The conflict between Lei Bao Martial Arts Hall and Tang Zijun’s group was indeed related to the Taekwondo gym Tang Zijun opened.
Both venues were located in the West District. The booming enrollment of the Taekwondo gym in the past six months had indirectly siphoned off some of Lei Bao Martial Arts Hall’s business, which was why Lei Fengbao had come to cause trouble.
Of course, this was only a secondary reason. The real reason was that after the Tang family entered Jiangdong, Tang Tianbao, with his exceptional business acumen, quickly established a foothold there, thereby harming the Lei family’s commercial interests.
Tang Tianbao understood this better than anyone. He knew that even without Xiao Yunlong’s intervention to injure Lei Fengbao, the conflict between the Tang and Lei families would erupt sooner or later.
This was also why Tang Tianbao had agreed to come along today. Although he outwardly disdained his nephew and repeatedly spoke of driving Xiao Yunlong away, his true intention was to prevent Xiao Yunlong from getting entangled in such disputes of the martial and business worlds.
After all, Xiao Yunlong was the sole heir of the Xiao family.
After getting out of the car, Xiao Yunlong was about to walk inside.
Tang Tianbao waved him to stop and said, "Xiao Yunlong, wait a moment. I have something to say to you."
Xiao Yunlong turned back to him and smiled lightly, "Third Uncle, you’ve already brought me to the entrance. You can go back now."
"Go back? Do you know that if I go back now, you’ll surely die today!"
Tang Tianbao snorted angrily, then continued, "Your sixth uncle hasn’t been home for the past two days, likely swamped with the bar issue. If I don’t look out for you, how will I face your mother after I die?"
Xiao Yunlong looked at him calmly without speaking, but he felt a warmth in his heart. His third uncle was different from his sixth uncle. Sixth Uncle Tang Shanbao wore his heart on his sleeve, but Third Uncle Tang Tianbao, despite his outwardly cold demeanor, had a sharp tongue but a kind heart.
Tang Tianbao sighed and said, "I called for some reinforcements on the way. They should be here soon. When we go in later, don’t say anything. Let me handle it, understand?"
Xiao Yunlong smiled and asked, "Third Uncle, you really don’t need to do this!"
"Do you think I want to? Damn it, having a troublemaker like you is just bad luck for our Tang family. If it weren’t for how good your mother was to us siblings when we were young, do you think I’d bother with your mess?"
Tang Tianbao roared coldly, "We’ve been working hard for over half a year, and just as our Tang family was about to establish a stable footing in Jiangdong, you’ve ruined it all with this stunt."
Just as Xiao Yunlong was about to speak, several cars suddenly sped over.
Four cars arrived, carrying seventeen or eighteen people. They jumped out before the cars had even stopped, their movements swift and efficient. Each of them was armed, appearing to be men from the underworld with some combat skills.
"Xiao Yunlong, listen to me carefully. Don’t say a word later. Let me handle it!"
Tang Tianbao then walked towards a burly man with a thick beard, who seemed to be the leader of these seventeen or eighteen men.
"A Kui, I didn’t want to call you guys for this matter originally, because it might get bloody. But I’m really out of options, so…"
Before Tang Tianbao could finish, the leader, A Kui, waved his hand and said, "Third Master, what are you saying? We followed you from Chuan City. You’ve taken good care of us all these years. Now that Third Master is in trouble, how can we not help!"
"That’s right, Third Master. Let alone bloodshed, even if it means going through mountains of knives and seas of fire, as long as Third Master gives the word, we won’t even bat an eye!"
These men from the underworld said in unison.
"Good. Then I’ll be relying on all of you today. If anything unexpected happens today, I will take good care of your families in Chuan City!" Tang Tianbao said.
"Then there’s nothing more to say. Just tell us what to do, Third Master!" A Kui, the leader, replied.
Tang Tianbao nodded, then waved his hand and led his men into the Lei Bao Martial Arts Hall.
"I didn’t expect Third Uncle to still have such resources."
Xiao Yunlong shook his head slightly and grinned. He then instructed, "Bu Fan, Ben Dao, don’t rush to make a move later. Let’s see how my Third Uncle handles it first."
After speaking, the three of them followed and went inside.
Tang Tianbao had already prepared himself mentally, but when he walked in and saw the dense crowd of black-clad thugs in the courtyard, he was still startled and felt a tremor in his heart.
However, since he had already stepped through the door, he could only brace himself and move further in.
Xiao Yunlong’s expression remained as usual; he didn’t even bother to look at these underworld figures. Even Jun Bu Fan and Liang Ben Dao were exceptionally calm.
Liang Ben Dao, having trained in the Northern Territory and later gone to the Imperial Capital, had seen his fair share of major events.
