As everyone drank and chatted about past events in the East Sea, dusk gradually fell.
Just as Ming Yue poured more wine for everyone, Long Xiao heard faint, scattered footsteps outside.
There were about a dozen people, walking stealthily, clearly not wanting the people in the courtyard to know of their presence.
Just as Long Xiao was about to get up and check who it was and what they were up to, his phone rang.
He pulled out his phone, saw it was Ye Xiao's number, and quickly pressed the answer button.
"A total of sixteen people, masked in black. Boss, should I eliminate them all?" Ye Xi's low voice came from the phone.
"No, I can handle it myself."
After a brief call, Long Xiao put away his phone and said, "Tian Shui, some people have arrived outside. I want to know who they are and where they are staying."
Luo Tian Shui nodded, picked up his wine cup, took a sip, put it down, and turned back to the rear courtyard.
Long Xiao's gaze fell on Bao Tie and Zhang Eryong. "Open the door and welcome our guests," he said.
Bao Tie asked, "Brother Long, should I call for backup?"
Long Xiao shook his head. "No need, there are only sixteen of them."
After Long Xiao's arrangement, Bao Tie and Zhang Eryong stood up to open the door, while Long Xiao and the others continued drinking.
Chen Meijia glanced at Long Xiao. Seeing that he hadn't assigned her any tasks, she felt a little disappointed, thinking that Long Xiao still didn't consider her one of them.
Xue Meiqin stood up and said imposingly, "Boss, don't worry. With me, Xue Meiqin here, no one will dare to harm Xing Lin Cao Tang."
As soon as Xue Meiqin finished speaking, a light illuminated the area outside the door. A dozen torches were thrown in from outside.
Xing Lin Cao Tang was a century-old building with a lot of wooden structures. The torches landed on the roof and immediately ignited the wooden parts.
As the fire just started, Bao Tie and Zhang Eryong, who had opened the door, were sent flying back, spitting blood as they collapsed on the ground.
Long Xiao was not flustered. He slowly stood up and said, "Eldest Brother, Ming Yue, Meijia, Meiqin, put out the fire."
Lu Tian Xing and Lu Tian Zhi also quickly got up to help, as did Xin Si Hai.
Before Long Xiao could reach the doorway, sixteen masked men in black rushed in.
Long Xiao didn't use his 'Xing Long Shou,' nor his 'Bao Long Quan,' nor his 'Chi Mei Xiao Yao Bu.'
He suddenly attacked, using only ordinary Chen family boxing techniques.
Bang bang bang. The leading few black-clothed men were sent flying. The ones behind them drew short knives from their waists and charged at Long Xiao.
Another series of cracking sounds echoed as the arms and legs of seven or eight masked men were broken.
The four leading black-clothed men were highly skilled. They surrounded Long Xiao, while the others retreated. Four short knives whistled as they chopped down.
"Xin Yifei, you unfilial son! How dare you cause trouble at Xing Lin Cao Tang!" Xin Si Hai suddenly roared, charging towards the four black-clothed men fighting Long Xiao.
One of the black-clothed men faltered. It seemed this person was Xin Si Hai's son, Xin Yifei.
Long Xiao suddenly increased his speed,η»θΏ Xin Yifei, and attacked the other three black-clothed men.
This time, Long Xiao not only increased his speed but also used the 'You Long Zhang' palm technique from the 'Long Cang.'
The three black-clothed men felt as if countless palms suddenly appeared before them, making it impossible to dodge.
With a crack, one black-clothed man's neck was twisted. Another was struck in the chest by Long Xiao and fell unmoving by a tree in the courtyard.
Xin Yifei roared and lunged at Long Xiao from behind.
He and his three junior brothers had enjoyed smooth sailing since returning to the East Sea, only to have two of them taken down tonight. He couldn't accept it.
"Xin Yifei, stop! Doctor Long is the only one who can save my life."
The moment Xin Si Hai shouted, Xin Yifei's short knife, aimed at Long Xiao, slowed down. Long Xiao kicked him in the chest.
This time, Long Xiao used only a tenth of his strength, merely sending Xin Yifei flying, without inflicting severe injury.
