Almost at the same instant, a fierce wave of Qi shot directly at the back of his hand!
Fortunately, Chu He was well prepared. Veins suddenly bulged on the back of his hand, and an even more overbearing aura burst forth, colliding head-on with the opponent's wave of Qi.
The vendor was shocked at the sight. Staring at Chu He in utter astonishment, he muttered:
"Aura shielding... are you, are you a Grandmaster?"
"Can you sell me the tripod now?"
Chu He looked at the vendor with a playful expression, never expecting to encounter such an expert in an antique street.
"You can have the tripod, but you have to fight me!"
Never in his wildest dreams had he expected the vendor to make such a bizarre demand.
"Fine, make your move!"
Chu He readily agreed. Ever since coming down the mountain, he hadn't run into an expert like this vendor; it would be good to practice his moves.
"I, I'm not feeling well today. Leave your contact info, and I'll look you up in a couple of days!" The vendor's aged face flushed, and he said with a hint of lacking confidence.
"..."
Hearing this, Chu He was left speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. What a lame excuse!
Yet, seeing the earnest look on the vendor's face, Chu He still left his name and phone number.
"My name is Lin Yue. Remember, I'll come looking for you in two days. Better stock up on a few packs of tissues!" The vendor puffed out his big belly and said with absolute confidence.
"Stock up on tissues?"
"Yeah, I'm afraid I'll beat you to tears!"
"Damn it!"
Chu He was speechless. Where on earth did this guy get such ungrounded confidence?
"Take the tripod with you!"
Lin Yue waved a hand and turned to leave, not even bothering to take his own stall with him.
"Interesting!"
Watching the retreating figure, Chu He couldn't help the corners of his mouth curling upward. Who would have thought such an expert was hiding in the antique street?
Suddenly, a cell phone ringtone broke the silence. Chu He pulled out his phone and saw it was an unfamiliar number.
"Hello, who is this?" Chu He answered the call and asked.
"Hehe, it's me!"
Lin Yue's voice came from the other end of the phone: "I was just testing if the number you gave me was real. Everything's fine now, hanging up!"
"..."
Listening to the dial tone on the receiver, Chu He was utterly speechless. This guy was an absolute oddball!
Just as he hung up and prepared to leave, his phone rang again. This completely pushed his buttons. He answered the call and roared:
"Are you ever going to finish, or do you just have too much time on your hands?"
"Little Chu, it's me, Zhu Jian!"
Zhu Jian on the other end was dumbfounded. He hadn't even said a word yet—how did he end up getting chewed out?
"Oh, President Zhu, I'm sorry! I thought you were someone else." Chu He scratched his head awkwardly, assuming it was another harassing call from Lin Yue.
Fortunately, Zhu Jian didn't take offense. He let out a hearty laugh and asked:
"Little Chu, didn't you say you were coming to my place today? Shall I send someone to pick you up?"
"Sure, I'm at the antique street."
Chu He nodded. Zhu Jian had mentioned last time that his late father had talked all night with Old Master Zhu before he died. Chu He wanted to find out what they had discussed; perhaps it would help unearth the "big tiger" behind the murder case.
It was now midday.
After hanging up, Chu He started walking back. When he reached a secluded spot near the exit of the antique street, several burly men suddenly appeared and blocked his path...
.
Chapter 38: The Eldest Miss of the Long Family
"What do you want?"
Chu He glanced at the group and asked coldly.
"Hehe, kid!"
The tattooed leader stepped forward, looking at Chu He with a mocking smirk. "Word is you picked up a treasure map for a steal. Hand it over!"
"A treasure map?"
Chu He thought for a moment, then sneered. "You must be Skinflint Qian's men?"
"Cut the fucking crap and hand the stuff over, or we'll cripple you today!" threatened the tattooed man.
"Get lost!"
Chu He's response was neat and decisive.
"Well, well, kid, you really don't shed a tear until you see the coffin. Get him!"
