Even villains meet their match

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan left the property registration center and headed toward Caotang Road.

"Mr. Luo, when are you planning to move in?" Jiang Yue asked Luo Yang as she drove.

"I'll move in within the next couple of days," Luo Yang said. Staying at Ye Zi's home was inconvenient after all. He didn't care about gossip, but Ye Zi couldn't afford to ignore it.

"Then if there's anything else you need, I'll take care of it." Jiang Yue was being unusually courteous.

Luo Yang smiled. "You're suddenly being so nice to me. I'm not used to it."

Jiang Yue rolled her eyes at him. "I'm doing this because you cured my godfather, not because I want to be nice to you. Want to hear the truth?"

Luo Yang nodded.

"I've wanted to beat you up for ages!" Jiang Yue finally let out what she had been holding inside, looking positively fierce.

Luo Yang laughed. "That's more like it. Now you're yourself again. Keep it up, and try to get married before you turn forty."

"You..." Jiang Yue was furious again.

It was all fate.

Ring, ring...

Luo Yang's phone suddenly rang.

It was an unfamiliar number.

After a moment's hesitation, Luo Yang swiped to answer. "Hello?"

"Mr. Luo, let's meet." A man's voice came through the phone.

By the time the man finished that sentence, Luo Yang had recognized Song Dongming's voice. He had probably gotten Luo Yang's number from Wang Shunli or Liang Hong.

"So it's Young Master Song. Can't we discuss whatever it is over the phone?"

"Some things aren't suitable for a phone call. I'll be waiting at the Loyalty and Righteousness Club. Let's talk in person. Don't worry, I promise you won't be disappointed." There was a hint of insinuation and temptation in Song Dongming's voice.

Jiang Yue stole a glance at Luo Yang from the corner of her eye.

The car's soundproofing was so good that almost no outside noise could be heard. Inside, however, she could just make out even the voice coming through his phone's earpiece.

She barely needed to guess what Song Dongming was suggesting. She was curious what Luo Yang would decide.

Luo Yang paused briefly before saying, "We can meet. I happen to have a few things to say to you too."

"Then it's settled. I'll have them prepare food, drinks, and some entertainment." Song Dongming's laughter came through clearly.

A trace of contempt appeared at the corner of Jiang Yue's mouth.

Just then, however, Luo Yang added, "But not at whatever club you mentioned. I don't go to places like that. Let's meet at the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu instead."

"How are we supposed to discuss business there?" Song Dongming's reaction was rather strong.

"You have half an hour. After that, I'll wait five minutes. Not a minute longer." With that, Luo Yang hung up without giving Song Dongming a chance to reply.

The trace of contempt vanished from Jiang Yue's lips. She cleared her throat. "I wasn't trying to listen in. But why not go to that club? Good food, entertainment-Song Dongming would probably even offer you a huge sum to buy you off."

"Some things can't be bought," Luo Yang said.

Jiang Yue chuckled. "What in this world can't be bought?"

"A conscience."

Jiang Yue pursed her lips slightly, clearly unconvinced.

Luo Yang smiled. "Then let me ask you this. If the price were right, would you sell your head?"

Jiang Yue: "..."

The conversation died again.

Half an hour later, at the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu.

Luo Yang got out and spoke through the car window. "Thanks. You can head back. Come with Mr. Liu in a week, and I'll give him his final treatment."

Jiang Yue answered with a soft huff.

The Cullinan turned around and left.

Luo Yang entered the cottage grounds. He had waited only two minutes when Song Dongming arrived.

This time, he had come alone, without bodyguards.

Song Dongming got straight to the point. "Let's find somewhere quiet to talk."

Luo Yang nodded.

They walked a short distance and entered a pavilion.

"Young Master Song, just say what you have to say." Luo Yang didn't want to waste time.

"Name your price." Song Dongming was blunt.

"My price for what?" Luo Yang asked.

Song Dongming said, "Stay away from Ye Zi and Song Meiqi, and stop meddling in the Song Family's affairs. I can give you more money than you could earn in your entire life."

Luo Yang looked intrigued. "Oh? Let's hear how much."

"Five million." As Song Dongming named the figure, he looked at Luo Yang with a hint of contempt.

Luo Yang smiled. "So in your eyes, I could only earn five million in my whole life. I really must be pathetic."

The villa Liu Youshui had given him today was worth five or six million, despite its somewhat remote location. His first windfall alone was already that much. Why would he care about Song Dongming's insulting offer of five million?

Song Dongming smiled. "Even five million isn't enough for you? You certainly have a big appetite. Then name a figure. I'm listening."

Luo Yang suddenly sensed something wrong. Spiritual power surged from his dantian and spread throughout his body, instantly bringing his senses into an extraordinary state.

Everything his eyes could see became a hundred times clearer. What lay beyond his sight was filled in by his perception. No faint sound around him escaped his ears. His nose could detect the scent of even a stone.

Ancestral witch spirit body, super-sense state!

Song Dongming had a Voice Recorder hidden on him.

A faint, familiar scent drifted over from the east.

