Chapter 284: Tang Xue
After Kou Hongmin left, Tang Yuntian looked at Zhao Dong and said, "Young friend, for you to make Kou Hongmin act personally, you must be no ordinary man!"
Zhao Dong shook his head with a bitter smile. "I had a dispute with Hong Wu. He sent Kou Hongmin."
"Hong Wu?" Tang Yuntian's eyes narrowed with a hint of curiosity. He then said, "Young friend, why don't we find another place to talk?"
Coming from the high-ranking City Chief, the invitation was a significant gesture. Zhao Dong naturally had no reason to refuse such goodwill, so he agreed.
Before leaving, Zhao Dong turned his head to Cang Yunhao. "Convinced?"
Cang Yunhao gritted his teeth. Although he was still unconvinced deep down, he nodded reluctantly in deference to Tang Yuntian and the Xu family, his face etched with displeasure.
Seeing this, Zhao Dong couldn't be bothered with the man. He turned to the Xu family and said, "Today's banquet ended on a sour note. Let's get together again when we're free."
"Of course, of course," Xu Qingyue's grandfather nodded hurriedly.
Zhao Dong was leaving with Tang Yuntian. How could they dare object? Besides, they already had a favorable impression of Zhao Dong. Now that he could befriend Tang Yuntian, they naturally held him in even higher regard.
Xu Qingyue's eyes, however, held a trace of reluctance. She whispered, "Zhao Dong, I have some things I want to talk to you about. Can we meet tonight?"
"Of course," Zhao Dong nodded, then followed Tang Yuntian out of the restaurant.
「Meanwhile.」
At the Dragon Sea View Villa.
Kou Hongmin hurried inside.
"Where is Zhao Dong's head?" Hong Wu asked, looking at the empty-handed Kou Hongmin with a surge of displeasure.
Kou Hongmin, looking embarrassed, quickly recounted what had just happened.
"What!?"
SMACK! Hong Wu slammed the table and shot to his feet, flying into a rage. "How could that bastard be so lucky? To think he saved Tang Yuntian!"
Kou Hongmin said worriedly, "Now that Zhao Dong is under Tang Yuntian's wing, I'm afraid it won't be easy to move against him for the time being."
"Hmph! So what if he's found a powerful backer?" Hong Wu's eyes narrowed as he mulled it over. After a moment, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes. "I've got it!"
"If we can't get him secretly, we'll do it openly. We can use the Binding Dragon Office to issue a formal challenge to Zhao Dong!"
The Binding Dragon Office? Kou Hongmin's heart leaped with joy. That's right! How did I not think of that?
The Binding Dragon Office was China's administrative body for cultivators, with a branch in every city. Inside the Binding Dragon Office was an expert ranking list, which recorded the rankings of the top masters from each city. Experts on the list whose strengths were comparable could issue formal challenges to one another, and the challenged party was obligated to accept the duel. Refusing would not only earn the scorn of the entire Cultivation World but also lead to suppression from the Binding Dragon Office.
This strict system was originally intended to provide a platform for top masters to test their skills. Now, it could be used as a way to kill that bastard Zhao Dong!
As Kou Hongmin reeled in pleasant surprise, Hong Wu had already placed a call to the Commander of the East Sea Binding Dragon Office.
Half an hour later, a middle-aged man in a black suit with an imposing aura strode into the villa.
"Commander Li, please, have a seat." Hong Wu smiled, ushering Commander Li to the seat of honor.
Hong Wu and Commander Li were already on good terms. After a brief discussion, Commander Li decisively agreed to Hong Wu's request.
"Commander Li, I'll have to trouble you with this. As long as you can use the Binding Dragon Office to have Kou Hongmin issue a formal challenge to Zhao Dong,
"and ensure everyone in East Sea knows about it, Kou Hongmin can kill Zhao Dong openly. Even Tang Yuntian won't be able to say a word!"
"Don't worry," Commander Li said with a smile. "We've been friends for years. Of course I won't refuse such a small favor. I'll start building up the hype as soon as I get back. That Zhao Dong won't dare to refuse!"
Hong Wu was overjoyed, a murderous glint appearing in his eyes. "Excellent."
「...」
「In a commercial district.」
Inside a luxuriously decorated private tea room, Tang Yuntian and Zhao Dong sat facing each other, deep in pleasant conversation.
"So that's how it is. I never expected that you and Hong Wu had such a deep-seated grudge, young friend."
Tang Yuntian sighed. "Although I am a public official and it is inconvenient for me to interfere in your affairs,
"you are my savior. If you run into any trouble, you can come to me anytime. I certainly won't stand by and do nothing."
Hearing this, Zhao Dong was moved. "Thank you, City Chief Tang. However, the feud between Hong Wu and me is now a matter of life and death. Running away is useless."
Tang Yuntian's words were very clear. He was grateful to Zhao Dong and would protect him in a moment of crisis, but as a public official, he couldn't help Zhao Dong deal with Hong Wu directly.
Tang Yuntian gave a wry smile. "You are truly bold, young friend. But Hong Wu is indeed not to be trifled with. You should be careful."
"Of course," Zhao Dong nodded slightly.
At that moment, the door to the tea room was suddenly pushed open. A young woman about 1.6 meters tall with a ponytail, wearing a pink dress, rushed in.
"Father, what's wrong? My sister said you collapsed!" the young woman exclaimed, anxiously fussing over City Chief Tang.
City Chief Tang patted his chest and smiled. "Your father is fine. I'm alright thanks to this young friend's help."
"Him?" The young woman followed his gaze, her delicate brows knitting together. "Who are you?" she asked Zhao Dong, her tone unfriendly.
"Zhao Dong," he replied evenly.
"Hmph! Never heard of you!" she snorted, then turned to City Chief Tang. "Father, this guy is only in his twenties. He can't possibly know anything about medicine. You haven't been swindled by him, have you?"
"Nonsense! Do you think your father has gone senile?" Tang Yuntian grunted, displeased.
He was about to defend Zhao Dong again but was stopped by a gesture from him.
Zhao Dong stood up and walked over to the young woman, his eyes sizing her up.
Although she wasn't tall, her figure was stunningly well-endowed. She had slender legs straight out of a comic book, a willowy waist, and a chest that was the most formidable 'weapon' Zhao Dong had ever seen. Yet, her divinely beautiful face had an air of immaturity about it.
If I ignore her figure and just look at her face, I'd sooner believe I was looking at a middle school student...
Zhao Dong said teasingly, "Little girl, didn't your father teach you any manners?"
"Little girl?" The young woman flared up instantly. "Who are you calling a little girl? Open your damn eyes and look! Have you ever seen a little girl built like this?"
Furious, she immediately puffed out her most prideful assets. She said coldly, "Listen up, kid. My name is Tang Xue. I'm twenty-two, not some 'little girl'!"
Tang Xue? Judging by the name, she must be Tang Bing's younger sister. Who would've thought that while Tang Yuntian himself isn't much of a looker, both his daughters are breathtakingly beautiful? One has the air of a cool, mature beauty, and the other is a bombshell with a baby face? It's just that the way these two girls spoke was so similar, and both of them really rubbed him the wrong way!
Zhao Dong said nonchalantly, "Alright, alright, I've got it. Your name is Tang Xue, you're sixteen, and you're just a little brat who chirps and squawks."
"AHH!!! You're the little brat! Your whole family is full of little brats!!!"
Tang Xue was completely enraged. Baring her teeth and brandishing her claws, she lunged at Zhao Dong.