Cats catch mice not always to eat them, especially in the countryside.
After catching a mouse, they merely savor the process of toying with it, each time offering an opportunity for escape, making the mouse believe it can get away, only for repeated hope to lead to repeated disappointment.
Eventually, the mouse realizes that no matter how it tries to flee, it cannot escape the cat's control.
In the end, the mouse perishes in despair.
Lu Ming intended to give Xu Shengbiao the experience of a mouse, to let him know what it means to be unable to escape the palm of the Buddha!
An hour later.
Xu Shengbiao lay on a hospital bed, his hand bandaged.
The bruises left by Lu Ming's beating were gradually healing under the doctor's care.
He leaned against the bedside and said to the subordinate guarding him, "Have you found out who the bastard who beat me is?"
The subordinate nodded, "We've found out. It's Lu Ming."
Lu Ming?
Xu Shengbiao snorted, "So it was him! The Su family has been in turmoil lately, and it's this little bastard who caused it. He also offended Fan Xiaoyun before and was smashed with ten wine bottles. This time he beat me, probably for revenge on the Fan family."
The subordinate asked, "Then how should we retaliate?"
Xu Shengbiao said, "Lu Ming wants to help those fishermen, doesn't he? If he wants to save them, I'll disgust him thoroughly! I won't let a single one of those fishermen go!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the ward door was pushed open, and a very familiar figure walked in.
Xu Shengbiao looked up and his face instantly turned pale with fright.
It was none other than Lu Ming!
What was going on?
Why was Lu Ming in the hospital? And in the same ward as Xu Shengbiao!
"Lu... Lu Ming, why... why are you here?" Xu Shengbiao was truly intimidated by Lu Ming, unable to even speak clearly.
Lu Ming walked towards him with a smile. The subordinates beside him were already scared and leaning against the wall, keeping their distance from Lu Ming, fearing that if they were not careful, Lu Ming would beat them until they were incapacitated.
Lu Ming brought a stool over, sat by the bedside, then casually picked up an apple and a fruit knife from the fruit basket on the table. As he peeled the apple, he said, "I'm sorry for injuring you. I came specially to see you."
Who would believe that?
Xu Shengbiao swallowed his saliva, "Th-thank you, but my injuries aren't serious. I'm fine, you don't need to come specifically to see me."
Lu Ming nodded, then said, "Since you're fine, then let's settle the score between us."
The score?
What score?
Xu Shengbiao was completely stunned and asked, "No, what score do we have?"
Lu Ming said, "Hey, why are you playing dumb? Don't you remember, you still owe me thirty-nine million! I'm telling you, you won't be able to deny a single penny. If you don't pay me back, I'll chase after you."
Xu Shengbiao felt like dying.
What was this all about?
That thirty-nine million was arbitrarily imposed on Xu Shengbiao by Lu Ming! How could that be considered a score?
Xu Shengbiao said with a bitter face, "Mr. Lu, don't play this game with me. As they say, no one should be punished twice. I've already let those fishermen go, so our accounts should be settled."
Lu Ming's expression turned grim, "How can they be settled? And, have the fishermen's debts to the Fan family been settled?"
This...
Xu Shengbiao was speechless, "Mr. Lu, don't bully people, okay? At most, I can guarantee that I won't bother the fishermen anymore. But the money the fishermen owe the Fan family must still be paid if the Fan family doesn't agree. This has nothing to do with me. If you want to find someone, go to the Fan family. Don't take it out on me."
Heh, if not you, then who else? Who told you to be a lackey of the Fan family?
Lu Ming forcefully plunged the fruit knife into the bedside board and said unreasonably, "I don't care. In short, if the fishermen's debt isn't settled, our score will never be settled! Thirty-nine million, give it back to me!"
I've seen shameless people, but never one this shameless.
Where was he supposed to return the money from?
This was too much!
Xu Shengbiao had bullied countless people in his life, and finally, he experienced what it was like to be bullied.
The feeling was extremely unpleasant.
Xu Shengbiao decided to play tough, "I have no money, only my life! If you want it, take my life!"
Heh, trying this trick on the Dragon Warlord?
It won't work!
Lu Ming pulled out the fruit knife and said, "Don't worry, I won't take your life. If you die, who will I get the money from? But I won't let you live comfortably either! Xu Shengbiao, if you don't pay me back one day, I'll torment you for that day. Just like a mouse and a cat, you'll never escape."
Saying that, he directly plunged the fruit knife into Xu Shengbiao's thigh!
With a "thud," the knife pierced through Xu Shengbiao's leg. Blood flowed uncontrollably, scaring the subordinate beside him so much that his legs went weak, and he collapsed on the ground.
"Ah~~!!!" Xu Shengbiao let out a pig-like scream.
Lu Ming stood up, "You rest well. I'll come to see you again when I have time."
See?
See what!
Xu Shengbiao never wanted to see Lu Ming again in his life!
Afterward, the doctor arrived at the ward, quickly stopped Xu Shengbiao's bleeding, and treated him. After a long time, they managed to barely save Xu Shengbiao's leg.
After this incident, Xu Shengbiao dared not stay in the hospital any longer.
As soon as his injuries had recovered a little, he immediately had his subordinate pick him up and leave by car.
