The abnormal commotion halted Sun Guolin's actions.
Several waiters also froze.
"What are you standing around for? Go see what's happening!" Sun Guolin roared in a low voice, seeing them hesitate.
He didn't know which blind fool was disturbing his good time.
This shop had been booked by him, and a "closed" sign hung outside.
Anyone would be furious when interrupted at an exciting moment.
One of the sturdily built waiters nodded, went to the door, and peered outside.
He turned back and said, "It's a scrawny kid, not much meat on him, but his eyes are quite intimidating."
"Wearing a white shirt and a buzz cut."
Hearing this, Qi Yu's eyes lit up with hope.
The description perfectly matched her junior uncle. Hadn't he said he would wait for her in the car?
Why would he suddenly knock? Could he have known she was in trouble?
In an instant, a warmth spread through Qi Yu's desperate heart.
She shouted desperately, "Let me go! My junior uncle is here, and not one of you beasts will escape!"
"Junior uncle?" Sun Guolin narrowed his eyes, a sinister glint in them.
He gently released Qi Yu, gesturing for the waiters to open the door and let the person outside in.
The door opened.
Outside, Li Chonglou held a brick, his eyes gleaming as he scanned everything inside the hot pot restaurant, finally settling on Qi Yu, who was still sobbing at the table.
He called out in a deep voice, "Girl, come here!"
After seeing Qi Yu enter and the door being locked from the inside, he had found it strange.
What kind of business required such secrecy?
So he opened the car window and listened. Although he couldn't use martial arts now, his hearing and eyesight were still far superior to those of ordinary people.
Sun Guolin's voice inside, not deliberately masked, was clearly heard.
He immediately got out of the car, found a brick, and came to rescue her.
Qi Yu didn't know about his current condition; he couldn't fight anyone. Even an ordinary person could easily subdue him.
Hearing Li Chonglou call her, she immediately wiped her tears and rushed towards him.
At the same time, the waiter who had opened the door for Li Chonglou grabbed his arm.
He yanked hard and shouted, "Come in!"
Li Chonglou could clearly see his movements, but as he was about to evade, his vision blurred and the world went dark.
He could only allow himself to be dragged into the room. The immense inertia made him stagger, and he fell to the ground with a thud.
Just then, Qi Yu also reached him. Seeing him fall, she looked incredulously astonished.
She quickly stepped forward to help him up.
*Boom!*
The door was closed again, locked once more.
"Junior uncle... are you alright?" Qi Yu asked, her voice trembling as she helped Li Chonglou up.
Just yesterday, she had witnessed Li Chonglou fighting four people, and later he was as fierce as a tiger.
How had he suddenly become like a patient?
Could this be the after-effect of qi deviation his master mentioned?
This... the difference was too great.
Now, junior uncle had also been brought in. These beasts would definitely not let them go easily.
What to do?
Qi Yu was at a loss, her heart filled with panic and confusion.
"I'm fine. Don't be afraid, I'm here," Li Chonglou said through gritted teeth, forcing himself to act as if nothing was wrong. He stood up straight and looked at Sun Guolin, who wore a cold smile.
Their eyes met. He forced a smile and greeted him, "You must be Lawyer Sun. I've heard a lot about you."
"I've heard Qi Yu often mention you. I didn't expect you to be so handsome."
"Well... if there's nothing else, we should be going. My senior sister is waiting for us."
As Li Chonglou spoke, Qi Yu's jaw dropped.
Her junior uncle was usually so cool, spoke little, and his words always got straight to the point.
How had he suddenly become like a sales manager?
"Quickly..." As she thought this, Li Chonglou gave her a look.
He secretly cursed.
Did he really want to say these pointless things?
It was also because he couldn't use his martial arts now, and these people weren't discussing antiques with him. The fact that they dared to resort to force in broad daylight indicated that Sun Guolin was no good person.
A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. Since he had no strength now, he had to concede.
However, he had also revealed a bit of information: someone knew they were here. If Sun Guolin dared to act recklessly, it wouldn't end well for him.
Unfortunately, Sun Guolin didn't seem to buy it.
The sinister look in his eyes intensified, and he sneered, "Shrimp, are you threatening me?"
Li Chonglou had been so emaciated from fasting during his seclusion in Yong'an that he hadn't fully recovered. Coupled with his subservient demeanor, he indeed resembled a shrimp.
If it were any other time, Li Chonglou wouldn't have bothered with him.
But things were different now. He was even weaker than an ordinary person, so he could only offer a placating smile, "Lawyer Sun, you misunderstand."
"You are a lawyer, and we are common folk. We cannot afford to offend you."
After speaking, his expression became serious. "However, Qi Yu is my junior niece. Even if you are a lawyer, don't bully her."
This Sun Guolin was not someone to be trifled with. Deferring to him wouldn't work.
Since that was the case, he would revert to his usual assertive self.
"What can you do if I bully her?" Sun Guolin asked with a laugh, walking slowly towards them. "Not only will I bully her, but I will bully you too!"
"Teach him a lesson, so he knows that not everyone can meddle in other people's affairs."
"Remember, don't kill him. Leave him with a breath!"
