《Return of the King, Dominating the City》


 Chapter 1 - 1 1 Did Laozi Have Principles

    ?1: Chapter 1 Did Laozi Have Principles?


    1: Chapter 1 Did Laozi Have Principles?


    In the bar, the music was explosive, as if each beat hammered on one¡¯s nerves, and with the smell of alcohol wafting in the air, observing the men and women wildly gyrating their bodies, even the most composed individuals felt a slight flutter in their hearts, let alone in some corners where men and women could no longer restrain their emotions, engaging in some indescribable acts.


    Song Yun was very familiar with bars and enjoyed their ambiance.


    Many women heartbroken in love liked to vent in such places.


    Before he had retired, after major battles, he always liked to relax in bars with a group of his underlings, drinking lots of alcohol, and then each would leave with women who took the initiative to stick to them.


    However, today he was not here to seek some deep resentment from neglected wives; he just wanted to have a simple drink.


    ¡°A Depth Charge, please.¡±


    Song Yun sat at the bar, picked up his mixed drink under the puzzled look of the bartender, and downed it in one gulp, not leaving a drop.


    You should know the Depth Charge was made with rum and vodka among other high-alcohol content beverages, barely any different from pure alcohol.


    The bartender had been mixing drinks here for four to five years and had never seen anyone treat such a cocktail like beer.


    ¡°Another one, please.¡±


    The bartender stared at Song Yun as if he was a monster; he really wanted to know how many Depth Charges this customer could handle before passing out unconscious and unable to pay the bill.


    ¡°Hey handsome, how about you buy me a drink?¡±


    Just as Song Yun was staring blankly at his empty cup, a crisp female voice softly spoke in his ear.


    Song Yun didn¡¯t rush to look back; instead, he closed his eyes and carefully smelled the fragrance of the hair of the woman who was leaning on his back.


    After a moment, he turned his head and glanced over.


    She was dressed in a black tight top and an extremely short pair of hot pants, teasingly looking at him.


    The woman was quite attractive; if Song Yun had to rate her, she would score over seventy out of a hundred, plus the dim lighting and light makeup added to her charm, making her even more enticing.


    What interested Song Yun the most, however, was the prominent peaks on the woman¡¯s chest, straining against her tight black top, with a hint of snowy white visible at her neckline.


    In such an outfit, coupled with the ambiguous atmosphere of the bar, anyone might have thought they were in for an exciting romantic encounter that evening.


    ¡°How about you buy me a drink, and if I drink too much, you can have your way with me all night,¡± the woman flirtatiously sat on Song Yun¡¯s lap, then reached out her slender fingers to caress his cheek and smiled seductively.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you can handle this drink,¡± Song Yun said as he placed the freshly mixed Depth Charge in front of the woman with a smile.


    ¡°Depth Charge, huh?


    It¡¯s not as good as Royal Salute but still decent,¡± the woman, also tough, picked up the glass and said to Song Yun as she drank, ¡°I¡¯ll choose the next drink after this one.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The woman brightened up as Song Yun agreed, and she threw back the Depth Charge.


    She appeared bold, but most of the liquor still spilled from the corners of her mouth.


    Well, a regular woman couldn¡¯t possibly down a drink similar to pure alcohol in one go like he did.


    ¡°Lemme get a bottle of Royal Salute.¡± The Depth Charge had hardly gotten into the woman¡¯s stomach, but just that bit made her feel dizzy.


    To keep up the bar¡¯s business for the day, she smashed the glass down on the table and called out to the bartender.


    The bartender nodded, took out a bottle of liquor, opened it and placed it on the bar, with white vapor wafting from the mouth of the bottle.


    The bartender looked at Song Yun respectfully, ¡°Sir, that would be 5300, please pay first.¡±


    In the bar, it is expected to pay before you get your drink, but the bartender had opened the bottle before asking Song Yun to pay, hinting at a forced sale.


    Song Yun had already seen through the little schemes of this bar and the woman in his arms, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to haggle.


    He pulled out a black card and said, ¡°Charge it.¡±


    After swiping the card, Song Yun stuffed the bottle into the woman¡¯s arms, picked her up from his lap with a smile, and said, ¡°Here¡¯s your drink, you can go now.¡±


    The woman, holding the Royal Salute, was a bit at a loss.


    But she quickly recovered, her flirtatious smile reappearing as she said, ¡°Handsome, won¡¯t you continue to treat me to another drink?


    You know, I can¡¯t hold my liquor well.¡±


    Song Yun lit a cigarette, smiled, and said, ¡°The first thing you learn as a bar tout is not to be greedy.


    I¡¯m afraid if you don¡¯t leave now, soon you won¡¯t be able to.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying,¡± the woman hesitantly said, her voice tinged with panic.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t understand, then don¡¯t leave.¡±


    A hoarse male voice sounded from behind her; before she could react, she was held in his arms.


    Before she could scream or struggle, the man karate chopped behind her ear, causing her to faint in his arms.


    When the bartender saw his acquaintance being held by someone else, his eyes blazed with fury as he was about to call the security, claiming some people were forcing a woman into illegal transactions.


    Similarly, the bartender never got the chance to yell as Song Yun smashed a bottle on his mouth, causing him to lose at least half his teeth and writhe in pain on the floor.


    ¡°Great Emperor, the old master sent a message.


    He said clean yourself up for tomorrow; your fiance?e is waiting for you, here is the address,¡± the man respectfully spoke to Song Yun.


    ¡°Married?¡± Song Yun licked his somewhat dried lips, but when he turned back, the man had vanished, leaving only a note on the bar.


    The man from before was like a shadow of his own mentor, delivering important messages to him, but this marriage situation baffled him.


    He was being sold off by the old man without his knowledge?


    And he wasn¡¯t even getting a share of the profits?


    Ridiculous, he was perfectly content being single; who needs marriage.


    Just then, his phone rang.


    Song Yun took out an old, battered cell phone from his pocket and saw the old man¡¯s number.


    He didn¡¯t answer, angry that the old man sold him off and still expected him to count money for him.


    The old man was patient; seeing that Song Yun didn¡¯t pick up, he kept calling.


    After about ten missed calls from the old man, Song Yun finally, out of annoyance, answered, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about getting me married, no way, I¡¯m retired now, I want to live my life.


    Don¡¯t call me ever again¡ªabout anything.¡±


    ¡°What, she¡¯s a beautiful woman?


    How tall?


    As tall as the sky?


    And she¡¯s a CEO of a corporation?¡±


    After hearing all this from the old man, Song Yun¡¯s eyes lit up, and he changed his tone, speaking earnestly: ¡°Master, although I¡¯m retired, I deeply remember your kindness to me.


    Since you¡¯ve arranged this marriage for me, I can¡¯t let you down, can I?


    Oh, who am I kidding?


    Me, a man of principles?


    Joking, have I ever had any?¡±

 Chapter 2 - 2 2 The Girl Next Door Knows Martial Arts

    ?2: Chapter 2 The Girl Next Door Knows Martial Arts 2: Chapter 2 The Girl Next Door Knows Martial Arts Early the next morning, Song Yun habitually rose early and, after doing a few hundred squats and push-ups in the quadrangle courtyard he had bought since moving back to Sunan, heard a series of shouts coming from the neighboring courtyard.


    Driven by curiosity, Song Yun set up a ladder and, leaning on the wall, peered into the next courtyard, only to find a girl in her early twenties practicing her boxing very meticulously.


    The girl was clad in a tight white T-shirt and black sports pants, brimming with vitality.


    With her punching and kicking, her ample bosom trembled dramatically, leaving Song Yun, who was sneakily peering over the wall, stunned, fixating his gaze on her and pondering how he hadn¡¯t noticed such a pretty girl next door during his days back, for he would have surely gone to greet her given his personality.


    But that wasn¡¯t all, Song Yun, with his keen eyes, noticed that the girl was practicing without wearing a bra, causing a small area of her chest soaked with sweat to cling to her body, nearly transparent.


    It is said that men are more fiery in the morning, and Song Yun was no exception; the sight of this enticing scene sent all his qi-blood rushing to his head.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Mid-practice, the girl noticed a brick from the wall toppling over and sharply turned around to shout.


    Caught in the act, Song Yun felt too embarrassed to pretend nothing had happened.


    Sitting astride the wall, he called out to the girl, ¡°Hey, little sister, could you help me with the ladder?¡±


    ¡°Are you peeping at me?¡± The girl¡¯s delicate brows knitted tightly as she glared at Song Yun with disapproval.


    ¡°What do you mean peeping!


    Offering some pointers while watching you practice can¡¯t be called peeping,¡± Song Yun said earnestly.


    ¡°Besides, miss, do I look like a bad guy to you?¡±


    Without waiting for her response, Song Yun quickly continued, ¡°Of course not.


    If anything, a fine young man like me is a rare find in society these days.¡±


    ¡°How can you be so shameless?¡± The girl grabbed a stick and pointed it at Song Yun, scolding, ¡°Who are you, anyway?


    If you try to change the subject again, don¡¯t blame me for knocking you off with this stick.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa,¡± Song Yun knew he was at fault and didn¡¯t want to leave a poor first impression on this beautiful girl, which would make it awkward to greet her in the future.


    So, Song Yun put on a serious face and told the girl, ¡°You were practicing Long Fist just now, but you haven¡¯t grasped the essence.


    You need to tense your upper body and focus your qi on your arms, feeling the flow of qi before releasing it explosively.¡±


    Initially, the girl had no intention of paying attention to Song Yun, but his advice seemed to make sense, so she tried it.


    To her surprise, a punch emitted a faint whooshing sound.


    She was overjoyed and, when she looked up at Song Yun again, she felt that perhaps he wasn¡¯t a bad person and genuinely wanted to offer her some guidance.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the misunderstanding earlier.


    May I ask which school or sect you belong to, brother?


    I must visit you soon to express my respects,¡± the girl said with utmost reverence, bowing to Song Yun.


    This sweetened Song Yun¡¯s heart.


    Nowadays, people were too utilitarian; finding someone like this girl willing to admit mistakes and show respect was rare.


    ¡°My school is unremarkable.


    My home is just next door; feel free to drop by anytime,¡± Song Yun said with a mischievous smirk, squeezing his eyebrows.


    As the saying goes: once a stranger, twice familiar, and with more visits, one may become a close friend or even share the intimacy of a family member... and who knows, perhaps during one of these visits, they might end up on the big bed in his house.


    ¡°Sure, brother, I suppose you haven¡¯t had breakfast yet.


    If you don¡¯t mind, wait for me to change, and I¡¯ll treat you to a meal,¡± the girl said to Song Yun, her face full of anticipation.


    Song Yun couldn¡¯t refuse; checking the time, he realized breakfast would be perfect before his meeting with his fiance?e, so he agreed.


    Moments later, there was a knock on the door.


    Song Yun opened it to find the girl changed into sportswear.


    He hadn¡¯t looked closely at her face on the wall, focusing only on her figure.


    Now, up close, Song Yun scrutinized her ¨C a perfect oval face, big sparkly eyes, wheat-colored skin, and a curvaceous figure ¨C a goddess-level beauty in anyone¡¯s eyes, even scoring a high ninety-five in his mind.


    ¡°Brother?¡±


    Seeing Song Yun staring blankly, the girl blushed and waved her hand in front of him, whispering a call.


    ¡°Ah?


    No, no, let¡¯s go eat,¡± Song Yun wished he could slap himself hard in the face.


    What a lecher he was ¨C how couldn¡¯t he control himself?


    What if he frightened her into thinking he was a bad person?


    On the way, Song Yun learned the girl¡¯s identity.


    Her name was Xiao Qing, the treasured daughter of the current head of He Xi Long Fist.


    She had been exposed to Long Fist from a young age, advancing rapidly, but recently hit a bottleneck and sneaked out, hoping to make a breakthrough.


    Song Yun was familiar with He Xi Long Fist.


    Its heyday was during the Republic, and though it eventually declined due to a lack of successors, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse; He Xi Long Fist was more authentic compared to other Long Fist sects.


    Watching Xiao Qing¡¯s innocent and carefree demeanor, Song Yun was happy to share all he knew about Long Fist, gleaned from his elder.


    Seeing her eyes widen in shock as she learned what Long Fist really was, he felt smug inside.


    Sitting at a breakfast stall, as Song Yun was imparting knowledge to Xiao Qing, he saw a car violently heading toward the stall.


    With quick reflexes, he pulled Xiao Qing away, and they rolled to safety.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± Song Yun looked down at Xiao Qing and asked.


    ¡°Brother, I¡¯m fine, but your hand...¡± Xiao Qing murmured, her face flushed, eyes closed.


    Song Yun saw his hand grasping Xiao Qing¡¯s chest and, shamelessly squeezing a few times, watching the shape of the flesh change in his hand before abruptly jumping up.


    His usual slick tongue nowhere to be found, he stuttered, ¡°I¡¯m...


    I¡¯m so sorry, Xiao Qing.


    I didn¡¯t mean to...¡±


    Xiao Qing stood up, dusted herself off, and looked down, too embarrassed to face Song Yun.


    Song Yun felt a frustration rise within.


    Thankfully, it was just the two of them at the breakfast; if there had been more people, who knows how many could have been hurt.


    He quickly walked over and yanked open the car door, a strong smell of blood wafting out.


    The driver ahead had a bullet hole in his forehead, clearly having been shot before crashing the car into the nearby breakfast stall.


    In the back seat lay a woman in an OL outfit, her forehead streaming with fresh blood, unconscious.

 Chapter 3 - 3 3 Breaking Your Arm

    ?3: Chapter 3: Breaking Your Arm 3: Chapter 3: Breaking Your Arm ¡°Senior Brother Song, what happened here?¡± Xiao Qing walked over and saw the blood-soaked car interior, covering her mouth in shock.


    ¡°Go back first.


    The situation here is probably not as simple as it looks.¡± Song Yun thoughtfully placed Xiao Qing behind him and spoke.


    ¡°But what about you, Senior Brother?


    Is it very dangerous for you to stay here?


    Should we call the police?¡± To someone like Xiao Qing, who had just entered society, seeking help from the police seemed like an infallible solution, but the scene before her was clearly a premeditated murder, bound to have repercussions.


    Even if the police came, the victim would already be long gone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, confronting danger is a man¡¯s duty,¡± declared Song Yun with a cool composure.


    ¡°Go back now.


    I¡¯ll definitely come to find you once I¡¯ve dealt with this.¡±


    After sending Xiao Qing away, Song Yun entered the car and first carried the woman from the back seat, to avoid a possible explosion.


    ¡°Kid, I advise you to hand over the woman on the ground to us, or you won¡¯t leave this place today.¡±


    Just as Song Yun was checking the woman¡¯s injuries, a voice emanated from behind him.


    Song Yun turned and saw more than ten people, each with a fierce and professional look.


    Moreover, these people, grouped together, even faintly exuded a murderous aura.


    Though it wasn¡¯t exceptionally strong, it was obvious they were killers by the way they radiated menace.


    These folks were definitely the kind of ruthless mercenaries from abroad.


    Yet in countries around the world, especially Huaxia, both overt and covert security measures are extremely tight, making it difficult for foreign organizations and powers to infiltrate.


    Any sign of intrusion was usually swiftly suppressed by Huaxia.


    Nevertheless, these people had come, taking a huge risk with an entire squad, surely because someone had placed a bounty higher than the value of their own lives.


    For a moment, Song Yun became interested in the identity of the unidentified woman lying unconscious on the ground.


    ¡°Heh, seems like you¡¯re not planning on leaving here alive,¡± the leader of the group sneered menacingly.


    Song Yun aimed his weapon at the men; he wasn¡¯t the slightest bit alarmed.


    Instead, there was a hint of disdain in his eyes.


    ¡°Kill him.¡± With a wave of the leader¡¯s hand, his men raised their machine guns and started firing at Song Yun.


    In a swift move, Song Yun did a roll, cradling the woman in his arms like a princess, and then, his figure moved ghost-like at high speed, dodging towards an abandoned office building in front.


    ¡°Holy shit, you useless lot can¡¯t even kill a single man.¡± Bloodlust flashed in the leader¡¯s eyes.


    He coldly shot the mercenary closest to him dead, then shouted at the others, ¡°The longer we stay here, the less likely we¡¯ll live to leave this place.


    Everyone move out.


    Make it quick and decisive.¡±


    Clearly accustomed to the man¡¯s brutal ways, none of the mercenaries expressed sympathy for their fallen comrade, lying in a pool of blood.


    Energized, they pursued Song Yun.


    Song Yun sprinted to the rooftop, hiding the woman in a recess, then turned to face his pursuers.


    Seeing Song Yun turning to confront them, the mercenaries¡¯ faces brightened with glee, but soon they realized they had underestimated him.


    This damn guy wasn¡¯t ordinary at all; he was more like a superman.


    Could an ordinary man dodge and counterattack simultaneously?


    Song Yun continuously changed directions, his speed varying unpredictably.


    The enemies¡¯ gunfire intensified, but his movements became even more fluid.


    At the same time, his right hand kept lashing out, each movement creating a whooshing death knell in the air.


    Next moment, another mercenary would fall, hit squarely between the eyes by a stone, dead on the spot.


    Blood flowed freely.


    The few remaining men looked at each other, at a loss for words, gazing at their comrades whose heads had just been crushed by a stone, unsure whether to feel anger or panic.


    ¡°Holy crap, almost everyone is dead.¡± The leader initially took his time climbing the stairs, but when the gunfire ceased, a sinister smile curled at his lip, thinking that there was only half an hour until they had to retreat.


    Once he found that woman, there would be enough time for him to enjoy himself.


    But the closer he got to the rooftop, the stronger the scent of blood became, puzzling him.


    Even if that kid had been riddled with bullets, it wouldn¡¯t smell this bad, so he quickened his pace.


    ¡°Boss...


    our brothers have...


    have been killed by this kid with stones,¡± stammered a terrified mercenary.


    ¡°Trash, all fucking trash,¡± the leader swore, snapping the subordinate¡¯s neck with one twist of his massive hand, his gaze ferociously turning to Song Yun as he whispered, ¡°You killed my men.


    I will crush your skull to pieces to calm their spirits.¡±


    Song Yun had seen shameless people before, but none quite like this man, who behaved as if he hadn¡¯t personally killed one of his own men just moments earlier.


    The man stripped off his shirt, revealing a torso covered in muscles, along with a myriad of scars from blades and bullets¡ªit was evident he often engaged in close combat.


    In two strides, he reached Song Yun, launching a punch fast and formidable towards Song Yun¡¯s head, ripping through the air with a sharp whoosh.


    It seemed that with this punch, Song Yun would be defeated.


    ¡°Go to hell!¡± The man¡¯s face twisted hideously, filled with murderous intent.


    His mercenaries were nearly annihilated, and even if he made it back abroad, he would be significantly weakened, easy prey for other organizations.


    Contemplating this, he increased his speed.


    But just then, a blur flashed.


    With a snap, the vicious punch halted directly before Song Yun.


    A hand firmly grasped the man¡¯s fist.


    Although the hand was much smaller than the fist, it held it immovably, controlling him completely.


    ¡°Those who seek my life, I personally escort to heaven,¡± said Song Yun, his eyes flashing coldly.


    ¡°You¡¯re fucking asking for death,¡± the man roared in rage, trying to pull his fist back, but it wouldn¡¯t budge, as if frozen in place.


    At that moment, everyone present had the same thought: despite his thin frame, this kid¡¯s strength was unbelievably immense.


    Suddenly, the remaining mercenaries witnessed a shocking scene.


    Song Yun¡¯s right hand swiftly grasped their boss¡¯s shoulder, grabbing his left arm and yanking it back hard.


    With a gruesome rip, the boss¡¯s entire right arm was torn off.


    Blood spurted wildly, and stark white bone protruded from the man¡¯s shoulder, creating a horrific scene.

 Chapter 4 - 4 4 Watching the Bustle to the Sound of Gunshots

    ?4: Chapter 4 Watching the Bustle to the Sound of Gunshots 4: Chapter 4 Watching the Bustle to the Sound of Gunshots ¡°My hand,¡± the man screamed in agony.


    Under the severe pain, he could no longer throw a left hook and hurriedly retreated, glancing at his now empty right arm before his eyes filled with fear when he looked at Song Yun again.


    To deal with ruthless people, you need to be even more ruthless¡ªso ruthless that they don¡¯t dare look you in the eye.


    That is truly reaching a certain level.


    Song Yun was such a person.


    Respect me, and I will respect you more; but if you try to mess with me, don¡¯t blame me for uprooting all your power, leaving nothing behind.


    ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± the man asked Song Yun in terror.


    He had been in combat across South Africa for many years and had never encountered such a formidable opponent.


    ¡°I¡¯m your daddy,¡± Song Yun said with a cold smirk.


    ¡°A foreign mercenary, huh?


    You¡¯re foolish to come here.


    Even if I hadn¡¯t intervened today, someone else would have wiped you all out.¡±


    ¡°I know I was wrong.


    I shouldn¡¯t have taken this mission.


    I deserve to die.


    I¡¯m not even human.


    Please spare my life.


    I¡¯ll do anything for you,¡± the man sobbed uncontrollably, kneeling on the ground, ignoring the blood spurting from his right arm as he crawled toward Song Yun.


    But as he was just a few steps away from Song Yun¡¯s legs, the man suddenly raised his remaining left hand, aiming a small revolver at Song Yun with a ferocious expression, looking entirely insane.


    ¡°Bastard, die.¡±


    As soon as he spoke, with a bang, he pulled the trigger and the bullet was fired.


    In an instant, Song Yun moved, appearing next to the man like a shadow shifting shapes.


    ¡°How...


    how is this possible?¡± the man¡¯s face was filled with despair.


    He hastily aimed at Song Yun again, pulling the trigger once, twice, three times¡ªall shots missed until he emptied his gun, and Song Yun still stood there, calm and composed, but his gaze was filled with nothing but pity.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your pity.


    Come on, kill me, and give me a quick death,¡± the man screamed hysterically, throwing his handgun on the ground before getting up and yelling at Song Yun.


    Song Yun frowned, grabbed the man¡¯s left arm, and spun around in a 360-degree turn like a dancer, snapping the man¡¯s left arm off with a cracking sound.


    ¡°You¡¯re a demon.


    You won¡¯t die a good death,¡± the man staggered to the ground, cursing.


    Even if he survived today, he would be hunted down by his former tortured subordinates or enemies to the ends of the Earth.


    Saying that Song Yun would not die a good death was also like cursing himself.


    Meanwhile, the other mercenaries were stunned in place; their strongest leader had just been rendered armless by a man who appeared to be in his twenties and seemed completely unharmed while mockingly observing the group.


    They collectively took a few steps back, as if witnessing a demon from hell.


    ¡°Run!¡± someone yelled as some of them, having lost their will to fight, turned to flee.


    But before they reached the staircase, Song Yun had already charged forward, wielding a butterfly knife.


    He moved gracefully like a sprite dancing among flowers, elegantly and cruelly leaving a significant, neither deep nor shallow wound on several men¡¯s necks.


    Immediately, several men fell to the ground, unable to get up again.


    Ironically, the last one alive was the leader, whose arms had been ripped off, lying supine in the dusty ground.


    This man had lost everything a human should have, his gaze becoming hollow, murmuring for death.


    Song Yun was not one to torture people, even contemptible enemies; he preferred to end it quickly for them.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The man¡¯s head was left with a bloody hole, just as he had once used a sniper rifle to shoot through a driver¡¯s head, dying a vile death.


    ¡°Ah~¡±


    A scream came from behind Song Yun.


    The woman in the office lady uniform who had previously fainted now woke up, crawling out from a niche and seeing the scene like a battlefield; she fainted again in despair.


    As Song Yun was busying himself trying to carry the woman out of the office building to safety, the sound of sirens approached from not far away.


    Around twenty police cars arrived from various directions, completely surrounding the building.


    One by one, armed police officers emerged from the cars, vigilantly securing the surroundings.


    But when they saw Song Yun standing in front of the building with the woman in his arms, everyone was stunned.


    Wasn¡¯t there a reported shooting here with numerous criminals involved?


    That¡¯s why the Municipal Bureau had dispatched so many officers.


    It seemed that might not be the case, though.


    ¡°We are from the Sunan Municipal Public Security Bureau.


    You are surrounded.


    Lay down your weapons and surrender; the government will treat you leniently,¡± a police officer shouted through a megaphone at Song Yun.


    Song Yun saw the officers and couldn¡¯t help but find it laughable.


    Clearly, he was a good citizen who had not only saved a woman¡¯s life but also dealt with all the mercenaries.


    The government should be giving him a good citizenship award for his impressive actions.


    However, in front of so many onlookers, Song Yun didn¡¯t say much.


    He carefully placed the woman on the ground and then shouted to the police officers, ¡°I¡¯m not a criminal.


    I¡¯m a local resident here.


    I just came to see what was happening when I heard gunshots and found this woman had fainted.¡±


    Who would be foolish enough to come and watch knowing there was a gunfight here?


    Thus, the police officers approached Song Yun with skepticism and without further questions, took him into custody.


    ¡°This woman is Miss Li from the Li Family,¡± a senior police officer exclaimed when he saw the collapsed woman, aware that the Li Family was one of the most influential and wealthiest families in Sunan City.


    Mr.


    Li, although retired for many years, had vast connections, including some with important leaders in high government positions, securing high respect for Mr.


    Li throughout Sunan.


    Moreover, Miss Li¡¯s corporation was a pillar in Sunan City¡¯s economic landscape, contributing substantial taxes every year, virtually commanding the city¡¯s economic throat.


    In essence, the Li Family was the most affluent and powerful family in Sunan.


    Now that Miss Li was lying unconscious on the ground, it made the police anxious.


    If nothing happened, they might just get scolded by higher-ups, but if something went wrong, their careers in Sunan would be over.

 Chapter 5 - 5 5 Where Is This Place

    ?5: Chapter 5 Where Is This Place?


    5: Chapter 5 Where Is This Place?


    ¡°Where am I?¡± Li Shishi seemed to have just woken up, her stunning beauty appearing exceptionally pale, and her red lips were somewhat chapped.


    The work uniform she had been wearing was now a patient¡¯s gown.


    She coughed twice, beads of sweat hanging on her forehead.


    These were not the result of a hot climate but rather a cold sweat from within.


    Li Shishi had a bit of a headache, with memories flashing in her mind like a projector on a loop.


    She remembered she was supposed to return to the Li Family Mansion after work today, but then someone with ill intentions forced her car into another road.


    Right after that, she heard a gunshot and passed out...


    And then?


    Oh, right, when she woke up again, she found herself in a cave.


    After leaving the cave...


    ¡°Ah~¡±


    Li Shishi finally remembered the last scene she had witnessed before fainting¡ªit was full of blood and dismembered corpses.


    In the middle of the bodies stood a man, who even turned back and smiled at her.


    The memory made her head hurt even more.


    ¡°Shishi, Shishi, how do you feel?¡± An elderly man with white hair burst into the hospital room.


    When he saw that Li Shishi was only slightly weak, he let out a long sigh of relief.


    ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m fine, just a bit of a headache,¡± said Li Shishi, forcing a slight smile.


    ¡°Hmph, the efficiency of the Sunan City Police Department is deteriorating.


    Luckily, you¡¯re safe.


    If anything had happened to you, they wouldn¡¯t get off easily,¡± the old man grumbled angrily as he sat by the bed.


    ¡°Grandfather, this isn¡¯t the police¡¯s fault; it was an unexpected incident, but...


    how was I rescued?¡± Li Shishi asked with curiosity.


    Whoever had saved her from this ordeal must be a true hero, definitely a handsome man.


    If only she could see him again, she thought, her cheeks flushing red as she scolded herself inwardly for being shameless.


    ¡°The case is rather mysterious.


    The attackers have been confirmed to be foreign mercenaries, and these incredibly formidable individuals all ended up dead.


    How strange!


    The person who rescued you must be an expert.


    And according to the police, they found you in the arms of a man they¡¯ve taken in for a strict interrogation,¡± Mr.


    Li mused.


    ¡°Shishi, do you know who saved you?¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t let the police interrogate that man just yet, maybe...


    that man is the one who saved me.¡± Li Shishi¡¯s mind flashed again to the man standing among the bodies and she quickly called out.


    ¡°Where is this?¡± Song Yun also harbored this doubt.


    After being led to the interrogation room by the police, he glanced around the dim surroundings and a bad feeling flickered through his mind.


    As expected, one of the officers aimed a lamp at Song Yun¡¯s face, causing him to flinch from the harsh glare.


    ¡°Confess and you¡¯ll be treated leniently, resist and you¡¯ll face the consequences.


    Speak, what is your relationship with those thugs?¡±


    ¡°What relationship?


    Haven¡¯t I made myself clear?


    I¡¯m just a local resident who was curious about the gunshots and went to take a look.


    As soon as I arrived, I saw a woman lying there unconscious, and then you all came.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit!¡± The officer cursed and admonished Song Yun, ¡°I now seriously suspect you have deep ties with those thugs.


    If you keep this up, don¡¯t blame us for getting tough.¡±


    The higher-ups were placing great importance on this matter, urging the police station to rapidly close the case and identify the suspects.


    But to be honest, the true suspects had vanished without a trace.


    Besides the corpses at the scene, there was only this young man found holding the young lady of the Li Family.


    Even if he were an innocent man, to appease the Li Family¡¯s anger, they would need to dig up something on him¡ªforcing a confession might even be acceptable.


    ¡°Exercise some vigilante justice, the higher-ups are pushing us,¡± another officer said as he pushed open the door with a frown.


    ¡°Kid, you can only blame your own curiosity, and it¡¯s about to cost you your life.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you want to lay a hand on me?


    If you understand what I¡¯m saying, this won¡¯t be so simple,¡± Song Yun said coldly, his eyes hardening.


    The officer poised to strike hesitated, wondering if this young man had powerful connections.


    Would he face retaliation for attacking him?


    The officer who had entered saw his subordinate falter and felt a surge of anger.


    He pulled out a baton from the cabinet, placed something underneath Song Yun and began to beat him mercilessly.


    As he continued, a trickle of blood ran down the corner of Song Yun¡¯s mouth.


    When he saw that Song Yun was still clenching his teeth without saying a word, he grabbed his chin and roared, ¡°Tell me everything you know, or you¡¯ll never see the outside of a prison again.¡±


    ¡°Heh, it¡¯s usually the dogs that bark the loudest.


    Even if you try to frame me, you should at least check the background of the person you plan to frame,¡± Song Yun scorned, spitting the blood in his mouth onto the officer¡¯s face.


    ¡°Damn it, you refuse the toast only to drink the punishment!¡± The officer¡¯s face twisted into a snarl as he grabbed Song Yun¡¯s hair and slammed his head against the table.


    ¡°Are you going to talk or not, talk or not?¡±


    The two other officers on the side were so stunned they froze in place; though they often did such bullying themselves, it was always done behind the scenes, never so openly.


    ¡°Brother Wang, even if we¡¯re under pressure from above, surely we can¡¯t be so blatant about it,¡± one officer approached, trying to console.


    ¡°Damn it, only if this kid admits to it can we spend a couple of peaceful days,¡± Brother Wang swore.


    ¡°You seem tough, huh?


    Well, I just love breaking tough guys.


    I don¡¯t believe you won¡¯t talk after two days and nights.¡±


    ¡°I demand to see my lawyer.


    Until my lawyer arrives, I won¡¯t say a word,¡± Song Yun stated, then took a deep breath to calm his raging emotions.


    ¡°Lawyer?


    To hell with your lawyer, you won¡¯t meet anyone here!¡± Brother Wang shouted furiously.


    ¡°Keep beating him until this kid gives in.¡±


    Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open again, and in strode a middle-aged man with an air of authority.


    When Brother Wang and the other young officers saw this man, they tried to approach him with obsequious smiles.


    However, upon seeing Song Yun¡¯s battered state, the newcomer gave Brother Wang a forceful slap across the face.

 Chapter 6 - 6 6 Its Easy to Invite the Buddha Hard to Send Him Away

    ?6: Chapter 6: It¡¯s Easy to Invite the Buddha, Hard to Send Him Away 6: Chapter 6: It¡¯s Easy to Invite the Buddha, Hard to Send Him Away Wang Dong was forty-three this year; having joined the system after graduating from college at twenty-two, he was fortunate to work under Mr.


    Li and his career soared until recently, when he hit a bottleneck¡ªthe position of a JC bureau chief, which made him feel very uncomfortable.


    But at this critical moment, something happened to the Eldest Miss Li, who, in broad daylight, was taken by a group of thugs wielding machine guns straight into the hospital.


    After he heard the news, the man was stunned for a few minutes, until the endless ¡°hellos¡± from the other end of the phone broke his concentration.


    He then swept all the items on his desk onto the floor, cursed ¡°goddamn bastards,¡± grabbed his coat, and decided to check out the crime scene.


    Having seen so many mutilated corpses at the crime scene, Wang Dong, who had lived a pampered life for years, almost vomited his breakfast.


    The forensic experts on the scene said that most of the deaths were caused by shots to the head, with fatal results in one strike; the kind of damage seen could only have been inflicted by a Barrett sniper rifle.


    But who the hell would take a Barrett and deal with these more than ten ruffians at a standoff?


    While Wang Dong was lying in the back seat of the car, trying to rest, he received some good news from his subordinates: they had captured a man holding Eldest Miss Li at the crime scene, and he was already taken in for interrogation.


    Probably by that moment, they had pried something out of his lips.


    Hey, don¡¯t say that among all the bad news, this piece of news could slightly cheer Wang Dong up.


    But then, this single piece of good news quickly turned sour.


    Mr.


    Li called him personally to say the suspect they had arrested might actually be the savior who rescued Eldest Miss Li.


    He told them to treat him well and that he would come to check on him at the police station later.


    Wang Dong obviously knew what kind of scum his subordinates were, accustomed to filthy tricks and resorting to violence if someone refused to confess.


    If it hadn¡¯t been connected to the Li family, he would have turned a blind eye to their irregular tactics, but now that Mr.


    Li had personally shown interest in the suspect, if those bastards pulled any tricks, it was going to be a disaster.


    When his secretary, seeing his superior fretting and approaching with a concerned face, asked what had happened, Wang Dong felt a murderous rage building up.


    But he hadn¡¯t been muddling through the officialdom for twenty-plus years for nothing.


    The principle of self-control was deeply engraved in his heart; losing his temper in front of his subordinates would only lead them to disrespect him.


    When he finally made it back to the Municipal Public Security Bureau, he ran towards the interrogation room, disregarding his image, because during the short drive, he had received calls from five or six big shots from the Ministry of Public Security, who all directly ordered him to release a man named Song Yun.


    My god, what connections did this Song Yun have to move people from the ministry?


    Wang Dong felt his heart was about to explode.


    Praying that his men hadn¡¯t laid hands on Song Yun, he took a deep breath and pushed open the door of the interrogation room.


    Inside the interrogation room, darkness prevailed with only a harsh spotlight focused on the man sitting in the suspect¡¯s chair.


    And this man, Song Yun, had a large gash on his forehead, blood slowly dripping down his face to the floor.


    Drip, drip, drip.


    At that moment, Wang Dong felt as though he could hear his own heart bleeding out; he was finished, his career over today.


    ¡°Son of a bitch, who gave you permission for this unauthorized action?¡± Wang Dong could no longer contain his anger and slapped his subordinate Wang Feng hard as the latter approached him.


    Wang Feng, slapped dizzy, couldn¡¯t figure out what got into his boss today; he had never seen him this angry before.


    ¡°Wang...


    Director Wang, the suspect is about to confess everything, please don¡¯t worry, the case will be crystal clear soon,¡± explained Wang Feng, thinking his superior¡¯s temper flared due to inefficient work on his part in prying information from the suspect¡¯s mouth.


    But little did he know, Wang Dong, upon hearing this, felt as though Buddhas ascended to heaven, leaped over walls, and took to the skies in rage.


    ¡°Water your mother, who allowed you to operate against regulations, who gave you the courage!¡± Wang Dong pushed Wang Feng to the ground with a kick.


    Did this bastard want to kill him?


    With one sentence, he implicated himself too; now he was as good as dead.


    As for the two junior police officers, they were trembling, standing discreetly aside, worried the furious Director would take it out on them.


    ¡°Mr.


    Song, nice to meet you.


    I¡¯m Wang Dong, the bureau chief of the Sunan Municipal Public Security Bureau.


    I¡¯ve long heard about you,¡± said Wang Dong, forcing a smile to calm his nerves.


    ¡°Ha, so we meet in such an awkward place today?


    And here I am, handcuffed to a chair and unable to move?


    Director Wang, I had no idea your police station was such a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers,¡± Song Yun sarcastically stated with a mocking smile.


    ¡°What are you two waiting for, quickly release Mr.


    Song from the handcuffs,¡± Wang Dong felt if death was upon him, it would be because of his inept team.


    ¡°No need, I¡¯m quite comfortable with them on,¡± said Song Yun, seeing the situation and how could he not guess someone was pulling strings for him behind the scenes?


    If he didn¡¯t play it up now, how could he face others after getting out?


    ¡°No, no, no, Mr.


    Song, a person of your status shouldn¡¯t be restrained like this.


    Let¡¯s remove the handcuffs and we can slowly talk in my office, how about that?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about?


    About how you beat me up?


    Please don¡¯t.


    In this little room, at most three people can abuse me, but if I go to your office, who knows how many will beat me up?¡± prodded Song Yun, laying it on thick.


    Hearing these heart-piercing words and glancing at the time, Wang Dong sensed that Mr.


    Li would soon arrive.


    With a mournful face, he was close to kneeling before the great man before him, but Song Yun wouldn¡¯t budge, refusing to leave.


    Just as Wang Dong was despairing over how to coax this Buddha-like figure out, his phone rang.


    Mr.


    Li had arrived at the police station!

 Chapter 7 - 7 7 The Feigned Foolishness of Mr

    ?7: Chapter 7 The Feigned Foolishness of Mr.


    Li 7: Chapter 7 The Feigned Foolishness of Mr.


    Li Wang Dong was 43 this year.


    Since he finished university at the age of 22 and entered the system, he had the good fortune to serve under Mr.


    Li, after which his career advanced smoothly.


    Recently, however, he had hit a bottleneck¡ªthe position of Chief of the JC Bureau¡ªan unsatisfactory, middle-ground rank that made him very uncomfortable.


    But just at this critical moment, something happened to Eldest Miss Li from the Li Family.


    In broad daylight, a gang of bandits brandishing machine guns had boldly taken her into the hospital.


    When he heard the news, he was stunned for a few minutes.


    It wasn¡¯t until the incessant ¡°hello?¡± from the other end of the phone disrupted his thoughts that he swept everything on his desk onto the floor, cursing those ¡°fucking bastards¡± before putting on his coat, planning to go see the crime scene.


    After circling the crime scene and seeing so many dismembered corpses, Wang Dong, who had lived in comfort for many years, almost threw up his breakfast.


    Moreover, he heard from the forensic examiner at the scene that most of the victims had been killed by headshots, and they were lethal.


    While Wang Dong lay in the back seat of the car, resting with his eyes closed, his subordinates brought him a piece of good news.


    They had arrested a man at the crime scene who had been holding Eldest Miss Li, and they had already taken him back for interrogation.


    By this time, they had probably pried something out of his mouth.


    Hey, you couldn¡¯t say that among all the bad news, this tidbit allowed Wang Dong to brighten up a bit, but then this only piece of good news also turned sour.


    Mr.


    Li himself called him, saying that the suspect they had captured was likely the benefactor who saved Eldest Miss Li.


    He told them to treat him well and that he would be coming to see the man himself soon.


    Wang Dong certainly knew the caliber of his subordinates.


    Usually, they were accustomed to using dirty tricks.


    If someone refused to confess, they would resort to violence directly.


    If this matter couldn¡¯t be traced back to the Li Family, he would typically turn a blind eye to such rogue operations, but now that Mr.


    Li had personally identified the suspect, if those bastards pulled any tricks, it would spell disaster.


    Seeing his superior frowning and looking troubled, the secretary, with his large face, approached cautiously and asked what had happened.


    Wang Dong felt like killing someone.


    But he hadn¡¯t spent over twenty years on the bureaucratic ladder for nothing.


    The phrase ¡°restrain one¡¯s anger¡± had been etched into his heart.


    If he showed a short temper in front of his subordinates, it would only make them lose respect for him.


    By the time he hurried back to the bureau, he was no longer concerned about his image as he ran toward the interrogation room.


    During these few short minutes of travel, no fewer than five or six influential figures with some connections to him had called, naming a man named Song Yun, insisting that Wang Dong release him.


    My god, just what kind of connections did this Song Yun have that he could move the higher-ups?


    Wang Dong felt his heart was about to explode.


    Hoping against hope that his subordinates hadn¡¯t laid a hand on Song Yun, he took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the interrogation room.


    Inside the interrogation room, darkness prevailed except for a spotlight shining harshly on a man sitting in the suspect¡¯s chair.


    And Song Yun¡¯s forehead had been cut open, a large gash oozing blood that slowly dripped onto the floor.


    Drip, drip, drip.


    At this moment, Wang Dong felt as if he could hear his own heart bleeding out.


    This was it, his career was over today.


    ¡°Son of a bitch, who allowed you to violate the rules?¡± Wang Dong could no longer contain the fury in his heart and slapped his subordinate Wang Feng hard across the face as he approached.


    Wang Feng was left dazed by the slap, not understanding what had gotten into his boss today; he hadn¡¯t seen him this angry before.


    ¡°Wang...


    Director Wang, the suspect was about to disclose the details.


    Don¡¯t worry, we will be able to get to the bottom of this case soon,¡± Wang Feng said, thinking his boss¡¯s anger must be due to his lack of success in getting information out of the man.


    But little did he know that when Wang Dong heard this, it was like adding fuel to the fire, the anger raising the roof.


    ¡°Your mother¡¯s water, who allowed you to violate the rules, who gave you the guts!¡± Wang Dong kicked Wang Feng to the ground.


    This son of a bitch was trying to kill him, dragging him into complicity; now, even if he wasn¡¯t doomed before, he most certainly was.


    As for the other lackeys, they were already trembling and standing as inconspicuously as possible, fearing that their furious boss might lash out at them.


    ¡°Mr.


    Song, I¡¯m Wang Dong, the person in charge.


    I¡¯ve long heard of your great reputation,¡± Wang Dong said, forcing a slight smile to temper his emotions.


    ¡°Heh, so we meet in such an awkward position today?


    And I¡¯m also shackled to this chair and can¡¯t move?


    I didn¡¯t expect your place to be such a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers,¡± Song Yun said with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    ¡°What are you two idiots standing there for?


    Hurry up and unshackle Mr.


    Song,¡± Wang Dong felt that if he died, it would be because of these imbecilic teammates.


    ¡°No need, it feels pretty comfortable this way,¡± Song Yun said, seeing this turn of events.


    How could he not guess that someone behind the scenes was helping him?


    At this moment, he better put on some airs; otherwise, how would he ever get by once he got out.

 Chapter 8 - 8 7 The Pretend Fool Mr

    ?8: Chapter 7 The Pretend Fool, Mr.


    Li_2 8: Chapter 7 The Pretend Fool, Mr.


    Li_2 ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t, don¡¯t, Mr.


    Song, with your delicate and esteemed self, let¡¯s first unfasten those handcuffs.


    We can talk about everything else slowly in my office.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about?


    About how you¡¯re going to beat me up?


    Please no, inside this tiny room, at most three people can commit violence against me.


    If we go to your office, who knows how many more will join in.¡± Song Yun said quite shamelessly.


    When Wang Dong heard these ruthless words and thought about the time, feeling that Mr.


    Li was about to arrive, he almost kneeled down to the imposing figure in front of him.


    But Song Yun kept repeating the same few words, insisted on not going anywhere.


    Just as Wang Dong was frowning and clueless about how to get this Buddha out, the phone rang.


    Mr.


    Li had arrived!


    ¡°What to do?


    What to do?¡± Wang Dong felt his head was about to explode.


    Mr.


    Li could have come at any other time, but he had to arrive at this critical moment.


    Now, with Song Yun¡¯s stubborn refusal to leave the interrogation room, it was likely that Mr.


    Li¡¯s standing would drop a few levels when he came up.


    ¡°Wang Dong, what¡¯s the matter with you?


    You got so scared after just a phone call, look at the sweat on your forehead, you could take a bath with it,¡± Song Yun said, relaxedly sitting with his legs crossed, almost to the point of lighting a cigarette as if he were at home.


    Wang Dong glanced at Song Yun, who appeared to be vacationing, and felt utterly helpless.


    With anybody else, he wouldn¡¯t have had to be so humble and pleading.


    He would have slapped them already to teach them a lesson.


    ¡°Wang Dong!¡± A furious shout came from the corridor, and Wang Dong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and gave a bitter smile.


    ¡°There¡¯s no escaping the inevitable.¡±


    He muttered to himself and then hurried out to receive his former superior.


    Song Yun was very curious about who was coming.


    Could it be that his old man had sent someone to rescue him?


    Judging by the way Wang Dong, the Deputy Director, was so spooked and gingerly catering to the visitor, it must be a bigwig from the provincial level, right?


    Not long after, Song Yun saw an elderly man resonating with authority enter, followed by a trembling and half-crouched Wang Dong.


    After the old man entered and saw Song Yun with his head bowed and blood dripping onto the floor from his forehead, he cast a dark glance back at Wang Dong.


    However, he said nothing more, as there were outsiders present and it was somewhat proper to save Wang Dong¡¯s face, considering how to scold or beat him was a matter for later.


    But when Song Yun lifted his head, the old man visibly flinched, then frowned and ordered Wang Feng and the other police officers to leave the room and, incidentally, to close the door.


    Seeing this, Wang Dong breathed a sigh of relief.


    It seemed Mr.


    Li intended to probe the lad and minimize the crisis.


    But there had been too many unexpected events today, including this one.


    After everyone had left, Mr.


    Li turned around and, holding his cane, began to pummel Wang Dong.


    Song Yun, clearly unaccustomed to this scene, wondered why they¡¯d started infighting without a word.


    Where was he to pour out all the arguments he¡¯d prepared?


    ¡°Are you Song Yun?¡± Mr.


    Li, obviously advanced in years, lacked the vigor of youth, and after a few swats with his cane, gasped for breath and rested.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Song Yun wanted to add a smart retort, but choosing to be cautious with this elderly man seemed wise.


    ¡°I am old friends with your master, Zhang Fusheng,¡± Mr.


    Li said amiably, sitting across from Song Yun with a smile.


    ¡°Your master must have told you that you¡¯re to marry my granddaughter Shishi.¡±


    ¡°Marry?¡± Wang Dong exclaimed, seemingly discovering Mr.


    Li¡¯s ill-pleased side glance, and he quickly lowered his head like a schoolkid who had made a mistake.


    But inside, he was experiencing a maelstrom of emotions, not to mention the Li Family¡¯s enormous power across Sunan.


    The enigmatic figure Song Yun alone was baffling enough.


    If these two families really wedded, it could likely cause a huge stir in certain circles.


    ...


    Song Yun felt indignant at the old man¡¯s words.


    Wasn¡¯t it said that an incoming son-in-law at least deserved a round of scrutiny by the gaggle of aunts and then a decision on his status?


    But the old patriarch¡¯s gaze grew stranger the more he looked at him, as if marrying his daughter to Song Yun was a favor Song Yun should be highly grateful for.


    Strangeness usually signaled mischief, and Song Yun always believed in that proverb.


    ¡°My master only said to consider marriage but didn¡¯t specify who with; you suddenly show up in the interrogation room and set me up like this¡ªare you expect me to trust you or not?¡±


    ¡°Song Yun!¡± Wang Dong quickly stood up and said, ¡°This is Mr.


    Li; you can¡¯t speak so rudely.¡±


    Nevertheless, Mr.


    Li kept that pleasant demeanor, even tapping his leg rhythmically as if he were performing opera, which made Song Yun¡¯s skin crawl.


    ¡°Do you know who the girl you saved this morning is?¡± Mr.


    Li asked with a suppressed smile.


    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Your fiancee, Li Shishi, hahaha!¡± Mr.


    Li laughed heartily.


    His dear granddaughter had always loathed this kind of family-arranged marriage, not to mention a betrothal to someone she had never seen, set up long ago.


    It had been troubling just to bring up the matter with her.


    But unexpectedly, today¡¯s events allowed the two youngsters a chance to meet.


    Saving Mr.


    Li¡¯s granddaughter, Song Yun could be the proverbial knight in shining armor.


    Today¡¯s girls often fantasized about such a prince, and Mr.


    Li had a good feeling about Song Yun.


    Well, it seemed he and his betrothed really had fate on their side, meeting for the first time in such a setting.


    It was, without a doubt, a karmic connection.


    ¡°Wang Dong, handle those policemen who laid hands on us yourself.


    I don¡¯t want to interfere too much in your police affairs, lest those old fogeys call me pretending to be a fool.¡± Mr.


    Li spoke with gravity.


    ¡°But everything must adhere to regulations.


    Even if Song Yun weren¡¯t my grandson-in-law, does that give you, the servants of the people, the right to act recklessly?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, Mr.


    Li, I understand,¡± Wang Dong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead in secret, realizing that Mr.


    Li still had expectations for him.


    If he had given up, he would have ignored Wang Dong completely, letting him fend for himself.


    ¡°Song Yun, shall we go home to talk?¡± Mr.


    Li, as benign as a Maitreya Buddha, took Song Yun¡¯s hand and headed out of the police station.


    Song Yun didn¡¯t want to snub Mr.


    Li¡¯s honor in public and obediently followed.


    Under Wang Dong¡¯s grateful gaze, Mr.


    Li and Song Yun got into the car.


    Once inside, Mr.


    Li sat in the back and rested with his eyes closed, saying, ¡°Are you wondering why I¡¯m giving Wang Dong a way out here?¡±


    Song Yun, caught guessing, bashfully smiled and said, ¡°Since you¡¯re friends with my master, whatever you do certainly won¡¯t harm me.¡±


    ¡°You sure have a sweet mouth,¡± Mr.


    Li suddenly opened his eyes, devoid of his prior geniality, and turned to look at Song Yun seriously, ¡°Firstly, Wang Dong still has potential for growth.


    While the Li family is flourishing, we¡¯re also facing a lack of successors.


    Shishi has not followed the family¡¯s arrangement to enter politics but chose the business world instead.


    This could lead to the Li family¡¯s decline from the third generation onwards.


    Compared to the family¡¯s rise and fall, letting him off is trivial.¡±


    ¡°Secondly, you have to make a go of it here in Sunan.


    Today, I¡¯ve also forged a good relationship with you.


    When abroad, you can¡¯t afford to push your luck.


    You might need Wang Dong¡¯s help a lot in the future, and in a society like Huaxia, where connections matter, one climbs the ladder by continuously giving face.¡±


    ¡°Thirdly, their police forces are a tangled web.


    I don¡¯t want to sweat the small stuff and prompt those old coots to make my life difficult with endless grievances.¡±

 Chapter 9 - 9 8 Fate

    ?9: Chapter 8 Fate?


    9: Chapter 8 Fate?


    The Li Family¡¯s mansion was located in a prime area of Sunan City.


    The mansion was a traditional quadrangle dwelling, a legacy passed down through generations of the Li family.


    Besides Li Shishi, who held control over the economic lifeline of Sunan and contributed significantly to the government¡¯s GDP annually, Mr.


    Li¡¯s eldest son, who was also Song Yun¡¯s father-in-law, was a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and spent his time shuttling between various countries.


    The second son was a prominent official in the Organization Department, with a promising future.


    Mr.


    Li himself had connections straight to Yanjing; in his youth, he had ties with several of the top leaders behind the red walls, making his family in Sunan virtually as influential as a landlord.


    No one dared to encroach on their land or suggest they leave for demolitions.


    Regarding the neighbors around the Li Family, they were merely ordinary people who could hardly fathom the caliber of individuals coming and going from the household; at most, they simply acknowledged the Li family as wealthy folk best not provoked.


    Following Mr.


    Li into the ancient courtyard, the fragrance of flowers was overwhelming.


    Despite the large expanse of the courtyard, few lived there apart from Mr.


    Li and his spouse in the rear court, leaving just two rooms for Li Shishi and Song Yun¡¯s aunt, whom he had not met.


    The other descendants usually just visited, dined, and left after meeting with Mr.


    Li.


    As for the servants and housekeepers, they all resided in the front courtyard and were not authorized to enter the rear, which bore some similarity to ancient familial structures.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sit first.


    Shishi should be returning from the hospital shortly,¡± Mr.


    Li suggested.


    Mr.


    Li had many grandchildren, but few were ever around.


    For instance, his eldest son needed to fly to various countries regularly, and his second son was mostly in Yanjing, unable to return.


    Besides, two of Li Shishi¡¯s aunts had married into cities nearby and did not pursue careers in Sunan.


    About half an hour later, as Mr.


    Li and Song Yun were chatting, Li Shishi returned.


    ¡°Shishi, this is Song Yun, the great benefactor who saved your life,¡± Mr.


    Li said with a content smile, ¡°And what a coincidence, Song Yun is the fiance? I mentioned to you before.¡±


    ¡°Fiance??¡± Li Shishi stopped and stared at Song Yun.


    She had not paid much attention to this man when she fainted, but now discovered her lifesaver was her intended husband, a bit too much of a cliche? perhaps?


    However, after scrutinizing Song Yun¡¯s face carefully, Li Shishi was stunned into silence.


    ¡°Hello, my name is Song Yun,¡± Song Yun stood up, feigning an innocent demeanor.


    ¡°I certainly did not expect our first meeting to be so...


    so bloody.¡±


    ¡°Song Yun?¡± Li Shishi sat dazedly opposite him, biting her thumb and pondering deeply.


    Mr.


    Li, puzzled by his granddaughter¡¯s unexpected reaction, wondered inwardly what was off.


    ¡°Your real name is Song Yun?¡± Li Shishi asked with an unfriendly tone, her voice harsh as resentment could be seen in her eyes, showing she was on the brink of an eruption.


    ¡°Shishi?


    Have you two met before?¡± Mr.


    Li asked cautiously, aware that Li Shishi was a cherished child by the family but not spoiled.


    Since starting middle school, she never spent any family money, relying entirely on scholarships and jobs, even studying abroad without mentioning it to her family until the day before she left.


    He hoped Song Yun had not left a bad impression earlier; otherwise, he¡¯d find himself awkwardly caught in the middle.


    ¡°Perhaps not...¡± Song Yun racked his brain but could not recall meeting Li Shishi, especially since he had been overseas and hadn¡¯t set foot in the country until recently.


    ¡°Heh, your memory serves you well,¡± Li Shishi stood up shaking, her anger palpable, and, slapping Song Yun, she nearly roared at him, ¡°Remember who I am now?¡±


    Daring to slap her own face and in such a fury...


    This scene seemed oddly familiar.


    Song Yun searched his mind briefly before exclaiming in surprise, pointing at Li Shishi, ¡°You...


    you are that¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, Li Shishi covered his mouth and whispered urgently near his ear, ¡°Are you trying to let grandfather hear about my ¡®glorious¡¯ history abroad as well?¡±


    Li Shishi¡¯s hair teasing the edge of Song Yun¡¯s nose made him itch.


    Feeling guilty, he pried her hand from his mouth, ¡°You¡¯ve changed so much; you were never like this.¡±


    ¡°What was I like before?¡± Li Shishi regretted asking as soon as the words left her mouth, realizing Song Yun was leering at her chest.


    She twisted his ear, half irritated and half amused, ¡°Grown up, is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, my dear ancestor, can you let go of my ear?


    It hurts,¡± Song Yun pleaded.


    Mr.


    Li watched the two of them, slapping and ear-twisting, somewhat unable to grasp the situation but noted that Shishi didn¡¯t seem to detest Song Yun outright; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t even engage with him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this matter later; right now, let¡¯s try to appease Grandfather,¡± Li Shishi, who had always been the obedient girl at home, seemed a bit of a shrew today.


    She stood up with a deep breath justifying, ¡°Grandfather, I do not want to marry him.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Mr.


    Li quizzed, slightly confused, ¡°Was there some misunderstanding between you before?


    You are adults now, wouldn¡¯t it be better to clear things up?


    Don¡¯t you agree, Song Yun?¡±


    Song Yun, by now, did not dare to interject, praying internally that Mr.


    Li would refrain from meddling further, knowing full well the consequences if his precious granddaughter¡¯s past with Song Yun came to light.


    ¡°I...


    Mr.


    Li, Shishi and I,¡±


    ¡°Call me Li Shishi.


    Are we that close?¡± Li Shishi glared at Song Yun, correcting him sharply.


    ¡°Right, right,¡± Song Yun, signaling surrender, continued, ¡°Li Shishi and I are simply from different worlds.


    Mr.


    Li, you must understand that people with differing principles, even if together, would find life constantly challenging.¡±


    ¡°I thought it was a serious matter.


    Song Yun, my wife and I also had different views, having never met before our wedding, yet here we are decades later, still together,¡± Mr.


    Li dismissed nonchalantly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened before, but meeting today must mean something, right?¡±

 Chapter 10 - 10 9 Sinful Affinity

    ?10: Chapter 9: Sinful Affinity 10: Chapter 9: Sinful Affinity ¡°Fate?¡±


    Li Shishi didn¡¯t see it that way.


    When she was traveling in Europe, she was harassed by some hooligans at a bar late at night.


    Indeed, it was Song Yun who came to her rescue, but still!


    In the end, didn¡¯t she just get drunk under Song Yun¡¯s influence and follow him to book a room?


    The next morning when she woke up with a splitting headache and saw the completely unfamiliar surroundings and the man lying next to her, Li Shishi nearly had a breakdown.


    She could only put on her clothes, give Song Yun a slap, and then flee in a panic.


    Song Yun sat in his chair and sighed, thinking that the world was really damn small.


    In more than twenty years, maybe Li Shishi was the only one brave enough to slap him in the face?


    And to think he had received another one today.


    But what could he do when he felt guilty as a thief?


    He had thought it was a night of passion, but in the light of day, when he saw the red stains on the sheets and an enraged Shishi escaping, Song Yun, rubbing his slightly sore face, didn¡¯t chase after her.


    ¡°Shishi, you could try dating Song Yun for a while, see how it goes,¡± Mr.


    Li said, lifting his teacup to hide half his face.


    ¡°You and Song Yun were meant for each other since childhood.


    If it weren¡¯t for Song Yun¡¯s father saving me decades ago, the Li Family would probably be long gone by now.¡±


    ¡°Mr.


    Li, if it¡¯s because of my master, then you really don¡¯t have to worry about it.


    My master saved you and is owed a debt of gratitude, but there¡¯s no need to repay it with Shishi¡¯s future happiness,¡± Song Yun said earnestly.


    ¡°Besides, there¡¯s no affection between us.


    Getting married for the sake of marriage alone isn¡¯t fair to me either.¡±


    ¡°Fair?


    You want fairness?¡± Li Shishi jumped up from her chair in anger when she heard this and pointed at Song Yun, shouting, ¡°You bastard.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Shishi, watch your language,¡± Mr.


    Li scolded with some irritation, slapping the table.


    ¡°Have all my years of teaching you been forgotten?


    Song Yun, you don¡¯t need to keep making excuses.


    This marriage has been discussed with your master, and if you think it¡¯s too soon to accept, I will give you two some time to get to know each other.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa,¡± Li Shishi wanted to say something more but upon seeing her grandfather¡¯s stern expression, she could only close her mouth helplessly.


    ¡°Song Yun, do you have a place to live right now?


    If not, you can move in to keep this old man company,¡± Mr.


    Li asked kindly, turning his head.


    ¡°I do, I do.


    After I came back, I bought a courtyard house, and it¡¯s all set up now; I won¡¯t trouble you,¡± Song Yun replied.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Mr.


    Li pondered for a moment before looking up and saying to Li Shishi in a tone that brooked no argument, ¡°Shishi, I remember you still live at the company office, right?


    Since Song Yun has a courtyard house, you can move in with him.


    The two of you can see each other every day and develop your feelings.¡±


    Cohabitate?


    Song Yun nearly fainted when he heard this news.


    Under normal circumstances, he would be overjoyed at the idea of living with such a beautiful woman, but judging by Li Shishi¡¯s rage, she might as well sneak into his room with a knife in the middle of the night and end his life.


    This was not fun at all.


    ¡°Hmm, sure,¡± Song Yun thought Li Shishi would instantly refuse, but to his surprise, she very straightforwardly agreed, though the way she looked at him seemed increasingly off.


    ¡°Now that we are going to live together in your courtyard house, I¡¯m going to rely on you for advice, Song Yun,¡± Li Shishi extended her hand to Song Yun in a very magnanimous gesture, completely different from her angry demeanor just moments ago, making Song Yun sigh at how incredible this woman was for changing her face so quickly without any lead-up.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve been worried all day long, so I¡¯m going to my room to rest.


    You two young ones have a good chat,¡± Mr.


    Li said contentedly and left, making Song Yun sit awkwardly on his chair, not knowing whether to speak or remain silent.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your name was Song Chao?¡± Once Mr.


    Li left, Li Shishi reverted to the easily angered little leopardess.


    ¡°Hehe...


    it¡¯s just a code name,¡± Song Yun said guiltily.


    ¡°You really are something.


    I thought you were a good guy, but it turns out you¡¯re not much of anything, with all your tricks,¡± Li Shishi narrowed her eyes and said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother making so many excuses to me, I don¡¯t want to hear them.


    As for what happened before, I¡¯ll pretend it never happened.


    Of course, don¡¯t be under any illusions because of what I¡¯ve said.


    In the future, you go your sunny path, and I¡¯ll walk my own log bridge.


    Marriage is out of the question.


    Just don¡¯t end up dead in your room one night, and good luck to you.¡±


    Great, he really entangled himself with a deity he shouldn¡¯t have provoked.


    No sooner did she claim not to hold a grudge than she was threatening him.


    Oh heavens, why are you so unfair to me?


    ¡°Where¡¯s your courtyard house?¡±


    After a moment of silence, Li Shishi asked.


    ¡°Ah?


    Are you really planning on moving in?¡±


    ¡°What else?


    Since Grandpa has already spoken, who knows when he¡¯ll do a surprise inspection?


    Since we¡¯re going to act, we might as well do it properly.


    Once we get through this period, I will naturally find a way to refuse this marriage.¡±


    With no other choice, Song Yun reluctantly gave out the address.


    Getting the address, Li Shishi didn¡¯t linger and stood to leave.


    Song Yun sat in the room and let out a long sigh to the ceiling.


    What was all this about?


    By the time he returned home, it was past six in the evening.


    Song Yun had just entered when he heard knocking.


    With a day¡¯s worth of surpressed anger not yet dissipated, he shouted towards the door, ¡°No newspapers, salespeople scram.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Xiao Qing, Senior Brother Song,¡± a sweet voice came from outside, causing half of Song Yun¡¯s anger to dissipate immediately.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Qingqing.


    What brings you to your senior brother?¡± Song Yun cheerfully opened the door and welcomed Xiao Qing in with a smile.


    ¡°Today senior brother, you told me to head back first, but my right eyelid kept twitching at home, and I wondered if something had happened.


    After sitting all day in the yard without any news from you, I came to check when I saw you had returned.¡±


    Seeing what a real woman was like, she worried about a man she had known for just a few hours.


    Such a kind and foolish child.


    ¡°You still don¡¯t know your senior brother¡¯s skills?


    They were just some petty thieves, and I took them down in no time,¡± Song Yun looked at his neighborly little sister and felt the urge to tease her.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, worried about your senior brother?


    Don¡¯t worry, with you constantly worrying about me at home, how could I let those bad guys take advantage?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not as exaggerated as you say...¡± Xiao Qing said in a low murmuring voice as she blushed.

 Chapter 11 - 11 10 Old Mother Song Yun

    ?11: Chapter 10 Old Mother Song Yun 11: Chapter 10 Old Mother Song Yun In fairy tales, whenever the prince and the princess have a secret rendezvous, there¡¯s always an old witch who comes to disturb them.


    Song Yun felt that Li Shishi was playing this role right now.


    Before Song Yun could press his advantage and tease Xiao Qing some more, Li Shishi cleared her throat twice at the door.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t disrupted your little date, have I?¡± Li Shishi swaggered in, someone might think she was the landlord here to collect the rent.


    At the sound of her voice, Xiao Qing hurriedly lifted her head and shyly waved her hands as she stepped back, ¡°We¡¯re not on a date.¡±


    ¡°Oh?


    That¡¯s right, I guess no one could possibly fancy this scum,¡± said Li Shishi without mincing her words.


    ¡°Little sister, don¡¯t be fooled by the person in front of you, he is a downright social reject.¡±


    ¡°Senior Brother Song isn¡¯t like that,¡± Xiao Qing replied firmly, locking eyes with Li Shishi, ¡°He is a good person.¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s a good person, then there are no good people left in the world,¡± Li Shishi sneered, ¡°You¡¯re still young, you can¡¯t tell good from bad.


    Just don¡¯t live to regret it and then realize, oh, so that¡¯s what he¡¯s really like.¡±


    ¡°Senior Brother Song isn¡¯t like that, he... he...¡± Xiao Qing was so anxious that her eyes began to redden.


    She said word by word, ¡°This morning, Senior Brother Song risked his life to rescue people from a car accident; from this, it¡¯s clear that he¡¯s not a bad person.¡±


    ¡°Heh, your Senior Brother isn¡¯t as great as you say,¡± Song Yun said, scratching the back of his head with a naive smile, ¡°but what you said is more or less accurate.¡±


    ¡°Scum, degenerate, hmph,¡± Li Shishi, seeing Song Yun¡¯s self-satisfied look, immediately flared up, ¡°Where¡¯s my room?¡±


    ¡°That room over there is empty; you can stay inside,¡± Song Yun said quickly, pointing to a cleared-out room nearby, unable to provoke this imposing figure.


    Initially, he thought Li Shishi had come alone, but then she clapped her hands, and five or six men in black suits, each carrying cooking pots and pans, surged in.


    It looked as if they were moving in.


    ¡°Senior Brother Song, who are they?¡± Xiao Qing, who had been on edge all day since the morning incident, grew a bit frightened and shrank behind Song Yun at the sight of so many strangers.


    ¡°Li Shishi, these people you¡¯ve brought aren¡¯t going to live with you, are they?


    You may not pay rent, but if they¡¯re moving in, each person has to pay up every month.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re just here to help move things,¡± Li Shishi¡¯s voice came from inside the room.


    ¡°Senior Brother Song, who is that sister?


    She seems fierce,¡± Xiao Qing muttered softly.


    ¡°Her?


    She¡¯s a tigress, and the man-eating kind,¡± Song Yun said with a grin, ¡°but don¡¯t worry, with me here, dragons coil and tigers crouch.


    Xiaoqing, you live alone in the neighboring courtyard, looking so lonely.


    How about moving in with us?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble you, Senior Brother.


    I live just fine by myself,¡± Xiao Qing waved her hands and said quickly, ¡°I won¡¯t bother you today then, Senior Brother.


    I¡¯ll visit another day.¡±


    No sooner had Xiao Qing left than the bodyguards had also arranged everything neatly.


    Whatever Li Shishi told them, they left without giving Song Yun an amiable look.


    Especially their glares, as if they wanted to see right through Song Yun, they looked ready to burst out with a threat like, ¡®If you dare sneak into my boss¡¯ room in the middle of the night, I¡¯ll break your legs!¡¯


    ¡°What¡¯s for dinner?


    I¡¯m in a good mood today, and could show off my cooking skills,¡± Song Yun called out from the courtyard.


    ¡°I¡¯m not eating; I¡¯m dieting.¡±


    Well, that¡¯s what one would call a cold shoulder to a warm advance.


    ¡°Just suit yourself,¡± Song Yun mumbled as he headed to the kitchen.


