One Against Ten

Cheng Dongxue was startled and wanted to stop Zhang Yang, but Lin Xiaofei quickly talked her out of it. Lin Xiaofei had set aside her feelings for Zhang Yang, so she could think more rationally.

They knew the old Zhang Yang all too well. In the Cheng Family, he had been bullied mercilessly without daring to make a sound. But the strength he had just shown was extraordinary.

The Zhang Yang before them now seemed like a stranger, impossible to fathom.

At Lin Xiaofei's reminder, Cheng Dongxue furrowed her brows. Zhang Yang truly was different from before. He had changed.

Things he had never known how to do, he now seemed to do with exceptional skill—Antique Appraisal, for instance. Even his temperament had changed...

"Mr. Zhang, we should call the police!" For safety's sake, Su Xiner chose to seek help through the law.

"Heh. Coward. Call the police? Go ahead! Hahaha..."

Liu Zihai burst out laughing.

The commotion in the VIP room alarmed Lin Dongqiang once again. He had a splitting headache. Two incidents in a row, both involving Zhang Yang. What was he supposed to do?

Lin Dongqiang rushed over, but he was stopped at the door.

"Sorry, Mr. Lin. What's happening here has nothing to do with Elegant Residence. It's a personal grudge."

Liu Zihai was clever enough not to drag the Lin Family into it. That would have made things tricky. If it was a personal grudge, Lin Dongqiang had no part in it. Anything broken at Elegant Residence could simply be paid for.

There was no avoiding a fight today, and Zhang Yang had lost his patience.

He took one step forward. Liu Zihai, whose chest still ached dully from the kick he had taken, reflexively stepped back. All his underlings shifted a step toward the door too.

"I told you, I'm not giving you the money. If you're capable, knock me down and come take it."

Zhang Yang provoked them again. Once they charged at him, he could beat them all down with every justification, regardless of how badly they got hurt.

After a moment's daze, Liu Zihai regained his composure. He was sure Zhang Yang was still a good-for-nothing. What had happened earlier was an accident; he had let his guard down. He was merely surprised Zhang Yang had dared to fight back.

"Get him!"

Playing it safe, Liu Zihai moved aside and let his underlings rush in.

"Zhang Yang..."

Cheng Dongxue called out, afraid he would get hurt. She wanted to warn him.

The three women huddled together. It was too brutal, too terrifying. They did not dare look.

But in the next instant, a series of dull thuds rang out.

"Ahhh..."

Thud, thud, thud...

Screams and the heavy sounds of bodies hitting the floor came one after another. The three women clung to each other. Lin Xiaofei opened her eyes a crack and saw Zhang Yang still standing, his arms and legs moving.

Lin Xiaofei smiled. Her eyes flew open, and she cried, "Zhang Yang won! Zhang Yang won..."

At her shout, Cheng Dongxue and Su Xiner opened their eyes. Injured men lay across the floor, struggling in pain, while Zhang Yang stood glaring at Liu Zihai.

"You really don't have the guts. I heard you just took a hundred thousand yuan from Elegant Residence. That money doesn't belong to you."

Now Zhang Yang was the one extorting Liu Zihai. If Liu Zihai refused to hand it over, he would clearly end up like his underlings on the floor.

Liu Zihai's face went deathly pale. Anger burned in his chest and eyes, but he stood trembling. He had seen it all: everyone who charged Zhang Yang went down to a single punch or kick. Zhang Yang had not needed to strike anyone twice.

One punch here, one kick there, and more than a dozen of his men lay on the floor groaning.

If more than a dozen men could not bring Zhang Yang down, Liu Zihai certainly could not. He swallowed hard.

"Leave behind an arm or a leg, or leave behind the hundred thousand yuan. Which will it be?"

Zhang Yang suddenly gave Liu Zihai a choice, confident he would hand over the money in the end.

"Elegant Residence belongs to a friend of mine. You won't collect protection money here."

Zhang Yang warned him again.

Heat rushed to Liu Zihai's head. He had never suffered such humiliation. Rather than choose, he decided to flee. He spun around and bolted for the door. If he could just get outside, he would be safe.

Smack...

"Ah—"

Thud—

But Liu Zihai's escape failed. He had barely turned and taken a step when someone slammed into him from behind, sending him sprawling face-first onto the floor.

How did this happen? Liu Zihai asked himself.

"Mr. Zhang..."

Lin Dongqiang had been outside the whole time. After Liu Zihai's underlings stopped blocking him, Zhang Yang knocked them down before he could enter. Lin Dongqiang had stayed by the door and watched.

Now that Zhang Yang finally had the situation under control, Lin Dongqiang swallowed hard. His uncle Lin Cheng had been right: Zhang Yang was not someone they could afford to provoke.

With the situation under control, Lin Dongqiang did not want anyone killed at Elegant Residence, so he stepped forward to smooth things over.

"..."

Zhang Yang did not respond. He walked straight to Liu Zihai, who lay on the floor, and crouched in front of him.

"Well?"

"You win!"

"If you can't do the job, don't take it on!"

Zhang Yang raised an eyebrow. Liu Zihai had no choice but to pull out the hundred thousand yuan he had only just pocketed and toss it in front of him.

Zhang Yang had nothing against money. He picked it up and tossed it to Lin Dongqiang.

"Take your men and get out. I don't want to see you again!"

Zhang Yang got up, returned to the dining table, and sat down at his leisure.

"Get out, now!"

Seeing that they still had not left, Zhang Yang barked at them.

Liu Zihai struggled to push the underling lying on top of him aside and climbed to his feet. His men helped one another up, then stumbled toward the door and fled in disarray.

A moment later, the private room was quiet. Despite the fight, nothing had been damaged; there was only some blood on the floor.

"Are you three still eating?"

Zhang Yang addressed the three beauties, who were staring at him wide-eyed with their mouths open.

Cheng Dongxue and the other two were stunned. None of them had imagined Zhang Yang was so formidable. He had faced more than a dozen hardened men alone.

Not only had he held his ground, he had knocked every one of them down without suffering a scratch.

The three women returned to their seats in a daze, still caught up in what they had just witnessed. None of them touched their chopsticks.

"Mr. Zhang, this money is yours. I heard what you said from outside. Thank you!"

Lin Dongqiang knew better than to miss the significance of Zhang Yang's words. Zhang Yang had called Elegant Residence his friend's business and warned Liu Zihai never to come back. He had been protecting the place.

So Lin Dongqiang felt the money was a fitting token of thanks.

"You're treating me to a meal and giving me money too? I almost feel bad." Even as Zhang Yang spoke, he put the money in his pocket.

Lin Dongqiang was taken aback, but he quickly smiled. Before today, he would not have understood. Now he saw why Lin Cheng thought so highly of Zhang Yang. With skills like those, few people would fail to respect him.

"Please let me know if you need anything else, Mr. Zhang," Lin Dongqiang said before leaving.

"After we eat, we're in no hurry to leave. We'll stay and have tea this afternoon."

"Of course, Mr. Zhang. Make yourselves at home!"

Lin Dongqiang agreed and left the private room.