Lu Pangzi was first pushed into the private room.
Old Liu Fu had a long, donkey-like face, narrow eyes, and a prominent, hooked nose. A murderous glint flickered in his gaze.
"Pangzi, do you think I'm giving you too much credit?"
"It's one thing to ask me out for a meeting. I thought you were bringing me benefits, but instead, you brought a master to cause trouble for me."
"Do you think you've got too many years to live?"
Lu Pangzi didn't dare to reply. He felt as if gods were fighting, and he was caught in the middle.
Old Liu Fu's gaze finally fell upon Mu Feng.
At this sight, his pupils contracted sharply.
The person before him was too similar.
Too much like a man he remembered seeing.
A smile flickered across Mu Feng's face, but his eyes held a chilling, bone-piercing killing intent. "You are Old Liu Fu?"
"Li Changhe's most trusted man?"
Old Liu Fu had already stood up, waving away the two women beside him with a casual gesture. "If I'm not mistaken, you must be that stray dog from the Mu family."
"Your appearance is too much like that man's. Although I've never seen him in person, his likeness is captured in the photographs left behind in your family."
Mu Feng's eyes flickered, appearing distant. "It seems you were involved in the events of that year. Now, even Li Changhe is like a dog, fleeing everywhere, yet you dare to appear so brazenly. It seems you have your own backing."
"Then let me see what your backing is."
Upon hearing this, Old Liu Fu sneered, "Li Changhe fears you because he has a vast family to consider."
"If anything happens to him, the entire Li family will fall, and you might even transfer your anger to them."
"As long as he doesn't appear, you won't truly do anything to the Li family. After all, you need to keep members of the Li family alive to lure him back."
"But I'm different. I'm alone."
"Also, don't say I'm Li Changhe's subordinate. We are merely cooperating; we just happen to be close."
As he spoke these words, he had already walked up to Mu Feng.
Then, without any warning, he struck, a sharp dagger appearing at his fingertips.
The blade slid directly towards Mu Feng's neck.
A cold smile appeared on Mu Feng's face. Just as the dagger neared his neck, he flicked his wrist, and a silver needle appeared, piercing Old Liu Fu's hand.
Old Liu Fu felt his hand instantly go limp and powerless. The dagger fell to the ground.
Its sharp blade sank directly into the wooden floor.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
"Li Changhe told me you were merely a master. He said our strengths were comparable. How could you so easily block my sure-kill move?"
Mu Feng's face contorted into a mocking smile. "Li Changhe was simply deceiving you, using you as a pawn."
"And you believed him."
"Have you been playing with too many women, with worms in your brain?"
"If Li Changhe truly only cared about the Li family, do you think he would still be hiding his face until now?"
"His strength has always surpassed mine."
Hearing this, Old Liu Fu also realized. He knew he had been tricked.
He was not a foolish person.
"I'm not an idiot. I believed Li Changhe's words because you are so young. To reach the Grandmaster realm at your age, in your early twenties, makes you a rare, monstrous genius."
A manic smile spread across his face. He took two steps back, then pulled out a round object from his person.
His smile became even more ferocious and terrifying.
"Even if Li Changhe tricked me, do you really think I have no backup plans?"
"Today, even if I die, I'll drag you down with me. Once you're rendered powerless, Li Changhe will undoubtedly find ways to kill you."
"Do you see the ball in my hand?"
"As soon as I crush it, the energy within will instantly blast this entire establishment sky-high."
His insolent laughter followed. "Now I give you two choices: either let me go, or we both become crippled."
"Even if there's a massive explosion, it won't completely take your life, but it can definitely leave you as a weak cripple."
"The choice is yours. I can guarantee that before you touch me, I will crush this ball."
This was his reliance. Even when facing Li Changhe, he could be reckless.
He didn't believe that Li Changhe's business could truly surpass the Grandmaster realm.
Mu Feng said calmly, "I think there should be a third choice."
"There won't be..."
Before Old Liu Fu could finish, a silver glint flashed past.
He felt his hand lose its function. He subconsciously turned his head to look, only to see his hand fall to the ground. The ball slowly rolled away.
The ball landed directly at Lu Pangzi's feet.
A flicker of struggle and hesitation appeared in Lu Pangzi's eyes.
"Pangzi, quickly grab that ball, or both of us will be finished today."
Old Liu Fu stumbled back a few steps, clutching his bleeding arm. His face had turned ashen.
Only now did he truly understand the chasm between himself and Mu Feng.
It was like the gap between a ravine and the clouds in the sky.
Lu Pangzi glanced at them, gritted his teeth, and looked at Mu Feng. "Will you let me go?"
"Just one answer. If you say you'll let me go, I'll hand over the ball."
"I don't want to die with you. If I crush this ball, I'll only die."
"If you don't let me go, then we'll go to hell together."
His words were like a hysterical roar.
Mu Feng smiled faintly and slowly walked over. "Do you dare to crush it?"
As Lu Pangzi watched Mu Feng approach, his expression became severely distorted. "Don't come any closer! I'll really crush it!"
"Stop right there!"
No matter how hysterically he shouted, Mu Feng's steps did not falter.
When he reached him, Lu Pangzi still lacked the courage to crush the ball in his hand.
Mu Feng smiled and extended his hand. "Give it to me!"
Lu Pangzi's hand trembled violently. The hesitation and struggle in his eyes lasted for less than a second before he slowly handed the ball towards Mu Feng.
Mu Feng smiled as he took it, then, in front of Lu Pangzi, he gripped it in his palm.
With a sudden, forceful squeeze of both hands.
"No!" Lu Pangzi roared in extreme terror.
Old Liu Fu's pupils also contracted sharply, and he shouted in anger, "Are you f***ing crazy?"