Although Jun Bu Fan had only recently graduated from university, he had gained experience following Xiao Yunlong during this period.
As soon as they entered, the Lei family’s thugs and retainers in the courtyard surrounded them like a surging tide.
Clang!
The iron gate of the martial arts hall was closed, giving the impression of a trap being sprung!
"Take them into the main hall!" The cold command of Lei Zekai, the head of the Lei family, echoed from within, his tone authoritative and overbearing.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and go in!" A black-clad captain in the courtyard yelled.
Tang Tianbao and the others could only brace themselves and walk into the main hall.
The hall was spacious and grand. Lei Zekai was still seated on the main seat in a grand armchair, with two imposing men standing on either side of him. These four exuded a long, steady aura; they were all internal martial arts masters and likely the Lei family’s trump cards.
Lei Fengbao, with his leg in a cast and sitting in a wheelchair, gritted his teeth and roared upon seeing Xiao Yunlong enter, "You, Xiao! I didn’t think you’d actually dare to come. You’re quite sensible, knowing you can’t compete with my Lei family and delivering yourself to us!"
Lei Zekai merely cast a contemptuous glance at Xiao Yunlong and paid him no further attention. In his eyes, such a young man who hadn’t even fully grown was not worth mentioning.
"Tang Tianbao, I didn’t expect you to come in person. This is quite surprising. However, you’ve brought so many people with you. I’d like to ask, what do you mean by this? Do you think these dozen or so pieces of trash can contend with my Lei family?"
Lei Zekai turned his gaze to Tang Tianbao, his face filled with disdain and mockery.
Although Tang Tianbao felt a tremor of fear within, he maintained a calm facade. As the saying goes, one should not lose face even if they lose the battle. He had been involved in the martial and business worlds, so he couldn’t let himself be looked down upon.
"Patriarch Lei, the incident at the Taekwondo gym was merely a matter between juniors. Is there any need for such a grand display?" Tang Tianbao said in a deep voice.
Lei Zekai chuckled, "You speak so casually. My son’s leg was crippled by someone, and you say there’s no need for such a grand display?"
With a cold snort, Lei Zekai continued, "Since you’ve come to my doorstep, I won’t waste words with you. Tell me, how does your Tang family intend to apologize for this matter?"
Tang Tianbao pondered for a moment before replying, "Xiao Yunlong is my nephew after all. He broke your son’s leg, so I will compensate you with one of my legs. Additionally, my Tang family will compensate you with our industries in the West District. Will that suffice?"
"You, to compensate me with one of your legs? You can actually say such a thing! You’re already old, and your worthless life can’t be compared to my son’s!"
Lei Zekai sneered mockingly, "Not enough, far from enough!"
"Then what exactly do you want?" Tang Tianbao gritted his teeth.
"Three conditions: Hand this Xiao kid over to me. Also, I want one of your son’s legs. Furthermore, hand over all of your Tang family’s industries in Jiangdong, and your Tang family’s influence must completely withdraw from Jiangdong!" Lei Zekai said coldly.
"Absolutely impossible! These three conditions of yours are clearly pushing my Tang family to a dead end!" Tang Tianbao roared.
"Pushing you to a dead end? Not necessarily. At least I haven’t caused any deaths in your Tang family, right? Of course, if you refuse, then who knows."
Lei Zekai let out a faint, cold snort, his words laced with a strong threat.
Tang Tianbao clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and said word by word, "Lei Zekai, although my Tang family has fallen, we were once a prominent family in Chuan City and still have some foundation. If you truly intend to push us to a dead end today, even a common man’s anger can spill blood!"
"Spill blood? What, are you threatening me?"
Lei Zekai slowly stood up and shouted, "If you have the guts, then try it!"
Tang Tianbao’s expression turned extremely grim. "So, there’s truly no room for negotiation?"
Lei Zekai snorted, "I never intended to negotiate with you. All three conditions are indispensable. This Xiao kid must die today. How can my Lei family maintain any face if I let him walk out of this martial arts hall alive after he dared to break my son’s leg?"
Tang Tianbao fell silent. He glanced at A Kui and the dozen or so thugs beside him. After confirming that A Kui and the others had not retreated in the slightest, he nodded with a sense of relief.
"Xiao Yunlong, your two followers have good skills. When the fight starts later, you two charge out of the hall first. With them, you should be able to escape. Once you escape the martial arts hall, immediately return to the Tang family and tell Old Master to leave quickly!"
Tang Tianbao gritted his teeth and roared in a low voice, "Damn it, I really don’t know what our Tang family did in our past lives to owe you, Xiao family. After today, we owe you nothing!"
