222: Chapter 217 Deserved Punishment

With a command from Hu Fei, about twenty security guards swarmed into the room aggressively. Their movements were coordinated, showing professional training. Most of them gripped stun batons, ready for action, while those with empty hands kept one hand at their bulging waists as if facing a great enemy. At this moment, both the gamblers and the dealers stopped their ongoing games. A few timid gamblers began to grow restless, but no one dared to make a sound. The atmosphere became extremely heavy, as if something major was about to happen.

"Distinguished guests, there has been a slight accident at the casino today that needs immediate attention. Please forgive us. Once you have exchanged your chips, please leave immediately. You are all welcome to return another day!"

Even if he had a necessary reason, Hu Fei didn't dare to be too blatant. No matter how large a casino was, it needed patrons to make money. If he alienated the gamblers and his reputation was ruined, the place would become deserted. He wouldn't have decided to clear the room unless it was absolutely necessary.

Cao Xiao put his arm around He Yueyou's shoulder, watching with a calm and cold gaze as if none of this had anything to do with him.

"Xiao Xiao, what's going on? Everything was fine just a moment ago, and now you're at loggerheads?"

"We're all classmates. If there's a problem, just talk it out. At worst, just apologize to him and stay away from him in the future. There's no need to let things get to this point. I'll go try to plead with him!"

"Yeah, this is his territory; we'll be at a huge disadvantage. Besides, he has money, power, and people. We commoners can't afford to provoke him. Just lower your head and endure it today, and once this is over, just act like he was never your classmate."

Since the room was being cleared, naturally no one could continue playing. There had been quite a commotion here earlier, and although Luo Yu and the others, who were playing happily, had noticed, they hadn't cared because Cao Xiao hadn't lost out and the two had bickered like this before. But now, seeing Cao Xiao and Hu Fei in a direct confrontation, and Hu Fei even going so far as to stop business to clear the room just to deal with Cao Xiao, the group could no longer remain calm.

What comforted Cao Xiao was that these guys chose to stand by him even in this situation. Even though they were advising him to compromise and apologize, their starting point was fear that he would suffer. After all, in their understanding, the difference in status between the two sides was worlds apart, and Cao Xiao certainly wouldn't come out on top against Hu Fei. Now that they were out of school, there were no restraints on behavior. Since Hu Fei's family ran a casino, they were definitely not good people; they were surely ruthless. There had always been conflict between the two, and Hu Fei might take this opportunity to retaliate against Cao Xiao, in which case Cao Xiao's fate would be miserable.

"No need. I'm not afraid of him, and he can't do anything to me. If this guy cared about our classmate bond, it wouldn't be like this. If you go to plead, he might even become more aggressive. I'll handle this; don't worry. By the way, how did you guys do? How much did you win?"

Cao Xiao comforted them nonchalantly, then turned his concern toward their winnings and losses.

"Uh, I don't have the luck to win money. I wanted to go big, but I lost over three thousand in a few rounds, so I accepted my fate. With the remaining two thousand, I saw Luo Yu was on a roll and teamed up with him, haha! This guy must be wearing a red helmet today; his luck is incredible. He actually won over 1.5 million! This guy is loyal; he just gave me fifty thousand as a share, which makes all those years I brought him breakfast every day worth it. Now I not only have the down payment for a house, but combined with what I've saved over the years, I can also buy a decent domestic car. You just wait to drink at our wedding!"

Speaking of winning and losing, Zhu Yongqiang immediately threw everything else to the back of his mind. Having a marital home, buying a nice car, and getting married with dignity—these were the major life events he had long yearned for. Now that they were suddenly resolved, how could he not be exceptionally excited? Even the girlfriend beside him was now looking at him with eyes full of tenderness and affection.

Luo Yu smiled so wide his eyes were nearly slits, looking at Cao Xiao smugly as if to say: 'I'm a good bro, right?' Dai Zhihang was somewhat envious and a bit regretful, with a trace of lingering pain on his face—undoubtedly his girlfriend's handiwork—but he still remained silent.

Luo Yu winning money was inevitable; it was the result of Cao Xiao disrupting Hu Fei's plans and distracting him. If Zhu Yongqiang hadn't been so greedy and had stuck to it, he could have won a lot in the beginning too. Cao Xiao only asked about this to divert their attention; he couldn't stand the thought of them humbly pleading with Hu Fei on his behalf, so he kept rambling to pass the time. Originally, he was concerned about the many people in the casino and feared accidental injury to innocents, so Hu Fei's initiative to clear the room suited him perfectly.