    After bustling about in the kitchen, Song Yun made five or six dishes.


    He had been hoodwinked into cooking for an old man since he was young, and so he had been cooking ever since.


    Though he wouldn¡¯t claim the dishes to have perfect color, fragrance, and taste, the aroma was definitely appetizing.


    Song Yun set the table with bowls and chopsticks and sat down, joyfully alternating between bites of food and mouthfuls of dishes.


    ¡°Ah, life is good nowadays, this food is delicious.


    If it¡¯s accompanied by two taels of liquor, mmm, heavenly.¡±


    ¡°Mm, this rice isn¡¯t bad either, fragrant and sticky.


    I should really buy a few more pounds next time.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯d fall in love with myself if I were a woman; this food is just too delicious.¡±


    Li Shishi, sitting inside at her desk looking over documents, kept hearing Song Yun¡¯s continuous shouts, which stirred her originally not-so-hungry stomach to rumble with hunger.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you eat without yapping?


    Haven¡¯t you heard of silence while eating?¡± Li Shishi finally couldn¡¯t contain herself and quickly stepped out to stand before the dining table and yell at Song Yun.


    But her imposing momentum didn¡¯t last two seconds before her own stomach betrayed her.


    Hearing the growling sound, Li Shishi wished she could find a crack in the floor to crawl into.


    ¡°The bowls and cutlery are in the cupboard.


    If you want to eat, get them yourself,¡± Song Yun said unclearly, mouth full of food.


    ¡°A good woman doesn¡¯t fight with men, a good woman doesn¡¯t fight with men,¡± Li Shishi comforted herself in her mind, and on top of that, she was genuinely hungry.


    She took out a bowl and chopsticks and sat opposite Song Yun.


    After a few bites, Li Shishi¡¯s eyes brightened.


    She didn¡¯t expect this rascal to cook so well, a notch above even those executive chefs at hotels, so her pace at grabbing food increased.


    ¡°Eat slower, no one¡¯s competing with you,¡± Song Yun said lazily.


    ¡°It¡¯s not because it tastes good that I¡¯m eating so fast; it¡¯s just that I¡¯m hungry,¡± Li Shishi retorted haughtily.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯re always right.


    But, you know, man is iron and food is steel, go without a meal and you¡¯ll know how that feels.


    Nowadays, many girls are always crying ¡®diet, diet,¡¯ when they¡¯re not even thin to begin with.


    Losing more weight can really harm the body, so you should still eat on time.


    If you really want to diet, just exercise more.¡±


    Li Shishi idly played with the last grains of rice in her bowl, stealing glances at Song Yun as she pondered, ¡°Who exactly is this man?


    Not only could he rescue me from those mercenaries, but he can also cook such delicious meals.¡±


    What shocked her most was that Song Yun now kept on nagging like an old mother, urging her to eat more.


    What an oddball.


    ¡°Li Shishi?¡±


    Lost in thought as she stared at Song Yun, Li Shishi jumped when he suddenly called her name, almost spilling her bowl of rice on the table.


    She quickly looked away, attempting to casually continue eating, but soon realized the bowl was already empty.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating properly?


    What¡¯s on your mind?


    Could it be that you¡¯ve fallen for my dashing charm and can¡¯t get me out of your head?¡± Song Yun teased, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.


    ¡°Who...


    who could fall for a big thug like you?¡± Li Shishi huffed, ¡°Serve me another bowl of rice.¡±


    ¡°Gee, with an appetite like that, who¡¯s ever going to afford to keep you?¡± Song Yun pretended to lament, but quickly filled another brimming bowl of rice and placed it before Li Shishi.

 Chapter 12 - 12 11 On How the Good Life Is Disrupted

    ?12: Chapter 11 On How the Good Life Is Disrupted 12: Chapter 11 On How the Good Life Is Disrupted After dinner, Li Shishi very much like a young lady, unceremoniously placed her bowl on the table, without any intention of washing the dishes after freeloaded a meal.


    Seeing this, Song Yun shook his head, cleaned everything up, and went back to his room.


    Had he settled down in Sunan City?


    Not to mention the troublesome little demon Li Shishi, just the amount in his bank account was enough for him to live a carefree life.


    Just thinking about such a life was damn exhilarating.


    He had no great expectations of Li Shishi, as their first impressions of each other hadn¡¯t been good, but the little junior sister next door, heh heh heh.


    Just as Song Yun was lost in his daydreams, a text message yanked his thoughts back to reality.


    Wiping the drool that had pooled on his pillow, he opened his phone to find a message from the bank.


    Bewildered, he opened the message to discover his bank account had been frozen, and he stood there stunned.


    My bank account has been frozen?


    Once it sunk in, Song Yun literally jumped three meters high.


    When he confirmed that the message was indeed from the bank, it felt as if the sky had fallen and the earth had collapsed.


    Grandpa and Grandma no longer loved their grandson; he had been relying on the money in that account to find a little sister to spend his life with.


    Great, now what?


    With the cost of living so high, how was he expected to survive in Sunan, a city unfamiliar to him?


    ¡°Damn it, if I find out who froze my bank account, I¡¯ll chase them down and beat them with an iron bar until their chrysanthemum blooms,¡± Song Yun muttered, clutching his phone in fury.


    ¡°Ah, ah, ah, ah¡±


    A bizarre ringtone rang out, and Song Yun, looking ashen, answered the call to hear a hearty laugh on the other end.


    ¡°I heard you didn¡¯t have such a great chat with the Li family¡¯s young mistress today?¡± The old man asked with a hint of mockery.


    ¡°Do you have clairvoyance or super hearing?


    How do you know so clearly about such a trivial matter in Sunan while you¡¯re abroad?¡± Song Yun, lying on the comfy bed, spoke irritably, ¡°And stop talking about good temper, good looks, good upbringing, pah!


    Old man, you¡¯re pushing your only disciple into a pit of fire.¡±


    ¡°Haha, who said that?


    I met Shishi over ten years ago; she was a quiet and gentle girl.¡±


    ¡°Get lost, you met her more than ten years ago, why don¡¯t you say you helped check her pulse when she was in her mother¡¯s womb,¡± Song Yun grumbled.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get along with that kid, so stay out of it.¡±


    ¡°Yo, is there actually a woman that Mr.


    Song can¡¯t handle?¡± The old man teased, his voice cheerful.


    ¡°Hmph, women I can¡¯t handle?


    They haven¡¯t been born yet,¡± Song Yun snapped back.


    ¡°Alright, no more nonsense with you, international calls are expensive.


    I¡¯m calling about something serious.


    Transfer some money to my online account; I have an emergency need for it.¡±


    ¡°Not lending,¡± replied the old man with a tone that left no room for jest.


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you lend me some?


    I¡¯m not asking for much, just a few million for my new card,¡± Song Yun said, dissatisfied.


    The old man chuckled scornfully on the phone, making Song Yun¡¯s skin crawl.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who froze your card, and you¡¯re asking why I won¡¯t lend you money.¡±


    ¡°I¨Cyour mother¡¯s a bitch!¡± Song Yun howled, feeling as if ten thousand horses were thundering through his heart, trampling his frail spirit.


    Just when Song Yun was about to confront the old man for an explanation, the other end hung up.


    He gripped his phone, tempted to throw it, but thinking of the unfinished small movies still on it, he calmly set it aside.


    What was to be done?


    He couldn¡¯t just let life strangle him to death, could he?


    My God, not afraid of god-like opponents, but terrified of pig-like teammates.


    Before his wonderful life had even started, his financial lifeline had been cut.


    How was he to live now?


    Right, why not...


    ask Li Shishi for some rent?


    The location of this courtyard house was excellent, and the surrounding environment wasn¡¯t bad; a few thousand yuan in rent per month seemed reasonable.


    One had to remember that the kid was a president; surely she wouldn¡¯t quibble over a few thousand yuan.


    Thinking it, he had to do it.


    Song Yun got up and tiptoed to Li Shishi¡¯s door, knocked twice.


    Li Shishi was inside looking at documents when the sudden knock made her frown and speak displeasedly, ¡°If you have something to say, say it.


    If not, screw off.¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey, Shishi,¡± Song Yun said with a sleazy grin on his face, ¡°since you¡¯re going to be living here every day from now on, you gotta cover some expenses each month for food and such, you know, life in Sunan is pretty expensive.¡±


    ¡°Get lost.¡±


    ¡°Alrighty.¡±


    Song Yun quickly scurried back to his own room, his face as wrinkled as a chrysanthemum in autumn, utterly crestfallen.


    ¡°Damn it, you¡¯re all forcing my hand, huh?


    Fine...


    I¡¯ll just find a job online, then.¡±


    However, he couldn¡¯t handle an ordinary job, but he was also unwilling to return to his old profession as an assassin.


    After much thought, Song Yun visited a not-safe-for-work website, clicked through a few pictures, and entered a black login page.


    After entering his username and password, he was redirected to a chat room.


    ¡°I¡¯m in Sunan, looking for work.


    No killing, no arson, no helping to abduct underage girls; anything else is fair game,¡± Song Yun typed into the chat, and the previously quiet room suddenly became abuzz.


    ¡°Damn, Mr.


    Shura, did your account get hacked?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, since when did Mr.


    Shura sink so low?¡±


    ¡°Mr.


    Shura, I¡¯ve got a big gig, are you interested?


    Eighty percent of the cut for you after the job¡¯s done.¡±


    ...


    Looking at the unrestrained conversations, Song Yun activated the admin privileges, silenced everyone, and left his phone number on the public screen, along with a message, ¡°I¡¯ve reformed.


    Don¡¯t look for me for dirty work.


    Anyone who dares to mess with me will get to remember what torture feels like.¡±


    After leaving the message, Song Yun logged off the dark web.


    This platform was built by an organization that many mercenaries and assassins used to take on jobs, with only a five percent commission charged after the fact.


    With the powerful backers of this organization, there had been almost no disharmonious transactions over the years.


    If there were any disputes, reporting them to the higher-ups would result in the troublemakers disappearing from the world the next day.


    Therefore, it was a relatively fair place that did not fear dishonest dealings.


    ¡°Ah, ah, ah, ah¡±


    The phone rang again.


    Song Yun saw it was an unfamiliar number and answered to hear an elderly voice on the other side, which spoke with respectful tone, ¡°May I speak with Mr.


    Shura?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s me, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°I have a bodyguard job available; would you be interested?¡±

 Chapter 13 - 13 12 Employer

    ?13: Chapter 12 Employer 13: Chapter 12 Employer ¡°Bodyguard?


    Let me tell you, I don¡¯t come cheap.


    If you¡¯re talking a few measly million, don¡¯t bother me,¡± Song Yun arrogantly sprawled across the bed and said.


    ¡°We will definitely satisfy you with the price.


    Come to the president¡¯s office at Hongtu Group tomorrow.


    Whatever price you name, we¡¯ll pay it.


    How does that sound?¡± the old man replied very subserviently.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll take the money and run, not doing the job?¡± Song Yun teased idly.


    ¡°Heh heh, with your reputation in the industry, we¡¯re more than willing to trust you to protect someone,¡± the old man laughed obsequiously, his laughter grating like an unoiled mechanism.


    Bullshit, Song Yun thought.


    If it weren¡¯t for the reliable powers backing the dark web, you wouldn¡¯t trust someone like me, with hands stained with blood, to protect anyone.


    But it seems like the client has quite the backing, offering to pay any price I ask.


    Tch, I guess I¡¯ll do them the favor of taking this last job.


    After this, I¡¯ll wash my hands of this life and live like a god.


    Early the next morning, he got out of bed.


    After running dozens of laps around the quad, he returned to his room, took a bath, and prepared a delicious breakfast.


    Watching Li Shishi emerge from her room with sleepy eyes after eight, Song Yun¡¯s eyeballs nearly popped out.


    Li Shishi, probably used to her own home, didn¡¯t seem aware that her straps had slipped off her shoulders after waking up, revealing much of her soft chest.


    The sight was as tempting as it was inviting.


    Perhaps feeling Song Yun¡¯s invasive gaze, Li Shishi suddenly remembered she was now cohabiting with this bastard.


    Following his dumbstruck gaze downward, the quad echoed with the day¡¯s most spirited scream.


    A moment later, Li Shishi emerged from her room, having changed and freshened up, a delicate blush painting her cheeks.


    She sat opposite Song Yun and stared at him silently, making him feel like he was committing a grave sin just by eating his pancake.


    ¡°Look, if you want some food, help yourself.


    Why the hell are you staring at me?


    Do you expect me to feed you too?¡± Song Yun muttered, feeling guilty.


    ¡°Forget everything you just saw, or else...¡± Li Shishi made a throat-slitting gesture, threatening him with her ugly, shrewish expression.


    ¡°Cut it out, I¡¯ve seen it before.¡±


    ¡°Say that again, I dare you, I dare you!¡± Li Shishi lunged and grabbed Song Yun¡¯s collar, shaking it back and forth like a shrew.


    ¡°Hey, let go, you home-wrecker!


    This shirt cost me hundreds, what if you tear it?¡± Song Yun grumbled, placing a breakfast in front of Li Shishi.


    ¡°Hurry up and eat; go to work.


    I¡¯ve got things to do today, no time to mess around with you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, all dressed up nice and smart today, trying to seduce that pretty little thing, huh?


    It¡¯s not the girl next door, is it?¡± Li Shishi mocked, seeing Song Yun in a suit.


    ¡°I¡¯d advise you to drop any silly ideas you have.


    If my granddad finds out, he¡¯ll probably break your third leg along with the rest of you.¡±


    ¡°You...


    I...¡± Song Yun, frustrated, stuffed the pancake into Li Shishi¡¯s mouth and said gruffly, ¡°You talk too much; even eating can¡¯t shut you up.¡±


    ¡°Getting all bashful now,¡± Li Shishi mumbled indistinctly with her mouth full.


    ¡°But still somewhat respectable looking.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m full, I¡¯m heading out first.


    Remember to lock the door when you leave,¡± Song Yun stated.


    In this world, only women and petty men are difficult to maintain; the ancients didn¡¯t deceive me.


    Arriving at Hongtu Group, Song Yun straightened his suit and looked at the imposing building in the center of Sunan City.


    Since it was work hours, most of the white-collar workers wore suits or business attire, including some female office workers sporting black stockings and a fine pair of legs.


    Song Yun swallowed hard, relishing in the sight of the stockings and shapely figures.


    Such a sight revitalized his spirit, and he couldn¡¯t help but think Hongtu Group wasn¡¯t half bad.


    If he could enjoy so many beautiful legs every day, perhaps a slight drop in the fee would be acceptable.


    Shaking his head, Song Yun banished the inappropriate thoughts and entered the building.


    Approaching the properly dressed receptionist, he asked, ¡°Excuse me, where is the president¡¯s office?¡±


    ¡°Sir, do you have an appointment?¡± The receptionist, pleased with Song Yun¡¯s tailored attire and the prospect of him being a client seeking the president, flirted enough to make Song Yun struggle to maintain his composure.


    ¡°Mr.


    Shura, I was worried about you coming in without guidance, and I have been waiting for a while now.


    Please follow me this way,¡± before Song Yun could flirt with the receptionist, an old man with a stooped back appeared before him.


    The receptionist could only watch as Song Yun was led away by the old man into the president¡¯s private elevator, stamping her foot with regret.


    The man she had just encountered must be someone of high status, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be using the president¡¯s private elevator.


    Oh, if only she had gotten his phone number.


    Once inside the elevator, Song Yun crossed his arms and regarded the old man coldly.


    To approach him unnoticed and lead him away without resistance¡ªthe elder had to be a master.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious about who I¡¯m supposed to protect.


    With someone like you, a master of Internal Boxing at your peak, why do you need me?¡± Song Yun asked coldly, alert around the old man.


    After pressing the button for the nineteenth floor, the old man smiled disarmingly at Song Yun and said, ¡°Mr.


    Shura, I can¡¯t always be by her side, and there are many details that need to be discussed after meeting each other.


    Informing you in private beforehand wouldn¡¯t be too helpful.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m quite curious about who I need to protect now.¡±


    When the elevator stopped, Song Yun saw a line of bodyguards at the door.


    As they moved to search him, the old man leading the way stopped them.


    It was a joke to think that Shura, who had achieved a hundred kills in the industry, would not go berserk if he wanted to; even the old man might not be able to stop him completely.


    Moreover, antagonizing someone like Shura was a completely irrational choice.


    ¡°Mr.


    Shura, the employer will arrive shortly, for now, please have a cup of tea and wait,¡± the old man said respectfully.


    ¡°No problem, I have plenty of time,¡± Song Yun surveyed the president¡¯s office.


    Other than being luxuriously minimalistic, there wasn¡¯t much else to it¡ªno ostentatious paintings on the walls like some nouveau riche abroad.


    The office was dominated by white tones, emanating a clean and tidy atmosphere.


    Song Yun started to feel some anticipation for the yet unseen employer.

 Chapter 14 - 14 13 Only High Never Low

    ?14: Chapter 13: Only High, Never Low 14: Chapter 13: Only High, Never Low ¡°Click clack click clack¡±


    The sound of high heels came from outside the door, and Song Yun nestled on the sofa, wondering if this new employer could possibly be a woman?


    The door opened, and all the questions were answered in an instant.


    It wasn¡¯t someone else who came in, but Li Shishi, who had just parted from him less than an hour ago that morning.


    Staring at each other blankly, Song Yun¡¯s mind was a bit jumbled and Li Shishi¡¯s expression was equally priceless.


    Li Shishi took a deep breath and sat in the CEO¡¯s chair in silence.


    Seeing this scene, the elder hurriedly said, ¡°Mr.


    Shura, this is the young miss of our Li Family, Li Shishi.


    From now on, she will need your protection.


    As for the price, we can discuss it.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Song Yun did not speak, and the elder became a bit anxious.


    The young miss had somehow attracted enemies who were even hiring mercenaries from abroad to snipe her.


    If someone hadn¡¯t saved the young lady last time, the Li Family would have likely turned Sunan City upside down in rage by now.


    Strangely enough, after the incident, Mr.


    Li did not show much anger.


    He simply ordered Wang Dong to capture the criminal as soon as possible, but no specific deadline was given.


    It¡¯s hard not to read it as giving Wang Dong some slack.


    ¡°Miss, this is the bodyguard I¡¯ve found for you.


    I need to be at the old house all year round and can¡¯t stay by your side all the time.


    I believe Mr.


    Shura will be able to protect you well,¡± the elder turned to Li Shishi, winking and gesticulating, fearing the young lady would utter something startling and drive Song Yun away.


    ¡°Grandpa Luo, you went with grandma to offer incense yesterday, so you probably don¡¯t know what happened.


    This famous Mr.


    Shura here is...¡± Li Shishi began with a taunting tone, ¡°is my lifesaver and also the fiance? that grandpa has chosen for me.


    Tsk tsk tsk, Song Yun ah Song Yun, I didn¡¯t expect you to have such a deep background.


    Should I be considering your good side?


    But with so many facets to you, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t tell them apart at a glance.¡±


    ¡°That is...¡± the elder stood in shock for a moment and then suddenly looked at Song Yun with a smile, ¡°So, this is the son-in-law of the Li family.


    Ah, no wonder the formidable Mr.


    Shura readily agreed to an old man¡¯s request last night.


    It looks like there¡¯s a reason behind it.


    Ha ha ha, Miss, don¡¯t glare at me, I watched you grow up.


    Seeing that you¡¯ve found a good match, this old man is truly happy.¡±


    Listening to the old man¡¯s words, Song Yun internally complained.


    If he wasn¡¯t short on money, he wouldn¡¯t have taken a bodyguard job like this.


    He initially thought it was some rich person hiring a bodyguard, speaking so fiercely with a price ready to negotiate at any time.


    He never expected it was Li Shishi, the wealthy landlady.


    ¡°We should settle accounts even between brothers, so let¡¯s discuss it just as we ought to.


    Moreover, the relationship between you and me hasn¡¯t reached that good level yet,¡± said Song Yun, his expression stern, though in the elder¡¯s eyes it seemed like Song Yun was just too shy to find a proper reason to protect the young lady, hence his roundabout way of negotiation.


    ¡°Fine, how do you want to talk?¡± Li Shishi leaned back in her chair with a playful smile, ¡°Or shall I ask how much it would cost to be protected by you?¡±


    ¡°The price should be...¡± Song Yun thought for a long time but couldn¡¯t come up with a reasonable figure.


    If it were a stranger, Song Yun would have quoted a high price right away.


    But facing Li Shishi, someone he was all too familiar with, even having been intimately close a few years ago, he really couldn¡¯t think of a number.


    ¡°Don¡¯t start with how much money you want, I just want to know how much you¡¯re worth.¡±


    ¡°What do you think I¡¯m worth?¡±


    ¡°Currently, each of my bodyguards earns fifty thousand yuan a month, but looking at how thin you are, like a pole, that should be cut in half.


    As for protection, you¡¯re probably not as professional as those who have been trained, so cut in half again.


    How about ten thousand yuan per month?¡± Li Shishi crossed her arms on the table and stared intently at Song Yun.


    ¡°Ten thousand?


    You think I¡¯m some beggar you can just dismiss?¡± Song Yun narrowed his eyes and looked at her coldly.


    For a moment, Li Shishi felt a chill envelop her, as if the person in front of her was not Song Yun but a bloodthirsty beast.


    But her lifelong temperament didn¡¯t allow her to back down.


    She slammed the table and shouted, ¡°Fine, you think I¡¯m just brushing off a beggar, right?


    There are five bodyguards outside; for every one you knock down, I¡¯ll add fifty thousand yuan, how about that?¡±


    ¡°Miss, that¡¯s not appropriate,¡± Old Luo interjected, originally thinking the two were just bantering.


    But as they spoke, the conversation took on a tone laced with gunpowder.


    Setting aside that Song Yun was going to be the son-in-law of the Li family, just the fact that he was Shura meant he could command a salary of millions.


    It¡¯s well-known that Shura could earn tens of millions for a single mission, so indeed, a few thousand yuan would seem like nothing more than spare change to him.


    ¡°Grandpa Luo,¡± Li Shishi pouted, ¡°I appreciate that you want to find me a bodyguard, but I¡¯ve already strengthened my security.


    There are five professionally trained people protecting me outside now, I¡¯m safe.¡±


    Old Luo thought to himself that not even those five outside, adding five more, could necessarily beat Song Yun.


    ¡°Fine, since Miss Li has said so, I won¡¯t stay any longer,¡± Song Yun stood up and said, ¡°But Li Shishi, let me give you a piece of advice.


    Last time, your enemy dared to smuggle mercenaries into Sunan.


    Next time, who knows if it might be an assassin.


    I hope you take care and treasure your life.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your concern.¡±


    All right then, good intentions taken for granted.


    Never mind, it¡¯s not like he had that good a relationship with this girl, no need to be so eager for abuse.


    Once Song Yun had left, Li Shishi slumped in her chair as if paralyzed.


    The look in Song Yun¡¯s eyes a moment ago had frightened her badly.


    Remembering the scene in the abandoned building that looked like hell, she actually felt scared from the bottom of her heart.


    ¡°Ah, Miss, you shouldn¡¯t have let him go,¡± Old Luo sighed as he sat where Song Yun had been sitting.


    ¡°Hmph, without him, you think I¡¯d be kidnapped as soon as I step outside?¡± retorted Li Shishi with a huff.


    ¡°Ah, you don¡¯t understand the title Shura, nor do you know about his past feats.


    Just take it as this old man rambling on.


    Those five bodyguards of yours; not to say him, even I could take them all down within a few rounds.


    If a real master came, those five wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    ¡°So, based on what you¡¯re saying...


    Song Yun is even more formidable than you?¡± Li Shishi asked curiously.


    ¡°Only better, not worse.¡±

 Chapter 15 - 15 14 Foodie

    ?15: Chapter 14 Foodie 15: Chapter 14 Foodie ¡°I¡¯m so pissed off, so pissed off,¡±


    Bystanders circled back and forth, watching a young man dressed sharply, totally rocking the suit look, standing in front of Hongtu Group headquarters, stomping his feet with a ¡°keep away from me¡± expression.


    ¡°What a complete waste of my fucking morning,¡± Song Yun glanced at his phone and realized it was already past ten o¡¯clock.


    He sighed and touched the few hundred bucks left in his pocket, feeling his future bleak.


    Living costs in Sunan City were so high; how was he supposed to survive?


    He couldn¡¯t go back to killing and arson, could he?


    This time, Song Yun couldn¡¯t even bring himself to take a taxi home, so he rode the bus instead.


    He hadn¡¯t been home long when the door was cautiously pushed open.


    Song Yun wondered if it could be the landlord changing her mind, asking him to come back as a bodyguard.


    Hmph, he wouldn¡¯t accept even if he was starving to death in Sunan City; he wouldn¡¯t live under someone else¡¯s roof and take their crap all day long.


    Unfortunately, that was just wishful thinking.


    Given Li Shishi¡¯s character, even if she was kidnapped, she¡¯d probably spit in the kidnapper¡¯s face, the strong-willed woman she was, never one to bow her head.


    The visitor was Xiao Qing, who peeked through the door with big, round eyes surveying the yard as if it contained floods and ferocious beasts.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Song Yun suddenly appeared in front of her, startling Xiao Qing who instinctively threw a cannon punch straight at Song Yun¡¯s chest.


    Song Yun was also taken aback and, using the Trigram Steps, deflected Xiao Qing¡¯s force with a Swallow Swoops and Triple Scoop.


    ¡°I¡¯m so...


    sorry, I saw the gate to big brother¡¯s yard open in broad daylight, and...


    I thought a thief had gotten in,¡± Xiao Qing said, looking up to see it was Song Yun.


    She hung her head like a guilty schoolchild, her droopy demeanor eliciting sympathy.


    ¡°Hahaha, there¡¯s barely anything of value in the house.


    If a thief really graced us with their presence, then let them steal it all.


    But if you get on the thief¡¯s bad side because of those things, or if you get hurt, that¡¯d truly be a loss.


    Next time don¡¯t handle situations like this alone, okay?


    You know all sorts of people are out there,¡± Song Yun said with a chuckle as he patted Xiao Qing¡¯s head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pat my head, I won¡¯t grow tall,¡± Xiao Qing pouted, her face unhappy, ¡°But brother, you really are amazing.


    I didn¡¯t use all my strength just now, but I was at least at eighty percent, and you deflected it so easily.


    And also, your footwork looked like the Trigram Steps but also seemed different.


    That elegant feeling, I¡¯ve never seen it in all my life.¡±


    Of course, the traditional Trigram Steps couldn¡¯t compare to his modified version.


    Thinking back to his childhood and the Scripture Pavilion at his sect, Song Yun felt overwhelmed.


    As a kid, there wasn¡¯t a month he wasn¡¯t given a new secret text to learn, and after a month, whether he had mastered it or not, they¡¯d swap it for another, starting all over again.


    This led to Song Yun mastering a variety of techniques; he always knew the weakness of any move his opponent made.


    ¡°That¡¯s a secret, oh.


    But if you want to learn, come see me every day, and I¡¯ll teach you,¡± Song Yun grandly offered with a wave of his hand.


    ¡°Really?


    You¡¯re the best, brother!


    It¡¯s almost noon now, let me treat you to lunch as a way to thank you for your last instruction, how about that?¡± Xiao Qing batted her eyelashes hopefully at him, making Song Yun too embarrassed to refuse her invitation.


    Riding an electric scooter with Xiao Qing, they arrived at the hotpot restaurant she had mentioned.


    This girl, once in Sunan, might not have picked up much else, but she sure knew where to find good eats¡ªa veritable foodie.


    Inside the hotpot restaurant, Song Yun followed Xiao Qing to a private booth.


    After waving over a server to place their orders, they began to chat lazily.


    Until now, Song Yun never knew the seemingly reserved and shy Xiao Qing could talk so much, well-versed in everything from astronomy to geography and almost spot-on with the latest buzz from the Thorn List.


    Song Yun became genuinely curious about what kind of background Xiao Qing came from.


    Her running away from home seemed real enough, but breakthroughs in cultivation likely were just made up on the spot.


    Soon the hotpot arrived, and Xiao Qing beckoned Song Yun to start eating.


    Indeed, the soup base was delicious, reminiscent of an authentic Sichuan and Chongqing hotpot.


    While Song Yun was eating, the restaurant gradually filled up.


    At that moment, three or four middle-aged men dressed like public servants entered.


    ¡°Director Sun, it seems there are no open seats here.


    Should we go somewhere else?¡± one of Director Sun¡¯s underlings proposed tentatively.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you find a few empty seats yourself?


    As servants of the state who have toiled all morning for the country, should we really have to wait in line to eat?¡± Director Sun replied displeasedly, and the man started looking around for seats.


    After a while, he found that the best spot available was where Song Yun and Xiao Qing sat, suitable for discussing discreet matters.


    So, he approached Song Yun.


    ¡°Excuse me, we are government officials.


    We¡¯ve been all over the place this morning attracting investment, and we¡¯ve got more to do this afternoon.


    Can you please give us your seats?


    We¡¯ll be quick.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me?


    We¡¯re just here to eat.


    Besides, if it¡¯s full here, go somewhere else,¡± Song Yun glanced at the man with disdain when he saw his arrogant demeanor; no good feeling arose.


    ¡°If you want to eat, you can wait here.


    We¡¯re halfway done, you¡¯ll have a seat in an hour,¡± Song Yun was not a petty man, and he felt a pang of sympathy after hearing they had been attracting investment for Sunan City.


    But seeing the man¡¯s unpleasant eyes, he couldn¡¯t resist replying as he did.


    ¡°As public servants who have worked tirelessly for the country, can¡¯t you spare us a seat?¡± the man asked anxiously, fearing getting into trouble with Director Sun and facing retribution if he couldn¡¯t handle this minor issue.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pressure me with the state.


    We are the owners of our country, aren¡¯t we?


    What¡¯s so bad about you servants doing a bit of work?


    Don¡¯t you know your salaries are paid from the taxes of the common folk?¡± Song Yun retorted coolly.


    ¡°How dare you speak to me like that,¡± the man was about to explode into a curse but stopped when he saw the beautiful woman looking at him curiously from across the young man.


    So, he straightened his clothes, taking covert glances at Xiao Qing, and thought, such beautiful skin, features, and figure, surely she must still be in college.


    Probably impressed by a successful man like himself, he thought with a snort, so let¡¯s play along and reel her in.


    ¡°Beautiful miss, would you care to join me for lunch?¡± It was a pretense to lure her, but if he could bring this girl to Director Sun, well then, his career would surely take off.

 Chapter 16 - 16 15 Hotpot Xi Shi

    ?16: Chapter 15: Hotpot Xi Shi 16: Chapter 15: Hotpot Xi Shi ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t know you,¡± Xiao Qing said nonchalantly as she put a plate of beef into the pot.


    ¡°And with the way you look, you really don¡¯t catch my eye.


    So stop showing off here.¡±


    ¡°...¡± The man glared at her as if he were looking at a monster.


    After a while, he snorted and left in a huff, then exaggerated the incident in front of Director Sun.


    Director Sun felt that his dignity had been damaged in front of his subordinates.


    If he did not regain his face, no one would follow him in the future.


    Director Sun first scolded the man loudly, and the latter¡¯s face turned red.


    Although he had not found a seat, being so openly scolded in public was utterly humiliating.


    So he made a phone call, and ten minutes later, three or four burly men entered from outside.


    Director Sun waved his hand, and his group rushed angrily to the compartment where Song Yun was.


    ¡°What do you want in return to give up your seat?¡± Sun Lin was very frustrated today.


    He had been running around all morning with the deputy director for investment promotion.


    Just when he finally reached lunchtime and fancied hot pot, his face was embarrassingly lost by a young man.


    ¡°Stop bothering me while I¡¯m eating,¡± Song Yun said lightly.


    Wasn¡¯t he low-key enough?


    He just wanted to eat, right?


    Why were there always so many blind people bumping into him?


    ¡°Asshole,¡± Sun Lin shouted angrily.


    The shout was so loud that many people eating hot pot turned to look.


    Encouraged by the attention, Sun Lin straightened his slightly stooped back.


    ¡°Hey, hello, beautiful ladies.¡± Just as Sun Lin finished scolding Song Yun, he noticed so many gorgeous girls next to him and immediately had wicked thoughts.


    If he could get together with such a beautiful woman, he wouldn¡¯t mind breaking his back.


    ¡°Dumbass,¡± Song Yun muttered under his breath.


    Xiao Qing might look harmless, but she was genuinely skilled.


    Although she might not beat him, she could surely decimate the fools behind this idiot.


    ¡°You...


    you...


    you¡¯re nothing but jerk beef, up to no good.¡± In front of the beautiful women, Sun Lin always wanted to maintain a certain demeanor.


    He couldn¡¯t let his image deteriorate because of this rascal.


    But he didn¡¯t know that Xiao Qing had already cursed Sun Lin countless times in her heart.


    ¡°I already told you, if you want to eat, then wait.


    Just because you¡¯re a government official, do I have to give up my seat?¡± Song Yun said, taking a sip of water.


    By now, the people around eating hot pot had figured out what was happening and began pointing and whispering about Sun Lin.


    ¡°Director Sun, why don¡¯t we switch to another restaurant?


    I know one that tastes good.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Director Sun, we¡¯re here to eat, not to get upset over a petty hooligan.¡±


    Everyone around him was persuading Sun Lin, but these words made him feel even more humiliated.


    Today¡¯s issue had escalated from not just eating hot pot to a matter of disrespect.


    ¡°No way, I want to eat this restaurant¡¯s hot pot, and I must sit here, right now.¡±


    ¡°Summon your boss over here; I want to ask how she runs a restaurant that attracts such unqualified customers,¡± Sun Lin yelled at a nearby waiter.


    Soon, a very fashionable woman came over, glanced at Song Yun¡¯s group and Sun Lin¡¯s group, and immediately grasped the situation.


    ¡°Hello, I am the owner of this restaurant.


    Is there anything I can help you with?¡± Wu Xin said with a professional smile.


    Sun Lin was stunned the moment he saw Wu Xin.


    The owner was also a beauty!


    With skin so delicate it seemed like it could be broken by a blow, and those eyes, sharp as a fox¡¯s, those sparkling gem-like eyes seemed to contain endless spiritual energy.


    Not to mention her perfect figure, just those eyes alone could captivate any man.


    If there were the tofu maker Xi Shi in ancient times, then this woman was definitely a Hot Pot Xi Shi.


    *cough cough* ¡°So you are the owner?


    I am from the government, and I¡¯ve been running around all day for the construction of Sunan City.


    Now, this young man should give up his seat for me, but he insulted me instead.


    It¡¯s your place, so you decide what to do.¡±


    Staring intently at Wu Xin¡¯s ample chest, Wu Xin frowned and said, ¡°All of you are guests at our restaurant.


    We have no right to drive anyone away.


    This gentleman said he will relinquish his seat after finishing his meal, so we can only wait until he finishes.¡±


    ¡°If you really want to eat, please wait patiently for a while.


    There are guests outside who are almost done, and in about ten minutes, you can have a seat.¡±


    ¡°Fine!


    Very well!


    So this is how your hot pot restaurant treats customers.


    I will report this matter to the authorities, and we¡¯ll see if you still talk like this then!¡±


    Sun Lin¡¯s face darkened terribly.


    He thought that just by finding the restaurant owner and intimidating her, he could turn the situation in his favor.


    However, he hadn¡¯t expected this woman to portray him as unreasonable.


    ¡°That¡¯s your right and freedom to report as you wish.


    However, let me be clear: our restaurant respects customers¡¯ opinions, but we do not condone any arbitrary defamation.


    If your complaint is valid, we will accept the penalty, but if your reporting amounts to defamation, we will also pursue the corresponding legal liabilities.¡±


    ¡°You...


    you don¡¯t help me, I will handle it!¡± Sun Lin picked up his phone and started calling relevant departments, flaunting his connections while glaring at Song Yun.


    ¡°Kid, see?


    This is called having connections; something a punk like you can¡¯t learn,¡± Sun Lin sneered at Song Yun.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re quite young, probably still in college, right?


    I know young people are hot-blooded, but be careful not to offend the wrong people.¡±


    ¡°Oh, whatever, but I¡¯m not giving up this seat.¡± Song Yun shrugged and dumped a plate of greens into the hot pot, completely disregarding Sun Lin.


    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re just a tough talking cooked duck.


    Kid, watch out.


    Here are five hundred yuan, take it and scram.


    I don¡¯t want to invest any more favors because of you,¡± Sun Lin took out five one-hundred bills from his wallet and casually threw them to Song Yun.

 Chapter 17 - 17 16 Big Brother Are You Suffering from Kidney Deficiency

    ?17: Chapter 16: Big Brother, Are You Suffering from Kidney Deficiency?


    17: Chapter 16: Big Brother, Are You Suffering from Kidney Deficiency?


    After all these years, Song Yun had still never encountered someone daring to scorn him like this.


    The corner of his lips turned up in an incredibly sinister arc as he stood up from his seat.


    Sun Lin¡¯s face bore a trace of a cold smile.


    This world was all about money; no one would feud with money.


    At this moment, he too felt a bit frustrated with himself for acting impulsively just now, thinking that he could have just dropped five hundred yuan and spared himself the hassle.


    But to Sun Lin¡¯s and everyone else¡¯s disappointment, Song Yun, who had risen to his feet, showed no intention of leaving.


    Instead, he took a cigarette from his pocket and leisurely pulled out a lighter.


    Just when everyone thought he was about to light the cigarette, he picked up the five notes on the table and used the lighter to ignite them before lighting his cigarette.


    He then took a deep drag, looking incredibly satisfied.


    ¡°How exhilarating.


    The ancients say that a cigarette after a meal is heaven-sent.


    They truly didn¡¯t deceive me.¡± Song Yun lit the cigarette with the banknotes, as though he was simply smoking.


    In the hands of an ordinary takeout, a fifty-cent Lanbaisha became, in Song Yun¡¯s hands, a five hundred yuan luxury.


    Wu Xin, who was beside him, was captivated by Song Yun¡¯s graceful act of lighting his cigarette.


    There was a mix of infatuation in her gaze.


    Was this the so-called indefatigable spirit, unmovable by money?


    The man¡¯s action of lighting a cigarette was really cool; he was truly manly.


    At twenty-eight, Wu Xin was no longer one of those girls living in an idealistic ivory tower, nor did she entertain delusional fantasies about a Prince Charming coming to whisk her away.


    She had stopped believing in such romantic notions right out of university.


    If a person couldn¡¯t even satisfy their hunger, what romance could there be to speak of?


    In her eyes, a man worthy of a woman¡¯s life-long commitment had to possess his own charm¡ªhumble in conduct, distinguished in deeds, taking responsibility without playing the hero.


    Thus, her gaze towards Song Yun held a shred of doubt.


    In a society flooded with goods and capital, nobody would cross money.


    Yet, Song Yun seemed to defy this norm.


    Could it be that five hundred yuan held no appeal to him?


    ¡°He was a mystery in and of himself...¡± Wu Xin praised Song Yun in this way years later, but of course, that¡¯s a story for another time.


    ¡°Damn it, you little punk, that¡¯s five hundred yuan, how could you just use it to light a cigarette?¡± Sun Lin was close to losing his mind.


    Though his monthly salary, combined with gifts he received, totaled over ten thousand yuan, he would never burn money to light a cigarette like Song Yun did.


    ¡°I was just about to light a cigarette when you handed me money to do so.


    Why should I reject your kind gesture?¡± Song Yun said, his lips curling into a sly smile.


    Hearing this, Sun Lin felt completely helpless.


    This brat was shirking responsibility.


    He definitely was.


    That bastard was using his own money to light a cigarette and then claiming it was freely given to him, a silver-tongued devil.


    Song Yun¡¯s words caused quite a stir among the patrons outside.


    Five hundred yuan might not seem a lot or too little, but losing it or using it to show off like a cigarette lighter still hurts.


    The patrons outside had a clear view of everything that was happening.


    The chattering that reached Sun Lin¡¯s ears felt like a slap to his face, painfully burning.


    ¡°You look pale and unsteady on your feet, buddy.


    You should do less work these days and visit a men¡¯s health clinic to check on your kidneys,¡± Song Yun said disdainfully.


    ¡°Damn you, you scoundrel.


    You use my money to light your cigarette and still have the nerve to mock me?


    Are you asking for death?¡± Sun Lin roared.


    Song Yun sat back down, took a bite of his food, and mumbled, ¡°Idiot, knowing that I was about to light a cigarette, you still stuffed money into my hand.


    I really thought you were a big spender, letting me use money to light up,¡± Song Yun said indifferently.


    This humorous comment made everyone laugh.


    The laughter, along with Song Yun¡¯s sarcasm, made him even less stable.


    Immediately, someone grabbed a stool for Sun Lin to sit down on.


    ¡°Can¡¯t handle it already?


    Forget it, forget it.


    I¡¯m in a good mood today.


    I¡¯ll give you back your money and even throw in an extra two hundred for your medical expenses.


    Bro, you¡¯ve got to treat that kidney deficiency,¡± Song Yun said as he took out seven hundred yuan from his wallet and nonchalantly tossed it onto Sun Lin, sneering.


    ¡°You... you just wait and see!¡± Even a fool like Sun Lin realized he¡¯d gain nothing more today.


    He mumbled a few words, then led his followers away in a dejected manner.


    However, he didn¡¯t forget to pick up the seven hundred yuan on his way out¡ªa sum equating to a tenth of his monthly salary.


    Sun Lin¡¯s actions drew disdainful glances from many customers in the hotpot restaurant.


    Even his subordinates felt embarrassed, their faces reddening, but as he was the boss, they had no choice but to follow him out of the restaurant in a hurry.


    ¡°Sister, the way you threw that money just now was so cool.


    Hmph.


    I knew that fat uncle was no good, probably one of those leeches my dad always talks about, sucking blood from the common people,¡± Xiao Qing, with stars flickering in her eyes, looked up to Song Yun in admiration.


    In her eyes, Song Yun¡¯s earlier demeanor was on par with the spirit of ancient heroes.


    Upon hearing this, Song Yun couldn¡¯t help but inwardly groan.


    He¡¯d played it cool, but after that display, his wallet was empty.


    He glanced at the remaining few tens of yuan with a desire to cry.


    Damn it, all I wanted was a simple meal.


    Why can¡¯t you people be more observant?


    After dinner, it was time to settle the bill.


    Before Song Yun and Xiao Qing could even stand up, the hotpot restaurant¡¯s manager, Wu Xin, approached them.


    ¡°Hello, sir.


    My name is Wu Xin, the manager here.


    It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you,¡± Wu Xin said, extending her delicate hand for a shake.


    ¡°Hello, Miss Wu.


    I¡¯m Song Yun.


    May I ask what brings you over?¡± Song Yun responded with what he thought was a dazzling smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for the disturbance during your meal today.


    This is our restaurant¡¯s VIP gold card.


    From now on, whenever you dine with us, it¡¯s on the house.


    I hope you can forget the unpleasantness of today,¡± Wu Xin said, holding the gold card with a look of sincere regret.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll come every day and eat your restaurant out of business?¡± Seeing the genuine look in her lively eyes, Song Yun chuckled and jokingly took the gold card.


    ¡°Ha ha.


    Don¡¯t worry about that.


    Even if you came every day, you wouldn¡¯t break our restaurant,¡± Wu Xin replied, her cheeks blushing as she noticed Song Yun¡¯s gaze traveling up and down her body and she shyly nodded.


    ¡°Haha, since you say so, I¡¯ll be sure to visit often.


    After all, there¡¯s also a pretty manager to please the eye here,¡± Song Yun laughed, giving one more glance at the woman who exuded a mature and intellectual beauty before turning to leave the restaurant.


    Behind him, Wu Xin watched Song Yun¡¯s retreating figure, her mature face alive with a flirtatious charm.


    She couldn¡¯t help but admit that the departing young man had brought a touch of green back to her long-barren heart.

 Chapter 18 - 18 17 Deciding Life and Death

    ?18: Chapter 17: Deciding Life and Death 18: Chapter 17: Deciding Life and Death After Song Yun and Xiao Qing had left, Wu Xin returned to her office, sat in her office chair, and propped her flawless legs on the desk.


    Touching her somewhat hot face, she murmured, ¡°Why was I so unrestrained just now?


    But...


    it has been a long time since I last felt this way, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Song Yun, unaware that his action had earned Wu Xin¡¯s newfound respect, was laughing triumphantly in his heart.


    Well, it seemed that the seven hundred yuan hadn¡¯t been spent in vain after all, since he¡¯d also gotten a gold card from the store.


    When he had nowhere to scrounge up a meal, he could swing by here for one or two, surely.


    Upon returning home, he spent the afternoon teaching Xiao Qing the Trigram Steps and the secrets of breath control.


    Unbeknownst to them, evening had fallen.


    Stretching lazily, Song Yun was too embarrassed to let Xiao Qing treat him to another meal, so when he opened the refrigerator and found it empty, he went with Xiao Qing to a nearby market to buy groceries, and made a lavish dinner for them that evening.


    Li Shishi did not come home for dinner, nor did she even call to say hello to Song Yun, which he thought was normal.


    Their relationship was like parallel lines, never meant to cross, which was for the best.


    After dinner, Song Yun sent Xiao Qing away and returned to his room to unlock a hidden compartment.


    It wasn¡¯t very large, holding a sandalwood rack that could fetch millions at an auction, not to mention the saber resting upon it.


    As he caressed the saber blade, Song Yun¡¯s face displayed a trace of helplessness.


    News of his return had spread faster than he had expected.


    Recalling the signal from the Martial World outside the courtyard, his expression turned icy as he murmured, ¡°No matter who you are, if you dare disturb my peaceful life, you¡¯re dead.¡±


    Opening the window, Song Yun¡¯s figure vanished into the night sky.


    His speed was extreme, his body flipping and accelerating mid-air to avoid obstacles ahead.


    At this moment, he was like a specter, blending into the night.


    Unless someone was deliberately looking, no one would have known that a young man with a saber had just flown over their rooftops.


    Song Yun reached a beach in Sunan City, where a young man stood on a distant rock.


    Dressed in a black Daoist robe, his long hair fluttering in the sea breeze covering his eyes, he would have attracted many young girls if it weren¡¯t for the sword on his back.


    The youth, spotting Song Yun, lightly leaped off the rock, and it was only then that Song Yun could see his face clearly¡ªhis black eyes devoid of life, as if he had just climbed out of a pile of corpses, emanating endless murderous intent.


    The youth¡¯s slightly pale face displayed a morbid beauty on him.


    Indeed, he was beautiful, appearing almost feminine in his attire; no one would guess he was a man.


    ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± The youth slightly smiled, his gaze striking like thunder towards Song Yun.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Black Flood Dragon,¡± Song Yun said flatly.


    ¡°Battle?¡±


    ¡°Battle,¡± Song Yun¡¯s expression turned cold, thinking to himself, has this kid gone crazy from all the sword practice?


    Calling me out in the middle of the night to fight, and now asking whether to battle or not as if it wasn¡¯t obvious.


    ¡°A real battle?¡±


    ¡°A real battle, and you may draw your sword.


    With so many years passed, I still don¡¯t know to what extent your sword skill has improved.¡±


    ¡°The Hidden Dragon Saber, so it¡¯s a fight to the death?¡± Black Flood Dragon didn¡¯t respond to Song Yun¡¯s words, continuing to ask.


    ¡°I have no suitable weapon other than this,¡± Song Yun grinned.


    ¡°What about the Dragon Slayer Dagger?¡± Black Flood Dragon frowned.


    ¡°It¡¯s overseas.


    I don¡¯t use it lightly; as you know, everyone who has seen the Dragon Slayer Dagger has died,¡± Song Yun nonchalantly shrugged.


    The Dragon Slayer Dagger and the Hidden Dragon Saber were made of the same material.


    Back in the day, only the Hidden Dragon Saber was known, but unknown to many, a craftsman secretly kept some meteorite fragments and, returning home, assembled his entire clan to create the Dragon Slayer Dagger.


    This dagger, accompanying Song Yun during his time as an assassin, had reaped many lives and was his weapon of choice above all others.


    ¡°So, let¡¯s begin,¡± Black Flood Dragon said with a hostile look.


    ¡°Please.¡± Song Yun gestured with one hand invitingly.


    With a clang, a pleasant dragon chant sounded as the sword slung behind was drawn, its blade subtly trembling, as if sensing its master¡¯s excited emotions.


    Lone moon, solitary man, cold sword.


    The sword Qi was overwhelming; although still sheathed, chilly intent was already palpable.


    Black Flood Dragon, holding the sword, asked, ¡°Who attacks first?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you from Sword Pavilion to be so generous to grant you a Longquan Sword.


    Well then, I¡¯ll attack first.¡± Like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, Song Yun was unstoppable, rushing swiftly forward and, when nearly reaching Black Flood Dragon, suddenly spun around to hack at his shoulder.


    Without even looking back, Black Flood Dragon¡¯s sword, as if having eyes, blocked Song Yun¡¯s attack and counterattacked with a thrust straight at his forehead.


    This was the advantage of the Soft Sword; skillfully used, it could yield unexpected effects on the opponent, but if misused, it could harm the wielder.


    Clearly, Black Flood Dragon belonged to the former category.


    Song Yun sheathed his saber, then crouched down performing a sweeping move aimed at Black Flood Dragon¡¯s lower body, who responded by flicking his long fingers to strike the soft sword towards Song Yun¡¯s forehead.


    Had it hit, his head would have burst like a smashed watermelon, brains splattering.


    Song Yun arched backward, then sprung up like a carp leaping out of the water, his blade thundering again towards Black Flood Dragon¡¯s ankle tendon.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    Song Yun¡¯s blade struck, but it hit the sword scabbard that Black Flood Dragon had defensively positioned.


    Knowing he hadn¡¯t discarded his scabbard, Song Yun realized he must have had a backup move planned.


    ¡°Your skill with the Soft Sword has improved, but you¡¯ll still need to work harder to defeat me,¡± Song Yun chuckled.


    ¡°No worries, I¡¯m still young,¡± Black Flood Dragon said, flicking his wrist again, and the Longquan Sword moved like a dragon roaming the seas, sword Qi crisscrossing, his body shimmering with a silver light, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.


    Damn it, so he means I¡¯m like an old man?


    Well, an uncle can tolerate, but not an aunt, Song Yun thought indignantly.


    Thunder rumbled above.


    Soon, rain started falling lightly, drizzling upon their hair and shoulders.


    Both Song Yun and Black Flood Dragon did not seek cover, both staring intently at each other.


    High-level duels were not like the ones in TV shows or fantasy novels, where fights could last days and nights.


    Instead, a single move could determine victory, seal fates.


    If your sword dropped slightly, your life was doomed.

 Chapter 19 - 19 18 Check Rooms at Any Time

    ?19: Chapter 18: Check Rooms at Any Time 19: Chapter 18: Check Rooms at Any Time ¡°Let¡¯s wrap this up quickly, I still need to get home, you know, wherever I go, ladies just love me.


    I don¡¯t want them missing me in the middle of the night when there¡¯s no one in my room,¡± Song Yun said with a rascal grin.


    ¡°So let¡¯s end it quickly.


    Let me tell you this, don¡¯t blow the flute all night, it¡¯s bad for your health,¡± Black Flood Dragon said with a smile.


    Song Yun beckoned to Black Flood Dragon with a hook of his hand, and after Black Flood Dragon nodded, he drew his sword and charged towards Song Yun.


    Suddenly, Song Yun exerted force with his left palm, changing the direction of the dense raindrops as they fell, driving them towards Black Flood Dragon¡¯s face.


    ¡°You¡¯re being tricky again.¡± Black Flood Dragon couldn¡¯t dodge this surprise attack.


    Annoyed, he stomped his feet, his eyes too pained to open as he swung his sword, wildly chopping at the air.


    ¡°As long as I win, it¡¯s all good,¡± Song Yun said as he dodged the roaring sword coming from Black Flood Dragon, moving behind him agilely like a rabbit.


    A longer blade gives strength, a shorter blade courts peril.


    The Hidden Dragon Saber in Song Yun¡¯s hands kept shifting, waiting for the right moment to strike hard.


    Black Flood Dragon seemed to sense Song Yun¡¯s intentions.


    His ears twitched constantly, pinpointing by sound.


    The sword he swung to his right suddenly switched to a horizontal cut, guarding every spot within half a meter around him.


    Unable to get close, Song Yun kicked a lump of wet sand from the ground, sending it flying towards Black Flood Dragon¡¯s face with the wind.


    Black Flood Dragon gripped his sword¡¯s hilt and, with a casual wave, split the lump of sand in two.


    With a loud thunderous boom, lightning mixed with thunder tore through the sky with the force to rip heavens, giant white dragons writhing and surging through the air, covering vast distances.


    Then, from all directions, thunder roared, each sound shaking the earth.


    Suddenly, the fine raindrops turned sparse; the rain became abruptly fierce, transforming soft drizzles into torrential downpours.


    A howling cold wind blustered from the sea, nearby branches snapping under its force.


    This was a good opportunity.


    The constant noise around made it impossible for Black Flood Dragon to accurately track his position by sound alone.


    Song Yun picked up a seashell from the beach, flicked it towards the back of Black Flood Dragon who suddenly swung his long sword backwards.


    Seizing the moment, Song Yun rushed toward Black Flood Dragon, kicking powerfully when he reached in front of him.


    Focusing intensely on listening, Black Flood Dragon suddenly frowned, clutching his groin and falling to the ground, veins on his forehead visibly throbbing.


    ¡°Damn it, Song Yun, you bastard, can¡¯t you behave more like a gentleman,¡± Black Flood Dragon moaned with a cold sweat on his forehead.


    ¡°Pfft, I could have been comfortably at home, sipping on a little drink, watching TV, and reciting some sad poetry about the rain outside the window,¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all because you summoned me here.


    Already holding back frustration, and you still had to put on this saintly facade¡ªit was either kick you or kick myself,¡± Song Yun gritted his teeth and said.


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s just that I haven¡¯t seen you for many years, so I needed to adjust my mood,¡± Black Flood Dragon said with a shaky voice.


    ¡°That¡¯s your luxury, not mine.


    Let¡¯s just finish this with one more kick, save me the trouble of dealing with you bugging me later,¡± Song Yun said, lifting his foot to kick again.


    ¡°No need, I give up.


    Just tell me, what level have you reached now?¡± Black Flood Dragon asked weakly, opening his eyes.


    ¡°According to the world rankings¡ªSSS, SS, S, A, B, C, D, E¡ªI¡¯m probably at A now, might jump to S one day when I¡¯m happy,¡±


    ¡°All beasts,¡± Black Flood Dragon said, weakly.


    Song Yun helped him up from the beach and they sat side by side.


    Of course, Song Yun didn¡¯t rest his head on Black Flood Dragon¡¯s shoulder, exchanging sweet nothings.


    ¡°Want a swig?¡± Black Flood Dragon pulled a flask from his chest and took a gulp before offering.


    ¡°Don¡¯t finish it off¡ªthis was tough to steal from those insane elders,¡± Black Flood Dragon, pained as he watched Song Yun gulp down the booze, said, ¡°You really are an animal; it¡¯s never good news seeing you.¡±


    ¡°Not bad.


    How did you know I was back?¡± Song Yun belched comfortably.


    ¡°Your old man told me.¡±


    ¡°Why would he tell you that?


    It¡¯s not like he¡¯s sending you to secretly take care of me?


    Damn, I knew it.


    It¡¯s just because I caught him reading dirty books a few times, there¡¯s no need to threaten me,¡± Song Yun complained resentfully.


    ¡°No, he asked me to lend a hand.


    You know, my master owed him a favor when he was young.


    My master¡¯s too old now to repay it, so I must.


    This is also a trial,¡± Black Flood Dragon stood shouting towards the sky.


    ¡°One cannot leave the world until one has truly lived in it.¡±


    After seeing Black Flood Dragon off to where he now resides, Song Yun got home after eleven at night.


    Amidst the storm, Song Yun felt it wouldn¡¯t be right to just stride through the front door and potentially disturb Li Shishi, the landlord, risking a scolding.


    He paused at the door and decided to climb in through the roof instead.


    As he climbed in, he saw Li Shishi propping her head up, innocently watching him.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gone to bed?¡± Song Yun, his clothes soaked, took them off and casually hung them over the back of a chair, awkwardly asking.


    Li Shishi pointed at the saber in his hand and said, ¡°Wandering around with a saber in the middle of the night, trying to mimic those young hoodlums by stabbing people?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, got caught up in some urgent matters,¡± Song Yun, grabbing a towel to wipe his head, chuckled and asked, ¡°You looking for me so late at night could it be that you¡¯re planning a surprise attack?¡±


    ¡°Puh, sorry about this morning¡¯s incident.


    After you left, Old Luo told me you¡¯re quite powerful, but you¡¯re so slim, how would anyone know you¡¯re a master?¡±


    ¡°Wow, not bad to see you yield.


    Are you by any chance regretting and wanting to hire me back as your bodyguard?¡± Song Yun teased.


    ¡°Pfft, don¡¯t feel too proud.


    I was just informing you, that¡¯s all,¡± Li Shishi pouted, sounding somewhat stifled, ¡°It¡¯s late, I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡±


    Just when Li Shishi was about to leave, Song Yun suddenly remembered something: he had locked the door when he left, so how did this girl break in?


    ¡°Hey, how did you get in?¡± Song Yun called after Li Shishi.


    Li Shishi turned, waving a key in her hand and said, ¡°This key of mine is a master key; a little lock in your room can¡¯t stop it.


    Remember, don¡¯t do anything shady in there¡ªI¡¯ll be checking randomly.¡±


    Song Yun fell to his knees, covering his face to weep bitterly.


    This girl was just like Doraemon; if she got bored and just walked into his room whenever she wanted, would he even have any privacy left?

 Chapter 20 - 20 19 Conspiracy

    ?20: Chapter 19 Conspiracy 20: Chapter 19 Conspiracy Looking back at the hour before the fight between Song Yun and Black Flood Dragon, there was a small bar on a street beside Sunan University.


    Inside the bar¡¯s innermost private room, a middle-aged man with an indifferent expression and a Fatty were sitting on the sofa, with twenty or thirty people standing respectfully below them, and next to the Fatty stood a shifty-looking dwarf.


    The Fatty opened his mouth and out came a stream of Japanese.


    The dwarf was an interpreter.


    He looked at the middle-aged man and said with a smile, ¡°Mr.


    Wang Hu, Mr.


    Sanben Tai Lang says if you can help them with a small favor this time, they will be very grateful to you.¡±


    The middle-aged man with the cold demeanor was none other than the leader of the largest gang near Sunan University, Wang Hu.


    The gangs mentioned here are not like those in the movies that brandish guns and machetes everywhere or deal drugs; it was a local and foreigner-formed gang-like organization that mainly controlled the KTVs, bars, and various entertainment venues near Sunan University, living off protection fees.


    There were three such organizations near Sunan University, given that Sunan University was particularly huge: the Guangzhou Gang on the east, the Noble Young Master Gang on the north, and the Tiger Gang on the west and south.


    Each gang managed their own territory and rarely clashed; even when conflicts arose, they seldom escalated to major incidents, at most a brawl involving a dozen or so people.


    The Tiger Gang was named after Wang Hu¡¯s nickname.


    It was purported that Wang Hu was once a retired special forces soldier who had learned some self-defense skills, especially the Shaolin Tantui which he mastered under a renowned master.


    Later, he drifted to Sunan City, where he used his combat skills to carve out the largest and most lucrative territory around the city, making his gang the most powerful among the three.


    At the moment, Wang Hu sat on the sofa in silence, drawing on a cigarette.


    After taking the last drag, he said, ¡°Compensation, you should know, I can¡¯t simply risk my brothers¡¯ lives for a stranger, especially for an RB person.¡±


    After the dwarf translated for the Fatty, the latter paused and spoke a flurry of Japanese.


    ¡°Big Boss Wang Hu, Mr.


    Sanben Tai Lang promises that if the job is done, he will give you eight handguns, and he will also gift you a hundred bullets for free,¡± the interpreter confidently stated.


    Hearing this, Wang Hu¡¯s expression changed several times as he thought to himself that this little ¡°ghost¡± was offering too enticing a deal¡ªeight guns!


    In this society where firearms were tightly controlled, it was very hard to come by guns.


    If a gang had three or four guns, they could become the biggest gang in their area.


    And now this little ¡°ghost¡± was offering eight guns, an irresistible temptation.


    Watching Wang Hu¡¯s expression changing, the Fatty spoke in chirping bird-like language again.


    After listening, the interpreter shockingly tossed out a condition that Wang Hu couldn¡¯t refuse, ¡°Boss Wang Hu, Mr.


    Sanben Tai Lang says if the job is done well, he can also provide you with a small submachine gun.¡±


    Fortune favors the bold, Wang Hu thought as he slapped his thigh and gritted his teeth, ¡°Alright, but those eight guns must be clean.


    Tell Mr.


    Sanben that the Chinese require sincerity before we do any business.¡±


    ¡°No problem, Mr.


    Sanben Tai Lang says he will give you four guns first, and after the job is done, the rest will be provided in batches.¡±


    After concluding the business, the Fatty left with two Huaxia university girls in his arms, while Wang Hu sat on the sofa, lost in thought.


    The next morning, Li Shishi used what she called the master key to pry open Song Yun¡¯s room door.


    Song Yun looked at Li Shishi with a surprised expression, holding his shirt in front of his lower body¡ªthis girl was too fierce.


    He was getting dressed when she barged in; if not for his quick reaction, his virtue could have been completely seen.


    With a reddening face, Li Shishi spat at Song Yun and whispered, ¡°Remember to wear clothes when you sleep next time,¡± then fled the room, not forgetting to close the door behind her.


    After getting properly dressed, Song Yun stood in front of the mirror, clicking his tongue in wonder.


    He had become even more handsome after a night¡¯s sleep; it was so annoying.


    Every morning, he was awoken by his own handsomeness, making it unfair for everyone else.


    ¡°Hey, I ask you, why don¡¯t you, a grown man, go out and find something to do?


    Why do you stay at home all day?¡± Li Shishi asked, resting her chin in her hands as she watched Song Yun making breakfast.


    ¡°Mind your own business.


    You should take care of your own matters first,¡± Song Yun said displeasedly after placing a bowl of noodles in front of Li Shishi, ¡°And don¡¯t just come into my room.


    I have landmines in there; you might get blown up one day.¡±


    ¡°Heh, keep bragging.


    You¡¯re just upset because I saw your body this morning.


    It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t seen it before, years ago,¡± Li Shishi said with a rogue leader¡¯s demeanor.


    ¡°How about this?


    Grandpa has always wanted to marry me off to you, but I don¡¯t want to now.


    So, you protect me, and maybe one day, if a hero saves the beauty, I might blindly fancy you.¡±


    ¡°Pah, eat your food,¡± Song Yun said irritably, placing the bowl in front of her.


    After breakfast, Li Shishi went to work, and Song Yun had nothing to do, so he lay in the yard¡¯s rocking chair sunbathing.


    However, his pockets were cleaner than his face.


    What to do?


    Maybe...


    maybe he should take this opportunity to rob Black Flood Dragon?


    While Song Yun was indecisive, his phone rang.


    It turned out to be Old Luo, whom he had met yesterday.


    Old Luo was very anxious, asking about Li Shishi¡¯s whereabouts.


    Where else could she be but taken away by her bodyguards after breakfast, probably to the company for work.


    But Old Luo said that Li Shishi had disappeared again; she wasn¡¯t at the company, and even her phone was unreachable.


    Song Yun frowned upon hearing this: another incident had occurred before the last one was resolved, and in less than two days.


    He sensed a conspiracy and grabbed his phone to call Black Flood Dragon, ¡°Hey, something urgent came up.


    Let¡¯s meet at the entrance of Dunhuang Hotel; I need to buy some information there.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Black Flood Dragon asked in surprise.


    ¡°The fiance?e my old man arranged for me has been abducted,¡± Song Yun said gravely.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there in ten minutes,¡± Black Flood Dragon responded and hung up the phone.


    Ten minutes later, Song Yun arrived at his destination, the Dunhuang Hotel.


    To the average person, the Dunhuang Hotel was just a five-star hotel built with foreign investment.


    However, Song Yun knew that the hotel was merely a fac?ade and a front.


    After arriving at the Dunhuang Hotel, to the average person, the Dunhuang Hotel was just a five-star hotel built with foreign investment.


    However, Song Yun knew that the hotel was merely a fac?ade and a front.

 Chapter 21 - 21 20 Fury

    ?21: Chapter 20 Fury 21: Chapter 20 Fury The Dunhuang Hotel¡¯s real purpose was to serve as the main agency in Southern China for the world¡¯s foremost intelligence agency, ¡°The Dark Division.¡±


    As for who founded The Dark Division, even Song Yun did not know, only that the agency had existed for over a hundred years, apparently since World War I.


    As a neutral intelligence agency, The Dark Division focused solely on economic interests.


    As long as the price was right, they would provide any information, regardless of whether you were a government official or a terrorist¡ªit wasn¡¯t their concern¡ªand The Dark Division never betrayed their clients¡¯ information.


    That¡¯s why Song Yun had always acquired intelligence from The Dark Division in the past.


    Such agencies were abundant in the dark world and were known as information providers.


    With enough money, they could even find out the color of Queen Elizabeth¡¯s underwear.


    ¡°Song Yun, do you know who did it?¡± Black Flood Dragon hastily asked as he saw Song Yun running over.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, come inside with me first.


    Did you bring the bank card?


    My old man froze mine, so it looks like we¡¯ll need to use your money this time.¡±


    ¡°Everything¡¯s ready.


    Let¡¯s talk inside.¡±


    Song Yun hurried inside and just as they entered the hotel lobby, a waiter approached and asked, ¡°How may I help you, sir?¡±


    ¡°Give this card to your general manager, he will know what it¡¯s about after seeing it,¡± Song Yun said as he pulled out a Purple Gold Card engraved with a dragon from his pocket.


    ¡°Please wait, sir, I¡¯ll inform him right away.¡± Although the waiter didn¡¯t really understand what this gentleman needed from the manager, he knew that the customer is king, so he took the card and went to find the manager.


    A few minutes later, a chubby, middle-aged foreign man hurried over to Song Yun, who was waiting in the lobby.


    ¡°Sir, sorry to keep you waiting, my name is Tom, I¡¯m in charge here.


    What can I do for you?¡±


    Tom was in his office flirting with his secretary, preparing to start an office romance, when the waiter suddenly entered and handed him the card.


    At first glance, Tom thought someone was joking with him because The Dark Division¡¯s highest-tier card was a diamond card, not this Purple Gold Card.


    But suddenly, cold sweat dripped down his face.


    As a core member of The Dark Division, he had to fly to New York, USA, every year to attend a party held by the organization.


    A few years ago, the boss whimsically added a new card above the diamond tier¡ªa Purple Gold Card.


    There were only ten of these cards, reportedly given to the pinnacle figures of various fields.


    Now, seeing such a card in Sunan City, China, made him break out in cold sweat; if he hadn¡¯t recognized the card just now, the boss would have threatened to cut off all his excess fat at this year¡¯s meeting.


    Tom could no longer afford to flirt with his secretary.


    He hurriedly dropped whatever he was doing and ran downstairs, seeing that the holder of the Purple Gold Card was such a young man, Tom knew who he was immediately.


    However, in front of others, Tom couldn¡¯t disclose the young man¡¯s identity and could only greet him in the most respectful and gentle manner.


    ¡°Tom, let¡¯s talk in your office.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir, please follow me.¡± With utmost respect, Tom led Song Yun upstairs, making the nearby waiter freeze¡ªhe knew that even when the prominent young masters of Sunan came here, the manager never exhibited such an attitude.


