Chapter 368: Fight with Me?
"Hey, no wonder Qian Qiang and his friends couldn't help but want to slap this guy. With his pretentious attitude, I want to slap him too!"
"Then why don't you go do it?"
"Er... on second thought, let's just wait for Qian Li to do it..."
BANG!
The doors to the banquet hall were violently kicked open. A young man who bore some resemblance to Qian Qiang strode in, with Qian Qiang right behind him.
"Cousin, that's the guy!" Qian Qiang pointed at Zhao Dong, his eyes filled with malice.
"So you're the one who hit my cousin?" Qian Li strode forward, his gaze piercing Zhao Dong.
"You're Qian Li from the Crouching Tiger Martial Arts Academy?" Zhao Dong glanced sideways at him.
"You've heard of me?" Qian Li said proudly. "Since you know who I am, why don't you get on your knees and beg for mercy?"
"Are you worthy?" Zhao Dong asked calmly, his eyes dripping with disdain.
"You're courting death!" Qian Li was enraged and immediately moved to roll up his sleeves.
SLAP!
A loud smack echoed through the hall.
The crowd was baffled. Qian Li was dumbfounded.
He dazedly touched his cheek, his eyes full of disbelief. "You... you dare..."
SLAP!
"You..."
SLAP!
After three slaps, the skin on Qian Li's cheek was split open and bleeding. His anger vanished, replaced by a profound, bone-deep terror.
He's unbeatable! Absolutely unbeatable! To think that I, a mighty sixth-level Great Grandmaster, was just slapped three times without any ability to fight back! Who the hell is this guy?!
Zhao Dong couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on them. He grabbed Su Yurou's hand and turned to leave.
An awkward silence fell, as if a crow had just flown overhead. Long after Zhao Dong and Su Yurou had disappeared, the crowd remained submerged in a stunned silence, unable to recover.
The great Qian Li from the Crouching Tiger Martial Arts Academy, a sixth-level Great Grandmaster, was defeated... just like that?
「...」
Outside the hotel, the shock in Su Yurou's eyes was beyond words. Feeling the strength of Zhao Dong's hand in hers, her heart hammered in her chest, threatening to leap out of her throat. Her beautiful eyes overflowed with adoration.
"Sorry for ruining your party," Zhao Dong said as they reached the car, scratching his nose in embarrassment.
"No... it's okay..." Su Yurou hurriedly shook her head. "I didn't want to come to this party in the first place. My parents forced me."
Since Su Yurou clearly didn't want to continue the topic, Zhao Dong didn't press the issue. "Should I take you home now?" he asked.
"No!" Su Yurou shook her head so vigorously it was like a rattle-drum. "It's still early; I don't want to go back yet. How about we go to a bar?"
A bar?
Zhao Dong was already feeling dejected because of Xu Yafei and was looking for a way to vent. The thought of drinking had crossed his mind earlier. Su Yurou's suggestion was exactly what he wanted to hear, so he agreed, and they headed straight to the nearest bar.
「...」
Amidst the flashing lights and flowing wine, figures moved in a chaotic dance. The city's men and women, pent-up from the long day, released their frustrations in a scene of wild indulgence.
In a corner booth, more than a dozen empty bottles already littered the table in front of Zhao Dong and Su Yurou. With their faces flushed from the alcohol, they chatted about amusing stories from their lives, casting all their worries aside for the moment.
"You keep drinking, I need to take a leak," Zhao Dong said as he got up, staggering slightly, and headed toward the restrooms with a bottle still in hand.
Su Yurou, her own pretty face flushed, simply nodded and took another sip.
Suddenly, a grating voice sounded beside her. "Su Yurou?"
Su Yurou looked up to see a man and a woman staring at her with hostile eyes.
"Mo Qian?" Su Yurou's brows furrowed, the haze of alcohol in her mind beginning to clear.
"Heh, it seems we really are cursed to meet," Mo Qian sneered, taking a seat uninvited.
"What do you want? I have no time to trade barbs with you," Su Yurou said warily.
"No time?" Mo Qian sneered. "Did you think you could get away with embarrassing me at the auction? Since our paths have crossed today, you owe me an explanation!"
"There's nothing to explain!" Su Yurou retorted forcefully. "An auction is an auction; the highest bidder wins. You failed to win the item and tried to steal it by force. You should be glad I'm not the one demanding an explanation from you!"
"Su Yurou, you're getting awfully bold." Mo Qian's eyes flashed, and the aura of a second-level Great Grandmaster instantly enveloped Su Yurou.
"Mo Qian! Do you really think I'm afraid of you?" Su Yurou remained composed, retorting forcefully, "I, Su Yurou, may not be a cultivator, but do you dare lay a hand on me?"
"So what? Is your Su Family really that impressive?" the man standing beside Mo Qian finally spoke.
Su Yurou had already found the man somewhat familiar, and now that he spoke, the feeling of familiarity grew stronger. "Who are you?" she asked apprehensively.
The man sneered. "Miss Su is quite forgetful, it seems. Have you already forgotten who I am? I'm Xiang Chengfeng."
"Xiang Chengfeng!?" Su Yurou's expression changed drastically.
The Xiang Family! They're a family of high-ranking officials in Provincial City, wielding immense influence. There's a reason for the saying, 'a commoner can't fight an official'! Though the Xiang Family keeps a low profile, no one would ever dare question their power!
Recognizing the man's identity, a bitter feeling welled up inside Su Yurou.
If it were just Mo Qian, I wouldn't be afraid. We've been rivals for years, and neither of us has ever gotten the upper hand. But with Xiang Chengfeng backing her, I'll definitely be at a disadvantage!
With that, Su Yurou stood up, adopting the posture of someone seeing off a guest. "I'm here drinking with a friend today and don't want any trouble. I hope the two of you can do me this favor."
"Hmph! And what if I don't?" Mo Qian was relentless. "Fine, if you don't want trouble, you can leave. I've taken a liking to this booth. You can scram."
Su Yurou's face instantly turned livid. The commotion had already attracted a crowd of onlookers, many of whom recognized the two women.
Mo Qian's actions are clearly meant to force Su Yurou to admit, in front of everyone, that the Su Family is inferior to the Mo Family! How could she possibly accept that?
The more Su Yurou thought about it, the angrier she became. Fueled by the alcohol, she finally burst out, "Mo Qian! Don't you go too far!"
SLAP!
The sharp sound echoed the instant her words faded.
Su Yurou was stunned. She touched her burning cheek, looking at Mo Qian in utter disbelief. "You... you dared to hit me?" Her eyes widened.
The surrounding crowd held their breath.
The feud between the Su and Mo families is no secret. But it has always been a war of words. For Mo Qian to actually strike her... this changes everything!
"So what if I hit you?" Mo Qian sneered. "Shout again, and I'll hit you again!"
"AHHH!!!" Su Yurou screamed in fury, lunging forward to tear at Mo Qian's hair. "I'll kill you!"
But Su Yurou was just an ordinary person. How could she possibly be a match for Mo Qian? Mo Qian simply took a step back, effortlessly dodging Su Yurou's attack. Then, she swung her hand back, preparing to slap Su Yurou's face again.
"You're courting death!" a furious roar suddenly erupted.
The crowd felt a gust of wind flash past them.
SLAP!
With another crisp smack, Mo Qian was sent flying.