Seeing that things were getting serious, the gamblers didn't want to get into trouble and cooperatively lined up to exchange their chips and leave one by one.

Hu Fei saw Cao Xiao and the others acting as if nothing was wrong, still laughing and talking. This was a complete lack of respect for him. They clearly hadn't realized what kind of fate awaited them now that they had fallen into his hands. Did they think it was like school, where a conflict could be easily resolved through someone's pleading? Simply too naive. He had never taken these so-called classmates seriously. Let them enjoy their foolish happiness for now! Taking my money comes with a price; just wait and see how I deal with you later!

Before long, the gamblers had all left, and the casino staff had also disappeared. Only Cao Xiao's group, Hu Fei, and over twenty casino security guards remained in the vast casino. Now, these guards completely surrounded Cao Xiao and the others. Hu Fei walked forward with a swagger, holding the arm of a proud-looking Liu Jiale, up to Cao Xiao. Even though he was more than ten centimeters shorter than Cao Xiao, at this moment, his gaze toward Cao Xiao was one of looking down.

"Class Monitor Hu, if I'm not mistaken, bringing us to the casino today was all arranged by you in advance, right? I'm curious, why did you go to such lengths to scheme against me? Don't say it's for Liu Jiale; I don't believe it!" Facing the surrounding fierce security guards, Cao Xiao remained calm and composed, looking at Hu Fei indifferently, wanting to hear the answer from his own mouth.

"Why? Hahaha! In my eyes, you're nothing but an ant I can crush at will. Even if the four of you were together, if I wanted to deal with you, I'd just need to say the word and plenty of people would act for me, making your lives a living hell! At my level, every move I make is a major event in your eyes. Why would I waste my energy on you?"

"As for Liu Jiale, haha! She's just my little pet. Did you really think I'd treasure a pair of 'worn-out shoes' that you played with? However, Cao Xiao, when I got Liu Jiale, I wondered if you were actually impotent from birth, hahaha!"

"So, when I saw your girlfriend today, as an old classmate and Class Monitor, I thought I should help you out no matter what. I'm someone who loves helping others, hahaha! I can't stop laughing! Hahaha!"

With no outsiders present, Hu Fei was unscrupulous and arrogant, eventually laughing until tears came to his eyes.

"Hu Fei, you beast in human clothing! You're worse than an animal! To think you were once our class monitor; you're nothing but a hypocrite! A pervert! Refined scum! It's our fault for being blind back then. Having you as a classmate is a disgrace to all our classmates and teachers!"

"I didn't expect you to hide it so well, acting all dignified on the surface while being so vile in secret. I want to castrate you right now. Someone like you should be thrown into a steel furnace to be burned to ash and scattered to the winds!"

Hu Fei's words were like a lit powder keg dropped into everyone's hearts. Since ancient times, plotting against another man's wife or daughter has been the ultimate insult and provocation, a taboo for all men. People with such behaviors and mindsets are the public enemies of all men, despised by the world. Furthermore, since it involved their brother, they were naturally filled with righteous indignation and flew into a rage. If Hu Fei had only been at odds with Cao Xiao before, after these words, he became their common enemy. Even Dai Zhihang, who usually never swore, spat out a long string of curses. Luo Yu's face was also contorted with rage, his finger nearly touching Hu Fei's nose. Zhu Yongqiang didn't say a word, even throwing the chips he had held like his lifeblood onto the ground without hesitation. If his girlfriend hadn't been pulling him back with all her might, his raised foot would have already kicked Hu Fei's crotch.

"You're dead! Your whole family is dead! No one can save you." He Yueyou was pale with anger, her eyes beginning to moisten. As Cao Xiao's fiancée and the person involved, the anger in her heart was like a volcanic eruption ready to destroy everything. She spoke through gritted teeth, and after finishing, she didn't spare Hu Fei another glance, taking out her phone to start dialing.

"Phew! Yueyou, don't notify the family. I'll handle it. I'll get revenge for you right now!" Although Cao Xiao could easily take down all twenty-plus guards himself, the other side had guns, and resolving them would take time. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to protect He Yueyou and the others from accidents if a fight broke out, so he restrained himself from acting.

