The Rise of the White Lotus

Just as Ethan Lu informed Lyrick Jiang, he received a message from his phone. Without further ado, Ethan Lu checked the message containing an address. 

"Master, I'll order our men —"

"I'll go first." Not wasting a second, Ethan Lu sprinted outside, heading to the location that Dylan Lu sent. 

"Master!" Rushing to catch up to him, Lyrick Jiang's heart raced, sensing the ominous situation they were in. 

They underestimated Dylan Lu. They should have been more careful and shouldn't be complacent that he wouldn't make a move in Diane Huang's event. If they were, Lexi wouldn't be abducted. 

"Rick, I'll go first — I'll send you the location and follow me. Dylan wants me to come alone. I'm sure he'll know if I went with anyone else." As Ethan Lu sprinted towards the exit, he ordered Lyrick Jiang without pausing. 

Ethan Lu didn't have time to pause and plan. He needed to go to his wife as soon as possible, afraid that Dylan Lu would do something to Lexi — just like what he did to Victoria Tang. 

"Wait for my instructions." Ethan Lu added. 

"Master, here!" because of the adrenaline rush, Lyrick Jiang somehow par Ethan Lu's speed. He then shoved his spare phone to Ethan Lu. "We'll keep our distance, master. Please use this phone to communicate with us." Lyrick Jiang added. 

"Alright," Nodding his head, Ethan Lu continued to head to the parking space while Lyrick Jiang stopped in his tracks. 

Gasping, Lyrick Jiang watched Ethan Lu's back go farther away from him. After taking several heavy breaths, Lyrick Jiang gulped a mouthful of saliva as he immediately contacted his men. 

He got the gist of what Ethan Lu said. No matter how Lyrick Jiang was against about the idea of Ethan Lu going there alone, they could not possibly neglect Lexi's safety. Therefore, they have to make Dylan Lu think that Ethan Lu came alone. 

"Nico, follow Master's trail — make sure no one will notice you." After dialing Nico Zhuang's and Jarred Guo's number in a conference call, Lyrick Jiang didn't have time to give details as he gave them orders. 

"Red, bring all your men to the location I'll sent you — make sure they're armed." Lyrick Jiang eyes glinted as he set his commands. His last order surprised none of the two as Nico Zhuang and Jarred Guo treated it as the start of the war. 

After all, they knew Lexi was nowhere to be found. Just that both men knew something huge would happen. Hence, upon hearing Lyrick Jiang's command, Nico and Jarred understood that someone pushed Ethan Lu to the edge of the cliff. 

Tonight would surely be bloody. 

****

"I'm here. Where is she?" Standing outside of an abandon warehouse, Ethan Lu looked around. It took him almost an hour and a half to reach this place. 

If not for a fact that he drove in at maximum speed, Ethan Lu was certain he'd reach this desolated place longer. 

"Wow... you really came alone?" From the other end of the line, Dylan Lu chuckled heartily, seeing that there's only one person standing outside via the monitor he's looking at. 

The entire place has cameras. Hence, they would know if Ethan Lu brought company. Alas, no one followed Ethan Lu. Even if there were people on standby, Dylan Lu would know if someone entered the area. 

Still, even if Ethan Lu's reinforcement came, they would take at least ten minutes to reach this place. That ten minutes, Dylan Lu could do anything — even kill Ethan Lu — before he would flee. 

"Cousin, I never know you're this foolish. Just for a woman, you're willing to step into my traps. Tsk tsk," Shaking his head sideways, Dylan Lu clicked his tongue before he nodded his head to the man standing next to him. 

Even without words being said, the bulky man nodded his head and left the room. Shortly after, Dylan Lu watched his men hound on Ethan Lu through the monitor. 

Not showing a bit of remorse, they covered Ethan Lu's head as they dragged him inside after beating him badly. Dylan Lu watched them with an entertained countenance. 

Even if he didn't beat Ethan Lu himself, Dylan Lu was still satisfied that his men did. "Huh... I'll give you your most painful end." With a sneer, Dylan Lu stood from his seat as he headed out to welcome his foolish cousin. 

****

"My, my, how can they beat you so badly?" Staring at Ethan Lu's figure from his covered head to his feet with one missing shoe, Dylan Lu devilishly smirked. 

The ever dashing and properly dressed Ethan Lu was now filled with dirt and haggard. His expensive clothes was disheveled with a speck of blood all over him. 

"Hahahaha!" The more he stared at the pitiful state of the ever intimidating Ethan Lu, Dylan Lu could not help but burst out in laughter. "Do you really think your pretty little Lexi is here?" Holding on to his stomach, Dylan Lu laughed to his heart's content. 

Even if the entire world ends, Dylan Lu would never let them reunite again. Hence, he sent Lexi somewhere else while pretending that he had Lexi in this place. 

Who would have thought that Ethan Lu would fall for this basic dramatic scheme? Just thinking of Ethan Lu's frightened expression, Dylan Lu felt excited. 

"Remove that thing on his head." Jerking his chin to one of his men, Dylan Lu commanded. Without a second delay, the man standing near where Ethan Lu perched pulled the bag they placed in his head. 

"Say, cousin..." slowly, Dylan Lu took strides towards the weak figure sitting on the chair. Pulling his hair up, Dylan Lu smirked. Alas, it immediately vanished as soon as it appeared on his lips.

"You... why are you here?" Dylan Lu's eyes slowly widened upon seeing the person. It wasn't Ethan Lu — it was someone else; it was the person he hired to seduce Laurel Wang. 

Since he had his head hang low while he was standing outside, Dylan Lu didn't get a clear view of his face. However, just by his physical build and clothes that matched Ethan Lu, Dylan Lu didn't question him. 

Just then, Dylan Lu heard a click of a gun which made him jolt and turn around. Some men he hired had their guns on him and a few to his men. "What are you doing?!"

"Waiting for my signal before they pull the trigger — that's what they were doing." Out of nowhere, Louis Lu's chilly voice assailed his ears as he entered the scene languidly. 

When Dylan Lu set his eyes on Louis Lu, his eyes widened even more that he took a frightened step back. "You..."

"Hello there, my dear cousin. You don't look happy to see me, unlike your reunion with that man." The side of Louis Lu's lips stretched into a smirk as an ominous glint flashed across his pair of sharp eyes.