    Once in the general manager¡¯s office at the top floor of the Dunhuang Hotel, Song Yun got straight to the point, ¡°You know about the Li family¡¯s young miss, Li Shishi, from Sunan City, right?


    I need to know who has intentions of kidnapping her.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Lord Shura, when do you need this information?¡± Tom input Li Shishi¡¯s personal data into the database and began retrieving her recent information.


    ¡°Now, I need it right now.¡± Song Yun placed a bank card on the desk and said, ¡°Name your price.¡±


    After searching all of Li Shishi¡¯s recent data, Tom replied, ¡°Two hundred thousand Huaxia Coins.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Song Yun said after swiping the card and picking up the information in his hand.


    The more he read, the colder his heart felt, the angrier he became.


    It turned out to be those little bastards who were up to no good.


    Normally, Li Shishi was engaged in trade and manufacturing.


    This time when she entered the market in RB, she was greatly admired by the people of RB, but she also touched the vested interests of some, causing them severe losses, which led them to continuously trying to assassinate or kidnap Li Shishi.


    This time they had learned their lesson and cleverly used local gangs for the kidnapping¡ªit was undeniable that these people deserved to die.


    ¡°Tom, lend me a car,¡± Song Yun said, his expression fluctuating.


    ¡°My pleasure to serve.¡± Tom immediately instructed his staff, and within five minutes, everything was ready.


    When Song Yun got into the car, he even found a set of the latest military equipment, showing how much effort Tom had put into pleasing Song Yun.


    Ten minutes later, a jeep performed a stunning drift stop at the bar entrance.


    Song Yun, taking the lead, walked toward the bar.


    According to the information, the bar up ahead was the Tiger Gang¡¯s den.


    After kidnapping Li Shishi, they would definitely choose to conduct the transaction here.


    ¡°If you dare touch a hair on her, I¡¯ll flay you all,¡± Song Yun thought.


    Although Li Shishi had a bad temper and liked to confront him over every little issue, she was still his fiance?e¡ªin name if not in actuality since they had been in a real marital relationship for years.


    If these bastards dared lay a hand on her, he wouldn¡¯t mind cleaning out the entire bar.


    ¡°Ready?¡±


    ¡°Ready.¡±


    Song Yun nodded and quickly walked into the bar.


    It was still early, and the bar wasn¡¯t open yet.


    A few bartenders idly wiped glasses at the counter.


    A waiter approached Song Yun and said, ¡°Sir, we are not open yet.


    Please come back after 9 PM.¡±


    ¡°Was there a group that brought a girl in here earlier?¡± Song Yun asked in a stern tone.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t see anything,¡± the male waiter answered, avoiding eye contact.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one more time, did a group bring a girl here?¡±


    ¡°You sure are funny, looking for trouble and smashing the place, huh?


    Guys, if he causes trouble, grab your knives and slash him,¡± a man with dyed red hair shouted.


    ¡°Bang!¡± Song Yun¡¯s hand suddenly produced a handgun, and with one shot, he blew the man¡¯s head apart like a smashed watermelon, spattering brains everywhere.


    The others, seeing Song Yun armed, didn¡¯t dare to act rashly¡ªhadn¡¯t they just seen this fool get his head blown off for speaking one extra word?


    They certainly didn¡¯t want to provoke this Killing God.

 Chapter 22 - 22 21 Making Your Life Worse Than Death

    ?22: Chapter 21: Making Your Life Worse Than Death 22: Chapter 21: Making Your Life Worse Than Death Hidden in the innermost private room of the bar, Li Shishi was tightly bound by Wang Hu¡¯s men, the ropes etching her exquisite figure into view, prompting all the men present to gulp down their saliva, especially considering Li Shishi was wearing her work outfit and was definitely not flat-chested.


    On the contrary, she was voluptuously full, igniting a flame of desire in their hearts.


    ¡°What a nice figure this chick has, that punk totally spoiled her,¡± Wang Hu thought to himself.


    ¡°Would you look at this babe¡¯s boobs¡ªdamn, they¡¯re friggin¡¯ huge, even bigger than those so-called enhanced celebrities on TV.


    They¡¯re like a pair of papayas,¡± one of the thugs commented.


    ¡°Exactly, but it¡¯s a shame to sell her to those RB ¡®ghosts¡¯,¡± another thug agreed.


    The first thug chuckled lewdly, and while Wang Hu was drinking, he pretended to brush against Li Shishi¡¯s chest inadvertently.


    The second thug, seeing this, imitated the gesture but briefly touched her and murmured in ecstasy, ¡°Damn, that¡¯s really elastic.


    Lucky bastards, those RB ¡®ghosts¡¯.¡±


    Song Yun happened to see the second thug¡¯s hand, and rage instantly surged within him.


    ¡°Damn it, how dare you touch my woman!¡± He strode forward in a few steps, kicked both thugs away, and they convulsed on the ground.


    Several of Wang Hu¡¯s other men reacted, coming at him with machetes and iron rods, only to be effortlessly sent flying by Song Yun, crumpling to the ground in defeat.


    Song Yun walked up to Li Shishi and found her unconscious.


    After stimulating a few acupuncture points on her body, she opened her bleary eyes, looking around in confusion, her pupils dilating.


    But at the sight of Song Yun, she took a deep breath and calmed down.


    After untying her ropes, Song Yun said with guilt, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m late.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.


    I¡¯m glad you came,¡± Li Shishi said, tears welling in her eyes.


    Being rescued repeatedly by Song Yun, regardless of whether he was the only man she had been with, his reliability when she needed him most made him someone she could entrust her life to.


    Seeing the tear streaks on her face, Song Yun picked up a machete from the ground, walked over to the first thug, crouched, and looked at him.


    ¡°Was it this hand that took advantage?¡± Song Yun asked coldly.


    The thug, terrified as if seeing the devil, screamed, ¡°What do you want to do?¡±


    Without a word, Song Yun simply swung the blade, severing both of the thug¡¯s hands, then walked over to the second thug, and, asking the same question, the thug extended his right hand with a gulp.


    With a swift cut, both of his hands were chopped off by Song Yun.


    ¡°Why...


    Why?¡± the thug, sweating cold sweat and gritting his teeth, asked.


    ¡°Because you messed with someone you shouldn¡¯t have, and now you have to pay the ¡®interest¡¯,¡± Song Yun said, cutting off the thug¡¯s arms without a tremor, almost as if he were slicing vegetables.


    ¡°You bastard, who are you?


    By chopping off two of my men, are you smashing up my place?¡± Wang Hu asked, a bit stunned, seated on the sofa.


    The events unfolding had been thoroughly shocking; Song Yun had entered so nonchalantly and then, inexplicably, everyone just fell.


    ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of knowing my name,¡± Song Yun said disdainfully, looking down with the pride of an emperor gazing upon the mortal world, ready to slay any who would not submit.


    ¡°I was at work today, thinking of getting a coffee during a break.


    Who would¡¯ve known I¡¯d be knocked out with Knockout Drug and brought here,¡± Li Shishi said, her heart pounding, as if the morning¡¯s events were still fresh in her mind.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    No one expected Song Yun to actually fire a shot, as the bullet grazed Wang Hu¡¯s cheek and struck the wall, creating a long gash of blood on his face.


    Wang Hu¡¯s expression turned dire.


    He threw down the cigarette in his hand and stamped it out with his foot, angrily saying, ¡°Having a gun doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re the winner.¡±


    He then pulled out two handguns from his jacket and, brandishing one in each hand, said, ¡°Now, I¡¯ve got two guns.¡±


    ¡°So what?


    Having guns makes you special?


    If you¡¯re so tough, let¡¯s go one-on-one,¡± Song Yun retorted shamelessly.


    Wang Hu, laughing fiercely in anger, fixed a fierce gaze on Song Yun and said, ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll see who¡¯s better with our fists.¡± As soon as he finished, he charged at Song Yun, who seemed very fond of the woman behind him.


    If he could seize her first, he was sure he could effectively control him.


    Seeing Wang Hu coming, Song Yun lightly pulled Li Shishi behind him and caught Wang Hu¡¯s punch with one hand.


    The force behind the punch was so powerful, it was almost one-fifth as strong as Black Flood Dragon¡¯s.


    Song Yun aimed a high kick at Wang Hu¡¯s chin, but Wang Hu was quick to react, blocking the kick before it reached his chin with his other hand, the tremendous force, however, sent him reeling back several meters.


    Song Yun clenched his fist and swung it towards Wang Hu¡¯s head.


    The iron fist seemed to tear through the air, creating a series of piercing winds.


    Wang Hu hastily retreated, crossing both arms in front to block.


    Boom¡ªSong Yun¡¯s punch, initially aimed at Wang Hu¡¯s chest¡ªwhere Wang Hu was also defending¡ªchanged direction mid-strike, hammering into Wang Hu¡¯s belly with exploding force, sending him flying backward.


    Seizing the moment, Song Yun anticipated Wang Hu¡¯s landing position and reached it one step ahead, gun to the man¡¯s head saying, ¡°You¡¯ve lost.¡±


    ¡°What the fuck, didn¡¯t you say we were going to settle this with a fight?¡± Wang Hu exclaimed, eyes wide with fury.


    Song Yun shrugged and said, ¡°I said a one-on-one, I never specified hand-to-hand.


    In the end, winning is what counts.


    Why get hung up on the details?¡± he added, prodding Wang Hu¡¯s head with the gun.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Wang Hu asked, sitting on the ground, speaking in a deep voice.


    ¡°Who I am is not important, but you should know that some people are beyond your reach.


    Tell me, who ordered you to kidnap this woman,¡± Song Yun pressed in a low voice.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Song Yun shot Wang Hu in the leg and coldly stated, ¡°Don¡¯t play any tricks; I¡¯ve seen your every move clear as day.¡±


    ¡°And if I don¡¯t talk?¡± Wang Hu clenched his teeth, holding back the scream of pain, asking word by word.


    ¡°Then I can assure you, everyone here will die, and as for you, I will use my most unique method on you.


    Do you know about parasitic wasp eggs?


    If I inject these eggs into your brain, it will take a week for the wasp larvae to consume your brain and develop into maggots.


    During these seven days, every minute and second will be unbearable for you.¡±


    ¡°When they mature into maggots, they will burst out of your scalp like maggots, and after being nourished by your corpse for a few days, they will sprout wings and become beautiful butterflies, circling above your head.¡± Having said this, Song Yun himself felt repulsed by his own words.

 Chapter 23 - 23 22 Dirty World

    ?23: Chapter 22 Dirty World 23: Chapter 22 Dirty World He indeed saw this when he was abroad; the butterfly eggs were produced at YN¡¯s place but were very rare.


    While on a mission in Thailand, he had personally witnessed a Cursing Master injecting a young man¡¯s head with butterfly eggs, a sight so gruesome it was unbearable.


    Hearing this, cold sweat streamed down Wang Hu¡¯s forehead.


    He didn¡¯t know what to say, worried that saying the wrong thing at the wrong time might make Song Yun inject his head with those things.


    The mere thought of having insects crawling inside his skull sent shivers down his spine.


    Forget it, it¡¯s not worth risking life and limb for a ghost.


    Wang Hu sighed and said slowly, ¡°This time, the incident was orchestrated by a Japanese man named Sanben Tai Lang.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, now that I know the person, things will be much easier,¡± Song Yun asked in a deep voice, ¡°How do you contact this Sanben Tai Lang?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have his phone number, but he had just left when you barged in.


    He said he would come back tomorrow to take someone.¡± Wang Hu said obediently; after all, a gun was aimed at his head.


    ¡°As a Chinese, why would you work for this Japanese man?


    What has he offered you?¡±


    ¡°He promised me several guns after the job was successful.¡± Wang Hu felt somewhat guilty; after all, he was helping a Japanese man attack Chinese people.


    If not for those guns, he would never have agreed to it.


    ¡°Hmph, just a few pistols have bought your national soul?


    Then you can easily hold a knife to your own people¡¯s throats?¡± Song Yun kicked Wang Hu and scolded him angrily.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but recently other gangs have been pressuring me.


    I have to increase my power at this time, so...


    I agreed to that Japanese man¡¯s terms.¡± Wang Hu said quietly, regretting not slapping himself for banding together with a Japanese against his own people.


    Song Yun removed the gun from Wang Hu¡¯s head and sat down on the sofa with Li Shishi, making small talk to warm up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that your men hidden in the dark room will come to rescue you.


    Someone has already taken care of them,¡± Song Yun said lightly.


    ¡°What...


    what exactly do you want?¡± Wang Hu stammered, realizing it was unwise to have his life controlled by an enemy.


    ¡°What if I said I could give you guns?


    What could you do for me?¡± Song Yun said in a stern voice.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.


    In Huaxia¡¯s strict environment, you can¡¯t possibly get guns,¡± Wang Hu exclaimed as if forgetting he was still a captive.


    ¡°You believe those Japanese can give you guns, why don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Song Yun¡¯s tone became annoyed.


    He felt underestimated and couldn¡¯t tolerate it.


    If it weren¡¯t for the other¡¯s potential use, he would have slapped him already.


    ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Wang Hu fell silent.


    ¡°Just agree to one thing for me.


    Whatever number of guns he promised you, I¡¯ll double it,¡± Song Yun raised an eyebrow and said.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Bring that Japanese here, and then you won¡¯t need to worry about the rest.


    Most importantly, I can legitimize your gang, like the Yamaguchi-gumi or the Black Dragon Association,¡± Song Yun said earnestly.


    Another bombshell¡ªgiven China¡¯s state policies, underworld activities were absolutely forbidden to operate openly.


    Who exactly was this young man offering such an enticing deal?


    ¡°Alright, but you have to tell me who you are?¡± Wang Hu pondered for a moment and then spoke through gritted teeth.


    After all, being involved in the underworld wasn¡¯t a long-term plan; who wouldn¡¯t want to operate openly and honorably, telling their family they were no longer a hoodlum but a legitimate person.


    His family lived in the countryside where people, though simple-minded, always believed those involved with the underworld were not good people.


    And of course, not many in the underworld were good.


    When his father found out he was a hoodlum, he was so agitated he lay in bed for half a year; if next time he went home, he could proudly tell them he was a legitimate businessman, he wouldn¡¯t have to let his parents live under the disdainful gaze of the villagers.


    ¡°Me?


    You just need to know I am a significant figure.


    If this matter is handled well, I don¡¯t mind revealing my identity,¡± Song Yun said with a light chuckle.


    ¡°Remember, after this is done, the benefits I offer will even astonish you.¡±


    With that, Song Yun left the bar with Li Shishi.


    Seeing Black Flood Dragon smoking at the bar¡¯s entrance, Song Yun patted him on µÄthe shoulder and said, ¡°You¡¯ve had a rough time dealing with trash.¡±


    ¡°No problem, treat me to a drink next time,¡± Black Flood Dragon chuckled and looked at Li Shishi, ¡°Is this sister-in-law?


    You wouldn¡¯t believe how frantic Song Yun was when he found out you were kidnapped.


    He was like a mating ferret.¡±


    Li Shishi, who had been somewhat nervous, laughed out loud hearing this.


    Song Yun kicked Black Flood Dragon away and scolded, ¡°Beat it and don¡¯t let me see you around, or I¡¯ll smack you every time I do.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve really come to realize this world is simply insane.


    There are people who would sell their souls for a few possessions,¡± Li Shishi said in a low voice, following behind Song Yun.


    ¡°It¡¯s a crazy world, murky, dirty, greedy, envious, cold-hearted, materialistic, pretentious; for money, or rather for a better life, everyone is using astounding means.


    Brothers turn against each other, sisters fight, fathers and sons openly compete, friends compare, lovers guard against each other.


    Those who favored you today might come knocking with a machete to kill your family tomorrow.


    Those who call you brother might turn around and badmouth you.


    And in this crowd, everything has a price except for two things, do you know what they are?¡± Song Yun asked with a light smile.


    ¡°What?¡± Li Shishi curiously asked.


    ¡°Reputation and face.


    For money, people would give up all their dignity; they would grovel to their boss for trust, even if their boss slept with their wife, as long as he compensated well, they would pretend nothing happened.¡±


    ¡°And reputation is the cheapest thing in the world; under the manipulation of some, it can vanish in an instant.¡±


    ¡°This world is filled with opportunities and dangers; having stayed in the light for too long, it¡¯s normal for you not to see the darkness.


    Of course, I hope you never have to see those filthy things.¡±

 Chapter 24 - 24 23 Little Notebook

    ?24: Chapter 23 Little Notebook 24: Chapter 23 Little Notebook Li Shishi stopped speaking, following quietly by Song Yun¡¯s side like a wounded little animal.


    No one had ever spoken to her about such things before, nor had she ever experienced them.


    Song Yun looked at her with pity and held her in his embrace, whispering softly, ¡°But with me here, you¡¯ll never have to touch any of this filth.


    You¡¯re pure and lovely, you shouldn¡¯t have to understand these things.


    One should not harbor the intent to kill, but one must guard against others.¡±


    ¡°Um, did I allow you to hold me?¡± Li Shishi looked up innocently at Song Yun and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything when you hugged me just now, but next time, if you dare to hug me without my permission, I¡¯ll chop off your ¡®paws¡¯ just like you did just now.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I just got carried away for a moment,¡± Song Yun said with an embarrassed smile, then called Old Luo to check in.


    Over the phone, Song Yun explained that Li Shishi had encountered some urgent matter on her way to work which prevented her from going, and her phone battery had died, leading to the kidnapping situation.


    After the call, Li Shishi grabbed the soft flesh between Song Yun¡¯s ribs, twisted it 360 degrees, and said resentfully, ¡°Why did you lie to Grandpa Luo?¡±


    ¡°If I told Grandpa Luo, your family would definitely get involved.


    Once more people know, I can¡¯t guarantee that we can catch that bastard and interrogate him for information.


    It¡¯s better the fewer people know about this.


    Of course, I will inform your grandfather about the details.


    Let¡¯s take a taxi home now, I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°Cough, cough, damn, Black Flood Dragon really hits hard.¡± Back at home, after Li Shishi returned to her room, Song Yun coughed up a pool of blood and murmured.


    The fight yesterday with Black Flood Dragon wasn¡¯t one-sided; Song Yun sustained internal injuries, unlike Black Flood Dragon¡¯s groin pain.


    Moreover, having forcibly exchanged blows with Wang Hu today had worsened his internal injuries.


    His eyes rolled back, and Song Yun collapsed to the ground, powerless.


    ¡°Song Yun?


    Song Yun?


    Wake up.¡± In his semi-conscious state, Song Yun heard a voice calling out to him, both near and far.


    He slowly opened his eyes to see Li Shishi anxiously hovering over him.


    ¡°What happened?


    What¡¯s wrong?¡± Song Yun asked as he sat up, shaking his somewhat dizzy head.


    ¡°Just as I stepped out, I saw you collapsed on the ground with a pool of blood nearby.


    It really scared me,¡± said Li Shishi, her voice filled with fright as she patted her chest.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just felt a bit weak.


    A good night¡¯s sleep should fix it,¡± observed Song Yun, trying to tease the anxious Li Shishi, ¡°Why, afraid that Wang Hu beat me up like this?


    Don¡¯t joke; I¡¯m not that weak.¡±


    ¡°Just keep talking; you¡¯ll really get yourself into trouble one of these days,¡± chided Li Shishi sweetly.


    Dinner that evening was personally cooked by Li Shishi.


    Although she liked to verbally spar with Song Yun, the meal she prepared was quite decent; everything was at least cooked, though the vegetables had an oddly sweet taste.


    After dinner, Song Yun sat on the couch watching the news broadcast, while Li Shishi, like a cautious little wife, carefully fed him apples.


    Today¡¯s fainting spell had indeed scared her half to death; at that moment, she realized that Song Yun had deeply etched a mark in her heart.


    ¡°How can you be interested in this?


    It¡¯s always the same content every day: our leaders are very busy, our people are very happy.


    Apart from our Huaxia, the people of other countries live amidst dire straits, whether it¡¯s bombs today or wars tomorrow.


    Hey, why are you laughing?


    Am I wrong?


    Isn¡¯t it like this?¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re absolutely right,¡± Song Yun said, amused by Li Shishi¡¯s comments.


    Feeling slightly weak today, Song Yun planned to go to bed after the news broadcast.


    Just as he had finished washing up, someone knocked on the door.


    It was Old Luo, who straightforwardly handed a small notebook to Song Yun with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can hide everything from us old folks; we¡¯re not blind.


    Here, Mr.


    Li insisted I give this to you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this notebook?¡± Li Shishi curiously reached out to take it, but Song Yun grabbed her hand and shook his head solemnly at Old Luo, ¡°I can¡¯t take this.¡±


    ¡°Mr.


    Li guessed you would refuse.


    He told me to tell you that having this notebook can lessen many of your burdens.


    Moreover, you¡¯re just considered an external staff, not an official one,¡± Old Luo said, smiling.


    The National Security Bureau of Huaxia, the FBI of the United States, and the Sixth Bureau of Intelligence of the UK are known as the three major supervisory organizations in the world.


    Compared to the latter two organizations, the National Security Bureau holds much more power.


    They operate directly under the chief national leader and have the authority to act first and report later, to arrest with weapons, and mobilize local police.


    In Huaxia, this organization is akin to a royal sword, the nightmare of countless officials.


    Even the power in Mr.


    Li¡¯s hands couldn¡¯t place Song Yun inside the National Security Bureau, which meant...


    the organization was extending an olive branch to Song Yun.


    To accept or not, that was the question.


    ¡°Just an external role?¡± Song Yun asked cautiously.


    ¡°Yes, Mr.


    Li said you hold real power in the organization, but you don¡¯t have to take on missions before becoming an official member,¡± Old Luo explained, knowing the privileges this small notebook entailed.


    As Song Yun was Li Family¡¯s son-in-law, entering this department would naturally be the best choice.


    ¡°That¡¯s good then.


    I like living a quiet life.


    If no one provokes me, I won¡¯t strike first,¡± Song Yun said jokingly.


    ¡°But if anyone dares target my people, whoever they are, they¡¯re dead.¡±


    Suddenly, a bloodthirsty aura emanated from Song Yun, causing even the weathered Old Luo to catch his breath.


    ¡°This matter will be resolved by tomorrow.


    I¡¯ll meet Mr.


    Li at the old house at noon,¡± Song Yun said after taking a sip of water to soothe his throat.


    Once Old Luo had left, Li Shishi, curious, picked up the notebook on the table and flipped through it.


    When she saw the cover with a dragon soaring into the sky and the words ¡°National Security Bureau Special Action Department¡± printed inside, her eyes widened like saucers.


    Having grown up in a bureaucratic family, she had often heard about the immense power of the National Security Bureau as a child.


    She had never imagined that Song Yun was now a part of it.


    Early the next day, Black Flood Dragon drove a car he had scammed from Tom to pick up Song Yun, heading towards the backstreet of Sunan City University.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go in now, it¡¯s time we sorted this out,¡± Song Yun said calmly as the car came to a stop.


    After parking the car, Black Flood Dragon eagerly followed Song Yun into the bar.


    At this moment, the bar was empty.


    The waiter from yesterday was nowhere to be seen, likely sent elsewhere by Wang Hu.


    Song Yun led Black Flood Dragon into the private room where he had confronted Wang Hu the previous day.


    Wang Hu was panicking, unsure whether to trust Song Yun¡¯s words.


    If Song Yun could indeed demonstrate the power behind him this time, he was willing to become an unnoticed follower by Song Yun¡¯s side.

 Chapter 25 - 25 24 Acting

    ?25: Chapter 24: Acting 25: Chapter 24: Acting Life in the underworld is too chaotic, too exhausting; not only do you live day-to-day fearing being offed by a rival, but you also have to be wary of your own subordinates¡¯ ambitions for a coup.


    And on days when the Public Security Bureau feels like blowing through just to shake things down, all they can do is smile bitterly and hand over their red envelopes.


    Bang!


    The door was pushed open by a handsome-looking young man.


    Wang Hu¡¯s eyes lit up¡ªit was indeed him, he really had come.


    Following behind Song Yun was a woman...


    over one meter eighty tall?


    Out of curiosity, Wang Hu took a closer look, only to be met with such a fierce look in the woman¡¯s eyes that even he couldn¡¯t help shivering.


    Putting aside the psychological shock Song Yun had caused him yesterday, just by the light of the ambiguous figure¡¯s sword, it was obvious this was someone not to be trifled with.


    These days, anyone daring enough to fight with cold weapons, who wasn¡¯t at least somewhat skilled, was already dead.


    ¡°Mr.


    Song, you¡¯ve arrived,¡± Wang Hu said respectfully, bowing to Song Yun.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Song Yun settled into a sofa, only his head visible as he spoke in a faint voice, ¡°Where are those people?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll be here soon.


    I received their text last night.


    They said they¡¯d be here at nine o¡¯clock sharp this morning.¡± Wang Hu could no longer hide the admiration in his eyes, thinking that this would be a good master.


    Just because he wanted to avenge his woman, he was ready to take care of a foreign friend.


    Just on this point alone, Song Yun was a true man, which highly appealed to Wang Hu, who licked blood off knife edges for a living.


    At this moment, Wang Hu also had a question: Why did these RB people want to mess with that woman?


    Could it just be because she was good-looking?


    Implausible.


    There were good-looking women among the RB people too, and besides, the price offered by Sanben Tai Lang was too tempting.


    No gang would refuse it.


    ¡°Black Flood Dragon, go lie in wait in another private room.


    When they arrive, wait for my signal before making a move,¡± Song Yun said without any niceties.


    Black Flood Dragon nodded and spotting an unopened bottle of white liquor on the table, casually grabbed it and went into the private room closest to Song Yun.


    ¡°Wang Hu, now tell me about the gangs in this area,¡± Song Yun said, thinking to himself that these RB people were very cunning.


    Today he had flipped Wang Hu, and it was possible they would target another gang tomorrow.


    It was better to get the lay of the land first.


    ¡°There¡¯s the Guangzhou Gang to the east, the Noble Young Master Gang to the north, while the west and the south are my territory.


    I run the biggest gang around Sunnan University.


    The Guangzhou Gang is a bunch of Guangzhou guys; their fighting power isn¡¯t great, but they shouldn¡¯t be underestimated.


    As for the Noble Young Master Gang to the north, they go by a gang¡¯s name, but they can¡¯t really be considered one,¡± Wang Hu said with a wry smile.


    ¡°They are students from Sunnan University, and the Noble Young Master Gang is more like the student union there, but some of their top members either have powerful backgrounds or are very rich.


    They keep to themselves in the north, playing their own games, so I don¡¯t have much to do with them.


    After all, I can¡¯t afford to provoke them,¡± Wang Hu explained, still smiling bitterly.


    ¡°Students failing to study and turning out a gang instead.


    Tell me about their high-ranking members,¡± Song Yun asked curiously.


    ¡°Tian Qi, Dong Xin, Zeng Bufen, Li Shiwan.¡±


    ¡°Tian Qi¡¯s dad is the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee.


    Dong Xin¡¯s dad is the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau.


    Zeng Bufen¡¯s dad is the director of the Tax Bureau.


    The only one not involved with government is Li Shiwan.


    They say his dad is a businessman dealing in substantial commerce, but nobody really knows what exactly his dad does,¡± Wang Hu didn¡¯t dare conceal anything and laid out the backgrounds of the four people completely.


    ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be called the Noble Young Master Gang.


    More like a Daddy-Backing Alliance,¡± Song Yun said with a playful smile.


    ¡°Boss, those guys are here,¡± a lookout who had been hiding outside came running in and reported to Wang Hu upon seeing the RB people arrive.


    ¡°They¡¯ve arrived,¡± Wang Hu frowned, his mood tense.


    He knew that neither Sanben Tai Lang nor Song Yun were average men, and he wasn¡¯t easy to fool either.


    If the two started drawing guns and fighting in the bar, what would he do?


    He¡¯d left his guns at home.


    If he¡¯d known he wasn¡¯t going to change clothes, at least he¡¯d have had a chance to save his life.


    Song Yun noticed Wang Hu¡¯s nervousness and pulled out a handgun from his waist, stuffing it into his hands and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, it¡¯s all just an act.


    Remember, from this moment on, you¡¯re the lead.


    Just improvise.¡±


    Grateful, Wang Hu glanced at Song Yun.


    Song Yun smiled lightly and stood behind Wang Hu, playing the part of a subordinate.


    ¡°Boss Wang Hu, did you have a good sleep last night?¡± Before they arrived, a sleazy voice came through, ¡°And that woman, you didn¡¯t touch her, did you?


    Mr.


    Yamamoto specifically requested her to warm his bed tonight.¡±


    The translator entered with a smug grin.


    When he saw the bandage on Wang Hu¡¯s leg, he paused in surprise and said, ¡°Boss Wang Hu, you¡¯re already so fierce.


    How did you get hurt?


    Did something go wrong?¡±


    ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry.


    It was just revenge from an enemy last night on my way home.


    He slashed my leg, but they didn¡¯t get any advantage; I took one of them down,¡± Wang Hu told the lie effortlessly, immediately concocting a reason that earned Song Yun¡¯s admiration.


    The translator nodded, thoughtfully adding, ¡°But after closing this deal, Boss Wang Hu¡¯s future will be bright.


    When you make it big, don¡¯t forget about me, okay?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll definitely remember you,¡± Wang Hu sneered to himself, thinking that the master who caused his leg injury was standing right behind him, and that yesterday this master had only hurt him because he still had use for him.


    This traitor probably won¡¯t be able to walk out in one piece today.


    ¡°Who is this?¡± the translator asked, frowning slightly at the sight of Song Yun.


    ¡°Oh, this is my brother-in-law.


    My wife just brought him from the countryside to hang out with me.


    We¡¯re all family here, Mr.


    Sanben can rest assured,¡± Wang Hu said with a feigned smile.


    The translator nodded, said a few words in Japanese to the people outside, and then Sanben Tai Lang slowly walked in, followed by a young man with a sullen face, who looked over Wang Hu and Song Yun with disapproval before standing behind Sanben Tai Lang like a bodyguard.


    ¡°Gibberish gibberish, toad squeegee you baby,¡± Sanben Tai Lang took a sip of beer and started gesturing and babbling incoherently¡ªSong Yun didn¡¯t understand a word.


    At that moment, Song Yun¡¯s entire attention was on the beer in Sanben Tai Lang¡¯s hand, thinking how nice it would have been if he¡¯d slipped some poison into his beer earlier ¡ª how convenient that would be.


    ¡°Mr.


    Sanben is very appreciative of Boss Wang Hu¡¯s efficiency.


    Mr.


    Sanben also says that if you ever plan to travel to RB someday, you must let him know.


    He will show you the hospitality of a landlord,¡± the translator said, flashing his yellow teeth.


    ¡°Alright, Boss Wang Hu, Mr.


    Sanben would like you to bring up the two women now,¡± the translator said.


    ¡°You go bring them in,¡± Wang Hu gave Song Yun a look.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Song Yun wrinkled his brow as he was about to step out of the room when the sullen-faced man suddenly spoke up in stiff Huaxia, ¡°No need, let¡¯s all go together.¡±

 Chapter 26 - 26 25 Glory is My Life

    ?26: Chapter 25: Glory is My Life 26: Chapter 25: Glory is My Life ¡°What¡¯s the matter?


    Mr.


    Sanben doesn¡¯t trust us?¡± Wang Hu feigned displeasure as he spoke.


    ¡°No, no, Mr.


    Sanben, Wang Hu is your best ally.


    How could I not trust you?¡± The translator said with a forced smile, thinking to himself, ¡®Is this idiot brain-damaged or what?


    If they¡¯re willing to bring people over, just let them.


    Why the hell are you yapping over here, you motherfucker?


    Can¡¯t you just quietly drink a little here and talk about national affairs?¡¯


    ¡°There¡¯s a murderous aura.¡± The sullen-faced man suddenly pulled out a shuriken, a weapon shaped like a short sword or Emei thorn, usually made of iron, short and easy to carry and conceal.


    This man was a ninja.


    Song Yun¡¯s heart jumped as he shouted, ¡°Move!¡± and suddenly lunged at the man.


    Accompanying his shout, Black Flood Dragon, who had been hiding in the room, rushed out with the Longquan Sword, appearing and disappearing in every corner of the room.


    Song Yun stepped forward to grab Hattori¡¯s wrist, then kicked out.


    ¡°Anyone who dares to insult the Hattori family must die.¡± Hattori said in a cold tone.


    ¡°Humph, a second-rate little brat.


    Do you think you can be a traitor just because you learned some tricks from us?¡± Song Yun sneered, with the Hidden Dragon Saber already silently in his hand.


    Even Wang Hu, who had been chatting with Song Yun, didn¡¯t know how Song Yun had managed to conceal such a long saber without being noticed before.


    Hattori glanced at the saber in Song Yun¡¯s hand, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    ¡°Pop¡±


    The opponent suddenly pulled out a smoke bomb from his bosom, and suddenly the private room was filled with a pungent smell of gunpowder.


    ¡°Take those two away first.


    I¡¯ll go out in a minute,¡± Song Yun said cautiously.


    Wang Hu dragged Sanben Tai Lang and the short translator out, while Black Flood Dragon looked at Song Yun thoughtfully, flicked his sword to produce a flourish, sighed, and it was unclear what he was thinking.


    With a cold snort, Hattori disappeared mysteriously within the thick smoke in the room.


    In just an instant, like a flash of lightning, his figure appeared behind Song Yun.


    Swoosh!


    A shuriken flew towards Song Yun.


    With a wave of his hand, the shuriken bounced off and embedded itself in the wall.


    Soundless and stealthy, a long saber came slashing silently at Song Yun.


    Unable to turn around, Song Yun stretched the Hidden Dragon Saber behind him, relying on his ears to judge the wind direction and barely blocking Hattori¡¯s unpredictable attack.


    ¡°Clang¡±


    The clash of blades rang out clearly.


    Hattori saw that the weapon in Song Yun¡¯s hand had not broken under his strike and realized that it was no ordinary weapon.


    His figure concealed again in the thick fog, he suddenly reappeared to Song Yun¡¯s left, with a saber slashing lightning-fast at his face.


    Like a rock in the sea, Song Yun stood his ground and once again thwarted Hattori¡¯s fatal blow.


    This time, however, his hand was numbed from the fierce chopping force.


    Song Yun was getting annoyed.


    Who was he?


    He was known as the Great Emperor, the Harvester, Shura of the night, deemed by the foreign organizations that dominated Mercenary Street for years.


    When it came to stealth, he was the father of these third-rate ninjas.


    Of course, Song Yun wouldn¡¯t really be their father; that would mess up the bloodline.


    But today, he had been ambushed and slashed at several times by this hide-and-seek loving bastard.


    Even though he wasn¡¯t injured, Song Yun felt it was a huge loss of face.


    To quote a phrase from wow, ¡°Honor is my life.¡±


    Who likes to be chased around with a knife, slashed at again and again?


    Who likes it when, during a big fight, the enemy hides and sneaks about, popping out to annoy you every now and then?


    It¡¯s like when you¡¯ve put all your effort into winning over your dream girl, and after dinner, drinks, and karaoke, when you¡¯ve booked a room ready for a big battle, she drops the bombshell: ¡°I¡¯m on my period.¡±


    Song Yun decided to take revenge, to relentlessly punish this son of a bitch, to take Black Flood Dragon¡¯s Soft Sword and whip him hard, to shatter his asshole with a broken bottle.


    Staying still, after sensing his attack trajectory from the sound of the wind, Song Yun raised the Hidden Dragon Saber in his hand to block the opponent¡¯s RB saber, but at that moment, his right foot struck out like lightning.


    A size 42 foot burst through the layers of fog and then squarely kicked Hattori in the stomach, sending his body flying.


    Crash!!!


    Hattori¡¯s body slammed heavily against the wall, making the somewhat dilapidated wall shake like it was an earthquake.


    Plaster fell from the ceiling, and the half-peeled wall paint fluttered in the air.


    Hattori¡¯s chest took a heavy hit, he coughed violently, a salty and metallic taste stuck in his throat, which he forcefully suppressed from coming up.


    He knew it was blood from internal injuries.


    The kick was too powerful, whether it was the timing or the angle of the kick, it was perfect, and that kick had inflicted severe damage on him.


    There was no time to linger on the ground.


    A fight between experts could be determined in just one second.


    If he didn¡¯t get up soon, he was afraid this Chinapig would kill him.


    Hattori sprang up like a carp flipping out of water.


    He dared not make too much noise, afraid that Song Yun would discover his position and come to follow up on his victory.


    Song Yun felt angry for having been slashed several times by this RB ghost.


    So, just now, he didn¡¯t care about any morality and kicked out, achieving a significant victory.


    That made our friend Song Yun feel extraordinarily refreshed, like someone who had been constipated for a long time finally having relief ¨C a comfortable feeling all over his body.


    Looking again toward Hattori across the smoke, his gaze softened a lot, without the intense killing intent.


    ¡°Cough cough, you¡¯re a master, you must be a government man, right?¡± Hattori rubbed his belly, trying to make himself feel better quickly.


    His eyes were fixed on Song Yun like a wolf eyeing its favorite little sheep, cold and infuriated.


    ¡°Idiot, you think I would tell you?¡± Song Yun said with glee, ¡°You¡¯ll be dying soon, but I¡¯m sure your little ghost comrades will send more.


    No worries, you go down first to scout the way, save your buddies from getting lost in Hell.¡± Song Yun waved generously at Hattori.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to die, you must die, you must die.


    You¡¯ve insulted a ninja¡¯s honor,¡± Hattori snarled viciously.


    ¡°Idiot, your ninjutsu is based on our Great Heavenly Dynasty¡¯s Five Elements and Eight Trigrams.


    You stole our stuff and you have the nerve to talk about honor?¡± Song Yun asked, thinking to himself that if he slapped him hard on the face a couple of times, and then poured urine over his head, would he stop fighting and commit seppuku?

 Chapter 27 - 27 26 Epilepsy Patients

    ?27: Chapter 26 Epilepsy Patients?


    27: Chapter 26 Epilepsy Patients?


    ¡°Of course, Song Yun is a person of status,¡± they noted.


    ¡°Did you not see how Tom, the responsible manager of Dunhuang Hotel, was all respectful in front of him?


    They say America is the godfather of the Eastern Country, and even their godfather dares not breathe heavily in his presence.


    So why should he bark like a dog here?¡±


    And speaking of doing reprehensible deeds, you shouldn¡¯t get your own hands dirty.


    When he had entered, he saw a black shepherd tied up across from the bun vendor.


    When it¡¯s all over, he would drag it over to let it vent as much as it needed, saving it the embarrassment of sniffing at female dogs thereafter.


    Hattori hooked the fallen RB knife with his foot, then slightly bent his left leg, leaning his body forward, just like a runner at the start of a race.


    The long sword was held under his crotch, the tip of the blade forming a 90-degree angle with the ground.


    Mumbling under his breath, it was unclear what he was nagging about¡ªhe was mostly uttering phrases like ¡°the troops are arrayed in front before battle.¡±


    With a furious shout, Hattori suddenly raised the long sword, his body continuously swaying, bouncing up and down just like the grandmothers in the square.


    Watching from the side, Song Yun¡¯s eyes twitched.


    Could this kid be possessed?


    Or suffering a mental breakdown?


    Damn it, these ghosts are truly inhumane, sending someone with a history of epilepsy on a mission.


    After jumping around for a long time, Hattori suddenly lurched forward, swinging a straight cut at Song Yun, the blade¡¯s gleam bringing a chill.


    Murderous intent!


    Towering murderous intent, solidified through killing, spreading far and wide!


    This was Song Yun¡¯s first encounter with a ninja, and he was not familiar with their combat methods yet.


    Although Song Yun held his opponent in contempt, he couldn¡¯t let his guard down until the dust settled.


    Who knows how many important figures had capsized in small gutters, stabbed dead by an underdog?


    Song Yun concentrated deeply, his Hidden Dragon Saber casting a swath of silver light, protecting a meter around him so thoroughly that not even a drop could penetrate.


    With a cold shout, Hattori¡¯s blade moved faster and faster, striking 38 times in ten seconds, almost four slashes per second.


    Yet such rapid blade speed couldn¡¯t injure Song Yun in the slightest, and the sound of clashing blades continuously echoed in the room.


    Black Flood Dragon listened to the continuous sounds from inside the room, it seemed the ninja was not an easy opponent either, and the competitive Black Flood Dragon felt an urge to go in and test his strength against the ninja.


    Beside him, the interpreter showing his yellow teeth ingratiatingly said, ¡°Lord Hu, I¡¯m only an interpreter, I know nothing, please show some leniency.


    Given our relationship, it shouldn¡¯t have come to this.¡±


    Hearing this, Wang Hu felt very annoyed inside and also a bit worried.


    Considering the strong showing of Song Yun in front of him, he should have been able to come out by now, but the battle was still ongoing.


    If...


    if Song Yun lost, wouldn¡¯t it mean a total loss for him as well?


    The more Wang Hu thought about it, the more irritable he became, plus the interpreter kept pleading beside him, making him even more troubled.


    Angrily, he kicked the interpreter.


    The shameless interpreter hugged Wang Hu¡¯s thigh, crying out, ¡°Brother Hu, Lord Hu, please have mercy.


    I have an elderly mother of eighty and a two-year-old child at home, please spare me.¡±


    ¡°Scram, even calling me daddy won¡¯t work.¡±


    Inside the room, Song Yun, holding the Hidden Dragon Saber with one hand, leaned forward and lunged aggressively towards Hattori.


    Hattori¡¯s eyes widened, thinking that this kid was trying to break the stalemate proactively, disrupt his rhythm, and seize the initiative.


    Bang!


    Another smoke bomb exploded, Hattori slowly disappearing within it, the room filling with smoke like a monstrous beast swallowing him whole.


    Song Yun meticulously observed the surroundings, the smoke from this attack making the room¡¯s atmosphere even denser.


    The smoke grew thicker, enveloping a larger area, some even seeping through the cracks of the doors.


    Clang!


    It sounded like a cup shattering.


    Song Yun didn¡¯t dare head that way, who knew if it was part of the deceiving array?


    No, the room now truly felt like a maze.


    The room was eight meters wide, Song Yun should have reached a wall in two seconds, yet he had walked for two to three minutes without any end in sight, as if he was treading water.


    The eyes can¡¯t see, they¡¯ll trick the brain with deceptive substances.


    The ears can¡¯t hear, the room¡¯s noises were getting louder, and Song Yun was getting confused about where Hattori might be.


    Under such circumstances, he could only rely on his feelings¡ªhis so-called sixth sense, which he was most proud of, had pulled him back from life and death situations countless times.


    He trusted it would be the same this time.


    Swoosh!


    Song Yun felt something slice through the air towards his chest.


    Instinctively, his brain guided the Hidden Dragon Saber to block at a critical moment.


    Unexpectedly, two more shuriken flew at him right after.


    Song Yun spun around, his leg kicking towards where the air had split¡ªmissing.


    His foot kicked through empty air, and Hattori¡¯s figure faded back into the dense fog.


    ¡°Hmph, these little ghosts only know women¡¯s tactics, always too timid to walk the big roads,¡± Song Yun swore aloud, intending to disturb Hattori¡¯s focus.


    ¡°Damn it, this kid¡¯s resilience is really something.


    I must force him out, otherwise, it¡¯ll be disadvantageous for me.¡± Song Yun silently cursed within, knowing the dense fog was Hattori¡¯s home turf.


    Now performing as the away team, if he couldn¡¯t even touch his opponent, he¡¯d be played to death by the other party.


    Hattori shot several shuriken at Song Yun, but they were all deflected one by one, buzzing past.


    This irritated Hattori tremendously.


    His ninjutsu, while not top-notch in America, was still moderately famous in the circle.


    Having reached the level of Mid-level Ninja at thirty, he was recognized as a genius.


    Now, having been toyed and ridiculed repeatedly by Song Yun, he was thrown into disarray.


    His confusion affected his breathing, growing heavier as he increasingly wanted to strike a deadly blow to Song Yun to retrieve his lost honor.


    When Song Yun heard the whooshing sound, he quickly retreated.


    Hattori, cunning as he was, seeing that his sneak attack had failed, changed the trajectory of his blade mid-air.


    Initially aimed at Song Yun¡¯s face, it now slashed across Song Yun¡¯s arm.


    The fabric tore, the flesh on his arm was cut, exposing a deep, narrow wound.


    Song Yun silently swallowed, thankful he had resisted somewhat, or else Hattori¡¯s strike could have chopped his arm off.


    The pain in his arm thoroughly enraged Song Yun.


    He stopped dodging and just stood directly in the fog, as still as a stone.

 Chapter 28 - 28 27 Into the Wolfs Den

    ?28: Chapter 27: Into the Wolf¡¯s Den 28: Chapter 27: Into the Wolf¡¯s Den The air around them kept churning, sounds echoed one after another, all part of Hattori¡¯s efforts to confuse Song Yun.


    As the air moved faster, Song Yun felt the originally stable air turn chaotic and knew that Hattori was getting closer.


    This time, Hattori had learned his lesson and didn¡¯t opt for heavy chops or slashes but instead for a sly and sinister thrust.


    His saber silently targeted Song Yun¡¯s abdomen.


    Song Yun moved, with a light shift to his left, he dodged so simply and foiled the elaborate plan Hattori had devised.


    Then, Song Yun¡¯s hand shot out, grabbing Hattori¡¯s hair before he could retreat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to chop at me,¡± Song Yun slapped Hattori across the face.


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to hesitate like a woman,¡± he slapped Hattori again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you¡ªdoesn¡¯t matter the reason, I just felt like slapping you.¡±


    After three slaps, Hattori nearly cried.


    How could someone torment another to such extent?


    If you want to kill me, just end it with a single blow, why torment my poor young soul?


    How will I face remembering the glory days when I¡¯m older¡ªwrong, when I¡¯m dying?


    Despite saying this, Song Yun didn¡¯t stop, continuing to slap Hattori until his face swelled up like a pig¡¯s, then punched him so hard that Hattori crashed into the wall.


    Before he could recover, Song Yun swiftly moved again.


    Strike him when he¡¯s down, take his life.


    Song Yun grabbed Hattori by the collar, threw him into the air, and then, leaping up as well, stomped on Hattori¡¯s chest.


    Clang!


    Under Song Yun¡¯s ferocious golden right foot, Hattori¡¯s body smashed heavily onto the floor tiles, another loud noise making everyone outside wince, thinking that these two¡¯s combat strength was too formidable, like artillery... no, like a fierce battle that could shake heaven and earth.


    Pain, intense pain, unbearable pain, piercing to the core, organs displaced, massive internal bleeding, his body felt as if it had fallen apart.


    Hattori didn¡¯t know how Song Yun managed to find him in the thick fog.


    He was a mid-level ninja, and among the top of the mid-level, just a step away from being an upper-level ninja.


    He specialized in speed and had killed numerous figures in the fog.


    But he never thought there¡¯d be someone quicker than him, who could accurately trace his movements and counterattack.


    Being so brutalized was a huge insult to a noble mid-level ninja and a disgrace to the Hattori family.


    Thus, Hattori¡¯s blood-drenched right hand still clutched the saber tightly, still trying to resist, but this time Song Yun gave him no chance to rise.


    Approaching leisurely, Song Yun stomped on Hattori¡¯s abdomen and mocked, ¡°In all Martial Arts, only speed is unbreakable.


    How could a little ghost like you understand the profundity of these words?


    Do you think training your speed to the ultimate is the strongest?


    Like how you, a speed-specialized ninja, made that crafty thrust at me.


    How do you think I dodged it?


    You see, what you ghosts have stolen is just the superficial aspects, insufficient to comprehend the essence of the great truths.¡±


    ¡°You little ghosts, only when you¡¯re hurt and frightened will you stop.


    Otherwise, you¡¯ll continue to challenge our dignity.


    Isn¡¯t that right?¡± After being slashed by the bastard, he had to drop some chilly words while stepping on him.


    ¡°Humph, our Great RB Empire will not yield to you Chinazi pigs, kill or butcher at your leisure,¡± Hattori said bravely, then his throat sweetened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know how I dodged your attack just now?¡± Song Yun revealed a devilish grin, tempting Hattori like a little lamb.


    After thinking for a moment, Hattori looked up seriously and said, ¡°Yes, I really want to know how you dodged my deadly move.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you want to know?¡± Song Yun tapped his cheek lightly, then pulled out a pistol from his waist and said, ¡°Well, I¡¯m not going to tell you.¡±


    Bang!


    A gunshot ended Hattori¡¯s life.


    Poor Hattori, even before dying, Song Yun played with his feelings.


    Seeing him die with eyes wide open, one really felt like shooting him again.


    Song Yun walked out of the private room, and amid the astonished looks of everyone, he pulled out a sheet of paper from a table in the hall and quietly wiped the Hidden Dragon Saber.


    ¡°All sorted?¡± Black Flood Dragon approached with a casual smile.


    Everyone present was somewhat worried about the battle inside, but Black Flood Dragon alone had full faith, not only in their strength but also in the trust built up over many years.


    ¡°Yes, that ghost had quite a background; he was a mid-level ninja, seems like he was from the Hattori family,¡± Song Yun said indifferently.


    ¡°The people from the Hattori family?


    Looks like we¡¯ll have some fun later,¡± Black Flood Dragon said.


    ¡°Clap clap clap¡±¡ªA round of applause came from outside the door, and Song Yun turned his head to see a middle-aged man in a white Chinese tunic suit walking in.


    ¡°This young man, you seem unfamiliar.


    How about we get to know each other?¡± The man stretched out his hand amiably towards Song Yun.


    Wiping the blood from his hand, Song Yun smiled and said, ¡°Song Yun.¡±


    ¡°Tang Lin.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Black Flood Dragon from Sword Pavilion, right?


    Many years ago, I visited the Great Elder of Sword Pavilion and heard your name,¡± Tang Lin patted Black Flood Dragon, who was a little tense, and smiled.


    Hearing his name accurately stated and feeling the intimidating stare, Black Flood Dragon sensed that this man must be an extraordinary master.


    ¡°Song Yun, are you the new guy who just joined?¡± Tang Lin¡¯s thought process jumped, making Song Yun startle; one moment he was greeting Black Flood Dragon, the next he was inquiring about himself.


    ¡°National Security Bureau?¡± Song Yun asked cautiously.


    ¡°Yes, indeed.


    Mr.


    Li has found a good son-in-law.


    To be so young and so skilled in Martial Arts, are you now ¡®A¡¯ level?¡±


    Watching Tang Lin¡¯s serious face, Song Yun nodded earnestly.


    Suddenly, Tang Lin laughed, dug around in his pocket, and pulled out a small national emblem, placing it in Song Yun¡¯s hand, ¡°This is what the higher-ups asked me to pass on to you.


    Depending on the level of missions completed, you¡¯ll receive between one to ten of these emblems.


    Accumulating a certain amount can be exchanged for weapons, Healing Medicine, and gene potions.


    You better keep them safe.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Song Yun asked, a bit puzzled.


    ¡°This time Li Shishi¡¯s kidnapping by these RB people is not as simple as it seems.


    They are brewing a big conspiracy.


    Your clearance is not high enough yet, and I can¡¯t share the internal files with you, just that this mid-level ninja and Yamamoto are now my concern.


    One day, you won¡¯t regret today¡¯s decisions.¡±


    ¡°So, does that mean today¡¯s actions count as a mission?¡±


    ¡°Yes, so keep this national emblem safely; it¡¯ll be useful as you accumulate more.¡±


    ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯ve already killed that mid-level ninja, so he won¡¯t be of much use to you, but this Yamamoto might be worth interrogating,¡± Song Yun kindly suggested.


    ¡°No worries, if you killed him, then I don¡¯t have to.


    You should know, his corpse is actually the most useful.¡±


    Watching Tang Lin¡¯s slight smile, Song Yun felt as if he had entered a den of wolves.

 Chapter 29 - 29 28 Establishing Power

    ?29: Chapter 28: Establishing Power 29: Chapter 28: Establishing Power ¡°Why are you saying only dead bodies are useful...


    Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re planning to take it...¡± Song Yun asked Tang Lin with an awkward look.


    ¡°Damn it, kid, can¡¯t your brain work normally?¡± Tang Lin cursed with a laugh, devoid of his earlier sage-like demeanor.


    He carelessly sat on a stool and said languidly, ¡°Because a corpse can¡¯t talk, man, dead men tell no tales.


    Think about it, what a ninja can do is obviously something like assassination.


    And who knows, this dumbass might even be registered with the international police.


    What do you think a murderous ninja would want in Sunan City?¡±


    Still not waiting for Song Yun¡¯s reply, Tang Lin excitedly said, ¡°Exactly, you¡¯re right, it¡¯s murder.


    They ruthlessly harm our citizens, and we shouldn¡¯t seek compensation from them?¡±


    Song Yun sat there with a dark expression, thinking to himself, I didn¡¯t even open my mouth yet, and you¡¯re going back and forth with ¡®you¡¯re right, you¡¯re right.¡¯ Do you think we share some sort of telepathy?


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled then, I¡¯ll take the ninja back with me,¡± Tang Lin said slowly.


    ¡°Whatever.¡±


    ¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤


    After Song Yun sent Tang Lin out, he sat on the sofa and said to Wang Hu, who was shivering a bit at his side, ¡°Relax, everything has been taken care of now.


    We¡¯ll need to collaborate more in the future.¡±


    ¡°Tha...Thank you, Mr.


    Song, for your nurturing,¡± Wang Hu said, his voice quivering.


    The impact of Tang Lin¡¯s words was still hitting him hard; this wasn¡¯t just some government official but definitely someone from the upper echelons.


    ¡°A figure like this,¡± he thought, ¡°must be grasped tightly for good fortune like this doesn¡¯t come often.¡±


    ¡°Oh right, most of your assets are still primarily under-the-table, right?


    You must be well-known at the police station.


    I¡¯ll go talk to Wang Dong sometime and get your name removed from their blacklist,¡± Song Yun said in a leisurely manner.


    Usually, Wang Hu dealt with the police the most.


    The highest-ranking officer he had interacted with was the head of the local precinct.


    He had never interacted with the deputy chief of the city precinct, only heard of him.


    It seemed that the boss had a very good relationship with that deputy chief of police, otherwise he couldn¡¯t just mention it casually and pull him out of this quagmire.


    ¡°From now on, you¡¯re my boss, Brother Yun.


    I may be a crude man, but I know the words loyalty and righteousness well.


    Just accept me, and whether it¡¯s climbing a mountain of swords or descending into a sea of flames, I won¡¯t even blink,¡± Wang Hu hurriedly said, seizing the moment to show loyalty, because when it¡¯s time to bow, one must bow.


    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll accept you,¡± Song Yun said with a troubled look.


    ¡°Ah right, Song Yun, each member of our special operations department has certain rights.


    This will be explained when you go to the Yanjing headquarters,¡± Tang Lin popped out of nowhere and added, ¡°One of the things I can tell you is that special operations members can develop their own forces, as we individuals, while powerful, need support in various aspects such as gathering intelligence or handling matters that we cannot appear in directly.¡±


    Song Yun was startled by Tang Lin¡¯s sudden reappearance, breathing out twice to calm himself down as he thought of cursing, but simply said, ¡°I got it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, just remember though, don¡¯t engage in activities that violate regulations, like touching the nation¡¯s bottom lines,¡± Tang Lin said seriously.


    ¡°Alright, you still have things to deal with, right?


    I won¡¯t bother you then.


    Take care, watch the steps,¡± Song Yun said as he watched Tang Lin leave the door, wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    ¡°Oh yeah, I almost forgot to give you this thing, this menu...


    uh, not the menu, this list of things you can exchange for badges.


    Stop by SD to see me when you have time,¡± Tang Lin said, dropping something resembling a menu and finally left.


    Watching Tang Lin¡¯s car kick up dust as it drove away, Song Yun felt a burden lift off his shoulders, thinking to himself about Tang Lin¡¯s inexplicable ability to stay unnoticed.


    ¡°If he were to spy on me in bed, I probably wouldn¡¯t notice him at all.


    No, this guy is too dangerous, I¡¯ve got to blacklist him,¡± thought Song Yun secretly.


    Oblivious and innocent-looking Tang Lin had no idea that Song Yun had already tagged him as a dangerous person.


    With everything resolved, Song Yun sat on the sofa, looking at Wang Hu, who was trying to please him, and said, ¡°From now on, we¡¯re family.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, Brother Yun.


    From now on, I, Wang Hu, will follow you wherever you lead.


    If you tell me to go east, I¡¯d never go west.


    If you tell me to butcher dogs, I¡¯ll never slaughter donkeys,¡± Wang Hu said.


    ¡°Now that we¡¯re family, there¡¯s no need for pretenses.


    The Tiger Gang is still yours to run, but you¡¯ve got to know the ins and outs even better than before.


    You heard what that uncle said, didn¡¯t you?


    Anything illegal in our operations has to stop,¡± Song Yun said with a light smile, ¡°Though your influence is strong now, it¡¯s still not enough to rival the established gangs.


    So, you should also try to take over the north and the east.


    As for some regulated items, I¡¯ll think of a way for you.


    Your only task now is to strengthen the gang.¡±


    ¡°That...


    Brother Yun, I¡¯ve heard there are quite influential people behind the Noble Young Master Gang, used by those big shots for laundering money.


    Won¡¯t this cause us trouble?¡± Wang Hu asked cautiously.


    ¡°Are you trying to say cutting off someone¡¯s money is like killing their parents?¡± Seeing Wang Hu nod, Song Yun continued, ¡°I don¡¯t care who¡¯s behind them.


    You must take that northern territory for me, and I¡¯ll figure out something about those big shots.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.


    Without anyone to challenge us, we will definitely grow strong quickly.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, oh and, do you have any idle money right now?


    If so, give me some,¡± Song Yun suddenly changed the topic, catching Wang Hu off guard.


    But since Song Yun asked, there must be a reason, so Wang Hu promptly instructed his subordinates to withdraw over a hundred thousand from the bank.


    Laying the money in front of Song Yun, Wang Hu was a bit worried that Song Yun might find it too little.


    However, Song Yun didn¡¯t show much dissatisfaction.


    Instead, he had him pack the money in a backpack, exchanged mobile numbers with Wang Hu, and left with Black Flood Dragon.


    Standing at the door, watching Song Yun¡¯s silhouette in the car, Wang Hu murmured, ¡°Is this really like pie falling from the sky?


    Is it finally my time to turn things around?¡±


    On the car, Black Flood Dragon looked at Song Yun, puzzled, and asked, ¡°When did you join a national organization?


    Your old man never mentioned it to me.¡±


    ¡°Just last night, I officially took up the position.


    I¡¯m also baffled as to why they suddenly roped me in, but looking at it now, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, so I might as well stay there for the time being.


    If any danger looms, I¡¯ll definitely be the first to bolt.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, alright, you¡¯re a man with a plan.


    Ah, speaking of which, I heard your old man is pulling two people out of the Mercenary Group to help you.


    They should be arriving in the next few days, so you better get ready.¡±


    ¡°Haha, if it were a couple of days ago, I¡¯d have been really worried.


    After all, this place can¡¯t handle some no-investment business.


    They¡¯d have been just freeloaders, but today, hahahaha, I¡¯ve got over a hundred thousand now, totally enough to keep them fed,¡± Song Yun said, patting the backpack with a gleam in his eye.

 Chapter 30 - 30 29 Dragon Elephant List

    ?30: Chapter 29 Dragon Elephant List 30: Chapter 29 Dragon Elephant List Because I had to go to the Li Family Mansion at noon, Song Yun first went home to take a shower and change his clothes, then had Black Flood Dragon act as his driver to take him to the Li Family Mansion.


    It just so happened to be mealtime when he arrived at the mansion, Mr.


    Li seemed to know what Song Yun had been up to that morning, so he was very pleased to pull Song Yun to the dining table, and even asked Uncle Luo to open a bottle of aged wine, intending to have a good drink with Song Yun today.


    The meal wasn¡¯t anything special, just five dishes, one soup, and a bowl of rice for each person.


    However, during the meal, Song Yun inexplicably received several kicks under the table.


    But since facing him was Landlady Li Shishi, Song Yun could only force a smile and deal with Mr.


    Li¡¯s questions while silently enduring the kicks.


    After a satisfying meal that pleased all guests, Mr.


    Li took Song Yun into the study and discreetly took out two cigarettes from a book.


    Seeing Song Yun¡¯s surprised expression, Mr.


    Li¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment and he chuckled, ¡°Shishi¡¯s grandmother is quite strict, plus I¡¯m already an old man, so smoking is basically forbidden at home.¡±


    After tossing one to Song Yun, Song Yun lit a cigarette and exhaled plumes of smoke before saying, ¡°So now, can you tell me what¡¯s really going on with the National Security Bureau?¡±


    ¡°After you saved Shishi last time and dealt with so many mercenaries by yourself, the incident was leaked, and the National Security Bureau thinks you are a promising talent, so they approached me,¡± Mr.


    Li said, then paused before continuing, ¡°Do you know about the Dragon Elephant List?¡±


    ¡°The Dragon Elephant List?¡± Song Yun exclaimed in surprise.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the list where the country records all the exceptionally skilled individuals?


    Could it be that I¡¯ve somehow gotten involved with them?¡±


    Song Yun had heard about the Dragon Elephant List when he was abroad.


    Each country has its own similar list: the United States has the Superhuman League, Russia has the Polar Bears, the UK has the Eagle Organization.


    Every country has one, even the less developed ones would have one or two figures to show off.


    On top of each country¡¯s individual list, there is a global one, the War God List, and every person included there is a precious gem to their respective countries.


    Song Yun truly could not understand how he could be related to the Dragon Elephant List.


    ¡°This year¡¯s triennial Dragon Elephant List competition will be held in Sunan City.


    Each elite force will send three or four special forces soldiers to maintain order at the event.


    Of course, the National Security departments will also send people, but since Sunan City is your direct jurisdiction, the National Security recommended you for maintaining order at the event.


    Your immediate superior spoke to me, saying it¡¯s time for you to go out and gain some experience,¡± Mr.


    Li explained.


    ¡°From the look on your face, it¡¯s more than just maintaining order, isn¡¯t it?¡± Song Yun said calmly.


    ¡°Your superior hopes that if possible, you¡¯ll secure a spot on the Dragon Elephant List and boost the National Security Bureau¡¯s reputation.


    Considering the recent large-scale external disturbances the Bureau has been facing...you understand,¡± Mr.


    Li said.


    ¡°So I¡¯m just meant to put on a face for them.


    Don¡¯t they know that the leading duck gets shot first or that the tallest tree in the forest is the one most likely to be blown over?¡± Song Yun said with an awkward expression.


    These people were completely setting him up, causing trouble for no good reason.


    ¡°There are benefits as well.


    All participants in the Dragon List will receive gene potions according to their rankings.


    These potions are incredibly hard to come by.


    If you don¡¯t seize this opportunity, you¡¯ll have to wait another three years,¡± Mr.


    Li said, throwing out a big lure for Song Yun.


    Song Yun was not one to suffer a loss.


    He said, ¡°Who knows what reactions the injection of such potions might cause?


    If something happened to me, wouldn¡¯t it utterly devastate Shishi?¡±


    Mr.


    Li had lived many years, but this was the first time he¡¯d encountered someone so shamelessly flattering himself.


    After swallowing his urge to vomit the meal he had just eaten, he said, ¡°These potions have been produced by the country after thousands of tests.


    They optimize the body¡¯s internal structure at the genetic level and are unlikely to cause issues.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s still at the ¡®unlikely¡¯ stage, right?


    Isn¡¯t there a potion that¡¯s 100% guaranteed not to cause adverse effects when ingested?¡± Song Yun asked, with a shameless look on his face.


    ¡°Such potions do not exist in this era.


    Human genetic makeup alone is enough to keep scientists busy for a lifetime.


    Besides, even drinking water might choke you to death, let alone these potions,¡± Mr.


    Li replied after taking a sip of tea to calm his emotions before saying, ¡°If these potions were casually sold on the black market, they¡¯d easily fetch millions.


    That¡¯s why the country places great importance on this Dragon Elephant List competition.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite risky, it makes me a bit scared.


    Tell me about the types of gene potions available this time, and then I¡¯ll give it some thought,¡± Song Yun said.


    ¡°There are three types of gene potions.


    The first type is the combat potion, which significantly increases your speed and strength upon intake, but with the current state of technology, even the best combat potion can only last ten minutes and will leave you powerless for three days afterward.¡±


    ¡°The second type is the optimization potion.


    There¡¯s no immediate noticeable effect upon taking it, but it optimizes the imperfect genetic chains inside the body.


    The effect is long-lasting, and because the body builds immunity, the second injection won¡¯t be as effective as the first.¡±


    ¡°The third and most valuable type is the recovery potion.


    For serious injuries sustained in battle, injecting this will speed up the body¡¯s healing process and generally does not have side effects.¡±


    Song Yun took a sip of tea and remained silent.


    Of these three types of genes, the first would be the most helpful to him, as even the slightest advantage could mean life or death in combat.


    However, he also fancied the third type, as it could shorten his recovery time, and coupled with his own body¡¯s recovery capabilities, it would be a significant reduction.


    He wasn¡¯t interested in the second type of gene potion; his genes were excellent as it was.


    Otherwise, how could he be so handsome and charming, making countless girls swoon and call out ¡®handsome¡¯?


    If those genes weren¡¯t good, Song Yun truly had nothing to say.


    ¡°So I have to start by challenging the Elephant List following the rules?


    And then topple a bunch of people to squeeze into the Dragon List, offend another bunch, take first place, only to be hacked to death by them afterwards?


    Isn¡¯t this just a trap?¡± Song Yun said displeased.


    ¡°You have the National Security identity, which means you can start directly from challenging the Dragon List.


    Moreover, this year¡¯s rules are different from previous ones.


    Normally it would be one-on-one duels, but this year it seems if you defeat the number one, then you become the number one.


    It¡¯s very straightforward and simple,¡± Mr.


    Li explained, ¡°And this was also your master¡¯s idea.¡±


    ¡°My master?¡± Song Yun muttered, then fell into deep thought.


    What exactly was the old man thinking?


    Apart from getting him involved in an RB person kidnapping incident as soon as he returned to Sunan City, now he even had to participate in the National Security Bureau and the rankings.


    What was the reason behind all this?

 Chapter 31 - 31 30 The Big Shots of the National Security Bureau

    ?31: Chapter 30: The Big Shots of the National Security Bureau 31: Chapter 30: The Big Shots of the National Security Bureau ¡°Moreover, you might not even come in first; you should know that you¡¯re not the only prodigy in this world.


    According to my sources, the top ranker on the Dragon List is only thirty-eighth on the War God List.


    No one has been able to shake his position after so many sessions,¡± Mr.


    Li revealed a shocking secret.


    ¡°Is that weak?


    Our country¡¯s top ranker on the Dragon List is only thirty-eighth on the War God List?


    You can¡¯t be joking, can you?¡± Song Yun said in astonishment.


    ¡°You should know that some formidable figures disdain participating in events like the Dragon Elephant List.


    Instead, they directly challenge the War God List.


    Our country had a martial arts genius named Azure Dragon ten years ago; within a year, he rose to third place on the War God List and has remained there for many years,¡± Mr.


    Li explained.


    ¡°People on the Dragon Elephant List often change, but it¡¯s rare for someone on the War God List to challenge someone out of their league, so the top fighters¡¯ positions hardly change yearly.¡±


    ¡°Alright, since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll just enjoy a good fight with them, just to stretch my muscles,¡± Song Yun said with a cold chuckle, squinting.


    A few days later, Song Yun received news that the event would be held soon at a secret venue, so he was asked to familiarize himself with the location in advance.


    In the evening, Old Luo personally came to pick up Song Yun.


    Following the directions, he drove unsteadily and stopped in front of a nightclub.


