"So, you're a waiter. Well, that's a fine profession—truly... truly the perfect fit for Brother Chen." He Chao's disdain was plain for all to see.
Lin Yujia’s expression shifted, and she said angrily, "He Chao, what do you mean by that?"
"My apologies, my apologies. It’s just that I didn't expect him to be a waiter, that’s all." He Chao apologized with a smile, though there was no hint of sincerity in his demeanor.
Zhou Ruohua couldn't have been more pleased. *You stinking loser, let’s see you keep up the act now!*
Suddenly, with a loud "clatter," the door to the private room was pushed open. Two men walked in, smelling heavily of alcohol. They were none other than Snake and the bald man Chen Feiyu had encountered at the mall earlier. Since Chen Feiyu and Lin Yujia were facing away from the door, the men did not immediately recognize him.
He Chao stood up, frowning. "Gentlemen, I think you’ve walked into the wrong room."
Snake had indeed walked into the wrong room and was prepared to back out, but upon seeing Qin Danya and Zhou Ruohua, his lecherous desires took over. He decided to stick to his guns. "Little girl, our boss has taken a liking to you. How about you come and share a drink with him?"
The faces of He Chao, Zhao Jun, and the third man shifted instantly. Zhou Ruohua and Qin Danya were their dates; having someone try to poach them right in front of their faces was more than any man could stomach. The two women were trembling with rage.
He Chao’s expression darkened. "Gentlemen, we are not people you can afford to offend. If you leave right now, I can pretend this never happened. Otherwise..."
Snake sneered coldly. "Damn it, you dare threaten me? I’m telling you, if you don't let this girl come drink with our boss, none of you are leaving this room today."
Zhao Jun, the captain of the soccer team, had the shortest temper. He had always held a torch for Qin Danya, and seeing his goddess insulted was the final straw. He immediately kicked out, knocking Snake to the ground, and barked, "Damn, you were asking for a beating!"
He Chao and Li Jianfeng jumped in as well, showing no mercy. While Snake and the bald man were capable fighters, they were already drunk and unsteady. Faced with a numerical disadvantage, they were quickly beaten to the ground and forced to scurry away, though Snake cast a venomous glare over his shoulder as he fled.
Chen Feiyu let out an amused chuckle.
"Damn, they were lucky they ran fast, otherwise I’d have crippled them," Zhao Jun spat, still fuming.
Qin Danya said worriedly, "They’ve definitely gone to get more people. Should we leave now?"
Zhao Jun boasted, "Don't worry, Goddess Qin, I’ll protect you. No matter who they bring, I’ll beat them like dogs!"
Chen Feiyu shook his head inwardly.
Suddenly, a dignified voice boomed from outside the door: "Oh? I, Jiang Tianhu, would like to see who is so arrogant that they dare beat my men like dogs on my own turf."
The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man in a blue traditional Chinese jacket walked in. He looked somewhat frail, with a sickly, pale complexion and a malicious expression. A green jade thumb ring adorned his left hand, and his right arm was draped around a stunning, seductive woman wearing a red qipao with a daringly high slit. Behind him trailed a group of henchmen, with the bruised and battered Snake and the bald man among them.
"Ji... Jiang Tianhu?"
He Chao, Zhao Jun, and Li Jianfeng turned pale, their composure shattering instantly. Jiang Tianhu, known as the "Number One Tiger of Mingji," was a legendary figure in the underworld. It was said he was ruthless and cold-blooded, once wiping out an entire rival clan in a single night, and that he had powerful connections that made him untouchable throughout the entire city. Even their fathers would have to bow their heads and respectfully call him "Brother Tiger" if they were standing here.
"Br-Brother Tiger," He Chao stammered, offering a sycophantic smile. "We didn't know they were your men. Please, forgive our offense."
Zhou Ruohua and Qin Danya, being women, hadn't heard much of Jiang Tianhu's reputation. Zhou Ruohua, filled with indignation, snapped, "He Chao, are you even a man? They were the ones who bullied us first, and you’re apologizing?"
He Chao’s face drained of color. He wanted to strangle Zhou Ruohua right then and there. *Damn it, that’s the cold-blooded Jiang Tianhu! He could have you gang-raped with a single word and walk away unscathed. Are you trying to get us all killed?*
The woman in the qipao, clinging to Jiang Tianhu, giggled. "Brother Tiger, it seems this little girl doesn't think much of you."
