The newcomer wore a purple robe. His face was stern, his gaze domineering, and his whole bearing exuded the air of someone long accustomed to holding a position of power.
Especially those fierce brows, slanting toward the heavens.
Ordinary people would feel fear when they met his gaze.
This man was Sun Xiao, leader of the Fierce Tiger Gang.
After stepping into Cui Jing Tower, Sun Xiao ignored the kneeling Sun Yaowei and quickly surveyed the situation around him. When he saw the eighteen experts groaning and screaming, his brows twitched slightly.
His gaze also lingered on Lin Fan for a moment before he looked away. Then, with his hands behind his back, he walked over to Wang Changhai. Sun Yaowei tried to cling to his father's leg, but Sun Xiao ruthlessly kicked him aside without even sparing him a glance. Then he clasped his fists and said:
"Hall Master Wang, Sun has failed to teach his son properly. He has offended you greatly."
Wang Changhai had been pretending not to notice Sun Xiao's arrival. He held his tea and sat there leisurely. At the sound of Sun Xiao's voice, he suddenly put on a surprised expression, then stood up as though he hadn't expected him at all. "Leader Sun, what brings you here?"
Lin Fan watched the hall master's performance.
He couldn't help laughing to himself.
That acting wasn't very good.
Sun Xiao pointed at Sun Yaowei with an expression of bitter disappointment. "Brother Wang, this rebellious son of mine showed no respect for his elders and offended you. As soon as I heard about it, I rushed over. I hope, for the sake of our many years of friendship, you'll give him a chance to mend his ways."
With that,
before Wang Changhai could say a word, Sun Xiao kicked Sun Yaowei hard and scolded him furiously. "You rebellious brat, get on your knees and kowtow to Hall Master Wang to apologize! If you don't earn his forgiveness today, don't even think about getting back up."
Sun Yaowei was in pain, and fear gripped his heart. He hadn't expected his father to come and not only refuse to protect him, but even side with the other man.
Thinking of that,
he felt terribly aggrieved.
But there was nothing he could do. Terrified of his father, he immediately knelt before Wang Changhai and began kowtowing.
Sun Xiao waited for Wang Changhai to speak. As far as he knew, Wang Changhai was a smooth operator, mild-tempered and accommodating. He would surely say there was no need for this, and tell Leader Sun to take his son home and teach him a lesson.
What he hadn't expected was for Wang Changhai to remain seated, calm and composed, without saying a word as his son kowtowed.
Actually, Sun Xiao had guessed right. Wang Changhai had indeed been about to say just that.
But just as Wang Changhai was about to speak, he caught Lin Fan's eye.
Though Lin Fan hadn't said a word, Wang Changhai understood what his look meant.
It meant...
Hall Master, don't say a word. Bring out all your confidence, presence, and authority. If you back down, I'll really look down on you.
Seeing how brave Lin Fan was, Wang Changhai decided that was indeed what he should do. Then he plopped right back into his seat, making his meaning crystal clear: Go ahead and kowtow to your grandpa.
At that moment,
the hall was as silent as the grave. The only sound was Sun Yaowei's head striking the floor.
The onlookers hardly dared to breathe. When had they ever witnessed a scene like this? Those who knew Wang Changhai well were astonished at his toughness. Even with Sun Xiao there, he hadn't offered so much as a single pleasantry.
Where was he getting this confidence?
When their gazes fell on Lin Fan, bare-chested, they understood. Wang Changhai's confidence came from this young man.
Wang Changhai picked up his teacup again. The tea had long since gone cold, but he still blew on it. He seemed about to drink, yet didn't, and simply set the cup back where it had been.
The cup's base tapped against the table with a crisp sound.
Sun Xiao barked, "You little brat, hit your head harder!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sun Yaowei braced himself with both hands and slammed his head against the floor. With every blow, another smear of blood appeared on the ground.
Blood streamed from his forehead.
Wang Changhai glanced at Lin Fan, seeming to ask, Is this still not enough, even after he's gone this far?
Lin Fan merely turned his head aside without even looking at the hall master.
Who knew how long passed?
Sun Yaowei's forehead was a bloody mess. His movements had slowed, and he could barely stay kneeling.
"That's enough." Wang Changhai finally spoke. He stood up and clasped his fists. "Leader Sun, let's end things here. He's learned his lesson. I hope he'll behave himself from now on. I won't hold it against him."
"Thank you for doing Sun this favor, Brother Wang." Sun Xiao clasped his fists, suppressing his anger. Then he addressed the onlookers. "Please, everyone, keep what happened today to yourselves. Sun thanks you all."
With that, he waved his hand. His men carried away the Second Young Master, who was on the verge of passing out.
"Brother Wang, farewell."
He turned and left.
He didn't want to stay another moment.
After Sun Xiao left, Wang Changhai let out a deep breath. The pressure had been immense. He had only managed to keep his composure in front of Sun Xiao by sheer force of will.
Wu Yong, his face swollen and bruised, shouted:
"Brother Lin is amazing!"
The underlings' cheers grew louder and louder.
What they had witnessed tonight had shaken them to the core. Lin Fan had been ferocious and overbearing. They were now utterly won over.
At the same time, the underlings thought of how Lin had spent the past few days training in the warehouse.
Could doing that
make them as good at fighting as Brother Lin?
At that moment, many of the underlings were eager to try. They all wanted to be like Lin Fan.
