Gu Lingyu stood alone by the window, gazing outside, the image of young Gu Hao appearing in her mind.
"Alas, eighteen years... Hao'er, we agreed back then that you would return to my side after eighteen years... Now the eighteen years are up, Hao'er, your Elder Sister has returned, but where are you? Mother misses you so much..."
A knock on the door pulled Gu Lingyu back from her thoughts.
"Come in."
Xiao Kui walked in.
"Mistress, the Haoyan Consortium just sent an invitation, inviting us to attend their investment promotion banquet."
"The Haoyan Consortium? Is that the newly established consortium?"
"Precisely."
"Very well, go call Yan'er over."
Gu Yan quickly arrived at Gu Lingyu's office.
"Yan'er, what are your thoughts on this investment promotion banquet hosted by the Haoyan Consortium?"
"Mother, we are currently collaborating with Guxuan Palace to develop pharmaceuticals, and we need funding. I think we should go and try to secure their investment."
"Indeed, the pharmaceutical development project requires a massive capital investment. Given our current rate of expansion, our finances are somewhat tight. If we can secure investment from the Haoyan Consortium, it would be ideal. Yan'er, go prepare, and we will actively strive for the Haoyan Consortium's support."
"Alright, Mother, I'll go make preparations right away."
After Gu Yan left, Gu Lingyu looked at the invitation from the Haoyan Consortium and muttered to herself, "Haoyan... interesting..."
Tian Li called Gu Hao, inviting him to dinner that evening and taking the opportunity to brief him on the investment promotion banquet.
As soon as he got off work, Gu Hao arrived at Tianlong Hotel. Because he hadn't gone home to change, he was still wearing his security guard uniform and was stopped by a hotel security guard.
"Hey, kid, do you know what kind of place this is?"
"Isn't this a place to eat?"
"Eat? A little security guard like you thinks you're fit to eat at a place like this?"
"What, a security guard isn't fit to eat?"
"Well, not quite..."
"Then why stop me?"
"I mean, this isn't a place where you can come to eat. See over there?"
The security guard pointed into the distance, where there was a row of small restaurants and food stalls.
"You should go eat over there. This Tianlong Hotel is the most luxurious hotel in Zhongzhou. Can a security guard like you afford to eat here?"
"You really judge people by their covers. How do you know I can't afford it?"
"Oh, it's not that I look down on you, but with just that outfit of yours, how much money could you possibly have? A single meal here would probably cost your salary for a whole year."
Gu Hao looked down at his security guard uniform and gave a wry smile.
He thought to yourself: "True, these days clothes make the man, and my security uniform is indeed a bit shabby."
He said to the security guard, "Fine, I'll go back and change."
With that, Gu Hao returned to his small courtyard, changed into casual clothes, and came back to Tianlong Hotel.
As soon as he walked up to the hotel entrance, he was stopped by the same security guard again.
"Brother, why are you stopping me again?"
"Kid, did you think changing your clothes meant I wouldn't recognize you? Aren't you that same little security guard from earlier?"
"Right, I am that little security guard. So what?"
"You still can't go in..."
"Why?"
"No reason, because you're not qualified to enter."
Gu Hao was furious when he heard this: "You're clearly giving me a hard time on purpose."
At that moment, a voice rang out behind him.
"Who dares block the Third Young Master's path? Get lost."
Gu Hao turned around and saw Gu Lin walking up the steps with several servants.
When the security guard saw Gu Lin, he hurriedly went up to him with a bow and a flattering smile.
"Third Young Master, you're here. Please, go right in."
Gu Lin and his entourage brushed past Gu Hao.
Gu Hao shook his head; this Tianlong Hotel really did judge people by their covers.
As Gu Lin and his group walked through the front doors, the security guard turned back around: "Why aren't you getting lost? This isn't a place for the likes of you. The Third Young Master didn't bother with you just now, consider yourself lucky—if you offend the Third Young Master, your little life won't be spared."
"Oh, in broad daylight, the Third Young Master can come eat, so why can't I?"
"Cut the crap, get lost right now, or don't blame me for getting rough."
"Oh, getting rough with me? You don't have what it takes."
"Is that so?" The security guard waved his hand. "All of you, get out here."
Three more security guards walked out from the hotel lobby.
"Kid, do you know what place this is?"
"What place? Isn't it just Tianlong Hotel?"
"You know, so why aren't you getting lost?"
"I'm here to eat, why should I get lost?"
"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeiture."
Several security guards rushed forward. Gu Hao lost his patience, raised a hand, and slapped all four guards sprawling to the ground.
He looked at the four guards groaning in pain beside him.
"Let me tell you, don't mess with me. Mess with me, and you'll pay the price."
Gu Hao swaggered forward, pushed open the main doors, and walked inside.
Just as he reached the center of the lobby, a group of security guards swarmed around him.