Jiang Tianhu stroked her smooth skin and sneered. "Fine. She's got guts. Baldy, whoever threw the hands, cripple them. Let me see who dares to move now."
Lin Yujia huddled into Chen Feiyu’s chest, shivering in terror. He Chao and the others looked panicked; Zhao Jun and Li Jianfeng stared at He Chao with a mixture of regret and silent pleading.
He Chao quickly interjected, "Brother Tiger, my father is He Tianan from the state-owned enterprise. He’s had drinks with you before."
"Oh? So you're Manager He's son?" Jiang Tianhu paused for a moment. "Fine, I’ll give Manager He some face..."
Before they could breathe a sigh of relief, Jiang Tianhu continued, "The men will each lose a hand, and the women will all come with us to have a few drinks and apologize to my brothers."
Zhou Ruohua and Qin Danya turned ghost-white. In their eyes, He Chao’s father was already a figure of immense status, yet Jiang Tianhu didn't care for him in the slightest. They finally realized what kind of monster they had provoked. He Chao, Zhao Jun, and Li Jianfeng stood trembling, their faces ashen.
The bald man let out a boisterous laugh, grabbed a beer bottle, and smashed it over Zhao Jun’s head. Blood splattered everywhere as he cursed, "Damn you, that’s for hitting me!"
Snake’s eyes lit up. With a wicked grin, he stepped forward, reaching for Lin Yujia in Chen Feiyu’s arms. Suddenly, a powerful force struck him, sending him flying backward to land face-first at Jiang Tianhu’s feet.
"I don't mind you crippling them, but did you ever ask for my permission to take these three beauties?" Chen Feiyu stood up, eyeing them with a sidelong glance.
"Brother Yu..." Lin Yujia looked at him with concern. Chen Feiyu gave her a reassuring look.
Snake scrambled up, shouting, "That’s him! Brother Tiger, it was this brat who caused the trouble at the mall!"
Jiang Tianhu’s expression darkened. "Small world. Cripple him, and then throw him out to feed the dogs!"
Snake, the bald man, and the rest of Jiang Tianhu’s men swarmed forward, leaving only one cold-faced young man standing behind.
"Be careful..." Lin Yujia cried out.
"Overestimating yourselves!"
Chen Feiyu let out a cold snort and lunged into the fray. In less than ten seconds, Snake and all the others were lying on the ground, struggling in vain to get back up.
Everyone present, including Brother Tiger and the youth behind him, was stunned. Lin Yujia, Zhou Ruohua, and Qin Danya were especially wide-eyed with disbelief.
Chen Feiyu walked over to Snake and sneered, "Was this the hand you used to try and grab my companion?"
He stomped down hard. With a sickening *crunch*, Snake’s right hand was shattered.
Jiang Tianhu’s face went black. "Not bad, brat. No wonder you dared to snub me. Leng Dao, cripple him. Let him learn that I, Jiang Tianhu, am the law in this city!"
Leng Dao stepped forward, unsheathing his sharp dual blades. His eyes burned with battle intent. "Will you break your own arm, or shall I do it for you?"
"You talk too much. Fight if you want to fight," Chen Feiyu replied indifferently.
"Then prepare to die!" Leng Dao gripped his blades, his feet launching him forward like an arrow. A biting arc of steel cut through the air.
The man was cold, but his blades were colder.
"Brother Tiger, with Leng Dao making a move, that boy is as good as dead," the woman in the qipao cooed.
Jiang Tianhu nodded smugly. "Of course. Leng Dao may only be thirty, but he’s been training in martial arts since childhood. He’s already a master at the Qi Combination Late-stage—one of the top five fighters in all of Mingji City. His dual blade technique is inherited from a prestigious Luoyang school; they say his blades can slice through flowing water and defeat opponents above his level. Last year, he personally executed a master at the Netherworld Access Early-stage in public. This boy might have a few tricks, but he won't last a single strike."
Jiang Tianhu shook his head, already visualizing Chen Feiyu’s head hitting the floor.
He Chao and the others were terrified. They didn't know much about martial artists, but they had heard their elders speak of these levels; they knew the Qi Combination stage was already an elite level. No wonder Jiang Tianhu had been so arrogant for so long. He Chao’s face turned gray with despair.
***
As they spoke, Leng Dao reached Chen Feiyu and raised his blades, bringing them down in a brutal overhead strike intended to kill him on the spot!
Suddenly, Leng Dao’s vision blurred. Chen Feiyu was gone. He felt a jolt of panic.