Just then, Hu Fei spoke again: "Haha, curse all you want! The more you curse, the more fun it will be when I deal with you later. Actually, I particularly enjoy the feeling of tormenting people. Originally, it was just going to be Cao Xiao today, but since you guys don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being impolite and accepting you as well. Hahaha!" After speaking to Cao Xiao's group, he said to the guards, "There are three more little lambs. You guys play rock-paper-scissors to decide the order later!"

"Since that's the case, I can deal with you now with a clear conscience. I'll show you right now how that noble status you're so proud of and the capital that has inflated your ego to the point of distortion will be torn out by the roots by me!" Cao Xiao instead became calm, his gaze toward Hu Fei cold to the extreme. He slowly raised his right hand and then swung it down heavily.

"Still putting on an act even though you're in my hands. Even if you were sent by another casino, so what? Huanghe City is our family's territory. If you're a dragon, you'll coil for me; if you're a tiger, you'll crouch for me! No one can save you! However, I hope you resist a bit more fiercely. That will make me even happier. If you make me happy enough, I might even let you go!" Hu Fei looked at Cao Xiao as if he were a joke, even encouraging them, becoming more excited as he spoke.

Cao Xiao looked coldly at Hu Fei as if he were looking at a dead man. He didn't speak again, pulling He Yueyou into his protective embrace.

Luo Yu and the others suppressed their anger. The situation was dire. Having seen Hu Fei's true face and having calmed down slightly, fear began to spread. They already anticipated that the tragedy they might face could only be described as a disaster. For a man, watching his woman suffer abuse is a life-destroying catastrophe. Hu Fei's mind was twisted to a perverted degree. The other side was numerous, while their side had only four boys who didn't know how to fight. Even if they fought to the death, they couldn't change the outcome. It wasn't that they hadn't thought of calling the police, but there wasn't enough time, and with Hu Fei's background, they feared the police couldn't do anything. Even if the police arrived in time, they might hesitate for fear of collateral damage, and Hu Fei might do something desperate and take them down with him. So now, they had no choice but to accept their fate. Their girlfriends were already crying piteously in the face of the tragic fate about to descend. They never expected that accompanying their boyfriends to a class reunion would turn into a nightmare. Looking at the culprit, Cao Xiao, and his calm appearance at this moment, they all felt a shared sense of resentment.

*Boom!*

At that moment, a heavy and clear sound suddenly erupted.

Hu Fei, who was about to order his men to act, couldn't help but turn his head toward the sound. He saw the casino doors, which had been locked, fly off and crash onto the floor. A group of masked men in black flooded in. These men were even more burly and powerful than his own security guards. Seeing the objects in their hands pointed directly at his side, Hu Fei's mind went blank.

*Pop! Pop! Pop!*

As the uninvited guests rushed closer, a series of sounds like popping beans rang out continuously, followed by incessant screams. This pulled Hu Fei back to reality. He suddenly felt that his surroundings had become much brighter. Looking back, his own security guards were now collapsed on the ground, clutching their arms or legs and howling piteously. The vivid, striking red occupied his entire mind.

"Boss! Next time, can you not play like this?"

A large man walked up to Cao Xiao and took off his mask, his voice full of helplessness.

These were naturally Cao Xiao's bodyguards, and the one speaking was Duan Hong. Cao Xiao also shrugged helplessly and said, "I didn't want to either. I left in a hurry today and ran into a beast going mad; just my bad luck. Alright, enough talk. It's getting late, let's get to work. Cripple all five limbs of these guys and tie them up like pigs. A few of you go and strip this place of all its valuables. Brother Li, transfer all the funds from this casino's accounts, all Hu Family members' accounts, and the accounts of other casino shareholders to my overseas accounts."

Long before Cao Xiao notified his bodyguards, he had already had them investigate the relevant intelligence. Everything that had just happened was under the bodyguards' surveillance, so Cao Xiao only needed a gesture for the bodyguards, who were ready at all times, to rush in and attack immediately. He didn't know how much power the so-called Hu Family had, but since he and Hu Fei were already enemies, he naturally had no reservations. If he was going to act, he would root them out completely, leaving no future troubles. The same went for those casino guards; they had assisted the villain, and seeing how eager they were just now, this probably wasn't the first time they'd done something like this. Being so devoid of humanity, spending a lifetime in prison would be too good for them. Plus, since they dared to have lewd thoughts about He Yueyou, he had to express his feelings harshly.