Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 590: Chapter 591: Rare Leisure

Rose felt a bit dejected. She could tell that Yang Chen wasn't unwilling to talk; rather, he himself didn't fully understand. So, she didn't press further.

However, Yang Chen remembered a crucial issue. He lifted Rose onto his lap and asked, "Darling Rose, tell me the truth. What naughty thing did you do while I was away? How did you end up injuring yourself?"

Rose pouted and said plaintively, "I didn't do anything naughty that you didn't allow."

"You allowed it?" Yang Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Rose nodded. "Didn't you promise me to expand our influence in other provinces with the Qinglong Society? Recently, I've been reclaiming some peripheral underworld forces in northern Su Province."

Listening to Rose's explanation, Yang Chen learned the whole story. Apparently, after cooperating with Liu Qingshan, Rose and he split their forces for faster expansion. Liu Qingshan started from the main headquarters in Yandu and expanded south, while Rose's Hongjing Society started from the Central Sea and expanded north.

Their strategy seemed sound, squeezing their opponents from both ends and putting pressure on them. Within a year or two, relying on the underworld forces in the eastern coastal provinces of Yansha, they would overwhelm the local underworld in Yandu and the Central Sea, extending further southwest and northwest.

Unexpectedly, the underworld in Su Province, adjacent to the Central Sea, was not simple. After the Hongjing Society encroached on the White Wolf Society, the largest force in Su Province, the latter retaliated fiercely, leading to intense friction on the periphery for some time.

Many of the elite of the Hongjing Society had been trained by the Seahawk Team. Although they could only be considered as having learned some rudimentary skills, their combat effectiveness was comparable to ordinary special forces.

To Rose's surprise, during a fierce clash, a senior figure from the White Wolf Society exhibited considerable martial arts skill, even practicing hard qigong. Rose had initially believed that, with Yang Chen's guidance and consultations with the Seahawk Team, there would be no one in the underworld who could match her. However, the White Wolf Society proved to have hidden talents.

Due to a momentary lapse, Rose took a direct blow when her opponent suddenly used internal energy. Her arm went numb, and she lost sensation in half of it. Stunned by this unexpected use of force, her speed slowed, and she received a severe blow to her back, causing further damage.

If Rose hadn't previously been strengthened by Yang Chen's blood, improving her physical resilience, these blows would have been more than just internal injuries affecting her meridians. Even if she didn't cough up three liters of blood, she would have been bedridden for two to three months.

Yang Chen wasn't familiar with the underworld forces in Yansha, so the name "White Wolf Society" didn't mean much to him. Now that he understood, he asked, "So, what's the situation in Su Province now?"

Rose reluctantly replied, "I didn't expect there to be martial arts experts in the White Wolf Society. Their enforcers are exceptionally skilled. We couldn't break through their defenses. If this continues, the police and military in Su Province won't tolerate it. So, I ordered Rongrong to withdraw everyone to the outskirts of the Central Sea. It's infuriating. The White Wolf Society has hidden so well all these years, causing us to lose so many men without gaining any advantage."

Seeing Rose clenching her teeth in frustration, Yang Chen gently stroked her now flushed cheek and asked softly, "Darling Rose, do you really want to expand your influence so much?"

"Um?" Rose noticed the complexity in the man's tone and blinked her bright eyes, "Honey, what's wrong?"

Yang Chen smiled and said slowly, "Actually, when I came in just now, I saw that you were hurt, and I got really angry."

Rose lowered her head in shame. "I know I was wrong. I'll be more careful in the future."

"You did nothing wrong. I'm angry at myself," Yang Chen said, holding her hand and gently rubbing it. "I'm mad at myself for not being able to take better care of you. This isn't the first time you've gotten hurt. Even though I can heal you quickly, I'm really worried that one day I might not be in time to catch you."

Feeling Yang Chen's deep guilt, Rose also became a bit flustered. She quickly shook her head and said, "No, I promise I won't do anything dangerous again. I'll stay in the back. I can do that!"

"But I can't treat you like that," Yang Chen said with a bitter smile. "Just being with me already makes you suffer. I can give you my heart, and I can help you with anything you want, but I don't have much time to spend with you. I can protect you, but I can't always be by your side. And I can't keep you like a canary in a cage. If I don't let you do what you love, it's like imprisoning you! I know you love the underworld business. I know you love the struggle. You've lived in that environment since you were a child. I know it's hard to change. How could I bear to leave you alone in this empty house all the time? I agreed to work with the Green Dragon Society before because I was afraid you wouldn't be happy, but now that you're hurt, I suddenly feel like I can't give you happiness."

Rose suddenly reached out and covered Yang Chen's mouth, shaking her head slightly. "Don't say that. It's rare for you to have time to be with me. Why don't we go out for a walk? I've been cooped up at home these days and I'm really bored."

Yang Chen sighed helplessly and nodded, "Go change your clothes, I'll wait for you here."

Only then did Rose smile brightly. She kissed Yang Chen on the cheek, then ran upstairs lightly, showing no sign of her previous injury.

Women always take their time when going out. Even Rose, who wasn't too concerned about her appearance, took her time. Yang Chen waited downstairs for over twenty minutes before Rose, dressed neatly, came running down from upstairs.

She was wearing a loose, silver-gray silk blouse, paired with a side-layered turquoise skirt, and black leather wide-heeled sandals. Her hair was simply tied back, and she looked much more refreshed.

Seeing her radiate with vitality again, Yang Chen felt much better. Letting the happy Rose take his arm, the two walked out the door.

Once in the car, Yang Chen started the engine but then realized he didn't know where they were going. He asked, "Rose darling, do you want to go shopping or grab something to eat?"

Rose fastened her seatbelt, thought for a moment, and said, "Honey, what do young couples do when they go on dates nowadays?"

Yang Chen chuckled, "What do you mean 'nowadays'? Are we that old? We do what young people do!"

Rose giggled. "I remember, someone is actually younger than me. No wonder you're afraid of being called old."

"Hey," Yang Chen feigned anger and glared at her. "Don't bring age into this. Just a few years apart, what's the big deal?"

Recalling that he used to call her "Sister Rose" before they were a couple, Yang Chen felt a bit embarrassed. Now, it seemed a little shy.

Rose knew Yang Chen wasn't really angry. She laughed and said, "Young hubby, then take me to do what young people like us should do."

Young hubby?!

Yang Chen was annoyed, and his eyes flashed mischievously. "Rose darling, if you keep calling me that, I'll do something here in the car."

Hearing this, Rose immediately shrank toward the car door and shut her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter. She didn't really want Yang Chen to push her down in the car and do something embarrassing. After all, the car was parked on the roadside without any curtains. If this thick-skinned man really pounced, and she couldn't resist, they would become a laughingstock for the passersby.

Moreover, quite a few members of the Red Thorn Society were lurking around their home. As the president, she couldn't let herself be bullied by a man in front of her subordinates.