Hearing Ling Xiao's words, Young Master Xiao turned around and frowned, demanding, "I am the young master of the Xiao Family. Do you actually dare to lay a hand on me?" He attempted to use the influence of the Xiao Family to pressure Ling Xiao, hoping to instill fear in him and force him to let them leave.
Ling Xiao let out a cold laugh. "You want to run away just because you can't win? There's no such easy thing in this world. Anyone who crosses me must die." His gaze revealed a firm and resolute determination, as if nothing could stand in his way.
Seeing the icy look in Ling Xiao's eyes, Young Master Xiao couldn't help shivering. At that moment, he truly realized in his heart that Ling Xiao wasn't just all talk—he genuinely dared to attack him. This deep-seated fear made Young Master Xiao's legs go slightly weak, and he instinctively took a few steps back.
After a long pause, Young Master Xiao forced down his inner fear and asked with a trembling voice, "What do you want?"
Ling Xiao tilted his chin up slightly, revealing a confident and mocking smile as he said, "Aren't you a wealthy family? Pay to save your life. The life of the Xiao Family's young master has to be worth at least a hundred million." His words exploded like a heavy bomb in the ears of Young Master Xiao and Lin Yu.
Young Master Xiao's complexion instantly turned extremely unsightly. He widened his eyes and disbelief colored his voice, "Are you fucking robbing me?" Although he knew the Xiao Family was immensely wealthy and powerful in Jiangnan City, he had spent his days eating, drinking, and making merry, never making any plans for the future. The allowance his family gave him wasn't all that much. With everything added up, he only had tens of millions on hand right now; he simply couldn't produce one hundred million.
Standing beside him, Lin Yu's expression was also grim. Watching Young Master Xiao's pathetic state, he silently prayed that Young Master Xiao could handle this. Yet he also knew that with Ling Xiao being so uncompromising, Young Master Xiao would likely find it difficult to get away easily.
Driven by a mix of anger and embarrassment, Young Master Xiao said, "For a nobody background like you to open your mouth so wide—do you really think I'd agree to your unreasonable demands just to pay you off? My Xiao Family may be rich, but we aren't so easily pushed around."
Unflustered, Ling Xiao replied, "Young Master Xiao, don't toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Let me make it crystal clear to you today: if you don't fork over the money, this score between us will never be settled. Do you think your Xiao Family can protect you forever? They can shield you for a moment, but not for a lifetime."
Anxiety gnawed at Young Master Xiao; he knew Ling Xiao was dead set on extorting him. Gritting his teeth, he tried to negotiate further, "Ling Xiao, if you want money, fine, but you have to let us leave first. Once I get back to the Xiao Family, I'll give you the money..."
Ling Xiao refused to fall for that trick. He stepped forward, his imposing aura instantly surging and pressing down so heavily that Young Master Xiao and Lin Yu found it hard to breathe.
Watching Ling Xiao close in step by step, Young Master Xiao felt the terror in his heart grow deeper. He began to realize that if he kept acting tough, he really would come out the loser here. Yet, the thought of coughing up one hundred million right now filled him with bitter reluctance—the real problem was that he honestly didn't have one hundred million on hand!
Sensing Young Master Xiao's thoughts, Lin Yu quickly stepped forward and murmured in his ear, "Young Master Xiao, I think we should just appease him for now. Once we get home, we can figure out a way to deal with him."
Young Master Xiao gave a slight nod, knowing that stalling Ling Xiao was his only option for now. He took a deep breath, forced himself to look as composed as possible, and said, "Fine, since you're so determined, I agree. Just wait until I get back, and I'll wire the money to your account. How's that?"
Ling Xiao burst out laughing. "Young Master Xiao, do you take me for a fool? You expect to talk your way out of this with just a few empty words? Let me tell you, I'm getting my money today, or else you can wait to face my wrath."
Young Master Xiao's face turned even uglier. He knew there was no escaping Ling Xiao's clutches today. A flash of hesitation crossed his eyes, and with the air of someone making a hard decision, he said, "It's not that I won't give you the money; I simply don't have that much. Even though I'm the young master of the Xiao Family, the family's money isn't mine alone to spend. I only have fifty million right now." With that, Young Master Xiao opened his mobile banking app to show Ling Xiao, proving that his various bank cards added up to precisely fifty million.
Ling Xiao shook his head. "Still not enough."
At that, Young Master Xiao nearly broke down. He roared, "You're deliberately making things difficult for me! I've given you every cent I can scrape together, what more do you want?"
Gazing coldly at Young Master Xiao, Ling Xiao said, "If the money isn't enough, ask your family for it. Hand over this fifty million now, and I'll give you three days to scrape together the rest. Otherwise, bear the consequences."
With that, Ling Xiao turned and walked away.
Young Master Xiao stood frozen in place for a long time. Only after Ling Xiao's figure vanished from sight did he snap out of it. He looked at Lin Yu and said, "Hmph, today's business is on hold for now. Once we get home, I'll make this brat taste my wrath—and force him to cough up every single cent of that fifty million."