"You're too slow," Chen Feiyu’s voice came from behind him, sounding almost disappointed.
Jiang Tianhu felt as if he had been slapped in the face; his smile froze. He hadn't expected Chen Feiyu to be fast enough to dodge Leng Dao’s strike. The woman in the qipao gasped, her mouth agape.
Leng Dao, caught off guard, thrust his blades backward in a fluid, natural motion that showcased his mastery. But Chen Feiyu was faster, effortlessly distancing himself.
With his strike missing, a hint of gravity appeared on Leng Dao’s face for the first time. "Take this one."
He crossed his blades and sprang toward Chen Feiyu, roaring, "Dual Blade Cross-Slash!"
Jiang Tianhu shouted in excitement, "Leng Dao is using his signature move! Last year, that Netherworld Access Early-stage master was decapitated by this very strike. Since he’s using his ultimate move, the outcome is decided!"
Leng Dao’s blades crossed, carving a brilliant, deadly cross into the air, determined to carve Chen Feiyu into pieces.
"Brother Yu, look out..." Lin Yujia covered her mouth, and even Qin Danya and Zhou Ruohua couldn't bear to watch.
"You are too weak," Chen Feiyu said, standing perfectly still.
As if to prove his point, Chen Feiyu simply reached out his left hand to meet the lethal arc.
The terrifying glow of the blades came to an abrupt halt. The razor-sharp edges were held firmly between Chen Feiyu’s fingers.
"What?"
Leng Dao was shocked. Jiang Tianhu was shocked. Everyone in the room was stunned.
Leng Dao’s strike, which was supposed to be unstoppable—a strike that had killed a master of the Netherworld Access stage—was caught effortlessly? Was Chen Feiyu a master of the Netherworld Access Mid-stage?
Jiang Tianhu was terrified.
Chen Feiyu followed up with a sudden, thunderous punch to Leng Dao’s chest. Leng Dao groaned, spraying blood as he was sent flying backward. He slammed into the wall with such force that cracks spiderwebbed across the surface.
Leng Dao, defeated by a single punch!
Lin Yujia cheered, "Brother Yu, you're amazing!"
Zhou Ruohua and Qin Danya were awestruck, their joy quickly followed by waves of regret as they recalled their earlier mockery of him. They bit their lips, feeling a deep, stinging shame.
He Chao’s face turned an ugly shade of green. He had cowered in fear, lacking the courage to even resist Jiang Tianhu, while the man he had despised had not only stood up for them but displayed overwhelming power. The stark contrast made him feel like a complete idiot. He knew that after this, not just Lin Yujia, but even Zhou Ruohua and Qin Danya would be forever indebted to Chen Feiyu.
*Damn it,* he thought, *if I had known, I never would have come here.* He shot a hateful glare at Zhou Ruohua.
Chen Feiyu twirled the dual blades in his hand and walked slowly toward Jiang Tianhu.
Jiang Tianhu’s face paled. He prepared to run, but suddenly felt a chill at his throat. Chen Feiyu had closed the distance and held the blade against his neck. The woman in the qipao screamed and fell to the floor; her dress shifted, revealing a glimpse of what lay beneath. Chen Feiyu caught an accidental eyeful, felt his breath hitch, and quickly looked away.
*Dammit, even Jiang Tianhu is no match for him. What a useless piece of trash!*
In the room across the hall, Li Tongwei was sitting at a dinner party. He had watched the conflict unfold, hoping to see Jiang Tianhu teach Chen Feiyu a lesson. He never imagined the result would be this.
"Well," Li Tongwei sneered, picking up his phone. "It’s more satisfying to get revenge myself anyway. Hello, Director Zhou? This is Li Tongwei..."
Ignoring Li Tongwei, Chen Feiyu pressed the blade closer to Jiang Tianhu’s throat. "Now, I am the butcher, and you are the meat. Do you accept this?"
Jiang Tianhu’s face shifted. He offered a subservient smile. "Brother, I had eyes but failed to see the mountain. I didn't know you were a master of the Netherworld Access stage. Please, forgive me. However, I work for the Xie family in Mingji City. Killing me is one thing, but if you offend the Xie family, even a master like you will have a hard time."
*Netherworld Access stage? What is that nonsense?* Chen Feiyu frowned internally. As a practitioner, he had been raised on the mountain and didn't know the ranks of martial artists.
He Chao, Zhou Ruohua, and the others paled. They hadn't realized Jiang Tianhu’s backer was the Xie family. That explained why he could be so lawless in Mingji City.
