A helicopter landed at a private estate in downtown Hangzhou.
"Dacong, the Daoist Master summoned me here because he definitely has something he needs me to do. You were doing just fine in the celestial prison, so why on earth did you tag along?"
"Ever heard of volunteering? I’ve got money to burn, so the Daoist Master is bound to have a use for me!"
Two young men of similar age stepped out of the helicopter.
Lin Xiaofei was the young master of the Xinyi Sect, the largest faction in Jiangnan Province, and the only son of the sect's leader. A year ago, he had been framed and, while drunk, violated Xu Yuejiao, the daughter of the Southern Frontier Lord, which resulted in his imprisonment in Number Nine Celestial Prison.
The other was Wang Dacong, the young master of Wanhe Group, whose vast wealth made him strikingly approachable. He too had been framed, caught up in a money-laundering case, and locked away in Number Nine Celestial Prison.
"Dacong, I don't know if the Daoist Master has any use for you, but I sure as hell do."
Lin Xiaofei leaned in close and lowered his voice. "You know so many internet celebrities and stars. If you don't introduce me to at least eight or ten of them, I'm cutting ties with you."
Wang Dacong readily agreed. "Easy peasy. As long as your body can handle it, buddy, I'll make you a groom every single night."
"Bro, I'm speechless." Lin Xiaofei patted his own chest. "From now on, just say the word. Climb mountains of knives, plunge into seas of fire—your buddy won't hesitate!"
"Stop fucking chattering and let's go handle the Daoist Master's business."
Wang Dacong instructed the elderly butler standing nearby, "Uncle Fu, have someone bring over my limited-edition Rolls-Royce."
"Keep it low-key, low-key!" Lin Xiaofei reminded him. "The Daoist Master doesn't like showing off. Why drive such a flashy car?"
Wang Dacong figured that made sense, so he changed his mind. "Then let's take the Gallardo."
A Gallardo counted as low-key?
Lin Xiaofei couldn't help rolling his eyes at the fellow!
......
Xinyi Sect, Main Hall.
To lose ten million just for the sake of one hundred thousand, and even get his head split open! Overnight, He Wenyao had become the laughingstock of Hangzhou's upper circle.
The very moment he woke up, he sought out Chen Long, one of the top fighters.
"Brother Long, that guy is a martial artist. Wang Yong and the others couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes. Are you confident?"
"Do you think I'd lose?"
The tall and heavily built Chen Long answered with a question.
He Wenyao instinctively shook his head. After all, the status of the Chen brothers, Chen Long and Chen Hu, in the Xingdong Guild had been carved out with their own bare hands.
Two cars, eight men.
With Chen Long taking the field, He Wenyao didn't think it necessary to bring any more men.
Since he didn't know Xu Lang's background, let alone where the man was, He Wenyao decided to start with Li Jianwen.
"Brother Yao, don't hit me! I'll pay you back right now!"
Li Jianwen was cleaning up at the gambling table when he was suddenly dragged off by several thugs. The instant he caught sight of He Wenyao, he nearly pissed his pants, but the thought of having money instantly restored his backbone.
"Brother Yao, here is the principal plus interest—fifteen thousand. Please count it." Li Jianwen nodded and bowed.
"Crack!"
He Wenyao slapped Li Jianwen right across the face. "Do I give a damn about this pocket change? Tell me right now where that bastard is, or I'll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!"
......
Meanwhile, a striking Gallardo drove into the Xingdong Guild's main hall.
Lin Xiaofei and Wang Dacong stepped out of the car together.
"Xiaofei, the Xingdong Guild has quite a few men. Are you sure just the two of us should go?" Wang Dacong wore a slightly worried expression. "In case that old bastard He Zhen doesn't give you any face, it's going to be a real pain for us to get out of here."
Lin Xiaofei sneered dismissively. "I'll lend him a hundred more guts and see if he dares lay a single hair on my head."
