Chapter Seventy-One: An Overwhelming Presence

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Hearing Ye Dong’s brazen and insulting words actually drew a wave of applause from the crowd. The playboy, feeling he’d just suffered the greatest insult of his life, roared, “I’ll kill you!” and pulled the trigger of his pistol, aiming straight at Ye Dong.

Bang! The gun went off!

Screams erupted as the bystanders ducked down in panic.

“He fired! Someone’s going to die!”

“Bullets don’t have eyes! Let’s not get involved, or we might lose our lives for nothing!”

The onlookers either rushed toward the exit or hid under tables, plunging the scene into chaos.

Cold sweat broke out across Ye Dong’s forehead. He patted himself down—no wounds. Looking down, he realized that at the very instant the playboy pulled the trigger, Huiyan had twisted his arm up toward the ceiling!

“Damn, these actors are really dedicated! He actually fired the gun! What if he’d really hit me? Damn!” Staring at the smoking bullet hole in the ceiling, his organs clenched with fear. “What if the bullet ricocheted and hit an innocent bystander?”

Now he was truly enraged.

“Huiyan, beat him within an inch of his life!”

Apparently, even Huiyan hadn’t expected the actor to actually fire at Ye Dong. Anger flared in her heart, and with a spinning kick, she sent the playboy flying five or six meters.

“Young master!” The playboy’s bodyguards rushed to help him, but Xiaobao and Dachun effortlessly laid them all out.

The situation was clear—this time, the playboy was utterly defeated.

Ye Dong burst out laughing, pointing at the barely conscious playboy. “Drag this trash out! Don’t dirty someone else’s establishment.”

The moment he spoke, the atmosphere in the room chilled. Anyone with underworld experience knew Ye Dong had just issued a death sentence.

Xiaobao snorted, dragging the playboy out the back alley, only to see over a dozen black vans lined up at the bar entrance, with more and more people pouring out of them.

Dachun shoved a bodyguard to the ground, startled by the crowd. “So many actors showed up?”

Xiaobao leaned down and whispered to the playboy, “You acted your part well! Thanks for your hard work!”

The playboy, confused and bloodied, spat back, “What acting!? I don’t understand!”

“Come on, still won’t break character? Cut! That’s a wrap!” Dachun teased.

The playboy cursed through gritted teeth.

But seeing the playboy’s reaction, Xiaobao suddenly realized something was wrong and urgently asked, “Your gun just now—was it real?”

“Ha, I seriously doubt you have a brain!” the playboy, still dripping blood, sneered. “Who goes around carrying a toy gun? I may not be as ruthless as Ye Dong, but I’m no coward either!”

“Damn!” The truth dawning on him, Xiaobao knocked Duan Kun out with a karate chop. “So it really was a coincidence—actual gangsters causing trouble! What the hell are the police doing?”

He immediately called Xiao Wang. “Where are the men Wan Tianze sent?”

“We just got stuck in traffic and only now arrived—twelve black vans!” Xiao Wang replied. “What do you think? Enough of a show? Heh!”

“Heh your ass!” Xiaobao cursed. “You only just arrived—why not ask them to come for breakfast tomorrow instead?”

“It’s a special situation; no one wants a traffic jam, right?”

Xiaobao lowered his voice, scolding, “Why didn’t you notify us of this special situation?”

“There was a signal jam on your end just now!”

“Damn, things have changed!” Xiaobao quickly described the harrowing events that had just unfolded.

On the other end, Xiao Wang sighed in relief. “Good thing you all kept your wits about you, or there would’ve been serious trouble. I’ll coordinate with them right away—don’t worry!”

Heavy footsteps sounded outside the bar—at least a hundred men in suits poured in. Their leader hurried to Liang Lingzhi’s side and asked in a low voice, “Brother Zhi, is Brother Tian alright?”

This sort of dramatic rescue was something most people only saw in movies. Even Master Wei, a veteran of the supernatural underworld, was stunned by the spectacle. “Are these all Ye Dong’s men?”

He exchanged glances with Lixing and Lecheng, and all three saw shock in each other’s eyes.

Liang Lingzhi smirked to himself—what a grand display! He laughed, “All done! Waiter, drinks for all my brothers!”

No sooner had he spoken than a familiar voice called from outside, “Done? Doesn’t look that way to me!”

Liang Lingzhi frowned. “Why does that voice sound so familiar?”

