The dark, petrifying muzzle of the gun, paired with Yang Hu's devilishly charming smile, made the temperature in the air plummet.
"How dare you!" A moment later, Xu Qing was the first to recover. He pointed at Yang Hu and demanded coldly, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Guess?" Yang Hu looked directly into Xu Qing's eyes, smiling faintly.
Xu Qing was at a loss for words. This bastard is too damn wicked.
Watching his granddaughter's blood-covered face, Xu Qing's heart ached. "I order you to put down the gun this instant!" he roared, clenching his teeth in fury.
SMACK.
Yang Hu smashed the butt of his gun into Xu Qing's forehead. Blood sprayed as he collapsed to the ground.
"Ordering me?" Yang Hu pressed the gun against Xu Qing's bleeding forehead and grinned. "Tell me, by what right do you order me?"
"Elder Jin, where is the unveiling ceremony for Chunfeng Pavilion being held?" Chen Yang asked Jin Zongquan.
"It's... it's at Huitian Plaza."
Chen Yang turned and left.
"Ptooey," Yang Hu spat fiercely on the ground before catching up.
"You dare hit me? You're looking for death!" Xu Qing scrambled to his feet, about to say more, but Jin Zongquan pulled him back.
"Can't you see? Lord Chen is clearly here for those foreign merchants," Jin Zongquan said. "Besides, the fact that he's carrying a gun... doesn't that tell you something?" The ever-diplomatic Jin Zongquan narrowed his eyes, staring at the departing van as he spoke in a low voice.
"Getting a gun isn't that difficult!" Xu Qing scoffed.
"This Lord must still hold a position in the Martial Department," Jin Zongquan mused. "As for what that position is..."
As he spoke, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind, and a cold sweat immediately beaded on his brow.
Dammit! If that were true...
The mere thought made his breath catch in his throat. He then instructed his assistant, "Get the car. We're going to Huitian Plaza."
Xu Qing looked bewildered but followed along nonetheless.
「In the business van.」
Yang Hu passed a file to Chen Yang. "Boss, these foreign merchants have quite an appetite. It looks like they want to devour all of Lingjin City, and they'll stop at nothing to do it."
"This plot of land is worth two billion, yet that Feng Cang only offered six hundred million. They're using their power to bully people and force the sale. That's no different from robbery."
Chen Yang briefly flipped through the file and tossed it aside. "What are the other local powers doing?" he asked indifferently.
"Leng Lingyun of the Leng Family has been scrambling to form an alliance to go head-to-head with them, but with little success," Yang Hu reported. "The other local powers may not have defected as openly as the Kang Family, but they're likely on the fence."
Chen Yang nodded and said no more.
「Meanwhile.」
At Huitian Plaza, an unveiling ceremony was in full swing, with more than a dozen media outlets broadcasting live. Feng Cang, with his exceptionally tall frame and black suit, was naturally the center of attention. He answered all sorts of questions with practiced ease, a confident smile plastered across his face.
Behind him stood the key members of the foreign consortium and the defected local elites of Lingjin City. Each wore a smile, basking in the shared glory.
"I declare Chunfeng Pavilion officially open!"
With a gentle tug of his right hand, the red silk ribbon slid to the ground. The pavilion was unveiled. A thunderous round of applause immediately followed, echoing without pause.
It wasn't until Feng Cang pressed his hands downward that the crowd quieted. "With Chunfeng Pavilion here," he began, "I can personally guarantee that Lingjin City's economy will skyrocket. Surpassing Qiyun Road is only a matter of time."
Another round of thunderous applause erupted.
When it came time for questions, a reporter stepped forward. "Mr. Feng, I've heard that some locals in Lingjin City have started to retaliate against Chunfeng Pavilion. They've supposedly drawn up a list and are saying they'll come to kill you one by one. Is there any truth to this?"
Many people had already heard this rumor. The implication was clear: Lingjin City was not a place for outsiders like them to run amok.
As soon as the question was asked, the venue fell silent. All eyes fixed on the triumphant-looking Feng Cang at the head table.
Feng Cang's expression tightened for a moment, but his smile didn't fade. Instead, it widened as he leaned forward, planting his hands on the podium.
"I've heard about these ramblings myself. And to release them today? This is a blatant provocation against Chunfeng Pavilion!"
BANG!
The previously beaming Feng Cang slammed his palm on the table, his gaze turning icy. "Come to kill us one by one? Do they take us for fish on a chopping block? Who the hell do they think they are?"
"Besides, Chunfeng Pavilion has always been law-abiding, has it not?" Feng Cang added, blinking dramatically at the crowd.
"Of course!"
"Chunfeng Pavilion's arrival is a blessing for Lingjin City!"
The crowd chimed in with agreement.
Feng Cang laughed. He leisurely lit a cigarette and said arrogantly, "Spineless cowards. They only dare to run their mouths from the shadows. If they've got any guts, let them come to the Chunfeng Pavilion headquarters and say that to my face."
"Garbage," he spat. Staring directly into the cameras, he continued, "I'll be right here waiting today. If you have the balls, then bring it on. I'll grind your face into the dirt."
His ferocious expression, sharp words, and arrogant demeanor left an indelible impression on everyone. Before, people had only heard tales about this young master, but today, they saw his true colors with their own eyes.
Before the unveiling ceremony concluded, a van had already pulled up to the curb nearby. "This is the place," Chen Yang said, having already switched off the live stream on his phone. He rolled down the window and lit a cigarette.
"Go, bring him here," Chen Yang instructed Yang Hu.
"Heh heh," Yang Hu chuckled. Feng Cang's arrogant words were still echoing in his mind. I hope you don't back down.
"Young Master Feng!" an assistant yelled, dashing to Feng Cang's side in a panic. "There's someone outside looking for you. They want you to go over."
"Hah!" Feng Cang sneered. "What kind of trash thinks they can see me just because they want to?"
"Young Master Feng, he... he's got a gun."
The unexpected statement made Feng Cang freeze. He subconsciously glanced toward the edge of the crowd, where a tall, heavyset young man was waving at him with a gun.
By the time the crowd realized what was happening, a reluctant Feng Cang was already walking over.
"Who... who are you?"
"Follow me," Yang Hu said, turning and walking away.
Standing before the van, Feng Cang put on a brave front. "Don't think a gun is enough to make me fear you," he said coolly.
Inside the van, Chen Yang flicked the ash from his cigarette and casually tossed a business card out the window. "Was it you who said you wanted to grind my face into the ground?"
"You actually dared to come?" Feng Cang was startled, then a sneer formed on his lips. But as he looked down at the business card, he froze as if struck by lightning, his eyes widening in disbelief.
This... this...
SLAP.
After flicking away his cigarette, Chen Yang's slightly rough hand swung out and struck Feng Cang across the face.
Feng Cang was stunned into silence. The entire crowd was speechless.
"Stand up," Chen Yang said.
Sprawled on the ground, Feng Cang clutched his swelling face and scrambled back to his feet. He stood there trembling, head bowed low.
"Inform everyone from Chunfeng Pavilion, including your superiors, to be here tomorrow. I have a few questions for them."
As he watched the van's window slowly rise, a bone-deep chill swept through Feng Cang. The van drove away slowly, leaving Feng Cang standing there in a dumbfounded stupor.
The crowd on-site was utterly dumbfounded.
What... what in the world is happening?
「Not long after.」
A new rumor began to spread like wildfire.
"A major figure has arrived in Lingjin City, and it looks like he's here to teach those foreign merchants a lesson on how to behave."
"Who on earth could he be?"
The city was abuzz with speculation.