One of the security captains said, "Kid, you're ruthless. Today of all days, you shouldn't have beaten my men."
"Beaten your men? Are your men even human? I beat them, so what?"
"You've got some nerve, kid. Do you know what Tianlong Hotel is? How dare you run amok here?"
"Oh, isn't this just a hotel? Is it the imperial palace or something?"
"Ha! It seems you're truly fearless out of ignorance. This Tianlong Hotel belongs to Tianlong Hall; even members of the imperial family wouldn't dare brawl here like you just did."
Another guard chimed in, "Kid, you're in deep trouble. You dared beat our men, today you're a dead man."
"Is that so? I'd like to see how I'm a dead man today."
The security captain waved a hand. "Hit him..."
Several security guards rushed toward Gu Hao, but before they could even get close, Gu Hao raised his hand again and sent them flying with a wave of slaps.
The security captain stared. "So you're a martial artist! No wonder you dared act so arrogant. Everyone, get on him, cripple this punk."
The guards were just about to charge forward.
A voice rang out from the entrance: "Stop! What do you think you're doing?"
The security captain looked over and saw a woman and two men—Tian Li, Lin Xiaotian, and Tun Xiaotian. He glared at them. "Who the hell are you, telling us to stop?"
The woman said, "I am Tian Li of the Haoyan Consortium. These are my invited guests, and this is how you treat guests?"
The security captain glanced at Gu Hao, then back at Tian Li.
"The Haoyan Consortium? Never heard of it. This punk was causing trouble here, so he deserves a beating."
Lin Xiaotian smiled. "You've got quite a mouth on you. Try touching him and see what happens."
The security captain laughed at Lin Xiaotian for being a reckless kid who didn't know the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth: "Not only am I going to touch him, but I'd love to touch you guys too."
Tun Xiaotian glanced at Lin Xiaotian and smiled. "Brother Lin, don't waste your breath on fools like this. They're the kind who won't shed a tear until they see their own coffin."
"What did you say?" the security captain barked, pointing at Tun Xiaotian.
With a flash, Tun Xiaotian kicked the security captain flying.
At that, all the security guards were dumbfounded. Who was this person? He actually dared to strike—no, he actually dared to kick! This security captain had powerful backers, after all.
The security captain crashed to the ground in excruciating pain. He roared at the guards, "Get them! Cripple them!"
Hearing their captain's command, the guards swarmed forward like a swarm of flies.
Without another word, Tun Xiaotian flashed forward and made short work of all the security guards, knocking them flat on the floor.
He dusted off his hands and said, "You lot? Truly overestimating your own strength."
The commotion caught the attention of the hotel management. The general manager rushed down to the lobby with several senior executives and saw guards sprawled all over the floor.
"What is going on here?"
The security captain gritted his teeth through the pain and scrambled to his feet.
"Director Wang, it's them..." He pointed a finger at Gu Hao, Tian Li, Lin Xiaotian, and Tun Xiaotian. "They forced their way into the hotel, we tried to stop them, but we couldn't beat them..."
Director Wang looked over at the four of them. "May I ask what business you have here, and why you beat the staff of Tianlong Hotel?"
"Business?" Tian Li stepped forward. "We came to eat, and your security guards threw up obstacles at every turn, and even put their hands on my guests. You are a bunch of worthless scum."
"Miss, our security guards were simply following protocol. Surely there was no need to resort to such heavy-handed violence."
Gu Hao smiled and remained silent; he couldn't be bothered to talk to a punk like this.
Lin Xiaotian said, "Heavy-handed? If this weren't Tianlong Hotel, they'd already be dead for pulling a stunt like this."
"Who on earth are you people? You speak with quite an attitude."
"Do you really want to know who we are? I'm afraid if you find out, you won't be able to handle the fallout."
"There's something I can't handle? What a joke."
"Is that so?" Lin Xiaotian flipped his hand, and a black-gold token appeared in his palm.
Director Wang took one look, his knees went weak, and he dropped straight to his knees.
"I didn't know my Lord was gracing us with his presence, this subordinate deserves death."
The security guards had no idea what was going on, but the security captain knew: anyone holding that token was a supreme, almighty figure in Tianlong Hall.
He collapsed onto the floor, feeling utter agony in his heart: "It's over. I actually went and offended a giant. I'm finished."
Lin Xiaotian put away the token and said to Director Wang, "I assume you know what needs to be done next?"
"I know, I know."
Director Wang stood up, turned to the security captain, and snapped, "You bastard, blind as a bat! As of today, get out of Tianlong Hotel! And all of you—anyone who took part in tonight's fiasco is fired, no exceptions."
Hearing this, the security captain and the crowd of guards fell to their knees. "Director Wang, please spare us this once! We were just following protocol, you can't fire us!"
"Cut the crap, all of you, get lost!"