“Liang Lingzhi, fancy running into you here!” The newcomer was none other than Li Xiaopang, the officer whom Liang Lingzhi had previously beaten to a pulp.

Trailing three uniformed officers, Li Xiaopang strutted in and questioned Liang Lingzhi, “Someone reported a mass brawl here, and there was gunfire. Were you the ringleader, Liang Lingzhi?”

“Talk about enemies crossing paths!” Liang Lingzhi silently cursed. “Damn, why did Li Xiaopang have to show up now?”

After a moment’s thought, Liang Lingzhi gave a crooked grin. “Ah, officer, I’m a law-abiding citizen. If you don’t have evidence, don’t frame the innocent. Careful, or I’ll sue you for slander!”

“Watch your tone!” Li Xiaopang, emboldened by his uniform, pressed on. “All these men in suits—are they yours?”

His tone dripped with schadenfreude, as if eager to fan the flames.

Liang Lingzhi was about to retort when a furious shout came from behind him.

“They’re my men—what of it?” Ye Dong strode forward, eyes blazing, gripping a beer bottle as if ready to smash someone’s head.

“Brother Tian!” The hundred men in suits bowed deeply in unison, their thunderous greeting echoing through the bar and ringing in Li Xiaopang’s ears, shaking his very soul.

Ye Dong half-grinned, moving nose-to-nose with Li Xiaopang, and roared, “What now? Is it illegal to have a drink with friends? Brothers, isn’t this officer bullying us honest, law-abiding citizens?”

His spittle splattered all over Li Xiaopang’s face.

Li Xiaopang was terrified, instinctively backing up two steps with a hand on his holster, trying to muster authority. “Sir, please control yourself!”

“Oh? Afraid now?” Ye Dong brandished his beer bottle and shouted, “This is me being restrained!”

The men in suits jeered, drowning out Li Xiaopang with a chorus of insults.

Seeing the situation turn, Li Xiaopang pointed at the jeering crowd, “Quiet! This is police business—anyone obstructing will be charged! You, step back!”

“Don’t know what’s good for you, do you?” Ye Dong glared, stepping forward instead of back, and slammed his beer bottle to the floor. “You dare point your finger at me!?”

Smash! The bottle exploded as it hit the ground.

Boom!

A hundred men in suits hurled their own beer bottles at Li Xiaopang’s feet. The simultaneous shattering of so much glass created an earth-shaking roar, showering beer and shards all over the officers.

“What are you doing!?” Li Xiaopang stumbled back over the glass, drawing his gun and aiming it at Ye Dong’s forehead. “You! Hands up, get down—now!”

In this tense moment, Huiyan and Lixing were about to act, but Ye Dong held out his arms to stop them.

He calmly reached out and moved the barrel away from his own head, his voice icy. “I, He Wentian, have said—no one will ever point a gun at my head again! No one!”

“You—!” Li Xiaopang was truly frightened now. He’d never seen anyone so unafraid of death—who, with a gun pointed at his head, would dare push it aside?

Seeing a hundred men in suits glaring and advancing, Li Xiaopang swallowed hard. “What do you want!?”

With the situation critical, he fired a warning shot into the ceiling. “Back off! Back off, or I’ll shoot!”

The four officers stood back-to-back, guns drawn on the crowd—an unmistakable standoff.

“Everyone freeze!” At that knife-edge moment, a commanding shout rang out from the door. “Back up! All of you, back up!”

A squad leader, flanked by a dozen officers, strode in. “Men to the left, women to the right! IDs out!”

Intimidated by police authority, the crowd parted, creating a path. Ye Dong finally saw the squad leader’s face and sneered, “Captain Li, you’ve trained an excellent subordinate—pointing his gun at us peaceful, law-abiding citizens!”

“Li Xiaopang, what are you doing! Holster your weapon—what if it goes off accidentally?” Captain Li’s face darkened at Ye Dong’s sarcasm, scolding Li Xiaopang.

Li Xiaopang was baffled. It was clear he and his men were outnumbered, so why was his captain siding with Ye Dong?

He tried to explain, lowering his voice. “Sir, something’s not right—we responded to reports of gunfire and a brawl. I’m sure there’s more going on here—something big!”

Ye Dong’s ears were sharp enough to catch this, and he laughed loudly. “Just a few broken bottles—does it really warrant such a fuss?”

Captain Li’s face grew even darker at Ye Dong’s mockery. “I order you to holster your weapon! This doesn’t concern you anymore. Return to your post!”

