"That man not only smashed up my father's company, he also boasted that he called the shots in Black Wind Hall." Gu Chen pointed at Li Sheng, a cold smile curling his lips, and turned his gaze to Zhao Haiqing. "Boss Zhao, what do you have to say about that?"
Although he had briefly interacted with Gu Chen before, the oppressive aura coming from him now weighed on Zhao Haiqing more heavily than ever. Gu Chen's eyes were like those of a beast about to strike, cold and full of hostility. Even an old hand like Zhao Haiqing felt his heart tremble.
"I understand."
Zhao Haiqing took a deep breath, avoided Gu Chen's knife-sharp gaze, and walked slowly toward Li Sheng.
"Boss Zhao..." Li Sheng forced a smile, though it looked worse than a grimace. Clinging to a shred of hope, he called out, "This guy just beat up our people. You have to avenge us and finish him off!"
"Finish him off?" Zhao Haiqing repeated the words under his breath. Then he suddenly stepped forward and slapped Li Sheng to the ground. Immediately afterward, he raised his foot and stomped down hard!
Bang!
Li Sheng had just raised his head when Zhao Haiqing's foot slammed it back against the ground. His nose split open instantly, and his entire face became a mangled, bloody mess, a sight too horrible to look at.
Zhao Haiqing showed no mercy with that stomp. Instead, he stamped down even harder several more times, only slowly lifting his foot when Li Sheng's screams had died away completely.
Everyone present was stunned by the sight!
Even Xu Zhongwen was utterly dumbfounded. He was shocked by Zhao Haiqing's brutality, but even more shocked that Zhao Haiqing had actually attacked Li Sheng! Weren't these people the ones Li Sheng had called over?
"Pick him up." Zhao Haiqing crouched down and wiped his leather shoes, without even looking at Li Sheng on the ground. As soon as he spoke, two black-clad enforcers stepped forward and pulled the bloodied and mangled Li Sheng back up.
"Boss... Boss..." Li Sheng's face was covered in blood, and his heart was filled with terror.
"Next time you go looking for trouble, keep your eyes open." Zhao Haiqing rubbed the handkerchief he had used to wipe his shoes over Li Sheng's face, then flung it aside and said coldly, "He dared to provoke Mr. Gu. Break two of his fingers and throw him somewhere far away."
"Boss, spare me! I really didn't know he knew you, I really didn't!" Li Sheng screamed in terror, but the two men in black ignored his pleas. They dragged him over to a nearby wall, pulled out a short knife, placed his fingers against the edge of the wall, and chopped down hard!
Aaaah-
Blood sprayed, and Li Sheng's screams echoed through everyone's hearts like piercing spikes.
Ruthless, far too ruthless!
These were the methods of the underworld! This was Zhao Haiqing of Black Wind Hall, one of the people in all of Zhou City least to be trifled with!
The scenes before them filled everyone with fear that rose from the depths of their hearts. The thugs lying on the ground went limp all over and trembled uncontrollably. Xu Zhongwen in particular had gone pale with fright. In his eyes, if Zhao Haiqing could be so ruthless to Li Sheng, his own fate was simply unimaginable!
When Gu Chen turned that almost-smiling gaze on him, Xu Zhongwen's face crumpled, and he was filled with terror. At the same time, a huge question rose in his mind: Wasn't Gu Chen Gu Beichi's son? Wasn't he a university student? When had he come to know Zhao Haiqing?
What on earth was going on?!
After Li Sheng's fingers were severed, deathly silence fell over the surroundings once more.
Zhao Haiqing came before Gu Chen and asked respectfully, "Mr. Gu, are you satisfied with how this matter was handled?"
"Sorry for the trouble, Boss Zhao." Gu Chen smiled faintly. "We're all on the same side now, so there's no need to be so polite."
Although Gu Chen said that, Zhao Haiqing did not dare take him at his word. After some thought, he walked over to Gu Beichi, helped him up, and tore the tape from his mouth. "Boss Gu, I'm truly sorry," he said apologetically. "My underling didn't know better and disturbed you. I'll cover all the losses here."
After getting to his feet, Gu Beichi looked at Zhao Haiqing in astonishment, hardly able to believe it.
Although he had only been in Zhou City for six months, how could he not know this formidable figure whose name was renowned throughout the city? What he did not understand was why this man, rumored to be cold-blooded and heartless, was being so pleasant.
"Boss Zhao," Gu Chen spoke again, "there's nothing else for you to do here. I'll handle the rest."
Zhao Haiqing nodded and personally brushed the dust off Gu Beichi's clothes before looking at the terrified Xu Zhongwen on the ground. "Mr. Gu, how should we deal with this man?"
"Leave him to me," Gu Chen said. "When you go, remember to take all your people with you."
Zhao Haiqing understood what Gu Chen meant and gave Qi Ming a look. Qi Ming stepped forward and tossed the unconscious Li Sheng into the back seat of one of the cars like a dead dog.
The thugs on the ground felt their hearts skip a beat. That gesture meant the matter was not over yet! With Qi Ming's methods, Li Sheng would probably suffer even more torment!
"Move out!"
At Zhao Haiqing's command, the men in black, who had been so aggressive just moments ago, helped the thugs off the ground and into the cars. Then Zhao Haiqing and Qi Ming nodded to Gu Chen and Wang Hu and got into a car as well. Just as when it had arrived, the convoy departed again in less than a few minutes.
But their departure did nothing to ease the anxiety hanging over Xu Zhongwen's heart. On the contrary, he felt as though he had entered another execution ground, and his gaze was full of terror as he looked at Gu Chen. In Zhou City, he could hardly imagine anyone making Zhao Haiqing, who could summon wind and rain, so obedient!
"Brother Hu, wait for me here," Gu Chen said to Wang Hu. Without waiting for an answer, he went over to Xu Zhongwen and looked down at him.
Xu Zhongwen kept his head lowered. He wanted to smile but could not, and could only call out in a strained voice, "Young Master Gu..."
"Boss Xu, are you still going to make it impossible for my father and me to get by in Zhou City?" Gu Chen crouched down and asked in an even tone, "To tell you the truth, I'm actually a little scared."
"Young Master Gu, please don't joke with me." Under Gu Chen's overbearing pressure, Xu Zhongwen finally could not take it anymore. His voice breaking, he said, "I had eyes but no sight. I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. Please show mercy and let me off!"
"Let you off?" Gu Chen repeated the words, and his face suddenly turned icy. "I already warned you yesterday. Did you have any intention of letting my father and me off?"
"Young Master Gu, I was wrong. I really know I was wrong! I was blinded by greed, I'm worse than a pig or a dog!" Seeing Gu Chen pick up a steel rod from the ground and his face suddenly darken, Xu Zhongwen dropped to his knees with a thud. Sobbing, he said, "Young Master Gu, please show mercy, I'm begging you. I have elderly parents above me and young children below me. Please, don't kill me, I'm begging you."
"Did I say I was going to kill you?" Gu Chen said coldly.
Xu Zhongwen froze. "Then..."
Bang!
Before he could finish, Gu Chen struck him in the leg with the rod!
Xu Zhongwen let out a scream and rolled around on the ground, clutching his leg.