Furious, the tattooed man waved his hand, and his lackies pulled out clubs, lunging toward Chu He from all directions.
Just as Chu He was about to make a move, a sharp, crisp shout rang out:
"Stop right there!"
"What bitch is squawking? Tired of living?!"
The tattooed man flew into a rage, but when he turned his head to look, he froze instantly, drool practically dripping from his mouth!
A young woman with exquisite features was walking toward them. Long, flowing wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, her heart-shaped face was adorned with smoky eye makeup, and her succulent red lips looked both sexy and alluring. She wore a sky-blue ultra-mini skirt that accentuated her slender legs and devilish figure.
"Beauty, what's the meaning of this?"
The tattooed man swallowed hard, staring straight at the woman.
"None of you are allowed to touch him, or bear the consequences!" The woman pointed at Chu He and let out a cold snort.
As soon as these words left her mouth, not only the tattooed man and his thugs, but even Chu He himself was dumbfounded, because he didn't recognize this woman at all.
"Oh, so you're here to save this kid?"
The tattooed man's eyes rolled as he leered at the woman, a wretched, lewd smile spreading across his face. "We can let him go, sure—as long as you accompany me and my brothers for a good time, I'll spare him!"
"Gladly!"
The woman flashed a bewitching smile. Overjoyed at her words and gazing at her voluptuous, alluring figure, the tattooed man immediately broke into a simpering grin.
However, the tattooed man and his thugs didn't even get to enjoy themselves for three seconds before the woman plunged her hand into her Chanel handbag.
"Whoa! Beauty, you even carry condoms around with you?" one of the tattooed man's underlings jeered.
"Go fuck yourselves!"
The woman's pretty face suddenly turned frosty. Right after firing off the curse, a sharp dagger abruptly materialized in her hand.
A flash of cold light sliced through the air. The next second, the tattooed man let out a shrill scream like a slaughtered pig, clutching his crotch as he collapsed to the ground in agony!
When the others looked closely, cold sweat broke out all over them!
Blood was gushing from the tattooed man's crotch, his pants torn wide open, and right there on the ground beside him lay a bloody lump—the very "treasure" belonging to every man...
"Boss!"
Panicking, the underlings scrambled down to check on his condition.
"Hack her! Chop this stinking bitch to pieces!" The tattooed man endured the blinding agony, glaring venomously at the woman as he howled.
"Stinking bitch, die!"
With ferocious expressions, the underlings swarmed the woman like famished wolves.
This time, Chu He made his move. With a flash of his figure, he stepped in front of the woman, and in the blink of an eye, five or six big men crashed to the ground, groaning in pain.
"Oho, handsome, you've got some moves. Guess I underestimated you!" The woman smiled sweetly at Chu He.
"Beauty, do we know each other?"
Chu He racked his brains but couldn't for the life of him remember who she was—especially not a woman who struck so ruthlessly!
"Of course we do, otherwise how would I know your name is Chu He?"
Hearing this, the woman rolled her eyes directly. Pulling a handkerchief from her person, she wiped the residual blood off her dagger and said with total nonchalance, "You've got decent skills. My old man even told me to come protect you, but it looks like there's no need for that after all!"
"Protect me? Who on earth are you?" Chu He grew more confused by the second.
"Listen up, this young lady's name is Long Jiao, and my dad is Long Wu of North City!" the woman declared proudly.
"What?"
"You, you're Long... Master Long's daughter?" Hearing the name, the tattooed man bit back his pain and stared at Long Jiao in sheer terror.
"Hmph! You must be Chang Hu's men, right? Go back and tell him that doing business requires rules. If he can't keep the antique street in order, our Long family can manage it for him!" Long Jiao snorted lightly, her tone dripping with disdain.
Yet these very thugs who usually lorded it over the antique street didn't dare utter another word, because they all dreaded Long Jiao's father, Long Wu!
Long Wu, also known as Fifth Master Long!