    Once Song Yun saw the place, he felt tricked, wondering who the hell would host a national contest in a nightclub.


    Was it supposed to be exciting to have people cheer during matches?


    And did they expect to have girls come up with open arms after the fights?


    It seemed way too childish.


    As he opened the car door, he found someone already waiting at the door.


    ¡°Who are you two?¡± the man approached and asked.


    Old Luo took out two invitations from his pocket and said, ¡°We are here to maintain order.


    The Li Family Patriarch from Sunan entrusted me, so he sent me, this old man, and this is Comrade Song Yun from the National Security Bureau.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so this is Comrade Song Yun?


    You look remarkably young and promising.


    I hope you¡¯ll take good care of my business in the future,¡± the man said humbly, then took out a box of exclusive Zhongnanhai cigarettes and handed it to them.


    ¡°I heard that the contest for the Dragon Elephant List in a couple of days is going to be fierce.


    If a major incident occurs, I hope you two can control the whole venue to prevent my place from being affected.¡±


    ¡°Logically, since the Dragon Elephant List contest is a grand event organized by the state, how can anyone cause trouble at this time?¡± Old Luo commented, who apparently came from the Martial World himself and had his life saved by Mr.


    Li years ago and now, contented, served as a steward for the Li family.


    ¡°Yours truly may not know that last year¡¯s contest was in Tian Nan City, right next to ours.


    They say two competitors got furious and nearly destroyed the venue.


    A respected old-timer finally subdued them, but the place was ruined.


    Repairs and closure caused the owner a loss of millions.


    My place is the entire family¡¯s livelihood; I can¡¯t afford to be like the last one,¡± the young man explained.


    Song Yun inwardly cursed, thinking, ¡®You¡¯re handing out exclusive cigarettes, and you still claim this nightclub is your family¡¯s livelihood?


    Hosting the Dragon Elephant List must mean you have considerable power at home, yet here you are pretending to be poor.¡¯


    ¡°In fact, half of these state-organized events are opportunities for these experts to seek revenge.


    It¡¯s a chance for those with grudges to settle scores.


    Outside, they can¡¯t genuinely fight with real weapons, but here, all techniques are permitted, which is why each venue ends up damaged,¡± the young man elaborated.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and check out the venue to be prepared in case a real conflict arises,¡± Song Yun suggested casually.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go inside, Xiao Wang, you stay outside and coordinate with the other staff,¡± Luo said as he led the two esteemed guests to familiarize themselves with the venue.


    Upon entering, Song Yun indeed found it to be a busy nightclub, teeming with lively crowds.


    Walking just a short distance inside, he even spotted several lesbian couples cuddling and kissing in corners¡ªa lovely sight of woman to woman affection.


    After a long chat, Song Yun finally learned that this young man¡¯s name was Wang Ba, whose father was a department head in the organization¡ªit¡¯s no wonder he managed to arrange this Dragon Elephant List contest here.


    They approached an elevator guarded by two men in black.


    Wang Ba didn¡¯t rush to press any floor buttons but lifted the emergency alarm system, entered several passwords, and then a fingerprint verifier appeared.


    After verification, a hidden compartment popped open, revealing three floor options; he selected the minus three level, and the elevator slowly descended.


    Seeing the confusion on Song Yun¡¯s face, Wang Ba explained, ¡°To prevent this competition from being exploited by malicious individuals, we¡¯ve taken meticulous measures in security.


    If any step had been slightly wrong just now, the elevator would immediately lock down, and four machine guns would open fire from all angles¡ªthree hundred sixty-five degrees, with no blind spots.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really going all out for this competition, huh?


    If someone presses the wrong button, they¡¯d be dead for sure,¡± Song Yun couldn¡¯t help but shiver as he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s better to mistakenly kill ten thousand than to let one culprit go.


    Since ancient times, heroes have been banned by weapons.


    It¡¯s better to be more secure,¡± Luo wholeheartedly agreed with Wang Ba¡¯s approach and praised, ¡°It seems you¡¯ve really put your heart into this session.¡±


    ¡°You flatter me too much,¡± Wang Ba said, touching the back of his head and smiling bashfully.


    When they reached the underground competition venue, Wang Ba led the way, explaining, ¡°All the materials here are aerospace-grade, with top-notch soundproofing and shock resistance.


    Even if several grenades were to explode here, there¡¯d be no vibration felt, and no sound would reach the surface.¡±


    ¡°Then these two identity badges, I hope you two can keep them safe; you really must keep them safe,¡± Wang Ba said sternly, as if losing them meant losing their lives.


    ¡°Are these badges really useful?


    If the competitors are blinded by rage, how could they possibly check your badge before deciding whether to kill you or not?¡± Song Yun asked.


    ¡°Hey, with this identity badge, you two are like inspectors representing the state.


    Who would dare not show respect?


    I¡¯m not bragging, but even if those experts lose their tempers, they¡¯d have to check if you¡¯re wearing the badges before making a move,¡± Wang Ba said gleefully.


    After touring several venues, Song Yun saw an old Taoist in a worn Daoist robe singing on a bench.


    As soon as the Taoist saw the identity badge on Song Yun¡¯s neck, he leaped up, rushed over, and, standing firmly in front of Song Yun, carefully wiped his hand on his robe before extending it with a smile, ¡°Young sir, are you a big shot from the National Security Bureau?¡±

 Chapter 32 - 32 31 Two Tiger Generals

    ?32: Chapter 31 Two Tiger Generals 32: Chapter 31 Two Tiger Generals ¡°Although I¡¯m not a big shot, I¡¯ve been sent from above to oversee this competition,¡± Song Yun said with a smile.


    ¡°Ah, but that makes you a big shot!


    Seeing ¡®Special Envoy¡¯ written on your badge really carries an air of authority.


    This humble Taoist knows a bit of the mysterious and divinatory arts.


    Would you like me to tell your fortune?¡± Old Luo said with a grin, his gaze on Song Yun like a fox eyeing a roasted chicken.


    Seeing the puzzled look on Song Yun¡¯s face, Wang Ba stepped forward and whispered to him, ¡°This participant arrived a few days early, but I still need to take good care of him.¡±


    After observing him for a long time and finally confirming that he was indeed a participant, Song Yun said, ¡°You should go and rest for now to save your strength for the competition in a few days.


    As for the things you might want to calculate, you wouldn¡¯t be able to.¡±


    ¡°Impossible, I am ranked eighth on the Dragon List.


    I know the future for the next five hundred years and the history of the past five hundred years.


    Tell me, what is it that you want to calculate?¡± Old Luo said indignantly.


    Song Yun took another good look at Old Luo.


    Other than looking a bit disreputable, there was nothing remarkable about him; he certainly did not exude the aura of a mystical Taoist.


    His Daoist robe was loose and sloppy, which only added to the aversion Song Yun felt.


    Overall, the man seemed like a charlatan from the Martial World.


    Song Yun could hardly believe that such a person was actually ranked eighth on the Dragon List.


    ¡°Since you insist, why not try to predict my future?¡± Song Yun said with a sneer.


    ¡°That¡¯s easy, let me calculate it for you,¡± Old Luo said cheerfully, clapping his hands.


    Old Luo, quite unabashed, sat down next to Song Yun, mumbling to himself while his thumb moved continuously over his other four fingers.


    Seeing this, Song Yun moved a bit farther away from Old Luo; who knew if this bastard would lose his temper and attack him if his calculations were inaccurate.


    ¡°Ah, your life is really full of trials and tribulations.


    You even have an impending disaster involving blood in the near future.


    This...


    well,¡± Old Luo rubbed his fingers continuously, even a fool would know it was now time to give money.


    ¡°What else?¡± Song Yun asked with a light smile.


    ¡°Such heavenly secrets should not be divulged.


    You better take care of yourself these days,¡± Old Luo said with a sheepish smile when he saw he couldn¡¯t coax any money from Song Yun.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t make your predictions clear today, I will use my authority as a special agent of the National Security Bureau to cancel your competition qualifications and charge you with the crime of challenging the dignity of the state with superstitions,¡± Song Yun stated calmly.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do that, sir!


    I have young and old to care for.


    I¡¯ve learned this skill only with great difficulty; you can¡¯t just cancel my qualification,¡± Old Luo grabbed Song Yun, rubbing his tears and snot on him.


    Suppressing the urge to kick him away, Song Yun said, ¡°Then tell me what else you have figured out?¡±


    Old Luo slurped up the snot hanging from his nose and said, ¡°Actually, your fate is very difficult to calculate.


    It¡¯s the kind of divination result that diviners least want to see.¡±


    ¡°Oh?


    What else?¡±


    ¡°When I calculated, I only saw flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water¡ªseemingly within reach, yet untouchable, utterly unclear and confusing,¡± Old Luo explained.


    ¡°Forget it, forget it.


    Since you¡¯ve spoken so earnestly, I won¡¯t cancel your qualification.


    You go and rest.


    I need some quiet time,¡± Song Yun said, frowning.


    After familiarizing himself with the competition venue, Song Yun and Old Luo left the nightclub.


    Old Luo, seeing Song Yun¡¯s worried look, couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?


    Did that old Taoist¡¯s words scare you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it.


    His prediction was quite accurate.


    A long time ago, the head of Wudang Mountain had told me similar things,¡± Song Yun shrugged and said, ¡°Only heaven knows what my fate is.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a young man; why do you speak as if you¡¯re as old as I am?


    Bring some vigor into your life.


    Don¡¯t always appear so gloomy and deep; it¡¯s not good for your future,¡± Old Luo patted Song Yun¡¯s shoulder and said.


    ¡°Ha ha ha, you don¡¯t need to comfort me.


    I¡¯m not good at many things, but I certainly don¡¯t believe in fate,¡± Song Yun said playfully.


    ¡°That¡¯s good.


    Forgive this old man for asking, but how are things going between you and your lady?¡± Old Luo asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows and a chuckle.


    Ah, this old man is also incorrigible.


    Song Yun hadn¡¯t even replied when his phone rang.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Black Flood Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Your two assistants have arrived, and they¡¯ve been fussing and asking to see you.


    I¡¯m getting a headache from all their noise,¡± Black Flood Dragon sighed on the other end.


    ¡°Oh?


    Who came?


    They must be quite a handful to have you in such a state,¡± Song Yun asked, intrigued.


    ¡°Your second brother, Li Tang, and your third brother, Zhao Yan.


    Big brother, I beg you, please take them off my hands.


    I really can¡¯t stand another second with them.


    Your second brother, Li Tang, is just TMD like a fortune teller.


    If I want to hit him, he says he¡¯ll summon spirits to deal with me.


    My goodness, hey, Zhao Yan, dammit, don¡¯t snatch the phone from me.¡±


    Song Yun listened and couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    Good, the old man was truly his own master, as close as could be, sending him two capable generals directly.


    It seemed his good days were just around the corner.


    ¡°Hello, hello, hello, big brother, where are you now?


    It¡¯s all second brother¡¯s fault.


    We had a plane but he insisted on showing off here, saying he could locate you with a Compass.


    Damn, we circled half the globe before finding this place,¡± Zhao Yan complained indignantly.


    ¡°Ha ha, it¡¯s great that you two arrived.


    Come to the base tonight, and I¡¯ll treat you to dinner,¡± Song Yun said with a smile, lighting a cigarette.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll see you later, he he.


    I heard from Black Flood Dragon that you got engaged recently.


    You even got in a fury for your belle a few days ago,¡± Zhao Yan teased.


    ¡°Get lost, you rascal.


    You¡¯re always scheming.


    I¡¯m telling you, she¡¯s not easy to fool.


    You better not try to cozy up to her; I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t be able to resist hitting you,¡± Song Yun joked with a laugh.


    ¡°Alright, see you at the base later.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Song Yun drew in a long breath, spirited and buoyant.


    The one who had just been speaking was his third brother, who had learned finance from a young financier, mastering everything from minor financial fraud to major transnational financial scams, thus becoming unbeatable in financial warfare.


    After defrauding his mentor¡¯s company severely, he joined Song Yun¡¯s mercenary group to handle logistics.


    With him around, Song Yun surely wouldn¡¯t lack money.


    As for the second brother, Li Tang, about whom Black Flood Dragon spoke with such exasperation, he had been sent to Wudang¡¯s Yimei Dao from a young age by the old man.


    Spending his days reciting incomprehensible phrases with a group of old men, he was known in the Martial World as the foremost diviner, said to possess insight beyond both heaven and earth, truly a grandmaster of the Yimei Dao.

 Chapter 33 - 33 32 The Eventful Autumn

    ?33: Chapter 32 The Eventful Autumn 33: Chapter 32 The Eventful Autumn Song Yun had intended to go by himself, but after Old Luo heard that Song Yun wasn¡¯t coming back for dinner that evening, he insisted on having him bring that little girl Li Shishi along, saying young people should connect more and develop their feelings for each other.


    If Song Yun hadn¡¯t known that Li Shishi had a dear grandfather, he would have thought she was Old Luo¡¯s granddaughter.


    Left with no choice, Song Yun gave Li Shishi a call.


    He initially thought that the little girl, with her personality, would definitely refuse, but surprisingly, not only did Li Shishi agree immediately, but she also asked where Song Yun was at that moment so she could come and pick him up.


    Old Luo seemed as if he had heard Li Shishi¡¯s words on the phone.


    He looked at Song Yun with a gratified expression of an elder, as satisfied as one could possibly be.


    Old Luo left first, still needing to go back to discuss with Mr.


    Li the competition taking place in a couple of days.


    As for Song Yun, he had no choice but to squat at the nightclub entrance, idly killing time by smoking.


    ¡°Hey, you, the beggar squatting over there, get in the car.¡± Suddenly, a Bentley pulled up not far away, and with the car window rolling down, Li Shishi¡¯s face appeared, shouting at Song Yun.


    This left the nightclub¡¯s security guards and the ducks trying to solicit business dumbfounded.


    How could such a pretty and wealthy girl call over an ordinary guy who had been squatting at the entrance, smoking ten yuan cigarettes, to get in her car?


    Especially the male prostitutes, each stared at Li Shishi, stunned.


    How could such a pretty girl take a fancy to this man?


    Even if they had to pay to spend a night with her, they would do it.


    What could she possibly see in him?


    Even though Song Yun had thick skin, he couldn¡¯t handle the gazes of so many male compatriots who seemed to want to throttle him.


    He had no choice but to beat a hasty retreat and hurriedly get into the car.


    ¡°What shall we eat tonight?¡± Li Shishi sat upright in the seat like a proper lady.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to a hot pot restaurant at the end of East City Road,¡± Song Yun didn¡¯t pay attention to Li Shishi.


    He told the driver the address and then closed his eyes to rest.


    ¡°Oh, East City Road?


    It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been there.


    Such a remote place has good food?¡± Li Shishi asked suspiciously.


    ¡°It¡¯s also one of my strongholds in Sunan.


    Today I¡¯m treating two of my brothers to welcome them, so picking that spot is perfect.¡±


    ¡°What place is this mysterious?


    A stronghold in Sunan?


    Could it be that these strongholds are all over the country?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, indeed, this stronghold is a gathering place for an organization.


    It¡¯s usually just a place for business, but underneath, there are indeed illegal deals going on,¡± Song Yun said with a smile.


    ¡°Miss Li Shishi, anything else you want to ask?


    If not, may I please shut my eyes and think for a bit?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, as if you have anything to think about.


    Your mind is probably full of sleazy thoughts,¡± Li Shishi said disdainfully, but she didn¡¯t disturb Song Yun and kept looking out the window at the scenery.


    When they reached the end of East City Road, Song Yun and Li Shishi approached a nondescript little hot pot restaurant.


    The secluded restaurant was surprisingly packed with people.


    After looking around with Li Shishi, they found there were no seats available.


    Song Yun had no choice but to say to the waiter, ¡°Is Xie Xing here?


    Tell him to come see me.¡±


    The waiter looked at him unpleasantly.


    The usual practice for those who came to find the boss here was to sneak around secretly, but this guy was yelling his name out loud right from the start.


    Although puzzled, the waiter went inside to look for the person in charge.


    ¡°Who are you, and what do you want with our boss?¡± The moment he heard this, Song Yun felt unhappy.


    I¡¯m asking for your boss, and you send me a lackey?


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for your boss.


    Tell him to come out and see me,¡± Song Yun¡¯s tone was already a bit heated.


    Recently, he had been led by the nose every day, and Song Yun had been holding back his anger without any outlet.


    Today, seeing this person in charge acting all high and mighty, Song Yun really wanted to kick him.


    ¡°I¡¯m talking to you.


    Who are you, and what do you want with our boss?¡±


    Song Yun took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, ¡°I¡¯m a friend of your boss.


    Tell him to come out and see me.¡±


    ¡°Song Yun, why don¡¯t we go somewhere else to eat?¡± Li Shishi pulled on Song Yun¡¯s sleeve and whispered.


    It was obvious that she was still a bit worried about him, especially after the frightening scene of him fainting in the yard a couple of days ago.


    ¡°We¡¯ll eat here today; don¡¯t worry, their boss is indeed my friend.¡±


    Seeing the guy still wanted to mess around, Song Yun couldn¡¯t contain the anger in his chest anymore; in a fit of rage, he slapped the table in front of him, breaking it into two halves.


    The man saw this and thought, what the hell?


    This must be someone looking to smash up the place.


    He took out a button from his pocket and pressed it.


    In no time, a dozen young lads with sticks and cleavers rushed out from an inner room.


    The one with dyed yellow hair respectfully passed a cigarette to the man in charge and lit it for him, saying, ¡°Brother Five, who¡¯s the blind fool making trouble in our spot?


    Let little Huang take care of him.¡±


    The man known as Brother Five glanced at the diners with an apologetic tone, ¡°Sorry everyone, got some matters to settle here.


    I¡¯ll cover your meal today, but we need to clear out, so I hope you¡¯ll leave quickly.


    I wouldn¡¯t want anyone to get hurt from the action.¡±


    The customers, realizing Brother Five was serious, scattered faster than anyone.


    Song Yun picked up a chair, looked on coldly at everything unfolding before him, and casually took out a cigarette from his pocket, smoking as if he had no involvement in the affair.


    Brother Five, seeing his relaxed demeanor, blew his top and berated Song Yun, ¡°Young man, if you leave now, I assure you that not a hair on your head will be touched.


    Otherwise, I can¡¯t guarantee you¡¯ll leave in one piece.¡±


    Song Yun stood up, loosened his muscles¡ªhaving not fought in a long time, his body creaked and popped¡ª¡±Young man?


    Heh, if you were to figure out our seniority, your boss would have to call me elder master uncle, how laughable.


    If you¡¯re going to fight, stop talking and come at me.¡±


    Little Huang Mao was Brother Five¡¯s right-hand man, and upon hearing Song Yun insult Brother Five, he was the first to charge with a knife, slashing straight at Song Yun¡¯s face.


    Seeing Song Yun motionless, Huang Mao sneered contemptuously, thinking I¡¯ll chop you dead, fool.


    Brother Five will surely reward me, and that little bitch behind you will be mine to play with.


    Seeing Huang Mao¡¯s lewd smirk and the way his eyes occasionally glanced at Li Shishi, Song Yun knew exactly what he was thinking.


    What¡¯s wrong with men nowadays, all brains driven by lust?


    Daring to have designs on anyone, if I don¡¯t beat this bastard to hospitalization today, I¡¯ll write my name Song backwards.


    He shifted back slightly, letting Huang Mao swing at air, and due to inertia, Huang Mao fell into Song Yun¡¯s embrace.


    Having practiced Baji Fist with the old man since he was a child, seeing Huang Mao barge into his arms, Song Yun used a shoulder throw to send Huang Mao flying.


    Huang Mao, who had been fantasizing seconds ago about the beauty begging beneath him, felt like he had been hit by a car as he went flying through the air.

 Chapter 34 - 34 33 Talk the Talk Fight the Fight

    ?34: Chapter 33 Talk the Talk, Fight the Fight 34: Chapter 33 Talk the Talk, Fight the Fight ¡°Ow, ow.¡± Huang Mao now lacked even the strength to speak; all he could do was groan intermittently to ease the pain inflicted by Song Yun.


    Brother Five was startled and looked at him, thinking to himself how such a slim young man could have such explosive power.


    Brother Five crouched down and prodded Huang Mao¡¯s wound, which elicited a round of complaints from Huang Mao, but deep down, Brother Five felt a chill; oh no, Huang Mao¡¯s shoulder and collarbone were completely shattered, and he could no longer feel one of the bones¡ªit was probably crushed into powder.


    At this thought, Brother Five¡¯s heart started pounding; what kind of terrifying force would it take to do that to Huang Mao¡¯s bones, the hardest substance in the body?


    Brother Five began to reassess Song Yun, only to see him looking back with a relaxed face, prompting him to hastily exclaim, ¡°Young man, the things I said earlier were a bit rash; I hope you don¡¯t take them to heart.


    Let¡¯s just leave things as they are.


    If you ever mention my name, Brother Five, outside, there will still be people who give you some respect.


    But if that¡¯s not acceptable, then do not blame us for being ruthless.¡±


    ¡°When I first arrived, I said I wanted to see your boss.


    You didn¡¯t call him for me, and now all this trouble is your fault.


    Besides, if it had taken a few more minutes, your injured brother would definitely have lost his hand,¡± Song Yun said seriously to Brother Five.


    A slap to his head made Brother Five recall Huang Mao¡¯s injury and he urgently instructed his underlings to call for an ambulance.


    He checked Huang Mao¡¯s breath and found it weak, with less intake than output, which made him very anxious.


    Seeing Brother Five clenching his teeth as if he wished the ambulance would arrive faster, Song Yun thought maybe this guy wasn¡¯t so bad after all, at least he cared about his brothers.


    To be a leader like that is not too shabby.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, let me take a look.


    I learned some first aid when I was young.


    Although I can¡¯t guarantee he¡¯ll last for hours, I can buy him tens of minutes.¡±


    Hearing Song Yun¡¯s words was like a ray of sunlight piercing the darkness for Brother Five, and he suddenly saw a glimmer of hope, ¡°If you can save him, I, Xiao Wu, swear that all grievances today will be put aside.¡±


    Now that he needed help, Brother Five dared not call himself the brother, but there were still discontent voices among the crowd behind him.


    Song Yun wasn¡¯t in a hurry and just sat down, legs crossed, watching their infighting.


    ¡°To save or not to save, it¡¯s up to you.


    If you say save, then I¡¯ll save.


    If not, I¡¯ll turn around and leave right now.¡± Seeing Song Yun¡¯s nonchalant manner, Brother Five instantly became desperate and yelled at the crowd behind him, ¡°Shut the hell up!


    What¡¯s more important, vengeance or Huang Mao¡¯s life?


    If anyone dares to keep yapping and disrupt the rescue, I¡¯ll be the first to chop him down.¡±


    The crowd immediately fell silent; no one dared to utter another word.


    Song Yun stood up and shook out his hands, pressing specific acupoints on Huang Mao¡¯s ¡°Sea of Blood,¡± ¡°Dan Zhong,¡± and ¡°Yin Channel.¡±


    In less time than it takes to smoke a cigarette, the amount of blood flowing from Huang Mao lessened.


    Song Yun wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, ¡°Fortunately, there¡¯s been no major hemorrhage; otherwise, not even a celestial being could save him.¡±


    With his formidable martial prowess and medical skills, Brother Five felt relief and was glad that no large-scale brawl had broken out, otherwise, his own men would not have been enough for Song Yun to warm up!


    Brother Five checked Huang Mao¡¯s breathing again and found that the bleeding had stopped and his breath had stabilized.


    Seeing this made Brother Five eager to get on Song Yun¡¯s good side, ¡°Young brother, thank you for saving Huang Mao.


    On his behalf, I say he owes you his life.¡±


    ¡°No need.


    Just have your boss come see me quickly; otherwise, there¡¯s nothing to discuss.¡± Upon hearing this, Brother Five became disheartened; his own boss was as elusive as a dragon, vanishing without a trace.


    Who knew where he had gone off to.


    ¡°Ai ya yi, Song Yun you little bugger, you come here without a word, and you turn my restaurant into such a mess, careful I tattle to your old man!¡±


    Hearing this voice with a touch of frivolity yet an air of righteousness, Song Yun stood up, lifted the chair he was sitting on like a soccer player flicking a ball, turned around, and kicked the chair away.


    Brother Five saw this and felt out of his depth.


    Who would just start brawling upon arrival¡ªit was almost more thuggish than the mafia.


    With a thud, the chair crashed into the figure behind the scenes, kicking up a cloud of dust.


    ¡°Pfft...cough cough, dammit Song Yun, not only did you wreck my place, but now you¡¯re attacking me too?¡± the backstage boss waved his sleeve, dispersing dust denser than Beijing smog.


    ¡°Xie Xing, oh Xie Xing, you¡¯ve really grown some guts.


    When I was fighting your underlings outside just now, did you enjoy the show from afar?


    And you accuse me of wrecking your place; I¡¯m almost inclined to tear it down, and you still want to tattle?


    Have you no more ambition than this?¡± Song Yun squinted his eyes, emitting a glint of cold light as he spoke icily.


    This toppled Brother Five¡¯s worldview; it turned out that everything the young man said was true.


    That meant he was several ranks below him, and such presumptuous behavior might earn him a tongue-lashing from the boss, which made Brother Five sweat profusely.


    ¡°Lil¡¯ Brother, shouldn¡¯t you be sobbing and clinging to my leg, exclaiming how long it¡¯s been since we last met?¡± Song Yun shamelessly said.


    ¡°What ¡®lil¡¯ brother¡¯?


    What ¡®big brother¡¯?


    These are just childhood titles, okay?


    Just because my master is a generation below your master, you can¡¯t ridicule me like this,¡± Xie Xing glared at Song Yun, frustrated and embarrassed, thinking how this jerk had brought up such things in front of his own men.


    Even though nobody was talking now, wouldn¡¯t they die laughing later?


    ¡°If I took it seriously, I would make you call me ¡®Uncle Master,''¡± Song Yun couldn¡¯t be bothered to bicker with Xie Xing.


    He stepped on Brother Five¡¯s shoulder, using it as leverage to fly towards Xie Xing, and with a tight leg, delivered a flying kick to Xie Xing¡¯s chest.


    The victim, Xie Xing, did not dare to underestimate him and swiftly rolled away like a donkey, avoiding the attack.


    Song Yun¡¯s mid-air move was executed with a speed no ordinary person could match.


    With a roar of ¡°Tiger Pounce,¡± everyone felt their eardrums buzz.


    Taking advantage of Xie Xing¡¯s distraction and exposed weakness, Song Yun pinned him down again, the scene was so unsightly it made Li Shishi, a girl, blush.


    Song Yun snapped to his feet, and threw a punch towards Xie Xing¡¯s face.


    Xie Xing quickly rolled over, dodging the attack, and his punch hit nothing but air.


    Song Yun looked at Xie Xing with a smile and teased, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, are you annoyed that I didn¡¯t come to find you as soon as I arrived in Sunan?


    How can a big man like you always be whining like a woman?


    I¡¯ve been so busy recently; I had no time to come and drink with you.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, as soon as you come today, it¡¯s nothing but trouble,¡± Xie Xing dusted himself off and from his pocket produced a crushed pack of Hongta Mountain cigarettes and offered one to Song Yun.

 Chapter 35 - 35 34 Country Bumpkin Song Yun

    ?35: Chapter 34: Country Bumpkin Song Yun 35: Chapter 34: Country Bumpkin Song Yun Brother Xing and Brother Song were causing a ruckus just now, and only then did Li Shishi get a good look at Brother Xing¡¯s true face¡ªa towering man, standing six feet, just as lean as Song Yun.


    A scar from the corner of his eye stretched halfway across his face, but it didn¡¯t detract from his charm; rather, it added a wild allure, making him, as Song Yun once said to others, truly beautiful, with a face that could even make women feel ashamed, smooth skin, and somewhat long hair that could be dressed in women¡¯s clothes and go out to attract clients.


    ¡°Today, I¡¯ve fought two battles in your place, what do you say we do about that?¡± Song Yun shamelessly smoked Brother Xing¡¯s cigarette, sat on his stool, and questioned him.


    ¡°You have the nerve to bring that up?


    You smashed up my shop!


    You owe me money,¡± Brother Xing felt a wave of helplessness, thinking about what a bastard, a jerk, a scoundrel he was dealing with.


    ¡°No money, you know all my money is controlled by the old man, even my latest card got frozen by him,¡± Song Yun spread his hands in a ruffian manner, making everyone see that he was indeed a rogue!


    ¡°Never mind, you¡¯re just a miser.


    Trying to pluck hair from you is harder than reaching the heavens,¡± Brother Xing sighed helplessly, speaking of bad company.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry, go get me something to eat.


    What¡¯s that special dish your restaurant has?


    What¡¯s it called?¡± Song Yun racked his brain but couldn¡¯t recall what that hotpot was called.


    ¡°Bro, are you talking about the big kidney dish?¡± Brother Five no longer dared to show off in front of Song Yun, hurrying forward to call him.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it, the big kidney hotpot.


    Little Xingxing, go make it for me,¡± he ordered Brother Xing arrogantly, causing those around them to deeply feel that Brother Xing was truly unlucky in his acquaintances.


    ¡°Brother Xing, let me go instead.


    You chat with him,¡± Brother Five acted obediently in front of the two, which was a stark contrast to his earlier behavior.


    Brother Xing nodded, waved his hands to have his underlings clean up the mess on the floor, and led Song Yun and his group to a private room.


    ¡°Ah, this private room isn¡¯t bad at all.


    I heard you don¡¯t let ordinary folks in here, but you¡¯ve opened it up for me today¡ªa nice gesture.


    And look, there¡¯s even a painting, oh, goldfish too,¡± Song Yun looked around like a country bumpkin entering the city.


    ¡°Cough cough, what made you think of coming here today?¡± Brother Xing laid back lazily in his chair, smoking from a crushed pack of Hongtashan.


    Smacking his head, Song Yun explained, ¡°Right, today Li Tang and Zhao Yan came over.


    The old man sent them both to help me in Sunan.¡± As soon as his words fell, the noise outside began again¡ªSong Yun knew by the sound that the two scoundrels had arrived.


    Not long after, Brother Five scurried in saying, ¡°Two folks outside are making a fuss, looking for Brother Song.¡±


    ¡°Let them in, they¡¯re our own people.¡± Song Yun waved his hand, and Brother Five scurried out again.


    With a loud ¡°bang!¡±, the door was kicked open, and a tall, robust man holding an Eight Diagram entered, followed by a delicate scholar.


    ¡°You two rascals are here?¡± Clearly, the robust man was Divine Calculator Li Tang, and the delicate scholar was economic expert Zhao Yan.


    Upon seeing Song Yun, Li Tang pounced but had no such hobbies as hinted; a kick aimed at his stomach missed as Li Tang flipped backward, dodging the kick, and stood grinning foolishly.


    ¡°Big brother, long time no see,¡± Li Tang was more normal this time and gave Song Yun a bear hug.


    ¡°Hehe big brother, this must be your wife, right?


    She¡¯s truly graceful and exquisite, a beauty that surpasses all, as heavenly as a fairy, as mesmerizing as Luoshen...¡± before Zhao Yan could finish, Song Yun slapped him.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Black Flood Dragon?


    How come I haven¡¯t seen him?¡± Song Yun ignored Zhao Yan¡¯s grievously resentful look and asked Li Tang.


    ¡°Black Flood Dragon said he had something tonight and needed to deal with it.


    He mentioned that we¡¯d have lots of time together later and can catch up then,¡± Li Tang grinned foolishly.


    After getting them settled, Song Yun continued examining everything in the room, occasionally drooling.


    Li Shishi¡¯s face had already turned crimson red, internally despising Song Yun¡¯s bumpkin-like behavior.


    However, the others seemed to have gotten used to it, letting him fiddle around.


    ¡°Song Yun definitely just...


    hasn¡¯t seen so many good things before, that¡¯s why he¡¯s looking over them,¡± Li Shishi defended Song Yun.


    If looks could kill, Song Yun would have been slain countless times by now, subjected to all manners of torturous deaths through her gaze, but the others merely looked unbothered.


    ¡°Girl, I¡¯ve been used to this beast¡¯s antics for ages; he always comes to swipe something.


    You think he¡¯s just playing?


    Big mistake, he¡¯s checking out which item is valuable, thinking about how to swipe it,¡± Brother Xing said, glancing at Song Yun.


    ¡°How dare you, who are you calling ¡®girl¡¯?


    Call me Aunt,¡± Song Yun dismissed disdainfully.


    ¡°Consider this painting a gift for meeting your Aunt, you don¡¯t need to thank me for giving you this painting¡ªit¡¯s the least I could do.¡±


    That said, he withdrew a painting from the wall, rolled it up, and stuffed it into Li Shishi¡¯s arms.


    Li Shishi was stunned; how shameless Song Yun was!


    But still, she unrolled the painting, simple in style yet not lacking a serious classical flair, and at the bottom was signed with two prominent characters ¡°Tang Yin¡± with a seal.


    Although Li Shishi was not an expert in antiques, the name Tang Yin already alarmed her¡ªgod knows how much his paintings have sky-rocketed in the last two years.


    ¡°This painting is too precious.


    I...


    I can¡¯t accept it,¡± she looked at the painting, not knowing its exact worth, but sure it wasn¡¯t cheap.


    ¡°Oh man, kid, you really dug out the most valuable painting in the house.


    Well, since it¡¯s given to you, your wife...


    just keep it, and if anything I¡¯ll have this scoundrel reimburse me later.¡±


    ¡°My god, isn¡¯t this Tang Yin¡¯s ¡®Evening Breeze Fish Boat¡¯ picture?


    I saw it at an auction last time, didn¡¯t manage to buy it, and never thought it¡¯d be in your possession!¡± Li Tang covered his mouth, admiring the painting.


    Having studied divination and classical subjects since childhood, Li Tang naturally appreciated famous and traditional scripts and paintings, and seeing this painting unsettled him today.


    ¡°Hehe, Little Xingxing, how about taking me to see your treasure trove next time?


    I can appraise antiques for free, you know,¡± Song Yun shamelessly proposed.


    ¡°Just bugger off, the farther you are from me, the safer my treasures will be!¡±

 Chapter 36 - 36 35 Innocence Again Befallen

    ?36: Chapter 35 Innocence Again Befallen 36: Chapter 35 Innocence Again Befallen ¡°Thud, thud, thud,¡± Brother Five knocked on the door, carrying in a large pot which immediately filled the room with a delicious aroma, overpowering the entire house.


    Brother Five bowed slightly and left, not forgetting to leave behind a few bottles of liquor.


    ¡°Ahem, ahem, before we eat, let me introduce everyone.


    This is Xie Xing, he¡¯s into some underground dealings.


    This beauty here is Li Shishi, a genius and CEO, and over here, always with a silly smile, is Li Tang, a deceitful Taoist.


    And the fast-talking financial wizard, Zhao Yan, can only be described as an economist,¡± Song Yun chuckled.


    Li Shishi, true to her enduring reputation in the business world, quickly warmed up to the others and soon everyone was lively and chatter filled the air.


    ¡°Song Yun, I admit I can¡¯t beat you in a fight, but drinking?


    Hahaha, today either you lie down or you¡¯re not leaving,¡± Xie Xing said as he picked up a bottle of Baijiu and slightly twisted the cap off, the fragrance of alcohol immediately hit them.


    Song Yun picked up the bottle, smelled it, and laughed heartily.


    ¡°Are you dumb?


    This liquor has been stored for many years.


    Most of the alcohol has probably evaporated, leaving only the original scent of the liquor.


    You think you can get me drunk with this?


    Humph, no way.¡±


    As Xie Xing listened seriously, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh and lifted the tablecloth to reveal stacks of beer and several bottles of foreign alcohol hidden underneath.


    Song Yun, alarmed, clutched his chest.


    ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of taking advantage when I¡¯m drunk, are you?¡±


    Song Yun¡¯s words shocked everyone.


    Xie Xing nearly spat blood, ¡°Cough, cough, damn it, you jerk.


    Hanging out with you will be the death of me one day!¡±


    He rubbed his head, smiling cheekily.


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak so highly of me; I might just get worse.¡± Xie Xing was utterly defeated in this battle.


    Li Shishi had barely touched alcohol her entire life, so the sight of all that booze made her feel dizzy.


    Song Yun and Li Shishi, high in spirits, missed Ye Mei¡¯s expression; otherwise, they would have gotten her a drink.


    But since their childhood, the two were always at odds¡ªone trying to best the other and one trying to maintain his dominant position by trampling the other¡ªso they ignored everyone else.


    ¡°Humph, no need for more words, if you want to beat me, keep dreaming,¡± said Song Yun as he poured two shots, gulping one himself and handing the other to Xie Xing.


    Xie Xing, taking the glass, did not hesitate, drank it down heartily.


    Their pace of drinking shocked Li Shishi; the dishes hadn¡¯t even been touched and already a bottle of Baijiu was down.


    The two main players were now red-eyed and neither was willing to concede; beers from under the table were being taken out bunch by bunch, clinking and clanking, while Li Shishi played the role of a little greedy cat, continuously reaching for the hotpot with her chopsticks.


    ¡°Uh, this hotpot is really delicious, and the side dishes are amazing too,¡± said Li Shishi, a food lover who never gains weight, indisputably seduced by the delicious food.


    Nearby, Li Tang and Zhao Yan soon lost their calm as Song Yun and Xie Xing turned their attention on them.


    They reluctantly joined the fray.


    Later, even Li Shishi, who had been focused on the hotpot, was pulled into the drinking.


    She sipped from her glass, her face contorting, ¡°Ptooey, ptooey, this liquor tastes awful.¡±


    While Song Yun and Xie Xing were contending with alcohol consumption, Li Shishi wasn¡¯t idle either, clinking glasses now and then with Li Tang and the others, gradually getting used to the taste of beer.


    ¡°This beer tastes different from the one we had earlier.


    Could it be a different brand?¡± a tipsy Li Shishi asked, tilting her head.


    Taking advantage of Li Shishi¡¯s confusion, Xie Xing put his cup down and snuck a bite of the dish, ¡°No, no, no.


    This is original brew.


    The beer outside has been fermented, of course, it can¡¯t match the taste of the original brew.¡±


    Song Yun was opportunistic, quickly grabbing food with his chopsticks and stuffing half the pot of ingredients into his stomach while Xie Xing was distracted, thoroughly enjoying himself.


    But as he was relishing the food, Xie Xing grabbed him again and the two began another round of combat.


    By the end of the meal, Song Yun looking over his shoulder at Li Shishi lazily sprawled out, sighed helplessly, ¡°If you can¡¯t handle your drink, don¡¯t drink so much.


    If you get drunk, I¡¯ll have to carry you home.¡±


    Li Shishi mumbled and slapped his face, ¡°What?


    Giving you the honor of carrying me home, and you complain?


    If you won¡¯t, I have plenty of others who will.


    Just watch me call someone now.¡±


    Song Yun, tearfully, looked at the drunken Li Shishi, ¡°Madam, you¡¯re holding your phone upside down.¡±


    Li Shishi paused and then realized, ¡°Oh right, oh, sorry hehe.¡±


    Li Shishi giggled sweetly, and Song Yun snatched the phone from her hands and threw it into her bag.


    She was too drunk to notice, but her rosy cheeks sent his heart racing, especially as she leaned on him, her fragrance enveloping him, her soft curves pressing against him¡ªSong Yun shamelessly got excited.


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault for bringing so much alcohol, now I have to deal with it,¡± Song Yun glared at Xie Xing, who pretended to be drunk.


    Xie Xing flipped his hair back, showing no signs of his earlier drunkenness, ¡°You don¡¯t understand, this is called ¡®benefits.¡¯ Not like the time you egged me on to watch the sisters shower.


    Here¡¯s to an untraceable spring night.¡±


    As Xie Xing was about to say more, he saw that Song Yun¡¯s hand had already struck his neck, and everything went dark for him.


    Carrying the beauty, with his mind running wild, Song Yun bid farewell to the two other beasts grinning at him and, taking the opportunity, also snatched their credit cards, then hailed a cab back to the courtyard house.


    Once home, the little rascal, Li Shishi, became restless on his back, wriggling and occasionally brushing against his hand with her perky buttocks, which somewhat inflamed him.


    What Xie Xing had mentioned, Song Yun did consider.


    Although the two had shared a drunken night of intimacy previously¡ªresulting in years of resentment from Li Shishi, and if not for a coincidental kidnapping event, she probably would have sneaked into his room to stab him¡ªso, discussing such indecent matters should wait until they were both sober.


    Reflecting on his decision later, Song Yun felt it was incredibly wise.


    As the sun rose the next day, a loud scream came from Li Shishi¡¯s room.


    Song Yun, who was outside doing push-ups, rushed in immediately.


    ¡°Song Yun, see what you¡¯ve done!¡± Li Shishi burst from the bed and grabbed him, shaking him vigorously.


    ¡°What did I do?


    Oh, it¡¯s just a trifle, not worth mentioning,¡± Song Yun waved dismissively, not considering it a matter to be taken seriously.


    Li Shishi, pointing to a puddle of red on the bed and flipping his quilt, scolded, ¡°My innocence has been ruined by you again!¡±

 Chapter 37 - 37 36 A Request

    ?37: Chapter 36 A Request 37: Chapter 36 A Request He clearly didn¡¯t understand what the hell was going on, and followed the direction Li Shishi was pointing in.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he thought, ¡°why is there a pool of blood?¡± He looked at Li Shishi and realized she was only wearing a set of underwear, her large patches of fair skin catching Song Yun¡¯s eye.


    ¡°Bastard!¡± Li Shishi felt Song Yun¡¯s invasive gaze and quickly wrapped herself in a blanket.


    ¡°If you keep looking, I¡¯ll gouge out your eyeballs.¡±


    Song Yun shook his head and cast all the dirty thoughts from his mind, silently swallowing his saliva.


    He thought to himself that he hadn¡¯t done anything out of line when he came in last night, so why was there a pool of blood on the bed?


    Could it be that his animal instincts had taken over in the middle of the night?


    Thinking this made Song Yun break out in a cold sweat, but he quickly dismissed the thought.


    Blood, blood, that¡¯s right¡ªdon¡¯t women also bleed during their monthly cycles?


    Could it be that Li Shishi was on her period?


    ¡°Li Shishi, don¡¯t cry for a sec.


    Let me ask you¡ªwhen did your period start?¡± Song Yun asked cautiously, terrified that the answer wouldn¡¯t be what he hoped.


    ¡°It started on the 10th last month.


    What¡¯s it to you?


    Are you happy if I don¡¯t get my period?¡± Li Shishi glared at Song Yun several times as she spoke.


    Seeing that it was the 9th on his phone, he relaxed.


    Holy crap, that scared the shit out of me.


    It turned out to be Li Shishi¡¯s period after all.


    ¡°You...


    could you possibly be on your period?¡± Song Yun whispered.


    Hearing this, Li Shishi¡¯s anger started to subside, and she counted the days in her head, her face turning bright red.


    Her period was indeed due these days, so the blood on the bed was explained, but she had returned last night fully clothed, so how come this morning all she had on was her underwear?


    ¡°Indeed, I wronged you,¡± Li Shishi said, her index fingers poking each other, looking very aggrieved.


    Song Yun gave a bitter laugh and said, ¡°Thank goodness it was a misunderstanding, otherwise the thought of committing seppuku crossed my mind.¡±


    Li Shishi looked up with a red face and said, ¡°Then tell me, where are my clothes?


    Waking up naked after getting drunk the night before would make anyone explode, right?¡±


    ¡°Sister, you blame me but look at yourself.


    Do you know that when you came back last night, not only did you puke on yourself, but you also puked on me?


    Seriously, someone who can¡¯t handle their liquor insists on following us.


    It¡¯s not a big deal, puking on both of us; just wash the clothes.


    But in the middle of the night, you held onto me and pinned me underneath you, insisting on playing some queen game, and if you hadn¡¯t fallen asleep, who knows who would be crying now,¡± Song Yun ranted about Li Shishi¡¯s antics from the previous night.


    Li Shishi¡¯s face flushed, a wave of embarrassment rising in her heart, and she angrily kicked him.


    ¡°Knowing that it¡¯s my time of the month, you should be waiting on me hand and foot.


    Hurry up and go buy breakfast, and get me a pack of sanitary pads too.¡±


    ¡°There are sanitary pads at the convenience store at the door, and as for breakfast, I had it ready a long time ago, just waiting for you to wake up.


    Now get out of bed and freshen up,¡± Song Yun said in annoyance.


    But then, recollecting how he hadn¡¯t exactly behaved himself when Li Shishi climbed on top of him the night before, his irritation vanished.


    Luckily, he had phenomenal self-control; otherwise, today it wouldn¡¯t have been just a simple misunderstanding.


    After Li Shishi was properly dressed, Song Yun had already placed a hot breakfast on the table.


    Li Shishi ate her meal in small bites, lost in her own thoughts.


    ¡°Senior Brother Song?


    Oh, Sister Shishi is here too.


    Then I¡¯ll be going first,¡± Xiaoqing said as she came in.


    Upon seeing Li Shishi right away, she felt a bit uncomfortable, owing to her first impression.


    ¡°Xiaoqing, have you eaten yet?


    If not, have something here,¡± Song Yun said with a smile.


    ¡°No thanks, I just came today to ask a few questions about movements and breathing techniques.


    My business isn¡¯t urgent,¡± Xiaoqing said before hurriedly fleeing.


    Li Shishi gave Song Yun an odd look and said, ¡°Did you do something to scare that girl off?


    Why did she run off after just a few words?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not you who scared her like that?¡± Song Yun shot a glance back at Li Shishi and said, ¡°Walking in here with so many bodyguards on the very first day, you look like a mafia boss.


    No wonder anyone would be scared.¡±


    ¡°...Should I go explain then?¡±


    ¡°Forget it, the child¡¯s innocent; the more you explain, the more trouble you make.


    Let¡¯s find another time to talk about it,¡± Song Yun shrugged.


    After breakfast, Li Shishi surprisingly offered to wash the dishes.


    Watching her finish the three dishes and then break two of them, Song Yun suspected she had come just to make trouble.


    Although he was wealthier now, he couldn¡¯t afford such wastefulness.


    ¡°Um...


    can we discuss something?¡± Li Shishi asked, her face flushing, after washing the dishes.


    ¡°There we go, I was wondering why you were so proactive about dishwashing today¡ªit turns out you had an agenda.


    Speak up, as long as it¡¯s not too weird, I¡¯ll agree,¡± Song Yun replied, relieved to hear her words.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have many clothes left.


    Can you accompany me to buy a few pieces?¡± Li Shishi asked softly.


    ¡°Oh, I thought it was something else.


    Sure, let¡¯s go buy them now.¡±


    Once they were ready, Song Yun took her to the Sunan City shopping street.


    The moment Song Yun and Li Shishi stepped out of the car, the entire shopping street exploded with attention centered around the great beauty that was Li Shishi.


    Whistles, praises, and exclamations filled the air.


    ¡°See, those people do have a sense of aesthetics, unlike some who do nothing but piss me off all day,¡± Li Shishi told Song Yun with a smirk, her proud expression resembling a little fox that had sneakily eaten chicks.


    Although it was flattering to be out with a woman even more beautiful than female celebrities, the thought of some guys getting hot and bothered, and the trouble it might bring while shopping, made Song Yun roll his eyes.


    ¡°Why are you giving me that look?


    Don¡¯t tell me I¡¯m not dressed well enough and embarrassing you by being out here?¡± Li Shishi quipped, glancing at Song Yun.


    Seeing Song Yun still wearing a pained expression, Li Shishi said discontentedly, ¡°Is it really that bad?¡±


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s not that you¡¯re not dressed well; it¡¯s that you¡¯re too well-dressed.


    Do you realize how much of a sensation your outfit will cause in the mall?¡± Song Yun shuddered at the thought of being ¡®murdered¡¯ by the gazes of his fellow men.


    Women like Li Shishi could walk down any street and potentially receive countless love confessions, attracting a hundred percent of attention.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be that bad; we¡¯re just wearing some very ordinary clothes,¡± Li Shishi grumbled, pouting her lips disapprovingly.


    ¡°All right, all right, let¡¯s just get going before a pack of wolves snatches you away,¡± Song Yun well knew that Li Shishi, with her natural beauty, could show the vibe of a goddess even in plain clothes, so there was no point in arguing further.

 Chapter 38 - 38 37 The Scam

    ?38: Chapter 37: The Scam 38: Chapter 37: The Scam Song Yun, pretending to be a respectable gentleman, puffed out his chest, leading Li Shishi toward the shopping mall, ignoring all the stares around him.


    Who the hell cares about the feelings of these people?


    Everyone with a partner still glancing around, are they all looking to get scolded by their wives?


    It must be said, shopping with Li Shishi does bring a lot of face.


    Thus, Song Yun grandly waved his hand and announced, ¡°Today I¡¯m in a good mood.


    Pick whatever you want; I¡¯ll pay.¡±


    Li Shishi gave Song Yun a sidelong glance and snorted, ¡°You should be the one paying anyway.¡±


    After visiting several stores with Li Shishi, they arrived at a women¡¯s lingerie shop.


    Song Yun, being a big burly man, felt awkward about entering, so he waited outside.


    After waiting a long time without seeing Li Shishi come out, and noticing that she was happily chatting with the saleswoman, it seemed she wouldn¡¯t be out soon, so he decided to head to the smoking area for a cigarette.


    ¡°How come just looking at clothes and not buying, they¡¯re not even that expensive,¡± a young man next to Song Yun muttered gloomily while smoking.


    ¡°Going shopping with women is such a hassle.¡±


    Hearing this, Song Yun chuckled and, smoking his cigarette, said to the young man, ¡°Shopping has been in women¡¯s nature since ancient times; it¡¯s the same principle as them knowing from a young age to love beauty.


    The true essence of their shopping is encapsulated in the very act of browsing.¡±


    ¡°You really think women keep browsing just to save money?


    If you think that way, you are sorely mistaken.


    After seeing one beautiful item, they instantly want to check out another, their curiosity growing stronger with each look.¡±


    ¡°When they finish looking at all the attractive clothes, they¡¯ll pick a few that suit them best and try them on together.


    Do you think everyone in the world is like us men, who would just walk into a store, pick the first thing they see, buy it without even checking if it suits them?


    How would you know if there isn¡¯t something better ahead if you don¡¯t keep moving forward?¡±


    Song Yun, watching Li Shishi still picking out lingerie inside the store, said contentedly, ¡°Actually, bringing you guys along is kind of a treat.¡±


    The young man, initially amazed by Song Yun¡¯s words, looked puzzled upon hearing this, and curiously asked, ¡°Big brother, shopping is tiring, how is it a treat?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Song Yun said, raising his eyebrows and grinning mischievously.


    ¡°Every time they change clothes, it showcases a different side of their personality.


    If you truly love a woman, she wants to show you every beautiful posture she has.


    Isn¡¯t that a treat?


    Especially in a lingerie store, you know what I mean?¡±


    Just as Song Yun was enlightening this young man, suddenly, angry voices came from the direction of Li Shishi.


    Hearing this, Song Yun instantly stood up.


    ¡°Damn, I knew there would be trouble.¡±


    Song Yun strode toward Li Shishi¡¯s location, the young man following him with a gloomy expression.


    Upon arrival, Song Yun saw Li Shishi standing at the entrance of a store, with an elderly woman sitting on the ground in the middle of the road and a middle-aged couple loudly scolding a few women beside her.


    ¡°This gentleman, this is really a misunderstanding.


    I didn¡¯t bump into your mother; she fell by herself, and I was just going to help her up,¡± Li Shishi explained.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.


    My mother is very healthy; she couldn¡¯t have fallen by herself.


    It¡¯s clear you knocked her down and now you don¡¯t want to compensate,¡± the middle-aged woman screamed.


    Li Shishi was also helpless in this situation.


    Just as she had finished shopping and was about to move on, she noticed the old woman had fallen.


    Following her humanitarian instincts, Li Shishi went to help her up, but as she touched the old woman, a middle-aged couple suddenly appeared and demanded compensation.


    And the old woman cooperated very well, staying slumped on the ground, emitting faint moaning sounds.


    ¡°It really wasn¡¯t me, you have to believe me,¡± Li Shishi stood up and said.


    ¡°You say it wasn¡¯t you?


    Do you have any evidence it wasn¡¯t you?


    Just bring someone to vouch for you, and I¡¯ll stop bothering you; you can go about your business,¡± the middle-aged man said empathetically.


    Li Shishi frowned upon hearing this, thinking that she had been targeted by this couple but feeling frustrated at the lack of witnesses.


    ¡°It really wasn¡¯t her; I can vouch for her,¡± a young girl from inside the store said softly.


    ¡°Hmph, since you¡¯re vouching for her, you¡¯ll have to bear the legal responsibility.


    If it turns out my mother was really hit by her, then what you¡¯re doing is perjury.


    You¡¯d be going to jail,¡± the middle-aged woman chattered incessantly.


    The young girl obviously retreated back into the store, frightened by the middle-aged woman¡¯s words.


    Seeing this, the middle-aged woman shouted even louder, ¡°Everyone, come and see, this shameless woman knocked down my mother and won¡¯t even compensate.


    What sort of people are these?¡±


    With her shouting, the crowd around them grew, pointing and whispering at Li Shishi.


    There was even a particular plump middle-aged woman who, noticing Li Shishi¡¯s good figure, slandered her by suggesting she was a prostitute.


    Li Shishi felt very wronged by their slander.


    It was rare for her to go out and now she had encountered such an incident.


    ¡°What¡¯s everyone gathering here for?¡± Song Yun pushed through the crowd and asked as he approached.


    Although he had heard the shouting from afar, Song Yun still wanted to understand the full story.


    ¡°These people are fraudsters, trying to cheat me,¡± Li Shishi said distressedly, then explained everything from beginning to end.


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t hit this old woman; she fell down by herself, and I just wanted to help her up,¡± she said, her face bearing the color of grief.


    Seeing Li Shishi¡¯s innocent eyes and the other party¡¯s aggressive demeanor, Song Yun also made up his mind.


    It seemed this was mostly a scam organization, and considering her social status, Li Shishi wouldn¡¯t deny hitting someone.


    Recently, Song Yun had seen on TV in NJ city, an office worker who had helped an old person was tricked into being bankrupted.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter a similar situation today right here.


    ¡°What you say is what goes?


    Are you the ones who make the laws?¡± The middle-aged woman, seeing Song Yun¡¯s unbranded clothes, realized he was just a poor kid.


    If she extorted him, he definitely would not make a big deal out of it.

 Chapter 39 - 39 38 Are You Brain-damaged

    ?39: Chapter 38: Are You Brain-damaged 39: Chapter 38: Are You Brain-damaged ¡°If you say you didn¡¯t hit my mom, then show me the evidence.


    What are you still talking about here without evidence?


    Let me tell you, my mother has high blood pressure and diabetes.


    Can you afford it if something happens to her?


    If something really happens, I won¡¯t let this go.¡±


    ¡°High blood pressure and diabetes?


    Why don¡¯t you also say you have congenital developmental deficiencies and excessively low brain IQ?¡± Song Yun sneered.


    ¡°That would be a mild illness, which can be reversed through the supplementation of knowledge afterward.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± The woman looked at Song Yun with disdain.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying you¡¯re a moron.


    You need treatment.¡±


    ¡°Your mother has high blood pressure, and yet you children let the elder come out on her own?


    Who can say it wasn¡¯t just her high blood pressure that made her fall?¡± Song Yun said as he squatted down to look into the old lady¡¯s eyes.


    She seemed embarrassed and avoided eye contact when she saw Song Yun staring at her.


    ¡°Recently, I¡¯ve seen on TV that many elderly have learned the trick of staging accidents.


    Who knows if your mother was doing just that?¡± Song Yun stood up, lit a cigarette, and sneered at the middle-aged couple before him.


    ¡°We indeed haven¡¯t taken good care of our old mother, but what does that have to do with you?


    This is our family matter, okay?


    Right now, we¡¯re talking about your girlfriend hitting my mother.¡± Hearing Song Yun¡¯s slightly mocking words, the other party clearly felt uneasy, but they didn¡¯t back down.


    Since they had bitten down, they had to tear off a chunk.


    Anyway, this poor kid hasn¡¯t found any evidence, so what if I insist your girlfriend injured my mother?


    ¡°Oh, indeed, this matter has nothing to do with me, but I¡¯m curious, after such a long time since the incident occurred, why haven¡¯t you thought about helping your mother up?


    Do you really want to watch the old lady lie on this cold ground forever?


    Or are you saying this old woman has no blood relation with you at all?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s not so much to it, who knows if the old lady might have internal injuries from the bump?


    We are considering your interests; if we helped her up and something else happened, could you afford it?¡± The middle-aged man said grimly.


    ¡°Do you have any evidence that you didn¡¯t stage this?


    If not, then quickly pay up for the damages.¡± The middle-aged woman also shouted shrilly.


    ¡°Getting involved with people like you really is bad karma from a previous life.


    Hurry up and pay.¡±


    The middle-aged woman, fearing any more complications, became increasingly harsher in her words.


    ¡°If it really was us, we would undoubtedly pay immediately without a second word, but if it wasn¡¯t us, we aren¡¯t going to take the fall for no reason,¡± Song Yun replied, glancing at them.


    ¡°You chose this location well.


    The elder walked here, fell on her own, and lured my girlfriend to help her, knowing well that this spot is blind and there are no eyewitnesses, not even the store¡¯s cameras can reach here.


    Heh, you¡¯ve been planning this scam for a long time, huh?¡± Song Yun swept a cold gaze over them.


    Just now, when he was making eye contact with the old woman, she avoided his gaze, which made Song Yun suspect this whole thing was a setup by the middle-aged couple.


    If this old woman really was their mother, they wouldn¡¯t have let her lie on the ground for so long.


    If they insist she is their mother, Song Yun really doesn¡¯t believe it.


    What made Song Yun even more certain that these three were scammers was the old woman lying on the ground.


    The couple was dressed decently, clearly from a petty-bourgeois background, able to afford such clothes.


    Looking at the old woman lying on the ground, wearing somewhat tattered clothes, with eight out of ten fingernails blackened and mixed with dirt, it was obvious she was someone who often engaged in labor.


    Being so particular about cleanliness and appearances as their children, yet having their own mother in such a state, it just didn¡¯t add up.


    If you say you¡¯re unfilial, that might be believable, but where is this?


    This is a well-known mall in Sunan City.


    Bringing such an elder out shopping already seems ill-intentioned.


    Continuing from what was mentioned earlier, you rotten descendants, how could you possibly bring an old woman out shopping for clothes?


    All these point out that the couple and the old woman aren¡¯t related as mother and children.


    They may not even know each other¡¯s names; they could have gathered just to stage accidents.


    ¡°Just stop pretending to be mother and son here; it¡¯s disgusting to watch.


    If your acting were really good, I might have gone along with it, but your acting is truly terrible,¡± Song Yun¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t heavy, but there was a playful undertone.


    Hearing Song Yun¡¯s words, the faces of the middle-aged couple turned pale, and their minds were somewhat panicked.


    Song Yun¡¯s resistance was beyond their expectations.


    They thought this poor kid would be easy to scare, possibly intimidated by just a few words, from which they could extract some money.


    But Song Yun¡¯s pushback was unexpectedly strong.


    The middle-aged woman secretly pinched the man standing in front of her when nobody was paying attention, signaling him to quickly settle the issue to avoid escalating the situation.


    Meanwhile, the middle-aged man, instructed by his wife, knew very well that making a big scene would be detrimental to their side.


    Calling the police could expose them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.


    All I know is that this young girl hit my mother, and my mother is now lying on the ground unable to stand up and must be injured.


    What do you propose we do about this?¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to shirk responsibility for this incident?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, although we are fewer in number, if this matter goes to court or to the police station, we will still stand as the victims.¡±


    Watching the other party confidently shouting, Li Shishi was also very stressed.


    She had come out today happy to shop, only to encounter such an incident; the world truly seems to be degenerating.


    Song Yun thought that if there were eyewitnesses, they could confirm they were a fraud group and directly take them to the police station for questioning.


    But he guessed the other party was also thinking the same, just insisting that his side had no evidence, waiting to see how they would handle it when things escalated.


    In truth, the middle-aged man didn¡¯t want to provoke trouble.


    Being a scammer himself, going to the police station would expose everything, wouldn¡¯t it?


    His fierce words were merely meant to intimidate this young man.


    People always say that young people today are afraid of trouble, panicking over minor incidents.


    He simply didn¡¯t believe he couldn¡¯t bluff this one.


    His plan was certainly cunning, but unfortunately, this time they encountered Song Yun, who was unyielding and not afraid of trouble.

 Chapter 40 - 40 39 Let Dad Take A Look

    ?40: Chapter 39: Let Dad Take A Look 40: Chapter 39: Let Dad Take A Look ¡°Hmph, the people nowadays have no conscience at all, they can betray anything for a mere profit, they can no longer be called human beings,¡± Song Yun said coldly, his gaze then shifting to the middle-aged man.


    ¡°Today, I¡¯m in a good mood and don¡¯t want to argue over this matter too much.


    Just say it, how much money do you want?¡±


    Just as he was about to pull out duct tape to seal the mouth of this youngster in front of him from utter humiliation by Song Yun¡¯s words, he heard Song Yun unexpectedly soften, and the middle-aged man was stunned.


    Then, a cunning look flashed across his face, but he quickly suppressed it, as it was critical not to let them see him reveling in his villainy.


    He glanced at his wife, and the two of them stepped back a few steps, whispering in discussion about how much they planned to scam from the young man.


    ¡°Song Yun, this matter wasn¡¯t our fault to begin with, why should we have to pay?¡± Li Shishi clearly couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, her voice filled with indignation.


    Showing weakness now would confirm that the old woman was indeed hit by them, wouldn¡¯t it?


    How could Miss Li Shishi, who has always been proud and lofty from a young age, swallow such humiliation?


    ¡°What?


    If I don¡¯t give them money, should we just stand here and argue until nightfall?¡± Song Yun sighed, ¡°Besides, look how many people have gathered around.


    If someone with intentions takes this story and spins it, your company¡¯s reputation will take a hit, not just a little bit.


    By then, the image you¡¯ve built up could collapse¡ªit¡¯s not worth it.¡±


    Hearing Song Yun speak this way, Li Shish frowned and stopped talking.


    She understood very well his approach, but thinking about having to compensate these scoundrels made her incredibly annoyed.


    Who let them scam so professionally?


    This place not only lacked surveillance cameras, but there were also very few witnesses.


    Moreover, due to being kidnapped previously, some high-level executives had become crafty, continuously causing her trouble in the company.


    Sima Zhao¡¯s intentions were clear to everyone¡ªsimply planning a coup.


    If today¡¯s incident blew up, the executives would start calling for a board meeting again.


    While Song Yun saw the couple discussing how much they should compensate, a sneer grew inside him.


    He hadn¡¯t planned to let this matter go today; succumbing to this unfair extortion was not in his character.


    If it was truly our side that had hit her, I¡¯d take out the cash and pay off without a word.


    But now that you¡¯re trying to blackmail me, that¡¯s unacceptable.


    I¡¯ve never been a fool.


    While Song Yun was comforting Li Shishi, numerous shoppers had gathered around, attracted by the commotion.


    With many onlookers, the middle-aged couple grew bolder.


    The middle-aged man turned with a stern face, ¡°Since you admit my mother was hit by you, I won¡¯t extort you.


    My mother has hypertension and diabetes, and I really don¡¯t know where she¡¯s feeling unwell.


    Here¡¯s what¡ªjust give us US$ 150,000 and let¡¯s end this matter.


    Young man, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°What the hell, US$ 150,000, why don¡¯t you just rob a bank?¡± The young man who had been educated by Song Yun spoke up angrily as soon as the other party finished talking.


    Li Shishi was stunned by their reply, originally thinking a thousand or so would be enough, but these people were taking a high-end route, asking for even more money.


    Even Song Yun frowned¡ªthough earning money was easy for him, he didn¡¯t want to give his money away for no reason.


    But then upon reflection, he scoffed.


    ¡°Oh, you want US$ 150,000?¡± Seeing the other party nod, Song Yun continued, ¡°That¡¯s not much, I spend more than this on a dinner drink.¡± Song Yun said lightly, as if it was a trivial matter.


    Hearing Song Yun mention he spent more on a drink than what they asked, the middle-aged couple was extremely frustrated.


    Considering Song Yun¡¯s attire, none of it was branded with Adidas or Nike, yet he turned out to be a hidden ¡®Gao Fushuai¡¯.


    Then again, they thought, if he wasn¡¯t someone wealthy, how could he bring such a beautiful celestial woman to such an upscale mall?


    ¡°Yes, right, US$ 150,000 truly isn¡¯t a lot.


    If my mother has really suffered internal injuries from the hit, this amount won¡¯t even be enough,¡± the middle-aged woman said.


    ¡°However, since you are admitting your mistake actively, we won¡¯t ask for additional lost wages.


    You should know, my husband and I are managers in a top-500 national enterprise, our minute-by-minute earnings are substantial.


    Just give us another $50,000, and we can settle this matter.¡±


    Hearing them shamelessly ask for more money made Li Shishi¡¯s blood boil; she had never been bullied like this in her life.


    She was about to confront them when she noticed Song Yun had grabbed her hand.


    ¡°So altogether, I need to give you US$ 150,000, right?¡± Song Yun asked with a smile.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s US$ 150,000.


    But it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t carry that much cash, a bit less and consider it our loss.


    Oh dear, there aren¡¯t many good-hearted people like us these days.¡±


    ¡°I indeed don¡¯t have so much cash on hand, but I have some in my card, shall I go withdraw it for you?¡± Song Yun said, looking directly at the old woman lying on the ground.


    But the old woman looked down, clearly guilty.


    Hearing Song Yun mention taking out his bank card, their eyes suddenly lit up, and they hurriedly stepped forward, attempting to snatch it.


    ¡°Hey, hey, hey, you¡¯re really interesting, I didn¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯t pay you, why are you so eager to start fighting?¡± Song Yun stepped back and watched them with an amused look.


    ¡°My old mother is still lying on the ground, how could I not be anxious?


    Just give me the card and I¡¯ll withdraw the money myself.¡± Unable to seize it, the middle-aged man said coldly, agitated.


    ¡°Are you trying to renege?¡±


    ¡°Renege?


    You guessed right, I was planning to do just that today.¡±


    ¡°US$ 150,000, you¡¯ve lived long enough, but your demands are truly outrageous!¡±


    ¡°I originally thought about settling things calmly, ready to take this loss quietly, but I didn¡¯t expect you to start making such major demands.


    You really think there¡¯s no evidence?¡±


    ¡°I was just messing with you, and you took it seriously.¡± At this moment, Song Yun¡¯s whole face, his eyes wide, was fiercely intimidating.


    ¡°What... what do you mean?¡±


    Intimidated by Song Yun¡¯s roar, the middle-aged couple¡¯s faces instantly went pale.


    ¡°My phone contains all the videos of you extorting us.


    Did you really think I¡¯m dumb?


    I initially thought to take pretty photos of my wife, who would have thought it¡¯d also capture you guys.


    No worries, even though the store lacks surveillance, I¡¯ve provided everything,¡± Song Yun took out his phone, shook it at them with a cold laugh.


    ¡°Do you want to take a look?¡±


    When the spectators heard Song Yun say this, they finally understood what was really going on, and they began commenting about the middle-aged couple.


    ¡°It¡¯s shocking how many scammers are around these days,¡± said a young girl, hugging her boyfriend¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ll protect you,¡± the young boy said, patting his chest.


    ¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤


    ¡°Shishi, call the police now, and when they arrive, we¡¯ll have a good talk with these three.