“A big case!” Li Xiaopang muttered, unwilling to let it go, even questioning his captain’s orders.

Now Captain Li was truly angry. “Li Xiaopang, don’t let ambition blind you—leave, now!”

Humiliated in front of a hundred people, Li Xiaopang stood stunned for a long moment before finally understanding. “Fine! I get it! You’ve got guts!”

He slammed his gun into its holster and left with the other three officers, heads hanging.

Watching Li Xiaopang leave with nothing, Ye Dong grinned. “Captain Li, checking IDs, right? Sure, I’m happy to cooperate.”

He handed over his ID. “Thanks.”

Captain Li glanced at it, then smirked. “Brother Dong, you could’ve let me know you were coming—I would’ve rolled out the red carpet!”

Master Wei and his two companions were no fools—they immediately saw that Ye Dong and Captain Li were on very friendly terms.

Master Wei pondered, “Both the underworld and the police defer to He Wentian—his reputation is well-earned. If Captain Li hadn’t arrived, who knows what this madman would’ve done?”

After checking Ye Dong’s group, Captain Li moved on to Master Wei and his friends. “IDs.”

Except for Master Wei, both Lixing and Lecheng had criminal records. Their expressions made it clear they weren’t keen to cooperate.

Ye Dong quickly interjected, “Captain Li, they’re friends of mine—forgot their IDs tonight.”

Captain Li immediately withdrew his hand and patted Master Wei on the shoulder. “They’re your friends? No need, then. We're done here!”

Ye Dong laughed. “Captain Li, take care. Dachun, see the Captain out.”

Dachun, carrying a black bag from the private room, nodded repeatedly. When he returned, the bag was no longer with him.

With the crisis over, Master Wei breathed a sigh of relief and scolded, “Lixing, your lust is going to get you into serious trouble one day!”

“I—” Lixing tried to protest, but Lecheng stopped him. “Lixing, Master Wei has your best interests at heart. Setting aside the playboy’s gun—if the police start watching us, our big business deal is over.”

Lixing, dejected, mumbled, “Alright, alright, I’ll change.” He glanced at Ye Dong, laughing with friends, then at the beauty Huiyan beside him, jealousy burning in his heart.

“Let’s go thank He Wentian,” Master Wei led Lixing and Lecheng over, raising his glass. “Brother Tian, the three of us owe you one. Thank you!”

Clink! Ye Dong gently touched glasses with them and smiled. “You flatter me, Master Wei. I’m sure I’ll need your help with many things in the future.”

Master Wei caught the meaning and laughed. “So, shall we talk about the tomb? The three of us can show you the wonders buried underground!”

Ye Dong nodded with a laugh. “Then I’ll count on you to look after me. Ha ha ha!”

The group exchanged wicked grins, a band of like-minded rogues coming together.

The familiar melody resumed in the bar: “Dominating the world, I charge ahead, ten thousand look up to me! Dominating the world, I’ll never look back!”

The music could not have been more fitting.

On the way back, the ever-enthusiastic Zhi Zhang clapped for Ye Dong’s dazzling performance. “Brother Tian, your presence just now had even me in awe! Incredible! That Li Xiaopang nearly burst into tears!”

Exhausted but satisfied, Ye Dong chuckled. “Acting is all about sincerity—a bit more heart, a bit more effort, and a passion for the craft, and anyone can reach my level. Take notes!”

He turned to Huiyan, apologetic. “Thanks for redirecting the gun just now. Otherwise, I’d probably be dead.”

By now, Xiaobao had explained the misunderstanding and the real danger to the group.

Huiyan snorted. “I thought after kissing that beauty you’d forgotten your savior—putting lust before friendship, you scoundrel.”

“I—it was for art’s sake!” Ye Dong stammered, smiling awkwardly. “Didn’t I just hug you as well? So, were you ‘lust’ or ‘friend’?”

“You—!” Huiyan huffed, annoyed at Ye Dong taking advantage. “Tomorrow night we go into the tomb for real. Get your head on straight and don’t play the hero, or you might not even know how you died!”

“Yes, ma’am, yes, ma’am!”

Dachun asked eagerly, “Brother Tian, can we come with you and see the tomb?”

Faced with their request, Ye Dong could only shake his head. “No, it’s too dangerous. Besides, Master Wei only trusts me and Huiyan—for the three of you, he’s still very cautious.”

He gazed out the window, emotions swirling. “At last, the first tomb challenge awaits…”