The underworld overlord of the three Jiangnan provinces, while South City's boss Chang Hu had once merely been a lackey under Long Wu.
Yet after Chang Hu became implicated in the drive-by shooting that killed Chu He's parents, he suddenly gained the backing of a mysterious figure, daring to break away from Long Wu and set up his own faction, becoming a regional warlord in Jiangzhou!
Even so, old residents of Jiangzhou knew that when it came to a true underworld boss, it was still none other than Long Wu!
"So it's Miss Long. Do you know this kid?" one underling asked, mustering his courage.
"Cut the crap and get lost!"
Long Jiao glared with her pretty eyes, scaring the men so badly they hurriedly hauled the tattooed man up and fled in a rush.
"Wait, my treasure, my treasure..."
The tattooed man had been carried quite a distance away when he suddenly remembered that his precious "family jewels" were still lying back on the ground. If he picked them up now and rushed to the hospital, could they still be reattached?
"Chu He, my dad wants us to get married right away. Why don't you take me to the civil affairs bureau?"
As soon as the people left, Long Jiao turned to Chu He and smiled charmingly.
"Beauty, what kind of joke is this?"
Chu He was startled. This woman was way too fierce—talking about heading to the civil affairs bureau right out of the gate, as if it were her own family's business!
"I'm not joking. My old man said I'm your fiancée! Anyway, I don't care. A chicken you follow, you wed a chicken; a dog you follow, you wed a dog—I'm sticking with you!" Long Jiao said earnestly.
"So it's you!"
Hearing the mention of a fiancée, Chu He finally understood. He hurriedly pulled the sole marriage contract from his pocket, opened it up, and sure enough, Long Jiao's name was written right inside!
"I'm returning this marriage agreement to you, we're even now!" Chu He handed the contract back to Long Jiao without the slightest hesitation.
If Han Tong was a violent chick, then Long Jiao could be considered a female tyrannosaurus rex—she'd go straight for a man's vital parts at the slightest provocation. If he married a woman like this and they ever had a fight, what if she took a knife to him while he was sleeping at night...
At this thought, Chu He felt a chill run down his crotch. Too ruthless, he absolutely could not marry this woman!
"No way!"
Who would have thought that after taking the marriage agreement and glancing at it, Long Jiao would tear it to shreds on the spot and say angrily, "Chu He, do you think I'm not pretty, or do you already have someone else? Tell me which vixen it is, and I'll go ruin her face right now!"
"Ahem, it's just that I don't want to get married right now, alright?" Chu He had dark lines across his forehead. This chick really was even more violent than Han Tong.
"I don't care. Anyway, if you don't marry me today, I'll wait for you tomorrow. Do as you please!" Long Jiao huffed.
"..."
Hearing this, Chu He was left between laughter and tears. Fortunately, at that moment, a Mercedes-Benz slowly drove up and came to a stop beside them.
"Little Chu!"
The car door opened, and Zhu Jian stepped out, greeting Chu He.
"President Zhu, you're here."
Chu He instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Zhu Jian's appearance couldn't have been more timely.
"Little Chu, is this pretty lady your girlfriend?" Zhu Jian looked at Long Jiao, finding her somewhat familiar, though he couldn't place her right away...
"No!"
"Yes!"
Chu He and Long Jiao practically spoke in unison, but their answers were completely contradictory. Zhu Jian looked back and forth between them in utter bewilderment. What was going on here?
.
Chapter 39: Running Out of Time?
"President Zhu, didn't you say something about eating? Let's get going!" Chu He offered a faint smile.
"Right, please get in the car, both of you!"
Zhu Jian hadn't figured out the situation yet, assuming Long Jiao was with Chu He.
"I'm not going!"
Long Jiao was a smart cookie; guessing that Chu He wouldn't take her along, she simply told him, "I'm staying in Jiangzhou. Call me if you need anything!"
With that, Long Jiao gave Chu He her private phone number.
