Chapter 16: Utterly Terrifying!

Zhang Kangcheng was immediately flustered, realizing his tone had been too harsh just now. He hurriedly said, “Master Shan, I meant nothing else by it, please don’t misunderstand. We agreed beforehand, didn’t we? You’re here today to help me!”

“Throw him out with me,” Zuo Hongshan said, gesturing to the black-suited bodyguards nearby.

“No!” Zhang Kangcheng sprang up, shouting madly, “Zuo Hongshan, you took my land but don’t keep your word! Who is this kid to you? I must avenge my son!” As he spoke, he tried to lunge at Chen Yuyi.

But he was no match for the bodyguards, who pinned him down at once as he struggled and howled desperately.

Zuo Hongshan stepped forward and slapped him across the face. “So what if I took your land? You gave it to me yourself. I’m warning you—if you come here causing trouble again, I’ll make you vanish from River City!”

Zhang Kangcheng was stunned, truly frightened now.

Soon after, his limp body was dragged out by the bodyguards.

The bar fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Zuo Hongshan walked over to Chen Yuyi. “Satisfied now?”

Chen Yuyi nodded gently. “I owe you a favor for this.”

Zuo Hongshan waved his hand. “You don’t owe me, nor do I owe you. I just hope you’ll come to my house for dinner sometime when you’re free.”

With that, he gestured, and his black-clad men began to disperse from the bar.

He then turned to Wang Xinyan. “Miss Wang, forgive me for today’s offense. I guarantee nothing like this will ever happen again.”

Though Wang Xinyan was shocked, she quickly recovered, smiling politely. “You’re too kind, Mr. Zuo.”

Zuo Hongshan said nothing more and left the bar.

Peace returned immediately.

Wang Xinyan lit another cigarette, her alluring eyes narrowing at Chen Yuyi. “Well, well, little brother, you’re more capable than I thought. Even someone like Zuo Hongshan treats you with special regard. Just how many secrets are you hiding from me?”

Chen Yuyi chuckled awkwardly. “Sister Yan, please don’t tease me. Actually—”

“You’re the expert my cousin talked about!” Before Chen Yuyi could finish, Lin Jie’er cut in, hands on her hips, frustration clear since she hadn’t gotten involved earlier. “Perfect, let’s have a match—I want to see how good you really are!”

“And this is?” Chen Yuyi asked.

“She’s my cousin,” Wang Xinyan whispered to him. “And she’s my gift to you!”

“Come, get to know each other,” she said with a laugh to them both.

Chen Yuyi nearly broke into a sweat—Sister Yan’s “gift” was certainly unexpected.

“Lin Jie’er!” Lin Jie’er graciously extended her slender hand toward Chen Yuyi.

“Chen Yuyi.” Facing Lin Jie’er’s perfect figure, Chen Yuyi couldn’t help but glance twice as he shook her hand.

The moment their seemingly soft hands clasped, he felt a surge of strength. He smiled inwardly, not resisting at all, and the next moment, she threw him over her shoulder. Though it looked clumsy, he landed solidly on his feet.

“Tch!” Lin Jie’er snorted disdainfully. “This is an expert? Cousin, you should’ve let me fight that bald guy earlier. He’s strong, but just more experienced. That’s all I lack—experience.”

Wang Xinyan smiled without a word, seeing clearly that Chen Yuyi had let her win. She patted Lin Jie’er’s shoulder. “Experience is important, but if you get hurt, I can’t explain it to your brother. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of chances to gain experience.”

Lin Jie’er shrugged. “If I’m injured in a match, it’s my own fault for not learning well enough. My brother wouldn’t say anything. As his sister, I should look up to him!”

Chen Yuyi shook his head to himself. It was obvious Lin Jie’er was a martial arts fanatic, and Sister Yan’s intention was clear—she wanted to introduce her as a potential girlfriend. Never mind that he was already married; even if he wasn’t, this kind of setup would be tiresome. So, he simply made himself seem weaker in front of her, hoping she’d lose interest.

“All right, it’s your first day in River City. Let’s find a good spot and try the local food, then let Xiaoyu show you around,” Wang Xinyan said, winking at Chen Yuyi.

Feigning oblivion, Chen Yuyi replied, “Actually, Sister Yan, I’ve already eaten. You go ahead—I have another shift to work.”

Wang Xinyan glared at him. “You’re refusing my invitation? Is your job really that much more attractive?”

Chen Yuyi was speechless—this big sister of his was something else.

“Hmph!” Lin Jie’er pouted and snorted, “Even if you wanted to accompany me, I wouldn’t be interested. With your mediocre skills, you’re not even fit to carry my shoes.”

Chen Yuyi could only laugh helplessly.

…

Inside a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Zuo Hongshan sat in the back, lost in thought, smoking, while Jiang Kun sat silently in the front passenger seat.

