They rushed to the window and looked outside. A group of people were storming into the courtyard with flashlights, led by none other than Butler Zhou!
There was no need to discuss it. They immediately decided to go downstairs. The space up here was cramped, and if anything happened, they wouldn't be able to maneuver. Before going down, though, Jiang Cheng and the others went into the bedroom and dragged Song Keli out.
The two groups met on the first-floor landing. When Butler Zhou saw Jiang Cheng and the others, a vicious gleam flashed in his eyes. But when he saw Song Keli, he clearly grew wary and forced a smile. "Don't be alarmed, gentlemen. We're here at Madam Su's request to check on Old Master Su. She also said that if we found him safe and sound, we were to reward you handsomely!"
"This is the first time I've seen anyone show gratitude like that," Yao Shunyu retorted. "Never mind not bringing gold or jewels—you're thanking us with knives?"
More than a dozen men dressed as servants stood behind Butler Zhou, all holding Japanese swords. They stared at the group with grim expressions, hands on their hilts, murderous intent radiating from them.
Two of the men near the back looked familiar to the chubby man from Jiang Cheng. "Hey, aren't you the coachmen?" Now that they'd dropped the act, he saw no reason to humor them. "I remember you two. You were good at pulling the cart, but a bit slow climbing the bridge."
"Baka!" The square-faced Japanese man who had once chased Jiang Cheng for the fare lost his temper first. With a metallic rasp, he drew his sword, its blade flashing coldly.
Now that they'd been exposed, Butler Zhou stopped pretending, too. He sneered and threatened Jiang