However, he didn't expect that the car had just driven a short distance when, with a "bang," a truck suddenly appeared from the side and directly overturned Xu Shengbiao's car!
A man got out of the truck and dragged Xu Shengbiao out of the overturned sedan.
Xu Shengbiao opened his eyes and saw, good heavens, it was Lu Ming again!
"You... what exactly do you want?" Xu Shengbiao asked the soul-piercing question.
Lu Ming chuckled and said, "Nothing much, just playing with you. Didn't you say you don't care about your life? Fine, either kill yourself, or I'll play with you every day."
After saying that, Lu Ming disappeared again.
In the following time, Xu Shengbiao was in unbearable pain. Every time he had just recovered a little and thought he could be safe for a while, he would be harmed by Lu Ming again.
The most terrifying thing was that Lu Ming always appeared without warning, and left after inflicting harm.
It felt like a ghost in a horror movie.
He came and went like a phantom, his only purpose being to harm Xu Shengbiao, and nothing else.
The unknown was the most terrifying.
Xu Shengbiao was now like a startled bird, trembling at the slightest disturbance. He never knew when, where, or how Lu Ming would appear.
Now he truly understood what it meant to be on edge!
What was even more unbearable was...
Every time Xu Shengbiao expected Lu Ming to appear, Lu Ming would not show up, but when Xu Shengbiao thought he was slightly safer, Lu Ming would inexplicably appear!
This drove Xu Shengbiao to the brink of madness.
He had his subordinates protect him, but every time Lu Ming appeared, he would deal with the subordinates first! As a result, no subordinate was willing to protect Xu Shengbiao anymore, all fearing being dealt with by Lu Ming.
Only then did Xu Shengbiao understand what it meant to be worse than death.
He had previously acted tough towards Lu Ming, even saying he had no money but only his life, showing no fear of death; but now, he finally understood Lu Ming's terrifying nature.
He wouldn't let you die, nor would he let you live!
Each time Lu Ming appeared, he didn't inflict severe harm on Xu Shengbiao, only minor injuries.
For example, slapping him a few times, breaking his finger, forcibly pulling out his hair, or burning the soles of his feet with a lighter...
None of these were fatal, but each one made Xu Shengbiao suffer greatly.
After a whole day, Xu Shengbiao was tormented to the point of being unrecognizable, unable to die when he wanted to, and unable to live properly.
Grief, pain, despair, helplessness!
At the final moment, Xu Shengbiao pinned his hopes on Fan Xiaoyun. He remembered that Fan Xiaoyun had smashed ten wine bottles at Lu Ming last time. If Fan Xiaoyun could protect Xu Shengbiao, then Lu Ming would have no way.
As a "dog" of the Fan family, Xu Shengbiao believed Fan Xiaoyun would be willing to protect him.
He acted on his thoughts.
Xu Shengbiao immediately took a taxi and, filled with trepidation, arrived at the Orange Red Building. He knelt at the entrance and cried, "Sister Yun, save me! Sister Yun, please save me!"
At this moment, Fan Xiaoyun was engrossed in pleasure with her boy toy Shen Ziyin. She had been calling for Shen Ziyin for the past few days because she felt Shen Ziyin's skills were getting better and better, making her very comfortable.
While she was enjoying herself.
The door to the room was knocked. A subordinate shouted from outside, "Sister Yun, Xu Shengbiao is at the door begging for help. He wants you to save him."
At this moment, Fan Xiaoyun could not hear anything.
She embraced Shen Ziyin and shouted wildly, "Ziyin, you're so amazing."
Shouting unrestrainedly.
Passionate and free-spirited.
An hour later...
Fan Xiaoyun lay tiredly on the large bed, gasping for breath, and said to the person outside the door, "Did someone just look for me?"
The subordinate at the door replied, "Yes! Xu Shengbiao came. He's still kneeling at the entrance of the Orange Red Building, asking you to save him."
Oh?
Fan Xiaoyun got up, wiped away her sweat, and asked doubtfully, "Xu Shengbiao's nickname is Azure Eyed Flying Dragon. He usually acts arrogant and beats up anyone he sees. Does a person like him need to beg for help?"
The subordinate at the door replied, "This subordinate doesn't know. However, Xu Shengbiao has always worked for the Fan family, collecting debts. He must have offended many people. I saw that he was tormented to the point of being unrecognizable. The person bullying him must be very powerful. Otherwise, Xu Shengbiao wouldn't have come to you, Sister Yun, for help."
Fan Xiaoyun nodded and said, "Although I don't have much connection with Xu Shengbiao, he still works for the Fan family, and my Purple Copper Fish has always been handled by him for collection. I should help him with this favor. Go and call him in, and take him to the orchard on the second floor."
"Your subordinate obeys."
Fan Xiaoyun got up and put on her clothes.
Shen Ziyin's eyes narrowed. He had an idea: Xu Shengbiao was responsible for collecting the Purple Copper Fish, and the Purple Copper Fish was related to the 'children.' If I could get more information, perhaps I could sell it to Lu Ming and get more antidotes.
So, he proactively hugged Fan Xiaoyun and said flirtatiously, "Sister Yun, can you take me to the orchard with you? I like you so much, I don't want to be apart for even a moment."
Fan Xiaoyun burst into laughter, "You little vixen, you're quite clingy. Alright, get dressed, and come with me to the orchard."