Seeing Chen Feiyu frown in silence, Jiang Tianhu assumed he was afraid and regained some confidence. "Brother, you haven't really lost anything today. Why don't we just call it a day?"
Chen Feiyu sneered, "Get on your knees!"
He infused his voice with *qi*, similar to a Buddhist lion’s roar. Jiang Tianhu’s knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor with a loud *thud*.
He Chao and the others stared, dumbfounded. *Is Chen Feiyu not giving the Xie family any face at all?*
Lin Yujia looked at Chen Feiyu with deep adoration, while Qin Danya and Zhou Ruohua felt their regret growing heavier.
Was Jiang Tianhu arrogant? Absolutely. Was he overbearing? Certainly. But this man, who had always acted as if he owned the city, was now kneeling on the ground, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, unable to offer even the slightest resistance. If anyone else saw this, they would think the world had gone mad. That was exactly how He Chao and his friends felt right now.
Chen Feiyu looked down at him with icy disdain. "Apologize."
Jiang Tianhu hesitated.
"Apologize. I don't like repeating myself," Chen Feiyu said coldly. With a flick of his left hand, the second short blade plunged into the floor in front of Jiang Tianhu, its hilt vibrating.
Jiang Tianhu’s expression distorted. His eyes were filled with humiliation, but he bowed his head. "I... I’m sorry."
He Chao and the others were paralyzed. Their own fathers had to be polite to Jiang Tianhu, terrified of offending him, yet Chen Feiyu had forced him to his knees and made him apologize in front of everyone. Chen Feiyu was terrifying. *What if he decides to hold a grudge?* The thought made cold sweat break out all over them again.
Chen Feiyu twirled the other blade. "I ask you, do you know what you did wrong?"
Jiang Tianhu’s eyes burned with humiliation. He was a boss in the Mingji underworld; when had he ever been shamed like this? "You might be a master of the Netherworld Access Mid-stage, but you aren't invincible in Mingji. Do you really want to fight me to the death?"
"To the death?" Chen Feiyu chuckled. "Feel free to try. See if you have the ability to manage that."
Suddenly, the severely injured Leng Dao, having caught his breath, launched a surprise attack, leaping from the floor with renewed speed toward Chen Feiyu.
"Watch out..." the three women screamed.
"A cornered beast. Still pathetic. Still not worth a strike," Chen Feiyu said dismissively. His right hand moved, and the other blade flew instantly, a brilliant arc of light that pierced Leng Dao’s shoulder. The force was so great that it pinned him to the wall, where the blade hummed, vibrating.
Lin Yujia, the most timid of them all, turned pale.
Chen Feiyu stood with his hands behind his back, arrogant and composed. "Well? Any other tricks? Bring them all out. I’ll take them all on."
Despair finally took hold of Leng Dao. Chen Feiyu was simply too strong.
"Right. Now it’s your turn," Chen Feiyu turned to Jiang Tianhu, sneering. "I’ll ask you again: what did you do wrong?"
Jiang Tianhu realized how powerful and truly invincible Chen Feiyu was, and his heart was filled with hopelessness. But he hadn't earned the title of "Number One Tiger of Mingji" by being soft.
His eyes darted as he said, "Spare me, and I’ll tell you a secret. A secret I’m sure you’ll be very interested in."
A flicker of curiosity passed through Chen Feiyu’s eyes. Besides, with his strength, he wasn't afraid of any tricks Jiang Tianhu could play. He pondered for a moment and said, "Yujia, you girls go home first."
"But... but..." Lin Yujia hesitated, but Zhou Ruohua took the initiative and dragged her away. As for He Chao and his two friends, they had been sitting on pins and needles; hearing the order, they scrambled out as if granted an amnesty.
"All right. What’s the secret? You can tell me now," Chen Feiyu said, sitting down.
Jiang Tianhu looked conflicted. "Could you... could you let me stand up first?"
Chen Feiyu gave a slight nod. Jiang Tianhu exhaled in relief and stood up. The first thing he did was rush to Leng Dao. "Brother, bear with it." He yanked the blade from Leng Dao’s shoulder, causing a spray of blood.
Leng Dao’s face was deathly white, but he didn't make a sound.
Chen Feiyu remarked with a hint of admiration, "I didn't expect you to treat your men so well."
Jiang Tianhu boasted, "That’s natural. In our line of work, we value loyalty. As long as they are my brothers, they are my brothers for life. Wouldn't you agree?"