Chen Haotian's heart tightened. He raised his head and looked straight at the man walking toward him. The man had a sturdy build, a cold gaze, and radiated a strong sense of oppression. The surrounding atmosphere instantly grew heavy; the noisy sounds of the bar seemed to vanish in that instant, and all eyes focused on this small space.
"Who are you?" Chen Haotian asked in a low voice. His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable, oppressive weight.
The man seemed completely unfazed by Chen Haotian's aura, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth. "You don't need to know who we are. Just come with us."
Alarm bells rang loudly in Chen Haotian's mind. He did not rashly retaliate, instead carefully observing his surroundings. He vaguely sensed that this matter was no simple street dispute; there had to be more complex reasons behind it. Furthermore, just as Wang Qiang had said, these men were not ordinary people—they clearly belonged to some faction.
Upon seeing this, Wang Qiang's face turned pale. He looked anxiously at Chen Haotian and said in a low voice, "Haotian, don't stir up trouble! These people aren't someone we can mess with. Just do as they say. It might bring some trouble, but at least it will save our lives."
Chen Haotian glanced at Wang Qiang and shook his head gently. "Don't worry, I'm fine."
He did not want Wang Qiang to worry too much, but deep down, he had already resolved not to bow to any threat. He knew that if he simply surrendered so easily today, it would be difficult for him to establish a foothold in this city moving forward. Moreover, he was no longer that young man who would easily compromise when faced with the pressures of life.
Seeing that Chen Haotian did not show the proper fear, the man's expression grew slightly impatient. "Do you not understand the rules? I'll give you one last chance. Come with us, and don't force me to use violence."
Chen Haotian's gaze hardened slightly. He stood up slowly and walked toward the man. The surrounding bar patrons and staff stepped back, clearly not daring to meddle in such an unusual conflict.
"If you really want to make a move, then go ahead and try." Chen Haotian stopped right in front of the man, his tone calm and even tinged with a hint of provocation.
A flash of anger crossed the man's eyes, but he immediately regained his composure. With a wave of his hand, several companions rushed forward, clearly intending to subdue Chen Haotian. At that very moment, Chen Haotian suddenly felt a wave of intense pressure closing in from all directions, as if some invisible force was bearing down on his body.
A bright gleam flickered in Chen Haotian's eyes. Instinctively, he circulated the spiritual qi within his body. The aura surrounding him instantly turned as steady as the vast ocean, and his limbs and bones felt as though they were bathing in spring water. Power and spiritual qi intertwined to form a formidable barrier.
"You people really think you can just threaten me at will?" Chen Haotian's voice was as cold as frost, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
The man clearly had not expected Chen Haotian to fight back, and the aura emanating from Chen Haotian filled him with a sudden, oppressive weight. At that moment, he finally realized that the young man before him was no ordinary person, and might even be an exceptionally dangerous existence.
No matter what, however, he could not back down easily. Gritting his teeth, the man sneered, "Since you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, don't blame us for being impolite!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he waved his hand fiercely, and a bodyguard behind him immediately lunged at Chen Haotian, attempting to pin him down. The bodyguard moved with lightning speed, his double fists striking like the wind with immense momentum straight toward Chen Haotian's chest.
However, at that very split second, a chilling light flashed in Chen Haotian's eyes. Without a moment's hesitation, he reached out to meet the bodyguard's punch. Circulating his spiritual qi, he rapidly gathered it between his palms, and in the blink of an eye, his power surged like a torrent.
"Bang!"
The moment they collided, a deafening crash erupted. The bodyguard's body flew backward like a kite with a snapped string, slamming heavily into the wall of the bar with a dull thud. Everyone in the bar watched this scene in utter terror.
Chen Haotian stood right where he was, his gaze cold and steady, the aura around him completely unruffled as if the collision had never even happened.
"You..." The expression of the leading man shifted drastically. He widened his eyes, clearly unable to believe what was happening before him. He had originally thought he could easily deal with Chen Haotian, never expecting this young man to possess such formidable strength.
"Who the hell are you?" The man's tone was laced with doubt and panic.
Chen Haotian gave a faint smile, his gaze as cold as ice. "Who I am has nothing to do with you. Why did you come looking for me today? Can't you just state it clearly?"
He was not in a rush to attack; instead, he focused his attention entirely on the man, wanting to figure out what kind of faction stood behind these people.
The man fell silent, evidently unwilling to expose his identity so easily. But seeing Chen Haotian's gaze sharp like a honed blade, the pressure only grew heavier. Finally, he let out a soft sigh and said in a low voice, "It seems you really are not simple."
Just then, a deep laugh suddenly echoed from the entrance of the bar. "Truly overestimating one's capabilities."
The voice was cold and commanding. Following the sound, a man dressed in a black suit walked into the bar. His demeanor was steady and calm, radiating an immensely strong sense of oppression, making him look like an expert who had everything completely under control.
Seeing that person, a flicker of alertness crossed Chen Haotian's eyes. This man was different from the bodyguards a moment ago; the aura he exuded was clearly beyond that of ordinary worldly figures. Although Chen Haotian's cultivation was not yet very high, relying on his acute perception of spiritual qi, he could sense a faint yet powerful presence emanating from the other party.
"Who are you?" Chen Haotian narrowed his eyes and asked.
The man did not answer immediately. Instead, he cast a cold glance over Chen Haotian before slowly speaking, "My name is Tang Hao, and I am a member of the Qingyun Society. Can you show me some respect and let today's matter end here?"
"Qingyun Society?" Chen Haotian's heart shook. He had heard of this name before; the Qingyun Society was a massive underground syndicate spanning multiple industries, backed by formidable financial resources and connections, holding significant influence even in certain hidden realms. He never expected that this mysterious organization would actually send someone to find him.
"What exactly do you want with me?" Chen Haotian asked, remaining completely calm rather than feeling intimidated by Tang Hao's identity.
Tang Hao smiled faintly. "The objective of our Qingyun Society is very simple. We just want to ask for your help with a minor matter. As for whether you are willing or not, that entirely depends on your own choice."
"Work for you?" Chen Haotian frowned. "I have no desire to get entangled with such factions."
Tang Hao's smile remained calm, yet a trace of biting coldness was unmistakable in his eyes. "You can choose not to, but if you refuse, you should know the consequences."
Chen Haotian looked at him, waves surging in his heart. The Qingyun Society was clearly no ordinary organization. And everything that happened today was likely just the beginning.