He had specifically chosen the secluded Balang Gully, flanked by mountains, a place where hardly anyone ventured.
How had people suddenly appeared? Upon a second look, he recognized the two Land Rovers.
The next second, the Land Rovers stopped not far from the group.
A tall, exquisite beauty in a coffee-colored trench coat and with meticulously styled hair stepped out of a Land Rover, wearing sunglasses.
She was followed by a man and a woman.
Her already impressive height of at least 1.7 meters, further accentuated by high heels, made many men feel inferior.
However, despite her tall stature, she was perfectly proportioned, with curves that were neither too thin nor too plump.
She exuded an aura of arrogance.
Upon seeing the beauty, the blonde immediately abandoned Li Chonglou and Yangla, his face beaming with sycophancy as he hurried towards her. "Miss Lan, what wind blows you to such a remote and desolate place?"
The beauty before them had an extraordinary background.
At only twenty-five years old, she was already renowned throughout the underground forces of Xihai.
Known as Miss Lan, Lan Ying.
Her background was mysterious, with few knowing her origins, yet she was doted upon by the big figures of Xihai and protected like a treasure.
There was a saying in Xihai City: "Provoke anyone but Miss Lan," which spoke volumes of her noble status.
"What? Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?" Lan Ying removed her sunglasses, glanced at the blonde, and snorted coldly.
As the sunglasses came off, her exquisite, jade-carved mixed-race features were fully revealed to everyone.
The blonde’s subordinates couldn't help but stare like lecherous old men, their eyes fixed on her.
Her deep eyes, full of exotic charm, didn't resemble those of Han or Tibetan people; instead, they were reminiscent of the Uyghurs from Xinzhou Province.
"How dare I, how dare I... I was being nosy, I was being nosy..." The blonde, sensing Lan Ying's displeasure, quickly slapped himself as if performing a ritual.
In Xihai City, he was merely a ringleader for loan sharking and usury.
Compared to the true powers that be, he was still some distance away.
He had once wanted to join Zhao Nianbin, but Zhao Nianbin had looked down on him. Later, relying on his ruthlessness, he had gathered a group of Tibetans, thus managing to establish a foothold.
However, if he offended Lan Ying, Xihai would no longer have a place for him.
Lan Ying didn't even spare him a glance. With a twist of her waist, she gracefully approached Li Chonglou and Yangla.
She surveyed Li Chonglou from head to toe and asked, "Your name is Li Chonglou? I heard you're quite capable. You crippled Zhao Nianbin last night?"
Before Li Chonglou could reply,
The blonde interjected, "Miss Lan, this kid is no good. You'd best stay away from him."
"Once I've thoroughly dealt with him, I'll hand him over to Miss Lan for judgment!"
Having been in the underworld for many years, he considered himself astute and resourceful.
Seeing Lan Ying immediately bring up Li Chonglou crippling Zhao Nianbin, he instinctively assumed Lan Ying was there to cause trouble for Li Chonglou.
After all, Zhao Nianbin was a notable figure, and they knew each other.
Hence, he quickly stepped forward to curry favor.
Li Chonglou's pupils contracted slightly, and he couldn't help but feel curious.
This woman named Lan, her words and expression were entirely at odds.
If she was here to deal with him, why was there no hostility in her eyes? Why the sudden appearance, and for what purpose?
Yangla, standing beside him, was anxious and dared not speak.
"You'll deal with him? How do you plan to deal with him?" Lan Ying, hearing this, looked at the blonde with great interest.
The blonde was flattered by Lan Ying’s direct gaze.
Many men wished for Miss Lan’s attention but lacked the fortune; yet he, a mere loan shark, possessed such luck.
His mind began to wander.
Eager to demonstrate his loyalty, he said, "If Miss Lan dislikes him, I'll make him kneel and kowtow..."
*Slap!*
Before he could finish, Lan Ying raised her hand and slapped him directly across the face.
This shut him up mid-sentence.
The blow left him utterly stunned and bewildered: "Miss Lan... what is this..."
"Go back and look in the mirror, see what you are. You dare to lay a hand on someone my godfather specifically vouches for?" Lan Ying said with disdain, coldly snorting, "Huang Mao, I've heard you've been quite active these past few years."
"I think you've become too conceited and no longer wish to stay in Xihai."
These words caused the blonde's eyes to bulge and his body to tremble.
The subordinate holding Li Chonglou was even more terrified, his body shaking, and he let go of Li Chonglou as if he had received an electric shock.
*Thump.*
The next second, he knelt straight before Lan Ying.
His voice trembling, he cried, "I... I'm wronged, Miss Lan. I didn't know, I had no idea he was your godfather's friend..."
"If I had known earlier, even with a knife to my neck, I wouldn't have dared to be disrespectful to him..."
"Miss Lan, please, don't be angry with me, considering I was unaware."
"I'm nothing, I've sinned..."
*Slap, slap, slap!*
Saying this, he proceeded to slap himself three times on the mouth, holding back no strength.
Both sides of his face instantly became red and swollen.
It had to be said, the blonde was a ruthless individual, at least in his pragmatism.
Upon hearing Lan Ying mention that Li Chonglou was her godfather’s friend, although he didn't know who her godfather was, he instinctively began to beg for mercy.
He absolutely could not afford to offend Lan Ying.
Not for any other reason than that in terms of subordinates or influence, Lan Ying could灭 his entire lineage with a single phone call.
And consequently, Li Chonglou, whom he had intended to extort, was also someone he couldn't afford to offend.