When Luo Yang remained silent, Song Dongming scoffed. "Why play coy? Isn't money the reason you got close to my sister-in-law? People are greedy. I understand. Go ahead and name a figure. Everything is negotiable."

Luo Yang glanced east out of the corner of his eye.

Some twenty-odd meters away, another pavilion stood beside a pond. A woman was standing behind one of its pillars.

Luo Yang couldn't see her face, but her scent revealed her identity.

It was Ye Zi.

Everything became clear at once. Song Dongming had devised a clever scheme. Before arriving, he had contacted Ye Zi so she could see Luo Yang's "true colors." The Voice Recorder would preserve the evidence. If Luo Yang asked for money and Song Dongming transferred it into his account, that would constitute extortion. Not only would Song Dongming drive a wedge between him and Ye Zi, he might even send him to prison!

"I'm doing this for my sister-in-law and the Song Family. I know what kind of person you are, so stop acting and name your price." The temptation in Song Dongming's words became even more obvious.

Luo Yang suddenly laughed.

Song Dongming frowned. "What are you laughing at?"

Luo Yang said, "I thought Wang Shunli was shameless enough, but you're even worse. How do you manage it?"

Song Dongming's face darkened instantly. "Luo, I came here as agreed to solve a problem, not listen to your insults!"

"Do you think everyone in the world loves money as much as you do, that they'd do anything for it? I have nothing to discuss with someone like you. Even your voice disgusts me."

"Think carefully. Don't regret this!" Song Dongming made one last attempt.

Luo Yang's tone suddenly turned cold. "Kneel."

Song Dongming froze, thinking he had misheard. "You want me to... kneel?"

Luo Yang nodded.

Song Dongming was so furious he laughed. "Who do you think you are? To me, you're nothing but trash! Trash like you wants me to kneel? You think you deserve that?"

Luo Yang slowly took his phone from his pocket, opened the video he had transferred onto it earlier out of boredom, and turned the screen toward Song Dongming.

In the video, a man was doing terrible things to a young woman. She sobbed and begged, only to suffer even more horrific brutality.

Song Dongming was dumbstruck. A moment ago, he had been arrogant and overbearing. Now every trace of color drained from his face.

Luo Yang smiled. "Young Master Song, this animal looks awfully familiar, but I can't quite identify him. I'm wondering whether I should call 110 and ask the police to help me work out who he is. Why don't you give me some advice?"

Song Dongming snapped out of his daze and lunged for Luo Yang's phone.

But how could his speed compare to Luo Yang's in the super-sense state? The instant he raised his hand, Luo Yang had already moved the phone behind his back.

"Ten million! I'll give you ten million to delete the video!" Song Dongming was panicking.

If Luo Yang accepted that money, it really would establish extortion.

Even now, Song Dongming hadn't forgotten to dig a trap for him. It showed just how sinister he was!

Luo Yang suddenly barked, "Kneel!"

"But..." Song Dongming froze. He couldn't bring himself to endure that humiliation.

Luo Yang sneered. "I think I'd better call the police."

"No, no, don't! I'll kneel!" Song Dongming dropped to his knees with a thud. Humiliation, resentment, and rage flooded his heart. At that moment, he could have killed someone, yet he put on a pitiful expression.

Luo Yang patted the top of Song Dongming's head. "Trash like you thinks he can set me up? You think far too highly of yourself. The only reason I haven't called the police is that I want to let Ye Zi decide. You'd better burn incense and pray she still feels some affection for the Song Family. Otherwise, scrub yourself clean and get ready for prison."

Song Dongming bowed his head. "I was wrong. I was wrong."

The scenic site was crowded. Quite a few people looked their way, and some even took pictures with their phones.

Ye Zi turned and left.

Luo Yang didn't look at her, but he could hear her footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

A bitter smile crept onto his lips.

He could understand why Ye Zi had come to watch his "deal" with Song Dongming. She was young and beautiful, with a fortune worth hundreds of millions. She would be on her guard against any man who approached her. But understanding was one thing; this still left a bad taste in his mouth. From beginning to end, he had wholeheartedly helped her, openly and honestly.

"Can... can I get up now?" Song Dongming's voice was full of pleading.

Luo Yang was pulled from his thoughts. He looked at Song Dongming kneeling before him, unable to hide his disgust. "Get lost!"

Song Dongming hurriedly got up and walked away quickly with his head lowered. After seven or eight steps, he glanced back at Luo Yang with a vicious expression.

"Come back." Luo Yang beckoned.

Song Dongming had no choice but to turn around and return.

Luo Yang asked him, "Were you just glaring at me?"

"I... when did I do that?" Song Dongming cursed inwardly while denying it aloud.

"Slap yourself," Luo Yang said.

"You!" Song Dongming trembled with rage. "Luo, don't push your luck!"

Luo Yang took out his phone. "Is the police number 110? This is my first time calling. I don't have any experience. What should I say?"

The moment he finished speaking, Song Dongming slapped himself across the face.

Luo Yang smiled. "That's more like it. Now get lost."

Song Dongming turned and left. This time, he didn't look back even once before passing through the main gate.