To his surprise, He Xiaohu gritted his teeth and asked, "Young Master He, if I do as you say, will you let my friend go?"
He Zhendong smiled without answering.
He Xiaohu dared not gamble with Chen Jin’s life.
Since Chen Jin considered him a friend, He Xiaohu would treat his friend sincerely.
He stood up and walked towards He Zhendong, having evidently made up his mind.
He Zhendong stared at He Xiaohu with a smug grin, his eyes full of disdain. He merely wanted to toy with lowlifes like He Xiaohu, which gave him a sense of superiority, of looking down on all beings, satisfying some perverse desire of his.
Just as He Xiaohu was about to kneel before He Zhendong, a large hand suddenly grasped his arm. Chen Jin finally moved.
He Xiaohu looked at Chen Jin blankly. Understanding his intention, he said, "It's okay. I'm just a nobody. I never had any dignity to begin with."
Chen Jin shook his head. "You are a living person, not their appendage."
Upon hearing this, He Zhendong raised an eyebrow and berated Chen Jin, "Who the hell do you think you are? Do you have any right to butt into my business? Scram, and I'll deal with you later."
"Did you hear that? Even if you kneel, they won't let us go," Chen Jin said to He Xiaohu.
He Xiaohu’s face turned deathly pale, drained of all color.
Yes.
He saw through it all.
Just as He Zhendong was about to say something, Chen Jin spoke, "We are dining here as patrons. What right do you have to kick us out? Not only that, but you condoned your ruffian servants attacking us. If it were someone else here, they would be like a mute eating bitter herbs – with no way to voice their grievances."
"Tch—"
He Zhendong chuckled, a hint of mockery in his laughter.
He sized up Chen Jin, wondering what kind of influential person He Xiaohu’s friend could be. Thus, He Zhendong became even more brazen, boasting, "I'm sorry, this isn't a big city, but a remote town where the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. In this place, our He family is the local emperor. Even if I kill you, no one will seek justice for you."
"Do you believe me?"
Chen Jin indeed believed him.
Such situations were all too common in certain places.
He Xiaohu tried to persuade him again, hoping Chen Jin would apologize to He Zhendong and let it go.
He Haixiong also said to He Zhendong, "Xiao Dong, stop spouting nonsense. If that important guest hears this, they will be displeased. Hurry up and throw them out, then we can focus on entertaining the guest."
He Zhendong nodded quickly.
These dark dealings must not be seen by that… important guest.
He turned to Chen Jin and He Xiaohu. "I'll let you off the hook today. If you know what's good for you, kneel down, apologize, and then cripple yourselves before leaving."
He Xiaohu trembled.
He Zhendong had already broken his leg before. Now, he was expected to lose an arm as well?
What was even more tragic was that he had no recourse to justice.
After a brief surge of indignation, He Xiaohu realized this might be his only chance of survival and said to Chen Jin, "It seems we have no other way."
"Good that you know," He Zhendong sneered.
Chen Jin shook his head. "The fault is not ours, so why should we bear the responsibility? The fault lies with you and your father. You are the ones who should be held accountable. I also believe that you will face legal consequences."
He Zhendong burst into laughter, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.
After his laughter subsided, He Zhendong taunted, "You talking about the law to me? I find that hilarious."
He Haixiong was growing impatient. He said to He Zhendong, "Forget it. Since they don't know how to cherish this opportunity, just throw them out. You can use a bit of force when throwing them out, so they realize their mistake."
Even an ant dares to shake a true dragon?
Pure wishful thinking!
He Zhendong understood. He said to He Xiaohu and Chen Jin, "I gave you a chance, but you weren't useful. It's too late to realize your mistake now. Guards, throw them out and beat them up. Don't hold back."
"Yes!"
Several bodyguards surrounded them.
He Xiaohu's heart leaped into his throat, thinking he was in for another beating.
The next moment.
As the bodyguards moved, Chen Jin said to He Xiaohu, "Xiaohu, step back a bit, so you don't get hurt."
He Xiaohu's mind went blank. Hearing Chen Jin's words, he instinctively took two steps back.
Chen Jin, however, advanced, moving to meet the bodyguards' attack.
These bodyguards were naturally superior to ordinary people in physical condition, but in front of Chen Jin, they were nothing.
Mere showmanship!
Chen Jin, using less than ten percent of his strength, swept through them like an army, leaving all the attacking bodyguards lying on the ground.
This scene, witnessed by He Zhendong, made his eyelids twitch violently!
"This… how is this possible?" He Zhendong cried out in disbelief.
He Haixiong managed to remain calm. Realizing that the situation was spiraling out of control, he immediately said to the remaining bodyguards, "Don't just stand there! Whoever can defeat this man will receive a private bonus of one hundred thousand from me."
Where there's a reward, there are brave souls.
