A dozen thugs scrambled out of the restaurant. Some of the diners, bolder than others, went to Long Xiao's private room and told him who he had offended, urging them to leave quickly.
Hearing this, Long Xiao asked curiously, "Are you sure this 'Boss Long' is from the Long family?"
The person nodded and said, "That's right, he's from the Long family in the capital. We common folk can't afford to offend them."
Long Xiao clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, brother. I will handle this matter."
After the person who reported the situation left, Long Xiao pondered for a moment and then called Cui Lao to inquire about the situation.
"Generally, major cities in Huaxia have businesses owned by the Long family," Cui Lao said, his tone tinged with curiosity. "Young Master, why do you ask?"
Long Xiao explained the situation to Cui Lao, who immediately replied, "I'll check it for you. If he is indeed from the Long family, I will have them go apologize. If he is not, I will handle this matter for you."
The food arrived as they finished their call, and Long Xiao and his companions began to eat and drink.
The woman in the red dress waited outside the restaurant for a while. When she saw that the people she had called were being beaten out, each with broken bones, she knew they had encountered a master.
"Sister, what should we do? We can't just let this go," the young man with a bruised face said.
The woman nodded. "You go to the hospital for treatment yourself. I'll go find Long Xin and have him send people."
Long Xin was a successful entrepreneur in Haizhou City, with considerable influence, at least on the surface. In reality, he controlled Haizhou's underworld and was its kingpin. All criminal elements bowed to him.
Long Xin was in his office at Long's Building, embracing his secretary affectionately, when the woman burst in, shouting and crying. Hearing his wife's voice, Long Xin quickly pushed the secretary aside. As the secretary was tidying her clothes, the woman stormed in.
"Long Xin, I've been beaten."
Long Xin's expression shifted slightly. He stood up and looked at his wife, clearly seeing the slap marks on her face. "Wife, who dared to hit you?" Long Xin asked, gently rubbing her cheek.
"Just a few punks. I don't know them..." Lu Xinlian, Long Xin's wife, recounted how her car had collided with Long Xiao's, and how she was then beaten.
Lu Xinlian was a niece of the Lu family from Lingnan. While Long Xin was the formidable underground emperor of Haizhou, he knew he owed his status to the Lu family. Without them, he would have been eliminated long ago.
"Who is so arrogant? Wife, I'll send people to arrest them immediately," Long Xin declared.
"Hurry, before they escape! I want them to die in Haizhou City," Lu Xinlian said fiercely.
To ensure their capture, Long Xin mobilized his most capable subordinates. He also called the manager of his security company, instructing him to send riot police and the strongest security guards to the scene.
Before Long Xiao and his group had finished their meal, the screech of brakes filled the air. Over a dozen vehicles of various types appeared outside the restaurant. Groups of security guards armed with riot shields and batons surrounded the building.
As Long Xin emerged from his stretched Cadillac, a Hummer pulled up nearby. Five middle-aged men with peculiar appearances exited the vehicle and approached Long Xin.
"Boss Long, why all the fuss? Who are you dealing with?" asked the short man with long, flowing hair, wearing a flamboyant trench coat and boots. His footsteps were loud.
"My wife was beaten, and I need to get justice for her."
"Boss Long, do you want them dead or alive? Just say the word, and we five will handle it." These five men were all mid-level Earth Realm martial artists, and together they could sweep through Haizhou City.
"I want them alive, so my wife can see them. Break their arms and legs, and make them crawl out of Haizhou City," Long Xin said maliciously.
Long Xiao glanced out the window, unconcerned. Dealing with these people wouldn't require much effort. He was only worried about the potential awkwardness of injuring someone from the Long family.
"Long Xiao, perhaps I should go out and deal with them. Can't even have a peaceful meal," Ye Xiao said.
Long Xiao knew that Ye Xiao's methods would lead to widespread carnage. She wouldn't deal with them one by one; she would poison them all. Long Xiao shook his head. "No need. You all continue eating. We'll discuss it after we're done."
As Long Xiao and his group were eating, the five peculiar-looking individuals pushed open the door and entered. Leading them was the short man in the trench coat, followed by an elaborately dressed old woman with flowers in her hair. Behind her was an elder with shiny hair in a suit, accompanied by an old woman with a childlike face. The last was a hunchbacked elder.
Long Xiao looked at the five men and asked, "Are you the ones Long Xin sent to kill us?"
The short man in the trench coat, assuming an air of superiority, nodded slightly. "You've offended someone you shouldn't have. Don't blame us."
Long Xiao smiled. "Someone said Long Xin is from the Long family. Is that true?"
The old woman stepped forward. "It's meaningless for a few dying people to inquire about that now. What's the point?"
Just as Long Xiao was about to act, Cui Lao called, informing him that Long Xin was not from the Long family and that a team from the Long family in the southeast coastal region was already en route.
Long Xiao hung up the phone and said, "Let's go. We've finished eating. We'll settle this outside to avoid damaging the restaurant."
As they walked out, Xiao Ming pulled out his Profound Iron cleaver. "Brother Long, let me handle this."
Long Xiao shook his head. "Hold on. We have backup."
The group exited the restaurant, with the five oddly dressed men trailing behind them like escorts. Outside, Long Xin saw Long Xiao and his companions emerge and a smug smile spread across his face.
"You are the ones who beat my wife, aren't you afraid of death?"
Long Xiao chuckled. "You're quite arrogant. I'd like to know, who gives you the confidence?"
Long Xin burst into laughter. "Interesting. In Haizhou City, there are still people who dare to speak to me like this. Guards, move! Break all their legs!"
As the five strange men were about to attack, the roar of helicopter engines grew louder. An armed helicopter appeared above the restaurant. Ropes descended, and several fully armed figures in black uniforms and masks rappelled down. Upon landing, they immediately took positions, guns drawn, shielding Long Xiao and his three companions. They stared menacingly at everyone present but remained silent.
As everyone present watched in astonishment, another engine sound echoed. Four Hummers stopped outside the crowd. The doors opened, and a middle-aged man, accompanied by several young people, emerged and walked through the crowd to Long Xiao.
The middle-aged man approached Long Xiao, paused upon seeing his face, and then said, "Greetings, Mr. Long. Elder Cui sent us to assist you."
Long Xiao nodded. "This is quite an elaborate show. Heh heh. Someone is impersonating a Long family member and causing trouble. You know what to do."
The middle-aged man glanced at Long Xin. "Generally, those who impersonate the Long family and cause trouble are arrested and handed over to the police."
"Fine, handle it as you see fit. But before that, break all their legs to prevent them from escaping."