    Extorting US$ 150,000, they must be sentenced to a few years at least,¡± Song Yun confidently told Li Shishi.

 Chapter 41 - 41 40 Calamity Springs from Fate This Childs Peach Blossom Becomes a Calamity

    ?41: Chapter 40: Calamity Springs from Fate, This Child¡¯s Peach Blossom Becomes a Calamity 41: Chapter 40: Calamity Springs from Fate, This Child¡¯s Peach Blossom Becomes a Calamity When the police arrived, Li Shishi revealed her identity and asked them to thoroughly interrogate the couple to determine if they often engaged in scamming behavior.


    As for the old woman who had been lying on the ground, she had mysteriously disappeared earlier, clearly she had been coerced into playing a part and her departure was for the best; Song Yun didn¡¯t want to make things difficult for her.


    After all the matters had been handled, Li Shishi looked at Song Yun curiously and said, ¡°Tell me, how many photos of me did you take with your phone?¡±


    ¡°That was just to deceive them.


    Otherwise, how could this matter have been resolved so quickly?


    Although I was willing to settle the matter, I certainly didn¡¯t want to lose US$ 150,000 over it,¡± Song Yun shrugged and replied.


    Yanjing, at the Song Family¡¯s grand estate on East Dragon Mountain.


    A vigorous elderly man was focused on writing with bold strokes at his desk, while a tall, middle-aged man stood beside him like a stone, gazing intently at the letters the old man formed.


    Not until the final forceful stroke did the man address the middle-aged man who had been standing there for a long time, ¡°Azure Dragon, have you heard that Yun¡¯er has returned?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he is currently residing in Sunan, living quite comfortably,¡± the man replied softly after helping the elder with his papers and then handing him a cup of tea.


    ¡°Have Ergou and Qingsi been found yet?¡± the elderly man asked with a frown.


    ¡°Not yet, ever since they left Song Yun with me twenty years ago, there¡¯s been no trace of them.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, it has been tough on them,¡± the elderly man sipped his tea and settled into an elaborately prepared armchair before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s been hard for them over these years.


    Originally, my elder brother decided to withdraw from the Clan Leader fight and resolutely took his newly-wed and their child to a distant place.


    I did not expect that their departure would last so many years, and now my hair is turning gray.¡±


    The elderly man seemed to be sucked into a vortex of memories as he held his tea, muttering, ¡°But how could I not know that there were villains causing mischief in between, hoping to instigate fratricidal strife between us for their own benefit.


    My brother was far stronger than I, foreseeing this and thus, he left home.¡±


    ¡°Azure Dragon, I want to know why Ergou and Qingsi hastily left the country back then,¡± the old man clenched the cup in his hand and said angrily, ¡°I have a daughter but no son.


    Within the Song Family, I don¡¯t know how many people covet my position.


    Humph, I, Song Wenwu, won¡¯t let them get their way.


    When the time is right, Yun¡¯er will be the first in line for succession.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I will look into it,¡± Azure Dragon nodded in response.


    ¡°Ah, being old is not so useful after all, no longer having the old spirit to look down upon the martial heroes of the world.


    Azure Dragon, I am also going to implant ten individuals into your sect soon; they will become death soldiers for Yun¡¯er¡¯s return.


    Do keep a closer eye,¡± Song Wenwu set his teacup down on a nearby table, stood up holding a watering can, and asked while watering the plants, ¡°I hear Yun¡¯er is engaged to that girl from Su Nan¡¯s Li Family?¡±


    ¡°This is all arranged by his master.


    I always feel there is something fishy about it, yet I can¡¯t pinpoint what it is.


    But no matter what, his master is a great elder in our sect who raised Song Yun from a child; he surely won¡¯t harm him.¡±


    ¡°Has Yun¡¯er¡¯s master¡¯s background still not been uncovered?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, I only know the person is very powerful.


    Even if I competed against him, there¡¯s not a full guarantee of success,¡± Azure Dragon sighed and said.


    ¡°I only know that among the older generation in the Martial World, the person seems to have significant influence.


    It¡¯ll take quite a while to investigate this.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I understand.


    Azure Dragon, when you go out, call Qing Yan in; I have some instructions for her,¡± Song Wenwu breathed deeply and said.


    Soon after, a woman who appeared to be in her thirties walked in, looking elegant and poised, and asked, ¡°Father, what do you need?¡±


    ¡°Your nephew is back, now residing in Sunan.


    I need you to go there and make some inquiries, ensure that our people there take good care of Yun¡¯er,¡± the old man said softly.


    ¡°Yun¡¯er is back?


    What about elder brother and sister-in-law?¡± Qing Yan asked anxiously; she had always played by her elder brother¡¯s side during childhood, but a sudden change twenty years ago had forced the couple to flee the country and vanish without a trace.


    ¡°Ergou and Qingsi are still unaccounted for; they used fake passports when they left the country all those years ago, and now there¡¯s no trace of them,¡± the elderly man sighed and said, ¡°I hope they are touched by divine fate.¡±


    Seeing that her father was not in a great mood today, Qing Yan shifted the conversation back to Yun¡¯er, saying, ¡°Father, don¡¯t worry; elder brother and sister-in-law will surely return safely.


    How is my nephew doing nowadays?¡±


    ¡°Yun¡¯er is living quite comfortably now, I even heard that he has an engagement with the young heiress of Su Nan¡¯s Li Family,¡± Song Wenwu replied with a smiling gleam in his eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful; male heirs are rare in the Song Family¡¯s main line, having Yun¡¯er to support us is excellent,¡± Qing Yan chuckled lightly.


    ¡°But I think this is just for now; in the future, Yun¡¯er will certainly have many women around him.


    There¡¯s something you all don¡¯t know, when Yun¡¯er was just born, your granduncle sought divination from the head of Yuntai Temple, which is rather troubling,¡± Song Wenwu shook his head and said.


    ¡°What was the divination?¡± Qing Yan furrowed her brow, seeing her father¡¯s serious demeanor.


    ¡°Calamity arises from fate; this child¡¯s romantic entanglements would be his calamity.¡±


    At that moment, outside Sunan City in the woods.


    Two figures were sprinting rapidly through the forest, with the trees unable to hinder their progress in the slightest.


    Sunlight occasionally flashed across their faces, revealing an old man and an eleven or twelve-year-old boy.


    ¡°Grandfather, is this competition really being held in Sunan City?¡± the young boy asked.


    ¡°Yes, the word came down that it will be held in Sunan City, this martial arts tournament that occurs every three years.


    I brought you out this time to broaden your horizons, to observe the fights among masters which will greatly help your future journey,¡± the old man said with a chuckle while stroking his beard.


    ¡°Granddad, what place do you think you¡¯ll get?¡± the young boy asked curiously, looking up.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting old, now it¡¯s the era for the youth.


    When I was young, I could make it into the top five of the Dragon List, but not now.


    Even making it into the top ten may be wishful thinking.


    You should focus on the Elephant List during this tournament; one day you might make it into its top three, which is necessary to try for a spot on the Dragon List.


    You¡¯re the most talented young one in our Zhou Family, so you must press on,¡± the old man said, affectionately patting the young boy¡¯s head.


    This man was none other than the ninth-ranked on the Dragon List, known as Liangyi Palm Zhou Yi.

 Chapter 42 - 42 41 Song Yun Really Enjoys It

    ?42: Chapter 41 Song Yun Really Enjoys It 42: Chapter 41 Song Yun Really Enjoys It After that incident, Li Shishi lost interest in shopping.


    Coincidentally, something happened in her company, so after greeting Song Yun, she was whisked away by her secretary.


    Song Yun strolled leisurely along, slowly sorting through recent events in his mind.


    He knew he needed to keep his head cool to face whatever was coming next.


    But who would have thought, just as he reached the middle of the road, a seemingly ordinary woman, wearing a black mask, blocked his path.


    ¡°Hey, young man, want to have some fun?


    It¡¯s only one hundred yuan a pop,¡± the woman said with a wag of her finger, her tone playful and teasing.


    ¡°One hundred yuan?


    Isn¡¯t that a bit too expensive?


    I¡¯ve only got ten on me.


    Could you make it a bit cheaper?¡± When things go awry, there must be demons at work, thought Song Yun.


    So he decided to play along with this woman to see what kind of scheme she had in store for him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the alley over there then, I like it thrilling,¡± said the woman, grabbing Song Yun¡¯s hand and running towards a dark alley.


    Once in the alley, the woman stared silently at Song Yun, then drew one of his hands to her waist while gripping the other tightly.


    Even through clothing, Song Yun could feel the woman¡¯s slender waist.


    The faint scent of her perspiration at the tip of his nose in the stifling heat carried a fragrance he was all too familiar with.


    ¡°Nice disguise, but wrapping up your chest makes it somewhat imperfect,¡± said Song Yun, leaning over the woman.


    He then took off her mask and said, ¡°Why wear a mask?


    It spoils the view.¡±


    ¡°Did you recognize me?¡± the woman asked with a slight smile.


    ¡°If I couldn¡¯t recognize who you are after sharing the bed so many times, I would be scared,¡± Song Yun held the woman tight.


    ¡°Though you padded your shoes to look taller, you forgot one crucial thing.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± the woman asked, genuinely curious.


    ¡°The scent that comes off your body.


    From childhood to this day, your fragrance has always been in the sect¡¯s quarters, an impression so deep in my heart I can never forget.


    So don¡¯t insult my intelligence,¡± Song Yun said with a laugh, planting a gentle kiss on the woman¡¯s cherry lips.


    The woman¡¯s face flushed red, and Song Yun could feel her body go limp, melting onto him.


    ¡°As for you, changing your voice, face, and even height is not a problem, but your scent isn¡¯t something you can cover up with just perfume.


    I¡¯m used to your smell, even if you spray on a strong rose scent, I can still tell your natural aroma,¡± he whispered into her ear.


    Song Yun¡¯s sense of smell was incredibly acute, thanks to the relentless training from the old man since he was a child.


    Sometimes the old man would take him to the forest behind the sect and ask him whether a particular spot smelled of wolf or wild boar urine; identifying the animal was not enough, he had to distinguish between male and female too.


    ¡°My dear Little Xiaotian, have you finished your business?¡± Song Yun whispered.


    ¡°Of course, I am worth two when I take action.


    It¡¯s just a minor task to handle such a small traitor,¡± Xia Tian replied, kissing Song Yun, ¡°You¡¯ve been doing well these days, with so many strong warriors around you.


    Oh, and that big beauty staying at your courtyard, and the radiant young girl next door.


    Tell me, are they still virgins?¡±


    ¡°What if I say they are, would you believe me?¡± Song Yun said, looking her in the eyes.


    ¡°I believe, of course, I believe.


    Who dares to doubt what Song Yun says,¡± Xia Tian said with a giggle.


    ¡°How was the traitor dealt with?


    Three cuts and six holes or death by a thousand cuts?¡± Song Yun asked.


    The sect¡¯s rules were numerous; unless you were a direct disciple of an elder, you had to abide by them.


    However, if you crossed the sect¡¯s bottom line, even as the Sect Master, you would have to answer to the Law Enforcement Elder.


    The biggest rule was against betrayal, the price of which was steep.


    Song Yun recalled seeing a man who had betrayed the sect and was captured by the Law Enforcement Hall.


    They chose three cuts and six holes; if you survived the punishment, it meant your life was spared by the heavens, and you were thrown outside.


    Living or dying was a matter of luck.


    Upon surviving, there could be no further contact with any sect members, nor could you speak of the sect to outsiders, else you¡¯d be hunted to the ends of the earth.


    ¡°This time, it¡¯s serious.


    It seems that person colluded with people from RB, so the Law Enforcement Hall decided to execute them by death by a thousand cuts,¡± Xia Tian said with a grimace.


    Some may not be familiar with this form of execution.


    It involves slicing off the flesh piece by piece, a form of dismemberment.


    The first cut is to the chest, the second to the biceps, the third to the thighs.


    The fourth and fifth cuts slice the arms to the elbow; the sixth and seventh cuts, the legs to the knees; the eighth cut, beheading.


    This punishment severely tests the executioner¡¯s skills.


    If the condemned dies during the process, the executioner is at fault, and the remaining cuts would be inflicted upon them.


    It is said that the oldest elders of the sect¡¯s Law Enforcement Hall could make a hundred cuts without killing the person, the flesh cut off as delicate as cicada wings.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve come to see me because you¡¯re planning to stick with me from now on?¡± Song Yun asked.


    ¡°No, no, no, my dear Song Yun, you guessed wrong.


    I¡¯ve been out for too long and attracted the attention of some ill-intended folks, so I had no choice but to retreat back to the sect,¡± Xia Tian lamented.


    ¡°Who is it?


    I¡¯ll take care of them, and then you can stay with me,¡± Song Yun said with a frown.


    ¡°Silly boy, you¡¯re right in the middle of a whirlpool.


    I dare not step in carelessly.


    You¡¯d better take care of your own affairs first,¡± Xia Tian responded and then suddenly hooked Song Yun¡¯s neck, kissing him madly as if she wanted to melt him into her body.


    Just as Song Yun was about to reciprocate, his lips were silenced by a moist patch.


    A passionate French kiss, and Song Yun thoroughly enjoyed it.

 Chapter 43 - 43 42 Attack

    ?43: Chapter 42 Attack 43: Chapter 42 Attack ¡°It¡¯s getting late; I need to go back and regroup, and who knows when we will see each other again.


    My little man, you must grow up fast, then protect me,¡± Xia Tian said with infatuation, caressing Song Yun¡¯s cheek softly.


    ¡°Take care of yourself, and wait for the day when I can take you to roam the mountains and play in the waters.


    We¡¯ll be a pair of merry celestial companions,¡± Song Yun said tenderly, eyeing Xia Tian.


    ¡°If you¡¯re in danger, make sure to call me.


    No matter where you are, I¡¯ll definitely rush over to save you within twelve hours.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I know, you¡¯re the most formidable.


    I¡¯m leaving; take good care of yourself too,¡± Xia Tian pushed Song Yun away with a laugh and strutted out of the alley.


    Song Yun stood still, his gaze dark and gloomy, as he stared at the ground and said in a deep voice, ¡°Come out.¡±


    Suddenly, Song Yun felt a breeze from behind.


    He knew it was too late to turn around; he fell backward with the flow, landing firmly in the man¡¯s arms.


    His arms didn¡¯t stop elbowing the man¡¯s abdomen.


    Then he reached into his pocket, pulled out a dagger, and slashed the man¡¯s shoulder.


    The man, seeing his attack fail, quickly stabbed his dagger towards Song Yun¡¯s temple.


    Just when the blade was a mere five or six centimeters from Song Yun¡¯s temple, Song Yun seized it tightly with his hand.


    Song Yun released his grip, letting the dagger fall to the ground, and said softly, ¡°You¡¯ve picked the worst time to come.


    I¡¯m very angry now, and you¡¯re as good as dead.¡±


    The man looked at Song Yun as one might look at a monster, then turned and ran, escaping the range of Song Yun¡¯s attack.


    Song Yun tore off a strip of cloth from his clothes to bandage his hand, then chased after the departing man, following the sporadic bloodstains into a desolate grove.


    They say the night is perfect for murder, but it¡¯s broad daylight now, and here I am, an assassin, making a move¡ªclearly an amateur move.


    Song Yun quietly stepped into the grove; just as he prepared to search further for the man, he instantly retracted his stepped-out foot and leaped up, using the treetops to bounce backwards.


    At almost the same moment, the stump where Song Yun had just stood was pierced in a burst of low gunfire, wood chips flying in all directions.


    Kneeling on one knee, an icy look in his eyes and a sinister smile on his lips, Song Yun once again swiftly dodged and leaped behind a towering tree, followed again by the sound of bullets sweeping past.


    After several successful dodges, Song Yun heard the faint sound of the other party changing magazines and immediately ran toward the southeast in a zigzag pattern.


    As he neared, Song Yun threw a pebble clenched in his hand forward.


    Accompanied by a muffled groan, the man¡¯s arm flailed weakly in the air, like a marionette.


    Song Yun did not slow his pace.


    Running forward, he suddenly turned and his long leg lashed out in the air, striking the man hiding behind a tree, giving him no chance to retaliate.


    In his panic, the man desperately used his uninjured left hand to block.


    He didn¡¯t expect Song Yun¡¯s leg strength to be astonishingly powerful; before he could make a next move, his arm felt as if it had been hit by a car, the fiery pain making him fly out.


    ¡°Boom!¡± The man hit a dense tree behind him, his face contorted in pain.


    But before he could cry out, he saw Song Yun with the silenced pistol that had fallen aside earlier now pointing at his forehead.


    ¡°Don¡¯t expect to get any information about the client from me,¡± the man spat out a bloody spit, grinding his teeth in hatred.


    Song Yun casually ruffled his hair with a smile.


    ¡°I just want to simply know the name of your employer.


    Is that not allowed?


    Is the name more important to you than your life?¡±


    Although his heart was filled with hatred, the man lost his temper looking at Song Yun¡¯s harmless appearance.


    Heaven knows why that employer sent him to provoke such a killing star.


    ¡°You¡¯re Shura, right?


    You¡¯re a big-shot on the assassin rankings.


    How could you not know the rules and regulations of assassins?


    There¡¯s one most serious rule, which is not to betray information about the employer.


    If I tell you today, how am I supposed to continue working in the future?¡± The man looked fierce but spoke with a noticeably weaker tone, hoping that this significant clause would persuade Song Yun to stop.


    ¡°So, you mean to say you¡¯d rather die than reveal this secret?¡± Song Yun asked with a teasing raised eyebrow.


    ¡°The third clause of the assassin creed¡¯s fifth subsection states that if a conflict with a peer occurs and one side retreats, the other must not pursue.


    Today, I admit defeat; I bow out of this clash.¡±


    Song Yun laughed heartily, then fired a shot at the man¡¯s arm.


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of saying all this?


    Don¡¯t you know these so-called regulations are just for you, the lower and middle rankers?


    High-level assassins have no such constraints.


    I¡¯ll ask you one more time, who sent you to assassinate me?¡±


    ¡°...¡± The man went silent for two seconds, realizing that the rules he cited were futile against this godlike figure, and after pondering for a moment, he said, ¡°Actually, the main target isn¡¯t you; you¡¯re just a supporting role.¡±


    Song Yun was stunned for a moment, unable to believe that he could not even be the main character, just a small fry with a bit part?


    Seeing that the man remained tight-lipped, as if uttering that sentence was already the biggest concession.


    Song Yun was in a bad mood, and when he was in a bad mood, someone had to pay.


    If it were a beauty, he wouldn¡¯t mind a scandalously ¡®violent¡¯ encounter, but since it was a tough guy, the moves he used on women wouldn¡¯t work here.


    He fired another shot at the man¡¯s shoulder blade.


    ¡°Never challenge my patience, and don¡¯t try to bait and hook me.


    Spill everything you know, or else I¡¯m not sure where the next bullet will land.¡±


    The man wanted to curse at his bad luck; indeed, he did, though only in his mind using what he thought were the most vicious words to curse Song Yun.


    Seeing the man¡¯s nearly ¡®ecstatic¡¯ expression, Song Yun kicked him and said, ¡°You¡¯re not fantasizing about me, are you?


    Let me tell you, I don¡¯t like men.


    My preferences are completely normal.¡±


    I¡¯ll be damned, my preferences are perfectly normal too!


    All I was thinking was giving you a left hook followed by a low blow, but that¡¯s just in my head!


    Why did you have to assault me out of the blue?


    ¡°The main character this time is a woman named Xia Tian, ranked ninth among assassins.


    That¡¯s her.


    I don¡¯t know what the client looks like.


    There¡¯s an intermediary between us, and all tasks are obtained through that go-between,¡± the man said through clenched teeth.


    Song Yun knew the guy wasn¡¯t lying.


    Usually, clients and assassins didn¡¯t meet face-to-face to avoid the temptation of kidnapping for ransom, so major assassin organizations distributed bounty tasks, which intermediaries received and then infiltrated to the assassins.


    These intermediaries were akin to celebrities¡¯ agents¡ªthe more and better-quality assassins under them, the more tasks they received and the more they profited.


    After a moment of silence, Song Yun wanted to know who was targeting Xia Tian.


    Could it be an enemy seeking vengeance?


    That¡¯s unlikely.


    Any information and movements regarding Xia Tian had to be reported to the sect, with designated personnel for protection.


    But what if someone within the sect wanted to kill her...


    At that thought, Song Yun broke out a cold sweat.


    If someone from the sect wanted Xia Tian gone, then everything made sense, and the situation was maybe understandable.

 Chapter 44 - 44 43 Establishing an Empire

    ?44: Chapter 43: Establishing an Empire 44: Chapter 43: Establishing an Empire Suddenly, he saw a sly glint in the man¡¯s eyes.


    Song Yun laughed and shot him again, ¡°You trying to trick me?¡±


    ¡°No, no, I wouldn¡¯t dare deceive you.¡± The man winced in pain as he held his wound.


    ¡°Please have mercy, I only thought of assassinating you because I was blinded by greed.


    Please spare me.¡±


    ¡°Spill everything you know, and maybe I¡¯ll be in a good enough mood to let you go,¡± Song Yun said coldly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about lying to me, or the next bullet will be in your head.¡±


    The man furrowed his brows, a look of determination on his face.


    ¡°The employer also included information about you in the documents he gave me.


    It read that you had killed the headliner of our organization, and only then did the upper echelons grit their teeth and send people to besiege you.¡±


    ¡°Besiege?


    Are you fucking kidding me?


    I only see you here.


    Do you think you¡¯re Guan Yu, capable of holding off thousands of men all by yourself?¡± Song Yun felt insulted, as if the guy really thought one person could duplicate himself like in some anime?


    ¡°The others...¡± the man hesitated.


    ¡°The rest are scattered in the suburbs, afraid to cross you directly, just hoping to surround Xia Tian and claim the bounty.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re with that organization?¡± Song Yun grinding his teeth.


    ¡°We¡¯re part of the Jokers.


    The person you initially killed was the fifth-ranked assassin, the Magician, rumored to be a lover of one of the higher-ups,¡± the man explained.


    ¡°That high-ranking woman is a crucial source of funding the Joker needs.


    Your name has already been marked at the highest assassination level inside the Jokers.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, how did I get tangled up with you bastards,¡± Song Yun cursed.


    ¡°Is that all the information you¡¯ve got?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all.


    The operator split a complete set of data into several parts.


    I only stumbled upon the other assassins¡¯ information by chance and came to know so much.¡±


    ¡°Alright, your part is done here.


    It¡¯s time for you to report to Heaven.¡± Song Yun ended the man¡¯s life with a gunshot, ignoring his pleas.


    Those fools thinking of besieging Xia Tian were a joke, a bunch of unknown small-time assassins trying to go against the Law Enforcement Hall¡¯s maniacs?


    They¡¯d be lucky to get out alive.


    Taking out his phone, Song Yun called an old man on the other side of the Earth, asked a few things, and then placed his handgun back in his coat.


    He wasn¡¯t short on firearms, but even a small mosquito is meat, and he could pass it to Wang Hu and the others later.


    With Wang Hu slowly advancing on the Noble Young Master Gang, Song Yun¡¯s turf was also yielding good returns.


    At Song Yun¡¯s insistent request, none of the businesses involved drugs.


    Tang Lin had told him he could manage in any way he saw fit, but he must not touch the national bottom line.


    Cross it, and you¡¯d be ruthlessly taken down.


    That¡¯s why many gangs existed for a long time unbothered, and then suddenly, you¡¯d hear a gang had been crushed¡ªit was definitely because they had crossed the national line or lost an upper echelon power struggle.


    Wang Hu was obedient, merging the territories of the Tiger Gang and the Guangzhou Gang.


    In less than a week, profits were already looking good, especially since previous territorial and price wars were now avoided by being united.


    After a call to the National Security Bureau¡¯s Sunan Office, someone immediately came to dispose of the assassin¡¯s body without asking Song Yun any questions.


    With nothing else to do, Song Yun headed to the headquarters of the Tiger Gang, which was a bar.


    Sitting in Wang Hu¡¯s office and sipping on a Bloody Mary, Song Yun said, ¡°Family speaks plainly, and right now, I need a large territory to support my future endeavors.


    But I am not a man to forget favors.


    I¡¯ll expand your power as much as possible.¡±


    Taking a sip, Song Yun lit a cigarette and continued, ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m easy to talk to.


    I have high standards, and I don¡¯t tolerate betrayal.


    If you ever feel like challenging me, I welcome your attempt.¡±


    Wang Hu and the former boss of the Guangzhou Gang, Xu Ke, listened with sweating foreheads.


    Wang Hu said cautiously, ¡°Rest assured, I would never betray you.


    If I do, may I die a horrible death by lightning strike.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for declarations now.


    We¡¯ve got plenty of time together to prove loyalty or betrayal,¡± Song Yun took a drag from his cigarette.


    ¡°That...


    boss, there¡¯s an important issue that¡¯s come up,¡± Wang Hu said hesitantly.


    ¡°Just speak your mind; I¡¯m no dictator.¡±


    Wang Hu nodded and spoke, ¡°Our territory around Sunnan University has expanded to cover three-quarters of the area.


    The previous underlings simply can¡¯t support such a large structure.


    If fresh blood isn¡¯t introduced soon, the future looks troubling.¡±


    Wang Hu paused, then continued, ¡°Especially now that members from both gangs have merged.


    Everyone knows each other¡¯s roots, and there¡¯s an old saying: ¡®A person¡¯s reach should not exceed his grasp.¡¯ The talent in both gangs is indeed thin, and there¡¯s frequent discord and fighting.


    So I¡¯m thinking of breaking everyone up and reassigning new leaders to prevent any issues from those who might use their influence to create trouble.¡±


    ¡°I had already considered this when we started.


    People who aren¡¯t inferior to me in the gang will join in the next two days.


    If I¡¯m not here and you have questions, you can ask them.


    As for the lower ranks fighting, do you really think such trivial matters need my attention?¡± Song Yun comfortably spoken while sipping wine.


    ¡°Should I enroll you two in a management course for a couple of days?¡±


    Seeing it was getting late, Song Yun decided to head home to cook dinner.


    He instructed the two men and drove off, noting the interesting fate of the car Tom had given him and didn¡¯t seem interested in taking back.


    After grocery shopping, Song Yun called Li Tang, instructing him to have Zhao Yan and Black Flood Dragon meet with Wang Hu the next day.


    Then, he idly scrolled through his phone contacts and ended up calling an English name.


    The call connected, and the other side was silent.


    Song Yun said, ¡°Sunan City.


    One day.


    Come help me.¡±


    After a long silence, the reply came, ¡°What¡¯s in it for me?¡±


    ¡°To build an empire.


    Isn¡¯t that exciting enough?¡±

 Chapter 45 - 45 44 Auction

    ?45: Chapter 44 Auction 45: Chapter 44 Auction Meanwhile, in a bar in Europe, a handsome young man with a deepwater bomb cocktail sat at the bar.


    A group of beautiful women surrounded him as he walked over with his drink.


    ¡°Hey, ladies, what a beautiful night it is,¡± the young man said with a wicked smile.


    ¡°Who wants to have some fun in the wilderness with me?¡± He was extraordinarily handsome, with a smooth, fair face that showcased sharply defined, cold elegance; rebellious brows arched slightly upward, and under long, slightly curled lashes were dark, profound eyes that radiated a wild, devilishly sexy aura.


    ¡°If you can cover our drinks tonight, we could consider having some fun with you,¡± a woman teased, standing up and provocatively touching him below the waist, pleased to discover his impressive physical gifts.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go now,¡± the young man said as he walked outside with a woman in each arm, hailing a taxi to the nearest hotel.


    Just as he was about to enjoy their company, the two women suddenly pulled out guns and started shooting at him.


    The young man shook his head and dodged the bullets, tying up the women and saying with a devilish smirk, ¡°Now we can thoroughly understand the human anatomy¡ªmine and yours.¡±


    Three years ago, he was an unknown assassin who got injured in a high-level conflict.


    While fleeing and struggling to find a hot meal, someone appeared and after pinching his arm, said, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re with me.¡±


    Thus, under the mysterious man¡¯s rigorous training, he became the top gun in Europe, though he still cherished being called ¡°Little Gunsmith¡± by that man.


    After the hellish training, he exacted revenge on everyone who had hurt him, remembering those words: ¡°My life is yours now, but you have to help me avenge her¡ªthey killed my love.¡±


    Indeed, he had once been a small-time assassin who loved a woman who now lay in a grave.


    Even now, as a legendary figure feared in the assassin world, he never forgot the last words of the man who left him.


    ¡°Your life is mine.


    When there¡¯s a need, I¡¯ll definitely call you.¡± He waited for two years after that.


    Having dealt with the situation, the young man kindly threw the two women out of a window on the thirteenth floor, then pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes, lighting one and taking a deep drag.


    Tomorrow, he would head to Sunan City in Huaxia to find him, trembling with excitement at the thought of working under that man.


    Song Yun looked at the time¡ª6:30 PM.


    Li Shishi hadn¡¯t called yet to confirm dinner plans.


    Just as he was fussing over it, Li Shishi called.


    ¡°There¡¯s a charity gala tonight, and Secretary Liu can¡¯t attend with me.


    Come with me,¡± Li Shishi ordered without hesitation.


    ¡°A charity gala?


    Forget it, I¡¯m not the type to spend money on such high-society affairs,¡± Song Yun laughed, ¡°I can¡¯t keep up with that kind of crowd.¡±


    ¡°Hey, why are you like this?


    Just come with me; there¡¯s not much to discuss.


    If you ever want to succeed in Sunan, you won¡¯t be able to avoid these events,¡± Li Shishi replied, sounding like she felt betrayed despite trying to do him a favor.


    ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re right.


    So is this auction like what you see on TV?


    A bunch of people outbidding each other, showing off how rich they are, attracting praise and the attention of socialites looking for a catch, and they all willingly accept it, leading to a transient romance?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as you describe.


    It¡¯s just an auction where all the money goes to Hope Primary School,¡± Li Shishi responded with a pout.


    ¡°Ah, to be honest, I really don¡¯t want to go,¡± Song Yun sighed as he lit a cigarette, ¡°I just don¡¯t fit in with those successful types.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really not going?¡±


    ¡°Really not.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s lots of free gourmet food.


    I heard they invited a Michelin five-star chef who normally doesn¡¯t take reservations, especially known for exquisite lobster sashimi,¡± Li Shishi said regretfully, ¡°Even with my status, I¡¯d have to wait for a reservation.


    Too bad you won¡¯t get to try it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t...


    don¡¯t think a little favor like that will be enough to tempt me,¡± Song Yun said, a bit enticed regardless, considering how much money he could save, albeit small, for everything counts.


    ¡°Oh, I forgot, there are also giveaway gifts; last year, they gave me a diamond, so shiny and pretty.¡±


    ¡°...


    What kind of suit should I wear, do I need to change now?¡±


    Li Shishi, picturing Song Yun¡¯s greedy look, laughed helplessly and said, ¡°Wear whatever, you¡¯re not there to auction anything.


    Where are you now?


    I¡¯ll come pick you up.¡±


    After being picked up in Li Shishi¡¯s Bentley, she looked at Song Yun, who was now dressed in new clothes, and teased, ¡°Weren¡¯t you not coming?


    Why so eager, planning to charm some rich ladies?¡±


    ¡°How can you say that?


    If I showed up in beach shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops, wouldn¡¯t that just cause you trouble?¡± Song Yun replied sheepishly.


    ¡°Anyway, these auctions aren¡¯t that interesting, so why are you so keen?¡±


    ¡°Sigh, I don¡¯t really want to go either.


    These good deeds all seem like show-offs, but for the sake of the company¡¯s reputation, I have to,¡± Li Shishi explained, waving her hands in resignation.


    Arriving at the auction hotel¡¯s entrance, Song Yun immediately recognized the grandeur.


    Not to mention the expensive cars parked out front, the owners¡¯ bodyguards and women clinging to their arms made it clear this was not a playground for ordinary people but rather a venue for those seriously participating in the auction.

 Chapter 46 - 46 45 Helping You Seek Revenge

    ?46: Chapter 45: Helping You Seek Revenge 46: Chapter 45: Helping You Seek Revenge But it just made sense; after all, attending a charity gala these days, one was either a popular celebrity or some local tycoon.


    Anyone associated with a charity gala had a substantial fortune, which justified the extravagance of the decor, as if anything less would be an affront to the dignitaries¡¯ status.


    As for the buffet and giveaways, only Song Yun seemed to care about it, while the elites couldn¡¯t care less.


    They only cared about how much good publicity the gala could bring them, how much it could benefit them.


    Song Yun didn¡¯t care about those ethereal reputations.


    Good people were definitely good people; bad ones, even dressed in good people¡¯s skin, would eventually be exposed.


    What he cared about was the free buffet with its lobster sashimi; oh, how luxurious these people were.


    Thus, after entering with Li Shishi, Song Yun found an opportunity to slip into the buffet area.


    Seeing everyone holding champagne glasses and chatting, Song Yun felt it was all profoundly hypocritical.


    They faced such delicious food yet put on airs; poor people indeed.


    Song Yun wasn¡¯t concerned about that.


    He had been working all day, eliminating harm for the people and expanding his influence, which was quite exhausting.


    He was starving, so he filled his plate to the brim.


    And as for the gala¡¯s famous lobster sashimi, Song Yun took it all.


    The people around were all dignitaries, who had never seen someone so shabbily dressed at a gala before.


    ¡°Is this man a beggar?


    Look at the way he eats; it¡¯s disgusting.¡±


    ¡°Security, security, how can you let such people in?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s shameful to have such a person at a charity gala, no different from a beggar.¡±


    Song Yun, hearing their words, acted as if he heard nothing.


    Damn it, he was just starving.


    If he weren¡¯t, he would argue with them one by one, these food wasters.


    They didn¡¯t eat anything yet prepared so much, and it would all be thrown out after the party.


    ¡°Song Yun?¡± Li Shishi, hearing the surrounding criticisms, came over and burst into laughter when she saw him¡ªthis guy indeed came to freeload.


    His table was full of buffet items, and he kept asking waiters for more drinks.


    However, knowing him from their last encounter at the hotpot restaurant, she figured he must be wealthy.


    Nobody gives away a Tang Yin painting on first meeting unless they¡¯re rich.


    ¡°Miss Li, this man is really unreasonable.


    I am sorry; I will have him removed right away.¡± The gala organizer was furious upon seeing Song Yun and almost cursed because of his frustration, had Li Shishi not been there.


    However, the next scene stunned him.


    He saw Li Shishi walk over to the buffet area, grab a plate of fruits and vegetables, and place it in front of that scoundrel, then sat opposite him.


    ¡°Eating only meat and seafood will upset your stomach; have some vegetables and fruits to cut the grease,¡± Li Shishi said, pushing the plate towards Song Yun.


    ¡°My stomach is fine, I can handle it,¡± said Song Yun, holding a piece of beef, avoiding the vegetable salad pushed by Li Shishi, ¡°Ah, looking at all these expensive items, my mouth signals my brain that it¡¯s lonely.


    That must be what they call the ¡®poverty syndrome¡¯¡ªseeing expensive food and not being able to resist.¡±


    ¡°This simple vegetable salad would cost hundreds if sold separately,¡± Li Shishi remarked, following Song Yun¡¯s humor.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m stupid... just this little and it costs hundreds?


    I could go to the market, get some vegetables, and make it myself.


    It¡¯s just cutting up veggies and mixing in some cream,¡± Song Yun responded disdainfully.


    ¡°People nowadays are so wasteful, clearly cannot finish it yet still make so much.¡±


    ¡°You talk too much,¡± Li Shishi stuffed the salad into Song Yun¡¯s mouth without waiting for a reply, covering his mouth with a napkin to prevent him from spitting it out, causing him to make muffled noises.


    These two¡¯s antics, along with Song Yun¡¯s exaggerated expression as if he were about to die, drew a crowd.


    However, after a glance, people dispersed and whispered among their little cliques.


    Regardless, Li Shishi was the CEO of Hongtu Group, the biggest shareholder, backed by Li Family, the lifeline of Sunan City.


    Every aspect of her was so dazzling that they dared not approach without cause, fearful of provoking her and potentially ruining their business.


    But while they thought so, they envied Song Yun immensely.


    Not everyone had the fortune of a queen-like figure forcefully feeding them salad.


    Damn it, these men became more incensed the more they thought about it, felt more inferior the more they compared themselves to Song Yun, so they felt uneasy.


    Meanwhile, the women kept sizing up Song Yun.


    Though he wasn¡¯t as handsome as those celebrities, he had a pleasing appearance.


    Aside from his slightly beggarly dining habits, there wasn¡¯t much to dislike.


    But he looked somewhat unfamiliar; perhaps he was a wealthy outsider?


    Everyone had their thoughts, but Song Yun was blissfully oblivious and continued to feast.


    ¡°Ugh, the lower class will always be the lower class, even in high society they can¡¯t learn to be genteel,¡± said a jarring voice.


    Before Song Yun could reply, Li Shishi had swiftly stood up, and upon seeing who it was, said sharply, ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that Mei Feng from Mei Family, talking like he just walked out of a toilet.¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Mei Feng was choked by Li Shishi¡¯s words and could only glare furiously at Song Yun.


    ¡°A coward, always hiding behind a woman.¡±


    ¡°And what do you think makes a man?¡± Song Yun paused his eating, looking amused at Mei Feng with a faint smile.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have a drink off.


    Whoever loses must stay away from Shishi.


    She doesn¡¯t need cowards around her,¡± Mei Feng said fiercely, his proposal based on his own strengths considering that in the business world, not being able to drink was a major disadvantage, potentially ruining deals.


    ¡°Mei Feng!


    Who¡¯s by my side is none of your business!


    You don¡¯t have the right!¡±


    ¡°Is this asshole into you?¡± Song Yun whispered to Li Shishi.


    ¡°His Mei Family is only slightly smaller than ours, and this Mei Feng keeps saying he likes me, which annoys me to death.


    If not for Mei Family¡¯s sake, I would have broken his legs long ago,¡± Li Shishi pouted unhappily.


    ¡°Hehe, then let me help you get your revenge.¡±

 Chapter 47 - 47 46 Playing the Pig to Eat the Tiger

    ?47: Chapter 46: Playing the Pig to Eat the Tiger 47: Chapter 46: Playing the Pig to Eat the Tiger ¡°Drinking?


    Let¡¯s drink!


    Who¡¯s afraid?¡± Song Yun retorted with a bravado like a fearless calf, causing Mei Feng to sneer inwardly.


    Youth really couldn¡¯t withstand a bit of provocation¡ªone taunting remark, and they couldn¡¯t wait to make a fool of themselves.


    Li Shishi watched Mei Feng with sadness, thinking how naive the kid was.


    Why challenge Song Yun of all things, especially to a drinking contest?


    She still vividly remembered the scene of Song Yun and his friends drinking last time.


    Even if you can handle your liquor, you can¡¯t drink it like water, can you?


    ¡°I have many virtues, but my one fault is a bit of a temper¡ªI must have a couple of drinks with people who catch my fancy or rub me the wrong way,¡± Mei Feng called over the server and ordered two shots of white liquor.


    ¡°Deep feelings mean down in one gulp; shallow ones, just a little sip.


    This is my first time meeting you, so allow me to drink first as a salute.¡±


    With a tilt of his head and a single gulp, Mei Feng drained his glass.


    Song Yun just smiled and, following suit, drank until not a drop was left.


    ¡°Good, that¡¯s the spirit!


    Let¡¯s continue.


    I want to see how much you can actually drink,¡± Mei Feng boasted.


    Yet, when he looked at Song Yun, disdain was apparent¡ªthe audacity to challenge him, the Prince of the Table, to a drinking match!


    That¡¯s courting death.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have another,¡± Mei Feng didn¡¯t give Song Yun a chance to speak and quickly filled their glasses.


    With one glass presented to Song Yun and the other in his own hand, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll drink first in respect; as I said before, drink as much as you wish.¡±


    ¡°Fight hard, and try to floor your adversary on the first go,¡± Li Shishi whispered to Song Yun, tugging at his sleeve.


    Song Yun smirked and imitated Mei Feng once more, downing the drink in one go.


    With no food lining their stomachs and two shots of high-proof liquor down, even someone accustomed to drinking like Mei Feng felt it, but his tolerance was strong; such a small amount wouldn¡¯t affect his speech or thoughts.


    He poured another for Song Yun, ¡°Three cups for tea but three shots for liquor.


    The last cup is still in your honor.¡±


    This ¡®three shots to get drunk¡¯ method, on top of not letting the opponent have any food, could confuse a less seasoned drinker, or even send them under the table.


    Seeing Song Yun¡¯s unchanged expression and the clarity in his eyes, Mei Feng knew he was facing a formidable foe.


    ¡°Ah, with a drinking buddy like you, a thousand cups are too few.


    I¡¯ll take a drink too,¡± said Mei Feng¡¯s colorful-haired earring-wearing sidekick, stepping forward to challenge Song Yun.


    ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t do this anymore, feeling a bit dizzy,¡± Song Yun suddenly acted as if he was close to drunkenness, his speech getting slurred.


    Mei Feng saw this and smirked.


    So the cool facade was all an act, eh?


    Now that he sees a drinking marathon coming, he¡¯s scared.


    But while the other guy¡¯s chickening out, he had to press on.


    ¡°What you¡¯re saying isn¡¯t right,¡± Mei Feng halted his underling¡¯s attempt to help him and egged Song Yun on.


    ¡°The thing men fear most is being a letdown.


    We¡¯re all here by chance, and drinking is meant to be fun, not complicated.


    ¡®Drink in the moment for there is no tomorrow¡¯, right?


    Why fret over everything else?


    If we¡¯ve started drinking, we can¡¯t stop now.¡±


    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you say, let¡¯s cut out the bullshit and bring everyone you¡¯ve got,¡± Song Yun slurred, pointing unsteadily at Mei Feng.


    Mei Feng and his companions were taken aback.


    The two behind him were seasoned drinkers too, and Song Yun was alone¡ªbrazenly challenging all of them.


    Understanding his cue, Mei Feng signaled; if Song Yun was seeking his downfall, they¡¯d gladly oblige.


    ¡°Song Yun, there are three of them.


    If it¡¯s too much, we can find an excuse to leave,¡± Li Shishi whispered.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.


    I still stand by what I said; let¡¯s drink however they want to drink today.


    ¡®A man won¡¯t perish; birds fly high not to die but to survive generations.¡¯ There¡¯s no need for nonsense at the drinking table,¡± Song Yun laughed loudly, his tone mocking, making everyone feel as though Mei Feng¡¯s side was losing.


    Provoked, Mei Feng sneered, ¡°All right then, let¡¯s see who¡¯s superior in drinking.


    No more silly games like rock-paper-scissors; we¡¯ll do a straight drink-off.¡±


    He ordered the waiter to bring several bottles of Guojiao, opened them one by one, and handed a bottle to Song Yun.


    ¡°We¡¯ll compete in speed drinking.


    Whoever finishes first wins.


    If you don¡¯t black out, we continue.


    Of course, if someone can¡¯t handle it, they are free to give up.


    I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡±


    ¡°Fine, we will drink as you¡¯ve suggested,¡± Song Yun smiled and nodded.


    Not even the old booze hound could match him; born with an innate tolerance to alcohol, and regular drinking sprees at his sect had crafted an almost unbeatable ability.


    It seemed today these three were going to crawl home.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s begin,¡± Mei Feng said, pouring a glass to the brim and began imbibing straight from the glass.


    ¡°Song Yun, shall we go?


    This kind of drinking really hurts the stomach,¡± Li Shishi said, a bit worried, tugging at Song Yun.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Song Yun flashed a reassuring smile at Li Shishi, took a sip of Guojiao, and discarded the use of glasses, opting to drink directly from the bottle.


    Li Shishi was astounded, and so was Mei Feng, who¡¯d been raised in a sea of liquor¡ªdamn it, who drinks like this?


    Not even ancient heroes guzzled booze so fiercely.


    In movies, although heroes drank heftily, it was mostly for show; liquor was poured over their bodies rather than into their mouths.


    Yet, here was Song Yun, downing it mouthful after mouthful without spilling a drop.


    Had this guy lost his mind?


    Such reckless drinking could kill a man.


    If you want to throw your life away, leave us out of it!


    If we continue to drink by the glass while you chug, people will say we¡¯re cowards.


    Drinking should be authentic, not pretentious.


    By the time the second bottle was a third empty, Mei Feng¡¯s companions had hit their limits.


    Seeing Song Yun gulping down Guojiao as if it were water, they staggered, and with a clatter, collapsed onto the table.

 Chapter 48 - 48 47 Play a Game

    ?48: Chapter 47 Play a Game 48: Chapter 47 Play a Game If it weren¡¯t for the waiter nearby paying close attention to the actions here, these two people would have surely flipped the table in front of them by now.


    Seeing Mei Feng¡¯s two henchmen lying on the table like dead dogs, Song Yun leisurely moved the liquor bottle away from his mouth, smiled at Mei Feng, then picked up the wet towel Li Shishi handed to him and wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth.


    ¡°Shall we continue?¡± Song Yun turned around and asked.


    Mei Feng¡¯s expression at this moment was ferocious.


    He was like a wild beast choosing its prey.


    Having been coddled by everyone since childhood, wherever he went he was revered.


    But today!


    He had been toyed with by someone from the lower class, and it was even he who had initiated it.


    He didn¡¯t know whether this was a tragedy or if he should just say this kid was a son of a bitch.


    He originally thought with three of them on his side, humiliating Song Yun would let Li Shishi see the true colors of the people around her, and she would decisively leave this poor guy.


    But who would have thought?


    He had already drunk more than half a liter of national liquor, yet he still appeared nonchalant without any sign of discomfort.


    His eyes, instead of being muddled from excessive drinking, became clearer the more he drank, just like a god of wine.


    Could it be that this kid was the reincarnation of a wine deity?


    ¡°Were you fooling me just now?¡± Mei Feng glared at Song Yun, enunciating each word through gritted teeth.


    ¡°Fooling you?


    What fooling you?


    I was just saying I couldn¡¯t do it, and you guys still insisted on making me drink.


    So now you start blaming me after you drank too much?


    Tell me, why are the upper-class so hard to serve?¡± Song Yun said with a grin as he watched Mei Feng.


    Mei Feng knew he was no match for Song Yun, but since he had already thrown down the gauntlet, he could only fight desperately.


    Even if it meant becoming dizzy, drunk, or vomiting blood, he couldn¡¯t back down now.


    If he gave in here, who knows what the crowd watching the excitement would say.


    Grabbing the glass, he suddenly thought of a clever plan.


    A sly grin appeared on his lips as he looked at Song Yun, ¡°Playing the simple drinking game is no longer very interesting.


    How about we play a fun game?¡±


    Although Song Yun found it a bit strange, he agreed.


    It was just another way to drink after all, how many tricks could there be?


    ¡°I know your tolerance is extraordinary and not like that of ordinary people.


    But my method of drinking is quite unusual: You set the liquor on fire and then drink it at the moment the flame burns brightest.


    What do you say?


    Do you dare try this way of drinking?¡±


    Alcohol is flammable and explosive and would ignite upon contact with fire.


    Although this national liquor was not as high-proof as Red Star Erguotou that could knock out a donkey, it was still liquor.


    If you set the liquor alight, and then poured the burning alcohol down your throat, without some protection for your stomach, you¡¯d undoubtedly suffer from gastric bleeding, and that¡¯s only a mild outcome.


    Any carelessness could result in a life-threatening situation.


    ¡°Are you sure you really want to compete this way?¡± Song Yun frowned and asked.


    ¡°Of course, if you¡¯ve never played this game before, I¡¯d advise you to just give up,¡± Mei Feng boasted, having seen someone else play this in extreme desperation at a bar before.


    This method required skill.


    If you were adept, it wouldn¡¯t cause much damage to your stomach, but for a greenhorn, well, after one glass they¡¯d end up in the hospital.


    Besides, seeing Song Yun hesitating, Mei Feng was convinced he had already won.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright?


    Or should I say, are you sure you won¡¯t have any issues playing this?¡± Song Yun asked, looking at Mei Feng with pity.


    ¡°Of course I¡¯m not.¡± Mei Feng said, somewhat irritated.


    Song Yun¡¯s worried look was really making his skin crawl.


    Could it be that he was actually concerned about his safety?


    Was he the type who seemed likely to lose?


    ¡°Alright then, since you¡¯ve said so, let¡¯s just play,¡± Song Yun shrugged nonchalantly.


    ¡°...¡± Mei Feng fell silent.


    Damn, this kid was completely unpredictable.


    Weren¡¯t you just cowering a moment ago?


    How could you risk your bright future for a mere game?


    Shouldn¡¯t you be forfeiting now so I can give you a way out, we part ways cheerfully, and then when it comes to the auction later, I flaunt my wealth and crush you completely?


    Mei Feng couldn¡¯t believe Song Yun had actually agreed, feeling a bit stuck now.


    Internally cursing, he had assumed Song Yun would back down, not expecting his frank acceptance.


    ¡°You... you¡¯re sure you won¡¯t regret it?


    I take no responsibility if something happens,¡± Mei Feng said, conflicted.


    ¡°No more nonsense.


    If you¡¯re going to play, play; if not, just forfeit,¡± Song Yun replied irritably.


    What was wrong with this kid?


    A moment ago he was eager for the game and now he was annoyingly indecisive.


    Mei Feng gave Song Yun a meaningful look, grabbed a lighter from the table, and with a flick, a blue and yellow flame leapt up in the glass.


    ¡°Song Yun, let¡¯s not play anymore.


    This is too terrifying,¡± Li Shishi said, urgently holding onto Song Yun.


    Hearing Li Shishi¡¯s words, Mei Feng¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened.


    If Li Shishi stubbornly prevented Song Yun from playing, it didn¡¯t matter to him if he provided a way out, but then...


    somehow it still felt like he was the one getting hurt?


    It seemed Song Yun¡¯s position in Li Shishi¡¯s heart was...


    quite high.


    At that moment, Mei Feng felt deeply injured.


    But the next moment, Song Yun shattered his illusions with his words, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve played this before.


    Trust me, I won¡¯t lose.¡±


    Damn, I¡¯ve been played, Mei Feng thought.


    I assumed you were a novice, but you¡¯ve already played this before.


    How could he save face?


    Knowing he couldn¡¯t avoid it now, Mei Feng clenched his teeth and stamped his foot, pouring the glass into his mouth.


    The burning liquid flowed down his throat like a series of sharp blades targeting his stomach.


    The searing and tearing sensations nearly made him pass out.


    The onlookers were stunned.


    The genteel ladies around were not accustomed to witnessing such a tense and thrilling drinking contest, particularly between Mei Feng, the big young master of the Mei Family, and the lover of Li Shishi, the young mistress of the Li Family.


    Mei Feng grabbed a cup of water from the table, took a gulp, waved to his bodyguard indicating he was fine, and then provocatively waited for Song Yun¡¯s performance.


    Song Yun nonchalantly shrugged, took an unused glass from the table, filled it up, and lit the liquor inside with a lighter.


    He held the glass, gave Mei Feng a mocking glance, and under the horrified gazes of everyone, he gulped down the burning alcohol in two swigs.


    He gestured to Mei Feng with the cup turned upside down to show that he had not spilled a single drop.


    After finishing the drink, unlike Mei Feng who hurried to drink water, he calmly sat on the stool, waiting for the next round of challenge.

 Chapter 49 - 49 48 s Auction

    ?49: 48 Chapters Auction 49: 48 Chapters Auction Mei Feng¡¯s forehead was covered in cold sweat, as he simply could not figure out why Song Yun showed no adverse effects after drinking.


    Wasn¡¯t he supposed to quickly drink water to suppress the searing pain that comes after drinking?


    How could he be so at ease?


    At this moment, Mei Feng realized he had made a big mistake, but it was already too late to back down.


    He had no choice but to keep competing with Song Yun until one of them could no longer stand it and either collapsed or was taken to the hospital.


    Although Mei Feng was deeply regretful, family honor and personal pride compelled him to continue.


    Seeing Mei Feng pour another glass of liquor, Song Yun grabbed his arm and asked, ¡°Are you sure you want to keep going?¡±


    ¡°Bring it on.¡± Mei Feng glared at Song Yun resentfully and responded.


    So Mei Feng once again grimaced his way through another painful round of fiery liquor, followed by Song Yun chugging down a glass as well.


    Mei Feng¡¯s face turned awkward because no matter how much Song Yun drank, he acted as if he were a celestial drinker, completely indifferent¡ªwrong, in the middle of it all, Song Yun even told Li Shishi a risque? joke, which earned him several disapproving glares from Li Shishi.


    People die like birds fly skyward, never dying in a hundred thousand years.


    Since neither was willing to concede defeat, the contest could only continue.


    When Mei Feng drank his fourth glass, perhaps his stomach revolted or he grew anxious, and he ¡°pfft¡± sprayed out the liquor that was about to reach his stomach.


    The wine event coordinator rushed over to support the staggering Mei Feng, grabbed a jug of water from the table, and endlessly poured some for him.


    After drinking the water, Mei Feng showed no signs of improvement; instead, he collapsed to the ground, dead drunk, spewing large mouthfuls of fresh blood.


    Mei Feng¡¯s expression was horrifyingly ferocious, causing everyone around to panic.


    They wondered how to handle the situation if Mei Feng died and his family came knocking on their doors, especially since the Mei Family was also a distinguished clan in Sunan, with only the Li Family behind Li Shishi able to contend with them.


    If the Mei Family harbored enmity because of this incident, it would be an unavoidable disaster.


    The wine event coordinator quickly instructed someone to call an ambulance, while some ladies began to scream at the sight of the blood, only stopping when their companions or best friends pinched them hard, making them cover their mouths immediately.


    The wine event turned chaotic, and Li Shishi looked worriedly at Song Yun, thinking that while it may look impressive for one to outdrink others, a negative reaction like Mei Feng¡¯s was no fun at all.


    ¡°Song Yun, are you alright?


    Do you want to go to the hospital with the ambulance?¡± Li Shishi asked with concern.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.


    This amount of liquor is nothing to me; I¡¯ve been immersed in liquor since I was young.


    It¡¯s no problem for me,¡± Song Yun reassured.


    After saying this, Song Yun squatted down and opened Mei Feng¡¯s mouth, checking the light reflex, then massaged several acupuncture points around his stomach, instructing the staff to get some honey water and the hotel personnel to buy some stomach medication from a nearby pharmacy.


    ¡°Hurry up and buy the medicine, or this young master of the Mei Family might not last until the ambulance arrives,¡± Song Yun said, glancing at the reluctant wine event coordinator.


    Song Yun then flipped Mei Feng completely over and tirelessly massaged the acupoints on his back.


    Under the worried gazes of those present, Mei Feng once again violently vomited several mouthfuls of fresh blood mixed with a strong alcohol odor that permeated the entire private room.


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to be alright, is he?¡± the wine event coordinator cautiously asked, noting that Mei Feng¡¯s vomiting of blood seemed to increase and even included blood clots.


    ¡°It¡¯s much better for him to vomit it out; otherwise, those blood clots accumulating inside would have adverse effects on his health.¡±


    After vomiting several mouthfuls of blood, Mei Feng¡¯s breathing slowly stabilized, and signs of retching became less frequent.


    After consuming honey water and stomach medicine, his symptoms significantly alleviated¡ªno more blood vomit, but he passed out.


    The wine event coordinator felt both angry and regretful; initially, it was meant to be a charity dinner.


    Why couldn¡¯t they just be superficially nice to each other?


    Colluding behind each other¡¯s backs, discussing the economic trends of the year as if they knew nothing of their interrelation; wasn¡¯t that enough?


    Did it really have to reach the point of drinking to death to be satisfied?


    Initially wanting to unleash his anger on Song Yun, the wine event coordinator reconsidered, realizing that Song Yun was a guest invited by Li Shishi of the powerful Li Family.


    If he antagonized the Li Family at this juncture, he really couldn¡¯t continue living in Sunan.


    Not long after, the ambulance arrived, the coordinators bid farewell to Song Yun, then followed the ambulance to the hospital.


    With such an incident, everyone¡¯s interest in the auction diminished; what auction could showcase such a clash of titans?


    None it seemed, but since it was a charity event attended by many social elites and media, it wouldn¡¯t look good not to auction anything.


    The host rang a small bell and announced to the crowd, ¡°The auction will now officially begin.


    Let¡¯s all contribute a blessing for the children in the mountainous areas.¡±


    ¡°Song Yun, last time at the hot pot restaurant, you casually identified Tang Yin¡¯s masterpiece.


    Do you know about antiques?¡± Li Shishi casually asked, sitting next to Song Yun.


    ¡°Antiques?


    I¡¯m quite familiar; I¡¯ve seen a lot before.


    At least, I can tell real from fake,¡± Song Yun replied, speaking indistinctly with a piece of apple in his mouth.


    ¡°Then, please help me see if there¡¯s anything good at this auction.¡±


    ¡°Considering today¡¯s free buffet, I¡¯ll keep an eye out for you,¡± Song Yun boasted with pride.


    A slick-haired auctioneer stepped under the spotlight, greeted everyone warmly, and began to enthusiastically introduce the items of this charity auction, gesticulating as if he was on a shopping channel exclaiming, ¡°Not two thousand eight, not two thousand eight, now everything is just nine-ninety-eight.¡±


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we are all old friends here, and it¡¯s an honor to stand on this stage as an auctioneer once again,¡± he declared without digression.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the first item up for bidding¡ªcourtesy of Mr.


    Wang, the Gem Red Flared Vase.


    This item has an opening diameter of 8.5 cm, height of 18 cm, and base diameter of 8.5 cm.


    The glaze is vibrant and shiny, an exceptional collectible.


    We¡¯ve completed the authentication, opening bid is two hundred thousand, with increments of fifty thousand.¡±


    As the crowd saw the vase, they went wild, continuously raising their hands; in a matter of moments, the price surged from the opening bid of two hundred thousand to four hundred eighty-five thousand, and yet people kept on adding ten or twenty thousand more each time.

 Chapter 50 - 50 49 Snatching a Man

    ?50: Chapter 49: Snatching a Man 50: Chapter 49: Snatching a Man Watching these people spend money like it was nothing gave Song Yun an intense pain in his heart.


    Damn it, so this is what the lives of the rich were like!


    Though he had a fair amount of savings himself, he had never been this extravagant¡ªthrowing around a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand in a single gesture.


    It seemed he really didn¡¯t know how to live.


    He felt like he was becoming just like those ancient nouveau riche who, when they got money, hid it in their pigsties, terrified that others would find out they were wealthy.


    But this crowd was terrified that others *wouldn¡¯t* know they were wealthy.


    Li Shishi glanced at Song Yun and asked, ¡°How does it feel?


    Should we bid on it?¡±


    ¡°The current price is five million one hundred fifty thousand, which is a bit over this item¡¯s intrinsic value, and...


    this vase might not be authentic.¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t be possible.


    The items here were carefully selected by everyone.


    They couldn¡¯t be fake,¡± Li Shishi said, somewhat surprised.


    ¡°It does look real, but that¡¯s only on the surface.


    Having handled so many antiques, I feel like this one is a fake¡ªit¡¯s just that the forger was too good at creating an authentic look.


    He has real skill,¡± Song Yun said slowly as he gazed at the vase.


    ¡°I advise you not to bid on it.¡±


    ¡°Mr.


    Li, aren¡¯t you going to join in?¡± The owner of the lot, Mr.


    Wang, came over with his large belly and said with a smile, ¡°The price of this item today has exceeded my expectations.


    As the owner, it¡¯s giving me a lot of face.


    But the biggest money here, Li Shishi, hasn¡¯t raised her hand once, which hurts my feelings.


    Could it be that Mr.


    Wang¡¯s face isn¡¯t worth fifty thousand?¡±


    ¡°Mr.


    Wang, I¡¯m not interested in this item, so there¡¯s no need to deny someone else¡¯s love,¡± Li Shishi replied, her face bearing a professional smile, without commenting on the authenticity of the piece.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s too bad,¡± Mr.


    Wang said with a regretful shake of his head.


    ¡°Then let me wish ahead of time that Mr.


    Li finds an item she likes.¡±


    ¡°This numbskull doesn¡¯t even realize he¡¯s being duped,¡± a voice came from behind Song Yun, who then turned around abruptly to see an old man dressed in traditional attire.


    The old man seemed to carry an air of arrogance; he gave Song Yun a glance and said slowly, ¡°Kid, I¡¯ve just overheard your conversation with Shishi.


    Tell me, how did you discern that this is a fake?¡±


    ¡°Well...


    there¡¯s no real trick to it.


    It¡¯s just that this Gem Red Flared Vase is too red; the color seems kind of greasy, and it feels fake,¡± Song Yun blurted out a reason, not sure if this old man was someone important.


    From the fact that the old man could tell the item was a fake, it was clear he was no ordinary man.


    ¡°Grandpa Liu?¡± Li Shishi spotted the old man standing at the back and said excitedly, ¡°What brings you to Tian Nan City?


    You didn¡¯t even give me a heads-up.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been so many years, and you¡¯ve become so beautiful.


    Yet, you didn¡¯t think to visit this old man in Tian Nan City,¡± the old man said, looking affectionately at Li Shishi.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve actually been planning to visit Tian Nan after a while,¡± Li Shishi said, showing a coquettish attitude Yu Ge had never seen before.


    ¡°Have you visited the old mansion?¡±


    ¡°This trip was a rush; I¡¯ll talk about that next time.


    That old codger, your grandfather, doesn¡¯t even call me during the holidays.


    Why would I take the trouble to see him?¡± After saying that, the old man fixed his gaze on Song Yun and said, ¡°Young man, you wouldn¡¯t happen to be the Song Yun that Old Man Li was boasting about over the phone, would you?¡±


    ¡°If everything went as expected, that¡¯s me...¡±


    ¡°Not bad; good judgment,¡± said the old man, closing his mouth afterwards without specifying whether it was Mr.


    Li¡¯s judgment in people that was good, or if it was Song Yun¡¯s eye for antiques.


    ¡°Grandpa Li, is this antique really a fake?¡± Li Shishi asked curiously.


    ¡°Fake.


    These charity events are getting worse year by year.


    They dare to display items that have been misidentified.


    Hmph, but the person who made this vase is also an expert.


    If they¡¯re willing to put their heart into their work, it¡¯s quite possible they could become a Grandmaster in decades.¡±


    ¡°What should I do then?


    I can¡¯t leave the auction without buying anything, right?


    People might talk,¡± Li Shishi said helplessly.


    ¡°First, join this old man for a cup of tea upstairs.


    There are good items in this auction; they¡¯re just being saved till last,¡± said Mr.


    Liu, and he waved to his bodyguard, who began to take care of it.


    In less than five minutes, the banquet organizer, who had rushed to the hospital earlier, hurried over, bowing and scraping to Mr.


    Liu and said, ¡°Mr.


    Liu, I had no idea you were here; I could have arranged the best private room for you.¡±


    ¡°So, do we have private rooms available now?


    It¡¯s too chaotic downstairs.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course.


    Even if the King of Heaven came, I¡¯d kick him out to save the best for you,¡± said the banquet organizer, then he led Mr.


    Liu towards the second floor.


    Meanwhile, Song Yun grew increasingly curious about who exactly this Mr.


    Liu was.


    Upon reaching the door of the private room and pushing it open, standing inside was a young woman dressed in a cheongsam.


    She was very graceful and delicate.


    She wore a simple copper hairpin with no other adornments.


    Plain-faced and with a mild demeanor, she curtsied, and then promptly took off Mr.


    Liu¡¯s shoes before slipping quietly out the door.


    Song Yun and Li Shishi did not receive the same treatment and took off their shoes themselves, following Mr.


    Liu inside.


    Song Yun felt that the best private room was indeed extraordinary¡ªthe plush carpet was soft and comfortable underfoot, and the sparsity of furnishings highlighted the striking green plants, with their dark green leaves intermixed with beige buds, imbuing the entire room with a rich orchid fragrance, refreshing the spirit.


    But what was really impressive was the floor-to-ceiling mirror by the window.


    Only those inside could look out, while from outside, it appeared pitch black.


    This was a significant enticement to certain big bosses with perverse tastes, such as multitasking between the auction and engaging in ¡®activities¡¯ with beautiful women by their side.


    Mr.


    Liu sat on the sofa and smiled at Song Yun, ¡°I heard from Old Man Li that you joined the National Security Bureau?¡±


    ¡°Just entered a few days ago, quite out of the blue.¡±


    ¡°No matter, no matter.


    To achieve so much at such a young age, if I had a suitable granddaughter, I would definitely marry her off to you.¡± After saying this, he noticed Li Shishi glowering playfully at him, so he waved his hand and laughed heartily, ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t have a suitable granddaughter, so naturally, I won¡¯t be stealing men from Shishi.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa Liu, what are you saying?


    Stealing men?


    I¡¯m not interested in him at all.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you speak amiss.


    Song Yun is brave and shrewd; he knows when to act and when to withdraw, and understands propriety.


    He is a rare good man.


    Shishi, you must hold onto him.


    You should know that a man like him is never short of women throwing themselves at him.¡±

 Chapter 51 - 51 50 Dragon Bone

    ?51: Chapter 50 Dragon Bone 51: Chapter 50 Dragon Bone Unaware how time had flown, the auction had now entered its final moments, and today¡¯s charity auction had raised over fifty million yuan.


    Especially noteworthy was a string of prayer beads worn by Qianlong during imperial rites, which sold for more than twenty million yuan, causing a sensation throughout the venue.


    With such a high fundraising total, it could be said that tonight¡¯s charity auction was a huge success.


    Those poor orphans would receive a great deal of financial support, with improvements to their education, living conditions, and diet.


    The auctioneer stepped aside, and the host returned to the stage.


    After gesturing for silence with a slight press of his hands, he cleared his throat and said, ¡°Next, we will auction the final item.


    This item has been provided by a kind-hearted individual who wishes to remain anonymous.


    I will now present this auction piece for you, so I hope everyone sharpens their eyes.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, an attendant carried a platter onto the auction stage.


    After unveiling the red cloth covering it, a segment of bone was revealed.


    That¡¯s right, it was simply a piece of bone, much like those you¡¯d see in the mouths of dogs by the roadside.


    However, this bone differed from those, as it emitted a somewhat blinding golden sheen under the direct spotlight.


    ¡°The starting bid for this item is one yuan, with no limit to incremental bids,¡± said the host before stepping aside to make room for the auctioneer.


    Below, the crowd exchanged bewildered glances, with everyone looking at each other wide-eyed.


    No one spoke up to bid on the item.


    Everyone had expected the final auction item would be a treasure of some sort, and many had even readied all their funds to bid on a heartfelt gem.


    But what was this piece of bone?


    Did they think we were dogs?


    If not for the powerful organization behind this auction, the crowd would have already started making a fuss.


    What was this nonsense?


    However, when Song Yun, who had been paying close attention to the stage from his private box, saw the piece of bone, his eyes suddenly lit up.


    Not just Song Yun¡ªMr.


    Liu, sitting opposite Song Yun, also became visibly more animated.


    ¡°This is indeed a good find,¡± Song Yun murmured, transfixed by the bone, ¡°Shishi, bid ten thousand yuan.


    Considering how many people below don¡¯t recognize what this is, we might just pick up a bargain.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s just a bone, isn¡¯t it?


    Worthless, right?¡± Li Shishi said with some doubt.


    ¡°No, no, no, you¡¯re mistaken, Shishi.


    This is indeed a good item.


    But the old man could use this thing.


    How about you leave it to me?¡± Mr.


    Liu asked intently, his gaze fixed on Song Yun.


    ¡°I will surely repay you handsomely afterward.¡±


    ¡°No, no, Grandpa Liu, Song Yun, you two are making me dizzy.


