"Robbery?" Lin Yi lowered the car window, leaning her head out to ask indifferently.
In broad daylight, on a small road leading to the highway, stopping her car, armed with sticks and weapons.
The possibility of robbery was as high as eighty percent.
"Oh, a great beauty at that. The brothers are in for some fun," the lead thug grinned, revealing his large yellow teeth with a lecherous smile.
"If you don't want broken legs or hands, get lost. We have a flight to catch," Li Chonglou frowned and also lowered his window to advise.
His senior sister was furious. In the tomb, she had been drugged, had the Buddha's head stolen, and the ancient tomb desecrated.
Given her personality, though outwardly calm, her heart was already turbulent.
For these short-sighted petty thieves to provoke his senior sister at this moment was simply inviting death.
"You little brat, we came for you today. How dare you threaten me!" The big yellow-toothed guy, seeing Li Chonglou, straightened his stick and pointed at him, shouting fiercely.
His eyes narrowed into slits, glinting with malice.
Lin Ying, who had intended to step out and sweep them all away, stopped upon hearing this.
She asked in surprise, "Little Junior Brother, they're here for revenge? What's going on?"
"Are you sent by Hu Haiquan?" Li Chonglou mused for a moment before naming him.
Since arriving in Yucheng, he had only made enemies with two people: Hu Haiquan from the ebony market and Ayō Qūbǐ.
This clearly wasn't Ayō Qūbǐ's style of operation, so it had to be Hu Haiquan.
Zhao Zheng, his nephew, was truly ungrateful.
He had let him go last time, and he still held a grudge, coming to block him on the road.
As several thugs changed their expressions, Lin Ying asked, "Who is Hu Haiquan?"
"An illegal vendor at the ebony market. He calls Zhao Zheng 'Second Uncle'," Li Chonglou said, opening the car door and stepping out.
Upon hearing that it was related to Zhao Zheng, Lin Ying immediately lost interest.
She had wanted to vent her anger on these people, but it seemed there was no chance.
Even when beating a dog, one had to consider its owner. Zhao Zheng was their companion, and out of respect for him, she couldn't simply beat these people without reason; it would be bullying the weak.
People in small cities placed great importance on face.
Since they were looking for the Little Junior Brother anyway, she might as well let him vent his anger himself.
After being injured by Ayō Qūbǐ's kick yesterday, he was probably feeling pent-up.
Seeing his senior sister no longer making a move, Li Chonglou understood.
It was obvious that his senior sister had yielded the chance to vent to him.
Truly, his mother gave him life, but his senior sister understood him best!
"Kid, what Hu Haiquan? I don't know him at all. I just don't like the look of you and want to mess with you!" The big yellow-toothed guy, exposed by Li Chonglou, felt a bit awkward and tried to cover up by pretending, "You're an outsider, daring to act so brazenly in our Yucheng. If we let you go like this, where would I put my face?"
"Consider yourself unlucky today. Remember this lesson!"
Before coming, Hu Haiquan had repeatedly instructed them not to reveal his identity.
After all, with his second uncle Zhao Zheng involved, it could lead to more trouble.
Li Chonglou didn't bother exposing them further. These guys were muscular but had shrunken cerebellums; talking to them was useless.
He teased, "How do you plan to teach me a lesson?"
"Break one of my legs? Or chop off one of my arms?"
His questions made the big yellow-toothed guy pause, "I haven't decided yet!"
"How about this, I'll give you double whatever they paid you to cause trouble for me. You go back and beat up the person who ordered this, how about it?" Li Chonglou suddenly lost the desire to fight.
These thugs weren't truly evil.
They were just helping a friend and hadn't really thought about how to deal with him beforehand.
They couldn't be that bad, right?
Besides, he had important matters to attend to in Qin Prefecture. He had been out for many days, and Jiang Yuxin's birthday was approaching.
His mother was still recuperating in the hospital, and there was no need to get arrested here for a few petty thugs.
However, while he wouldn't fight, this matter couldn't be left unresolved.
Hu Haiquan wanted revenge, but he was seeking his own misfortune.
"What do you take me for?" The big yellow-toothed guy, hearing this, was enraged, feeling his dignity insulted.
Angrily, he raised his hand, about to smash the car.
The other thugs also showed signs of indignation.
They hadn't received any money at all; it was purely helping a friend. Yet, in Li Chonglou's words, they were reduced to hired thugs.
They roared in unison, "Brothers, get him!"
"Hold on."
Before they could pounce, Li Chonglou quickly took out his phone and waved it, "Go back and beat up the person who sent you, and I'll transfer you a hundred thousand."
Wow!
The thugs, who had been furious moments ago, let out a collective gasp.
A hundred thousand!
They worked tirelessly as laborers in the ebony market, earning only three to four thousand a month, which was considered high in Yucheng.
They usually followed Hu Haiquan for a living, but the benefits were minimal.
One hundred thousand yuan was enough for all of them to earn for over half a year.
With this money, wouldn't it be wonderful to get a foot massage, a bath, and find some companions at a nightclub?
The big yellow-toothed guy swallowed hard, unconcealed greed flashing in his eyes.
The other subordinates whispered amongst themselves, seemingly discussing.
Watching this scene, Lin Ying's anger dissipated considerably. How cunning her Little Junior Brother was.
Killing with a single blow, striking at the heart.
He had won these people over with a hundred thousand yuan.
This was far more satisfying than beating them up, especially since fighting them would delay their flight due to potential police involvement.
So, she quietly watched.
"Why should I believe you!" The big yellow-toothed guy, annoyed by his subordinates, gritted his teeth and pointed at Li Chonglou, asking.
It seemed he too was beginning to falter in his resolve.
In fact, if all the people who came today were under twenty, Li Chonglou's method might not have worked.
The younger one was, the more they valued so-called brotherhood and loyalty.
But these guys, including the leader, were nearing thirty, with families and dependents.
Faced with the temptation of money, it was normal for them to waver.
However, as the leader, if he capitulated so easily, he wouldn't be able to maintain his standing in Yucheng.
"Of course, I'll keep my word. Let's add each other on WeChat."
Li Chonglou seemed like a devil, each word hitting their weak spot, "Besides, our colleague is Hu Haiquan's second uncle. Did he tell you about that relationship?"
"If you beat me up, and then his second uncle investigates, do you think he won't hand you over?"
"In the end, you'll be in trouble and might even be sentenced. How is that worth it?"
"Think carefully, would you rather take this hundred thousand yuan, or beat me up."
This time, not only the subordinates but also the big yellow-toothed guy was completely subdued.
What Li Chonglou said was absolutely true.
Fighting nowadays came with a high cost. Now that they were identified as working for Hu Haiquan, denying it would be useless.
If investigated, could Hu Haiquan protect them?
Wouldn't he be the one to take the fall?
Thinking about it, taking a hundred thousand yuan was much more sensible.
"I'll do it. I'll immediately take my men back and beat up Hu Haiquan to vent your anger for you, but you have to transfer the money first!" The big yellow-toothed guy's eyes flashed with cunning as he tried to trick Li Chonglou.
He planned to take the money and then flee.
It was perfect: no need to fight and get paid.
Unfortunately for him, Li Chonglou was not someone who could be fooled by such petty tricks.
Upon hearing this, he coldly chuckled, "Your plan is quite clever. You have two options: first, do something that I deem worthy of the money.
Second, I'll call the police right now. These recordings are enough to get you into serious trouble!"
His words caused everyone's face to change drastically.
It was then that they realized they had been outsmarted by Li Chonglou!