Volume Two: The Anbei Consortium Chapter Thirteen: Courtesy Before Force

Chen Jingfu remained where she was; Li Yu had told her to stay put as he walked toward the long corridor.

She watched as crowds of people surged onto the corridor. Even though she had witnessed many grand scenes before, she felt a trace of worry, for all these people were targeting the two of them. Yet she did not retreat a single step, trusting that anyone her grandfather valued would be able to resolve the situation before them.

Otherwise, their purpose in coming here would become a joke.

Inside the locked room, the man, aided by the surveillance camera outside the door, watched the young man stride steadily across the corridor.

“Damn it, how did I end up provoking a martial artist?”

He roared, hurling the bottle in his hand against the wall, where it shattered with a loud bang.

The person he had hired was his early mentor, now thriving on a far vaster territory. When he received the message from this mentor, he didn’t hesitate; fearing his subordinates might botch things, he even acted personally.

All for the chance to rekindle their connection. He hadn’t expected the situation to become so hot to handle!

A martial artist… the kind people usually treat like a living Buddha…

On the screen, the youth drew nearer.

“Take him out for me!” Black Dog shrieked, pressing a button.

His voice boomed through the corridor via loudspeakers.

Li Yu frowned but did not pause, his body tilting slightly to evade the punch from a burly man hiding behind a door.

With a swift motion, he hooked the man’s wrist, his gaze darkening. His palm exerted force, and amid the crack and crunch of bones, the burly man howled in pain.

That seemed to be the signal; men poured incessantly from both sides of the corridor, crowding toward Li Yu.

He paid them no mind.

These men were barehanded. As an eighth-rank cultivator, although he hadn’t specialized in physical refinement, the spiritual energy strengthening his dantian had also fortified his body.

He’d never tested it, but he suspected ordinary cold weapons couldn’t even pierce his skin.

As he walked, Li Yu finally took the initiative.

The corridor was too narrow; their pressing in left him hardly any room to move.

“What kind of monster is this?” Black Dog stared at the monitor, watching the youth who dared invade his stronghold dispatch all those around him with nothing but his bare hands.

With a single punch, a brawny man weighing over two hundred pounds spat blood and was sent flying.

Was this really a delicate-looking youth?

No, this was clearly a walking weapon of war!

Black Dog swallowed hard, cursing himself for being blinded by a petty sum of money. What ordinary family had a child who could calmly face dozens of burly men?

If all kids were like this now, he might as well give up the underworld and go farm.

But the deed was done, and the main player had arrived. Black Dog glanced at the half-naked man snoring on the bed behind him, a ruthless gleam in his eyes.

“You’re not the only martial artist here!”

…

Li Yu sidestepped, and the swinging cleaver embedded itself in the door beside him. A trace of fierceness flickered in his eyes; his left hand, like an eagle’s talon, swept across the attacker’s forearm just above the hilt.

Blood gushed as the man dropped to the floor.

Without slowing down, Li Yu kicked the man’s head, knocking him unconscious.

That was with Li Yu holding back. If he kicked with full strength, splitting stone would be easy; a skull would fare no better than a watermelon.

Step by step, Li Yu reached the door at the end of the corridor.

“Bang!”

The door flew inward.

Li Yu entered with casual composure, speaking coolly, “You didn’t run.”

He was observant; upon entering, he immediately noticed a hidden door in the corner.

What surprised him was that Black Dog, the very man in the photos, hadn’t fled but sat on the sofa, staring back at him.

This was not as Li Yu had expected. He’d planned to give Black Dog a bit of time, so he could follow him and trace the whereabouts of Huang Xiu.

“Is it because of this man?” Li Yu’s gaze swept over the sleeping figure on the bed.

The man’s bare upper body was corded with muscle, more exaggerated than many bodybuilders. Most importantly, in Li Yu’s perception, this man’s aura was turbulent and his blood was thick—only slightly weaker than Chen Jingfu.

“A martial artist isn’t a threat to me,” Li Yu shook his head, pulling over the chair by the monitor and sitting before Black Dog. “I prefer to start with courtesy. There’s a million on this card. Hand over Huang Xiu and name your accomplice, and it’s yours.”

Black Dog’s eyes went to the bank card in Li Yu’s hand, then, unable to help himself, glanced through the gap beside Li Yu at the corridor.

The scene was more shocking than anything on the monitor: apart from a few motionless bodies, the rest were writhing and groaning on the floor.

Not only had Li Yu dispatched dozens of strong men without a scratch, he now sat there, calm and at ease.

Black Dog looked deep into Li Yu’s eyes.

He knew he’d provoked someone he should never have tangled with, but Huang Xiu had already been handed over to others, including a depraved soul. Even if he searched now, it might be too late.

And this youth valued that girl so highly…

“Staring won’t make him bloom—I’m trying to talk to you calmly,” Li Yu leaned toward Black Dog, speaking.

He’d noticed Black Dog’s sidelong glances all along, thinking Li Yu wouldn’t catch on?

“If you can’t talk properly…” Li Yu suddenly sprang up, kicking out.

Just then, the man on the bed leapt up, attempting a surprise attack. But as he jumped, he met Li Yu’s foot head-on, and without a sound, collapsed back onto the bed.

He’d assumed Li Yu would be exhausted after defeating so many, but seeing Li Yu standing at the door so lightly, the martial artist quickly coordinated with Black Dog.

Black Dog would draw Li Yu’s attention, and he would seize the opportunity.

“Gulp…”

Black Dog watched the martial artist collapse like a dead dog, unable to suppress a swallow, then looked at Li Yu.

The youth stared straight at him, smiling, “Courtesy before force—will you accept my courtesy?”

“Yes! I’ll take you right now!”

Of all things, his own life mattered most; Black Dog spoke up immediately.

He’d only wanted to use this as a way to reconnect with his mentor, not sacrifice his own life for it.

Now that such a powerful dragon had appeared, he only hoped to survive; as long as he was alive, his territory could be regained—at worst, he’d just have to start elsewhere. Black Dog glanced at the men in the corridor, a gleam in his eye.

With all his men crippled by Li Yu, there was no way to provide compensation according to the old rules—not just a few injured, but the whole lot wiped out!

Who knew when he’d be able to gather so many brothers again?

Black Dog sighed inwardly.

“Let’s go, then!” Li Yu grabbed him and headed downstairs.