Driver Xiao Zhang hadn’t received orders to drive, but his hands rested on the wheel.

“Mr. Ge, what’s your opinion of that young man?” Zuo Hongshan suddenly asked the middle-aged man with a goatee beside him.

The man was emaciated but his eyes always sparkled with intelligence, dressed in a long robe reminiscent of an old-time accountant.

This was Mr. Ge, Zuo Hongshan’s chief strategist and steward. Much of Zuo’s success was thanks to him. Though he kept a low profile and was rarely seen, his name was well known throughout the underworld.

“Perhaps let Akun speak first,” Mr. Ge replied, his fingers moving over a string of prayer beads—he was a devout Buddhist.

Jiang Kun paused for a long time before finally uttering, “Terrifying.”

Zuo Hongshan’s brow twitched slightly. For Jiang Kun to use that word, he knew it meant Chen Yuyi’s skills were extraordinary, likely at the level of a martial arts grandmaster.

For someone in his position, this was both the type of person to fear and the one he most wished to recruit.

If he could win this man’s support, those powerful families he couldn’t currently match might one day become rivals, and his influence would no longer be confined to the Jiang region. He took a deep drag of his cigarette at the thought.

But in the end, he turned to Mr. Ge, because only his judgment mattered most.

Mr. Ge closed his eyes in contemplation before speaking, “My opinion is that you should add two more words before ‘terrifying’: extremely terrifying.”

Zuo Hongshan’s body jolted, ash spilling onto his clothes.

“Why such a high evaluation, Mr. Ge?”

Mr. Ge sighed softly. “As a boy, I learned a divination technique from a master. My skill is limited, but I can usually estimate a person’s fate. It’s how I met you, Master Shan—I divined your fortune and chose to follow you.”

Zuo Hongshan nodded. He was aware of this, and also that the technique was taxing on one’s spirit and even lifespan, so Mr. Ge rarely used it.

“But today, when I tried to divine this young man, I saw only a complete fog—something I’ve never encountered. My teacher once said, the greater one’s achievements, the harder it is to divine their fate. But with this young man, it’s not just difficult—I couldn’t see anything at all. That’s why I say ‘extremely terrifying’ is no exaggeration.”

“Is there any explanation for this?” Zuo Hongshan asked, still holding a spent cigarette.

Mr. Ge shook his head. “I’d need to consult my master about that. But it’s enough to prove how extraordinary he is. So, you made the right choice today—no need to lose the big for the small.”

Zuo Hongshan exhaled and finally discarded his cigarette. “My thought was simple—he’s the man my daughter fancies. For that alone, I must do everything possible to bring him to my side. Offending a minor real estate developer means nothing.”

“But Master Shan, allow me to advise you: this man can only be relied upon, never controlled. I believe he’s someone no one can control,” Mr. Ge said gravely.

Zuo Hongshan was silent for a moment. “I feel the same, which is why I treat him as I do.”

Then a sly glint appeared in his eyes. “But if he becomes my son-in-law, then our family’s affairs become his—and it’s not about reliance or control, but a responsibility.”

“In theory, that’s a good idea. But the key is…” Mr. Ge shook his head gently.

“What? You think my Qianhui isn’t good enough for him?”

“That’s not it. In fact, Qianhui’s taste is excellent, just like yours. But I fear it’s a case of unrequited affection,” Mr. Ge sighed.

“I know that, so I’m not in a hurry. Once they spend enough time together, I refuse to believe he won’t be moved. After all my daughter did for him at the Golden Hotel yesterday, he must know his importance to her.”

“Aren’t you afraid he has other women?” Mr. Ge asked.

“No matter. Even if he has a few women, as long as my Qianhui holds a place in his heart, it’s enough.”

Mr. Ge mused for a moment. “It seems you’re set on this man. Very well, when I get the chance, I’ll consult my master and see what fate truly holds for him.”

Zuo Hongshan nodded, then turned to Jiang Kun. “Keep an eye on him in the future—report to me at once, but remember, no surveillance, just observation.”

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Zhang started the car.

Chen Yuyi felt helpless. Normally, having dinner with two beautiful women would be a delight, but with one acting as a matchmaker and the other constantly mocking him, he was in a truly awkward spot.

Though he was quietly suffering, others only saw him enjoying the company of two beauties, drawing envious, jealous, and even hateful looks from many young men.

The restaurant was a unique floating eatery converted from an old ship, grand and impressive, rivaling any star-rated restaurant. The main attraction was its specialty dishes, unavailable elsewhere.

Their window seat on the top floor offered a fine view, and as Chen Yuyi gradually tuned out the women’s chatter, he began to enjoy the food and the scenery, feeling quite content.

“Sir, the window seats upstairs are already taken. May I offer you another table instead?”

“If they’re occupied, just make those people leave!” At that moment, three people came upstairs. The one with sharp features in a suit spoke arrogantly.