"Eighth Master would beg Xu Lai to spare him?!"
Li Jie burst into laughter, calling it the biggest joke of the year.
"There's always someone better."
Old Jiang Ba laughed in spite of his anger. "I've seen countless braggarts like you, all of them nailed into their coffins by me."
"You can try."
"Really?"
Old Jiang Ba smiled. "Wang Long, we're both being looked down upon. Show some spirit. It doesn't matter if someone gets killed; I've got your back."
"Yes, boss."
Wang Long's eagle-sharp eyes fixed on Xu Lai as he said in a deep voice, "I will not hold back."
With that, he bellowed furiously, charging toward Xu Lai like a mad bull.
BOOM!
The dining table standing between them was sent flying by the brute force.
Everyone in the private room was stunned.
What kind of physical conditioning is this? Is he even human?!
Ruan Tang panicked and cried out, "Don't!"
But Xu Lai didn't move an inch. Wang Long was sent flying backward as if swept away by a hurricane, his body slamming into and becoming embedded in the wall.
It took a full half minute for Wang Long to pull himself free. He collapsed to the ground, spitting a mouthful of blood as his voice trembled. "Hidden power... you, you're a Mid-grade Martial..."
He fell unconscious before he could finish.
A Martial Artist?
Xu Lai shook his head. I'm a cultivator.
Song Qin, blood trickling from his bruised forehead, exchanged glances with Zhu Fang, whose mouth was swollen.
This can't be related to Xu Lai, can it? Right, of course not! Xu Lai is a complete loser. How could he possibly stand a chance against Eighth Master's capable henchman, Wang Long? But then why is the obviously skilled Wang Long severely injured and unconscious? It makes no sense.
Wait!
Li Jie's pupils suddenly contracted.
He speculated that Eighth Master had intentionally ordered his bodyguard, Wang Long, to feign a serious injury. That would give him a pretext for ruthlessly eliminating Xu Lai. This is Eighth Master's overt conspiracy!
At this realization, Li Jie was utterly shocked. Eighth Master is indeed as cunning and cruel as the rumors say. He's clearly planning to kill Xu Lai!
"You're quite impressive, Xu Lai."
Old Jiang Ba praised him with a smile, but inside, he was frantic.
Wang Long is a true Martial Artist, more than a match for two or three special forces soldiers, yet he was defeated just like that?
Old Jiang Ba's right hand covertly reached for his waist. He didn't understand much about the ranks of Martial Artists, but he knew one thing. No matter how skilled you are in martial arts, you can still fall to a bullet!
"Eighth Master, stop!"
At that moment, a delicate voice grew nearer. A beautiful woman with her hair pinned up and an urgent expression on her face rushed into the private room. She was out of breath, her chest heaving.
Li Jie's greedy gaze fixed on her, only to be scolded by his uncle, Li Zhengnan, "Stop staring! That's my boss, President Su!"
The owner of Mingyue Tea House was a top-tier beauty!
Li Jie didn't retract his gaze. In fact, his eyes brazenly roamed up and down her figure as he inwardly marveled. A supreme beauty. On par with Ruan Tang!
Xu Lai, however, slightly raised an eyebrow. He recognized this woman. He had seen her at the Ye Family's estate—Su Daiyi!
At that moment, Su Daiyi's face showed a mix of surprise and pleasure. She had been waiting for her distinguished guest, Eighth Master, in the Fenghua Pavilion, and when he didn't show up, she had come looking for him. Passing by the private room, she heard someone shout the name "Xu Lai." After observing from the doorway for a moment, she confirmed it was the very same Xu Lai who had displayed such remarkable prowess at the Ye Family gathering!
Su Daiyi had a sharp mind. Seeing that Xu Lai wasn't on a killing spree, she knew he was concealing his identity and decided against greeting him directly.
"Eighth Master, he is the Mr. Xu I told you about. If you had drawn your gun just now, the Jiang Family would have met the same fate as the Ye Family," Su Daiyi whispered to Old Jiang Ba in a voice only the two of them could hear.
HISS!
Old Jiang Ba sucked in a breath of cold air, a chill shooting from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. He hadn't attended the Ye Family's grand banquet, but he had heard whispers from the Su Family, with whom his family had been friends for generations. He had come to East Sea City specifically to find out the details.
Thankfully, Su Daiyi had arrived just in time, or he would have made a catastrophic mistake!
"President Su, you've come at the perfect time! Xu Lai injured Eighth Master's bodyguard, Wang Long. Please, uphold justice for us!" Li Jie shouted loudly, secretly overjoyed.
With that one shout, I've not only pleased Eighth Master but also managed to speak to President Su, the mysterious owner of the Mingyue Tea House. Most importantly, it will ensure Xu Lai dies without a proper burial. It's killing three birds with one stone!
Old Jiang Ba's face twitched.
Uphold justice? Go on. You do it. You're not afraid to die, but I sure as hell am!
Su Daiyi smiled. "And who might you be?"
Li Jie felt as if his lucky day had arrived. "I'm Li Jie, from the East Sea Li Family," he said hastily. "My uncle, Li Zhengnan, is your manager here."
"Oh."
Su Daiyi nodded. "I see. Li Zhengnan."
"President Su, I'm here."
"You don't need to come in anymore."
"President Su, what do you mean by that?" Li Zhengnan was completely dumbfounded.
"I mean exactly what I said. You're fired. Take your wonderful nephew and get out!"
"What?"
Li Jie was utterly confused. Shouldn't she be asking for my name and praising my quick-wittedness? Why isn't this going according to the script?
"You useless fool! First, you and your moronic classmates angered Eighth Master, and now you've gotten me fired! I've been royally screwed over by you!" Li Zhengnan snapped, slapping Li Jie hard across the face before storming off with an ugly expression.
Li Jie stood in a daze for a moment before pleading anxiously, "President Su, you can't fire my uncle! Besides, I was just trying to help Eighth Master. He wanted to kill Xu Lai, and I was just saying it out loud for him!"
Old Jiang Ba shuddered with fright. This man is a god of death! I wish he'd just ignore me completely! And yet you claim I want to kill him... Your malice is punishable by death! He shot Li Jie a dark look. Trying to get me killed, are you? I'll remember you!
CLAP.
Su Daiyi clapped her hands.
Security guards filed in and forcibly dragged Li Jie away.
"President Su, Eighth Master—"
As Li Jie's voice faded into the distance, Su Daiyi gestured to the remaining guests, a soft smile on her face. "Ladies and gentlemen, my apologies, but the Mingyue Tea House will be closing temporarily for today. Please leave for now and return another day to dine with us."
"Oh, right, of course."
Song Qin, Zhu Fang, and the others had already been scared out of their wits by Eighth Master. They now fled the private room, filled with the relief of having survived.
Xu Lai, walking behind Xu Yaoyao and Ruan Tang, was stopped by Su Daiyi. "Mr. Xu, could you please stay for a moment?"
Worry flashed across Ruan Tang's face. She gripped Xu Lai's arm tightly, whispering urgently, "Run!"
"Don't worry."
Xu Lai chuckled. "Go wait for me by the entrance."
"Xu Lai!"
Ruan Tang stamped her foot in exasperation.
This idiot! He just provoked Eighth Master, and now the owner of the Mingyue Tea House is clearing the room, keeping only him behind. She's obviously going to punish him! Why isn't he running?!
"Be good," Xu Lai said, ruffling Ruan Tang's hair.
"You—"
Ruan Tang, a mixture of shame and annoyance on her face, finally said with an icy expression, "Do whatever you want. If you die, I won't be the one collecting your corpse. Yaoyao, let's go!"