Lin Xiaotian's purpose for coming here today was to stir up trouble and find Zhao Jinhai.
At the very least, he needed to make this guy reveal all the truth he knew.
The dozens of people present were stunned. They hadn't expected this young man to throw caution to the wind and directly challenge them.
What's more, the words he spoke were incredibly arrogant.
"You little brat, daring to be so brazen in front of us? I'd like to see if your bones are harder than your mouth."
"I bet our doormen have already been dealt with by you, or they would have reacted by now."
"Since you've come to our doorstep to cause trouble, don't blame us for retaliating."
More than one person moved to attack. At least fifteen or sixteen men stood up.
They all pulled out knives.
Their faces were contorted into ferocious smiles.
Lin Xiaotian said with a smile, "It seems we can't have a calm conversation. The old man was right, some people need a good beating when they're being unreasonable."
"Once they're beaten into submission, they'll start speaking properly. I suspect you're all in that state."
"You might as well come at me yourselves and stop wasting time."
"My time is very precious, and you can't afford to waste it. Otherwise, if you can't afford the compensation, you might have to pay with your lives."
Hearing this, the approaching men's faces showed anger.
"Damn it, I've never seen such an arrogant guy."
"Facing dozens of us, he still dares to say such outrageous things. If we don't beat him to death today, we'll be letting our brothers down."
"We have to beat him to death."
The crowd was incensed.
Just as they were about to make their move, a voice suddenly came from behind.
"Everyone, stop."
Upon hearing this, everyone turned around. When they saw the newcomer, they immediately put away their daggers, their eyes filled with obvious confusion.
"Brother Xiao Dao, this guy is clearly here to cause trouble, and the arrogant words he spoke were disrespectful to our boss."
"We can't let a punk like this go, or people will think our Jinhai is too soft."
"No matter how important his background is, since he dares to cause trouble on our turf so recklessly, we must set a precedent. We absolutely cannot let him off easy, or where will the faces of so many of our brothers go?"
They weren't opposing Brother Xiao Dao's arrival.
It was a habitual attempt to pressure Lin Xiaotian.
They didn't know Lin Xiaotian's identity, but the fact that he dared to be so brazen and arrogant meant he couldn't be a simple person.
However, as the saying goes, ignorance is bliss.
Before the person in front of them revealed his identity, they could say some harsh words. Even if they apologized later, it would show they were courageous and not afraid of trouble.
Xiao Dao ignored the others and strode forward a couple of steps, arriving in front of Lin Xiaotian. He slightly bowed, a respectful and amiable smile on his face.
"Mr. Lin, they don't know your identity. Please don't hold it against them."
"These guys are just used to being lawless and too arrogant. They act like wild beasts towards everyone."
"Sometimes, even I can't control them. When their temper flares up, they're like they've been injected with chicken blood."
Lin Xiaotian could tell the meaning behind these words.
It was a veiled warning for him to rein himself in, implying that even Xiao Dao couldn't control these people.
This was a subtle display of dominance.
His smile, however, became even brighter. "I remember your name is Xiao Dao, right?"
"That's right, Mr. Lin remembers my name. It's truly my honor." Xiao Dao's smile became even more pronounced.
He felt like Lin Xiaotian was backing down.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be speaking to him so politely.
And then, in the next moment.
Lin Xiaotian suddenly raised his hand and delivered a heavy slap.
"Slap!"
Xiao Dao was sent staggering to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes were filled with disbelief. Had what he said been too subtle?
Did Lin Xiaotian not understand the implication?
He actually dared to lay a hand on him.
But this was their territory, with forty to fifty people standing in the hall alone.
With just a call, more brothers could emerge. In such a situation, Lin Xiaotian still dared to act recklessly. He truly wasn't afraid of death!
A flash of anger crossed his face. He covered his burning cheek and his voice turned cold.
"Mr. Lin, I greeted you politely because I didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble."
"Although we're not brothers from the same pot, our boss has always respected Mr. Lin. He once told me that if I ever met Mr. Lin, I must be extremely respectful."
"But you've gone too far, haven't you?"
"Our Jinhai Association isn't a place anyone can bully. No matter how powerful the opponent is, if they provoke all of us at Jinhai, we will fight to our deaths."
His words were gritted out, as if he wanted to devour Lin Xiaotian alive. However, he didn't dare to say any more.
Lin Xiaotian just looked at him with a smile.
It was as if he had seen through all his secrets.
This feeling was very unsettling.
Lin Xiaotian said with a half-smile, "Xiao Dao, it hasn't been long since we last met, and you've learned to play mind games."
"Stop pretending in front of me."
"Are you trying to tell me that if I act rashly, all your brothers will attack me, and it will be a fight to the death between us?"
Xiao Dao's voice trembled slightly. "I didn't mean that!"
"I think you do. Do you take me for a fool?" Lin Xiaotian retorted and slapped him again.
Even this kind of guy dared to threaten him. He didn't have that much patience.
And he wouldn't indulge such behavior.
Xiao Dao was sent stumbling back by this slap. His eyes were filled with immense rage.
"Mr. Lin, you've gone too far! Are you really not afraid of us all attacking you at once?"
"Don't you know our strength?"
"The brothers here are not like the thugs outside. These are men who have lived by the sword."
Lin Xiaotian deliberately put on a frightened act. "Oh, I'm so scared! Why don't you all attack me together? If I don't beat you all to the ground, I'll be afraid you'll attack me."
"I think the best outcome would be for all of you to be lying on the ground, unable to resist. Only then will I feel safe."
"It can't be helped, I'm just a timid person!"
Timid?
Everyone's expression turned strange.
If he was timid, then there was probably no one in the world with more courage than him.
Seeing that he showed no respect for Xiao Dao in front of so many people, and even resorted to violence,
They had never encountered someone so reckless.