Xiao Yunlong naturally did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward and said, "Alright, Third Uncle. Let me handle it from here."
Tang Tianbao was about to explode in anger, roaring, "Get lost! Can’t you understand, you jinx? Do you really want all of us in the Tang family to be buried with you?"
"Trying to escape? Once you enter this door, you still think you can escape? Do you think that’s possible?"
Lei Zekai snorted and waved his hand slightly. The four guardians beside him immediately stepped forward, ready to act.
Seeing this, Tang Tianbao became frantic.
Xiao Yunlong, however, slowly raised three fingers and said, "Coincidentally, I also have three conditions!"
"Oh? You have three conditions too, kid? Let’s hear them!" Lei Zekai said with a face full of amusement.
"Firstly, for disrespecting my Third Uncle, you will compensate with one of your legs; secondly, this martial arts hall is quite nice, I’ll take it; and thirdly, hand over half of the Lei family’s assets!"
Before Xiao Yunlong could finish speaking, Lei Zekai opposite him burst into laughter. His mocking laughter filled the entire hall, and several Lei family disciples also sneered repeatedly.
Everyone looked at Xiao Yunlong as if he were a monkey, their gazes filled with amusement and mockery.
Even Tang Tianbao thought it was wishful thinking and shook his head. The imposing aura he had managed to muster earlier instantly dissipated.
After a long while, Lei Zekai finally stopped laughing and snorted, "What an ambitious brat. What if I don’t agree? Do you still intend to kill me?"
"Killing you is not necessary. Trash like you is not qualified to die by my hand!" Xiao Yunlong declared resolutely, standing tall in the center of the hall.
Lei Zekai’s face darkened completely. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Truly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. Attack! Break all four of his limbs first, and let’s see if he dares to be so presumptuous in front of me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the two internal martial arts masters beside him moved, reaching out with their large hands to grab Xiao Yunlong.
These two were both masters of the Inner Force Minor Grandmaster level. Their unleashed auras were quite formidable.
Xiao Yunlong still stood motionless in his spot, not even bothering to look at the two of them.
As the two internal martial arts masters were about to reach him, Tang Tianbao grew anxious and immediately signaled A Kui and the others.
However, at that very moment, Jun Bu Fan and Liang Ben Dao moved. Although they were slower to start, they were faster to arrive. In an instant, they had lunged forward.
With two loud bangs!
The two Inner Force Minor Grandmaster masters of the Lei family were sent flying backward like kites with broken strings.
"Good kid, so you had hidden experts by your side. No wonder you dare to be so arrogant. What are you waiting for? All of you, attack him!"
Lei Zekai roared. The remaining two internal martial arts masters and all the black-clad thugs present also attacked.
"Trash, daring to act presumptuously before my Big Brother. You’re asking for death!" Liang Ben Dao snorted and charged out. Jun Bu Fan also leaped forward.
One was a Grandmaster of Transformation, and the other was a Quasi-Grandmaster. They were by no means comparable to these underworld thugs of the Lei family. As soon as they charged out, they were like tigers entering a flock of sheep, and many of the Lei family’s black-clad thugs fell to the ground.
Xiao Yunlong didn’t even lift a finger, simply standing there with his hands behind his back, unmoving.
In just about ten breaths’ time, before anyone could even react, dozens of black-clad thugs, including the remaining two Inner Force Minor Grandmaster masters of the Lei family, had all fallen to the ground.
Witnessing the scene, Lei Zekai’s mouth hung open, his face filled with shock, as if struck by lightning. He muttered, "How is this possible? How can this be possible!"
At this moment, even Tang Tianbao was stunned, his eyes wide, almost unable to believe what had happened.
"They… they’ve all been taken down. This is too powerful!" Tang Tianbao exclaimed, feeling a mix of pleasant surprise and fear, his heart pounding.
Jun Bu Fan and Liang Ben Dao clapped their hands and sneered, "With such meager abilities, you dare to act presumptuously before my Big Brother. Truly courting death!"
Xiao Yunlong then slowly walked towards Lei Zekai opposite him.
Lei Zekai’s face instantly turned pale. He kept retreating, but eventually, he had nowhere else to go and stumbled backward into the grand armchair.
Seeing his current panicked state, like a lamb, he was nowhere near the imposing, arrogant, and overbearing demeanor he had displayed earlier.
Xiao Yunlong walked up to him, looking down at him, and said, "Your two legs, will you break them yourself, or shall I help you?"
Lei Zekai forced himself to remain calm, gritting his teeth, "Didn’t we… didn’t we say one leg earlier?"
Xiao Yunlong raised the corner of his mouth and said playfully, "My apologies, the price has increased!"