Chapter 42: What Have You Understood?
“Oh?”
Wang Bao’s brow twitched violently.
He thought he’d misheard, but when he saw Ling Qiu’s calm, collected face, his eyes narrowed to slits, a fierce glint flashing within them.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Staring at Ling Qiu for a long moment, Wang Bao slowly stood up and stubbed out his cigar with force. “Since you’re all so stubbornly ignorant of danger, there’s no need to send a representative. Tonight, none of you—none at all—should expect to walk out of here on your own two feet!”
A chorus of despairing screams broke out among the students.
Ling Qiu, you bastard!
…
Sky Garden Club.
Outside the entrance.
In a parked car, a man made a call.
“Miss, I think… something’s happened!”
“What is it?”
“That Ling Qiu has come to the Sky Garden Club and seems to have run into trouble. Wang Bao has already locked the place down, almost all the guests have been sent out, but up to now… Ling Qiu still hasn’t come out!”
“What?!”
On the other end of the line, Qin Siyao was stunned.
Could it be that Ling Qiu went to the Sky Garden seeking trouble?
“Miss, what should I do now?”
“…Grandfather said Ling Qiu is a benefactor to our Qin family. He must not come to harm!”
“I’ll take people inside right now and make sure nothing happens to him!”
“Don’t act rashly. We don’t know the exact situation yet. Besides, although the Sky Garden Club looks like just another club in Jiang’an City, not just anyone can barge in there.”
“Then what should we do?”
Qin Siyao fell silent for a moment. “Looks like I have no choice but to call that woman.”
She took a deep breath and found a number in her phone.
She shook her head with a bitter smile.
Who would have thought, in the end, that woman’s prediction would come true.
Someday… someday, Qin Siyao would have to rely on her.
She dialed the number. The other party didn’t speak for a long time. After a long silence, Qin Siyao finally opened her mouth. “It’s me. Qin Siyao.”
A lazy, seductive laugh came from the other end. “Yaoyao, I thought… you’d never call me again.”
Qin Siyao hesitated, then said, “I have a favor to ask.”
“Oh? Asking me for help? That’s not the Qin Siyao I know.”
She got straight to the point. “Right now, there’s someone Grandfather values highly inside your Sky Garden Club. The club’s been locked down and he’s still inside. I suspect he’s gotten into trouble. If possible, I’d like you to let him out.”
Before she could finish, the woman chuckled softly. “What’s his name?”
“Ling Qiu.”
“Ling Qiu?” The voice on the other end clearly paused for a moment.
“…Is that a problem?”
“Not a problem. Actually, I find it rather interesting. I’ve also been investigating someone by that name lately… Tell me, is it the Ling Qiu from the Ling family?”
“…Yes. Why are you investigating him?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. But since he’s someone old Master Qin values, whatever trouble he’s gotten himself into tonight, I’ll make sure he comes to no harm.”
“…Thank you.”
“No need to thank me.” The voice rang with sly amusement. “Just remember, in the end, you still needed my help.”
“I’m hanging up!”
Beep, beep, beep.
The call disconnected.
Qin Siyao took a deep breath, feeling stifled.
To help Ling Qiu, she’d really had to reach out to that woman.
But grandfather’s instructions could not be disobeyed!
…
At that moment.
Sky Garden Club.
The doors remained tightly closed.
Inside the hall.
Nearly all the students and teachers were still trembling in fear, their hearts seething with resentment toward Ling Qiu.
After kneeling and begging for mercy for so long, Ling Qiu’s single harsh sentence had thrown them back into utter despair!
“Ling Qiu!! Are you… are you out of your mind?!” Zhang Junfeng was in complete panic, blubbering through tears and snot, “Big brother… it really was all Ling Qiu’s doing!! We’re just students, we’d never dare touch any of your people…”
“Scram!!”
Wang Bao’s face was terrifyingly fierce. He lifted his foot and kicked Zhang Junfeng two meters away!
Blood splattered as Zhang Junfeng’s nose broke open.
Seeing the blood, the students huddled together in terror.
Wang Bao, unwilling to waste more words on these fools, waved his hand. “Do it!”
At his command, the burly men behind him drew their rubber batons, their faces cruel as they surged forward.
Realizing they were truly doomed, all the students and teachers except for Ling Qiu and Song Ningsnow howled for mercy. “Spare us! Spare us!—”
But begging was useless.
The thugs began beating the nearest few with their batons.
However—
After only two or three blows, the elevator suddenly chimed—ding!
“Stop!”
A sudden shout halted everyone.
The elevator doors slid open. Out stepped a middle-aged man in a traditional tunic suit.
The crowd turned, startled.
“Brother Zhou?!”
Brother Zhou was one of Gardenia’s top men, a figure as mysterious as she was, a formidable fighter who had followed her since the early days in the night market district.
Wang Bao, upon seeing Brother Zhou, instantly lost all his bravado and hurriedly waved his hand. “Stop, all of you!”
The burly men froze mid-swing.
Wang Bao, all arrogance vanished, rushed up in three hasty steps. “Brother Zhou? Why have you come down? Did our commotion disturb you?”
Brother Zhou wasted no words. He scanned the hall, then asked, “Who is Ling Qiu?”
Ling Qiu???
On hearing Brother Zhou call the name, all the students froze and instinctively looked toward Ling Qiu.
Brother Zhou followed their gazes.
“You’re Ling Qiu?”
He strode directly to Ling Qiu.
Ling Qiu, who had been preparing to stretch his limbs, was momentarily thrown by the unexpected turn.
He glanced coolly at Brother Zhou, noting his gait, the look in his eyes, the hidden force in every step—clearly, a true martial artist.
For ordinary people, Brother Zhou would be a terrifying opponent.
Truthfully, since his return from death, this was the first real fighter Ling Qiu had encountered. It made his hands itch.
Interesting.
Brother Zhou stopped in front of him. “Ling Qiu?”
“Either fight me, or get lost. I have no interest in pointless chatter,” Ling Qiu replied indifferently.
Everyone: ???!!!
My God!
This guy… is he completely insane?!
Does he even know who he’s talking to right now?!
Wang Bao and the others stared at Ling Qiu, their faces twisted in shock and pity.
Well, that’s it for this kid…
Not even the gods could save him now!
Brother Zhou… is the real deal!
For so long now, Gardenia has dominated the night market’s underworld. And a big reason for that is—
She has Brother Zhou at her side!
Wang Bao had once seen with his own eyes Brother Zhou shatter a heavy marble slab with his bare hands. If he wished, a single finger could kill any of the muscle-bound thugs present!
If Brother Zhou really made a move…
Ling Qiu would be smashed to pulp with a single punch!