Call Me Daoist Friend

Two young men, barely eighteen, walked into the largest bathhouse in the city center. Without even glancing around much, they lowered their heads and charged straight upstairs. If someone hadn't been there to meet them, they would have nearly barged into the women's bathing area.

Following the person who came to meet them, they entered the private room Boss Wang had booked. The moment the door opened, Jiang Liu almost drew his Sunrise Sword.

In the private room, which was slightly smaller than a classroom, over a dozen burly men in black suits and sunglasses stood with their hands behind their backs, leaning against the wall.

In the center of the room was a large round table with a bubbling, steaming hot pot. The table was laden with slices of meat and leafy vegetables.

Behind the round table sat a middle-aged bald man, slightly overweight, wearing a thick gold chain and a small watch. Judging by his appearance and demeanor, if you turned back the clock twenty years, he'd be the type to get brutally attacked by Brother Hua Qiang with a knife.

"My two young brothers, come, come, get to the table."

Boss Wang waved enthusiastically when he saw Jiang Liu and Li Dongze enter, like an elder in the family inviting children to eat. There was no hint of the friction he had with Jiang Liu.

Just eating hot pot?

Jiang Liu felt a bit disappointed. He politely cupped his hands: "Hello, Boss Wang. Thank you for the hospitality."

Having strength gave him confidence, so he didn't stand on ceremony and sat directly opposite Boss Wang.

"Little brother?"

Li Dongze smirked, casually sat down next to Jiang Liu, crossed his legs, and fiddled with his fingers, muttering to himself, "In our Di Ze Group, they all call me Young Master!"

Jiang Liu: "..."

Boss Wang: "..."

The smile on Boss Wang's face stiffened slightly. He opened his mouth, his throat feeling as if it had gone dry. He couldn't bring himself to say "Young Master," so he just chuckled and dumped several plates of meat from the table into the hot pot. He said with a smile, "Nephew, Brother Li often mentions you. Our Brilliant Bathhouse has received a lot of care from Di Ze. This time, as your uncle, I must treat you two well."

"Nephew?"

Li Dongze's face showed a playful expression. He slowly stood up, looked down at Boss Wang from above, and said word by word, "Call! Me! Young! Master!"

Instantly.

The smile on Boss Wang's face gradually disappeared. He stared at Li Dongze expressionlessly, not saying a word.

As Li Dongze provoked him, the atmosphere in the entire private room sank. It was as if even the air had solidified. The oppressive atmosphere was accompanied by heavy breathing. The dozen men in suits leaning against the wall had already slipped their hands inside their jackets.

Jiang Liu broke out in a cold sweat, wondering what Li Dongze was up to. Did he want to jump into a real-life PK match immediately?

I'm here to eat, not to fight.

"Hahaha, Young Master has gotten too into Cultivation Era, Boss Wang, please don't mind him."

Jiang Liu forced a couple of laughs and forcibly pulled Li Dongze back to his seat. He grabbed a few slices of lamb from the hot pot and stuffed them into his mouth: "This meat is really tender."

While eating, he sent a message to Li Dongze using Cultivation Era.

[Jiang Liu]: What are you doing? Why are you so hot-tempered?

Li Dongze grunted a couple of times and sat down without speaking. Less than two seconds later, he replied with a message.

[Li Dongze]: You don't understand anything. Inviting us to eat hot pot with over a dozen people on his turf, this is clearly a Hongmen Banquet. If you don't strike first, it won't be meat being cooked, but us.

[Li Dongze]: Just watch me handle it. Who does he think he's bullying? If this were my construction site, hehe, I could make him move bricks for three days straight!

Jiang Liu: "..."

He really didn't understand this aspect as well as Li Dongze. Hearing him say that, it did sound like a Hongmen Banquet.

As the saying goes, courtesy before force.

Since the other party didn't offer courtesy, then I won't be polite either.

Seeing Li Dongze sit down, Boss Wang's expression eased slightly. He tugged at the thick gold chain around his neck, the glittering gold pointing at Jiang Liu. He forced a smile onto his face: "Little Brother Jiang, my subordinate made a mistake yesterday. As the elder brother, I apologize on his behalf. Please don't take it to heart."

"Really, I gave him a good talking-to yesterday. How can someone walking the jianghu bully helpless old people, right?"

Jiang Liu's eyes hurt from the glare of the heavy gold chain. He silently took out the Spirit Rhinoceros Pendant hanging around his neck, casually swung it a couple of times, and said with a smile, "Call me Daoist friend."

Boss Wang: "..."

A Young Master and a Daoist friend, have these two brats' brains gone haywire from playing games?

He felt angry inside, thinking that he couldn't afford to offend Young Master Li, who had the Di Ze Group behind him, but this ordinary student was acting tough with him?

If the Di Ze Group hadn't given him instructions, would he believe that Jiang Liu wouldn't be able to leave this private room today?

He straightened his posture, and the unruly killing intent on his body suddenly surged. Just as he was about to forcefully demand Jiang Liu settle the matter, he suddenly froze, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the Spirit Rhinoceros Pendant. He subconsciously asked, "Is that a magic tool?"

"Mhm, Boss Wang is quite discerning."

Jiang Liu casually took down the Spirit Communication Jade from his waist and played with the two warm jade pieces in his hand, saying nonchalantly, "One is a mid-grade magic artifact, and the other is a high-grade magic artifact. They should be good enough for Boss Wang's eyes, right?"

A high-grade magic artifact?!

Boss Wang was shocked. The killing intent on his body dissipated without a sound. He finally began to look at Jiang Liu seriously.

He had initially thought Jiang Liu was just a subordinate Li Dongze had picked up at school and hadn't paid much attention. His invitation to dinner was merely to show face to the CEO of Di Ze Group.

But now... which subordinate carried a high-grade magic artifact with them!

He didn't even have one!

He had used underhanded tactics to forcibly buy spirit stones from an old man. All the spirit stones he bought were used to purchase Qi Refining Pills at a high price, which was why he had reached Qi Cultivation Layer 5 on the first day the server opened and posted in the chat box recruiting people.

A high-grade magic artifact was a treasure given in the First Recharge Stage 3, obtainable for 1888 spirit stones. He couldn't even afford it, how could this poor student afford it?

No, that's impossible. This isn't tens or hundreds of spirit stones; this is thousands! Even if I used real money, it would take millions to buy out the First Recharge Stage 3, and even then, it wouldn't be available for purchase.

Without money or the channels to buy spirit stones, where did he get mid-grade and high-grade magic artifacts?

Boss Wang was filled with doubt. Li Dongze, standing beside him, was even more shocked. He stared at Jiang Liu with wide eyes. "Holy crap, where did you get a high-grade magic artifact from!"

He only knew that Jiang Liu had heaven-defying luck, selling a high-grade magic artifact he drew and then getting a top-grade spirit root in one go. He had never heard that Jiang Liu had another high-grade magic artifact!

I'm so jealous, god, I'm so jealous. Who's the real second-generation rich kid here?

"Just lucky, I got it casually."

Jiang Liu replied casually. After showing off the magic artifact, he put it away and said sincerely to Boss Wang, "Fellow Daoist Wang, as a brother, I advise you: it's best not to do things like throwing paint or forcing sales. It's against nature! The internet age is so advanced now, aren't you afraid of trending on Douyin?"

Good intentions from a fellow daoist save a doomed soul. I'm being sincere!

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