Chu He didn't pay it too much mind. After fobbing Long Jiao off with a few perfunctory remarks and leaving his own car behind, he hurried into Zhu Jian's Mercedes and left the antique street...
Watching the receding taillights, Long Jiao angrily pulled out her phone and dialed her father's number.
The call connected, and Long Jiao couldn't help complaining:
"Dad, why did Grandpa insist on making me marry Chu He? Who on earth is he?"
"Girl, you locked down Chu He that fast?"
A magnetic male voice came from the other end of the phone. "Tsk tsk, truly worthy of being my Long Wu's daughter. You guys didn't use a raincoat, did you?"
"We... of course not! He completely ignored me and even said he wanted to break off the engagement!"
Long Jiao's pretty face flushed red as she rolled her eyes. Who acts like this as a dad, acting like he's terrified his own daughter won't find a husband?
"Sigh, what a pity!" Long Wu let out a deep sigh upon hearing this.
"He has no interest in me, what can I do?"
Remembering how indifferent Chu He had been toward her, Long Jiao said crossly, "I even saved him today! Some of Chang Hu's men were giving him a hard time, and I took care of them!"
"You saved Chu He?"
Of course Long Wu didn't believe it. After pondering for a moment, he instructed: "Listen here, daughter: use every means possible to sleep with Chu He as soon as possible. Then you'll be the greatest contributor to our Long family!"
"Dad, then you have to tell me—what kind of ability does Chu He even have that makes our Long family care about him this much?"
"Silly girl, just spend more time around Chu He and you'll figure everything out! Remember, no matter what demands Chu He makes, you must satisfy them. Understand what I mean?" Long Wu chuckled, then hung up the phone.
Any demands at all?
Long Jiao's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Her dad's stubborn refusal to spill any details about Chu He only made her all the more curious about this man...
Meanwhile, inside the car, Chu He was carefully examining the newly acquired tripod.
The exterior of this tripod was carved with layers of auspicious clouds, and all four cardinal directions bore Tai Chi symbols. Though the vessel was completely empty inside, Chu He could catch a faint scent of medicinal herbs radiating from its body.
A Daoist alchemy furnace!
Furthermore, judging by the material and the antique, unadorned shape, it was definitely an old artifact!
"Ahem, Little Chu, are you into antiques?" Zhu Jian couldn't help asking out of curiosity from the passenger seat.
"Not particularly!"
Chu He nodded and explained, "I use this tripod for alchemy, not as an antique display!"
As his voice trailed off, the Mercedes pulled into a suburban estate, which Zhu Jian informed him was his vineyard.
Soon, the vehicle came to a slow halt.
"Little Chu, we've arrived!"
Chu He stepped out of the car along with Zhu Jian. Before them stood a grand, imposing Chinese-style villa built in the architectural style of a Qin dynasty palace—solemn and majestic!
"Dad!"
At that moment, a young woman wearing jeans and a white t-shirt walked out of the villa. Her wheat-colored skin looked exceptionally healthy, dark hair cascaded straight down her shoulders like a waterfall, and her cheeks carried a faint rosy flush. While she couldn't be called a peerless beauty, her whole being radiated youthful, vibrant health.
She was none other than Zhu Jian's only daughter, Zhu Yuqing.
"Xiaoqing, let me introduce you. This is Little Chu." Zhu Jian introduced the two of them to each other.
"Hello Chu He, long time no see!"—or rather, "pleasure to meet you!"
Zhu Yuqing was poised and graceful, proactively extending a hand with a gentle smile.
"Hello!"
Chu He nodded, but the moment he clasped Zhu Yuqing's petite hand, his expression changed drastically!
"Little Chu, are you alright?" Zhu Jian asked suspiciously at the sight.
"I'm fine, but she's running out of time!"
Chu He released Zhu Yuqing's hand, looking at her with a solemn expression.