Immediately, the eyes of several waiters showed ferocity. They rolled up their sleeves and surrounded them.
Li Chonglou was no stranger to such scenes. He had encountered them many times before.
But back then, he had the strength of martial arts and was not afraid.
Now, he finally felt the pressure that ordinary people faced in such situations. It wasn't that he was worried about himself, but about Qi Yu.
As a young girl, her psychological and physical endurance could not compare to his.
"Don't come any closer, I'm calling the police!" Qi Yu said, trembling as she took out her phone.
Just as she was about to dial 110, someone rushed in front of her and snatched it away.
Her face turned pale, and she tightly shielded Li Chonglou.
At this moment, she felt that the situation was even more dangerous than facing Chen Rong yesterday.
After all, Chen Rong's target wasn't her. Being a bystander was far less daunting than being the one who was coveted.
"Beat him!"
The next moment, the waiter who had opened the door for Li Chonglou shoved Qi Yu aside and roared.
Several people swarmed them, raining blows upon Li Chonglou.
He was instantly knocked to the ground, covering his head and enduring their abuse.
Waves of stinging pain emanated from his body. Fortunately, although he couldn't use martial arts, his bones were already incredibly strong from practicing the sheepskin scroll technique.
They wouldn't break so easily.
"Stop it, you beasts, stop it..." Qi Yu cried, tears streaming down her face. She wanted to bite the waiter who was holding her to save Li Chonglou.
Unfortunately, as a woman, she was no match for a strong man.
*Slap!*
Sun Guolin strode forward, covering the distance in two steps, and slapped Qi Yu hard across the face.
A bright red handprint immediately appeared on her fair face.
Qi Yu's head was turned by the blow, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
But her eyes remained defiant, glaring fiercely at Sun Guolin, refusing to yield.
She wasn't afraid of death, so why would she fear these scumbags?
Before, she had cried out of shame and indignation because her purity was about to be violated. Now, her inherent stubbornness had been ignited.
Gritting her teeth, she said, "Don't hit him anymore. Let my junior uncle go, and I'll do whatever you want!"
"Surrendering now?" Sun Guolin's face contorted into a cruel smile. "You should have said so earlier. Perhaps I would have been merciful and spared him."
"But it's too late."
"According to Article 234 of the Criminal Law, intentional injury causing bodily harm is punishable by imprisonment for not more than three years, criminal detention, or control."
"Causing serious injury is punishable by imprisonment for not less than three years and not more than ten years."
"Causing death or causing serious injury with particularly cruel means, resulting in disability, is punishable by imprisonment for not less than ten years, life imprisonment, or death."
"As it is, he is at least seriously injured. If I let him go, I would be sentenced to ten years."
"How many ten-year sentences does one person have? Do you think I'm that stupid?"
Seeing Sun Guolin recite the criminal code from memory, Qi Yu's eyes filled with despair once more.
This kind of person, outwardly refined, was a demon at heart.
Breaking the law while knowing it, he had clearly made preparations.
"Then what do you want?" Qi Yu asked, her eyes bloodshot, looking at Li Chonglou, who was being beaten, her voice choked with emotion.
Li Chonglou had come for her. Now, being beaten by everyone, if it continued, he would either die or be crippled.
How could she explain this to her master?
At this moment, she was filled with regret.
If she hadn't asked Li Chonglou to drive her today, none of this would have happened.
Her own life or death didn't matter, but she absolutely couldn't let her junior uncle get hurt.
"Me? Of course, I want to play something exciting!" Sun Guolin said with a perverse smile, waving his hand at the attackers.
He signaled them to stop.
Then he continued, "I've always wanted to pursue you, but you refused me and escalated things to this point."
"Why?"
"I'm someone who never gives up until I achieve my goal."
"Since you want to protect him, you have to be prepared to protect him. I want you to do it with me, in front of him!"
"I want him to see clearly that you are nothing more than a dog. What's there to be proud of?"
At this moment, Sun Guolin looked like an unforgivable devil.
He embodied the darkest aspects of human nature.
Qi Yu was struck by lightning upon hearing this. She stood there like a wooden statue, her eyes vacant, her heart filled with utter despair.
She never imagined that Sun Guolin would be so shameless.
He wanted to trample her dignity and chastity to pieces in front of her junior uncle.
This was even more unbearable to her than death.
But to save her junior uncle's life, she had no choice.
"Scumbag, you'd better beat me to death today, or I'll show you what it means to wish you were dead!" Li Chonglou looked up, blood trickling from his lips.
No matter how strong his bones were, he couldn't withstand internal injuries.
But this was nothing compared to what Qi Yu was facing.
Sun Guolin's personality was anti-human. The darkness in his heart was shocking.
Ironically, such a person chose to enter the legal profession, amplifying his harm tenfold.
If he were allowed to succeed today, the consequences would be unimaginable.
He would never let Qi Yu and himself leave safely. Otherwise, it would mean he would be sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty.
For him, having already revealed his most evil side, murder was a natural consequence.
He had no intention of letting them leave alive.
Thinking of this, Li Chonglou felt an extreme hatred. He never imagined that one day he would be pushed into such a desperate situation by such an insignificant wretch.
Fate was truly a laughable thing.