Crack!
Before the burly man could reach his face, his hand was firmly clasped in Li Chonglou’s palm, as if it were held by a giant iron vise, unable to move an inch.
“Ah!” In the next second, the burly man let out a piercing scream, his face contorted in pain, sweat beading on his forehead.
The others were so scared their movements faltered.
Li Chonglou seized the opportunity to scan them, his gaze icy.
He was no longer the useless son-in-law who couldn't even fend for himself.
Possessing skills far beyond those of ordinary people was his advantage.
However, being in a foreign land and having important matters to attend to, resorting to force was a last resort.
Therefore, he decided to strike first, teaching the aggressor a lesson and intimidating the rest.
“A bunch of rabble!” Li Chonglou lightly released the burly man, his voice like thunder.
At that moment, his aura was as radiant as the sun, utterly invincible.
The temperament forged through countless trials in his previous life, coupled with his cold, ruthless gaze, was enough to make the group exchange uncertain glances, unable to advance or retreat.
Fan Meng’s heart fluttered.
What woman didn’t dream of a knight in shining armor with extraordinary martial arts skills?
Although Li Chonglou was a stranger to her, he had stepped forward in her time of need and displayed abilities far beyond the ordinary.
These two points alone were enough to skyrocket her affection for him.
Her eyes were like flowing silk, radiating a captivating gleam.
“Kid, you dare to use force? Today, we’ll skin you alive!” The boss, surnamed Hu, his face drastically changed, barked, “What are you all afraid of? This is Rain City, are there not plenty of fights here!”
“No matter how strong he is, he can’t fight all of you at once. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
“Get him!”
He hadn't expected Li Chonglou to be a martial artist.
No wonder he was so audacious.
However, in this day and age, martial prowess didn't decide everything; true fear stemmed from influence.
In Rain City, he was the local kingpin.
If Li Chonglou’s imposing presence could frighten these thugs, how could it possibly intimidate him?
The thugs, still unnerved, dared not disobey their boss. They mustered their courage and charged forward in unison.
They intended to gang up on Li Chonglou.
These were formerly street thugs who, after the crackdown, had nowhere to hide and could only rely on Hu Haibo for survival.
They usually helped him move things and bolster his image.
But they rarely got into fights anymore; after all, winning meant jail time, and losing meant paying damages. It wasn't a profitable venture.
Though they appeared fierce, they were actually hollow inside.
Li Chonglou didn't take them seriously at all.
However, Fan Meng had never witnessed such a scene before, and her heart was in turmoil again.
“Stop!” At that moment, a sharp reprimand echoed from outside the shop.
Immediately after, two people rushed in.
They were members of the archaeological team, the couple Zhao Zheng and Wang Lixia from the local Cultural Relics Protection Association.
Zhao Zheng’s face was ashen as he glared at the group about to attack, then fixed his gaze on Hu Haibo.
“Second Uncle, weren't you on a business trip? Why are you back so soon?” Hu Haibo’s face lit up with a smile as he saw Zhao Zheng, asking in surprise.
Rain City was a small place. Those who transitioned from dealing in nanmu to antique businesses in the Wumu Market were either merchants from outside the city.
Or locals with some connection to antiques.
And he, Hu Haibo, owed it all to his second uncle in the Cultural Relics Protection Association.
If he hadn't learned a thing or two from him, how could he have managed to work in the antique trade?
Therefore, he held a genuine respect for his second uncle.
“What are you doing? Are you breaking the law?” Zhao Zheng’s eyes widened, and he asked a question instead of answering.
Hu Haibo’s gaze flickered, unable to meet his directly. “It’s just a minor business dispute. Second Uncle, don’t worry, I have it under control. You don’t need to interfere.”
Slap!
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Zheng brought his hand down vertically, striking Hu Haibo on the head.
He was left stunned, utterly bewildered.
His second uncle had always been close to him since childhood, and he had never been hit by him in his life.
This was the first time.
What…
Why was this?
“I don’t need to interfere? You’re having people beat up my colleague, and I don’t need to interfere? You’re acting lawlessly, you little brat, is this how I taught you?” Zhao Zheng was furious, his voice a torrent of scolding. “You’re in business, not playing the hooligan!”
“Fortunately, I came to find you about something, otherwise you would have completely disgraced our Rain City!”
“Apologize, apologize to him immediately!”
Saying this, he pointed at Li Chonglou, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
When Li Chonglou came to browse the market, everyone had returned to their shops. He thought he hadn’t seen his nephew Hu Haibo for a long time.
The couple decided to check on him.
They hadn’t expected to witness this scene, which had made him lose face completely.
If Li Chonglou were to suffer any harm in Rain City, how would he explain it to Lin Ying?
Li Chonglou was personally brought into the team by Lin Ying, was her junior disciple, and had now become Zhang Chen’s master. These multiple connections made him tremble with fear.
Fortunately, no grave mistake had been made, and there was still an opportunity to rectify the situation.
This turn of events instantly shocked everyone.
Could things be this coincidental?
The young man who barged in to meddle was actually a colleague of Hu Haibo’s second uncle?
Now it was a case of the Dragon King’s Temple being flooded, and relatives not recognizing each other.
Thinking of this, they couldn’t help but gasp, filled with lingering fear.
Fortunately, they had been intimidated earlier and hadn't acted yet. If they had truly started fighting, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Zhao Zheng was not just Hu Haiquan’s second uncle; he was the president of the Rain City Cultural Relics Protection Association. The background of his colleagues was naturally extraordinary.
Setting aside their status and position, they were definitely influential figures in the antique industry.
They had nearly stumbled into a huge mess!
Fan Meng also did not expect such a dramatic turn of events. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with newfound interest as she speculated on the identity of this young man referred to as “Chonglou.”
Li Chonglou himself was quite surprised.
He hadn't expected the boss surnamed Hu to have such a relationship with Zhao Zheng, nor had he expected Zhao Zheng to come looking for him.
Given the situation, he had planned to resolve it through force. With a witness, he wouldn't have been afraid even if they went to the police station.
Self-defense was paramount.
Now, it seemed, he wouldn't need to lift a finger.
“Brother, it’s a misunderstanding, a big misunderstanding. Who knew you were one of us?” Hu Haibo, being a businessman, quickly changed his tune when he saw the situation turning sour. He forced a smile onto his face. “It was my fault today. I was blinded by greed and ignorance and offended you.”
“For my second uncle’s sake, please don’t take it to heart.”
“If you want to hit me or punish me, I, Hu Haibo, have no complaints and will accept it all.”
He could be tough with anyone, but he had no temper whatsoever with his second uncle.
He knew Zhao Zheng’s personality very well. If Li Chonglou wasn’t so important to him, he wouldn’t have publicly beaten him and made him apologize.
If this step down wasn't provided, how could he expect to rely on his second uncle for a living in the future?
It was a pipe dream!
“In the antique business, with your character, you won’t last long. I don’t need to teach you a lesson,” Li Chonglou said, clasping his hands behind his back and glancing at Fan Meng, whose expression was complex. “You should apologize to her for the attempted fraud and forced sale.”
His words left Hu Haibo utterly ashamed.
Zhao Zheng’s brows furrowed even more deeply.
He had only come because he saw his nephew about to attack Li Chonglou, and hadn't realized there was more to it.
His heart burned with anger.
He never imagined that his nephew, whom he had personally mentored, would engage in illegal activities using his name.
Furious, he roared, “Speak, what exactly happened?”