"Does begging me help?" Lan Ying asked, looking up at the sky with a cold snort.
The blonde immediately turned his head towards Li Chonglou and Yangla: "Brother... brother, it was a misunderstanding, like the Dragon King’s temple being attacked by the Dragon King himself. I didn't know you had such a significant background."
"It was my fault earlier. I shouldn't have tried to extort you, brother. I, Huang Mao, did wrong."
"Punish me as you see fit, and I'll personally cancel Yangla's debt."
"I only beg you, brother, to put in a good word for me with Miss Lan. I'll be eternally grateful. From now on, Huang Mao will give you a wide berth..."
His attitude was utterly devout.
Having survived in the underworld for so many years, climbing his way up through his own efforts, face was the least valuable thing to Huang Mao.
A person must be able to bend and flex; in front of Lan Ying, he had to act subservient.
Who told him he was inferior?
"That's enough, take your people and get out." Li Chonglou was not a narrow-minded person. Let alone the fact that the blonde hadn't truly clashed with him, even now, with him kneeling and begging for mercy, there was no need to press the advantage.
After all, Xihai was not his usual place of residence, and after finishing his business, he might never return.
Making an enemy of such a petty person was the least cost-effective thing to do.
Huang Mao felt as if he had received a great pardon. He repeatedly expressed his gratitude, got up, and fled with his subordinates.
After they left, Li Chonglou finally sized up Lan Ying seriously and asked, "Is Boss Su your godfather?"
Before coming, he had messaged only one person, Su Yinchuan. Xu Lie certainly wouldn't have had time to come. He didn't believe that Su Yinchuan, the richest man, wouldn't have some influence or contacts in Xihai.
And since he needed his company to head to the ancient site of Xihai County, his value to Su Yinchuan was considerable.
Su Yinchuan certainly wouldn't stand by and watch him get into trouble.
However, he hadn't expected Su Yinchuan to send a woman.
"Lan Ying." A faint smile touched Lan Ying's delicate lips as she extended her hand towards Li Chonglou. "My godfather mentioned you're quite talented, capable of handling even Zhao Nianbin."
"Yet, I didn't expect you to be captured by a nobody like Huang Mao."
"Unexpected. My brother had some business to attend to." Li Chonglou returned a faint smile, calmly shaking her hand. "Li Chonglou."
"Tomorrow, at the ancient site of Xihai County, I'll be accompanying my godfather. I hope you're not just an embroidered pillow; I'll be watching." Lan Ying withdrew her delicate hand, a hint of disdain rising in her eyes.
The handshake was not just a gesture of etiquette, but also a test.
Li Chonglou was clearly an ordinary person, with no strength in his hands.
Could such a person really handle Zhao Nianbin?
She truly felt embarrassed for Zhao Nianbin.
However, her godfather had said that this Li Chonglou was daring and had keen eyesight, which would be useful at the ancient site of Xihai County this time.
If it weren't for this potential value, why would she have personally brought people to help?
"That would be excellent. I also want to see if you're not just a pretty face." Li Chonglou retorted indifferently.
Lan Ying’s expression changed at this, and the man and woman behind her were filled with anger.
The man said coldly, "Kid, speak more respectfully to our Miss Lan."
"Otherwise, we'll cut out your tongue!" the woman added more harshly.
Lan Ying lightly waved her hand to stop them, her contempt deepening. "So, your mouth is quite sharp. We'll meet again."
With that, she turned and got into the car with the man and woman.
"Hey, give us a ride out of here, hey..." Li Chonglou hurriedly called out upon seeing this.
But the two Land Rovers pretended not to hear, accelerating and speeding out of Balang Gully.
"What a petty woman, what a shame she's so beautiful." Li Chonglou gritted his teeth.
Balang Gully was a full five kilometers away from the nearest place where he could call a car.
With his martial arts, five kilometers was nothing, but now he had to walk for two hours.
This woman, just because of a single remark he made, refused to even give them a ride out, which showed her strong vengeful nature.
"Brother Li, if you're tired, I can carry you," Yangla said with guilt, her voice low.
"No need. I was just venting, don't take it seriously." Li Chonglou firmly refused.
He tried calling for a ride on his phone, but all the drivers, seeing how far he was, decisively canceled the orders.
Helpless, he had no choice but to rely on his own two feet to walk it out.
He also took the opportunity to call Lin Ying and inform her that he was safe.
Two hours later, he finally emerged from Balang Gully, drenched in sweat.
He finally managed to get a car.
Before parting, Yangla handed her bank card to Li Chonglou. "Brother Li, they don't want this money, and you saved me again. I can't take any more from you, please take it back."
Li Chonglou glanced at it but didn't take it. "Keep it. As a young woman, you need to have some money."
"This is what you deserve, it has nothing to do with me."
"From now on, sever all contact with Huang Mao and his associates. If they cause trouble again, report them to the police immediately."
Hearing this, Yangla was deeply moved and bowed deeply to Li Chonglou. "Thank you, Brother Li. I will definitely repay you."
Li Chonglou didn't waste any more words, waved his hand, and took a taxi back to the hospital.
His master’s fever persisted. However, because Director Qiu had given instructions, no one dared to give him an antipyretic injection; they could only resort to physical cooling.
Ice packs were placed on his head to prevent his brain from being damaged by the fever.
The two of them kept vigil by their master’s bedside until the hospital room door was kicked open.
"Found this little bastard. Surround the ward!" The one who kicked the door open was a group of thugs with dragon and tiger tattoos, their faces filled with ferocity.
He pointed at Li Chonglou and yelled.