"Who is your young miss?" Li Chonglou kicked over the bald man, his eyes flashing with cold light.
Men like the bald man were typical scoundrels.
It had been so long since Xu Lie had won his fight, yet they still came seeking revenge.
If he let him leave safely today, he would regret it infinitely.
After all, he couldn't stay in Qin Prefecture every day; his main focus was now on Yong'an.
And Xu Lie was still unconscious. How could Xu Qianqian, a girl, deal with such a hooligan?
Since he had a so-called young miss above him, he would directly expose and eliminate them all, cutting the roots to prevent future growth!
"Don't... don't hit me..." the bald man cried out, "Her name is Li Duo'er, and she's from Yong'an..."
"I... I heard the boss had an accident recently, and now the young miss is our head..."
Li Duo'er?
The name made Li Chonglou pause.
He never imagined that the bald man was someone from Li Hanlong's faction.
This explained everything.
No wonder he was involved in underground boxing but wasn't familiar with the local underground forces in Qin Prefecture.
No wonder he hadn't retaliated after being beaten; it turned out Li Duo'er had been keeping him in check.
It seemed Li Hanlong's businesses weren't just limited to smuggling cultural relics but also involved underground boxing.
If the police hadn't discovered it, this Qin Prefecture stronghold should have been busted.
Seeing Li Chonglou's cold gaze recede as he fell into thought.
The bald man rejoiced inwardly.
As expected, mentioning the young miss was effective.
He quickly struck while the iron was hot, "Hero, I know you know our young miss."
"She specifically instructed me not to touch you, which is why I haven't caused you trouble."
"And... and she also told us not to touch women, so I didn't do anything unforgivable to this girl."
"Please be magnanimous and let me go. I promise I won't dare to offend you again..."
"Right... right, I'll return the card I took from her last time. I haven't dared to withdraw the money yet."
As he spoke, he took out the bank card Li Chonglou had given to Xu Qianqian from his pocket and handed it over with his head bowed and both hands raised.
Although he appeared pathetic on the surface, a trace of malice flickered in the bald man's eyes, and his heart seethed with hatred.
He was someone with a certain status in Qin Prefecture.
How could he not resent being repeatedly defeated by Li Chonglou?
He had been afraid to retaliate because of Li Duo'er.
But now, Li Duo'er was far away in Yong'an, and Li Chonglou had made him suffer so much.
As long as they let him leave the hospital, he would immediately gather his subordinates and ensure this bastard Li Chonglou was crippled.
No matter how powerful Li Chonglou was, one fist could not withstand four hands.
He had dozens of boxers under him; dealing with one of them would be easy.
If the young miss investigated later, he would just find a scapegoat.
He was adept at this kind of maneuvering.
"For Duo'er's sake, I can spare your life, but while the death penalty is waived, you can't escape punishment!" Li Chonglou took the card, snorted, and stepped forward, stomping on the bald man's shin.
The immense force, like Mount Tai bearing down, directly crushed the bald man's leg bone.
Crack!
A chilling sound of bone fracturing exploded, and the bald man let out a scream, passing out on the spot.
"Brother Chonglou..." Xu Qianqian covered her mouth, utterly shocked.
"Don't be afraid. Bad people need to be taught a lesson, otherwise, they won't learn," Li Chonglou said calmly.
How could the malice flashing in the bald man's eyes escape Li Chonglou's notice?
Such people were two-faced, acting one way in front of you and another behind your back.
Without making him remember this profoundly, there would be endless trouble in the future.
If it weren't for Li Duo'er's sake, he would have made sure the bald man never returned today.
After saying that, Li Chonglou grabbed the bald man and his two bodyguards, one in each arm, like he was carrying young ladies, and threw them out of the ward.
Then he found medical staff nearby to take them for emergency treatment.
After finishing all this, Li Chonglou looked at Xu Qianqian and said seriously, "I went to Yong'an for a few days, and so many things happened again."
"Qin Prefecture is no longer safe for you."
"Qianqian, pack your things. After I finish my business, come to Yong'an with me."
"Keep the card for now."
With that, he handed the bank card he had retrieved from the bald man back to Xu Qianqian.
In an instant, Li Chonglou changed his mind.
He had previously intended to kill the bald man to eliminate future trouble, so that the Xu siblings could stay safely in Qin Prefecture.
But now, because of Li Duo'er, the bald man was not dead, only injured.
Although it was a deterrent, it was hard to guarantee that he wouldn't seek revenge when he was away.
If Xu Lie were awake, he wouldn't worry even if a hundred people came, but the situation was different now, and precautions had to be taken.
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say." Xu Qianqian's shock had subsided, and she nodded obediently.
With her brother gone, Li Chonglou was like her own brother.
Besides, she had no relatives or friends in Qin Prefecture anyway.
Going to Yong'an, the provincial capital, might have more advanced medical resources, and her brother might have a chance to wake up.
After chatting with Xu Qianqian for a while, Li Chonglou sat by the bed and quietly looked at Xu Lie, whose face was serene but clearly growing thinner.
A sense of loss filled his eyes.
This person before him, though not related by blood, was as close as a brother.
To save his mother and wife, he was shot three times and run over by a car, suffering greatly.
And he himself was powerless.
"Brother Xu, I don't know if you can hear me, but I will always remember everything you did for me," Li Chonglou murmured, his eyes slightly red, while Xu Qianqian went to get water.
"I've already asked my senior sister, and she's agreed to pass on the complete sheepskin scroll cultivation method to you..."
