way. The higher one climbs, the more one must change; one cannot hold onto naive ideas and expect to survive in the underworld.

“Brother Yi, I’m feeling jealous. Why do you dote on him so much?” Murong Lian Xue also pouted slightly, speaking with a hint of complaint.

“Hehe, Lian Xue, have you forgotten? Xia Yu is your Sister Shi Yun’s younger brother!”

“Yi!”

“You brute!”

Speak of the devil, and they appear. Walking in were undoubtedly Li Qian and Xia Shi Yun. Both hurried up to Yang Yi. Xia Shi Yun asked, “Yi, is what you said true?”

“En!” Yang Yi nodded.

“How could this be!” Xia Shi Yun found it hard to believe.

“Shi Yun, you also think there are no benefits to being in the underworld?” Yang Yi slowly sat down and asked Xia Shi Yun.

“Yi!”

“You scoundrel, what do you mean by that?” Li Qian pouted and asked.

“Actually, I think everyone has their own path to walk. Since he likes this path, let him walk it. However, before he does, he must have the necessary resolve. Besides, there’s no regret medicine sold in this world!” Yang Yi smiled faintly and said, “Alright, let’s not talk about this now. Since you are here too, let’s go downstairs and catch up. Don't you realize who you’ve forgotten?”

“Sister Qian’er, Sister Shi Yun!” Murong Lian Xue stepped out from behind Yang Yi’s chair, looking at them with a beaming smile.