Although the Xingdong Guild had plenty of men in Hangzhou, Hangzhou was in Jiangnan Province—it was no exaggeration to say that wiping them out would be child's play for the Xinyi Sect!
"Who are you looking for?" A man blocked their path.
"Crack!"
Lin Xiaofei lashed out with a slap. "Tell He Zhen that Lin Xiaofei of the Xinyi Sect is here to see him, and tell him to crawl out and welcome us."
This fellow embodied the word "arrogance" to absolute perfection.
The man who had been struck was originally burning with rage, but upon hearing the words "Xinyi Sect," the anger on his face instantly turned into reverence.
Before long.
He Zhen and several high-ranking members of the Xingdong Guild appeared before the two of them.
"Ah, if it isn't little Lin! My, why didn't you let your uncle know in advance so I could go to the airport to pick you up in person?"
He Zhen wore a smiling face as he tried to buddy up to him.
Little did he expect Lin Xiaofei to show him zero face. "Who are you calling little Lin? Since when are you and I that close!"
Uh!!!
A single sentence left He Zhen hanging with no way to step down. What baffled him even more was that the protection money paid by the Xingdong Guild to the Xinyi Sect every year had never been short by a single cent—why on earth was this little ancestor suddenly storming in here in such a rage!
"He Zhen, you're in trouble—you're in big trouble!"
Lin Xiaofei's words sent shockwaves through He Zhen's mind. Rack his brain as he might, he couldn't for the life of him figure out whose toes he had stepped on to invite such massive trouble!
"I can't be bothered to waste words with you. Come with me."
Lin Xiaofei issued the command as if giving orders.
For a moment, He Zhen was caught in a dilemma. "Young Master Lin, could you please make yourself clear? What on earth did our Xingdong Guild do wrong? Even if I'm to die, at least let me die knowing why, right?"
Lin Xiaofei's momentum remained undiminished. "Come with me, and you'll find out what this is all about!"
He Zhen hesitated slightly, ultimately deciding to go with them.
......
Yulong Capital, a newly developed housing estate in Hangzhou consisting entirely of detached villas.
"This unit is ready to move into right away, and the size is just right. There will still be enough room when your sister comes back for the holidays. Should we just pick this one?" Xu Lang asked.
Li Sisi shook her head in silence, still looking weighed down with worry.
Seeing this, Xu Lang said no more and handed a bank card directly to the sales agent. "This one! Pay in full!"
"Right away! The two of you please wait a moment, I'll go process it immediately." The sales agent beamed from ear to ear; after all, the commission on this sale was substantial.
Xu Lang sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette.
Li Sisi walked over, sat down opposite him, and furrowed her brow. "Xu Lang, why don't you just listen to me? The Xingdong Guild..."
"Stop, stop, stop."
Xu Lang clearly had no desire to broach this topic, as there was no point to it, and he steered the conversation elsewhere. "This house cost 6.2 million, leaving 3.8 million. How do you plan to spend the rest?"
"Xu Lang, I'm begging you, okay?"
"I'm a lonely bachelor, a miserable bachelor..."
The ringtone of "Being a Bachelor Is So Hard" cut Li Sisi off mid-sentence.
Xu Lang made a timeout gesture with his hand, then pressed the answer button and gave a single "Hello."
"You've arrived? I'm at Villa Number Six, bring him straight over!"
Hanging up the phone, Xu Lang chuckled. "Weren't you worried the Xingdong Guild would come making trouble? In a minute, you won't be worried anymore!"
Li Sisi looked puzzled and perplexed. "Why?"
The words had barely left her mouth.
"Daoist Master!"
Lin Xiaofei and Wang Dacong entered first, closely followed by He Zhen and his entourage of subordinates.
"Daoist Master, this moron right here is He Zhen." Wang Dacong pointed at He Zhen.
He Zhen immediately stepped forward, hit his knees hard against the floor, and dropped to his knees before Xu Lang with a loud thud.
"Daoist Master, my good-for-nothing son had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. Please be magnanimous and let him go like you would a fart..."