Everyone turned back to see a curly-haired woman wearing a lake-blue, tight-fitting, slit cheongsam approaching with Xiaohua in her arms.
Liu Yuhua rushed over with the protectors.
"Madam, we are tracking down the assassin who killed the boss—it's him!"
"Is that so? Why didn't I know about it!"
The woman's almond-shaped eyes widened slightly, her brows twitching upward as she turned to look at Lin Fan, who was shivering wrapped in a bedsheet nearby.
He wasn't scared; he was genuinely freezing.
His clothes inside had already been shredded beyond recognition!
Moreover, this Nether Pavilion was built in such a dark and chilly place. Astragalus incense burned in the air, and gentian grass grew in the vases around the room. It was practically an underground ice cellar.
No constitution, no matter how full of vital heat, could withstand this!
"Are you talking about him?"
"Yes, Madam."
The little piglet Xiaohua let out a series of oinks, hopped down from the woman's arms, and trotted over to Lin Fan's feet, sitting down obediently.
Lin Fan hurriedly scooped it up into his arms, the two of them clinging tightly together in a corner like refugees.
The woman let out a soft giggle, covering her mouth with her hand.
Looking at Lin Fan, he appeared to be around twenty years old, about the same age as her younger brother.
If her brother hadn't gone missing, he would be this big by now.
"Him? Assassinating the boss?
A branch leader actually calling himself the boss!
I'm already sick of hearing about him getting beaten up by other people's husbands every time he visits a brothel!
From now on, don't you dare mention him to me in the Nether Pavilion, or else you know the consequences of crossing me!"
The Nether protectors and Zhang Yuhua were trembling with fear. The last time the Pavilion Master glanced at another woman outside, the next day that woman was found dead on the street!
Her appearance was too gruesome to behold!
Even Elder Ge didn't dare breathe too loudly, simply smiling and praising his wife for doing the right thing.
"Madam, Brother Niu did that for the sake of company negotiations..."
In the next second, the warm, smiling expression on the woman's face turned icy cold.
"It seems you people are completely out of control!
Today is an important day for the two gangs' negotiation meeting!
It's also my wedding anniversary with the Pavilion Master!
Nether Protector, Shadow No. 1, don't tell me you broke into this restricted area just to steal some information! Who gave you the nerve?"
"Madam, we wouldn't dare!
We harbor absolute loyalty toward you, the Pavilion Master, and the entire Nether Pavilion."
"You've made this place a complete mess—now get out!
This is not a place for the likes of you!"
Zhang Qingfang had spent the early morning applying her makeup and changing into her cheongsam. Normally, she detested their constant brawling, and her husband had promised her that he would never let her see bloodshed.
Right now, running into these blood-stained subordinates completely ruined her mood.
"Madam, we must protect you and the Pavilion Master with our lives!
We are staying right here and going nowhere—until you come out safely!"
The Nether Protector insisted on staying, but Zhang Qingfang didn't want to look at his horse-like face for another second.
"Damn it!
Can't you understand human speech?"
Zhang Qingfang's fiery temper flared up instantly!
She spun around, lifted the slit of her skirt, put her hands on her hips, kicked off one of her high heels, and hurled the shoe directly at the kneeling Nether Protector's head.
The Nether Protector clutched his head in pain and collapsed to his knees.
"Madam, please calm down!"
"Don't make me say it a second time—get lost!"
The two men tucked their tails between their legs and retreated dejectedly, casting ferocious glares at Lin Fan.
Zhang Qingfang walked over to retrieve her high heel, then approached Lin Fan.
"Thank you!
If I may ask, are you the wife of the Nether Pavilion Master?"
Seeing the dazed look on Lin Fan's face, Zhang Qingfang's previously overcast expression instantly broke into a smile.
She wrung her hands awkwardly, her body stiffening with the shyness of a young girl.
"Sorry about that, just handling some family business! I hope you weren't too shocked."
"Yes.
By the way, you... is this a gift for me?"
Zhang Qingfang couldn't help but gasp in shock when she saw the ten-star black card hanging from Lin Fan's chest.
"Could you be the mysterious guest my husband invited?"
"I..."
Zhang Qingfang covered her mouth in astonishment. "Alright, you don't need to say it, I understand."
Zhang Qingfang's gaze remained fixed on the little piglet.
"Madam seems to really like it?"
"Oink oink oink!"
Xiaohua seized the opportunity to squeal in response.
"Ah, is this for me?"
Zhang Qingfang beamed with delight, her heart completely melting from the piglet's cuteness.
Anyone who raised a little pig couldn't possibly be a bad person.
"I've always wanted to raise one, but my husband wouldn't let me!"
"It's fine, I was here to deliver gifts to you people today anyway."
"Please come in!
Wait, are you alright in those clothes?"
Looking down at his tattered garments, Lin Fan turned and tied them around himself like an old kasaya, adding a touch of solemnity to his appearance.
Holding Xiaohua, Zhang Qingfang walked into the Nether Pavilion with Lin Fan.
Not long after Lin Fan sat down, he looked at the senior executives of the Nether Pavilion seated around the conference table.
Everyone held a document in their hands, and most of the internal staff had already arrived, fiercely discussing the current situation regarding the outside invasion.
At that moment, a security warning sounded from the main entrance outside.
"Attention, an outside enemy has invaded the company. All leaders, please prepare for defense."
"Big Brother, we've sealed off the conference room, and nobody from the bar outside can get in.
That punk Lin Fan is among that group of people.
We even grabbed a few people who have close ties with Lin Fan!
If we torture this friend of his to death, he will definitely show up!"
As the screen lit up, a man covered in blood was seen hanging inside the bar's main hall.
Lin Fan was startled—it was his good friend Liu Tao.
Standing beside Liu Tao, Zhang Wei wore a smug smile.
"Ah! Niu Chuan, you're dead!"
Zhang Qingfang shrank back, hiding in Gu Yunting's arms.
"Pavilion Master, Lin Fan stole someone else's woman and broke the rules of the Five Gangs.
The Sky Wolf Gang has already withdrawn from the Five Gangs and become Lin Fan's lackey.
How can our Nether Pavilion establish a foothold in Huadu after this?
Products like the Sky Wolf Gang's Resurrection Herb will also be withdrawn from our company's shares, and that is no small loss.
He snatched Bai Aoxue as his bride, offended Zhu Han, and even turned me into this state!
Even Brother Long was beaten up!
Today, since everyone is here, you must make the decision for us!"
Gu Yunting said nothing, maintaining a stony silence.
"If that's the case, our company's shares are down to twenty percent—the company is finished!"
"Our rice bowls are going to be smashed!"
"This is all the fault of that punk Lin Fan!
Everyone pull together, crush Lin Fan, and save our company."
Niu Chuan's old grudges and new hatred welled up together, and he vented them all in one breath.
"To prevent outside enemies from infiltrating the interior of the Nether Pavilion, we will now begin the roll call of internal personnel."
Lin Fan couldn't help feeling nervous.
If they did a roll call, wouldn't his identity be exposed?
Sitting on either side of him was a man in his fifties with a receding hairline, a full head of white hair, and glasses. Squinting his eyes, he couldn't make out the names on the list at all.
"What a damn idiot of a leader—I can't understand a word, I can't see a thing, yet they drag us over here for a meeting!"
He leaned over and whispered stealthily to Lin Fan.
"Young man, help me check today's attendance list!"