The remaining four bodyguards' eyes turned red, looking at Chen Jin as if he were a pile of money.
"Kill!"
Someone let out a low roar, instantly igniting the bodyguards' fighting spirit.
However…
Their attacks were still in vain.
In front of Chen Jin, no one could last more than a single exchange.
The He father and son watched in astonishment as their bodyguards were sent flying one by one, their expressions growing increasingly incredulous, as if they couldn't believe such a fierce individual existed.
In the end.
The only ones left standing in the restaurant were the He father and son, and Chen Jin.
He Xiaohu’s jaw dropped as he stared at Chen Jin in disbelief.
He could never have imagined that his former sickly classmate had become so formidable, like a celestial being descended from heaven.
He Zhendong retreated a couple of steps, putting some distance between himself and Chen Jin.
But his small movement was no match for Chen Jin’s eyes. The next instant, Chen Jin appeared before He Zhendong, scaring the pampered young master out of his wits. He screamed, "Ghost!!! Father, save me!!"
Moments later.
He Zhendong’s screams were cut short, replaced by the resounding sound of a slap!
Chen Jin slapped He Zhendong away, sending him crashing to the ground.
He Haixiong’s mouth twitched as he witnessed this scene. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Sensing Chen Jin’s gaze fall upon him, He Haixiong’s heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Brother, you've gone too far. I only asked you to leave, why did you lay hands on my people? Do you think you can trample on the law, above the law?"
He Xiaohu scoffed internally.
Just now, He Haixiong was defying the law, and now he was talking about it with Chen Jin.
How ridiculous!
Chen Jin walked silently towards He Haixiong, causing the latter’s nerves to tense and his anxiety to grow.
"Heh heh…"
"Your condescending attitude is truly disgusting," he said.
He Haixiong was already seething with rage.
When had he ever suffered such humiliation? But to maintain his dignity, he said, "Friend, my son was indeed too rash today, causing you and your companion trouble and inconvenience. You've already beaten him up, perhaps we can let this matter drop?"
Chen Jin chuckled lightly. "Are you seeking peace with me?"
He Xiaohu, standing nearby, was dumbfounded. The richest man in Leyang County, forced to bow to Chen Jin? Was this a dream or reality?
He Haixiong’s face darkened further at the question. "If you think so, then it is."
Chen Jin let out a scoff. Looking He Haixiong in the eye, he said, "Then I'll tell you directly: I refuse. As far as I know, my friend's leg was broken by you. What do you propose we do about it?"
He Zhendong shouted wildly, "Dad, we're not afraid of him! That important guest is arriving soon. If he dares to act arrogant, he'll surely suffer!"
He Haixiong glanced at He Xiaohu’s瘸腿 (lame leg), then took a deep breath. Finally, he looked Chen Jin in the eye again and said, "I don't know what happened to your friend's leg. Some things are not as simple as you say."
"Jin Chen, maybe we should just let it go. I'm already content with this much," He Xiaohu whispered.
Chen Jin seemed not to hear He Xiaohu’s plea. He continued to stare at He Haixiong, who felt an inexplicable pressure. His voice gradually grew heavier. "Young man, you may have some skill, but we are here waiting for a very important guest. If that important guest knows you've made an enemy of our He family, they will surely not let you off."
As if fearing Chen Jin wouldn't believe him, He Haixiong added, "That important guest holds immense power, the undisputed ruler of this region of Jiangnan. If you know about the Su family of Jiangnan, and their recent misfortunes, you will understand the terrifying might of this individual."
The implication was clear—
This important guest didn't even consider the Su family of Jiangnan, let alone a mere Chen Jin.
Chen Jin chuckled upon hearing this.
The reason He Haixiong and his son were here was because Chen Jin had asked Tao Qiyue to investigate their background, and then had Li Qiutao contact He Haixiong to come to this place. As for the "important guest" He Haixiong spoke of, it was naturally Chen Jin himself.
But the father and son were unaware of this.
"How come I've never heard of such an important figure in Jiangnan? Are you perhaps trying to scare me with fabricated stories?" Chen Jin asked with a half-smile.
He Zhendong had gotten up from the ground. Hearing Chen Jin's words, he sneered, "Dragons do not associate with snakes. That important guest commands great influence in the Jiangnan region; he is the undisputed King of Jiangnan. How could an ant like you be privy to legends about him?"
The father and son looked down on Chen Jin with extreme contempt.
Since Chen Jin knew nothing of the King of Jiangnan, he was clearly not a member of high society.
Dealing with him afterward would be even more uninhibited.
Chen Jin’s smile remained. "Then I'd like to ask, what is this important guest's name?"
He Zhendong felt a surge of triumph, as if he were that important guest himself. He enunciated each word of the important guest’s name.
"His name is Chen Jin!"