Lord Hu was just about to step forward to apologize when Li Shiqi caught his eye.
Since it was a school reunion today, he certainly didn't want everyone to know about his connection to the Allheaven Sect.
Catching Li Shiqi's hint, Lord Hu understood instantly. He gave a light cough and said, "These people are just enjoying a school reunion, why bother them? Our private room is down the hall!"
Zhang Hao and the others were taken aback, clearly not expecting Lord Hu to speak in such a manner.
They knew full well how arrogant Li Shiqi had been just a moment ago.
Normally, the Allheaven Sect would never let someone like that off so easily.
"Lord Hu, this brat laid hands on our Allheaven Sect brothers, we can't just let him go like this!"
One of the men spoke up, looking utterly resolute.
Given the might of the Allheaven Sect, how could they tolerate such insolence?
*Slap!*
No sooner had the man finished speaking than Lord Hu delivered a resounding slap across his face. "Are you tired of living? Since when do you ignore my orders?"
The man was left dazed by the blow. He had assumed Lord Hu would agree with him and praise his loyalty.
Never had he imagined he would receive a slap instead.
Zhang Hao and his classmates watched in utter shock, completely bewildered by the turn of events.
"Get moving!"
The leading man stepped forward and gave the dazed subordinate a kick. By now, he had finally figured it out.
The Li Shiqi standing before them was none other than the supreme master of their Allheaven Sect.
Otherwise, knowing Lord Hu's temper, he would never have acted so leniently.
Nursing his cheek, the subordinate felt deeply wronged, yet he had no choice but to obey.
Once everyone had cleared out of the private room, the lead man turned to Li Shiqi and said respectfully, "Please forgive us for the offense earlier!"
With that, he hurried away, his heart pounding with anxiety.
The sect master had repeatedly and sternly warned them never to cross the supreme master, and today he had almost made a fatal mistake.
As soon as they left, Zhang Dashan asked, "Shiqi, don't you think they were acting a bit weird? Why did they just leave like that?"
"Weird?"
Li Shiqi shrugged. "Maybe they found their conscience, realized they were in the wrong, and decided to leave!"
Zhang Dashan gave him a skeptical look, finding the explanation far-fetched.
Sitting quietly to the side, Wan Jiayi blinked her eyes.
If she guessed correctly, Li Shiqi definitely knew Lord Hu.
She had been sitting closest to Li Shiqi and had caught him giving Lord Hu a subtle wink.
"Li Shiqi, do you know people from the Allheaven Sect?" Qin Ruping asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
If Li Shiqi didn't know anyone in the Allheaven Sect, there was no way those thugs would have backed down so easily.
Besides, anyone with eyes could tell something was amiss with how things had just played out.
"It's not important!"
Li Shiqi stood up. "We've had enough to eat, it's time to go."
A school reunion like this had completely lost its appeal for him.
"Li Shiqi, don't you think you owe us an explanation for what happened today?"
Zhang Hao fixed his gaze on Li Shiqi, convinced that today's events were far from simple.
Yet, even he couldn't put his finger on exactly what went wrong.
"What kind of explanation do you want?"
Li Shiqi smiled. "Besides, I don't think I have anything to explain to you, of all people!"
With that, Li Shiqi walked out of White Tiger Restaurant.
Zhang Dashan and Wan Jiayi followed closely behind.
Back in the private room, Zhang Hao's expression turned gloomy.
He had expected to hold his head high and bask in glory today, only for things to turn out this way.
He had originally thought Li Shiqi would get the beating of a lifetime.
Instead, the exact opposite had happened, leading him to believe that Li Shiqi must be hiding an identity none of them knew about.
"We really have you to thank for today!" Wan Jiayi said. "If you're free sometime, I'd like to treat you to dinner."
"Sure!" Li Shiqi agreed without hesitation.
"Shiqi, what was going on with today?"
Zhang Dashan asked, having finally had a moment to process everything.
The departure of the Allheaven Sect members was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Wan Jiayi also looked at Li Shiqi, equally curious about the matter.
"Some things are better left unknown," Li Shiqi chuckled, offering no further explanation.
Although Li Shiqi didn't spell it out, Wan Jiayi had a hunch that he was somehow connected to the Allheaven Sect.
After chatting for a little while longer, they parted ways.
Feeling rather exhausted, Li Shiqi headed toward Longquan Villa.
Just as he reached the entrance, he spotted a luxury car parked outside.
Old Master Jiang and Jiang Hong seemed to have been waiting for quite some time.
"Grandson-in-law, we've finally been waiting for you!"
Old Master Jiang said with a smile. "Jiang Hong had a misunderstanding with you last time, so I specifically brought her here to apologize!"
"It was my fault before, I hope you can forgive me!"
Jiang Hong wore a helpless expression as she added, "Actually, I've always liked you. If you're willing, I can be yours tonight!"
Seeing Jiang Hong put on such an act, Li Shiqi burst out laughing.
True to form, these members of the Jiang Family would go to any lengths just to get their hands on the medical prescription.
"Grandson-in-law, as long as you agree to the marriage, our Jiang Family will naturally return the Li Family assets to you!"
Old Master Jiang made a firm guarantee. Jiang Hong had already filled him in.
Li Shiqi had always been resentful of the Li Family's assets being swallowed up, so he decided to use that as bait.
"Don't worry, whatever the Jiang Family has swallowed down, they'll be spitting right back up soon enough!"
Li Shiqi sneered. "As for that Ancient Medical Prescription, you can forget about it. I'll say it again: I'd rather burn it to ashes than give it to your Jiang Family!"
Old Master Jiang's face turned livid, clearly not expecting Li Shiqi to be so resolute.
He had gone to tremendous lengths in hopes of securing the prescription.
"Grandpa, do you see it now?"
Jiang Hong scoffed dismissively. "He has no intention of handing over the Ancient Medical Prescription. Why bother humbling ourselves before him?"
"You wretched girl!"
Old Master Jiang struck her across the face with a hard slap. If Jiang Hong hadn't been so brainless and provoked Li Shiqi in the first place, things would never have reached this point.
"Grandson-in-law, is there truly no room for negotiation?" Old Master Jiang asked, his expression growing solemn.
"Stop putting on an act!"
Li Shiqi smiled coldly. "Back then, when my father was framed and thrown in prison, not only did your Jiang Family refuse to help, but you also secretly devoured the Li Family's businesses. And now you still want the Li Family's Ancient Medical Prescription? There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world!"
"Since you've put it that way, there's no need for me to keep up pretexts either!"
Old Master Jiang sneered. "You're right, those things were indeed done by the Jiang Family. But here in Longcheng, with no one to protect you, both you and your sister are in grave danger. The Lu Family already knows you're back. If you hand over the prescription, perhaps our Jiang Family can spare your life!"
"Rest assured, both your Jiang Family and the Lu Family will pay for what you've done," Li Shiqi said, his voice cold and indifferent, yet leaving no room for argument.
"We shall see!"
Old Master Jiang sneered, turning away with a sharp, piercing glint in his eyes.
As the saying goes, courtesy before force; since diplomacy had failed, he didn't mind resorting to harsher methods.
A few days later.
Major media outlets in Longcheng scrambled to report the news.
The Youth Pill launched by Tianhai Pharmaceuticals had demonstrated extraordinary efficacy, sending its market value soaring and creating quite a sensation.
Prior to this, Tianhai Pharmaceuticals had been on the verge of bankruptcy.
Word had it that a mysterious tycoon had invested in the company, breathing new life into Tianhai Pharmaceuticals and turning its fortunes around.