“Manager Yang, you've been in the underworld for so many years, how can you not understand such a simple principle? If I could walk in here so openly, and your people outside made no move, it means I've already dealt with them,” Chu Lingtian said with a smile, looking down at Yang Ye from his seat.
“Impossible, that’s absolutely impossible!” Yang Ye looked as if he wouldn’t believe it even if he were killed. In his mind, there were over a dozen burly thugs in the lobby on the first floor, each stronger than an average person and known for their ruthlessness. How could they all be defeated by a mere security guard like Chu Lingtian?
Chu Lingtian knew it would be difficult to get the money if Yang Ye didn't give up hope and the idea of struggling. So, he shrugged and said, “If you don’t believe me, you can call the middle-aged woman at the front desk.”
Without a word, Yang Ye struggled to get up from the floor. He picked up the desk phone with his right hand, dialed, and asked, “Hello, where are Guangtou and the others? Tell them to come to my office immediately!”
“Manager Yang, Guangtou and them, they've all been beaten to their knees by the security guard who returned from Baoxue Company. I was just about to contact Ninth Master to report this matter,” the middle-aged woman’s startled voice came through.
*Clang!*
Yang Ye’s face changed drastically, and his heart turned to ash. The phone in his right hand dropped to the floor, shattering and emitting a broken dial tone.
The middle-aged woman wasn't foolish. She had watched with her own eyes as Chu Lingtian instantly subdued the plump, bald strongman and his cronies before heading to Yang Ye’s office. She certainly wouldn’t be stupid enough to follow and get beaten. Moreover, it was obvious Chu Lingtian was a ruthless character who looked ordinary but was extremely formidable. Therefore, contacting their boss, Ninth Master, as quickly as possible was the best strategy.
“You… who exactly are you?” Yang Ye, pale with terror, stared intently at Chu Lingtian and asked.
Chu Lingtian smiled calmly, “A security guard, a security guard from Baoxue Company!”
Yang Ye was taken aback. Of course, he didn't believe Chu Lingtian’s words, nor did he believe the smile on Chu Lingtian’s face. Having been in the underworld for decades, he knew that the more someone could smile when facing a situation, the less of a problem it was for them. Furthermore, while a cold-faced Buddha was terrifying, a smiling god was often more dangerous. In Yang Ye’s eyes, Chu Lingtian was a smiling god, incredibly powerful to the point of being monstrous, yet always wearing a smile.
“Brother Chu, you and I have no enmity. I believe you don’t want to offend our Sanhe Gang. Since you’re just a security guard at Baoxue Company, there’s really no need to get involved in this mess. How about this? I’ll give you fifty thousand privately, and you’ll never interfere with this debt again. What do you say?” Yang Ye, a seasoned veteran, quickly adjusted his mindset and began to try both threats and temptations on Chu Lingtian. However, Yang Ye underestimated Chu Lingtian, seeing him as an unsophisticated person who would obey for a small profit.
Chu Lingtian played with a pen on the desk, shook his head, and said, “That won’t do. I have principles. As long as I am an employee of Baoxue Company for one day, I have the responsibility and obligation to protect Baoxue Company’s interests.”
“Heh, Brother Chu, Baoxue Company doesn’t have much of a future. How about this? If you agree to my proposal, I’ll not only give you fifty thousand privately, but I’ll also guarantee you become the deputy general manager of our Sanhe Company. That’s a hundred times better than being a mere doorman at Baoxue Company!” Yang Ye smiled and continued to entice Chu Lingtian.
Chu Lingtian also smiled and replied, “Still no. I’m here to collect the debt today. Everyone in Baoxue Company knows this. If I don’t get it back, I’ll lose too much face. I always value my face more than my life.”
Yang Ye finally realized that Chu Lingtian was determined to get the money back. Since persuasion failed, it was time for coercion.
“Brother Chu, I know you’re a capable fighter, but no matter how capable you are, can you fight a hundred, a thousand people alone? Our Sanhe Company is backed by the Sanhe Gang, with over ten thousand members. I’m sure you’ve also heard of Ninth Master’s reputation. If you’re really set on making an enemy of the Sanhe Gang this time, you won’t have a good life in Dachang City. Is it really worth it to do this?” Yang Ye seemed to be advising Chu Lingtian, but he was actually threatening him.
Chu Lingtian replied impatiently, “Whether it’s worth it or not, I must get this debt today. Stop wasting your time and breath, just give me the money.”
“Fine, since Brother Chu is so determined, I have nothing more to say. I’ll get you the money.” As Yang Ye spoke, he turned his back to Chu Lingtian and opened a drawer on the desk.
*Whoosh!*
*Swish!*
Suddenly, Yang Ye spun around, a sharp short knife in his right hand, lunging towards Chu Lingtian’s neck.
*Pfft!*
Blood splattered. Yang Ye’s right hand, holding the knife, stopped in mid-air. The tip of the knife was less than five centimeters from Chu Lingtian’s neck, but it could not advance any further, because his right wrist had been pierced by Chu Lingtian with the pen.
“Ah…” Yang Ye looked at his right wrist, which had been brutally pierced by the pen. He screamed in agony and trembled all over.
Chu Lingtian slowly rotated his hand holding the pen. The sound of the pen body grinding against flesh and bone intensified Yang Ye’s pain tenfold.
“Brother Chu, spare me, spare my life… I know I was wrong, I’ll never dare again, please forgive me.” Yang Ye couldn’t endure the intense pain of his bones and tendons being crushed. The knife fell to the ground, and he immediately knelt before Chu Lingtian, begging for mercy.
Chu Lingtian sat in his chair, crossing his legs. His right hand still held the pen, controlling Yang Ye, and he looked down, laughing, “Manager Yang, you just said you were going to get me the money, but then you tried to stab me. That’s not very honest, is it?”
“I… I was possessed by a demon, I was foolish. Brother Chu, you are magnanimous, please forgive my transgression this time.” Yang Ye looked at Chu Lingtian’s smile with increasing fear and unease. It was like a smiling death god; the more he smiled, the faster and more accurate his attacks were.
“Alright, I’m very reasonable and easy to talk to. Since Manager Yang is begging me, I’ll give you another chance. Give me the money, and I’ll go back to Baoxue Company to report. You can’t trick me again this time,” Chu Lingtian said playfully.
“I dare not, I dare not, I will never dare again!” Yang Ye replied hastily.
Just then, Chu Lingtian’s phone rang. He took out his phone with his left hand and saw that it was Liu Bingxue calling.