    What exactly is this bone that both of you are interested in?¡±


    ¡°This bone has a significant history¡ªit¡¯s a dragon bone,¡± Song Yun declared confidently.


    ¡°My old man also has a piece, though not the same size as this one.


    It¡¯s said that the dragon bone possesses divine powers.


    Those who consume it can extend their lifespan, and even wearing it for a prolonged period can cure chronic ailments, fostering a good circulatory system within the body.¡±


    ¡°Dragon bone?


    You¡¯re not joking, are you?


    There are no dragons in this world,¡± Li Shishi scoffed, thinking that Song Yun was deceiving her.


    ¡°Shishi, Song Yun¡¯s not lying to you,¡± Mr.


    Liu interjected with a frown.


    ¡°Though modern people might not believe in the supernatural, this is indeed a dragon bone.


    Alternatively, consider it a bone from a mystical beast.


    Ancient people believed it to be a dragon, the creature they worshipped.


    Since the founding of our nation, there have been continued reports about dragons in various places, all of which ended up sealed in archives, hidden from the public eye.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really curious who might be willing to auction off such a priceless bone,¡± Song Yun muttered, squinting at the bone on the stage, ¡°and what do you need it for, sir?


    If it¡¯s just for longevity, I have other items that can serve as substitutes, and their effects won¡¯t be any less potent than those of the dragon bone.¡±


    ¡°Ah, my reason for attending this auction in Sunan was also due to the news of a dragon bone,¡± Mr.


    Liu continued.


    ¡°Remember Ran, right, Shishi?


    She¡¯s been...


    it¡¯s like she¡¯s possessed by a ghost lately.


    We thought she was sick, but after seeing every hospital, we found Ran wasn¡¯t ill at all.


    Then, an expert visited our family and said something filthy had latched onto Ran.


    This malevolent spirit is formidable, and ordinary objects can¡¯t contain it.


    Thus, he advised that dragon bone, being supremely yang, could suppress such filth, which is why I¡¯ve been searching.¡±


    After these words, Mr.


    Liu aged a decade in a moment, his face devoid of the vitality he had on arrival as if his very being had been hollowed out.


    After hearing this, Song Yun shook his head and said, ¡°The dragon bone is indeed supremely yang, but...


    not to deceive you, I understand a bit about this subject.


    You might have been misled.


    While the dragon bone is supremely yang, it can¡¯t be used to protect a home, and if placed on a feng shui point, it will only attract more powerful, filthy spirits eager for the treasure.¡±


    ¡°How can this be?¡± Mr.


    Liu asked incredulously, his eyes widening.


    ¡°What if it¡¯s not placed on a feng shui point?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not placed on a feng shui point, then it¡¯s just an ordinary bone.


    To guard a home, it must be used in conjunction with several other items.


    Besides, using such a rare dragon bone for such a purpose is somewhat overkill.¡±


    ¡°So what am I supposed to do?


    Is my grandson¡¯s life meant to be so tragic?¡± Mr.


    Liu said with a face full of concern.


    ¡°Song Yun, help Grandpa Liu think of something,¡± Li Shishi pleaded anxiously.


    ¡°Ran has been a good friend of mine since childhood, and with your vast knowledge of divine skills, please help.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t handle this,¡± Song Yun shrugged, ¡°but I have a brother who can.


    How about this¡ªI¡¯ll bring him with me to your place tomorrow to see what can be done.¡±


    ¡°Is he reliable?¡± Mr.


    Liu asked cautiously.


    ¡°My brother has been a disciple of Yimei Dao, the Sect Leader of Wudang Mountain, since he was a child.


    He¡¯s well-versed in disciplines like geomancy.


    If he gets involved, no matter how formidable the filthy spirit, he¡¯ll surely get rid of it for you,¡± Song Yun boasted proudly.


    ¡°And you should head back now, sir, to find out who¡¯s targeting your family.


    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t suggest using a dragon bone as a dangerous feng shui remedy.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if someone¡¯s out to harm the Liu family, I won¡¯t let them rest easy.


    Song Yun, Shishi knows where my old home is.


    Come with her tomorrow.


    If you can cure Ran¡¯s illness, the Liu family will be an unwavering support behind you,¡± Mr.


    Liu stood up, his resolve returning just like when he had arrived.

 Chapter 52 - 52 51 The Glass Ball

    ?52: Chapter 51: The Glass Ball 52: Chapter 51: The Glass Ball Mr.


    Liu had left, and Song Yun had no choice but to buy the bone at an extremely low price.


    Everyone thought the auction would end there, but to everyone¡¯s surprise, the host nodded, albeit reluctantly, after a brief conversation with someone at his side.


    ¡°Everyone, please remain calm.


    Someone has just provided us with an item for auction, so in the spirit of aiding orphaned children, we plan to auction this piece.


    I won¡¯t waste your time with more words, let¡¯s have a look at the item,¡± the host announced.


    As the item was brought forward and the red cloth lifted, an ancient seal caught everyone¡¯s attention.


    An elderly man dressed in Tang attire, with white hair, came out of the crowd, his eyes alight with excitement as he looked at the seal and said, ¡°I am but a humble man, Zhou Wei, the Pavilion Master of Treasures Pavilion.


    May I have the honor of examining this seal?¡±


    Zhou Wei wielded considerable influence in the Ancient Artifact World, and solely in terms of appraising items, his Treasures Pavilion was ranked among the top three in Huaxia.


    Being the owner and the chief appraiser of Treasures Pavilion, he was now obviously captivated by the seal, making it clear to the onlookers that it was no ordinary item.


    ¡°The private seal of the Ancient Dian King, the private seal of the Ancient Dian King,¡± Zhou Wei exclaimed excitedly, ¡°a conservative estimate for this seal would be fifty million.¡±


    ¡°What?


    The private seal of the Ancient Dian King?


    Priced at fifty million?


    And that¡¯s the conservative estimate?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s terrifying.


    Just this one item could match the total value of everything else auctioned before,¡± murmured the crowd.


    Amidst the buzz of the audience, curious about who had brought forward the seal, a young man walked towards the stage and caressed the Ancient Dian King¡¯s seal saying, ¡°I am the owner of this piece.


    If you are interested, please bid and take it home as a collectible.¡±


    The guests murmured amongst themselves, especially the young women, who gazed at the young man with fervent admiration.


    He was young, handsome, and wealthy, undoubtedly a catch for marriage.


    Several of the vain girls in attendance had already decided to get his contact information at any cost, satisfied even with a fleeting romance if they couldn¡¯t marry him.


    At this moment, the big bosses were concerned with something else¡ªhis identity.


    It would determine their level of respect for him and how high the bidding for the Ancient Dian King¡¯s seal would go.


    ¡°May I ask how to address this gentleman?


    So I can properly introduce you to everyone.¡±


    By now, even Zhou Wei¡¯s attitude had become much more respectful.


    In his lifetime, he had seen many treasures but had only come across this sort of casual auctioning once before.


    Upon hearing Zhou Wei¡¯s question, everyone turned their curious gaze towards the young man.


    He didn¡¯t speak but gave a mysterious smile to the audience before stepping down from the stage.


    This move confused the bosses below; however, anyone who could easily auction off an item with a starting bid of fifty million must be extraordinary.


    Better to curry favor with him first.


    Thus, with speculative minds, the crowd began to bid.


    Eventually, the seal was acquired by Zhou Wei, the Pavilion Master of Treasures Pavilion, for seventy million.


    Although the seal did not became the Treasures Pavilion¡¯s prized possession, it certainly added to its prestige.


    Zhou Wei bid decisively, showing his determination to win, discouraging anyone from challenging his bid.


    Just when everyone thought the auction was about to conclude, the young man suddenly said, ¡°Good things come in pairs.


    While I have auctioned an item today, it does not reflect my glory.


    The truly distinguished person is the winner of the drinking contest earlier, Eldest Miss Li¡¯s companion.


    Moreover, what exactly is Eldest Miss Li¡¯s attitude today?


    From beginning to end, she only auctioned off a worthless bone.


    Could it be that the Hongtu Group is on the verge of bankruptcy?¡±


    Hearing her name mentioned, Li Shishi looked down and recognized the young man, who she knew very well.


    He was a member of the Yanjing Song Family.


    Although not of the direct lineage, the mere mention of the Song Family was enough to intimidate many.


    This man had pursued her since their freshman year of college and apparently had followed her here too.


    It seemed likely that what Mei Feng had done earlier was instigated by this troublemaker.


    ¡°Another suitor?¡± Song Yun curiously observed the young man below, with a smile.


    ¡°What are you smiling at?


    I¡¯m so annoyed.


    I thought I could slip through quietly today, but now he¡¯s set all eyes on me.


    If I don¡¯t make a significant donation, who knows what the newspapers will write,¡± Li Shishi complained with distress.


    ¡°Eldest Miss Li, after all, today¡¯s theme is to support orphans with charity work.


    With your enlightened thinking, you surely wouldn¡¯t mind contributing another piece for auction,¡± the young man called up with a crafty smile, looking at the second-floor box.


    Though the glass concealed the inside, he could imagine Li Shishi¡¯s infuriated expression, fueling his resolve even more.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to break down your pride and make you mine without a temper.


    Hmph, is the Su Nan Li Family really that impressive?


    Compared to our Song Family, they¡¯re mere novices.¡±


    Upon hearing the young man¡¯s words, all eyes in attendance turned towards Eldest Miss Li¡¯s box.


    None of them were foolish¡ªthey all knew this was a dig at her.


    But why were this young man and Eldest Miss Li at odds?


    Could there be some bad blood between them?


    Yet, what exactly was this young man¡¯s identity?


    For the time being, everyone remained neutral, as neither party was someone they could afford to offend; it was better to watch the drama unfold.


    ¡°What to do now?


    There isn¡¯t enough time to have something delivered for auction.


    It¡¯s all ruined.


    Hongtu Group¡¯s reputation of many years is spoiled by that scoundrel,¡± Li Shishi thought in panic.


    Below, the crowd was busy auctioning for the sake of orphaned children.


    Although their motivations varied, at least they were contributing funds, no matter how much or how little.


    But...


    she had spent only ten thousand today on a bone, which, although truly a priceless treasure, was unknown to the crowd¡ªwho would simply view her as stingy and uncharitable.


    Who would want to do business with her after this?


    ¡°Calm down,¡± Song Yun patted Li Shishi¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I have something here that we can auction right now if necessary.¡±


    ¡°All you have is the bone you just bought.


    Where could you possibly find a valuable item to auction for me?¡± Li Shishi replied, agitated.


    ¡°Who says I don¡¯t have anything?¡± Song Yun rummaged through his pocket and then handed Li Shishi a glass ball, ¡°Here, take this to auction.¡±

 Chapter 53 - 53 52 Not Knowing How to Appreciate Favors

    ?53: Chapter 52: Not Knowing How to Appreciate Favors 53: Chapter 52: Not Knowing How to Appreciate Favors A glass bead?


    When Li Shishi saw this, her mentality nearly exploded; are you joking with me?


    I¡¯m supposed to auction off a glass bead at such a grand charity event?


    If you don¡¯t auction anything off, at most, people will think you¡¯re uncharitable, like a skinflint.


    But if you try to fool people with this glass bead, none of those downstairs are pushovers.


    If this gets blown out of proportion with some publicity, that will really be something.


    ¡°What are you standing there for?


    Do you feel like I¡¯m being too kind to you, almost moving you to tears?


    Ah, don¡¯t really start crying, now.


    I know I¡¯m a good person all around.


    Just a little reminder, don¡¯t fall for me, because I¡¯m not responsible,¡± Song Yun said with a smug look whilst Li Shishi appeared on the verge of tears.


    ¡°Song Yun, do we have a grudge or something?


    Did I owe you something in my past life and now you¡¯re coming to collect it in this one?¡± Li Shishi said angrily as she kicked at Song Yun¡¯s shin.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m an idiot, or do you think the audience downstairs are, to think this tiny glass bead could fool them?


    That would be absurd.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Song Yun asked very seriously.


    ¡°I believe, but I trust my eyes more.


    There¡¯s a limit to fooling people.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you really shouldn¡¯t disbelieve.


    This is a treasure, I¡¯m telling you.


    For those in the know, it¡¯s worth a fortune, while only ignorant people like you would deem it worthless,¡± Song Yun sighed with a look of pity and indignation.


    ¡°Really?


    You better not be tricking me.


    If it¡¯s fake, there¡¯s bound to be a meeting about it within the group,¡± Li Shishi asked, half in doubt.


    ¡°Believe it or not; picking on the gift I¡¯m offering you?


    Fine, I won¡¯t give it.


    Figure it out yourself,¡± Song Yun said angrily, putting the bead back into his pocket.


    Li Shishi thought it over; there was no reason for Song Yun to deceive her.


    Not all treasures had to be dazzling, perhaps Song Yun really did have her best interests at heart.


    With that thought, Li Shishi quickly assumed a pitiful look, shook Song Yun¡¯s sleeve, and said, ¡°I know I was wrong.


    Can you lend me that bead, please?


    I shouldn¡¯t have doubted you.


    I deserve to die; I¡¯m not a good person.


    Song Yun, please stop being angry, okay?¡±


    ¡°Realizing your mistake now?


    Too late.


    Don¡¯t think acting cute with me will work.


    I¡¯m really angry now.¡±


    ¡°Song Yun, Brother Song Yun, I know I was wrong, please forgive me this once, okay?¡±


    ¡°Hold it!


    That¡¯s giving me goosebumps,¡± Song Yun said, rubbing his arms and shivering.


    ¡°Song Yun, I¡¯ll kill you,¡± said Li Shishi as she pinched the soft flesh under Song Yun¡¯s ribs and twisted it several times.


    In the end, Song Yun obediently handed over the bead.


    As Li Shishi and Song Yun went downstairs, the eyes of a young man lit up and he scanned Li Shishi with a predatory gaze.


    ¡°Shishi, you¡¯re finally here.


    If you don¡¯t have anything to auction, I can lend you something.


    Given our relationship, you don¡¯t have to return it,¡± the young man said, pounding his chest in a show of loyalty, as though he wasn¡¯t the one who¡¯d just pushed Li Shishi into a predicament.


    ¡°Thanks, but I did bring something today, so no need for you to trouble yourself,¡± Li Shishi said as she pulled out the glass bead.


    ¡°Ha ha ha, Shishi you¡¯re just too cute.


    How much could such a glass bead be worth?


    Ha ha ha, Hongtu Group isn¡¯t really going bankrupt, is it?


    That¡¯s hilarious,¡± the young man laughed, holding his stomach, as the others showed various expressions of anger or amusement on their faces.


    ¡°Mr.


    Zhou, please give it a valuation,¡± Li Shishi said, ignoring everyone¡¯s mockery and handing the bead to Zhou Wei.


    Zhou Wei really didn¡¯t want to appraise a glass bead and was silently criticizing inside, but with the Li Family backing Li Shishi and his stronghold being in Sunan, a few small setbacks from the opposition were not good news for Pavilion Master.


    Since that was the case, he certainly didn¡¯t want to offend Li Shishi.


    He set aside his status, stood up, walked towards Li Shishi, intending to take the bead into his hands and casually appraise it¡ªnaming a harmless price of a few hundred thousand would suffice.


    ¡°Shishi, this glass bead does look crystal clear.


    Who knows, it might actually be a treasure.


    Let¡¯s not auction it.


    How about I buy it for one million?¡± the young man blurted out, and everyone praised him as noble, harkening back to the gentlemen of ancient times.


    Only Li Shishi clenched her fists in silence while Song Yun stepped forward and patted her shoulder, ¡°You can¡¯t say that, this is an auction, not a flea market.


    What if this bead is worth more than one million?¡±


    At these words, the laughter that had been suppressed by the crowd suddenly broke free, echoing around the room.


    They had refrained from ridiculing Li Shishi previously, but now they found the ignorance of the young man incapable of seizing the opportunity to back down amusing, so they laughed uproariously as if it were the funniest joke in the world.


    ¡°So this bead is yours?


    That explains it; Shishi never has anything cheap around her.


    Kid, I¡¯m very curious how you managed to convince Shishi to harden her heart and auction off a glass bead worth mere pennies,¡± the young man said, his expression darkening as he stared at Song Yun with an icy tone.


    ¡°Nothing much.


    We just have a really good relationship, unimaginable to you.


    Are you satisfied now?¡± Song Yun retorted.


    ¡°You!


    What did you say?¡± the young man roared, like a lion provoked, but years of decorum stopped him from believing that throwing a tantrum in public was a good look, so he glared at Zhou Wei, ¡°Master Zhou, hurry up and do the appraisal.


    I want to see if this glass bead is worth a dime or just five cents.¡±


    Zhou Wei nodded, took a deep look at Li Shishi, sighed, and then calmly began to examine the bead in his hands.


    As soon as the white gloves touched the glass bead, a layer of ash immediately adhered to them, silvery-grey in color.


    As it fell to the floor and was hit by the light, it glittered spectacularly, like stars in the night sky.


    Meanwhile, the glass bead itself revealed a rainbow of colors, crystal clear and dazzling, leaving Zhou Wei momentarily stunned.


    He cleaned the glass bead hastily with the white gloves, held it up against the light, and scrutinized it carefully.


    Due to the light, the interior of the bead began to change amidst the colors, like an ocean of rainbows rippling incessantly.


    Looking at the glass bead in its simplicity, seemingly unremarkable, Zhou Wei held it, gazing at it in a daze, as if bewitched.


    Noting Zhou Wei¡¯s transfixed gaze, the crowd gained some understanding; it seemed the glass bead was of such insignificant value that even Zhou Wei found it hard to believe, hesitant to state its price outright.

 Chapter 54 - 54 53 Value 40000000!

    ?54: Chapter 53 Value 40,000,000!


    US Dollars!


    54: Chapter 53 Value 40,000,000!


    US Dollars!


    ¡°Master Zhou, you¡¯ve been staring at this glass bead for quite a while now.


    How much is it really worth so I can quickly buy it,¡± a young man glanced disdainfully at Song Yun and said.


    Zhou Wei¡¯s body trembled slightly, obviously just coming back to his senses, and he mumbled, ¡°Four thousand...


    four thousand.¡±


    ¡°What, only four thousand?¡± The whole room burst into laughter, then they looked at Song Yun with disdain, taunting him for his pretense.


    He refused one million before, and now it has been appraised at four thousand.


    Let¡¯s see where he puts his face now.


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s really something.


    I originally thought this glass ball was worth just a few cents, turns out it does have some value, hahaha, just four thousand, I¡¯ll buy...¡±


    Before the young man could speak, Zhou Wei suddenly shouted, ¡°I haven¡¯t finished my speech yet, this glass bead has a minimum value of forty million!¡±


    Forty million!


    Everyone was startled, taking aback by the surprise, but also found it strange.


    Even with forty million, Zhou Wei¡¯s shocked expression seemed exaggerated.


    Additionally, he had been so engrossed in examining the bead, and several of Zhou Wei¡¯s close friends had never seen him with such an expression before.


    Damn?


    This asshole actually has a glass bead worth forty million?


    His mother, seems this kid is not simple at all!


    Thinking of this, the young man felt an increasing sense of suffocation in his chest.


    Initially, he had instigated Mei Feng to challenge Song Yun, not expecting Song Yun to spit blood and then save his life by sending him to the hospital.


    Now, he underestimated Song Yun again, only to find out that he had such a high-priced bead, constantly slapping him in the face, again and again.


    ¡°Forty million?


    That¡¯s it, compared to my private seal, it¡¯s still much less valuable,¡± the young man, trying to calm himself, picked up a glass of wine and said.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t finished speaking...


    this forty million is in US dollars...


    not RMB,¡± Zhou Wei said tremblingly.


    What?


    Forty million US dollars?


    The young man felt dizzy when he heard the news, for with the current exchange rate, it equated to about 240 million, which was countless times higher than his own estimation.


    Presenting such a bead, not to mention others, even auctioning it himself would be challenging, as, despite his wealth, it was tied up in capital and real estate, with only about one hundred million readily accessible.


    Unless he immediately sold his properties in Yanjing and all his company¡¯s shares, it would be impossible to buy it.


    It wasn¡¯t just him; everyone else was stunned, their faces displaying utter disbelief.


    Zhou Wei had mentioned, this forty million was merely the base price.


    If it were placed in a more prominent and formal auction house, the price could potentially multiply several times over.


    ¡°Master Zhou, you wouldn¡¯t be accepting bribes from him, or fearing the Li Family, and purposefully quote a high price, right?


    Although this glass bead is special, it absolutely doesn¡¯t compare to my Ancient Dian King¡¯s private seal.


    That¡¯s a seal from a king of a nation, how could a mere glass bead compare to it?¡± the young man shouted, becoming increasingly furious.


    Hearing this, everyone felt the young man had a point and looked towards Zhou Wei, wanting an explanation.


    Now facing the crowd¡¯s skepticism, Zhou Wei couldn¡¯t afford to tarnish the reputation of his Treasure Pavilion.


    Zhou Wei grasped the glass bead and walked to the center of the auction stage, then instructed someone to bring a flashlight.


    Upon receiving the flashlight, he first turned off all the lights in the exhibition hall, then shone the light on the glass bead, and suddenly, the vast exhibition hall was immersed in a dazzling sea of colors.


    This bead, stunning in the darkness, highlighted its extraordinary nature, and admittedly, just its appearance alone was more upscale than that so-called Ancient Dian King¡¯s private seal.


    ¡°This colorful bead is the real body.


    Previously, because the room was bright, one had to get close to clearly see the interior of the bead.


    As far as I know, it¡¯s called the Glowing Pearl.


    You all know about Qin Shi Huang¡¯s Mausoleum, right?


    It is said that Emperor Shi, before his death, moved the entirety of the Da Qin Empire into the mausoleum, replicating mountains, rivers, night skies, and star maps completely within the mausoleum.


    And supposedly, this bead is the one Emperor Shi used to inlay into the star map as the brightest star.


    It is extremely rare worldwide, and the wearer can have effects such as prolonging life, delaying aging, and revitalizing vitality,¡± Zhou Wei explained.


    ¡°As of now, to my knowledge, there are only two Glowing Pearls in existence¡ªone held by a mysterious power and the other kept in the mouth of the Great Ancestor.


    This one is the third, meaning my appraisal of forty million US dollars was an underestimate, for this bead is priceless.¡±


    Bullshit third one, this is actually the one from the mysterious power, after all, he was the leader of that power.


    Though Song Yun internally criticized Zhou Wei, he also admired him somewhat for being able to identify the Glowing Pearl.


    It seems he had some discernment.


    Hearing the name Glowing Pearl, although others didn¡¯t quite understand, the mere fact that only two existed already proved its preciousness.


    Now that a third had appeared, a value of forty million US dollars was completely reasonable, and probably Zhou Wei even underestimated the price.


    The young man collapsed into his chair, his face filled with anger.


    He originally intended to humiliate Song Yun, but instead, he ended up humiliating himself.


    ¡°This asshole, how could he be so lucky to have a Glowing Pearl?¡± the young man muttered resentfully as he glared at Song Yun.


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s just auction it off, and cut the crap.


    But let me advise everyone, I come from the Yanjing Song Family, I hope everyone can understand the pros and cons here.¡±


    As soon as the young man said this, it caused quite a stir among the crowd.


    The Yanjing Song Family was regarded as the top within the five major families of Huaxia, and this identity was something many looked up to.


    Now with the young master of the Song Family having spoken, even if they liked the bead, they had to hold back.


    ¡°This...¡± The auctioneer hesitated for a moment.


    Although he wasn¡¯t familiar with the Yanjing Song Family, he at least knew how to read the room.


    Everyone below was already shocked beyond belief, and the looks from the young ladies could match the national spinach harvest in autumn.


    If he didn¡¯t realize this young man was incredibly influential, then he wouldn¡¯t survive in his job.


    ¡°Hehe, suit yourselves.


    Since I¡¯ve brought this bead out for charity, let¡¯s start the bidding at one US dollar.


    If you want to bid, bid; if not, forget it.¡±


    Damn, an item worth forty million US dollars starting at one dollar?


    That¡¯s definitely showing off, but since it¡¯s his item, he can auction it however he wishes.


    ¡°Song Yun, how about this?


    I, Mr.


    Zhou, do have some financial strength.


    How about I offer sixty million US dollars for this bead?¡± Zhou Wei earnestly asked.


    Even though he feared the Yanjing Song Family, such a treasure might only be seen once in a lifetime, so he couldn¡¯t help but speak up.


    ¡°Master Zhou, this is for charity, let¡¯s stick to the rules.


    I bid forty million US dollars for this bead,¡± Song Yun shouted towards the auction stage.

 Chapter 55 - 55 54 Feeling of a Boiling Brain

    ?55: Chapter 54 Feeling of a Boiling Brain 55: Chapter 54 Feeling of a Boiling Brain ¡°You¡¯re spending four million US dollars to buy back the item you put up for auction,¡± the young man gritted his teeth and glared at Song Yun.


    ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°None of your business!


    Can¡¯t a rich man like me donate a little more out of goodwill?¡± Song Yun looked down on the other party and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t there no buyers anyway?


    Can¡¯t I practice some vertical integration here?


    Why are you high society types so hard to please?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just a bastard,¡± cried the young man in frustration.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to see where you¡¯ll produce those four million dollars.¡±


    Every company owned by the people present was worth more than a billion, or even higher, but that was just the market value.


    They didn¡¯t have much liquid cash in hand.


    After deducting some real estate and company stocks, each could muster up, at most, tens of millions or just under a hundred million.


    Song Yun¡¯s bid of four million dollars took everyone by surprise.


    Could this guy also be some hidden rich second generation or a major tycoon¡¯s son?


    ¡°Waste of space, when you can¡¯t cough up the money yourself, you start mocking others.


    You might as well continue your pathetic existence and stop embarrassing the Song Family,¡± said Song Yun.


    If this had happened a little earlier, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have had the money.


    But Zhao Yan was here, and that guy was a miser with VIP cards from top banks around the world.


    Even the card they robbed together during the last meal had at least fifty or sixty million dollars.


    He could definitely cover today¡¯s show-off event.


    Everyone was expecting to enjoy Song Yun¡¯s spectacle, but then he just swiped his card for the transfer as smoothly as one would buy vegetables at a market.


    But before anyone could react, Song Yun had already left the stage, holding Li Shishi¡¯s hand as they exited the auction.


    Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Sunan City, in an abandoned warehouse, Xia Tian and a group of Law Enforcement Hall Disciples were spread out, each vigilantly covering their assigned areas.


    Xia Tian stood by a second-floor window of the warehouse and gazed out thoughtfully.


    At that moment, she heard a faint jingling of bells from the stairwell and instinctively turned, performing an awe-inspiring leap.


    Her hands braced on the railing, she somersaulted and landed on the other side of the stairwell entrance, hugging the wall.


    Her hand deftly drew a sharp, glistening knife blade from her bosom, thin and brittle as if it would snap in two with a slight bend.


    Xia Tian slowed her breathing, seamlessly performing these actions, which could leave even the most physically fit gasping for breath.


    Her exquisitely beautiful face, reminiscent of a celestial maiden, and her lipstick-red lips looked particularly glaring and eerie on the moonlit night.


    Hugging the base of the wall, Xia Tian crept toward the stairwell corridor.


    The first thing to come into view was a beefy arm holding a gun.


    She arched her body slightly, suddenly appearing in the hapless man¡¯s line of sight.


    Her left hand curved into a claw, thumb, and index finger mimicking a Buddha¡¯s ¡®picking flowers¡¯ gesture, clamping the intruder¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple.


    Her right hand silently plunged the knife blade into the man¡¯s left chest side, between the fourth rib from the bottom, where the heart and major blood vessels lay close.


    Whether she hit the heart or sliced a major artery, she was the ultimate victor¡ªthe prize was the man¡¯s life.


    In an instant, her blade accurately penetrated the man¡¯s heart, and to ensure his demise, she sliced through a major artery as she withdrew the knife, sealing his fate.


    After completing this sequence, Xia Tian hoisted the body over her shoulder and threw it at another man, who was caught off guard.


    She drew another knife and, seizing the moment of his surprise, made a swift cut, the seemingly non-lethal blade leaving a line of blood that turned from thin to thick across his neck¡¯s artery.


    Blood sprayed instantly, and the Desert Eagle he was holding was casually taken by Xia Tian, who graciously returned a bullet to him, hitting him squarely in the forehead.


    The last man appeared, his expression terrified as Xia Tian pressed the knife to his temple and stuffed her gun into his mouth.


    This Xia Tian, who had killed two robust assassins in less than half a minute, her eyes shining coldly, said in a tone devoid of any emotion, ¡°Who sent you?¡±


    ¡°I...


    I don¡¯t know.


    I only know they were after you.


    Our employer spent four million dollars on your head, which is why all these assassins gathered together,¡± said the man with a deathly pale face.


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no point in keeping you alive then, is there?¡± Xia Tian said with a light chuckle.


    ¡°No, I also know that you¡¯re not the only one on the hit list.


    There¡¯s another,¡± spoke the man tremulously.


    ¡°Oh?


    Who could it be besides me?¡±


    ¡°The man¡¯s name is Blood-colored Shura, ranked in the top three of the assassins¡¯ leaderboard.


    But we know we¡¯re no match for him, so we gave up on his contract.


    Only one foolish kid took it.¡±


    Xia Tian, now with a seductively charming face, covered her mouth with a laugh.


    ¡°You guys can come after me, but why go and poke him?


    Are you not dying fast enough?


    Haha, hearing this news suddenly improved my mood.


    I¡¯ll ask you a question, and if you answer correctly, you can leave.¡±


    The man nodded, and Xia Tian asked with a smile, ¡°Do you know what happens to a person¡¯s brain if their skull is opened while they are still alive?¡±


    The increasingly uneasy man swallowed, gazing at his long-dead comrades, he shook his head slowly, not understanding what this woman with an angelic face and a devilish figure was planning.


    Suddenly, an acute pain surged through his forehead, a cutting sting penetrating the skin.


    Just as he cried out, Xia Tian had already circled his crown with her knife blade.


    Then she slapped her palm sharply onto his forehead.


    With the sound, the skull cap flew off, and the man¡¯s brain, like boiling water, bubbled fervently within the cranial cup.


    Xia Tian looked at the suffering assassin and gave him a shot with a laugh, saying, ¡°Now you know what kind of reaction the brain has if the skull is lifted while alive.


    You also understand the feeling of a brain boiling.¡±


    Kicking aside the three corpses before her, she picked up a silken thread with small bells attached to the end, both sides sticky with chewing gum.


    She picked up the radio and said, ¡°How are things on your end?


    Any casualties?¡±


    ¡°Nothing major.


    Lao San had to take a knife for me, but we¡¯ve got the medicine on him now.


    How about you?¡± said the respectful voice from the other side.


    ¡°I had three visitors; all taken care of.


    Send a couple of guys to handle the bodies and exterminate any remaining hideouts.


    I don¡¯t want anyone harassing me along the way,¡± Xia Tian said before hanging up.


    She returned to her spot by the warehouse window, lost in thought.


    Three minutes later, three men dressed in black began to clean up the bodies.


    Ten minutes on, from outside the warehouse, chilling howls rose.


    In a blink, over a dozen assassins lay on the ground, with a clear line of blood at their necks.

 Chapter 56 - 56 55 Something Feels Wrong

    ?56: Chapter 55 Something Feels Wrong 56: Chapter 55 Something Feels Wrong In the realm of novels, every novel harbors its essence, and through the day and night labors of its authors, each legend and adventure is vividly brought to life before us.


    The most famous of these legends is that, in every novel, the male lead character always sports a halo, and heaps of unbelievable good fortune follow one after another.


    For instance, there¡¯s the one who tumbles down a mountain, crosses over to another world, and ends up as the most kickass being there, or the one who, while walking, gets struck by lightning, has his soul ascend to Heaven, and starts advancing towards the Jade Emperor¡¯s throne.


    Or, there¡¯s the one who falls into water, gets saved by a beauty, and after rescuing him, the two live a wonderful life together.


    The least fortunate and most frequently mentioned scenario is the protagonist getting knocked down in a fight, with the idiotic enemy foolishly sparing him, leading to the protagonist finding the most top-tier martial arts manual, or something like a millennium-old vermilion fruit, and suddenly becoming incredibly awesome.


    Of course, all that¡¯s nothing.


    Those examples above are quite ordinary.


    The most delightfully discussed is about a loser who stumbles upon a necklace or a ring while walking down the road by chance.


    These items contain a sealed old person who casually throws you a hundred and eighty books on immortality cultivation, all sorts of Divine Weapons, and before you know it, you¡¯re soaring through the universe, with the Jade Emperor, Tathagata, and even God falling short against you.


    You hold the Xuanyuan Sword in your hand, followed by a vast army of beauties.


    Just thinking about it is thrilling.


    Song Yun used his phone¡¯s selfie function to take a look at himself, and after a long time, could only deduce one word to describe himself: handsome.


    Such a handsome person like myself must at least have a protagonist¡¯s halo, right?


    Even if I can¡¯t cultivate to immortality or anything, at the very least, I should be powerful enough that no one would dare provoke me.


    But when he turned back and saw Li Shishi sitting there expectantly, like a foodie waiting for him to serve food, Song Yun felt his life was utterly pathetic.


    Others have poetry and wine; I have tea, rice, oil, and salt.


    Oh heavens, how unfair!


    Drop a Lin into my life at least.


    ¡°What are you howling about?


    Hurry up and cook; after we eat, we still have to head to Tian Nan,¡± Li Shishi said, kicking Song Yun in the shin irritably.


    Seeing this, Song Yun could only obediently finish cooking and also thoughtfully notify Li Tang, planning to set out for Tian Nan shortly after.


    After eating and picking up Li Tang, the three traveled for over an hour to arrive at the Liu Family¡¯s old residence in Tian Nan.


    Mr.


    Liu had received the news early and personally came out to welcome them.


    When he saw the Daoist-like presence behind Song Yun with Li Tang holding a Compass and dressed in a Daoist robe, he couldn¡¯t help but believe a little.


    ¡°Mr.


    Liu, you can tell us what¡¯s really going on now, right?¡± Song Yun asked solemnly as they entered the house.


    ¡°It all started when Xiao Ran went traveling a while back.


    After she returned, she locked herself in her room and hardly ever came out, no matter who called.


    Later, after forcefully breaking in, Xiao Ran claimed she felt like she was being watched every day; those eyes made her feel there was nowhere to hide.


    At first, thinking it was a psychological illness, we called a psychologist for testing, but all the test results were standard without any issues.


    But with such tight security here, how could she feel as if she was being watched?


    During this time, an expert came by and said Xiao Ran had been tainted by some filthy thing, and only dragon bones could suppress the malevolence and drive it away,¡± Mr.


    Liu said helplessly.


    ¡°This just got interesting, dragon bones to suppress the residence, and without several other objects to accompany them, they¡¯re inviting disaster upon your household,¡± Li Tang said with a sneer.


    ¡°Plus, you brought this upon yourself willingly, bringing the dragon bones on your own accord.


    He doesn¡¯t get involved in causality, indeed he¡¯s an expert; just an expert who wants to see your family fall into ruin.¡±


    ¡°What should we do now, sir?¡± Mr.


    Liu hurriedly asked.


    ¡°How about...


    we go upstairs first and see how Xiao Ran is doing?¡± Li Shishi interjected from the side.


    ¡°You guys go ahead; I need to check if anything¡¯s been arranged around this house.


    If there is, I¡¯ll deal with it and then join you,¡± Li Tang said, dragging the Compass along and following a servant out.


    As for Song Yun, he followed Mr.


    Liu to Xiao Ran¡¯s bedroom door on the second floor.


    The bedroom door was locked from the inside, and, left with no choice, they had to forcibly break in.


    Upon entering the pitch-black room, the curtains were tightly drawn, not a single ray of light penetrating the darkness.


    ¡°Don¡¯t come in here, don¡¯t come in!¡± came a shrill cry from the bed¡¯s cocoon of blankets.


    Song Yun, without hesitation, went straight up and flung the curtains open, instantly filling every corner of the room with sunlight.


    ¡°In such conditions, even if there was nothing wrong to start with, it¡¯d be enough to drive someone crazy,¡± said Song Yun, frowning.


    ¡°Who are you?


    Get out, get out of my room!¡±


    Song Yun motioned for Li Shishi and Mr.


    Liu to stay out while he opened all the windows in the room, and then he picked up an apple from the fruit platter and placed it in the center of the room.


    Honestly, Song Yun had no experience with exorcising ghosts, but he had heard from Li Tang that sometimes, when a room¡¯s atmosphere becomes dark or devoid of human presence, it attracts wandering ghosts to take up residence.


    If approached with sincerity, offering a few kind words could potentially coax them away; Song Yun was eager to try a peaceful approach.


    Lighting three cigarettes, he held them respectfully with both hands and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know which great immortal is in this room, but now that people are living here, please find another place to go.


    In the future, we will build a temple for you and seek spiritual progress.


    When our work is complete, we will cast a golden statue for you.¡±


    With no incense available, he had to use the cigarettes as a substitute.


    Song Yun held the cigarettes as he paid respects to all directions, loudly repeating the plea thrice, after which he placed the cigarettes in front of the apple.


    Now it was up to the lone ghost to show some grace¡ªif so, the cigarettes would burn rapidly, but if not, they would burn as usual.


    It seemed that the entity in the room wasn¡¯t willing to leave, and Song Yun sighed, ¡°No good, this room can¡¯t be cleared.¡±


    ¡°Get out, get out of my room!¡±


    ¡°Shut up, can¡¯t you see I¡¯m busy?¡± Song Yun suddenly shouted, startling the girl hiding under the blanket into silence.


    ¡°Song Yun, what¡¯s the situation now?¡± Mr.


    Liu asked softly as he approached.


    ¡°If it were just a filthy entity, it would be easy to deal with, but I have a different feeling about this,¡± Song Yun said, furrowing his brow.


    Having emerged from a life of blood and carnage, he was already steeped in bloodlust and an aura of death, things that wandering ghosts would avoid at all costs, let alone provoke him.


    ¡°Are you saying there¡¯s more than one in the room?¡± Mr.


    Liu asked, astounded.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean.¡± Song Yun sighed, then, struck by a sudden thought, hurriedly closed the windows and again drew the curtains, plunging the room back into darkness.

 Chapter 57 - 57 56 s Invoking the Gods

    ?57: 56 Chapters: Invoking the Gods 57: 56 Chapters: Invoking the Gods ¡°You...


    what are you doing, Song Yun?¡± Li Shishi shivered and asked.


    ¡°There was already that thing in our room, and now you¡¯ve made it pitch black.


    Are you trying to scare someone to death?¡±


    ¡°If it feels like no one is watching, I suspect this room has been fitted with cameras,¡± Song Yun said with narrowed eyes.


    Then he turned on the camera function on his phone, scanned the room, and sure enough, found three tiny cameras the size of rice grains hidden around the room, which would have definitely gone unnoticed without a thorough look.


    ¡°Are these cameras?¡± Mr.


    Liu exclaimed in surprise.


    ¡°Where did you find them?¡±


    ¡°These three cameras are placed respectively at the bedside, in the bathroom, and inside the desk,¡± Song Yun said coldly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the cameras.


    ¡°This is really no small matter to dare install such things.¡±


    Just thinking that her best friend might become the main character on some websites, Li Shishi felt a chill run down her spine.


    ¡°This person who installed the cameras is simply too hateful.


    How did you find there were cameras in the room?¡±


    Holding a camera, Song Yun explained, ¡°If someone wants to peep, they would definitely choose the smallest model, and pinhole cameras are the best option.


    Pinhole cameras are good in every aspect except one¡ªthey have an infrared sensor that automatically compensates for light in dark environments, and can be detected with a phone¡¯s camera.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Li Shishi exclaimed, taking a deep breath.


    ¡°Then it all makes sense now, so there really wasn¡¯t that thing in the room.¡±


    ¡°No, there really is that thing in this room,¡± Song Yun said gravely.


    ¡°The pinhole camera was just a minor incident.¡±


    ¡°Then should we quickly drive it away?¡± Mr.


    Liu couldn¡¯t take it any longer, the constant ups and downs felt just like a rollercoaster.


    Initially, he thought catching the person who installed the camera would solve everything, but now he realized the dirty entity was still present.


    Before Song Yun could respond, Li Tang pushed the door open and entered, laughing as he did so, ¡°Boss, the thing in this room is not simple at all.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything outside?¡±


    ¡°There were some minor settings, but I have broken them.


    However, it¡¯s clear that they want this family to be scattered and destroyed.


    It¡¯s vicious, and I don¡¯t know who would go to such lengths,¡± Li Tang pondered for a moment then said, ¡°Heaven has the virtue of good life, let me invite him first, to see if he is willing to move.¡±


    After that, Li Tang took out an incense burner from his backpack, placed it where Song Yun had earlier put an apple, and then lit three sticks of incense in the middle, adding two more candles next to the burner.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know which deity or ghost you are, but your persistent haunting is not right.


    If you give us face and leave immediately that¡¯s fine, but if you don¡¯t show us respect, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless,¡± Li Tang said sternly.


    ¡°Forget it.¡± Suddenly, a voice came from an unknown corner of the room, startling everyone present.


    Li Tang narrowed his eyes, ¡°Respect the wine not, face the consequences, you are doomed today.¡±


    ¡°Damn Taoist, you get out.¡± The same voice resounded in the room again.


    This disembodied voice gave everyone an eerie feeling.


    ¡°Ha, I told you, you¡¯re doomed,¡± Li Tang reached into his pocket and pulled out four ancient coins.


    The setup for these ancient coins was meticulous, specifically using ¡®all family coins,¡¯ which had passed through countless hands and were infused with blessings.


    Only Qing dynasty copper coins were chosen, why specifically from the Qing era is unknown.


    Placing the four ancient coins precisely around the incense burner, representing the four cardinal directions, northeast, southwest, southeast, and northwest, Li Tang sat in front of the incense burner and solemnly said, ¡°I invite The Three Pure Ones, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, Zhao Erlang, Yue Wang Ancestor, Li Gong True Man, East Mountain Elder, South Mountain Little Sister, South Sea Guanyin, Fuxi Shennong, Emperor Xuanyuan, Thunder God Emperor, Pangu Saint King, Earth Mother Sovereign, Jade Emperor, Hengshan Qilang, Luo Mountain Nine Lang, Five Peaks Great Earth, Divine Sky Palace, Dragon Tiger Xuantan Zhao Yuan Shuai, Sanmao True Monarch, Five Stars and Twenty-Eight Constellations, all deities holding talismans and spells.¡±


    ¡°With Li Tang leading the ritual, may we save all beings from suffering, cure diseases, resurrect the dead, exorcise demons, and ward off the evil.


    May the mighty spirits protect us, responded to thousands of calls, never failing to appear, evil spirits show yourself, evil ghosts devour yourselves.¡±


    After Li Tang¡¯s invitation, a piercing scream erupted from a corner of the room, and the figure of a man appeared vaguely within everyone¡¯s sight.


    Song Yun wasn¡¯t too scared as he was protected by his vital energy.


    As for Mr.


    Liu, he had seen much and remained composed, but it was different for Li Shishi who screamed and hid in Song Yun¡¯s embrace, Song Yun holding her felt somewhat cold.


    Song Yun realized, he could resist the chilling aura released by the ghost, but Li Shishi was different as she was merely a mortal and would definitely be affected.


    ¡°Li Tang, we still have two ordinary people here, their bodies can¡¯t hold out much longer, please reinforce them with a spell,¡± Song Yun said in a deep voice.


    Li Tang gestured and loudly proclaimed, ¡°With the noble gods¡¯ majestic arrival, equipped with the Purifying mouth charm.


    Let it be known, proclaiming the Great Monad¡¯s astral responses to changes, driving away evil and binding spirits, protecting life and body, wisdom clear and mind at peace, three souls everlasting, not losing the essence, quickly, as the decree commands.¡±


    With this reinforcement, Li Shishi felt a bit warm and her courage gradually returned, at least daring to confront the evil ghost directly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know your mistakes?¡± Li Tang stood up and shouted, ¡°If you don¡¯t acknowledge your fault, you will be utterly annihilated.¡±


    ¡°Damn...


    damn Taoist, I want you dead.¡± The evil spirit screeched, suddenly breaking free from its spiritual restraints and lunged at Li Hu.


    The evil spirit dared not touch Song Yun, as his body was protected by Ding Yan¡¯s Fire, and the bodies of Li Shishi and Mr.


    Liu had also been fortified through the spell and become untouchable.


    Now, the only option was to deal with this detestable Taoist first.


    ¡°Ha, disgraceful creature,¡± Li Tang retreated while forming hand seals and shouted, ¡°By decree of the Jade Emperor, divine ink is potent, appearing as mist and fog, reaching up to the Nine Stars.


    Divine ink refined, lightning entangled, urgently as the law commands.¡±


    Seeing this, Song Yun hurriedly took a few steps back with Li Shishi and Mr.


    Liu, just as Li Tang began radiating light, a trace of lightning flickering in the palm of his hands: ¡°By the unmatched command, I may use myself to enact justice, to pardon those who defy the laws below the heavens.¡±


    After Li Tang roared, the entire room suddenly became unbearably bright, and Song Yun quickly covered Li Shishi¡¯s eyes shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t open your eyes, or this light could blind you.¡±


    As the lightning passed, Li Tang sat weakly on the ground, looking at the hardly better off evil ghost and said, ¡°So you still think you¡¯re tough, huh?


    But you won¡¯t last long against me.¡±


    ¡°Invoking the Heavenly Flipping Spirit Seal into my palm, as the Heavenly Emperor I wield the Spirit Seal, cracking the heavens open, splitting the earth, granting mortals longevity, and eradicating ghosts.


    Commanded by Lord Lao Zi, urgently as the law commands,¡± Li Tang was serious now, not merely attacking but invoking divine assistance, which meant a significant toll on his body.


    ¡°AAAAAH!¡± Li Tang roared, his body trembling.


    Just as he opened his eyes, a flash of golden light passed through them, ¡°I am the Northern True Martial Emperor, you insignificant ghost hasten to leave, or must you await my direct intervention?¡±


    The sound was like a lion¡¯s roar that deafened everyone around., If not for Song Yun¡¯s prior instructions for Li Shishi and Mr.


    Liu to cover their ears, the two would certainly have been disoriented by the shout.


    ¡°Ha, just a pathetic vengeful ghost, a suicide not within the five elements, merely outside the cycle of reincarnation, you are rootless,¡± Li Tang said solemnly.


    ¡°Out of respect for heaven¡¯s grace of cherishing life, I will give you a minor punishment today.


    Do not commit evil again or I will personally exterminate you.¡±


    After saying that, Li Tang swiftly appeared above the ghost and lightly tapped its forehead.


    The ghost, as if hit by a train, was thrown against the wall and could no longer move.

 Chapter 58 - 58 57 Cut Off a Few of Your Fingers

    ?58: Chapter 57: Cut Off a Few of Your Fingers 58: Chapter 57: Cut Off a Few of Your Fingers Li Tang shuddered all over and came to his senses.


    ¡°It seems that the great deity still has some compassion.


    Since that¡¯s the case, I cannot go against the deity.


    I¡¯ll just have to teach you a lesson today.¡±


    The evil ghost got up from the ground, its form flickering in and out of visibility, and kowtowed to Li Tang, ¡°From now on, I will be a good ghost and will no longer do evil.¡±


    Watching the evil ghost dissipate into a wisp of dust, Li Tang collapsed to the ground with a clang, too weak even to lift a finger.


    Song Yun, with effort, helped him to a chair, ¡°Was it necessary to risk your life like that?


    You even resorted to invoking the god.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, which deity attached itself to me?¡± Li Tang forced a smile and asked.


    The practice of summoning gods dates back to ancient times, where shamans would offer their bodies as puppets for the deities from heaven to descend at will.


    Now, however, summoning gods is a secret door of the Taoist lineages, not to be passed on to anyone outside the direct descent.


    Li Tang¡¯s master was a leading figure in Taoism worldwide and would certainly have taught this skill to Li Hu.


    ¡°You really had some clout just now, bringing down the Northern True Martial Emperor,¡± Song Yun said with a chuckle.


    ¡°And really, the scene was absolutely awe-inspiring.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, we Taoists who summon gods all have a patron deity, and when summoning, we must call upon that deity.


    My master only told me that my patron deity is very powerful, but he never told me who it is.


    Now it seems to be true,¡± Li Tang said with a grin, ¡°Today¡¯s summoning is enough for me to boast about for a lifetime.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a summoning; I believe Emperor Zhenwu will surely look after you,¡± said Song Yun, pouring a glass of water for Li Tang.


    ¡°No, the path of summoning gods is always dangerous.


    Many people can¡¯t handle the gods¡¯ backlash and end up with their Dao destroyed and meeting their demise.


    It seems I was lucky to have successfully performed the summoning,¡± Li Tang shook his head.


    ¡°Enough, don¡¯t talk now.


    Let¡¯s rest here for a bit.¡± How could Song Yun be unaware of the great harm in summoning gods?


    A slight miscalculation could turn one into a deity¡¯s puppet.


    Yet Li Tang had laid out all his cards today to expel the spirit.


    Song Yun was now furious inside, wishing he could drag out the instigator for a serious interrogation.


    ¡°That...


    Is everything resolved now?¡± Mr.


    Liu asked cautiously.


    ¡°Yes, we can now see how Xiao Ran is,¡± said Song Yun, suppressing the anger in his chest.


    When Mr.


    Liu lifted the blanket off Xiao Ran, he found that she had fallen asleep at some unknown time, curled up like an injured infant.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about what comes next outside,¡± Song Yun said as he supported Li Tang out of the room and returned to the living room.


    Sitting on the sofa, Song Yun licked his lips, his expression somewhat fierce, ¡°Mr.


    Liu, I¡¯m quite suspicious that there¡¯s an insider in your home.


    Otherwise, the perpetrator would not be so familiar with your home¡¯s layout, then set up an array outside and install cameras and summon ghosts.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll investigate this matter thoroughly.


    Hmph, do they really think I¡¯m dead?¡± With things coming to an end, Mr.


    Liu¡¯s explosive temperament resurfaced.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask who usually takes care of Xiao Ran¡¯s daily living and diet, as it seems that only these people can enter her room.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Mr.


    Liu said as if suddenly enlightened, then instructed his servants to bring the attendants responsible for Xiao Ran¡¯s daily care.


    When a sunny-looking young man, around twenty-three or twenty-four, was brought up, Song Yun threw a pinhole camera at the young man¡¯s feet and asked, ¡°What does this mean?


    There¡¯s a ghost in Xiao Ran¡¯s room, what¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°What...


    what do you mean?


    I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying,¡± the young man desperately shook his head, then pleaded to Mr.


    Liu, ¡°Master, I really don¡¯t know anything.


    I¡¯ve been with the Liu family for so many years, don¡¯t you trust me?¡±


    Without Song Yun¡¯s reminder, Mr.


    Liu might still have been deceived by this seemingly harmless young man.


    Hence, Mr.


    Liu was also very angry, wishing he could slap this bastard a few times.


    After Song Yun asked several questions and saw the young man dodging the topic, he forcefully suppressed his own anger and said, ¡°Mr.


    Liu, why don¡¯t you and Shishi go upstairs to accompany Xiao Ran?


    I think she¡¯s about to wake up soon.¡±


    Li Shishi knew how angry Song Yun was and nodded obediently.


    Although Mr.


    Liu¡¯s face showed some displeasure, thinking it was a family affair, seeing the weakened state of Li Tang lying on the sofa, he realized that he had to let Song Yun vent his anger.


    Besides, this man had deceived the whole Liu family, top to bottom, and Mr.


    Liu felt that a major cleaning was needed after this matter was resolved.


    Once the two went upstairs, Song Yun could no longer hold back and punched the young man in the face, sending him flying backward with a thud.


    ¡°So, you refuse to tell the truth, huh?


    Fine, then I¡¯ll just start by cutting off a few of your fingers,¡± Song Yun stated, and beckoned to the bodyguards standing in the yard.


    The young man, yet to recover from the shock, was quickly pinned down by several bodyguards.


    ¡°Stretch out his hand for me.¡±


    As the young man struggled, Song Yun punched him again in the face, allowing the bodyguards to pin his hand firmly on the living room table.


    When he saw Song Yun pull out a dagger from his chest, he cried out hastily, ¡°I know, I know, it might be that someone entered Miss¡¯s room taking advantage of the weak security in the house.¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    With a swift motion, Song Yun cut off three of the young man¡¯s fingers.


    Watching him convulse and howl, Song Yun narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯m giving you another chance to tell the truth.¡±


    ¡°It was me, I installed it here.


    I was coveting Miss¡¯s body because it was good, so I got wicked ideas.


    Please, spare me.


    I beg you, I have the elderly and children at home; I can¡¯t be without me,¡± the young man cried, his tears and snot mixing together.


    ¡°And what else?


    Don¡¯t make me extract everything like squeezing toothpaste.¡±


    ¡°And...


    and there was someone I met before.


    He asked if I wanted to have Miss and kept egging me on to find ways to get close to her,¡± the young man howled, ¡°I really don¡¯t know the rest, please spare me.¡±


    ¡°Where is that person now?¡± Song Yun asked, staring intently into the man¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I really don¡¯t!¡± Although the young man kept crying, his eyes were constantly shifting, clearly lying even at such a moment.


    Seeing this, Song Yun decided to let this scoundrel taste what true pain was.


    If cut off with one slice, the initial absence of pain would be followed by overwhelming agony.


    But if cut off slowly, it would be like slicing through flesh, a sensation that could be described with a phrase: an unbelievably bitter pleasure.


    ¡°I gave you a chance, but you didn¡¯t take it.


    No more words,¡± Song Yun said with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re as good as dead.¡±

 Chapter 59 - 59 58 The Underwear Was Stolen

    ?59: Chapter 58: The Underwear Was Stolen 59: Chapter 58: The Underwear Was Stolen However, in the end, Song Yun managed to suppress the rage in his chest.


    If this had happened on his own turf, things would have been easier to handle, but since it was at Mr.


    Liu¡¯s place, he felt obliged to show Mr.


    Liu some respect.


    He believed that Mr.


    Liu would take this incident seriously, and those who should be dealt with would definitely not be spared.


    After handling the matter, Song Yun declined Mr.


    Liu¡¯s kind offer to let the three of them stay in Tian Nan for a few days and went back to Sunan after dinner.


    At the Sunan City train station, a D series high-speed train stopped at the station, a child holding the hand of a young woman, bouncing around innocently.


    Yet occasionally, his eyes revealed a touch of sinister malice.


    The woman had a face that could cause the downfall of a nation, partially hidden behind a pipa, with half of her face obscured by her hair.


    However, if there were a breeze at that moment and you looked at the other half of her face, you would see a horrifying sight.


    The child was Lin Zhu, ranked fourth on the Dragon List, and the woman was Zhu Yeqing, ranked second on the Elephant List.


    During this time, countless highly-skilled martial artists, either new arrivals in Sunan City or those who had already been there for some time, were awaiting an opportunity to stand out, or more precisely, a lifeline.


    For these experts, what attracted them the most was not money but their lives.


    The government closely monitored these experts.


    Only those on the Dragon Elephant List had the opportunity to serve the nation.


    For others, crossing the national baseline meant certain death.


    Those on the Dragon Elephant List, however, were treasured by the country; even if they committed shady acts, they would still get another chance.


    Thus, they would do anything for this chance, those on the list trying to prevent others from knocking them down, and those not on the list frantically trying to carve a path through and secure a position.


    Therefore, the competition at the Dragon Tiger List was intense, with everyone gathering in Sunan City, and a battle about to erupt.


    The next morning, Song Yun was woken up early by a loud cry.


    As soon as he opened the door, he saw Li Shishi pacing around the courtyard with a gloomy expression, while Xiao Qing was trying to calm her down, though without knowing what had happened.


    Song Yun was somewhat baffled by the friendship between women.


    Originally, Xiao Qing had been terrified of Li Shishi, but ever since they talked about something a while ago, whenever Li Shishi was home, Xiao Qing would come over to hang out.


    Raising an eyebrow, Song Yun swayed as he spoke, ¡°Who upset our President Li so early in the morning?¡±


    Li Shishi gave Song Yun a cold look and said in a stiff tone, ¡°Come with me, I need to ask you something.¡±


    Song Yun was confused, thinking, ¡®What did I do to you just after getting up?¡¯


    As soon as they entered Li Shishi¡¯s room, she looked down at Song Yun as if she were interrogating a criminal, though she was just standing on the bed.


    Song Yun was straightforward about it.


    If you want to look down on me to question me, I¡¯ll just sit on the floor to make you feel superior.


    But just as he sat down, he looked up and saw the pink undergarments inside Li Shishi¡¯s sleepwear, and he swallowed his saliva, asking, ¡°What are you shouting about early in the morning?


    You woke me up.¡±


    ¡°Have you been in my room these past few days?¡± Li Shishi asked with a serious expression.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve been as tired as a dead dog these past few days.


    How could I have wandered into your room?


    Did you lose something?¡± Song Yun asked, puzzled.


    But then he thought about it.


    Although the security here isn¡¯t impenetrable, it¡¯s still the best in this area.


    With monthly property fees in the five figures and regular patrols, how could things just disappear in your own house?


    ¡°Are you really sure you haven¡¯t been in my room these last few days?¡±


    Song Yun, growing impatient, retorted, ¡°I wasn¡¯t there, I wasn¡¯t there, why should I lie to you?


    If you lost something, just say so.¡±


    Li Shishi waved her hand, motioning Song Yun to leave.


    After being tossed around, Song Yun still had no idea what actually happened in Li Shishi¡¯s room.


    As soon as he went out, he caught Xiao Qing¡¯s shimmering eyes staring intensely at him, making him feel uneasy.


    In a low voice, Song Yun asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Li Shishi today?


    She¡¯s been furious since early morning.


    Is it her time of the month?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Sister Shishi tell you?¡± Xiao Qing cocked her head innocently, ¡°She lost a piece of lingerie early this morning, that¡¯s why she¡¯s so angry.


    Did you do it?¡±


    Song Yun almost choked, angry at Xiao Qing¡¯s insinuation.


    How could he ever be involved in stealing lingerie?


    Shaking his head, Song Yun said, ¡°How could I, a highly upright man, admired in the 21st century as a model of decency, do such a sleazy thing?¡±


    ¡°But our neighborhood has always been very secure,¡± Xiao Qing confidently said.


    ¡°I live next door and even my lingerie has never gone missing.


    If there¡¯s any difference between our houses, it¡¯s that there¡¯s an extra man in this yard.¡± Xiao Qing looked at him deeply, ¡°Senior Brother Song, a man should take responsibility for his actions.


    I believe if you explain it to Sister Shishi, she¡¯ll understand.¡±


    Understand what exactly, you moron!


    I didn¡¯t do it, so why should I confess?


    Should I just barge in and say to Li Shishi, ¡®Stop looking for your lingerie, I couldn¡¯t sleep last night and played with it?¡¯ What nonsense!


    But then, Song Yun thought, if he did say that... Li Shishi might actually believe him.


    During dinner, Song Yun finally cleared up the case in his mind.


    Li Shishi had carelessly washed her lingerie after her shower last night, hanging it right outside the ventilation window.


    Much to her shock, when she woke up early this morning to collect them, they were all gone¡ªwhat was happening here?


    After much pondering and Xiao Qing¡¯s amateur sleuthing, the suspicion had turned to Song Yun.


    With such good security in the area, and only Song Yun being the only man in the house, who else could be the prime suspect but him?


    Having a sip of his porridge and munching on a bun, Song Yun mumbled, ¡°How could I be that kind of person?


    You know, if I ever stepped in your room, I wouldn¡¯t just steal something from the outer room.


    I¡¯d go straight into your inner room, and you wouldn¡¯t even know I was there.¡±


    ¡°Did you come in?¡± Li Shishi slammed her hand on the table, startling Xiao Qing who was sipping her porridge ever so gently, almost dropping the bowl.


    ¡°I never went in,¡± Song Yun glanced at her.


    ¡°You know how busy I¡¯ve been.


    As soon as I get to my room, I fall asleep.


    How would I have the time to wander around?¡±

 Chapter 60 - 60 59 The Opening of the Dragon Elephant List

    ?60: Chapter 59: The Opening of the Dragon Elephant List 60: Chapter 59: The Opening of the Dragon Elephant List ¡°Who do you think stole them?¡± Li Shishi asked, her face reddening as she slumped into the chair.


    After all, it was embarrassing to have so many people know that someone had stolen her underwear.


    ¡°How would I know?


    You, a person with a high IQ who attended university, don¡¯t know who did it.


    How could I, an unemployed layabout, possibly guess?¡± Song Yun said laboriously after swallowing down his steamed bun.


    ¡°This kind of thief probably didn¡¯t only steal from you.


    Go back and check to see if anyone else in the area has filed a report.


    If others have, it could just mean the thief is a pervert.


    If no one else has, you¡¯d better be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Why should I be cautious if no one else has reported anything?¡± Li Shishi asked, puzzled.


    ¡°If no one else has reported anything, it only means the thief has targeted our family.


    Either they have a grudge against you or they¡¯ve seen you and decided to start off with a little appetizer.


    Who knows, they might leap at the chance to kidnap you after work, then lock you up in a dark room...¡± Song Yun was cut off mid-sentence when Li Shishi smacked his face so hard his bowl shook.


    Blowing his nose to clear the millet porridge that got in, Song Yun said helplessly, ¡°But that¡¯s the truth.


    You better go to the police station and check.¡±


    Hearing Song Yun¡¯s words caused Li Shishi to get goosebumps all over.


    It was truly terrifying if it were true.


    The thief had managed to sneak into the Siheyuan and steal her underwear without anyone noticing.


    Just like Song Yun had said, they could potentially knock her out cold next time and tie her up in a dark room.


    At the thought, Li Shishi left her meal untouched, grabbed her phone, and hurried out the door.


    Song Yun was also perplexed.


    Although he had slept soundly the night before, he shouldn¡¯t be oblivious to someone entering the Siheyuan.


    After all, his vigilance, honed by the old man for over a decade, never waned¡ªeven in his peaceful life.


    It was that very vigilance that saved his neck from being severed while he slept.


    But last night¡¯s event was terrifying.


    Fortunately, the guy had only come for the underwear.


    If it had been murder, Song Yun might very well be lying dead.


    In truth, Song Yun rather admired the underwear thief.


    Out of everyone you could steal from, you chose to steal underwear from the daughter of the Li Family.


    If you get caught, they¡¯re likely to break your legs and spit on you as they leave.


    Thinking about it, Song Yun felt a bit sorry for the thief who was about to be discovered.


    After eating, Song Yun was teaching Xiao Qing some breathing techniques when Li Shishi called.


    As expected, it was a serial burglary¡ªthe thief had struck over a dozen households that night, reducing the likelihood that they were specifically targeting her.


    However, Song Yun still felt there was something unusual about it; whoever had come to steal the underwear was no ordinary person.


    In the afternoon, Song Yun received a message that the Dragon Elephant List competition was being held at the nightclub they visited last time and was told to report for duty on time that evening to prevent any outbursts among the competitors.


    As the sky began to darken, Song Yun gave Li Shishi a call to let her know he wouldn¡¯t be home for dinner.


    He mentioned that if she was scared, she could let Xiao Qing stay with her.


    Xiao Qing¡¯s martial arts were no joke; that underwear thief would likely get a good beating if they crossed paths.


    Old Luo was the one to pick up Song Yun again.


    However, this time, Wang Ba decided to stay behind the scenes and did not show up.


    Who knew if someone from the Martial World would get angry and cause trouble for him?


    It was always better to be cautious and let trusted underlings greet Song Yun.


    When Song Yun arrived underground at the competition venue, he stepped out of the elevator to the gaze of over a dozen pairs of eyes, each exuding a faint killing intent and a formidable presence.


    But when they saw the badge Song Yun carried, they all lowered their heads and behaved like well-mannered children.


    ¡°Looks like this badge is pretty useful,¡± Song Yun said with a chuckle.


    ¡°Of course, it is.


    It shows which unit and organization you¡¯re with, and the National Security Bureau is in charge of the profiles for all these top fighters; it represents their top boss.


    Who would dare show attitude to their own boss?


    Plus, anyone who can join National Security is a real monster.


    Even if they dared to move against you, they¡¯d have to weigh their own abilities,¡± Old Luo smiled and commented.


    However, he saw these folks as just a motley crew.


    He could take them on single-handedly and remain unbeaten.


    The truly powerful had their own private spaces to rest, only emerging when it was time to compete.


    Time flew; the athletes and referees were all in place.


    A frail-looking old man took the stage and spoke loudly, ¡°My name is Jin Buhuan, and I believe everyone is aware of this nearly-dirt-old man.


    I am honored to be appointed as referee for the Dragon Elephant List this time.¡±


    The crowd below roared with laughter, and the old man gestured for quiet before continuing, ¡°Thanks to everyone¡¯s favor, I¡¯ve secured a seat as a referee for this Dragon Elephant List battle.


    Now in its eighth edition, we have always welcomed new masters to the matches.


    This time, the competition is aligning with international standards, changing to the War God List rules¡ªallowing for rank jumping challenges.


    If your strength permits, you may become the king of the day.¡±


    The old man¡¯s opening speech set the crowd on fire.


    Song Yun looked around cautiously, fearing an overexcited challenger might cause a scene.


    ¡°Old Luo, you don¡¯t mean to say that it¡¯s just the two of us managing all this, do you?


    There must be at least a hundred and eighty people here.


    What if they riot?¡± Song Yun said, worried.


    ¡°Hehe, how could it just be the two of us overseeing such an event?


    The rest of the surveillance teams are hidden, watching through the cameras behind the walls.


    Ours is a public role, theirs are undercover,¡± Old Luo chuckled in reply.


    ¡°Damn it, doesn¡¯t that mean we¡¯re the ones in danger if something goes wrong?¡± Song Yun said, clearly annoyed.


    ¡°This is just bullying!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case.


    These competitors wouldn¡¯t dare to harm us.


    Their families are under national surveillance.


    If something happens to us, their families will suffer too.¡±


    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t they harm us?


    Look at that kid getting wound up by the old man on the stage.


    A few more words and he might as well turn into a bandit,¡± Song Yun grumbled.


    ¡°Our lives are cheap.


    Where are you looking?


    The valuable lives are all sitting over there.¡± Song Yun followed the direction Old Luo was pointing.


    ¡°There you have the provincial Party secretary, governor, Public Security Department director, and central government officials.


    If these guys want to cause trouble, they¡¯d go after them first.


    We¡¯re the last people they¡¯d bother with.¡±

 Chapter 61 - 61 60 Soaring to the Skies

    ?61: Chapter 60 Soaring to the Skies 61: Chapter 60 Soaring to the Skies The competition started quickly, and after meticulous selection, 40 new challengers had emerged.


    These 40 would undergo further screening to select the strongest five to challenge individuals on the Dragon List or the Dragon Elephant List, while those already on the Dragon Elephant List could directly challenge the person ranked above them or choose to fight someone of a higher rank.


    The one at the top of the Elephant List could directly challenge people on the Dragon List, but they had to fight their way up without skipping ranks.


    Those on the Dragon List could choose to defend or challenge, but most opted to challenge since those on the Dragon List were the real backbone of fighters, too proud to simply play defense.


    Watching the 40 competitors attacking each other bored Song Yun; the style of this competition was hardly a duel between masters.


    Typically, a match between experts was decided in an instant, not after lengthy probing like what these fighters were doing.


    However, Song Yun admitted there was certainly an element of showmanship to their fights.


    Some were wielding horse-cutting swords, others carried Mo Blades rumored to be from the lost crafts of the Tang Dynasty, and one even brandished a giant iron hammer covered in spikes, seemingly unconcerned with injuring himself before the fight even began.


