"You must be truly mad to think you'll have a place to stand after leaving Shangjing?"
Hei Dao's expression was grim. He never expected Qiao Sen to say such a thing, and a bold guess surfaced in his mind. His body involuntarily tensed, and he began to discreetly scan his surroundings for an opportunity.
Qiao Sen sneered, "What a frog in a well. It is precisely because I am in Shangjing that I have no place to stand. Ten years ago, I still held some hope of restoring my ancestors' glory, but what are the facts?"
"Hei Dao, if I remember correctly, your ancestors were also founding功臣 (meritorious officials), weren't they? Today, you can't even get on the table and are confined to the underground. I don't believe you are content with this!"
Qiao Sen's words caused Hei Dao's expression to change several times. He hadn't expected Qiao Sen to bring up these past events, let alone that he still harbored such thoughts.
After all, decades ago, anyone with such thoughts would have been forcibly buried alive, let alone now.
"Times have changed, what's the use of you bringing this up? Didn't those above give us opportunities? We both know very well today's situation, whether it was forced upon us or our own choice."
Hei Dao spoke righteously, reprimanding Qiao Sen, but the latter remained cold and unmoved.
"It seems you are content to be a fallen man. Then don't blame me!"
Qiao Sen waved his right hand, and several more groups of people rushed out from the passages on both sides. Clearly, they were his subordinates who had been ambushed there earlier, numbering over thirty.
Moreover, each of them was armed with knives and clubs. Coupled with the original dozen or so, Hei Dao's ten men were suddenly surrounded by forty to fifty people.
Hei Dao's heart pounded. He could only issue a warning, "Qiao Sen, it's not too late to stop now. At most, I'll take all the blame for what happened last time. This path is not a dead end!"
It was evident that Hei Dao had guessed his intentions, but Qiao Sen remained unfazed, saying coldly, "Do you think I truly care about any so-called confrontation? No, you don't understand. Since my first club was sealed, the Qing Gang has been a mere formality in my eyes!"
"I gave those arrogant people in the Qing Gang a chance, but they have disappointed me time and again."
Hei Dao couldn't help but retort, "You gave the Qing Gang a chance? What right do you have to give the Qing Gang a chance?"
"In terms of status and ancestors, which of the four lords can you compare to? In terms of position, where do you, Qiao Sen, rank in the Qing Gang? Don't flatter yourself. Even if I can't walk out of here alive today, I will absolutely not let you off easily!"
After Hei Dao finished speaking, his subordinates immediately grabbed whatever could be used as weapons, their faces filled with resolve, not a single one showing fear.
Qiao Sen's subordinates also tightened their grip on the long knives or clubs in their hands, and the atmosphere became incredibly tense.
Qiao Sen's expression had already turned ugly at Hei Dao's words. He stopped speaking and quietly retreated. His subordinates, understanding his intent, immediately shouted and charged forward.
Below Yian Company, Li Chonglou got out of the car and quickly opened his phone's location, rushing towards the spot Zhang Yu had indicated. At the same time, he activated his Sky Eye perspective, piercing through the walls to locate the fighting crowd inside. Soon, he found the group engaged in fierce combat, as well as Ya Lili and the other two in the back private room.
Seeing that the three were safe, Li Chonglou finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, he also noticed that Hei Dao was in mortal danger and couldn't help but quicken his pace.
In the coffee shop, Hei Dao, wielding a long saber he had snatched, struggled amidst the onslaught of the crowd. Just as he blocked a club with his saber, a sharp pain shot through his waist. He forcefully kicked the attacker away, only to be struck heavily from behind, stumbling backward.
Before he could even steady himself, his back was hit by several more blades. His clothes were already stained red with blood.
It was only when Hei Dao started fighting that he realized these were all trained fighters, fierce, vicious, and deadly. They possessed all six characteristics of skilled fighters!
No matter how fierce Hei Dao was, he couldn't withstand such a concentrated attack. Therefore, he regretted his actions after he had started fighting.
He wasn't afraid of death; he regretted bringing his brothers, who had gone through life and death with him. This time, he had brought them harm.
However, Hei Dao was not a cowardly man. In this desperate situation, he unleashed an even more astonishing burst of power, hacking down several attackers with his saber and charging directly at Qiao Sen.
Even if he died today, he would drag you down with him!
However, Qiao Sen, who had retreated to the passage entrance, was not flustered at all. He merely watched the charging Hei Dao with cold eyes.
If they were ordinary thugs or small-time hoodlums, they definitely wouldn't be able to stop Hei Dao in his current state. But unfortunately, the people present were not. Even though Hei Dao's sudden burst of power, like a god descending, cut down several men, no one flinched. Before Hei Dao could break through the encirclement and take a few more steps, he was engulfed by them again.
Disappointment flickered in his eyes, followed by a sense of calm.
Everyone dies eventually, but as long as one has strived, death is not to be feared.
The voices of his brothers beside him weakened. Hei Dao was ready to accompany them to the underworld.
*Bang!* Suddenly, a deafening sound interrupted everyone's actions.
The coffee shop's main door flew aside, and a figure slowly walked in, bathed in sunlight.
"I forgot to inform you, Hei Dao is my man now."
Li Chonglou, with a indifferent expression, seemed not to notice the ferocious-looking attackers and walked directly towards Hei Dao.
Qiao Sen gave a signal to the attackers at the door, and several of them immediately blocked Li Chonglou's path. Others ran outside to disperse the curious onlookers drawn by the commotion.
At this moment, Qiao Sen didn't rush to make a move. A person who could kick such a heavy door aside with one foot was definitely not ordinary. Moreover, he had never seen Li Chonglou before. Combined with Li Chonglou's words, Qiao Sen became curious about this stranger.
Li Chonglou walked to Hei Dao's side to check his injuries. They were severe; without immediate treatment, he could die from excessive blood loss at any moment.
Hei Dao, having recovered from his shock, asked, "You came alone?"
"I'm enough."
Hei Dao's already dark face turned even darker. He reprimanded, "What savior act are you putting on? Qiao Sen has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. Don't you understand that he cannot be allowed to leave here!"
Hei Dao's words directly exposed Qiao Sen's current actions, but neither he nor the surrounding attackers showed the slightest surprise.
Li Chonglou, however, seemed not to understand the meaning of the words and showed no reaction. Hei Dao's expression of disappointment, like that of a parent to a wayward child, could only turn into a sigh.
It was too late. It was too late to say anything now.
He had originally thought Li Chonglou would gather more people before coming. Even if he didn't understand the situation, just seeing this scene, he should have immediately left, reported it, and had Sister Xia send for reinforcements. This way, Qiao Sen might not have succeeded.
But now, it was too late for anything.
"Kid, you said Hei Dao is your man?"
At this moment, Qiao Sen suddenly spoke. Li Chonglou looked at his target and thought, "Does this guy's value seem to be appreciating?"