"Hall Master, let me take you home," Lin Fan said.
Wang Changhai nodded.
He had been humiliated that night, and his heart had nearly shattered. If Lin Fan hadn't shown up in time to help him save face, he would have felt like dying by now.
After such dizzying ups and downs,
he didn't feel much like talking for the time being.
He simply hadn't recovered yet.
After escorting the hall master away, Lin Fan looked back at Chen Liang, whose face had swollen like a pig's and who seemed about to stop. When Chen Liang noticed Lin Fan's gaze, he immediately slapped himself harder in a panic.
He couldn't feel a thing anymore. His face was so swollen it had gone numb.
The Fierce Tiger Gang.
Sun Xiao's face was dark with fury. The servants in the house kept their heads down, and it was clear their master was in a terrible mood. If they didn't want to be thrown down a well and drowned, they'd better not provoke him right now.
"Father, what happened?"
As the Fierce Tiger Gang's eldest young master, Sun Yaozu was well informed. By the time Sun Xiao returned, he already knew what had happened. He couldn't be bothered to say anything about his utterly foolish second younger brother.
Sun Xiao sat there without saying a word. His heaving chest said everything about just how angry he was.
Suddenly, he looked at Sun Yaozu.
"How many men can the best fighter you have take on?"
Sun Yaozu answered honestly. "Father, the best fighter I have can take on six or seven men barehanded. If they're all armed, he could probably handle four or five."
Sun Xiao said, "Then do you know how many men Wang Changhai's man can take on? Eighteen. A full eighteen—and they were all Gold Medal Fighters, carefully trained. That kid didn't even look hurt."
Sun Yaozu clicked his tongue in amazement.
He knew about this. When he first heard, he'd found it just as hard to believe. How could anyone be such a good fighter? But it had happened just now, and no amount of disbelief could change that.
At that moment, Sun Xiao's steward hurried in.
"Master, I've finished the investigation."
On the way back, Sun Xiao had sent his steward to investigate the young man's identity and background. He wanted to know where the brat had come from.
Wang Changhai had dared to show him not the slightest respect.
All because of that kid.
"Go on," Sun Xiao said.
The steward took out a sheet of paper and read, "The kid's name is Lin Fan. He drifted into Yong'an City two months ago. He has no household registration and seems to have fled here to escape some calamity. Later, he joined the Loyalty Hall and was assigned to Jili Pier, where he became one of Wang Changhai's men."
"At first, he was utterly unremarkable and didn't draw anyone's attention. Then, during a gang fight some time ago, he performed exceptionally well. Wang Changhai noticed him, promoted him to squad leader, and put him in charge of the pier."
"Master, that's all we've been able to find out so far."
Hearing this,
Sun Xiao tapped his fingers against the table. Knock, knock, knock. The rhythm was measured.
He looked at Sun Yaozu and the steward.
"Do you think we can bring this kid over to our side?"
Sun Yaozu fell silent, mulling it over. He knew his father wanted to recruit such a formidable fighter.
Before he could say anything,
the steward, eager to prove himself, said, "Master, there's a very good chance we can win him over."
"Oh? Tell me more."
The steward straightened his back and stroked his curled mustache. "Master, this kid drifted into our territory and joined the Loyalty Hall right away. That means he has no family or friends here and is just looking to make a living. Wang Changhai noticed him during a gang fight and promoted him to squad leader. Although he's valued, I don't think he's all that loyal to Wang Changhai."
"Oh? What makes you say that?" Sun Xiao asked, puzzled.
The steward smiled. "At Cui Jing Tower, I observed him carefully. If he were truly loyal to Wang Changhai, then once Master arrived, he would surely have spoken up for his hall master and been rude to you. But as far as I could see, Lin Fan didn't say a word after you arrived. That's enough to show he didn't want to offend you. He may have been keeping a way out open for himself.
"After all, the Second Young Master must hate him to the bone."
Having said that, the steward considered his analysis carefully and decided it was quite sound.
There wasn't a single flaw in it.
After all, could someone become the Fierce Tiger Gang leader's steward without having some ability?
"Mm, you make a good point," Sun Xiao said with a nod.
The steward volunteered, "If Master trusts me, you could leave this matter to me. I guarantee I'll bring him over to our side."
"Good. Then I'll leave it to you."
"But, Master, I may need some silver. A straightforward attempt to recruit him might backfire. I'd like to make contact with him by chance and start with small favors. When the time is right, I'll explain the situation to him," the steward said.
"No problem. I'll give you special permission. Take whatever silver you need from the accounts office."
"Thank you for trusting me, Master. I guarantee I'll get this done beautifully."
Sun Yaozu, who hadn't been able to get a word in, said, "If you can't pull it off in the end, won't all that effort go to waste?"
"Eldest Young Master, that's impossible."
"So confident?"
"Heh, Eldest Young Master, it isn't confidence. Once I make his acquaintance, Wang Changhai will hear that his trusted man has been meeting with the Fierce Tiger Gang leader's steward. Do you think Wang Changhai won't become suspicious of him? If the kid really refuses to be recruited, we can spread a few rumors and make Wang Changhai wary of him, make him distrust him. Then, heh..."
As he spoke, the steward broke into a crafty laugh.
Sun Yaozu gave him a thumbs-up.
Ruthless. I like it.
Even Sun Xiao thought the plan would work.
The steward, pleased with his approval, grew a little smug.
What good was being able to fight? You needed brains, too.
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