    The most impressive kid was handling two axes, looking like a member of the axe gang straight out of a Mr.


    Xing movie, standing there with an imposing presence.


    His stance was decent, but his skills?


    Not so much.


    He nearly had his lineage ended by the guy with the iron hammer.


    Song Yun leaned back in his chair, utterly lacking the self-awareness of a high-level expert.


    Just look around¡ªeveryone else, expert or not, sat upright as if touching the chair back would somehow tarnish their reputation.


    The big shots in the stands, meanwhile, were thoroughly enjoying the matches, occasionally discussing the competitors.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the top five new contenders were selected, including the guy with the Mo Blade and the hefty one with the big hammer.


    As per the competition rules, these five could choose to challenge someone on either the Dragon List or the Elephant List.


    Every step the heavyset hammer-wielder took made his flesh quiver.


    He boomed, ¡°I want to challenge the one ranked 20th on the Elephant List.¡±


    The crowd gasped in surprise.


    Bold move, challenging one of the top twenty Elephant List fighters right off the bat.


    Though the Elephant List wasn¡¯t as prestigious as the Dragon List, with some even claiming it was merely a backup, its members were still formidable.


    With a total of fifty fighters on the Elephant List, one might wonder why this upstart didn¡¯t start by knocking off the lower ranks to secure a position before aiming for the top twenty.


    What kind of courage was this?


    Seeing Song Yun also looking surprised, Old Luo pulled a sheet from a stack of documents and handed it to him, saying, ¡°This kid is from the SD area, named Huo Canjun, born into a Martial Arts Family.


    Known for his immense strength since childhood, his father had a giant hammer custom-made for him.


    But this kid¡¯s confidence might be a bit too much, thinking he can immediately jump from being a nobody to the top twenty of the Elephant List.


    Ah, what a shame.


    With a few more years of training, he could have made it big.¡±


    Song Yun chuckled, ¡°Who says this kid can¡¯t make it?


    I quite like his chances.¡±


    ¡°Impossible,¡± Old Luo replied as he rifled through the documents.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got the file on the 20th ranked of the Elephant List here.


    His name is Yan Wang, born in NMG.


    His iron fists have defeated countless heroes.


    At the age of twenty, due to the fatality caused by his punches, he was sentenced to ten years and three months and sent to Qin City Prison, China¡¯s strictest penal facility.


    ¡°After his release, he remained as wilful as ever but was noticed by higher-ups who gave him a chance to compete for the Elephant List, and who would¡¯ve thought he¡¯d fight his way up from the fiftieth to the twentieth rank?¡±


    Old Luo took a sip of water and continued, ¡°I bet that Huo Canjun is bound to lose.¡±


    The match began swiftly.


    With Huo Canjun wielding the giant hammer and Yan Wang sporting a pair of gloves, they faced each other on the platform, their fighting auras already flaring before they¡¯d even exchanged blows.


    ¡°You¡¯re courting death by choosing me,¡± said Yan Wang coldly, feeling utterly humiliated and disgraced by the audacity of this challenge.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find out,¡± Huo Canjun replied with a naive grin, his grip on the hammer tightening.


    After the referee¡¯s signal, Huo Canjun charged forward, swinging his huge hammer at Yan Wang, who skillfully grabbed the hammer with his bent fingers.


    The material of the gloves was such that he could ignore the hammer¡¯s spikes.


    ¡°Hmm, you have some brute strength, but it¡¯s a big mistake if you think you can win against me with that,¡± Yan Wang roared, leaving an imprint in the hammer.


    Huo Canjun retreated several steps, dodging Yan Wang¡¯s close-range punches, and then, with a flip of his hands, he placed the hammer horizontally in front of him, letting out a loud shout.


    Under his weight, the flagstones beneath his feet shattered.


    ¡°Thud, thud, thud.¡± Huo Canjun charged at Yan Wang, looking to win with a single blow that would send his opponent flying out of the ring.


    Just as Huo Canjun¡¯s hammer was about to strike Yan Wang, a hand shot out toward Yan Wang¡¯s collar.


    Yan Wang sneered, grabbing the hand, but didn¡¯t anticipate Huo Canjun¡¯s countermove¡ªa reversal that lifted him off the ground before slamming him back down hard.


    Laying on the ground, Yan Wang spat out blood twice, banged his chest with a fist, and spat out more blood.


    After expelling the bruising, Yan Wang declared with satisfaction, ¡°I won¡¯t give you another chance.¡±


    With a bang, Yan Wang¡¯s palm struck Huo Canjun¡¯s chest, who staggered back several paces, his chest swelling red.


    ¡°Hahaha, this is a satisfying fight, come on, let¡¯s go again,¡± Yan Wang shouted, letting loose a series of punches at Huo Canjun.


    Suddenly, Huo Canjun, with a strong push, lifted Yan Wang¡¯s arms and, in a Herculean move, slammed him to the ground.


    The impact scattered Yan Wang, who was unable to get back up, biting his back teeth in pain.


    Struggling to his feet, he weakly asked, ¡°How did you not feel any of my blows?¡±


    ¡°If you were using Internal Boxing, I might be wary, but yours is an external style.


    Your punches only cause superficial damage; they can¡¯t reach internal organs,¡± explained Huo Canjun.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my body?


    Ah, why can¡¯t I move?


    What did you do to me?¡± Yan Wang shouted, as his body, which was upright merely moments before, slumped powerless to the side.


    ¡°Ah, you bastard, what the hell did you do?


    I¡¯m going to kill you,¡± Yan Wang cried out in a pitiful howl.


    Yan Wang¡¯s futile screams echoed as the referee, checking the time, announced the result upon seeing Yan Wang¡¯s incapacity, ¡°Three minutes have passed.


    Yan Wang has lost the ability to move.


    Huo Canjun wins and advances to be the 20th ranked on the Elephant List.¡±

 Chapter 62 - 62 61 Zhu Yeqing

    ?62: Chapter 61 Zhu Yeqing 62: Chapter 61 Zhu Yeqing ¡°No!¡±


    Yan Wang screamed, but the judgment had already been passed.


    Immediately, two staff members were taking Yan Wang off-stage.


    As he was led away, he looked as grief-stricken as if his own father had died, weakly asking, ¡°What exactly did you do to me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing special.


    My skin can block your punches, and the sweat that my body produces has a paralyzing effect on enemies.


    I developed this ability from soaking in medicinal baths since I was young, so you have no one else to blame for your defeat,¡± explained Huo Canjun, scratching his head.


    The elderly referee waved his hand, and the two staff members swiftly escorted Yan Wang off the stage.


    The old man then continued, ¡°Huo Canjun, will you continue to challenge higher ranks, or are you content with retaining your position at twenty on the Elephant List?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll quit while I¡¯m ahead.


    In the next Dragon Elephant List competition, I will give it my all and challenge those ahead of me,¡± Huo Canjun declared.


    ¡°Okay, you can go rest now.


    Your reward will be brought to you shortly,¡± the referee said.


    After the match ended, Old Luo, with a strangely intense gaze, asked Song Yun, ¡°Song Yun, tell me how you knew Yan Wang would lose.¡±


    ¡°Before he even got on stage, I saw Yan Wang¡¯s overly arrogant expression and concluded that he was destined to lose,¡± shrugged Song Yun.


    ¡°Moreover, that Huo Canjun, he wasn¡¯t using a hammer.


    When I saw him swinging the hammer earlier, his wrist rotation wasn¡¯t very smooth, and his hammer technique wasn¡¯t exceptionally skillful.¡±


    ¡°But when I saw him counter Yan Wang, I was sure this young man¡¯s training wasn¡¯t in the hammer but more similar to sumo wrestling techniques in seizing and grappling.¡±


    ¡°So you observed with great detail, as always,¡± Old Luo said approvingly with a nod.


    The competition continued, and the referee asked the man holding the Mo Blade, ¡°Young friend, which master do you wish to challenge?¡±


    ¡°I want to challenge the Elephant List second place,¡± replied the man coldly.


    His declaration sent a shockwave through the crowd.


    Damn, this year¡¯s Dragon Elephant List competition is insane!


    The newcomers are challenging the top-ranked right off the bat¡ªthis defies common sense.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you challenge the first place on the Elephant List directly?¡± asked the referee, his tone mocking yet smiling.


    ¡°He will soon challenge a master on the Dragon List.


    I never take advantage of people at their weakest,¡± the man retorted coldly, although his words were rather provoking.


    ¡°Alright, HN Duan Hu challenges Elephant List second place Zhu Yeqing,¡± announced the referee before stepping off the stage.


    A woman arose from a corner of the crowd, warming up her limbs with a smile and asking, ¡°How can you bear to bully me, such a weak woman?¡±


    ¡°The Martial World makes no distinctions between men and women,¡± Duan Hu replied.


    ¡°Very well, if that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t blame me for not holding back.


    Xiao Zhu, you wait here for sister, I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Zhu Yeqing patted the head of a child seated next to her.


    ¡°What the hell, you can bring family members to the competition?¡± a contestant beside Song Yun, who had been eliminated, exclaimed in surprise.


    ¡°Have you forgotten the great taboo of the Martial World?


    One can look down on anyone, but never the elderly, children, and women.


    This woman must have exceptional abilities to secure second place on the Elephant List, but I sense that this child is not one to be trifled with either,¡± advised his companion, frowning as he surveyed the ongoing match.


    Song Yun nodded in agreement inwardly, for in his past missions, he had learned to run the other way upon encountering anyone whose intentions couldn¡¯t be discerned.


    His intuition, time and time again, proved right, and it had become deeply ingrained in him, keeping him always on alert.


    Zhu Yeqing leaped onto the stage with a giggling voice, ¡°Being a delicate and slender lady, I ask you to be gentle, young master.¡±


    Duan Hu, caught off guard, simply nodded without a word and charged at Zhu Yeqing, blade in hand.


    Zhu Yeqing¡¯s movements were minimal, her body dancing lightly and gracefully up and down like a fluttering butterfly, as if a descending fairy untouched by worldly dust and smoke.


    Duan Hu struck at Zhu Yeqing¡¯s face several times in quick succession, and had it not been for her excellent qinggong, she would have been cleaved in two.


    Finding himself toyed with by Zhu Yeqing made Duan Hu¡¯s expression grow colder.


    The Mo Blade sliced through the air with explosive sounds, and its strikes grew increasingly forceful.


    Zhu Yeqing dodged a flash of cold light between Duan Hu¡¯s fingers with a shocked expression¡ªhad he concealed a blade?


    Zhu Yeqing inwardly cursed; these newcomers were shameless.


    One had sweat with paralyzing properties, and now this one eschewed fair play with hidden weapons¡ªdisgusting.


    With a thud, Zhu Yeqing took a hit from Duan Hu, then countered with a side flip and a slash that numbed Duan Hu¡¯s arm, followed by a spinning side kick right on the spot.


    Duan Hu raised an arm to block only to be catapulted sideways, and as Zhu Yeqing pursued swiftly with a seamless horizontal slash, Duan Hu ended up pinned down by her single hand.


    Zhu Yeqing, still bearing a sly expression, teased, ¡°Now, young master, that isn¡¯t very sportsmanlike, is it?


    I asked you so nicely to be gentle, and yet you¡¯ve only become more vicious.¡±


    Though her voice was teasing, her hand firmly choked Duan Hu¡¯s neck, seemingly intent on snapping it then and there.


    ¡°If you¡¯ve got the guts, kill me!


    In eighteen years, I¡¯ll be a man again,¡± Duan Hu shouted fiercely.


    Upon hearing this, Zhu Yeqing stomped hard on Duan Hu¡¯s face, demanding, ¡°Have I unknowingly offended you, young master?


    Otherwise, why are all your strikes lethal, nearly hitting someone several times?


    Could there be a misunderstanding between us, or did you mistake me for someone else?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve remembered your face for four or five years; how could I mistake it?¡± Duan Hu cried out.


    ¡°Ah, you wretch, so it was unrequited love turned to hate.


    You should have just told me, why hold onto such bitterness for so long?¡± cooed Zhu Yeqing seductively.


    ¡°Love your mom!


    You slaughtered my entire family of thirty-two back then; I¡¯d have been wiped out too if not for being away on errands.


    These four years, I¡¯ve been yearning to devour your flesh and grind your bones.


    If you dare, kill me today, and in my next life, I will continue to seek vengeance,¡± Duan Hu bellowed in rage.


    ¡°Enough noise.¡± The child who had come with Zhu Yeqing hopped onto the stage and with one kick, broke Duan Hu¡¯s neck, tersely commenting, ¡°Now your family is wiped out.¡±


    A hushed silence fell upon the crowd¡ªnot from the story Duan Hu had told, as such things happened often among them.


    One never knew when their neighbor might vanish without a moving notice, most likely having suffered annihilation.


    And the culprits were invariably either someone seeking revenge or the state.


    ¡°Civil chaos is bred in the absence of law; martial strife is born of power unchecked.


    As a martial practitioner, instead of striving to elevate your realm, you contemplate crimes against the state, and can you not expect to be eradicated?¡±

 Chapter 63 - 63 62 Someone Inside the Bathroom

    ?63: Chapter 62: Someone Inside the Bathroom 63: Chapter 62: Someone Inside the Bathroom ¡°The referee went on stage and loudly announced, ¡®Zhu Yeqing wins the Elephant List.''¡±


    Song Yun whispered, ¡°Old Luo, how can that child freely go up on stage?¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t figured it out yet?


    That child is probably also a competitor, and possibly one of the higher-ranked ones.


    Otherwise, would the referee pretend to be indifferent and announce the results?¡± Old Luo said, pursing his lips.


    ¡°That woman is also really ruthless; she wiped out an entire family.


    I initially thought she was on the defensive side.¡± A discontented voice emerged from the crowd.


    ¡°A green snake¡¯s mouth hides fangs; a wasp¡¯s tail carries a sting; neither is as venomous as a woman¡¯s heart,¡± Song Yun sighed.


    If that child hadn¡¯t gone on stage just now, Zhu Yeqing would have still killed Duan Hu.


    After all, who would want someone lurking like a viper by their side, possibly jumping out to bite at any moment?


    The next three contestants were not as ferocious as the first two.


    One challenged the person ranked forty-five on the Elephant List and won; another challenged the fortieth and was knocked down; and another was beaten as soon as he stepped on stage, his ribs broken by a single strike.


    ¡°This batch of contestants is quite skilled,¡± Old Luo said, taking a sip of water to moisten his throat.


    ¡°That¡¯s for sure.


    These folks either maintain their rank to gain national recognition in this competition, or they live fearfully every day, never knowing when they might meet their end in Yellow Springs,¡± Song Yun said softly.


    ¡°To maintain their rankings, they really should bring out some special skills.¡±


    There are top ten masters on the Dragon List.


    If these ten were to fight, it wouldn¡¯t end until well after noon the next day, starting from dusk.


    It was already two or three o¡¯clock in the morning, so the duels on the Elephant List had to be finished first.


    Many people leaped up, immediately filling the large competition platform.


    Seeing no standing room left on the platform, the referee cleared his throat and said, ¡°Regarding the upcoming struggle for the Elephant List, I¡¯m sure everyone knows the rules.


    The top ten and new entrants do not participate in the melee.


    The rest of you organize yourselves into groups, five per team.


    You have half an hour to finish.


    Afterwards, I will rank you based on your performance on the platform.¡±


    Having watched many fierce battles, Song Yun felt the climax was here and curiously asked Old Luo, ¡°Why does the struggle for the Elephant List feel like gang warfare, with everyone crowding and rushing forward?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that¡¯s the rule set by the founder of the Dragon Elephant List.


    When the first competition was held, there were even more participants.


    Just thinking about the scene of several hundred people fighting at once is astonishing,¡± Old Luo said somewhat enviously.


    Astonishing?


    Song Yun nearly laughed at the mention.


    Imagine, hundreds of people squeezing onto the stage¡ªmaybe you¡¯d hear Liu San shouting, ¡®Li Si, you stepped on my foot!¡¯ while Wang Wu yells, ¡®Who¡¯s the bastard pinching me?¡¯ If that were the case, the founder was quite a character.


    But neither Song Yun nor Old Luo guessed that the founder of the Dragon Elephant List was annoyed at being surrounded by hundreds when he had just woken up, which is why he established the melee rule.


    If Song Yun knew this reason, he would certainly curse the founder for making him waste so many brain cells thinking about it.


    Teams of five were already formed on the platform.


    These weren¡¯t just simple hooligans; these were genuine masters from the Elephant List.


    If a higher-ranked one fighting several lower-ranked players made some sense, it was absolutely impossible for one to fight a group alone now.


    This was the time when team support and the ability to recognize talent were essential.


    After the match, if you picked good teammates, it was divine assistance; if your teammates were useless, you were out of luck.


    Teammates chose each other carefully, fully matching personal with team capabilities.


    Some high-ranked contestants preferred ¡®tanks¡¯ to take hits upfront while they attacked from behind.


    There were also those who liked insidious moves.


    Just then, one fellow was twirling a mallet and stealthily shattered a young man¡¯s groin, watching him clutch his crotch as he fell off the platform, Song Yun felt a stab of horror.


    Damn, why are today¡¯s masters so unscrupulous?


    The contest ended quickly due to the melee, leaving not many still standing on the platform.


    The referee stepped forward, noted their current ranks, and praised them greatly.


    However, whether their rewards would secretly be docked was another matter.


    After announcing the perfect conclusion of the struggle for the Elephant List, the referee, stepping over numerous groaning bodies on the ground, came down saying, ¡°Everyone has worked hard today.


    Take a rest tomorrow.


    We will hold the Dragon List contest the day after tomorrow, and I hope everyone will come early.¡±


    ¡°Damn, that¡¯s it?¡± Song Yun exclaimed in surprise.


    Where were the vengeful souls shouting ¡®Old thief, meet your end¡¯?


    Just like that, plain and simple?


    Weren¡¯t people said to be incredibly stubborn on the Dragon Elephant List?


    Ideals are splendid; reality is harsh.


    Those eliminated didn¡¯t dare to protest, each appearing grievously wronged as they secretly wiped away their tears.


    Song Yun was so irritated he felt like stomping his foot.


    ¡®Damn it, crying here won¡¯t do you any good.


    You might as well learn from Duan Hu and shout ¡®Grandpa will be a hero again in eighteen years.¡¯


    ¡°Cough, cough, rest assured.


    Although you¡¯ve been eliminated, the nation still values you highly and won¡¯t easily give up on you,¡± the elderly referee shouted.


    ¡°You may have lost your ranks, but you will be assigned to serve as instructors in military units across the country.


    If you do well, you might even be promoted to officers.


    So, your future is bright, though the path is winding.


    Only by seizing the right moment can you leap forward in quality.


    I ask you, do you still wish to serve your country?¡±


    ¡°We do!¡± many masters shouted, standing up and clenching their fists.


    Motherfucker, this is the classic ¡®slap and then a sweet date¡¯ strategy, Song Yun thought to himself.


    Without witnessing the violent, bloody scenes he hoped to see, Song Yun felt quite disappointed and asked Old Luo to take him back to the Siheyuan, planning to take a bath and prepare some delicious food to comfort his wounded soul.


    ¡°It¡¯s already past three in the morning; Li Shishi must be asleep by now,¡± Song Yun muttered to himself as he pushed open the gate and walked into the Siheyuan.


    As expected, Li Shishi had guessed that Song Yun would return late, so she had left the door for him but didn¡¯t wait up.


    ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s really lonely and cold late at night,¡± Song Yun grumbled.


    He changed his clothes, took a towel, and headed toward the large bathhouse in the courtyard.


    Although each room was equipped with a small bathroom, none had a bathtub.


    After a tiring day, Song Yun planned to soak in a good bath for a better night¡¯s sleep.


    However, just as he approached the bathroom door, he suddenly stopped, perked up his ears, and listened intently.


    ¡°There¡¯s someone in the bathroom.¡± Raising an eyebrow, Song Yun was pleasantly surprised as he tiptoed closer to the bathroom.

 Chapter 64 - 64 63 Do I Look Good

    ?64: Chapter 63 Do I Look Good?


    64: Chapter 63 Do I Look Good?


    As Song Yun approached, he heard the sound of a shower from inside, and occasionally, the soft humming of a girl¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Just a quick peek, just one...


    Shishi probably won¡¯t notice, right?


    No, no, what has gotten into me?


    Why have I become so lecherous?


    But...


    it¡¯s been so many years, I wonder what Shishi¡¯s figure has turned into.


    As someone who might become her fiance? in the future, I feel I have the right to a little preview.¡±


    Just fantasizing outside the bathroom wasn¡¯t enough to satisfy Song Yun¡¯s curiosity, so he sneakily stuck his head in.


    Gently pushing the door ajar, Song Yun looked around with an explorative gaze.


    After searching for what seemed like an eternity, he finally caught a glimpse of the enticing silhouette of a woman¡¯s body, hazily visible amidst the steam.


    ¡°Gulp,¡± Song Yun swallowed, thinking to himself, ¡°Damn it, the steam is too thick, I can¡¯t see anything clearly.¡± Though that¡¯s what he thought, his eyes, green with hunger like a starving wolf, continued to peer inside.


    After a while, as the door had been left slightly open, the steam slowly dissipated, revealing Shishi¡¯s full outline.


    ¡°No, no, I can¡¯t keep looking.


    If Shishi catches me, she¡¯ll beat me to death,¡± Song Yun muttered to himself, yet his gaze remained fixated, seemingly innocent.


    Perhaps the gap in the door was quite large, allowing an oddly cold breeze to slither in.


    Shishi felt incredibly unlucky.


    First, there was relentless pressure from people at the company, and those old bastards even tried to undermine her authority, wanting to turn her into a mere puppet.


    Then her underwear had been stolen today, and when she went to the police, they said they hadn¡¯t caught the thief yet, which meant the same thief could strike again.


    Just thinking about how someone could enter her home unnoticed gave her the chills.


    After running around at work and sweating all day, she had wanted to take a shower when she got home.


    But the thought that the thief might be lurking around made her wait until midnight, when she couldn¡¯t stand her sticky, sweaty skin any longer.


    She checked outside, finding it quiet and seemingly empty, and only then did she dare to bathe in peace.


    However, while soaking in the bath and washing up, Shishi suddenly felt a chill on her back, a sensation of being watched by a wolf.


    She quickly turned around to look.


    That look had a stunning effect.


    The bathroom door, which she had ensured was tightly closed, now gaped wide open.


    To Shishi¡¯s utter dismay, there was a huge head drooling and staring at her through the crack.


    Shishi had no belief in ghosts, so if it wasn¡¯t a ghost, could this man be the same pervert who had committed multiple robberies?


    Her face turned pale at the thought.


    It was bad enough that he stole underwear, but now he dared to peep into her room.


    Was his next step going to be knocking her out from behind?


    Shishi squinted her eyes.


    However, because Song Yun had once found the bathroom light too bright and had it changed to a lower wattage bulb, combined with the influence of the steam, she couldn¡¯t see the peeper¡¯s face clearly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been caught!!¡± The moment Shishi turned, Song Yun¡¯s heart sank, sensing that trouble was afoot.


    Before Song Yun could flee the scene, a piercing scream erupted from Shishi inside the bathroom.


    ¡°Help~~~ Ah~~ Someone come~~~ There¡¯s a pervert here~~~¡± Her shriek nearly made Song Yun pass out on the spot.


    ¡°Shishi, stop shouting, it¡¯s me, for heaven¡¯s sake, stop screaming...¡±


    But Song Yun¡¯s plea was a moment too late.


    Like being provoked to the extreme, Shishi grabbed a hand shower and hurled it at Song Yun¡¯s head.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The force of Shishi¡¯s blow made Song Yun bend over even more, until he collapsed on the floor.


    Song Yun lay there, stunned and motionless.


    At that moment, he felt helpless and wanted to cry.


    Wasn¡¯t it just a tantalizing scene that he stumbled upon as soon as he got home?


    Was it necessary to hit his head so hard with the showerhead?


    Did she not realize the showerhead was made of steel?


    It was like being blindsided with a cudgel; Song Yun was completely dazed.


    Shortly after Shishi¡¯s screams had echoed, the previously silent room brightened with light as Xiao Qing rushed out from Shishi¡¯s room, rubbing her eyes and calling, ¡°What happened?


    Is there a pervert?


    Sister Shishi, are you alright?¡±


    But when she arrived at the bathroom door, she found it firmly shut with Shishi¡¯s weak voice coming from inside, ¡°No...


    no problem, I just accidentally fell asleep in the bath and had a nightmare.


    You all go back to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Oh, soaking for too long isn¡¯t good for your health,¡± Xiao Qing advised with a frown, peering into the room.


    Seeing only Shishi lying in the bathtub and detecting no suspicious individuals, she turned to leave with a yawn, prepared to go back to sleep.


    Feeling Xiao Qing¡¯s departure, Shishi hastily climbed out of the tub, only to find Song Yun also crawling out, gasping for air.


    ¡°You bastard, how dare you peep at me showering,¡± Shishi seethed, tugging at Song Yun¡¯s ear fiercely.


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s a misunderstanding, whether you believe it or not, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding,¡± Song Yun responded with an awkward smile.


    ¡°Misunderstanding?


    You come home and don¡¯t go upstairs to sleep but squat by the bathroom door to watch me shower.


    Is that interesting to you?¡± Shishi¡¯s gaze seemed to spit fire.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I guess,¡± Song Yun murmured under his breath.


    Shishi slapped his head again, asking, ¡°Do you think my body looks good?¡±


    Drooling, Song Yun nodded happily.


    Isn¡¯t this how it goes in those R-rated movies?


    The male lead sees the female lead bathing, and then a passionate battle ensues in the bathroom.


    Although Song Yun was tempted to indulge, the leading lady disagreed, especially since she had the air of a domineering CEO.


    If he tried to overpower her, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to protect his manhood.


    ¡°Who allowed you to look?¡± Shishi, unaware of Song Yun¡¯s sordid thoughts, simply felt uncomfortable under his stare and slapped him again.

 Chapter 65 - 65 64 Li Shishis Counterattack

    ?65: Chapter 64: Li Shishi¡¯s Counterattack 65: Chapter 64: Li Shishi¡¯s Counterattack After being slapped by Li Shishi several times in quick succession, Song Yun finally felt his inner universe awakening.


    He abruptly stood up and planted a firm kiss on Li Shishi¡¯s cherry lips.


    Li Shishi was dumbfounded.


    What kind of shameless person was Song Yun?


    First, he peeked, and then he squeezed into a bathtub with her, leaving her body still feeling somewhat tingling; after all, the bathtub was not big enough for two without bumping into each other repeatedly, which led to a strange sensation¡ªtingling, itching, overall a very comfortable feeling.


    Now, instead of learning his lesson, he boldly kissed her.


    Could she tolerate this?


    She was the CEO of a listed company!


    How could she endure such unfair treatment?


    So, Li Shishi¡¯s arms wound around Song Yun¡¯s neck, preparing to counterattack.


    The two of them sneakily touched each other in the bathroom.


    While kissing, Song Yun¡¯s hands began to wander, slowly caressing Li Shishi¡¯s smooth back.


    Li Shishi, trembling, gasped for breath in Song Yun¡¯s arms like a freshly caught fish.


    Just as Song Yun was overwhelmed with excitement, Li Shishi snapped out of it, glared at him with angry eyes, and quickly pushed him away before leaving the bathroom.


    Song Yun could only sigh as he looked at his raging libido.


    He took off his clothes, took a quick cold shower to rid himself of all desire, and then decided to go back to his room to sleep.


    Li Shishi¡¯s room was next to Song Yun¡¯s.


    Song Yun initially thought about sneaking in to take advantage of the situation, but considering Xiao Qing was staying with Li Shishi tonight, he decided to just smoke a cigarette in the courtyard before sleeping.


    After smoking his cigarette, Song Yun flicked the butt away.


    It arced and landed on the nearby pavement tiles.


    Just then, by the light of the cigarette end, he seemed to notice someone crouching on his rooftop.


    Could it be that thief?


    ¡°Kind of interesting, isn¡¯t it?


    To think you¡¯d dare come here to meet your doom,¡± Song Yun said with a smirk, looking at the thief crouching on his roof.


    ¡°Hey, bro, are you here to steal from this house too?¡± Song Yun shouted to the thief below, barely holding back his laughter.


    Hearing something, the thief instinctively looked up, then turned to run.


    But what fun would there be if he let him escape?


    Thus, Song Yun called out in a low voice, ¡°Brother, we¡¯re in the same line of work.


    The family head here is already knocked out by me, damn, this family is too rich, I can¡¯t carry all this stuff alone, why don¡¯t you come over and help yourself?¡±


    The thief eyed Song Yun suspiciously, and after discerning that Song Yun was no good guy either, leaped down, landing steadily in front of Song Yun.


    Sure enough, this thief¡¯s Qinggong skills were incredible; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have sneaked into the house unnoticed.


    ¡°You can take whatever you want from here; I just want the girl,¡± the thief said, hands behind his back, acting all high and mighty.


    ¡°No problem at all, this little matter isn¡¯t worth mentioning.


    Honestly, that girl is damn attractive, I also want to...


    hehehe.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, let me tell you, that type of woman is not someone you can mess with; it¡¯s better if you leave her to me,¡± the thief said, his tone easing slightly.


    Playing the role of the subordinate, Song Yun humbly said, ¡°Absolutely, looking at how imposing you are, like a dragon among men, I¡¯ve already knocked her out.


    Shall we go now?¡±


    After seeing the thief nod, Song Yun led the way to Li Shishi¡¯s room door, gently turned the lock, and opened the door.


    After she returned to her room, Li Shishi felt like her body was burning up._Remembering the way that bastard had touched her, her pretty face blushed, and she quickly poured a cup of ice water, gulping it down.


    While she was lost in her wild thoughts, she heard the door being opened.


    Could it be that rascal, all cleaned up from his bath, coming to find her again?


    What if he tried to force himself on her?


    Should she put up a fight?


    But Xiao Qing was there in the bedroom tonight; however, she could go to his room instead.


    Should she be a bit more flirtatious on the bed?


    Isn¡¯t it said that men like a lady in the streets but a freak in the sheets?


    Although she wasn¡¯t very freaky, she had watched plenty of movies to mimic something convincing.


    Having thought it all through, Li Shishi waited for Song Yun to push the door open and then embrace her from behind.


    After waiting for a while without feeling any movement from Song Yun, she turned her head sharply, only to see Song Yun using a rope to tie up a man¡¯s hands, the man¡¯s mouth stuffed with her lingerie.


    ¡°What...


    what are you doing?¡± Li Shishi whispered.


    ¡°Nothing, just continue drinking your water,¡± Song Yun replied nonchalantly.


    How the hell can I sleep now?


    You come to my room in the middle of the night and I can¡¯t even ask about it?


    ¡°Who is this man?¡± Li Shishi asked.


    ¡°This bastard is that perverted thief who was stealing your underwear.


    It took a lot of effort to trick him inside.


    I have tied him up for you; tomorrow you can call the police to take this guy in,¡± Song Yun explained, tying a tight knot.


    ¡°So, this guy is the pervert?


    How did you catch him?¡± Li Shishi hurried over, not minding that she was only in her pajamas.


    ¡°Today he came to pluck your flower, but he didn¡¯t expect to encounter me.


    I tricked him into coming inside,¡± Song Yun said.


    ¡°Damn, you dare eye my girl, believe it or not, I¡¯ll gouge out your eyes?¡±


    The thief indeed seemed arrogant, mumbling through his gagged mouth.


    After pulling the lingerie out of his mouth, Song Yun demanded, ¡°Spit it out fast what you want to say, or tomorrow in front of the police you¡¯re done for.¡±


    The thief snorted, ¡°Do you know who I am?


    I am...¡±


    Before he could finish, Song Yun stuffed the lingerie back into his mouth, and Li Shishi curiously asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let him finish speaking?¡±


    ¡°People like him are idiots, right off the bat spewing nonsense about who they are, telling me, ¡®Don¡¯t mess with me, I¡¯ll call hundreds of my guys to chop you up.¡¯ I hate people like that,¡± Song Yun said with a sneeze.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve captured him for you; I¡¯m going back to sleep now,¡± Song Yun stated.


    Now, all Li Shishi wanted to do was to smack Song Yun on the ground and stomp on his face a few times.


    Have you ever seen someone lock a beautiful and intelligent woman in a room with an underwear thief?


    You brought such a violent person here late at night, hitting on one side and kicking on the other¡ªare you trying to let him break free in the middle of the night and come after me for revenge?

 Chapter 66 - 66 65 Simply Had a Sleep

    ?66: Chapter 65: Simply Had a Sleep 66: Chapter 65: Simply Had a Sleep ¡°Yun Yun, Xiao Yun, please don¡¯t go, ok?


    If you leave, I won¡¯t be able to sleep,¡± Li Shishi bit her lip and stamped her foot as she clung to Song Yun¡¯s arm.


    Song Yun felt like his heart was about to fly out.


    This was just too exciting, especially feeling Li Shishi¡¯s firm peaks rubbing against his arm.


    Song Yun just wanted to dance with joy.


    ¡°Ahem, what can we do?


    Xiao Qing is sleeping in your room, so I can¡¯t stay and sleep with you,¡± Song Yun said with a mischievous smile.


    ¡°Then you¡¯ve got to get rid of this creep anyway.


    Otherwise, what if he sees everything?¡± Li Shishi said, feigning coquettishness.


    In reality, when she said this, her stomach churned so much she barely stopped the evening¡¯s meal from splattering all over Song Yun¡¯s face.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t know where to dump him.


    I can¡¯t just throw him in the courtyard, can I?


    What if he runs off?¡± Song Yun acted distressed.


    ¡°...¡± Li Shishi was at a loss for words and after a long pause whispered, ¡°There¡¯s someone in my room, how about sleeping in your room?


    And take this thief with you.


    We can¡¯t let Xiaoqing see a tied-up live person when she goes out tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Song Yun dragged the thief back to his room, feeling a little unsafe.


    He grabbed another rope and tied up the thief¡¯s limbs completely.


    At that moment, the thief looked like a pig about to be slaughtered.


    After completing the last step and locking the thief in a partition of the room, Song Yun trotted over to Li Shishi with a sleazy grin, ¡°Hehehe, shall we go to sleep?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s chat for a bit first, ok?¡± Li Shishi laughed dryly.


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit picky about beds and can¡¯t fall asleep right away in your bed.¡±


    Song Yun knew this was flirting before getting down to business, so he was very willing to lie on the bed and chat with Li Shishi.


    Only one was looking for excuses with embarrassment, and the other was indulging in dirty jokes with lewd thoughts; the two were not on the same frequency at all.


    Li Shishi cleared her throat and said, ¡°Let¡¯s start with discussing Einstein¡¯s theory of special relativity and the photoelectric effect.¡±


    Half an hour later.


    Song Yun, his eyes bleary, watched as Li Shishi animatedly talked about some nonsensical theory of relativity and Archimedes¡¯ principle.


    How would he know what special relativity meant?


    Surely he wouldn¡¯t have to explain this before killing someone in the future?


    Song Yun felt that as soon as this lecture ended, the target would surely kill themselves.


    ¡°Shishi, Sister Shishi, beautiful Shishi, can we go to sleep now?


    I don¡¯t want to hear about relativity,¡± Song Yun pleaded pitifully.


    ¡°Er, let¡¯s change the topic to something you know.


    Let¡¯s discuss Marx¡¯s ideas and Deng Xiaoping theory.


    I am a proud party member and love Grandpa Deng the most...¡±


    Another half hour went by.


    ¡°Shishi, Sister Shishi, please spare me.


    I¡¯m really not interested in philosophy.


    Can we just go to sleep now?


    I have things to do tomorrow,¡± Song Yun said, his eyelids drooping.


    ¡°Oh, I also know of a most, most interesting topic.


    Shall we talk about it?


    I bet you won¡¯t feel sleepy after discussing it,¡± Li Shishi said excitedly.


    ¡°Oh, start talking then,¡± Song Yun yawned.


    ¡°The topic is about black holes.


    They are super high-density celestial bodies that exist in space and are named black holes because they are like perfect black bodies in thermodynamics that don¡¯t reflect any light, and speaking of the universe...¡±


    Before Li Shishi could finish, Song Yun was already out cold.


    Li Shishi tentatively patted his face and sighed, ¡°He¡¯s finally asleep.


    That scared me.


    I thought I was going to be devoured entirely again tonight.¡±


    At this thought, Li Shishi had a pained expression.


    Song Yun¡¯s sleeping position was quite unrestrained, taking up half the bed, with one hand resting on her lower abdomen.


    How could she sleep like this?


    The next morning, thanks to her martial arts practice, Xiao Qing got up early.


    After getting up, she realized that Li Shishi was nowhere to be seen.


    Remembering the noise from the bathroom the night before, could it be that Li Shishi had met with an accident?


    With that thought, Xiao Qing started searching around the courtyard.


    As she pushed open Song Yun¡¯s unlocked room door, she saw her Senior Sister Shishi clinging to Song Yun like a koala, while Song Yun was also embracing her, his hand quite naughtily placed on Li Shishi¡¯s shapely rear.


    ¡°Aah~¡±


    A sharp scream pierced the quiet of the early morning, and Song Yun rubbed his eyes, annoyed, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?


    If it¡¯s nothing serious, I¡¯m going back to sleep.


    I was sleeping so well.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to barge in,¡± Xiao Qing quickly apologized and hurried out of Song Yun¡¯s room.


    Was a scream necessary for just sleeping?


    Song Yun was about to settle back into bed when he suddenly remembered, Li Shishi was still in his bed; no wonder Xiao Qing was surprised to see him and Li Shishi sleeping together.


    Li Shishi turned over and sat up listlessly, muttering something under her breath ¨C probably just morning grumpiness.


    ¡°Shishi...


    Xiao Qing just saw you sleeping in my bed,¡± Song Yun said somewhat awkwardly.


    ¡°Oh, so she saw...


    aah!¡± Li Shishi too screamed, bounding off the bed, ¡°She saw?


    Why didn¡¯t you wake me up earlier, so I could go back?


    No, wait!


    We didn¡¯t do anything, why are we feeling so guilty?¡±


    ¡°But it seemed like you were clinging to me like an octopus...¡±


    ¡°...


    Should we explain?¡±


    ¡°We probably should explain...¡±


    They had barely stepped out the door when they saw Xiao Qing practicing her punches in the yard.


    Seeing Song Yun emerge, her cheeks turned red, ¡°Senior Brother Song, I didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Song Yun felt helpless inside.


    With the girl saying that, how was he supposed to explain?


    This could only complicate things.


    ¡°Last night, I caught the pervert who stole Li Shishi¡¯s underwear before, right here in our courtyard.


    So I used my clever brain to lure the thief into the house and then tied him up.


    It was supposed to be her matter, and I casually threw the thief into her room.¡±


    ¡°Who knew she¡¯d be scared and ask me to sleep with her, but you were in Sister Shishi¡¯s room last night, and I was a bit worried about leaving that thief alone with the two of you girls.


    So I took the thief to my room.


    Later, your Sister Shishi couldn¡¯t sleep and came to chat with me.


    As we were talking, we fell asleep, but we absolutely didn¡¯t do anything else; we just purely slept.¡±

 Chapter 67 - 67 66 Xiao Qings Fianc茅

    ?67: Chapter 66: Xiao Qing¡¯s Fiance??


    67: Chapter 66: Xiao Qing¡¯s Fiance??


    ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how it is.


    Well, why didn¡¯t you explain earlier?


    That thief, huh,¡± Xiaoqing clenched her tiny fists and pouted, ¡°daring to steal underwear, we definitely need to teach him a lesson.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll get him to the police station soon and give that thief a good questioning,¡± Song Yun immediately relaxed.


    He had cleverly managed to redirect the conversation.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have known how to face Xiaoqing later on.


    After Li Shishi came out, she saw Song Yun teaching Xiaoqing.


    When Xiaoqing looked her way, Li Shishi¡¯s face flushed red, but then she thought that she hadn¡¯t actually done anything wrong, so why feel guilty?


    She rubbed her face and loudly exclaimed that she was hungry.


    Hearing that, Song Yun also touched his stomach and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go buy some food for you, don¡¯t wander off now.¡±


    Li Shishi, with a look of disgust, pushed Song Yun a couple of times and urged him to hurry and buy the food.


    Song Yun forced a smile, shook his head, changed his clothes, and left the house.


    Just as Song Yun left, a sports car pulled up at the courtyard gate.


    A handsome guy got out of the car, honked twice towards Xiaoqing¡¯s residence next door, and finding no one there, he knocked on Song Yun¡¯s door.


    When the guy saw Li Shishi come out, his eyes lit up but he quickly disguised it, putting on what he thought was a charming smile and asked, ¡°Excuse me, does a girl named Xiaoqing live next door?¡±


    ¡°What is it?


    You looking for Xiaoqing for something?¡± Li Shishi asked, her tone guarded.


    ¡°I¡¯m a good friend of Xiaoqing.


    I was passing by Sunan City, so I specifically came to see how Xiaoqing is doing,¡± the handsome guy said, smiling like a warm spring breeze.


    Li Shishi scrutinized the man carefully.


    He had a handsome face and oozed a certain charisma, his smile revealing two dimples that were lethal to women.


    He was dressed in a black Armani suit.


    And when he spoke to her, showing his neat set of eight little teeth, Li Shishi¡¯s fondness for him grew considerably.


    ¡°Wait here for a bit.


    Xiaoqing is at my place right now, I¡¯ll go and ask her,¡± Li Shishi said, before gently closing the door and going to find Xiaoqing, who was still practicing martial arts in the courtyard.


    Following her out, Xiaoqing frowned unconsciously and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you terribly, Xiaoqing.


    On my way to Sunan, I made a special visit to your uncle and aunt.


    They¡¯re in good health, but they¡¯re still a bit heartbroken about you leaving home, especially your aunt ¡ª she¡¯s visibly lost a lot of weight.


    She misses you deeply and asked me to come and see you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your kindness and for visiting my parents,¡± Xiaoqing replied with her lips pursed, showing none of her usual vulnerability.


    Instead, she was the picture of a frosty goddess, keeping everyone at arm¡¯s length.


    ¡°Hahaha, Xiaoqing, we¡¯re practically family, why so formal?¡± the good-looking guy chuckled.


    ¡°Your aunt said that if you have time, you should go home and visit more often.


    After all, you¡¯re their flesh and blood.¡±


    ¡°What I want to do is none of your business, you better manage yourself first,¡± Xiaoqing said calmly.


    The handsome guy¡¯s eyes darted to Li Shishi, who stood still, looking perplexed, and he felt a surge of anger.


    ¡®How can you be so clueless?¡¯ he thought.


    ¡®You should be making yourself scarce right now, or at least invite me inside, not just standing there looking like a complete fool.¡¯


    ¡°The intention of your uncle is that we go back together for the National Day holiday.


    It coincides with my grandfather¡¯s birthday, and I¡¯ve come to Sunan City mainly to distribute some invitations to family and friends.¡±


    ¡°Oh, what does that have to do with me?


    Besides, the Xiao Family will surely send someone to his birthday celebration, so there¡¯s no need for me, a young girl, to go especially,¡± Xiaoqing said, her voice laced with irony.


    ¡°But if you don¡¯t go, grandpa will be really upset.


    Xiaoqing, have you forgotten that you¡¯re my girlfriend?


    Not just my girlfriend, but my fiance?e,¡± the handsome guy said with an embarrassed look.


    Li Shishi¡¯s face registered shock; she had never heard about Xiaoqing having a boyfriend.


    Could it be that they had been dating in secret?


    ¡°Su Qin, I think you¡¯re misunderstanding something.


    I am not your girlfriend, nor am I your fiance?e.


    I remember when I was your girlfriend, you didn¡¯t cherish me.


    Later, you dumped me aside and now have the audacity to come looking for me?¡± Xiaoqing said angrily.


    ¡°I wish your grandfather a long life, but as for attending the birthday, I won¡¯t be going.


    Don¡¯t ever bring it up again.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Xiaoqing, why must you be like this?


    Although I admit I was once a terrible person¡ªa heartless playboy¡ªI know you still love me.


    Every night, I pray to the stars, hoping you will forgive my past mistakes and that we can get back together.


    But each morning, I wake up to realize you won¡¯t come back¡ªthat¡¯s the undeniable truth.


    Xiaoqing, I love you; I truly love you.


    Your family and mine both want us to be together.


    Why must you be so stubborn?¡± Su Qin performed convincingly, as if he were the prodigal son whose return was truly priceless.


    Before he had met Xiaoqing, Su Qin didn¡¯t care much about their arranged marriage.


    But once he saw her, he felt like he had fallen for that pure girl.


    He knew that even if Xiaoqing had no background, he had to win her over.


    But after winning her heart, Xiaoqing insisted that they wait until their wedding night, a seemingly simple request that was actually hard to fulfill.


    How could a dog that had tasted meat be content with porridge every day?


    How could a cat that had stolen a taste now settle for regular cat food daily?


    So, at yet another gathering, he met Xiaoqing¡¯s best friend and the two became embroiled in an affair that eventually led to Xiaoqing catching them in the act.


    This was a disaster.


    Although the Xiao Family wasn¡¯t as prosperous as before, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse.


    Xiaoqing insisted on breaking up and he didn¡¯t dare object, though the reason was not publicized, so both their parents thought it was just a simple falling out.


    ¡°Su Qin, I don¡¯t want to deal with you right now.


    Maybe marrying into the Xiao Family would be beneficial for both our families, but remember, I am not an object for anyone to play with.


    If there¡¯s a girl in the Xiao Family willing to marry you, let her do it,¡± Xiaoqing said, her brow furrowed.


    ¡°If you¡¯ve come all this way to Sunan City just in hopes of my forgiveness and to take me back with you, I think you¡¯ll be disappointed.


    Leave, I don¡¯t want to see you again.¡±

 Chapter 68 - 68 67 The Eldest Young Master of the Song Family

    ?68: Chapter 67: The Eldest Young Master of the Song Family 68: Chapter 67: The Eldest Young Master of the Song Family Su Qin was in a state of utter conflict now.


    If he couldn¡¯t bring the person back with him, his family would definitely criticize his ability, and his grandfather would think less of him.


    But with the current situation, it seemed impossible to persuade Xiao Qing to come back, no matter what.


    She had already said she would let him down.


    Was he supposed to persist doggedly despite her indifference?


    If the cold shoulder were Xiao Qing¡¯s, he might be prepared to endure, but the problem was that she wouldn¡¯t even let him.


    ¡°Xiaoqing, there was a time when our relationship was marred by a mistake in memory, I know.


    You were heartbroken and angry with me.


    I hate myself too, for not having resisted her seduction and doing such a horrible thing.


    I know I was wrong, Xiaoqing, I truly know I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°I miss you so much now.


    When I wake up every day, all I can think about is you.


    I really hope we can be together.


    Please, let¡¯s cast aside the memories that don¡¯t belong to us and reignite the spark of our love.¡± Su Qin said with a choked voice, even moving himself with his speech.


    ¡°You know, I don¡¯t like you anymore, please leave,¡± Xiao Qing said, looking uncomfortable.


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to stand on the same starting line as any other man who likes you, to pursue you.


    I love you to the point of madness and am willing to pursue you anew, just hoping you would accept my love.¡±


    Su Qin never spoke so humbly in his daily life, his usual tricks to sweet-talk girls had become tiresome, as just a few made-up sweet-nothings could win a girl¡¯s heart.


    But this woman in front of him was not so easily tricked, so Su Qin had to resort to his trump card¡ª¡¯sincerity.¡¯


    His ¡®sincerity¡¯ wasn¡¯t genuine; if half of what he said was true, he would be grateful.


    But he delivered his words as if they were sincere, leaving one to wonder whether to believe him or not.


    Indeed, Su Qin did possess a certain level of skill.


    His words conveyed admiration without making him seem insincere or disgusting.


    Besides, willing to give up his status to pursue Xiao Qing on equal footing with other suitors, would have usually made any ordinary woman yield to whatever he wanted.


    Especially since women often lose their senses in such situations, even if they can manage to stay rational around those they dislike, any slight affection and they¡¯re utterly lost.


    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t like you,¡± Xiao Qing said indifferently.


    ¡°This is how I usually reject suitors I don¡¯t like.¡±


    Now, Su Qin was feeling helpless, none of his heartfelt words had gotten through to Xiaoqing.


    Had he been performing a monologue for nothing?


    Biting back his anger and thinking that if he could win Xiao Qing back, his status in the family would surely be solidified, and he could freely toy with her every night.


    The excitement at that thought made all the current indignity bearable.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say it?


    Whatever you don¡¯t like about me, just tell me honestly, and I¡¯ll change for you,¡± Su Qin said, his eyes brimming with tears.


    On TV, the male and female protagonists go through hardships before finally coming together, drawing sighs and tears from countless viewers.


    Such love stories are touching, or rather, such women are more enticing.


    Despite her cold beauty, she still gave a sliver of hope that she could be won over.


    But now, Xiao Qing was nothing like those women and it was puzzling how Su Qin had cast himself in the role of the male protagonist.


    ¡°Sorry, you don¡¯t need to change, because I don¡¯t like you anymore,¡± Xiao Qing said with a pursed smile.


    Miss Li Shishi had been watching the drama unfold for quite some time, and every time she heard this man named Su Qin speak, she wanted to laugh.


    She could hardly restrain herself, so she had to cover her mouth, making her ample bosom tremble continuously.


    Although Su Qin was furious inside, his gaze was fixed on the breasts of both Li Shishi and Xiao Qing.


    He was very curious about which of the two women had the larger bust.


    Li Shishi curled her lips in disgust, glared at Su Qin, and then saw Song Yun coming back carrying a bag of steamed buns.


    Remembering Song Yun¡¯s impatient demeanor from that morning, she quickly hatched a plan and called out, ¡°Brother Song Yun, come quickly.¡±


    From afar, Song Yun had already noticed a car parked at his house.


    He hesitated about whether to go over or not when he heard Li Shishi beckoning him in a whiny Southern Min accent, ¡°Song Yun, Song Yun, come here quickly.¡±


    Hearing Li Shishi¡¯s cheesy call, he knew nothing good was coming.


    He was about to turn and run when Li Shishi added, ¡°Brother Song Yun, Xiaoqing has been waiting for you at home for a long time.


    Where have you been?¡±


    That was it.


    From these words, Song Yun could figure out a lot: 1.


    Li Shishi was playing with him.


    2.


    The person who parked the car was pursuing Xiao Qing.


    3.


    Li Shishi was using him as a shield.


    With a heavy heart, Song Yun walked towards the courtyard.


    Li Shishi hurried to him and whispered, ¡°Play along, will you?¡±


    ¡°Got it.


    Just pretending to be one of her admirers, right?


    I¡¯ve seen this kind of plot on TV plenty of times.¡± Seeing there was no escape, Song Yun had no choice but to brace himself and go along with it.


    ¡°That man is a real bastard, he kept staring at our chests.


    He¡¯s bad news, and you¡¯ve got to help me get back at him,¡± Li Shishi clung to Song Yun¡¯s arm.


    Song Yun, with the wolf within awakened, barely heard what Li Shishi was saying, feeling only the impressive presence of her chest, delighted beyond comprehension.


    Li Shishi, smiling, led Song Yun to the door and explained to Su Qin, ¡°This is Song Yun, the eldest young master of the Song Family.¡±


    The Song Family¡¯s eldest young master?


    There were several renowned Song families in Huaxia, which one did this Song Yun belong to?


    No matter which one, it wasn¡¯t someone to provoke lightly.


    Initially suspicious of Song Yun¡¯s identity, Su Qin secretly nodded in approval after seeing Li Shishi¡¯s seemingly demeaning behavior, thankful that he hadn¡¯t caused a scene, or his standing in the family would have surely plummeted.


    ¡°Senior Brother Song,¡± Xiao Qing said sweetly, standing in front of Song Yun with a smile.


    Seeing this, Su Qin felt a chill in his heart.


    Dammit, had Xiao Qing fallen for this guy?


    No wonder she had been rejecting him; she had found a new love.


    And hearing Xiao Qing address Song Yun as Senior Brother Song, could this man also be someone from the martial world?


    Images of Song families associated with ancient martial arts spun in his mind, but after much thought, he couldn¡¯t determine which one Song Yun belonged to, only concluding that Song Yun was a man shrouded in mystery.

 Chapter 69 - 69 68 Master Actor

    ?69: Chapter 68: Master Actor 69: Chapter 68: Master Actor ¡°Hello, Mr.


    Song, I¡¯m very happy to see you,¡± Su Qin restrained his anger and squeezed out a smile.


    Su Qin didn¡¯t know who the eldest son of the Song Family was, but he was very clear that in Huaxia, no Song Family was easy to provoke, let alone the pillar of the home, the legitimate eldest son.


    Being out and about, not on his own turf, Su Qin thought it best not to offend anyone, as having one more friend was better than one more enemy.


    Who knew if someone would stab him in the back?


    Thus, he took the initiative to express his goodwill towards Song Yun.


    Song Yun, acting like he was the boss, didn¡¯t even deign to glance directly at Su Qin.


    Although he didn¡¯t know how true young masters were supposed to interact with people, he felt sure that a certain degree of arrogance was necessary.


    As he didn¡¯t have the status, adding a bit of arrogance might lend credibility to his persona.


    Sometimes, human nature is cheap; if you are too polite, they might start to think there¡¯s something wrong with you.


    Song Yun turned his face away and coldly asked Li Shishi, ¡°Who is this kid?¡±


    Li Shishi thought to herself, how would I know who this kid is?


    This kid came over without revealing his background or status, simply confessing his feelings for Xiaoqing, which was quite annoying to her.


    Although Xiaoqing seemed naive, she wasn¡¯t dumb and clearly understood the intentions of both, so she cooperated well and said, ¡°Senior Brother Song, let me introduce him.


    This is Su Qin from the Jiangnan Su Family.¡±


    Seeing Xiaoqing intimately lean on Song Yun¡¯s back and whisper to him, Su Qin felt extremely uncomfortable.


    He had been here for most of the day and hadn¡¯t even gotten through the door, let alone been offered water.


    He had been standing outside for so long that even his legs had gone numb, yet this Mr.


    Song had just arrived and was already welcomed in by Xiaoqing and Li Shishi.


    It was surely a case of comparing goods making one throw away one¡¯s stock, and comparing people, one would feel despair.


    ¡°The Su Family?


    Or the Jiangnan Su Family?¡± Song Yun frowned and pondered for a while.


    ¡°Yes, yes, the Jiangnan Su Family.


    Our family has contracted most of the silk and ceramics industries there, so we have quite a reputation there.


    If Mr.


    Song ever visits Jiangnan, be sure to give me a call,¡± Su Qin said with a smile plastered on his face.


    ¡°Oh, though I don¡¯t know your Jiangnan Su Family, it does sound impressive from what you say.


    I¡¯ll keep your business card,¡± Song Yun casually took Su Qin¡¯s business card and placed it on the side table.


    Hearing Song Yun¡¯s words, Li Shishi nearly died of laughter.


    The rascal played his part quite convincingly¡ªhad she not known him, she might really have thought that he was an arrogant and spoiled young master.


    Song Yun accepted the tea that Li Shishi handed him and said, ¡°Our grandpa loves wearing Zhongshan suits.


    He used to order his clothes from the silk king Wang Xin¡¯s family in Shuzhong.


    I wonder, when compared to the Xin family¡¯s, whose clothes are more impressive?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, the Xin family takes the international high-end route, and our Su Family takes the domestic mid-to-high-end route.


    These aren¡¯t really on the same level.


    If you really want to order from us, we will absolutely use the best materials and designers to custom-make it for you,¡± Su Qin said with a laugh.


    This time it didn¡¯t seem fake.


    Ordinary people can¡¯t afford silk clothing, especially since the highest grade of silk clothes sold by the Xin family in Shuzhong could only be custom-made with an expenditure of tens of millions.


    This Song Yun was definitely a young master from a major family.


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s not for me¡ªour grandpa likes to wear silk-made Zhongshan suits,¡± Song Yun shrugged.


    Hearing this, Su Qin¡¯s face paled a bit.


    The man in front of him was truly no simple character, able not only to have clothes tailor-made by the Xin family but also displaying immense pride.


    What was most important was his statement that it wasn¡¯t for him, but for their grandpa.


    Perhaps ordinary people didn¡¯t grasp the concept of ¡®grandpa¡¯¡ªto outsiders, a grandpa was just an elderly man.


    But in high society, ¡®grandpa¡¯ was a signal; every elder was treasured within their families, especially in large ones.


    It could be said, as long as the family elder was alive, no one would dare cause trouble.


    But if the elder passed away someday without anyone strong to uphold the family¡¯s face, leading to discontinuity, the family might not die but would be severely weakened.


    ¡°Ha-ha-ha, so it¡¯s Mr.


    Song who loves wearing silk clothes.


    If you ever need anything in the future, just give Little Su a call.


    I wonder if Mr.


    Song could leave an address so that when each new model of Zhongshan suits is made, I can have them sent to you promptly.


    Consider it a token of respect from someone younger,¡± Su Qin quickly adjusted his facial expression and tone before having a complete understanding of his opponent, not daring to make a premature move.


    He had to swallow his frustration for now.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting late.


    How about I host a lunch to thank everyone, especially since I had such a delightful conversation with Mr.


    Song today?


    You must grace us with your presence,¡± Su Qin said with a smile.


    Song Yun glanced at Li Shishi, who appeared to be letting him decide, and said, ¡°Maybe next time.


    I¡¯ll host you on my next visit.


    I have some errands to run today with Xiaoqing, sorry about that.¡±


    Su Qin¡¯s face stiffened when he heard Song Yun mention his relationship with Xiaoqing openly.


    Even the most scheming man feels uncomfortable seeing the woman he intends to woo with another man.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll take my leave for now.


    I hope to have a drink with you sometime soon, Mr.


    Song.


    Don¡¯t refuse me again then,¡± Su Qin quickly adjusted his facial expression and tone.


    Before he fully understood his opponent¡¯s situation, he couldn¡¯t afford to act rashly.


    He would just have to hold in his resentment for the time being.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be heading home in a few days.


    I¡¯ll be waiting for you in Jiangnan,¡± Su Qin said half-jokingly.


    By stating this, he subtly provoked Song Yun a bit by ambiguously revealing his relationship with Xiaoqing, taking the initiative.


    Song Yun might even think that he was a third party interfering, or perhaps even consider him as a mistress.


    Looking dashing and debonair, Su Qin drove away.


    Once Su Qin¡¯s car was out of sight, the two women suddenly focused their eyes on Song Yun¡¯s face.


    ¡°Eh, why are you two looking at me like that?


    Did I do something wrong?¡± Song Yun said with some trepidation.


    In his former career as an assassin, he had played a hero, a bandit, a thief, a police officer, and even a nurse, but never a wealthy young master.


    This was his first time giving such a performance for Xiaoqing, and it made Song Yun quite embarrassed.


    Indeed, the persona of a young master that Song Yun portrayed was extremely challenging.


    They all come from good families with very strict upbringing, so they try to appear approachable in their interactions, yet an inherent arrogance always makes them seem superior.


    Song Yun¡¯s portrayal perfectly captured the essence of both traits, making him appear approachable while also creating a sense of distance that seemed unfathomable.


    No wonder even the worldly-wise Su Qin was fooled.


    Their kind has a very sharp eye for people.


    Anyone not from that class is easily exposed through their words and expressions.

 Chapter 70 - 70 69 The Battle for the Dragon List

    ?70: Chapter 69: The Battle for the Dragon List 70: Chapter 69: The Battle for the Dragon List ¡°Song Yun, I¡¯m really starting to doubt whether you are the young master from a big family,¡± Li Shishi said with a peculiar look in her eyes.


    ¡°Senior Brother Song, thank you.


    I caused trouble for you today,¡± Xiao Qing whispered.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, after all, we are good neighbors.


    If you have a problem, I will definitely help.


    Plus, that guy didn¡¯t seem like a good person, so helping you also puts my mind at ease,¡± Song Yun said with a smile.


    Song Yun had spent a day and a half in this gentle environment, but during the time Li Shishi was home, she was continuously on the phone, even getting into an argument with someone on the other end.


    She wouldn¡¯t explain why, and Song Yun had to put the matter aside for now because there was a big event coming up soon, and he needed to focus all his energy on it.


    Tonight was the night of the Dragon List ranking, and Song Yun was very optimistic about the abilities of those experts.


    He was also worried about his own ability to make it into the top ranks of the Dragon List.


    It would be embarrassing not to make it.


    As soon as he entered the underground arena, Song Yun noticed that there were very few people from the Elephant List, just a handful.


    This was a high-end competition, not as chaotic as those with many from the Elephant List fighting at once, so Old Luo didn¡¯t come with Song Yun today.


    Of course, there was another reason¡ªif there was indeed a disturbance caused by someone on the Dragon List, Old Luo wouldn¡¯t be able to stop it.


    ¡°Brother Song, this competition is a battle for positions in the Dragon List.


    Many top experts from the Elephant List aren¡¯t even qualified to watch.


    The few inside are top ten masters of the Elephant List,¡± Wang Ba explained quietly to Song Yun.


    It was still the same old man acting as the referee.


    Standing on the platform, he announced, ¡°Now, the battle for positions on the Dragon List begins.


    Miao Fawang, the top of the Elephant List, do you want to challenge the tenth rank of the Dragon List?¡±


    The fat man known as Miao Fawang stepped forward and shouted, ¡°I want to challenge the tenth rank of the Dragon List, damn it, I¡¯ve almost rusted while staying at the top of the Elephant List.


    I have to move up.


    Lao Feng, if you don¡¯t take it, you may as well claim the top spot on the Elephant List.


    Look how stifled you are on the Dragon List.¡±


    ¡°If you want to fight, Old Wang, just say so.


    Don¡¯t make things up.


    My sword is hungry for action today,¡± Feng Feng said as he stepped forward laughing.


    ¡°Alright, alright, today I¡¯ll test your abilities again.¡± Miao Fawang, though bulky, was incredibly agile.


    He leapt from the ground onto the fight platform, which was three to four meters off the ground.


    After they had exchanged bows, Feng Feng charged towards Miao Fawang with incredible speed, his skills even quicker.


    Suddenly pulling out a long sword from behind, countless sword beams intertwined into an impenetrable net, as if Miao Fawang could be shredded into pieces at any moment.


    However, Miao Fawang moved in strange steps¡ªstriding, sliding, spinning, and hopping¡ªseamlessly connecting every motion.


    It was as if the sword beams couldn¡¯t see Miao Fawang, often only slashing past his afterimage and causing him no harm at all.


    With a sudden drop in his center of gravity, Miao Fawang ducked, and the sword beam grazed his hair.


    His eyes fiercely blazed as he switched his palm to a fist, aiming directly at Feng Feng¡¯s throat.


    Feng Feng quickly retreated, raising his long sword to block.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    The blade bent inward, barely deflecting the force from Miao Fawang¡¯s hand, then snapped back into shape within half a breath.


    ¡°Haha, your sword is good, Feng Feng.


    I¡¯d like to have it,¡± Miao Fawang said with a belly-shaking laugh, patting his stomach.


    ¡°Hmph, if you want it, come and take it,¡± Feng Feng retorted coldly.


    Miao Fawang didn¡¯t waste words and swung his fist toward Feng Feng.


    As the two crossed paths, they almost created afterimages.


    Feng Feng¡¯s strength was comparable to a famous Sword Dao practitioner whom Song Yun once knew.


    Despite his young age, such capabilities indicated exceptional talent.


    Seeing that his prolonged attack was unsuccessful, Feng Feng¡¯s sword momentum suddenly changed.


    The sword beams initially covering his front abruptly transformed into a startling swan-like silhouette, the sword pressures instantly doubling.


    Miao Fawang frowned, his body bursting backward, but the long sword had already slashed towards him.


    With no other choice, Miao Fawang raised his right hand, blocking with his mortal flesh against Feng Feng¡¯s famed sword in a gesture reminiscent of a Buddhist¡¯s gentle touch.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Airwaves burst between the sword and fingers, causing many of the top fighters from the Elephant List to lose their footing.


    Many stretched their necks, eager to see who would win, as this battle determined a cross-list ranking.


    If Feng Feng won, he would retain his seat as the tenth on the Dragon List; if he lost, he would have to descend shamefacedly to become the top of the Elephant List.


    Neither moved, but suddenly Feng Feng flipped forward and returned to his starting position, concentrating all his vital energies into his sword.


    This was his strongest strike, and he was confident that even the most powerful current Sword Dao master couldn¡¯t match such a boundary and power.


    This was not about strength or skill, but about an individual¡¯s ability to comprehend.


    If one comprehends well, as the Buddhists say, one can become enlightened instantly.


    If one comprehends poorly, they might never attain success.


    Miao Fawang¡¯s expression was stern.


    As the startling swan-like silhouette approached, his hands suddenly burst forth with incredible force, clapping together!


    The sword halted abruptly!


    The sword beams instantly dissipated.


    Frowning, Miao Fawang muttered something under his breath that sounded like a spell or perhaps Sanskrit.


    He wrested the long sword from Feng Feng¡¯s grasp, slapped it heavily, and the blade emitted a harsh metallic friction sound.


    Then, he bent the sword to an angle of about forty or fifty degrees.


    This time, it seemed to have suffered significant damage, not recovering as swiftly as before.


    Miao Fawang laughed heartily, ¡°This time, I¡¯m not giving you a chance.


    I¡¯m going up the Dragon List.¡± With that, he gave Feng Feng a kick, sending him flying.


    ¡°Hmm, this sword, which you¡¯ve carried for many years and which has defeated me many times, I will now break.


    Let¡¯s see how you manage after this,¡± Miao Fawang said, summoning full force in his hands.


    He twisted the long sword sharply into two pieces, then folded it into four.


    ¡°No!!¡± Feng Feng let out a thunderous roar, completely ignoring his injuries and charging forward in fury.


    Miao Fawang disdainfully tossed the broken sword aside and delivered another lightning-fast kick.


    Feng Feng was sent flying again but got up immediately upon landing and ran to where the broken sword lay.


    Feng Feng, trembling, picked up the ancient sword, his face showing the sorrow and anger of witnessing a loved one die in his arms.


    ¡°This sword has been with me for over twenty years, my constant companion since I began learning the sword at age ten.


    Now that you¡¯ve broken it, you and I are irreconcilable enemies,¡± Feng Feng shouted miserably.


    ¡°Then go back and hone your skills before you talk,¡± Miao Fawang laughed, jumping down from the combat platform and settling into the seat designated for the Dragon List.


    From now on, the tenth position on the Dragon List had a new holder.

 Chapter 71 - 71 70 Falling into a Trap

    ?71: Chapter 70: Falling into a Trap 71: Chapter 70: Falling into a Trap The elder announced the results and continued, ¡°Whoever wants to challenge, step forward quickly.


    I really don¡¯t have the time to announce each of you one by one.¡±


    A man abruptly stood up and shouted at the referee, ¡°I want to challenge the third ranked Puxiu on the Dragon List.¡±


    This man was strong and burly.


    He leaped onto the platform, and the man known as Puxiu also stood up, coughing pitifully.


    If this hadn¡¯t been the venue of a Dragon List competition, Song Yun would have thought this boy had tuberculosis, coughing so violently after just a few steps.


    ¡°Now the fifth-ranked Deng Cun is challenging the third-ranked Puxiu,¡± the elder announced.


    After Deng Cun and Puxiu exchanged greetings, Deng Cun¡¯s feet ceaselessly shifted back and forth, and within three breaths, he was in front of Puxiu, throwing a punch.


    Puxiu completely ignored the oncoming fist, tightening his abdomen and twisting his body into a bizarre pose to dodge the sure-to-hit punch before using this twisting force to quietly extend both hands, entwining the opponent¡¯s fist like a snake.