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
Zhu Yuqing, who had been quite polite to Chu He just moments ago, saw her face darken the instant he claimed she was nearing death. She rebuked angrily, "Mr. Chu, even if you're joking, you should know where to draw the line!"
"Little Chu, what do you mean by that?"
Zhu Jian's expression didn't look any better. As a father, hearing someone say his child was going to die naturally rubbed him the wrong way.
"Miss Zhu, haven't you been having nightmares every night recently, leaving your energy much lower than before?" Chu He asked.
"This... well, it's true as you say, but it could also be because I've been too tired from work these past few days..." Zhu Yuqing faltered for a moment. How did Chu He know she'd been having nightmares?
"Daughter, you—you really have nightmares every night?" Zhu Jian was startled.
Zhu Yuqing's pretty face flushed, and with no other choice, she gave a reluctant nod.
"Wrong!"
Chu He cut Zhu Yuqing off flatly, saying in a cold voice, "You've been possessed by an evil spirit. And it's not just you—this entire villa is reeking of malevolent Qi. If I'm not mistaken, someone must have laid down an evil spirit array in your home!"
"An evil spirit array?"
Hearing Chu He's rhetoric, Zhu Yuqing let out a light snort of derision and retorted, "Mr. Chu, what era do you think this is? There's no such thing as evil spirits—what utter nonsense!"
"You don't have to believe me, just don't regret it later!" Chu He replied with a faint smile.
"Little Chu, let's head inside first!" Seeing that Chu He didn't seem to be joking, Zhu Jian figured he could ask him what was really going on in detail later.
"Alright!"
Chu He dropped the subject and followed Zhu Jian into the villa.
Seated in the villa's living room were one man and two women. Seeing Zhu Jian return, the man stood up from the sofa and said with a beaming smile:
"Brother-in-law, you're back!"
"Guangguang, let me introduce you all. This is Chu He!" Zhu Jian introduced Chu He to the people in the living room.
"So you're Little Chu. Old Zhu has been bringing you up these past few days; you certainly look like a fine talent!" A woman with the air of a wealthy matron walked up to Chu He, looked him over carefully, and smiled.
"This is my wife, Jiang Yan!"
"And these other two are my wife's younger brother Jiang Tao and his wife, Luo Sha!" Zhu Jian introduced them.
"Madam Jiang, happy birthday!"
After finishing his greetings, Chu He's gaze kept lingering on Jiang Tao. This man was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, carried a gentle demeanor, and wore gold-rimmed glasses over the bridge of his nose, looking scholarly and refined. Yet, an aura of subtle, elusive malevolence hung about him...
"This Mr. Chu, have we met before?" Noticing Chu He staring right at him, Jiang Tao asked with a trace of curiosity.
"Someone as unfathomably deep as Mr. Jiang wouldn't have crossed paths with a nobody like me!" Chu He replied with a double entendre and a smile.
Sure enough, hearing Chu He say this, Jiang Tao frowned imperceptibly.
Jiang Yan, standing nearby, failed to notice anything amiss. Seeing that it was getting late, she invited everyone to head to the dining room for dinner.
.
Chapter 40: Dean Song's Grand-Master
The dining room.
The group sat around the dining table. Jiang Tao first raised his glass to congratulate Jiang Yan on her birthday, but then smoothly changed the subject and asked:
"Sis, since it's your birthday and everyone's in high spirits, how did that matter we discussed last time go?"
"Jiang Tao, now's not the time to talk about this!"
Zhu Jian frowned slightly, casting an unhappy glance at Jiang Tao. Didn't he know what kind of situation the Zhu family was currently in? Was he really trying to kick them while they were down?
"Honey, we're here to celebrate Sister's birthday, let's talk about that business another day!" Luo Sha, noticing Zhu Jian's darkening expression, hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Right, right, right!"
reminded by Luo Sha, Jiang Tao snapped to his senses. Raising his wine glass toward Jiang Yan, he said, "Sis, happy birthday, may you grow younger with each passing year!"
"Thank you!"