Long Xiao wasn't being merciful. He wanted to use Xin Yifei as a breakthrough to find out who was targeting Xing Lin Cao Tang.
Seeing Xin Yifei also kicked away by Long Xiao, the other surviving black-clothed man quickly retreated out of Xing Lin Cao Tang.
Someone fled, and the remaining black-clothed men, dragging two bodies, followed suit.
Long Xiao didn't stop them from escaping. He looked at Xin Yifei and said, "You should leave too. I don't keep you here."
Xin Yifei got up, looked at Long Xiao with surprise, then back at Xin Si Hai, and quickly ran out of Xing Lin Cao Tang.
Chen Meijia, while fighting the fire, kept looking back at Long Xiao and the others fighting.
When she noticed Long Xiao using the Zheng family's boxing, she began to watch closely.
Soon, she realized that although Long Xiao's Zheng family boxing moves were exactly the same as what she had been taught, this set of techniques was even more formidable in Long Xiao's hands than in Zheng Dongyang's.
Chen Meijia was completely convinced. She now firmly believed that Long Xiao had no rivals in the East Sea.
Xing Lin Cao Tang was equipped with adequate fire-fighting facilities, and the fire was extinguished before it could spread.
Everyone sat down to drink again, but the mood was gone, especially for Xin Si Hai, who was very upset.
Long Xiao was treating his illness, and unexpectedly, his own son had come to set fire to Long Xiao's Xing Lin Cao Tang.
After just a few sips, they hastily ended the gathering.
Long Xiao escorted the Lu brothers to the door. Lu Tian Xing asked, "Long Xiao, do you need me to send people to investigate this matter?"
Long Xiao shook his head. "No need, Director Lu. This matter will have a result soon."
Outside the door, Lu Tian Zhi said, "Long Xiao, those islanders have been restless lately. This incident is likely related to them. If they sent people, what are you going to do?"
Long Xiao scratched his head. "If it was them, it's really difficult to handle. After all, they are foreign friends..."
Before Long Xiao could finish speaking, Lu Tian Zhi interjected, "Stop. Long Xiao, I know your personality. In your eyes, all people are the same. You won't just tolerate them because they are islanders."
Long Xiao's thoughts were exposed by Lu Tian Zhi, and he said sheepishly, "Director Lu is right. I, Long Xiao, am used to an eye for an eye. But don't worry, not too many people will die."
"I don't care how many people die. I care about how you deal with them. The islanders are troublesome. They want to infiltrate the East Sea, and you are blocking their path. It's dangerous."
Long Xiao looked at Lu Tian Xing and then at Lu Tian Zhi. It seemed Lu Tian Xing had convened a meeting of the powers in the East Sea, but Lu Tian Zhi was unaware of it.
"Director Lu, I'm just an ordinary citizen. I don't care about national affairs. It's just that they provoked me, so they're unlucky."
Some matters Lu Tian Xing hadn't had time to tell Lu Tian Zhi. Fearing Long Xiao might let something slip, he quickly said, "Tian Zhi, let's go back. Long Xiao has other things to attend to."
After seeing them off in their car, Long Xiao returned to Xing Lin Cao Tang, and Luo Tian Shui emerged from the back courtyard.
Long Xiao knew there was an outcome. While others were busy cleaning up, Long Xiao led Luo Tian Shui to the tea table under the tree.
After they sat down, Long Xiao asked, "Did you find out where those people are staying?"
Luo Tian Shui nodded. "Yes, I did. They are in a manor in Jiangbei, and that manor is owned by the Ji family."
"The Ji family again. It seems it's time to teach the Ji family a good lesson."
"Brother Long, while I was tracking those people, I always felt like someone was following me. But no matter how hard I searched, I couldn't find anyone."
The person following Luo Tian Shui didn't make a move, making it impossible to determine if they were friend or foe. Long Xiao decided to wait and see.
"Anyone who can track you must be a master. Since we don't know if they are friend or foe, don't look for them. Just pay attention to your own safety."
Luo Tian Shui nodded. "I understand, Brother Long."