In a private room on the second floor, two pairs of eyes were fixed on Lu Ming.
"I didn't expect this brat to have such skills," commented Deputy General Qin Tong.
Murong Shuang scoffed, "Just brute strength, no brains. He's angered the Tian Long people. Do you think the Tian Long Group will let him off?"
Qin Tong nodded, "Indeed. Zhu Zilong, the chairman of the Tian Long Group, is vindictive. He once chopped off a man's hand for accidentally scratching his car. Tsk, tsk, this poor kid Lu Ming is likely in grave danger."
As they spoke, a door opened in a private room on the east side of the second floor.
A group of men wearing leather jackets embroidered with two golden dragons emerged. Walking among them was a slender man with bloodshot eyes.
He was Zhu Zilong, the chairman of the Tian Long Group, whose name struck fear into hearts!
In an instant, the air seemed to freeze. No one in the entire hotel dared to speak, not even daring to breathe loudly.
The fainthearted among them didn't even have the courage to look at Zhu Zilong, lowering their heads and trembling.
Everyone in Jinling knew that Zhu Zilong was ruthless and petty.
Lu Ming had offended him today, and it was unlikely he would leave the hotel alive.
*Da, da, da.*
Each of Zhu Zilong's footsteps sounded like the tolling of a death knell.
The group slowly approached Lu Ming's dining table. Yang Jitong and Chen Xinjuan trembled uncontrollably, unable to open their mouths to beg for mercy.
A Tian Long man lying on the ground cried out, "Chairman, it was this scoundrel who beat us! You must avenge us and uphold the honor of the Tian Long people!"
Zhu Zilong's eyes, as cold as ice, fixed on Lu Ming. "Do you know the consequences of hitting my people?"
Lu Ming didn't even glance at him. He calmly picked up his wine glass and took a sip, as if he hadn't heard a word.
The surrounding crowd stared in bewilderment, whispering amongst themselves.
"He dares to ignore Boss Zhu's words? Doesn't he think he's caused enough trouble already?"
"I think he's given up. He's going to die anyway."
"Alas, why did he have to do it? So many people advised him not to act, but he wouldn't listen. Now, he's attracted Boss Zhu's attention, and his life is forfeit."
Zhu Zilong reached into his pocket and pulled out a dagger, placing it gently on the table.
He said, "You have two choices. First, commit suicide to atone. I will spare everyone else. Second, I will exterminate you and your entire family!"
Everyone gasped.
He was a man of his word.
Yang Jitong nervously watched Lu Ming, unsure of how to advise him. The second option was out of the question, but he couldn't possibly suggest Lu Ming commit suicide.
"Alas!" Yang Jitong sighed, turning his face away, unable to bear watching.
At this moment, Chen Xinjuan suddenly said, "It all started because of me. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Boss Zhu, I will commit suicide to atone, and I beg you to spare the others!"
The crowd was moved.
As expected of the descendant of a martyr, she showed no fear in the face of death and bravely took responsibility.
Chen Xinjuan reached out to take the dagger, but Lu Ming grabbed her hand.
Lu Ming chuckled and said indifferently, "I choose neither of these paths. I choose a third path – the righteous path!"
Zhu Zilong frowned slightly. "What righteous path?"
Lu Ming pointed at Zhu Zilong. "It means I will deal with all of you here today and restore peace and stability to society."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zilong burst into laughter.
The others also found it amusing.
"What foolishness is he spouting? Boss Zhu has brought twenty to thirty men. Can he possibly defeat them?"
"Moreover, these twenty to thirty men are all skilled fighters – experts in karate, taekwondo, Muay Thai, boxing, and various other disciplines. They are not the same as those useless drunkards from before."
"Let alone all of them, he can't even defeat one."
Zhu Zilong said, "You refuse the toast and insist on a penalty. Since you won't do it yourself, I'll have to help you."
He took a few steps back and waved his hand. The subordinates behind him surrounded Lu Ming and his companions, their fists clenched, ready to strike.
At this moment, in the private room on the second floor.
Deputy General Qin Tong remarked, "Twenty to thirty experts. Even I couldn't handle them. Lu Ming is finished this time."
Murong Shuang picked up her wine glass and took a sip.
She looked at Lu Ming and said, "When I broke off our engagement, I promised to help him with three things. If he dies, will I have to break my word?"
Qin Tong immediately understood Murong Shuang's intentions. "Your subordinate understands. I will proceed at once."
"No need," Murong Shuang put down her wine glass. "This general will handle it herself."
The door to the private room opened.
The two of them walked out and stood at the top of the stairs, looking down.
Just as Zhu Zilong's thugs were about to attack, Murong Shuang shouted, "Stop!"
Oh?
Someone else dared to stand up for Lu Ming?
Everyone turned towards the staircase, wanting to see who had the audacity to openly stop Zhu Zilong, risking their lives.
Zhu Zilong was also taken aback.
He looked towards the staircase with annoyance. "What's going on today? One by one, people are stepping up to oppose me, Zhu Zilong. When did the prestige of my Tian Long Group decline so much?"
Zhu Zilong looked up fiercely.
The moment his eyes met Murong Shuang's, Zhu Zilong immediately wilted, all his arrogance vanishing.
He swallowed and said with a fawning smile, "General Murong, why are you here as well?"
Murong Shuang descended the stairs, saying, "Zhu Zilong, you have quite the authority, saying you'll kill anyone. Does no one in the entire Hua Xia command your respect?"
"I wouldn't dare!!!" Zhu Zilong said frantically, "I am just a humble villager. Where would I get such authority? I certainly wouldn't dare to be presumptuous in front of General Murong."
"Hmph," Murong Shuang let out a cold snort and continued, "This Lu Ming, I will protect him today."
"Ah?" Zhu Zilong was dumbfounded. He looked at Murong Shuang, then at Lu Ming, breaking out in a cold sweat.
He never expected Lu Ming to be connected to Murong Shuang!
If he had known this, even with ten thousand times the courage, he wouldn't have dared to lay a hand on Lu Ming.
Zhu Zilong said obsequiously, "Oh, so this Brother Lu is someone under General Murong. It's truly a misunderstanding, like the dragon king's temple flooded by the great river. I was confused and shouldn't have moved against Brother Lu. I was wrong."
Deputy General Qin Tong chimed in, "Don't speak nonsense. General Murong has no relation to this good-for-nothing! She is merely protecting him temporarily for some special reason."
"Ah?" Zhu Zilong was a bit dazed.
Murong Shuang slowly walked up to Lu Ming and said haughtily, "I promised to help you with three matters, and today I've handled the first one. Lu Ming, I advise you to use your brain more when speaking and acting in the future. Even an idiot should have some limits, right? Who do you think you are to dare to challenge the Tian Long Group? If it weren't for me today, you would have already been chopped into meat paste!"