    Twisting his waist sharply, a mighty force flung his adversary several meters away, slamming onto the platform with a loud crash.


    Deng Cun climbed up from the ground and drew two tri-edged spikes from his waist.


    With a flash of cold light, he again struck towards Puxiu¡¯s chest, aiming for a fatal blow.


    Puxiu pinched his fingers together and effortlessly clamped the glinting spikes between them, immobilizing them as if they were made of iron, not budging an inch.


    Puxiu glanced at his fingers, now holding a military tri-edged spike, its long blood grooves frightening to behold.


    Puxiu scoffed, twisted his fingers, and the spike emitted a fierce sound.


    Deng Cun¡¯s face turned to shock, but the tremendous strength transmitted to his hand uncontrollably twisted along with Puxiu¡¯s fingers.


    He attempted to resist, but it was all in vain; Puxiu suddenly increased the pressure, and with a clang, the spike bent and flew away, hitting the wall with a crisp sound.


    Without giving Deng Cun a chance to react, Puxiu threw a straight punch, its force carrying a faint sound of a sonic boom, and powerfully hammered the opponent¡¯s chest.


    Deng Cun was sent flying and landed, spitting blood.


    Just as Puxiu was about to explode his opponent¡¯s head with a punch, suddenly another ¡®Deng Cun¡¯ leaped onto the platform.


    That ¡®Deng Cun¡¯ immediately pulled the Deng Cun lying on the ground to the side of the platform.


    Puxiu burst into laughter, saying, ¡°So the fifth-ranked on the Dragon List are actually the Deng twins, I was wondering why I only saw one Deng Cun.


    Turns out you, the elder brother Deng Zhi, were enjoying the show from down below.


    What, now that your younger brother is about to die, you¡¯ve come up to save him?¡±


    Deng Zhi¡¯s eyes bulged with fury as he shouted, ¡°Today, we, the Deng twins, will no longer be fifth.


    We intend to become the third.¡±


    Song Yun watched the events unfolding on the platform with surprise, tugging at Wang Ba, who was watching with keen interest, asking, ¡°How can two people participate in the Dragon List challenge together?¡±


    ¡°It is said that the Deng twins of the fifth rank on the Dragon List are twins, and they have been of one mind since childhood.


    Their Joint Attack Technique is almost invincible in the world; one defends while the other attacks, it¡¯s like a BUG.


    That¡¯s why the National Security Bureau allowed them to participate in the Dragon Elephant List competition together.


    However, they have become a bit overconfident, thinking one could challenge Puxiu alone.


    Hmph, is Puxiu really such an easy opponent?¡± Wang Ba whispered, scared that the fighters on stage would overhear.


    Song Yun frowned and continued to watch the bout on the platform.


    Puxiu stood in place, forming a circle with his arms, watching Deng Zhi as the latter rushed towards him with a strange footwork pattern.


    Deng Zhi¡¯s figure seemed to flicker in and out of existence, making it impossible for anyone to grasp his pattern.


    Puxiu started to take this opponent seriously.


    Using his right foot as a pivot, Puxiu spun in mid-air as Deng Zhi pressed in with unpredictable movements, managing to avoid even a sliver of a chance to get close.


    But Puxiu¡¯s foot seemed to elongate suddenly; although there was still about half a meter between them, his foot had chopped at Deng Zhi¡¯s neck in an instant.


    Deng Zhi, worthy of being the fifth-ranked on the Dragon List, did not change his expression.


    He braced himself with one hand to catch Puxiu¡¯s powerful kick and then, pulling Puxiu¡¯s figure forward, swept a leg towards Puxiu¡¯s groin.


    Holy shit, this move was too ruthless.


    Song Yun couldn¡¯t believe that even a top fighter on the Dragon List would use such a lewd technique.


    Dragons have reverse scales, and people have their own untouchable soft spots!


    Puxiu, seeing the other party shamelessly attacking his vital parts, his dear brother, the root of his life, felt anger rise from his heart and resolved to retaliate.


    The foot Deng Zhi had grabbed was forcefully pushed down, and Deng Zhi couldn¡¯t withstand the overwhelming force, kneeling on one knee.


    Puxiu¡¯s other foot kicked up into the air, striking Deng Zhi¡¯s chin, forcing him to release the foot and retreat rapidly.


    In an instant, Puxiu advanced with another sidekick, and as Deng Zhi raised his hand to block, he didn¡¯t realize it was Puxiu¡¯s feint.


    Seeing Deng Zhi¡¯s hand move up, Puxiu used a method that defied physics with a kick, forcibly targeting Deng Zhi¡¯s lower body.


    Deng Zhi, caught off guard, received a brutal kick there and instantly bent like a shrimp.


    Puxiu took a few deep breaths in place; defying physics also put a bit of a strain on his body, but luckily, it was successful.


    He defended his dignity, sending a message to everyone that his brother was not to be trifled with.


    ¡°Damn it, you really are cunning,¡± Puxiu coughed twice, swallowing saliva before speaking.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your body¡¯s reaction speed to be so fast.


    Well, I lost this time, but I didn¡¯t think you would use such a vulgar move,¡± Deng Zhi conceded, lying on the platform and resting.


    For anyone, the groin is always the weakest spot; even Ultraman, Saiyans, and superheroes like Superman and Batman, would be doomed if struck there with a kick.


    ¡°Hmph, you were the one who used that technique first.


    I just borrowed it for a moment,¡± Puxiu said with a smile.


    ¡°Damn, I really fell for it this time.


    I concede defeat.


    Next time at the Dragon Elephant List contest, I¡¯ll let you experience the full force of our brothers¡¯ Consecutive Attack Skill,¡± Deng Zhi said as he picked himself up and shook his head.


    The elder, still wearing that listless expression, came onto the platform to declare the results, and was about to leave the stage.


    Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, listened to his earpiece for a moment, and then announced, ¡°Now, Song Yun of the National Security Bureau vs the third ranked Puxiu on the Dragon List.¡±

 Chapter 72 - 72 71 On a Narrow Path the Brave One Wins

    ?72: Chapter 71: On a Narrow Path, the Brave One Wins 72: Chapter 71: On a Narrow Path, the Brave One Wins Puxiu was stunned in place, and Song Yun also opened his mouth in shock, cursing to himself about how this was surely a setup.


    He wasn¡¯t even ready to fight yet; who the hell had pushed him into this pit of fire?


    Sniffing a couple of times, Song Yun reluctantly jumped onto the stage and said, ¡°Brother, I also have no idea who set us up.


    Let¡¯s just have a casual fight.¡±


    ¡°Have you offended anyone?


    The folks from the National Security Bureau are tough, but the top three on the Dragon List aren¡¯t to be underestimated either,¡± Puxiu said with a sneer.


    ¡°Maybe someone intends to use me to get rid of you, but don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll spare your life so you can seek revenge.¡±


    After Song Yun bowed his hands in acknowledgment, Puxiu picked up two steel tridents from the ground that gleamed under the spotlight, looking quite fearsome.


    Song Yun, who was unaware that he would be fighting today, had forgotten his weapons at home, so he casually grabbed a military dagger.


    Seeing that Song Yun was ready, Puxiu took a deep breath and suddenly leaped, gripping the tridents tightly.


    He swiftly stabbed toward Song Yun, aiming the longest prong gleaming coldly straight at Song Yun¡¯s heart.


    Song Yun quickly retreated backwards, weighing the dagger in his hand, then moved to meet the steel trident stabbing toward his heart.


    When brave men meet on a narrow path, the brave ones win.


    In this first encounter, he definitely couldn¡¯t afford to lose face.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    Sparks flew as the two sharp weapons collided, producing dazzling sparks.


    When the first strike failed, Song Yun landed and merely touched the ground with his tiptoes before leaping up again for another round of attacks.


    The military dagger, as if it had eyes, shadowed every move and thrust directly at Puxiu¡¯s heart.


    Puxiu stubbornly used his steel tridents to fend off the attacks repeatedly.


    ¡°Ding!¡±


    After another collision between the dagger and the steel tridents, Song Yun¡¯s dagger suddenly snapped in half.


    Holding only half in hand, while the other half stuck into the ceiling, Puxiu seized the opportunity to thrust his trident straight at Song Yun¡¯s abdomen.


    Song Yun flipped backwards.


    His innate sense of danger enabled him to react quickly and protect his belly, but his right hand used for blocking was pierced through.


    Blood gushed out, vivid and striking.


    Looking at his impaled hand, Song Yun furrowed his brows.


    How long had it been since he¡¯d felt this kind of pain?


    Although it pierced his heart, inside Song Yun stirred a vague thirst for blood; right now, he was eager to fight.


    With a loud shout, Song Yun threw away the half-dagger in his hand.


    His body, swift as a phantom, rushed toward Puxiu who was slightly slow to dodge, but reacted quickly enough to stand straight at his spot.


    Then, supporting himself with his trident on the ground, he executed a roundhouse kick, attacking Song Yun¡¯s lower body.


    Song Yun suddenly sprung up and, wearing casual shoes, harshly stomped on Puxiu who was lying on the ground.


    Puxiu gripped the fork with both hands, lifting his legs high, aligning his body straight up into an L-shape.


    His tridents scraped backward several times, dodging Song Yun¡¯s assault, and then in a swift movement, his legs lunged like spears directly toward Song Yun.


    Song Yun countered with a Tai Chi technique, using softness to overcome strength.


    His hands, moving fluidly like drifting clouds, circled and completely neutralized Puxiu¡¯s attack.


    Then suddenly he burst forth with power, spreading Puxiu¡¯s legs apart and stomping down fiercely.


    This one stomp was so formidable that every man watching instinctively crossed their legs¡ªthat damned kick was bound to peel a layer off Puxiu even if it didn¡¯t kill him.


    Puxiu¡¯s face turned red, the fork now lost somewhere, and his hands clutched his groin tightly.


    After grinding his foot a bit more, Song Yun said with a relieved sigh, ¡°Refreshing.¡±


    The referee, with a smirk, came forward to announce the result, and Song Yun had become the third rank on the Dragon List, possessing the right to end the fight or challenge further.


    Song Yun waved his hand, indicating his duty to challenge the Dragon List was completely fulfilled.


    There was no need to go on risking his life by ascending further.


    Jumping off the stage and placing himself under the care of a beautiful nurse for bandaging, he lay straight on the couch, not wanting to move at all.


    The referee looked around the crowd and said, ¡°The new third rank on the Dragon List, Song Yun.


    Would anyone like to challenge him?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Song Yun just wanted to kick the old man to death.


    Damn it, wasn¡¯t this messing with him?


    Couldn¡¯t he see that Song Yun¡¯s hand was injured?


    Didn¡¯t he realize Song Yun had just exhausted himself?


    Wasn¡¯t this tricking Song Yun?


    Some in the crowd were tempted; now that Song Yun was injured, if they took advantage at this moment, wouldn¡¯t they become the new third rank on the Dragon List themselves, which would certainly be a prestigious title?


    Lin Zhu, the fourth rank on the Dragon List and also a young prodigy, jumped onto the stage and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take advantage of you today.


    I¡¯m moving up a rank.¡±


    Damn it, did everyone look down on him?


    Could it be that after being injured he had no fighting power left?


    No way, his nickname was even the ¡°Indomitable Little Cannon.¡± How could he possibly fall so easily?


    Song Yun drank some water, jumped onto the stage, and roared, ¡°Let¡¯s battle!¡± His body unfolded, charging toward Lin Zhu even faster than before, almost instantaneously reaching him.


    Lin Zhu hurriedly waved his hand to block, but the speed, though only slightly faster than before, was dizzying.


    Dodging Lin Zhu¡¯s attack, Song Yun evaded the finely crafted dagger swung at him.


    Lin Zhu then lashed out another precise stab toward where Song Yun was headed.


    Song Yun¡¯s body suddenly halted as if a car had smashed into a wall and stopped instantly, causing Lin Zhu¡¯s strike to miss again.


    In Lin Zhu¡¯s moment of annoyance, Song Yun seized the opportunity.


    With a punch as quick as lightning, he smashed directly past Lin Zhu¡¯s defense and into the young competitor¡¯s face.


    Lin Zhu¡¯s originally delicate face suddenly swelled up, looking from afar like a monster had manifested.


    This brief moment stunned everyone watching.


    They had thought that with his injuries, Song Yun wouldn¡¯t have much capacity to continue fighting.


    Yet now, his capabilities appeared even more formidable than before.


    The masters on the Elephant List were also buzzing with discussions.


    They hadn¡¯t expected a young man dispatched by the National Security Bureau to be so formidable.


    Initially, they were wary of him because of his status, but now they truly feared him due to Song Yun¡¯s power.


    ¡°I want you dead,¡± Lin Zhu cried miserably, charging at Song Yun with his knife.


    Staying close, Song Yun¡¯s movements were fast.


    Lin Zhu, truly a young talent, kept slashing his knife at Song Yun¡¯s vital spots, predicting with remarkable accuracy, and several times almost succeeded in stabbing Song Yun.

 Chapter 73 - 73 72 The Taste of Fate

    ?73: Chapter 72: The Taste of Fate 73: Chapter 72: The Taste of Fate After half an hour of back and forth combat, Lin Zhu seized an opportunity for a jumping splitting strike that aimed straight for Song Yun¡¯s face.


    Song Yun sneered, having waited just for this moment¡ªhis long-laid trap was about to clinch victory.


    Extending his right hand, he caught Lin Zhu¡¯s blade between his index and middle fingers.


    Lin Zhu was not very tall, to begin with, and his jumping attack left him dangling in the air after Song Yun had caught his knife.


    Song Yun threw a punch that knocked Lin Zhu out of the air and grabbed the knife from his hand with a laugh, ¡°Let me teach you how to use a knife.¡±


    The blade was good and Song Yun¡¯s skills were strong; when combined, they produced an unstoppable force on the stage.


    Song Yun suddenly closed in and used the knife to send Lin Zhu spinning in the air.


    Predicting his trajectory, he struck him hard with the back of the blade in the stomach, then lifted his right foot and kicked Lin Zhu out of the ring like he was kicking a football.


    Dropping the knife beside Lin Zhu nonchalantly, he then asked with a laugh, ¡°Who else?¡±


    The crowd below exchanged looks, too intimidated to speak up.


    The referee checked on Lin Zhu¡¯s injuries before stepping onto the stage with a sigh, ¡°Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge the Dragon List¡¯s third-ranked Song Yun?¡±


    The Dragon List¡¯s eighth-ranked Divine Calculator, who had previously read Song Yun¡¯s fortune, staggered onto the stage, ¡°How have you been lately, young friend?¡±


    ¡°Things have been quite good; but are you challenging me by coming up here?¡± Song Yun asked with a taunting arch of his eyebrow.


    ¡°I suppose I must test myself against you.


    Today, I¡¯m going to experience your might,¡± said the Divine Calculator.


    To be honest, this old Daoist was quite a character.


    He drew out a wooden rule and managed to entangle with Song Yun for quite some time.


    When their speed reached its peak, the old Daoist began to falter under the relentless assaults, and within moments, Song Yun had landed several punches on him!


    The Divine Calculator¡¯s face paled, his hands moving as fast as they had ever moved in his life, but it still wasn¡¯t enough; he began to struggle in defense.


    Like a man fighting against the raging sea, he dared not even think about relaxing.


    After being sent flying by one of Song Yun¡¯s punches, the Divine Calculator shamelessly stood up, patted the dirt off himself, and said, ¡°Indeed, a young hero, young man, I see great potential in you.


    I have some matters to attend to today, so I¡¯ll take my leave.


    No need to see me out.¡±


    Motherfucker, thinks he can just leave like that?


    Even a john has to pay after pulling up his pants, and this old coot thinks he can sneak away without facing the music?


    Song Yun grabbed the Divine Calculator¡¯s arm and shouted, ¡°Senior, don¡¯t go, I still have a few moves to learn from you.¡±


    The Divine Calculator, having no mind for anything else after hearing those words, simply doffed his Daoist robe and leaped off the stage, claiming shamefacedly, ¡°By predicting the stars, I see I am needed at Meteor Street by Xiao Hong.


    I must leave first, and once your injuries are better, let¡¯s drink and be merry.¡±


    Meteor Street?


    The largest red-light district in Sunan City by night.


    This old Daoist had none of the airs of an exalted figure; he was nothing but a ruffian.


    ¡°Ha ha ha, watching this young friend¡¯s match has made me all nervous!


    Now, who else below wishes to step up and challenge?¡± said the referee.


    Song Yun gave a wry smile, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let me challenge the second-ranked on the Dragon List.


    If I were to face each challenger down there one by one, the night would end.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s invite our Dragon List¡¯s second-ranked Qingluan,¡± the referee called out, though the inflection in his voice sounded just like a madam calling out in the Yihong Brothel.


    Qingluan, radiant and energetic, stepped onto the stage.


    The woman had an oval face, willow leaf eyebrows, and large eyes that sparkled vivaciously like spring water.


    She was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with ¡®I am a warrior¡¯ and a short skirt that barely reached mid-thigh, her bare feet bouncing onto the stage.


    And she kept staring at Song Yun with ill intent.


    Song Yun shivered.


    He thought to himself, this girl¡¯s gaze is trying to seduce me.


    Qingluan looked Song Yun up and down, then leaned in to sniff the scent on him before saying, ¡°I smell the scent of fate on you.¡± Her big eyes twinkled intensely as she continued to stare at him.


    ¡°Forget about fighting; I feel like there¡¯s a bond between us growing tighter.¡±


    Song Yun swallowed nervously.


    He had realized that if a woman wanted to play dirty, no one could stop her.


    For instance, Li Shishi, who asked him if her body was pretty the other night, and Qingluan, who was now sniffing him with great effort.


    The referee awkwardly approached and asked, ¡°Qingluan, are you sure you want to concede?


    If you do, you¡¯ll drop to third place.¡±


    Qingluan shrugged generously, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, it¡¯s just third place.


    When the first rank appears, I¡¯ll challenge them.¡±


    The referee stuttered, struggling to announce the results of the match.


    So, this was the second rank on the Dragon List?


    I¡¯ve become the second rank just like that?


    Song Yun felt it was a bit surreal.


    Was this the protagonist¡¯s halo mentioned in novels?


    He basked in the feeling of happiness.


    As the referee asked if anyone else below intended to challenge Song Yun, Qingluan intervened, declaring that she would face any challengers in his place.


    Holy shit, what kind of gesture was that?


    It was like she was the international ambassador of love and peace¡ªeven though the girl herself wasn¡¯t ¡°even¡± at all¡ªnow, her radiance was akin to Mother Mary.


    Song Yun was certain that layers of the protagonist¡¯s aura enveloped him now, his strength was such that he could punch the elders at the Nanshan Elderly Care Center and kick the toddlers at Beihai Kindergarten.


    Song Yun had no intention of challenging the first rank on the Dragon List, and thus, the night¡¯s Dragon List battles came to a close.


    His name became renowned among all the masters, and soon, no matter what sect or school in Huaxia, everyone would hear the name Song Yun.


    As night fell, Song Yun prepared to head home but dared not, simply because he had picked up a little tail following him.


    When Song Yun left the arena after the match, he had noticed Qingluan sneakily trailing behind him.


    When he turned around, she pretended to gaze at the sky, damn it, the sky was pitch black¡ªwhat could there possibly be to see?


    Song Yun was on high alert around the girl.


    She had casually given up the second spot on the Dragon List and then kept staring at him with predatory eyes.


    Song Yun was terrified of the thought of Qingluan pinning him down with a lecherous laugh at night.


    Should he resist or acquiesce?


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    Song Yun gave himself a smack across the face.


    What was this about resisting or acquiescing?


    He was a grown man, after all.


    In the darkness of night, shouldn¡¯t he be the one teasing Qingluan instead of being teased by her?


    Song Yun turned around with a playful look and said, ¡°Qingluan, why are you following me home in the middle of the night?


    Could it be you¡¯ve taken a liking to me?¡±


    ¡°Pfft, who¡¯s taken a liking to you?


    I just feel...I just feel that you smell nice.


    Besides, the street is wide and there are many ways; who says I¡¯m following you?


    Isn¡¯t my home around here too?¡± Qingluan retorted with a pout.


    ¡°Fine, fine, then I¡¯ll just drive away first.


    Take your time going home,¡± Song Yun said as he opened the car door and got in with a smile.


    ¡°You can¡¯t leave,¡± said Qingluan as she clung to Song Yun¡¯s car window.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I leave?


    Madam, spare my life, will you?


    If you want, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal,¡± Song Yun pleaded.


    ¡°Bang!¡± Qingluan¡¯s palm struck down on the car hood, creating a dent, her lips puckered as if she could hang a pot from them, and she said, ¡°I say you can¡¯t leave.¡±


    Song Yun was speechless before the girl, who had the face of a cute little girl but the strength of a tyrannosaurus rex.

 Chapter 74 - 74 73 I am a man of integrity

    ?74: Chapter 73 I am a man of integrity 74: Chapter 73 I am a man of integrity ¡°Um...


    Qingluan, don¡¯t be mad, let¡¯s just have a proper talk first,¡± Song Yun said with a forced smile.


    He had to grin and bear it, fearing that the girl would slap him on the head and that would be the end of him.


    Watching Qingluan batting her big eyes at him, Song Yun swallowed his saliva and said, ¡°Qingluan, tell me why you won¡¯t let me go.


    If it¡¯s because you regret conceding and letting me hold the second rank on the Dragon List, we can switch it back tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Who cares about a ranking on the Dragon List,¡± Qingluan said with a toss of her head, feigning an air of arrogance.


    ¡°I want to be on the War God List.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course, with Qingluan being so formidable, it¡¯s only right for you to aim for the War God List.


    You¡¯re high and mighty, so please spare me and let me off the hook,¡± Song Yun said dryly.


    ¡°No can do,¡± Qingluan replied, utterly resolute.


    ¡°Then just tell me what it¡¯ll take to let me go,¡± Song Yun said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°You have to buy me dinner, I¡¯m hungry,¡± Qingluan said with a pitiful look, her big eyes suddenly misting over as if Song Yun¡¯s refusal would be the worst mistake ever.


    ¡°Alright, alright, get in the car, and I¡¯ll treat you to some late-night snacks,¡± Song Yun said with a smile, relieved that he wasn¡¯t being asked to sell his body.


    With the winnings of his victory tonight in hand, Song Yun drove to a regular street food stall.


    ¡°Boss, give us thirty skewers of lamb first, then five large kidneys, and some grilled vegetables too.


    Oh, and bring a few bottles of chilled beer,¡± Song Yun shouted to the stall owner.


    ¡°This place looks really lively,¡± Qingluan remarked with rising excitement.


    ¡°Have you never had street food before?¡± At this, Song Yun wanted to slap his own mouth; what he said was surely blathering nonsense¡ªthe second-ranked fighter on the Dragon List couldn¡¯t possibly be like him.


    ¡°My master never lets me eat this kind of thing, saying it¡¯s dirty,¡± Qingluan pouted.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Song Yun murmured, taking a sip of beer before asking, ¡°Who¡¯s ranked first on the Dragon List?


    Why didn¡¯t I see him make an appearance today?¡±


    Qingluan shook her head, ¡°All I know is his name is Hou.


    I¡¯ve never actually seen him in person either.


    I¡¯ve just heard that he¡¯s held the top rank on the Dragon List for over a decade now, no one¡¯s been able to challenge his position in all those years.¡±


    ¡°That impressive?¡± Song Yun asked, astounded.


    ¡°Right, right.


    When I first made it to the second rank on the Dragon List, I wanted to challenge him, but the referee said I wasn¡¯t strong enough to merit an appointment and that made me so mad I beat up the referee,¡± Qingluan said naively, as if beating up a referee was a trivial matter.


    ¡°You...


    beat up the referee.¡± Song Yun was well aware that these referees were not to be trifled with¡ªold and slippery, with profound inner strength.


    He hadn¡¯t expected this girl to be so strong.


    ¡°Actually, all these people are just passing clouds to me.


    There¡¯s only one expert in my eyes, and in this lifetime I must surpass him,¡± Qingluan spoke with a tight grasp of her small hand, swearing determinedly.


    ¡°Which expert has garnered such respect from Miss Qingluan?¡± Song Yun asked playfully.


    He might have been an assassin, but the information he had access to was work-related, and he rarely knew about these top fighters.


    ¡°Azure Dragon,¡± Qingluan said seriously.


    ¡°Azure Dragon is simply a martial arts prodigy.


    He bypassed the Dragon List as a stepping stone and directly challenged the masters on the War God List, eventually securing the third place.


    He¡¯s truly the idol in my heart.¡±


    As they spoke, the skewers were served.


    Since Song Yun and the stall owner were very familiar with each other, the owner even threw in a few extra skewers of beef tendon for them to try.


    After a few rounds of drinks, Song Yun hadn¡¯t realized this girl could actually drink.


    She gulped down bottle after bottle without pausing for breath, more macho than any man.


    Before long, Qingluan got drunk, and Song Yun had nothing to do with it.


    He even kindly advised Qingluan to stop drinking, but she wouldn¡¯t listen, and if he talked too much, she might punch him.


    So, keeping to his principle of avoiding getting hit, Song Yun simply accompanied her in drinking.


    Under the disdainful stares of the crowd, Song Yun helped the drunken Qingluan into the car and asked, ¡°Madam, where do you live?


    I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home, I don¡¯t want to,¡± Qingluan curled up into a ball in the back seat, pouting her lips.


    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s late, please tell me where you live, and I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    ¡°Um, let me think where my home is,¡± Qingluan mumbled, sucking on her finger.


    ¡°I remember now.¡±


    Amid Song Yun¡¯s hopeful gaze, Qingluan decided Song Yun¡¯s car would be her home.


    Song Yun wanted to curse and hit somebody¡ªthe girl¡¯s drunken tantrums seemed endless.


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m just teasing you,¡± Qingluan climbed up from her seat, pinched Song Yun¡¯s face, and fiercely sucked on it, saying, ¡°My home is at Magic Cube District, Building 8, Apartment 203.¡±


    Magic Cube District wasn¡¯t far from where they had drunk, and with few cars on the road at this time, Song Yun drove into the district and parked the car in the complex¡¯s parking lot within ten minutes.


    He got out, went around to the back, and opened the door to help Qingluan out.


    Magic Cube District was also a high-quality complex, and although it didn¡¯t have the insane amenities Song Yun¡¯s place had, it counted as one of the top-tier areas in Sunan City, especially with a park nearby¡ªhousing here sold for a pretty penny.


    Qingluan was still drunk and groggy, virtually hanging onto Song Yun, her full chest pressing hard against him.


    He could catch an enticing glimpse if he only looked down, which, believing in not missing out on opportunities, he did several times, swallowing his saliva.


    After finding Building 8, they climbed the stairs to the second floor and reached Apartment 203.


    Song Yun took the keys from Qingluan¡¯s pants and then carried her into the apartment.


    The apartment was about a hundred square meters.


    The walls were painted pink, and there were fluffy toys and cushions everywhere, especially a giant bear over two meters tall in the living room that amazed Song Yun.


    ¡°Wake up, we¡¯re home,¡± Song Yun shook Qingluan.


    She mumbled something and then stopped responding.


    Song Yun had no choice but to prop Qingluan on the couch, went to the bathroom to get a basin of water, wetted a towel, and gently laid it on Qingluan¡¯s face.


    The cold water brought Qingluan back to some semblance of consciousness.


    She glanced weakly at Song Yun and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Damn it, it took me so much effort to bring you home, and now you¡¯re asking me why I¡¯m here?


    How do I know why I¡¯m here?


    Without you, this nuisance, I¡¯d surely be home by now.


    Holding back his irritation, Song Yun spoke kindly, ¡°You got drunk, so I brought you home.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Qingluan murmured softly, then said, ¡°What did you do to me, my body feels so hot.¡±


    What the hell could I possibly do to you?


    I¡¯m a gentleman; what can I do?


    But then remembering he was dealing with a human-shaped tyrannosaur, Song Yun replied humbly, ¡°That¡¯s because you drank too much, so you¡¯re feeling hot.


    If you¡¯re hot, then go ahead and take something off.¡±


    Song Yun said this half-jokingly, but to his surprise, Qingluan actually started to strip off her top, revealing not a bra but a pink bandeau underneath.


    Song Yun jumped and said, ¡°Oh my goodness, don¡¯t take it off, you might catch a cold and that¡¯s no good.¡±


    ¡°Ah, but I really am so hot, it¡¯s uncomfortable,¡± Qingluan complained.


    Song Yun swallowed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, I¡¯m a gentleman and won¡¯t be seduced that easily,¡± he maintained righteously, even as a nosebleed burst forth.


    He quickly grabbed a tissue to block his nose.

 Chapter 75 - 75 74 You Heartbreaker

    ?75: Chapter 74 You Heartbreaker 75: Chapter 74 You Heartbreaker Song Yun sniffed and felt a hot stream after hot stream rush into his nostrils, quickly turning the tissue bright red.


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so hot, so hot.¡± Qingluan took off her pants revealing her white panties, and Song Yun felt like he was losing his mind.


    He hurried to the bedroom to find a summer quilt to cover Qingluan, heavens only know what other bold things this girl might do next.


    He was a man of morals, a man with a bright future, a man of noble ideals and integrity, he couldn¡¯t lose his nature over these sugar-coated bullets.


    Song Yun comforted himself, but his eyes involuntarily drifted towards Qingluan.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Qingluan kicked off the blanket on her, then groggily sat up, glaring fiercely at Song Yun.


    Song Yun, who had been stared down by Qingluan¡¯s gaze numerous times, swallowed his saliva and picked up his coat to drape over her.


    Qingluan grabbed Song Yun aside and whispered menacingly, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, are you trying to take advantage of me?


    My favors aren¡¯t that easy to earn, but you...¡±


    Qingluan stopped talking, but she began to act, unwinding her chest wrap round and round, until Song Yun, rooted to the spot, saw the pink peaks on the mountains and said, ¡°How¡¯s my body?¡±


    Song Yun dared not respond, as last time he complimented Li Shishi¡¯s body, he ended up getting slapped twice.


    He definitely wouldn¡¯t say anything inappropriate now.


    After waiting for a while without hearing any praise from Song Yun, Qingluan snatched the blanket from the couch and covered herself up again, declaring, ¡°I won¡¯t let you look anymore.¡±


    Don¡¯t stop showing now, just when I was getting fascinated.


    You seriously lack professional etiquette.


    Don¡¯t you know I¡¯m distressed now?


    Show some mercy and lift a corner of the blanket for me to peek.


    Suddenly, Qingluan stood up clutching her stomach and said, ¡°I need to go to the bathroom.¡± Then she scurried to the bathroom.


    Song Yun chuckled bitterly to himself, what is this all about?


    After a while, Qingluan didn¡¯t come out, and as more time passed, Song Yun started to worry, especially since she had been drinking.


    It wouldn¡¯t be good if she had fallen asleep in there, it¡¯s quite easy to catch cold.


    He pushed open the door and found Qingluan sitting on the toilet squirming awkwardly, who yelled at him upon sight, ¡°Get out!¡±


    Song Yun quickly shut the door.


    Just as he was about to sneak away, Qingluan called from inside, ¡°Can you bring me that pair of underwear from the bedroom dresser?¡±


    Alright, so the little lady here has peed her pants, Song Yun thought with amusement as he picked out a particularly tasteless pair of pink underwear from the dresser and knocked on the door, saying, ¡°I left it outside for you.¡±


    Qingluan hummed a response, and after setting it down, Song Yun sat down on the couch.


    After changing her underwear, Qingluan came over with a flushed face and sat down next to Song Yun with a grim expression, saying, ¡°You have to take responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Take responsibility?¡± This was the first time Song Yun had heard these words, even after having had an encounter with Li Shishi in the bathroom, she never talked about responsibility.


    How could it suddenly come from Qingluan¡¯s mouth today?


    ¡°That... Qingluan, I didn¡¯t do anything to you, why should I take responsibility?¡± Song Yun asked softly.


    ¡°You saw my body and now you¡¯re denying it?¡± Qingluan shouted louder.


    Was it me who voluntarily undressed you to check out if you were beautiful?


    It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t done anything today.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who wanted to see your body,¡± Song Yun muttered quietly.


    ¡°I feel like dying, a man saw my body and now this heartbreaker doesn¡¯t want to take responsibility, I want to die,¡± Qingluan squatted under the sofa and murmured in circles, ¡°I want to die, I want to die.¡±


    Being labeled a heartbreaker, Song Yun was caught between laughter and tears, this second-ranked expert on the Dragon List was still throwing a fit in front of him, what a treasure.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean I don¡¯t want to take responsibility, but I¡¯m already living with another girl,¡± Song Yun said with a smile.


    ¡°Oh, you dare to live with other girls behind my back, hmm, just kill them off,¡± Qingluan stood up raging.


    Song Yun slapped his forehead and lamented, ¡°What in the world is this?¡±


    Having organized his thoughts for a while, Song Yun also stood up and said, ¡°Qingluan, don¡¯t be so impulsive.¡±


    How am I being impulsive?


    You faithless man, not staying at home to tend to things and playing the traitor, get down and sing ¡®Conquer¡¯ with your head in your hands.¡±


    Song Yun gave her an exasperated look.


    Qingluan, in an attempt to express her anger and stand dominantly on the sofa, failed to jump up, tripped, and fell towards Song Yun.


    Caught off guard and aided by gravity, Song Yun ended up with Qingluan on top of him on the couch.


    Qingluan sitting on Song Yun¡¯s abdomen said, ¡°I¡¯ll beat you, you scoundrel.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a joke; she really did smack Song Yun several times, making him feel like his ribs were about to break.


    ¡°Stop messing around, Qingluan, I need to go home,¡± Song Yun said, feeling utterly aggrieved.


    He couldn¡¯t fight back or retort without ending up getting slapped¡ªspeaking up would only bring more humiliation.


    ¡°What, you want to go home to your pretty lady?


    You hang out with them every day and you¡¯re not bored, but today I¡¯m graciously letting you have a go.¡±


    Song Yun certainly wanted to take advantage of the situation, but Qingluan was firmly pinning his arms down as she sat on him, and even if he wanted to do something, he just didn¡¯t have the strength.


    ¡°I¡¯m not playing anymore, I really need to go home,¡± Song Yun said, attempting to push himself up.


    Qingluan leaned over and pinned Song Yun down, her cleavage as deep as the East African Rift, and sharply commanded, ¡°You can¡¯t leave.¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness, can you please be merciful and let me go?


    I know I was wrong, just spare me,¡± Song Yun pleaded.


    ¡°Geez, are you impotent or something?¡± Qingluan looked down at Song Yun disdainfully.


    ¡°A stunning beauty is in front of you and you won¡¯t take a bite, I seriously think you have a problem.¡± She then reached to unbuckle his belt.


    Song Yun grabbed Qingluan¡¯s hand with a crying tone, ¡°I really have no problem.¡± As if a slow simmer was just perfect, Little Song Yun suddenly reared his head and brushed against Qingluan.


    ¡°Pah!¡± Qingluan spat at Song Yun, her face turned red as she said, ¡°You¡¯re indecent,¡± and then symbolically smacked him several more times on the body.


    Song Yun wanted to cry without tears; the physical pain was nothing compared to the everlasting pain in his heart...

 Chapter 76 - 76 75 Is He a Man

    ?76: Chapter 75: Is He a Man?


    76: Chapter 75: Is He a Man?


    Early in the morning, Song Yun drove to the courtyard with a sullen face, Qingluan sitting unhappily in the back seat, pouting at him.


    ¡°Qingluan, why do you insist on staying with me?


    Your family will flay and disembowel me when they find out,¡± Song Yun said.


    Qingluan lifted her head and thought for a moment before replying, ¡°It¡¯s fine.


    I¡¯ll tell them it won¡¯t go as far as flaying and disemboweling, but I can¡¯t guarantee there won¡¯t be slashes and holes.¡±


    Song Yun was at a loss for words.


    If only he hadn¡¯t foolishly ogled Qingluan¡¯s naked body last night, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this miserable state.


    He was terrified of the retaliation from Li Shishi once he brought Qingluan back to the courtyard.


    Following Song Yun¡¯s car was a black Passat, intentionally tailing him without drawing attention.


    Inside the black Passat, Bald Man drove while discreetly adjusting the distance to avoid alerting Song Yun.


    The phone rang, and Bald Man put the earpiece in to answer the call.


    ¡°How is the plan progressing?¡± A chilling male voice came through the phone.


    ¡°All is going smoothly, except that a girl got into a man¡¯s car,¡± reported Bald Man while driving.


    ¡°A man?


    Who is it?¡± The voice on the other end grew slightly heavier, seemingly displeased that Qingluan was in Song Yun¡¯s car.


    Bald Man pondered for a moment.


    Observing Song Yun¡¯s casual appearance and the sports jacket he wore, he replied, ¡°Probably some rich young master.


    I saw his car; it¡¯s a Jeep worth nearly one million.


    But, don¡¯t worry, boss, I will handle it.¡±


    ¡°Make sure the plan is foolproof.


    We¡¯ve laid out so many traps for this girl, and it would be bad for everyone if it gets spoiled now.


    If you fail, you know the consequences,¡± the man on the phone scolded before abruptly hanging up.


    Bald Man removed the earpiece, grinned widely, and vigorously stepped on the accelerator, speeding the car forward wildly.


    As Song Yun was contemplating how to safely house five women in a villa, he noticed a Passat overtaking him on his left, increasingly trying to divert his route.


    Song Yun chuckled slightly.


    This person was certainly looking for trouble.


    If not one of those overenthusiastic youngsters eager to race, it must be an enemy trying to force him off the road.


    Out of compassion, Song Yun decided to play along with this act.


    ¡°Bro, why are you sticking to my car like this?¡± Song Yun asked innocently through the open window.


    Seeing Song Yun¡¯s submissive look, Bald Man laughed, ¡°Just want to have some fun with you, then I¡¯ve got other things to do.¡±


    ¡°Idiot, I¡¯m not gay.


    If you¡¯re into that, find someone else.


    I¡¯m not playing along,¡± retorted Song Yun as he suddenly sped up.


    This luxury car truly was exceptional, far surpassing the Passat¡¯s 200,000.


    Watching his car pulling ahead again, Song Yun grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the passenger seat, gulped it down quickly, and then tossed the bottle out.


    Bang~~~Screech~~~Crash~~~Boom~~~


    A series of harsh sounds followed; the black Passat violently crashed into a tree on the roadside.


    Amid all the noise, Bald Man¡¯s screams still managed to sound incredibly loud, impressing Song Yun.


    Bald Man was both thrilled and happy, not just emotionally but also about the money.


    Kidnapping a girl rumored to have significant backing was the biggest job they had taken in months.


    If they succeeded this time, he could splurge the reward for a couple of years.


    During this long planning and layout phase, today was undoubtedly the best time to strike.


    Thinking of his girlfriend¡¯s enthralling services, Bald Man was beyond excited.


    While he was in high spirits, the insignificant boy in the car ahead suddenly extended his hand and flipped him the middle finger.


    Before he could react, Song Yun threw something at him.


    Bald Man sneered, thinking he¡¯d catch up and finish that boy.


    However, just as the thought crossed his mind, the bottle Song Yun threw smashed through the Passat¡¯s window like a drill, shattering the glass under the pressure.


    Unable to withstand the force, it burst apart, spraying shards everywhere.


    A piece of glass lodged into Bald Man¡¯s forehead, making him look like a unicorn.


    The pain turned his eyes bloodshot as he slammed his hands on the steering wheel and roared fiercely.


    Whether it was his brute force or lack of care for the car, the Passat suddenly veered off course, uncontrollably heading for a tree.


    Desperately trying to crawl to the backseat to minimize the impact, Bald Man¡¯s hands just touched the seat when his body flew out the window.


    Driving leisurely, Song Yun stopped near the Passat, took a stroll around it, then parked a distance away.


    ¡°He¡¯s probably dead,¡± Qingluan muttered, frowning.


    ¡°Who knows, if he¡¯s dead, he¡¯s dead,¡± Song Yun replied indifferently, feeling somewhat helpless as he had intended to force the Passat to stop, not expecting the idiot to crash into a tree, leaving his survival uncertain.


    This frustrated Song Yun, who had hoped to use Bald Man for some practice.


    ¡°How can you talk about killing so casually?¡± Qingluan whispered.


    ¡°That Bald guy started cursing at me first,¡± Song Yun answered sullenly.


    ¡°Now what do we do?


    People on the Dragon List might have national privileges, but we can¡¯t just kill anyone we see.¡±


    ¡°I...


    I¡¯ll go back to Africa and become a mercenary.¡±


    Qingluan almost wanted to pin Song Yun down in the car seat and give him a good beating.


    Damn, you kill someone and then just think of running away?


    And you expect me to take the fall?


    Are you even a man?


    As Qingluan launched herself at Song Yun, tearing and throwing a fit, the man lying in the distance staggered to his feet.


    Bald Man looked up with hatred in his eyes at Song Yun, who was flirtatiously bantering with Qingluan in the car.


    He then tried to pull the glass shard from his forehead, cried out in pain after two unsuccessful attempts.


    The pain wasn¡¯t so intense at first, but once triggered, it spread throughout his body.


    Bald Man glanced at his now swollen groin, tears welling up in his eyes.


    Just moments ago, he was fantasizing about a wild escapade with his lover, and then he was flung out, banging his lower body against a rock, swelling it horribly.

 Chapter 77 - 77 76 Go Ahead and Kill

    ?77: Chapter 76 Go Ahead and Kill 77: Chapter 76 Go Ahead and Kill ¡°Motherfucker, get the hell out here.¡± Bald Man jumped in front of Song Yun¡¯s jeep, kicked the car door, and shouted loudly.


    Song Yun watched as the door dented in badly and nearly cried, distressed.


    Just yesterday Qingluan had left a handprint on the hood, and today the door was trashed.


    Damn it, you think I¡¯m a pussy if I don¡¯t show my power?


    Fuming, Song Yun glared and yelled, ¡°Who the fuck are you?


    Why should I get out?


    Motherfucker, you kicked a dent in my door; pay up quickly.¡±


    Bald Man sneered repeatedly, pointing at Song Yun¡¯s nose, scolding, ¡°You dumbass, do you know what I do?


    You dare trash my car, let me tell you, this place is deserted with little traffic usually, and even if you call the cops, they won¡¯t get here anytime soon.


    I¡¯m gonna tear you apart today and fuck your girl right in front of you.¡±


    Song Yun was stunned for a moment, then glanced back at Qingluan who narrowed her eyes slightly, swallowed, and thought, if you could really take this chick away, I absolutely wouldn¡¯t stop you.


    I might even give you the car.


    However, considering this girl is second on the Dragon List, Song Yun could only sigh inwardly, knowing that after today¡¯s business, Qingluan would still have to go back to the courtyard with him.


    ¡°Song Yun, he dared to insult me,¡± Qingluan huffed coldly.


    ¡°Yes, I heard it, and the insult was intense, even with a hint of delinquent tone.


    Grammatically speaking...¡± Before Song Yun could finish, he saw Qingluan smiling as she crushed her watch into pieces.


    ¡°Why are you still sitting there?


    Get out and avenge me?¡± Qingluan asked, smiling but with a cold gaze.


    ¡°What if I accidentally kill someone?


    You¡¯ve also said we shouldn¡¯t just kill people randomly.


    Perhaps this guy is just a law-abiding citizen,¡± Song Yun smacked his lips.


    ¡°If you kill him, then roll back to Africa and become a mercenary.¡± Qingluan said staring at Song Yun with her beautiful twinkling eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of your beloved girl, and I¡¯ll find her a suitable husband.¡±


    Isn¡¯t it always the case in movies and TV shows?


    Before sending someone as a death soldier, all the tough guys promise to take care of the wife, kids, and parents of the soldier, or guarantee a safe and happy life for their descendants.


    But why, in his case, it turned into going back to Africa to be a mercenary after killing someone, and his lovely girl being divided among beasts?


    Shit, this plot isn¡¯t right, it shouldn¡¯t be like this.


    Bald Man was shocked to hear Qingluan and Song Yun conversing in the car.


    This harmless-looking guy was this chick¡¯s bodyguard?


    Impossible, how could someone so weak-looking have such an important job?


    Could he be mistaken?


    That¡¯s wrong too.


    The information he had collected only mentioned that this girl was the legitimate daughter of a major family, mysterious albeit, but nothing about having a bodyguard.


    Bald Man rolled his eyes, thinking regardless of what, killing this guy can¡¯t be wrong.


    Once he gets out of the car, he¡¯s dead.


    ¡°Get out of the car, let¡¯s reason this out,¡± Bald Man hit the window saying.


    Song Yun inside swung a middle finger disdainfully and said, ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered with you.


    Use whatever tricks you have; I¡¯m not scared.¡±


    That pissed off Bald Man to the point of fury; he drew a revolver from his belt and blew the front tire, roaring, ¡°Motherfucker, get out of the car.¡±


    Shit, it¡¯s fine that the front hood was damaged and still drivable, also fine with the door being dented, but fuck, who can drive with the tire blown out?


    Sniffing, Song Yun acted scared as he stepped out of the car and said, ¡°Big brother, don¡¯t kill me.


    I have an old mother over eighty and a baby less than a month old.


    Please, spare my life.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fucking waste my time with your crap, hands behind your head, and don¡¯t try any funny business.¡±


    Following Bald Man¡¯s command, Song Yun awkwardly raised his right hand to the back of his head; Bald Man pointed at his left hand with the gun.


    Reluctantly, Song Yun lowered his right hand and put his left hand behind his head; Bald Man shouted angrily, ¡°Motherfucker, if you play with me again, I¡¯ll shoot you dead.


    Now put both hands behind your head and hold them.¡±


    Song Yun responded with an ¡°Oh,¡± indicating he understood, and obediently sat on the ground, hands behind his head, perfecting the posture to the point where Bald Man couldn¡¯t find a single flaw.


    Bald Man arched an eyebrow, somewhat pleased.


    He hadn¡¯t expected this kid to be so unresistant; just a point with the gun, and he does whatever is told.


    He was so happy he was disoriented.


    Always thought this kid was the pretending-to-be-weak type, but it seems he¡¯s just a pig.


    But then he also rightly thought, they are young now, looking at his attire and the way he speaks, at most he¡¯s just another rich kid.


    Now that they are pushed into a life-and-death situation, who could maintain what so-called dignity?


    Unfortunately, however unfortunate it is, no matter how compliant this kid is today, he can¡¯t escape death.


    Who let him stay idle and share a car with his target?


    ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn to get out,¡± Bald Man moved the gun towards Qingluan, chuckled twice, and said.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Qingluan didn¡¯t waste words, obediently walked out of the car, squatted in front of Song Yun, but weirdly sticking out her butt.


    What¡¯s that about?


    Song Yun hadn¡¯t quite grasped the situation when a perky butt appeared in front of him, the round natural shape pleasing to the eye.


    ¡°Hehe, pretty girl, I¡¯ve been watching you for days.


    Not taking advantage of your accomplishments, but look at the hard work and let me get a little action,¡± Bald Man lecherously laughed.


    Right at this critical moment, Song Yun¡¯s phone rang.


    Song Yun embarrassingly pulled out his phone and said, ¡°Sorry, sorry, you guys continue.


    I¡¯ll just take this call over there.¡±


    Bald Man snatched Song Yun¡¯s phone and threw it to the ground.


    ¡°Motherfucker, what do you think the time is right now?


    Is this when high-profile rich kids like you flirt with girls in hotels and bars?


    It¡¯s a fucking matter of life and death now, and you¡¯re telling me you¡¯re taking a call?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not being honest, are you, kid?


    Want me to shoot you first to teach you a lesson?¡± Bald Man sneered.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stand you so-called rich kids and officials¡¯ kids, fucking pests that harm the nation.¡±

 Chapter 78 - 78 77 Did you not kill him

    ?78: Chapter 77 Did you not kill him?


    78: Chapter 77 Did you not kill him?


    Being called a parasitic menace to the nation by a guy holding a gun?


    Damn, is there no law left in this world?


    I bust my ass working hard for my money, and just because I bring it here, I¡¯m suddenly labeled a rich second-generation or an official¡¯s offspring.


    So who are you now?


    A grand bandit or a world-shocking robber?


    Song Yun saw the Bald Man¡¯s dark gun barrel turned towards him, shrugged his shoulders, and crouched down again on the ground.


    ¡°You two stay put and squat right here.


    Don¡¯t move, or I¡¯ll blow your balls off,¡± the Bald Man threatened after taking out his cell phone and starting a call.


    Song Yun was now squatting behind Qingluan¡¯s butt, and without even needing to look up, he could see her perfect curves.


    Qingluan turned her head and asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just take him down?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what the guy said?


    ¡®Whoever dares to move, I¡¯ll blow his balls off.¡¯ You¡¯re a woman; you don¡¯t have balls, so that¡¯s clearly directed at me.


    No way am I doing something that stupid,¡± Song Yun said, pinching his nose, feeling the impulse of a nosebleed coming on.


    ¡°Hey, boss, I¡¯ve successfully captured the two of them, but... but the car broke down halfway.


    Could you send someone to pick me up?¡± the Bald Man said into the phone.


    ¡°Just wait, I¡¯ll find someone to head over now,¡± a male voice replied from the phone.


    ¡°Hehe, after this job, I can finally take a good break,¡± the Bald Man sneered.


    The other side moved quickly.


    Barely five minutes after the Bald Man made the call, a car sped towards them from afar.


    Seeing his partner¡¯s arrival, the Bald Man¡¯s guard was slightly lowered, and his grip on the gun loosened.


    Just then, a shadow flashed by, and the supposed rich second-generation vanished.


    The Bald Man hastily retreated.


    Years of combat experience constantly reminded him that he had messed with someone formidable.


    As he backed away, he suddenly felt a gun pressing against the back of his head.


    The person holding the gun was none other than the ¡°rich second-generation.¡±


    How could a rich second-generation have a gun?


    How was he so skilled?


    Why hadn¡¯t he searched the boy earlier?


    A myriad of questions swirled in the Bald Man¡¯s head, and he deeply regretted not killing him with a single shot earlier.


    ¡°Put the gun down,¡± Song Yun said with a smile, looking at him.


    The Bald Man¡¯s mouth gaped open in shock and he let out an incredulous sigh.


    Was this mission really going to fail like this?


    Was he really going to part ways with his beautiful woman just like that?


    Knowing the ins and outs of the organization, he also knew the consequences of failing the mission.


    But he couldn¡¯t accept such a miserable end.


    ¡°You what, a hippo?


    Opening your mouth so wide.


    If you want me to shoot inside your mouth, I don¡¯t mind, but my face and clothes will get splattered.


    Look at my clothes; they¡¯re damn designer labels.


    If blood gets on them, can I even wear them anymore?¡± Song Yun rambled on then repeated, ¡°Now put the gun down.¡±


    Threatening the kid for the second time, Song Yun was already feeling a murderous intent, thinking about how this bastard had messed up his car and wanting to shoot him.


    The Bald Man wanted to cry.


    He felt like throwing himself on the ground and bursting into tears.


    What the hell was this?


    The duck he had in his hand flew away, feathers and all.


    This damn kid must have been playing dumb to catch the wise.


    And what a masterful act it was ¨C had he shown even a hint of weakness under pressure, the Bald Man would have caught on.


    But Song Yun¡¯s performance was so smooth it impressed the Bald Man.


    Now, he only wanted to reward him with a bullet and a good knock to the genitals.


    ¡°Man, let me tell you, in our line of work, it¡¯s hit or miss.


    The financial crisis is getting worse; bounty jobs are dwindling, we barely get a few a month, and the payments for those we do get are staggered.


    Prices are always rising, but our wages keep dropping.


    It¡¯s tough to earn money but shitty to eat.


    I haven¡¯t paid off my mortgage, haven¡¯t married off my wife, and the boss is always chewing me out.


    It¡¯s an impossible life,¡± the Bald Man complained, sitting disheartened on the ground.


    Song Yun had never seen such an odd duck.


    Just as he was about to offer a few words of comfort before the man¡¯s death, he saw the guy spring up with his gun aimed and shout, ¡°So I don¡¯t freaking want to live anymore, I¡¯ll take you down with me.¡±


    Bang!


    A gunshot rang out, but the Bald Man didn¡¯t see the gory scene he envisioned with brains splattering and blood flowing.


    The shot missed.


    According to physics and kinetics, that hit should have been a guaranteed counter-kill.


    But before he could reflect on how to avoid such a miss in the future, Song Yun smashed his gun against the Bald Man¡¯s neck.


    With a thud, the Bald Man felt a sharp pain there, his head spun, with little angels circling above, singing Hallelujah, and then he went down, dazed.


    Lying on the ground with his eyes doubling, the Bald Man thought, ¡®Damn, this kid hits dirty.¡¯


    Qingluan pouted, looking at Song Yun, and wordlessly commented about the fallen Bald Man, ¡°Did you kill him?¡±


    ¡°No way, how could I kill someone?¡±


    ¡°Then why is he lying down?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s...


    he got tired,¡± Song Yun decided, figuring if the guy didn¡¯t rest for a couple of days, he felt he would drop dead from exhaustion.


    Chewing on his lip and eyeing the approaching car, Song Yun suggested, ¡°You get in the car first, I¡¯ll change the tire.¡±


    ¡°What about this guy?


    Aren¡¯t you going to kill him?¡± Qingluan stomped her feet frantically, remembering how this bastard had ogled her greedily, which was utterly disgusting.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite bloodthirsty for such a young girl.


    The Buddhists say we should cherish every blade of grass and tree, let alone a human life.


    Letting him live is akin to building a stupa,¡± Song Yun blurted out, and Qingluan felt like beating him up.


    As a car mechanic among his skills as an assassin and a mercenary, Song Yun quickly replaced the blown tire in no time.


    After getting in the car, Song Yun and Qingluan realized an important issue.


    There was no way out.


    Not only was the fast-approaching car blocking them in front, but the trees around them were an obstruction too.


    Faced with only one path, Song Yun decisively gave the driver¡¯s seat to Qingluan and sat himself in the passenger¡¯s seat.


    ¡°You know how to drive, right?¡± Song Yun asked, frowning.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not very practiced, but I¡¯m an old hand,¡± Qingluan replied with a confidence that assured she had everything under control.


    ¡°Good, now floor the gas and drive straight ahead,¡± Song Yun said sharply, his demeanor far from that of the foolish boy earlier.

 Chapter 79 - 79 78 The Female Driver is Behind the Wheel

    ?79: Chapter 78: The Female Driver is Behind the Wheel 79: Chapter 78: The Female Driver is Behind the Wheel ¡°Fucking hell, this time I¡¯m gonna teach you bastards a lesson,¡± Song Yun gripped his gun and said.


    The distance between the two vehicles was closing in, Qingluan, the chick, seemed fearless, pressing the pedal to the metal, charging forward without a care in the world.


    ¡°We¡¯re about to crash, you better come up with something quick, or we¡¯re both dead today,¡± Qingluan spoke with a casual tone.


    Song Yun patted Qingluan on the shoulder and said, ¡°No worries, before we die, we¡¯ll take them down with us.¡±


    ¡°Shit, Brother Eagle, something¡¯s not right here, I called Bald just now and he didn¡¯t pick up, and the one coming at us now is the target,¡± the driver in the jeep noticed something was seriously wrong and slowed down a bit to speak to the boss.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Bald just say he had control over the two targets?


    He even said everything was fine and told us to hurry over for backup, what the hell is happening now?¡± The person known as Brother Eagle, a man in his thirties with a vicious look in his eyes, spoke coldly, ¡°Keep calling Bald until he answers.¡±


    ¡°Boss, still no answer.


    I¡¯m afraid Bald is more dead than alive,¡± the driver cursed.


    ¡°Fucking hell, there¡¯s a problem for sure.


    That bastard Bald underestimated those two hostages and got capsized in the gutter,¡± said Brother Eagle, instructing the jeep driver to speed up again, he rolled down the window, propped his handgun outside, and aimed at the approaching Phaeton while shouting, ¡°Stop the car now, or I¡¯ll start shooting.¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s really that good a shot and hits our tires, we¡¯ll be sent flying,¡± Qingluan remarked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see who hits whose tires first,¡± Song Yun shrugged and replied.


    ¡°Then you better aim well.


    I¡¯m still a pure maiden, and if you screw up, I won¡¯t let you off even in Hell,¡± Qingluan said brashly.


    The two vehicles accelerated towards each other, closing the distance rapidly, Brother Eagle frowned and shouted as the car charged toward him, ¡°Stop the goddamn car, or don¡¯t blame me for being rough.¡± As he finished speaking, Brother Eagle fired a shot at the oncoming jeep¡¯s hood.


    ¡°Accelerate, I¡¯m going all in today to see who¡¯s tougher,¡± Song Yun said coldly.


    Without hesitation, Qingluan floored the gas pedal.


    At this critical moment, any hesitation could lead to failure the next second, and as someone who¡¯d been through struggles and fights for over a decade, Qingluan surely understood this.


    Besides, the person beside her would accompany her no matter what.


    If they were to die, then they¡¯d die together¡ªat least they wouldn¡¯t be lonely on the road to Yellow Springs.


    In a nutshell, as long as it wasn¡¯t lonely, it was alright.


    Bang!


    Another bullet fired, hitting heavily on the left side mirror.


    This shot was no longer just a warning, but the shooter missed his mark, the bullet intended for Qingluan instead straying and hitting the mirror.


    Bang!


    Immediately after, another bullet, this one more powerful than the last, pierced through the glass and whizzed past Song Yun¡¯s face, embedding itself into the backrest.


    Song Yun touched the graze on his face from the bullet and sneered, ¡°He¡¯s close to death.¡±


    At this point, the distance between the vehicles was less than fifty meters.


    Song Yun stood up from his seat, opened the sunroof, and protruded his upper body out of the vehicle.


    At thirty meters, Song Yun had the grim-looking jeep driver in his sights.


    Twenty meters.


    Ten meters.


    Five meters.


    Just as the two vehicles were about to collide the next second, Song Yun pulled the trigger.


    The oncoming jeep suddenly swerved and rolled to the side, its front veering toward a tree and crashing hard.


    Then came the explosion, waves of searing heat engulfing the surroundings, even Qingluan inside the car felt the air around her suddenly heat up at that moment.


    Song Yun got down from the sunroof and sat back in the passenger seat, laughing, ¡°How¡¯s my shooting just now?¡±


    ¡°Not bad, I guess.


    Passable,¡± Qingluan said dismissively.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stop the car now.


    If you keep driving, you¡¯re going to crash into the green belt,¡± Song Yun sniffed.


    Two seconds later, and there was no sign of Qingluan slowing down.


    Song Yun repeated his warning, and after a few more seconds, Qingluan, looking a bit embarrassed, said, ¡°That¡¯s the brake.¡±


    Song Yun felt the sky falling on him.


    Wasn¡¯t this chick bragging about being able to drive?


    Now she didn¡¯t even know where the brake was.


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke with me, Qingluan.


    You said you could drive, right?¡± Song Yun laughed dryly.


    ¡°Of course, I can drive.


    I¡¯m over level 100 in QQ Speed,¡± Qingluan boasted proudly, chin up.


    Boast about what?


    QQ Speed is a game, dammit, no matter how badass you are in the game, not knowing where the brake is can kill someone in real life, Song Yun felt utterly conned, his whole body a wreck.


    He hadn¡¯t been killed by a bomb, a bullet, or decapitated, yet this little chick, Qingluan, was about to royally screw him over with her driving.


    ¡°If it comes to it, let¡¯s just jump out of the car.


    We definitely won¡¯t die,¡± Qingluan declared confidently.


    ¡°Sister, we¡¯re going 150 mph.


    Sure, given our physical condition, we¡¯re not going to die from a crash, but we¡¯ll be half-dead,¡± Song Yun said, tears in his eyes, and as they were less than ten meters away from the green belt, he suddenly shouted, ¡°Step on the clutch!¡±


    Screeeeeech!


    The car stopped just one meter away from the green belt.


    Song Yun slowly opened his eyes, relieved to find he wasn¡¯t flung out and thought, women drivers truly are the scariest creatures in the world.


    He swore he¡¯d never let a woman drive again; it was too damn scary.


    If he hadn¡¯t thought quickly and yelled to step on the clutch, and Qingluan coincidentally stepped on the brake instead, he would most likely be disfigured by now.


    A shivering Song Yun patted Qingluan¡¯s shoulder and whispered, ¡°Sis, let¡¯s switch places.


    I can¡¯t dare to ride with you ever again.¡±


    Qingluan, who had been quite excited because her bold and daring driving managed such an extreme stop, felt down when she heard Song Yun¡¯s downer talk, ¡°I did step on the brakes just now, and look, we¡¯re both fine, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°But I fucking told you to press the clutch,¡± Song Yun yelled, this chick was too dangerous, going for life when others wanted money.

 Chapter 80 - 80 79 Pleased to Meet You

    ?80: Chapter 79: Pleased to Meet You 80: Chapter 79: Pleased to Meet You Song Yun was so scared he trembled as he crouched by the car, ready to check whether those people were thoroughly dead or not.


    If not, he planned to drag them out and interrogate who the Black Hand behind the scenes was.


    Unfortunately, there was only one charred corpse inside the car, and the whereabouts of the other person were unknown.


    ¡°Do you know these guys?¡± Song Yun asked with a furrowed brow.


    These people were clearly not here to trouble him.


    Through the exchange with the Bald Man just now, it seemed obvious that these people had come specifically to kidnap Qingluan.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know them, and I¡¯m also unclear where I could have provoked this group of people,¡± Qingluan shook her head, equally concerned.


    If it was an open fight, she wouldn¡¯t be afraid.


    What scared her were those who would sneak around you unnoticed, and then pick the perfect moment to attack you from behind.


    Such people were like venomous snakes.


    If you hit them once and don¡¯t manage to kill them, the second attack would invite their crazed retaliation.


    ¡°Forget it, we¡¯ll slowly look into these people.


    You won¡¯t be able to solve this in a short while.


    Shall I take you back first?¡± Song Yun asked, harboring a stroke of luck.


    ¡°Sure, after you drop me off, don¡¯t leave.


    Just move in and live with me from now on,¡± Qingluan said, tilting her head upward.


    It seemed this girl really wanted to stick with him.


    Damn it, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.


    Seeing the Bald Man lying passed out in the distance, Song Yun walked over and ferociously kicked the man¡¯s head with both feet.


    The poor Bald Man, in his slumber, was savagely kicked by Song Yun, the monstrous brute, his face covered in injuries with no ability to fight back.


    Oh, of course, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to fight back even if he had been awake.


    Song Yun bound the Bald Man with rope and carelessly threw him into the trunk.


    He didn¡¯t kill the man, keeping him alive because he had much information Song Yun wanted to know.


    Sunan City was now filled with winds from all directions, right in the eye of a vortex, where countless capable individuals and heroes churned the clouds, hoping to get a piece of the action.


    Song Yun was no exception.


    Why should others feast while he was only left to sop up the broth?


    Even meat broth couldn¡¯t satisfy one¡¯s hunger, and he would be left starving after a while.


    Since no one was offering meat, then he¡¯d have to grab, fight, or steal for it.


    After all, there were many in society who would unscrupulously pursue their goals¡ªadding one more or less wouldn¡¯t make a difference.


    In fact, Song Yun¡¯s favorite book was ¡°Studies in Blackness¡± written by Master Li Zongwu, which divided the art of ruthlessness into three levels in the book: the first level as thick as city walls, as black as coal; the second level as hard as the first, but shiny; and the third level both invisible and colorless.


    Song Yun didn¡¯t dare claim he was at the third level, but at the very least, he felt he was definitely at the second tier.


    Only now did Song Yun realize what the so-called ¡°Studies in Blackness¡± and ¡°Psychology of Thick Blackness¡± were all nonsense¡ªthose books only described how to be ruthless and thick-skinned, and then compared events from the Three Kingdoms and the end of the Qin Dynasty.


    But if any of those people ran into Qingluan, Song Yun guaranteed that all the talks of ¡°Studies in Blackness¡± were just farting around¡ªflatter people with tough skins all they want, Qingluan would slap them twice.


    She couldn¡¯t stand these hypocritical behaviors.


    If someone was ruthless to her, that made things even easier.


    The mere thought of that would mean they¡¯d better get their affairs in order and choose a good gravesite.


    If their misdeeds were ever uncovered, then they might as well hang themselves with a noodle quickly, save Qingluan the trouble of breaking the Geneva Conventions to maim them.


    Not everyone could withstand that near-ascension feeling.


    So, how could he win Qingluan¡¯s favor?


    Song Yun thought hard until an answer that didn¡¯t quite seem like an answer emerged in his mind¡ªscent and the so-called fate.


    Qingluan said she liked his scent and mentioned something about their destinies being intertwined.


    Therefore, she shamelessly stuck around him, not only allowing him to enjoy the grand halo of the main character and visually pleasing moments but also helping Song Yun to reach the second spot on the Dragon List.


    If Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Xiang Yu, Sun Quan, and a host of other ¡°Studies in Blackness¡± experts knew that what they struggled to maintain didn¡¯t amount to a couple whiffs of scent and the so-called elusive fate, would they jump out of their coffins to die again?


    Song Yun shook his head, tossing all the problems to the back of his mind, and drove Qingluan toward the courtyard house.


    When they reached the entrance of the courtyard, Song Yun dared not blatantly bring Qingluan inside.


    Although she repeatedly assured him that everything would be fine, even using her fists as a metaphor, threatening if Li Shishi, the delicate beauty, didn¡¯t accept her, she¡¯d fight until she did.


    Hearing that made Song Yun even more reluctant to bring Qingluan inside.


    How to describe the girl?


    It seemed like there was something off with her mind.


    As for exactly what, Song Yun couldn¡¯t say, nor did he dare to say, especially when facing Qingluan, a human-shaped tyrannosaurus.


    He simply didn¡¯t dare provoke her.


    ¡°Do you really want to live in my house?¡± Song Yun asked, swallowing hard.


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®your house¡¯?


    From now on, it¡¯s our home,¡± Qingluan replied cheerily, playfully slapping Song Yun¡¯s arm as she laughed.


    Song Yun¡¯s arm immediately felt as if it had been run over by a car, and he couldn¡¯t let any pained expression show.


    What would life be like from now on?


    The thought was too beautiful; Song Yun dared not even imagine.


    But one thing Song Yun knew for sure, absolutely and undeniably, was that he was done for.


    Today was a day off, Saturday, and Li Shishi, who was usually busy, woul have made time on this day to relax and gather herself.


    After parking the car, Song Yun led Qingluan into the courtyard house with a wry smile.


    Once inside, they saw Li Shishi and Xiao Qing chatting while eating ice cream, apparently discussing something.


    Others might bite into their ice cream, but Li Shishi licked it.


    She licked off the outer layer of crispy chocolate until it melted, then moved onto the cream inside, her small tongue lapping up and down greedily yet cutely.


    ¡°Cough, cough...


    Good morning, let me introduce you two to this...


    this beautiful lady.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re out looking for pleasure again?


    Aren¡¯t two women at home enough for you?


    Or are you planning to cram this courtyard full?¡± Li Shishi really was an actress, able to switch on her acting skills without hesitation.


    Her face looked on the verge of tears, inspiring pity.


    Song Yun hugged Li Shishi, rolled his eyes, and whispered to Qingluan, who was somewhat shocked at the side, ¡°This girl ranks second on the Dragon List.


    Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t heard of the Dragon List.


    I don¡¯t know why she¡¯s clinging to me, but it¡¯s better to keep things this way.¡±


    Li Shishi was stunned for a moment, then managed to put on a dry laugh and reached out politely saying, ¡°Hello, my name is Li Shishi.


    It¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡±