A strange silence fell over the private room.

What audacity!

Zeng Biao stared darkly at Chen Yang, his face unreadable. He then began to clap slowly. "Kid, your skills are decent enough! But in the end, you're just one person."

"I've met people with your kind of skill before. Now, they're either in wheelchairs or rotting in a prison cell."

Zeng Biao squinted, saying in a leisurely tone, "How could a little punk like you possibly imagine the influence I, Zeng Biao, wield in Xicheng?"

Chen Yang laughed. Is this guy really threatening me?

Just as he was about to make his move and take down this old thug who considered himself invincible, his phone suddenly rang.

Chen Yang frowned, took out his phone, and answered the call.

"Lord Chen, it's Zhao Yinghu," the man on the other end said, getting straight to the point. "I just heard from my subordinates that they saw you at Zero Degree Bar. It seems you've run into some trouble?"

"It's nothing serious. Just some petty thug who calls himself Biao, saying he wants to teach me a lesson," Chen Yang replied nonchalantly.

He had just finished speaking when Zhao Yinghu's angry, low voice came through the phone. "Lord Chen, may I ask, is his name Zeng Biao?"

"I believe so."

Zhao Yinghu spoke urgently. "This matter doesn't require Lord Chen's personal attention. I'll be there in five minutes."

Chen Yang said nothing more and hung up.

So, Zhao Yinghu knows this Biao fellow? That's not surprising. They're both thugs, so they move in the same circles.

After hearing Chen Yang's side of the conversation, Zeng Biao smirked. "What's this? Calling for backup already?"

"But is one call going to be enough? Don't worry, keep dialing. I promise I won't stop you."

Zeng Biao crossed his legs, leaning back with supreme confidence. "I'd like to see just who in Lingjin City dares to cross me."

Hearing this, Chen Yang simply sat back down to wait for Zhao Yinghu. Zhao Yinghu's influence is certainly greater, so this should grant Zeng Biao his wish. Besides, I can't be bothered to dirty my hands on trash like him.

Less than five minutes later, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Everyone turned to see an older man in elegant black attire enter, followed by a dozen or so well-built men in sharp suits.

The man scanned the room. His gaze paused for a few seconds on the blood-soaked young man before shifting to Zeng Biao on the sofa. He then hurried towards Chen Yang.

Zeng Biao was visibly stunned. Then, as if his pants were on fire, he shot up from the sofa without a moment's hesitation. He rushed to greet Zhao Yinghu, bowing respectfully. "Lord Hu, what brings you here?"

Although Zeng Biao called the shots in Xicheng, compared to Zhao Yinghu, he was merely an underling, a junior. In fact, he was required to hand over thirty percent of his annual income to Zhao Yinghu. Otherwise, how could he possibly hold power in Xicheng? Zhao Yinghu could replace him at any time he wished. To put it bluntly, for Zeng Biao, seeing Zhao Yinghu was like a grandson coming face-to-face with his grandfather.

"Lord Hu?"

Hearing those two words, Lu Hao, Li Chao, and everyone else stood with their mouths agape, their faces a mask of shock.

The Lord Hu of Lingjin City! Was there anyone who didn't know his name? Who didn't fear him?

Everyone drew a sharp breath, wondering why such a genuine titan of the underworld had shown up.

The color drained from Li Chao's face. Any slim chance they might have had was now completely gone.

However, a completely unexpected scene unfolded. In response to Zeng Biao's respectful greeting, Zhao Yinghu's expression darkened, and he struck him with a hard slap across the face.

SMACK!

Zeng Biao stumbled back, clutching his swelling cheek. He stared at Zhao Yinghu in terrified disbelief. "Lord... Lord Hu, this is..."

Zhao Yinghu ignored him completely. He walked over to Chen Yang and bowed deeply. "Lord Chen, my deepest apologies! I am sorry that you and your friends were frightened."

"It is my failure to properly manage my subordinates that allowed this blind dog to offend you," Zhao Yinghu said, deeply embarrassed but firm. "But please rest assured, I will give you a satisfactory resolution!"

Internally, he was already cursing up a storm. What kind of idiots do I have working for me? First Du Xiaojiu, and now Zeng Biao! Of all the people to provoke, they had to go and offend this living deity? If you want to die, fine, but don't drag me down with you! I've finally made a good life for myself, and I don't want to die so young! In his mind, he cursed eighteen generations of Zeng Biao's ancestors.

As soon as Zhao Yinghu spoke, a deathly silence descended upon the room. Everyone, to a man, froze as if turned to stone, only the terror flickering in their eyes proving they were still alive.

What in the world is happening? The great Lord Hu of Lingjin City is treating that loser with such reverence, such fear? An illusion! This has to be an illusion, right?

Even though it was happening right before their eyes, none of them could believe what they were seeing.

Zeng Biao was completely dumbfounded, staring blankly at Chen Yang.

He swallowed hard as cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He knew of the legendary Lord Chen, a figure who was practically a taboo topic. It was said that this Lord Chen had once sent the Martial Department to surround Lord Hu's headquarters. Afterward, he had personally killed both Qin Wu and Luyue Mountain's Fist King, Bald Eagle!

But how could I ever have imagined that such a transcendent master would be hanging out with a bunch of students?

At this realization, the sheer gravity of the situation hit him. "This... this is a case of the flood overwhelming the Dragon King's Temple—I've attacked one of our own!" he stammered in terror. "I truly didn't know your identity, Lord Chen! I was blind! I beg you, Lord Chen, a great man like you shouldn't concern yourself with the offenses of a nobody like me."

But before Chen Yang could reply, Zhao Yinghu spoke first. He held out his hand and bellowed, "Bring me my broadsword!"

A cold dread shot through Zeng Biao, and he trembled violently. He knew what had happened to Du Xiaojiu! Am I... am I next?

THUD!

Zeng Biao dropped to his knees. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" he pleaded desperately. "Please, give me another chance!"

Just then, Zhao Yinghu's men brought his broadsword forward.

Zhao Yinghu hefted the heavy blade in one hand. Its edge glinted with a biting coldness, and the very air in the room seemed to drop in temperature.

Just as Zhao Yinghu raised the broadsword high, ready to bring it down on Zeng Biao, Chen Yang raised a hand. "Let it go," he said. "It's not that serious."

The main reason is that it wasn't Qin Mo they were trying to take advantage of. Otherwise, someone would already be dead.

Chen Yang stood up. "Just try to do less evil in the future."

A look of immense relief washed over Zeng Biao's face. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he apologized profusely. "I won't! I promise it will never happen again!"

Chen Yang said no more and walked straight out of the room. The others didn't dare linger and scrambled to follow him.

The group followed Chen Yang out of the bar in complete silence.

"I heard you had another party planned?" Outside the bar, Chen Yang glanced at the group, his eyes finally landing on Li Chao.

Li Chao looked like he was about to die of fright. He shook his head frantically. "No! Nothing else planned!"

If anyone was feeling utterly gleeful at that moment, it was Fan Xiaoxian. She lifted her chin proudly. "Still think my Brother Chen is a loser? If he's a loser, then what does that make all of you?"

"You call yourselves men, but you don't have an ounce of courage. I despise you from the bottom of my heart," Fan Xiaoxian scoffed.

Just then, Chen Yang's phone rang. It was an unknown number.

As soon as he answered, a deep voice spoke from the other end. "I want that prescription within three days."

Chen Yang paused, then laughed. "And you are?"

"The name is Ye Nantian, one of the two Protectors of the Martial Association."

...

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