The boss felt like crying without tears. Did he really want to kneel?
It wasn't that.
As a normal human being, he naturally wanted to stand tall and preserve the Su family's reputation. The problem was, he couldn't!
After all, it wasn't just anyone forcing him to kneel, but one of the Five Great Emperors, the Southern Emperor! And he held military power.
A single spit from him could kill the boss.
How could he fight back?
The boss said with great sadness, "Mr. Lu, it's not that I don't want to stand, it's just that..."
Lu Ming patted his shoulder, "Don't worry, with me here, you don't have to fear anyone."
He then gestured to the others, telling them to stand up as well.
Just then, the crowd involuntarily parted, and a large group of people approached. Each of them had a scarlet character '南' (Nan) embroidered on their chests!
This group was the subordinates of the Southern Emperor, Xie Zhong.
Leading them was Xie Zhong's adjutant – Yu Tao.
Yu Tao was originally on patrol duty here, tasked with spotting anyone clueless and foolish enough to help the Su family's fruit business.
He hadn't expected to encounter Lu Ming.
The moment Yu Tao and his men appeared, the boss's face turned ashen. He could no longer heed Lu Ming's words and immediately knelt down.
Kneeling meant survival!
This was the boss's sole thought. He no longer cared about dignity, as long as he could live.
Lu Ming looked at the boss, then at Yu Tao, and sighed.
He knew that if Yu Tao wasn't dealt with, the boss would never dare to stand. In fact, if the Southern Emperor Xie Zhong himself wasn't dealt with, the boss wouldn't dare to stand.
Fine!
He would give the boss the courage to stand.
Lu Ming looked at Yu Tao, flicked his hand, and said with a smile, "Quite the authority you wield. The moment you arrived, the boss lost the courage to even stand. The Five Great Emperors, living up to their name."
Yu Tao's face was grim. "I am merely the Southern Emperor's adjutant, responsible for patrolling here. The shop owner has been ordered to kneel by the Emperor, and no one is allowed to approach, let alone help him up. Don't you know this?"
Lu Ming smiled, "No."
Hmm?
Yu Tao frowned slightly.
It was rare for anyone to speak to him with such arrogance and without a hint of fear. It was clear this person possessed some skill and status.
At this moment, Jiang Mengxin quickly walked over and grabbed Lu Ming's arm.
Her intention was simple: before Yu Tao could recognize Lu Ming, she needed to quickly get Lu Ming away! If she was a moment too late and Yu Tao identified him, they wouldn't be able to leave!
Jiang Mengxin said obsequiously, "My husband is just a bit too righteous. Seeing the boss and the others kneeling, he felt compassion and didn't know they were being punished by the Southern Emperor. I apologize, we'll leave now and won't disturb you."
As she spoke, she pulled Lu Ming away.
Yu Tao had no intention of making things difficult for them. After all, in his eyes, these two were merely unrelated bystanders, no need to make enemies of them.
But!
A nosy individual nearby chimed in, "Deputy Officer Yu, these two are not insignificant people. They are Lu Ming and Jiang Mengxin, the two great helpers hired by the Su family!"
What?
Yu Tao's expression instantly changed.
Jiang Mengxin was one thing, Yu Tao didn't pay her much mind. The most important person was Lu Ming!
Yu Tao had received word earlier that Lu Ming had personally eliminated Fan Xiang and Fan Xiaoyun. Wasn't the gathering of the Five Great Emperors in Wudu this time precisely to avenge them?
He never imagined that the real culprit would walk right into his trap. If he could capture Lu Ming on the spot, wouldn't that be avenging them?
And then, Yu Tao might receive a great reward!
At the thought, Yu Tao's eyes gleamed.
"Surround them!"
Immediately, his subordinates drew their pistols and encircled Lu Ming and Jiang Mengxin, leaving them no chance to escape.
No matter how skilled Lu Ming was in martial arts, he couldn't possibly be a match for guns, could he?
With over a dozen guns aimed at them, how could he escape?
Yu Tao stared eagerly at Lu Ming, as if looking at a top-grade achievement, excitedly wanting to burst into song.
He said with a chuckle, "Well, so you're Lu Ming. You almost slipped through my fingers. The Five Great Emperors have come to Wudu precisely for you. I never expected, never expected that this top-grade achievement would fall into my lap. Wonderful, truly wonderful."
Initially, Yu Tao was quite displeased about being assigned patrol duty.
But now, Yu Tao was ecstatic.
Who said fortune doesn't rain from the sky? Didn't it just fall?
Now, Yu Tao had two things to do: First, immediately inform the Southern Emperor Xie Zhong. Yu Tao would never dare to keep such good news to himself. Second, capture Lu Ming, so that the first credit would be his.
No sooner said than done.
Yu Tao immediately ordered his men to relay the message to Xie Zhong.
Following that, he waved his hand, "Immediately handcuff these two scoundrels! When Emperor Xie arrives, I will present him with a great gift."
The great gift, of course, was Lu Ming.
Under normal circumstances, anyone in this situation would have been terrified out of their wits.
But Lu Ming wasn't.
Not only was he unafraid, but he also said arrogantly, "A great gift? Heh heh, I doubt it. I fear when Xie Zhong arrives, he won't receive a great gift, but a terrible disaster."
Yu Tao was amused. "Kid, I admit you've got guts. Still putting on a brave face when facing death. It's no wonder, you wouldn't have done those things without a lot of nerve."
Beside him, Jiang Mengxin was incredibly worried.
She had promised Su Wanran to proceed cautiously, to avoid a direct confrontation with the Southern Emperor upon arriving here, and instead to take a roundabout approach and wear them down.
But look at what happened. Lu Ming had thrown all their plans out the window.
He was just a brainless pig!
Jiang Mengxin glared at Lu Ming and scolded, "You've been following me for so long, how can you still be a dog that can't change its habits? You only know how to charge headfirst and never use your brain to think! How can just the two of us fight against more than a dozen guns? Are you an idiot? Trying to get yourself killed?!"
It wasn't unreasonable for Jiang Mengxin to be angry. Faced with such a situation, any normal person would find it hard to remain calm.
Yu Tao chuckled, "Don't worry, I won't take your lives. How you are executed is for Elder Master Fan to decide. You two, just let me handcuff you, and you'll suffer fewer external injuries."
In Yu Tao's opinion, the two of them would absolutely not dare to resist.
After all, with more than ten guns pointed at them, anyone with a sound mind would know not to resist.
Jiang Mengxin passively submitted, having no intention of struggling.
However!
Lu Ming let out a cold laugh, showing his disdain.
Just as Yu Tao's subordinate stepped forward to handcuff Lu Ming, something unexpected happened.
Lu Ming suddenly grabbed the subordinate's neck and slammed him violently onto the ground.
BANG!!!
With a loud crash.
The subordinate's head made a violent impact with the ground. His skull cracked instantly, and blood splattered everywhere.
Lu Ming, issuing a direct challenge!