Lin Fan recognized the voice instantly; it was Zhang Wei, a friend from his old food delivery days. The three of them had once been as thick as thieves, yet he never imagined Zhang Wei would betray him now. Having finally tracked down his junior sister, Lin Fan knew he couldn't afford to blow his cover. The bar was crowded with young women; if a fight broke out, innocent people would surely be hurt.
Lin Fan hurriedly tossed aside his gloves, ripped off his apron, scooped up Xiaohua—the little piglet—from his pocket, and sprinted toward the door.
"Grab that kid! Don't let him get away!"
"Oink! Oink!"
The piglet squealed as it was jostled. Lin Fan bolted to the left, but a large group of burly, fierce-looking men was already heading his way. He skidded to a halt and turned to the right, only to see the Dharma Protector and the bald man scanning the room, their blood-stained whips in hand. When they spotted Lin Fan, they gnashed their teeth and snapped their whips.
*Oh no!* Lin Fan’s heart sank, and he instinctively stepped back. The two groups converged on him.
"Oink! Oink!" Xiaohua grunted, suddenly leaping from Lin Fan’s arms and darting back the way they came.
"What are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
As if guided by instinct, the piglet dived into a narrow corridor and squeezed through a gap in the wall. To Lin Fan's astonishment, a small door appeared in the wall as the piglet passed through. Following the creature, Lin Fan scrambled inside and was immediately hit by the aroma of gourmet food.
Looking around, he saw chefs in white uniforms identical to his own, bustling about. He realized he had stumbled into the bar’s kitchen. Xiaohua followed the scent to a platter piled high with corn cheesecake and dived headfirst into it, stuffing its face.
Lin Fan looked at a nearby chef carving a suckling pig and hissed, "Is this the time for a snack? We're about to be turned into roast pork!"
It was as if the piglet understood; it turned and bolted again. Then, a cold voice rang out from behind him.
"Who are you?"
Lin Fan froze and turned around, instinctively scooping up Xiaohua. The man seemed to realize what was going on. "Oh, you're the delivery boy. We happen to need a piglet! It’s only a couple of weeks old; it’ll be delicious roasted!"
He reached out to grab the piglet’s legs, moving toward a large pot of boiling water.
"Wait! This isn't food! You can't eat it!"
The scar on the chef’s face twisted into a sneer as he drew a meat cleaver and pressed it against Lin Fan’s throat. "You talk too much. I say it's food, it's food! Stop dragging your feet!" He prepared to toss the piglet into the boiling water.
"Oink! Oink!" Xiaohua shrieked as it felt the heat searing its hindquarters.
"If you dare eat that, your boss will have your head!"
"What did you say?" Daoba paused. The surrounding chefs brandished their knives, pressing them against Lin Fan.
"In all my time here, no one has ever dared speak to me, Brother Dao, like that!"
Lin Fan remained fearless. "Today is the day the Dragon-Tiger Gang and the Nether Pavilion cooperate. I am here to deliver a gift. This little one is that gift. It is said that Elder Ge's wife has a natural fondness for pigs. If you don't believe me, feel free to bet your life on it."
Daoba hesitated. Who knew if this kid was telling the truth?
Lin Fan looked at the piglet in the man's grip. It had barely entered the world, only to face such a fate. Since it had saved him just now, he would return the favor.
"Brother Dao! He’s right! The boss's wife never touches pork, and she forbids us from eating it, too. If we sacrifice this pig for your life, it wouldn't be worth it."
Daoba felt a prickle of caution, though he remained suspicious of Lin Fan. "Who the hell are you?"
"That’s a secret."
"I don't buy your posturing. The boss’s friends are high-profile elites. You’re wearing flip-flops, a white shirt, and ripped jeans—a rare sight indeed! Search him! Let's see who he really is. If he’s lying, cut out his tongue and throw it to the dogs in the back!"
"Yes, Brother Dao!"
Lin Fan scoffed internally at the man’s cruelty. They searched him, finding not a cent, but a black object fell to the floor with a *clatter*.
"What kind of trash is this? He doesn't even have a penny on him! You know our Blue Sky Bar has a three-million-dollar entry fee! And you’re here pretending to be the boss’s friend? You’re just a pig-headed fool!"
"Hahaha..."
"Speak! Who sent you?"
"I'm just here to deliver a gift and make friends with Elder Ge."
"Still stubborn on your deathbed?" Daoba slammed his cleaver into the cutting board. "You’ve provoked me now, kid; you’re going to suffer."
One of his men picked up the black card and handed it to Daoba. The man took one look and burst into mocking laughter. "Hahaha! I thought we had a VIP, but all he has is a pathetic card!"
Daoba hung the piglet up by a rope over the boiling pot. The creature kicked wildly in pain. Daoba patted Lin Fan’s face before tossing the black card into the trash. "Kid, I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll play with you. You said it shouldn't be eaten, right? Let's see how much of a saint you are. We’ll gut this piglet right in front of you!"
"Oink! Oink!"
Lin Fan had hoped the black card would do the trick, but he had clearly encountered a man who didn't know its value. He resigned himself to his bad luck. The thug lowered the rope inch by inch until the piglet’s hindquarters hit the boiling water. The creature let out a piercing shriek.
"Oink! Oink! Oink!" Its snow-white tail turned bright red.
"Hahaha! Look at it squirm! It’s hilarious! It’ll be cooked in no time!"
"Oink! Oink!" Daoba watched the piglet’s agony with a wide, cruel grin.
"Stop it!"
"Stop? Sure—have your family wire three million for the entry fee!"
"You!" Lin Fan raised his hand, preparing to use his abilities.
"What’s going on here? How is the food prep coming along?"
A sharp reprimand cut through the air. Daoba, still doubled over in laughter, turned to see an old man in a traditional Tang suit approaching. Daoba immediately turned solemn.
"Branch Leader! We... we’re getting it ready now!"
"Who is this? And why is there a pig? Get it out of here! Don't let the Pavilion Master see it!"
"Branch Leader, we caught this man trying to pose as a guest delivering gifts to the boss. We suspect he’s the one who tried to assassinate him last time!"