"I believe you can pull through."
"Listen carefully... The genesis of movement... Yin Yang Sumeru, the spirit condenses and the Qi stabilizes..."
The long speech was all about the second level of the sheepskin scroll cultivation method.
He knew that reciting these things now was probably useless.
But he also knew that Xu Lie's greatest concerns were his sister and martial arts.
If it weren't for Xu Qianqian, he would likely have become a martial arts fanatic.
He could take care of Xu Qianqian, but his pursuit of martial arts might remain a regret.
After reciting the cultivation method, Xu Qianqian returned.
Li Chonglou composed himself, got up, and bid farewell.
He had three things to do this time!
See Xu Lie.
Go to Desheng Hotel.
And then help Zeng Wang find the镇馆之宝 (zhen guan zhi bao - treasure of the town's museum).
The镇馆之宝 was the Shi Qiang pan.
However, it was still early, and the vendor would likely not have set up yet, so he decided to go to Desheng Hotel first.
At the hotel entrance at this moment.
The entrance was adorned with colorful lanterns and a large celebratory arch.
It read, "Congratulations to Qian Hao and Li Shanshan on their happy wedding."
In recent days, Desheng Hotel had completely transformed from an antique-themed hotel back to its original function of hosting weddings, funerals, and banquets.
It was lively and bustling, and business had indeed improved.
The chairman's office, formerly occupied by Wang Dehai, was now exclusively for Wang Jingwu.
He lounged with his legs crossed on the desk, puffing on a cigarette.
"Mr. Wang, your friend is truly capable. In just a few days, he's managed to revitalize Desheng." A secretary, dressed provocatively and heavily made up, sashayed into the room with a report, batting her eyelashes at Wang Jingwu.
As she approached, Wang Jingwu gave her a resounding slap on the backside, a lecherous grin on his face, "Does that need to be said? My connection with Young Master Wu is nothing compared to his."
This woman used to be a waitress, and he got involved with her.
Now that he was the chairman, he naturally promoted her. Success breeds elevation for everyone.
The woman let out a soft hum, smoothly sitting on Wang Jingwu's lap, putting down the documents and wrapping her arms around his neck, playfully pouting, "Since business is good, shouldn't you get me a house?"
"I'm still renting a place."
"Buy, buy, buy! I'll take you house hunting after work!" Wang Jingwu's bones felt like they were melting.
"I don't want that, I want the villa you live in," the woman said coquettishly.
A hint of malice appeared on Wang Jingwu's face, "That villa will be mine eventually, but it's still under Wang Dehai's name."
"That old fool! He says he won't collude with me. He's not even helping his own nephew, instead helping an outsider. He's lost his mind."
"Loyalty, can loyalty put food on the table?"
"Besides, didn't that bastard Li Chonglou beat me badly before?"
"Someone wants to deal with him, and he won't survive. Wang Dehai is being unreasonable, and I, as his nephew, can't just let him be foolish."
"Don't worry, as soon as Wang Dehai transfers the villa to me, I'll immediately add your name!"
The woman giggled at his words and pecked him on the cheek.
Just as she was about to whisper sweet nothings.
With a thud.
The office door was kicked open.
The lock detached from the door and rolled a few times on the floor, startling both of them.
Seeing the person entering through the doorway, Wang Jingwu's eyes widened like saucers.
He stood up, trembling, "Li... Li Chonglou, how did you get back?"
"You... weren't you in Yong'an?"
Ever since Li Chonglou was confined to Yong'an, when Li Hanlong sent the bald man to find him and Wang Dehai, his heart had been filled with boundless joy.
Being lorded over by Li Chonglou, his former useless classmate and son-in-law, was something no one enjoyed.
Having a chance to retaliate, he naturally didn't hesitate.
Moreover, that person had told him that Li Chonglou would have no chance to return to Qin Prefecture.
But...
Why had he suddenly returned?
"Wang Jingwu, you're doing quite well recently. The hotel business is booming, making a lot of money?" Li Chonglou entered the room with his hands behind his back, looking around.
This office was originally Wang Dehai's, and later he wanted to give it to him but refused.
Since he wasn't based in Desheng regularly, it was still used by Wang Dehai.
However, the decoration at that time was antique and the furniture was solid wood.
Now, in such a short time, it had been completely renovated with extremely vulgar European-style furnishings.
This Wang Jingwu was truly a snob.
"N-not much..." Wang Jingwu began to stutter.
He secretly signaled to the woman, urging her to leave and report.
The woman was also intelligent. Seeing the situation, she said softly, "You two talk, I'll go out to entertain guests..."
Saying that, she slipped out of the office.
Li Chonglou saw their expressions and knew what they intended, but he didn't stop them.
There was no need.
If he had to be cautious when dealing with petty men like Wang Jingwu, how would he handle truly powerful figures?
"Not much is how much? According to my shares, there should be a clear account for how much is distributed." Li Chonglou walked up to Wang Jingwu, who hastily retreated a few steps, watching as he casually sat in the boss's chair.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
Li Chonglou actually wanted to claim his share of the profits...
But his shares had already been secretly transferred by him, without even notifying himself.
Where would any profit distribution come from?
It was clearly a visit to find fault. He didn't believe Li Chonglou was still in the dark.
It seemed begging for mercy and appeasing him was useless; he had to be bold.
Having decided this, he gritted his teeth and said, "You still want a share of the profits? Desheng Hotel has nothing to do with you anymore!"