In the security department's office, Liu Dakui was grimacing as he rubbed safflower oil onto his bruised stomach. Xiao Chen had punched him hard during training earlier, leaving him swollen and sore. Every touch made him wince, and as he massaged the oil in, he silently cursed Xiao Chen's ancestors. This humiliation, he swore, would be repaid double—along with reclaiming his office.
Just then, the office door banged open. A security guard rushed in.
"Brother Liu, Ren Kun is here!"
"Where?" Liu Dakui shot up, only to clutch his belly in pain.
"He just came through the company gate."
"Let's go meet him!"
He dropped the bottle and hurried out. Outside, he spotted Ren Kun approaching with two middle-aged men in tow.
"Master Ren!" Liu Dakui greeted with a smile.
Ren Kun gave him only a curt nod.
Dakui's eyes flicked to the men behind him—why had Ren Kun brought backup? Wasn't he here for Xiao Chen?
"Director Liu, move aside if you've got nothing important. I have business today, and no one's stopping me." Ren Kun's tone was cold.
Dakui forced a grin. "Young Master Ren, what brings you here?"
"Cut the nonsense. Su Qing sent you to block me? Forget it. Today I must kill that bastard!"
Dakui instantly understood. "Ah, you're looking for Xiao Chen?"
"Exactly. Out of the way!"
"He's not in the office right now."
"Impossible. He's Su Qing's bodyguard. He has to be here!"
"He left in Miss Su's car just now. Hasn't returned."
"…Really?"
"Why would I lie? We're friends, aren't we?"
Ren Kun sneered. "Friends?"
Dakui ignored the disdain. "Of course. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Ren Kun's eyes narrowed. "So, you've got a grudge against Xiao Chen too?"
"Grudge? I'd skin him alive if I could!" Dakui's expression hardened.
Curious, Ren Kun followed Dakui back to his office, where Dakui ranted about how Xiao Chen had taken over his old office. Hearing this, Ren Kun felt oddly comforted—at least someone else was worse off than him. Soon, they were feeding off each other's anger, painting Xiao Chen as a swaggering villain who deserved a short, miserable end.
"Old Liu, once I get my hands on him, I'll cripple him and toss him into the river. Believe me?"
"Of course, Young Master Ren. But… why only bring two men?"
Ren Kun smirked and gestured to his companions. "You underestimate them. They're top-tier bodyguards—first-rate masters my father hired. More than enough to destroy Xiao Chen."
Dakui's eyes widened. He knew the hierarchy: ordinary fighters, third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, and finally, martial arts masters. A first-rate fighter was already a true powerhouse. Even with his special forces background, Dakui was only second-rate.
He judged Xiao Chen to be about first-rate too, maybe on par with the top special forces. But now, with two first-rate experts on Ren Kun's side, victory seemed certain. Dakui's heart leapt.
"Young Master Ren, impressive! With you leading, Xiao Chen's finished!"
Ren Kun laughed proudly. "Don't worry. Once I break him, you'll get your chance to kick him while he's down."
"Haha, thank you in advance, Master Ren!"
The two shared a triumphant laugh, already savoring the image of Xiao Chen's downfall.
---
Meanwhile, in a quiet office at the bar, Xiao Chen and his brother-in-arms, Xiaodao, were deep in conversation about Su Yunfei. Xiao Chen had no idea Ren Kun and Dakui were conspiring, but even if he had, he wouldn't have cared. To him, they were just clowns.
"Brother Chen," Xiaodao asked, "now that the cemetery's bought, when's the burial?"
"Soon," Xiao Chen replied, handing him a bank card. "Six hundred million in here. Handle it."
"Consider it done."
They finalized the details, then Xiao Chen lit a cigarette and glanced at Xiaodao's right leg.
"How's the leg holding up?"
Xiaodao forced a smile. "Doesn't stop me from eating or drinking. A limp's no big deal."
"You didn't go back to the hospital?"
"Even the best surgeons in the U.S. couldn't help. What good is a local hospital? I'm fine. I've got this bar, a simple life."
But Xiao Chen could see through him. The injury still weighed heavily on Xiaodao. After a pause, he asked seriously:
"Xiaodao, do you trust me?"
"Of course. You saved my life."
"Then believe this—I'll cure your leg one day."
Xiaodao blinked, stunned. "But you said last time there was no way…"
"That was before. Things change. Leave it to me."
Seeing his seriousness, Xiaodao grew emotional. "Brother Chen, whether it's a leg or my life—you can take it!"
"Idiot, I said I'd heal your leg, not cut it off!" Xiao Chen rolled his eyes.
They both laughed, and Xiaodao insisted on buying him drinks at noon. Xiao Chen called Su Qing for permission—she agreed, so long as he was back before work ended.
Soon, the bar staff brought four simple dishes and a bottle of cheap Red Star Erguotou. Raising his glass, Xiaodao grinned.
"Brother Chen, remember the first time we drank? Same setup—four dishes and Red Star. You told me then: a man should drink the strongest wine and—"
"Hold it. I only said the wine part! Don't put words in my mouth." Xiao Chen smirked.
"Doesn't matter. What matters is, I never forgot. I'm still the same me."
Relieved to see his friend's spirit intact, Xiao Chen clinked glasses with him again. They spoke long into the afternoon, even discussing Su Qing's threatening letter.
After a few rounds, tipsy Xiaodao pulled a long, narrow knife from beside his chair.
"Brother Chen, even crippled, my knife hand is strong. If you need me, I'll fight with you and cut down anyone in Longhai!"
Xiao Chen looked at his drunken, loyal friend holding the blood-stained blade, and smiled faintly.
"Alright."