[Adult City] Lonely Officialdom (Final Chapter) - 33

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Chapter 210 The Enemy

Zhang Bing had just gotten out of the car when Lin Jing grabbed his arm. Zhang Bing looked at her strangely with a smile.

“Jiang Yan isn’t here, so I’ll be your date tonight,” Lin Jing said, avoiding Zhang Bing’s annoying gaze, her face flushed. This explanation was quite reasonable.

“A date has a lot to do, you know?” Zhang Bing said with a smile.

“Hmph, you’re not afraid. I’m not afraid either.” Lin Jing deliberately puffed out her small breasts as she spoke. Zhang Bing hadn’t expected this woman to be so bold; she was clearly trying to seduce him—however, Zhang Bing dared not make any further moves on her. Yuan Zixuan alone was already terrifying enough; adding Lin Jing would be a problem, even if he ate too much. These women weren’t like those in Chang Xiang; each of them had a powerful backer he couldn’t afford to offend. And if Jiang Yan found out, he’d be in big trouble. After all, even the most magnanimous woman wouldn’t be comfortable with her boyfriend flirting with her best friend.

Before they even reached the door, Yu Lin came out to greet them. Seeing Lin Jing walking towards them arm-in-arm with Zhang Bing, he was quite surprised: "You—Lin Jing, what brings you here?"

"Why can't I come?" Lin Jing pouted unhappily.

Yu Lin seemed quite annoyed by this girl, scratching his head and saying with a wry smile, "I'm not saying you can't come. It's just, why are you with him?"

"Can't I come to have fun? Do I need your permission?" Lin Jing retorted mercilessly, showing no mercy to Yu Lin.

"Hehe, how could I dare to interfere with our genius female officer? I'm afraid you'll point a gun at my head!" Yu Lin chuckled, somewhat embarrassed. "Let's go in. Everyone except Jiang Yan is here, waiting inside. There's going to be a good show tonight." Yu Lin led the way with a smile.

Upon entering the club, Zhang Bing glanced at the inconspicuous sign hanging near the entrance, decorated with neon lights: Mad Dragon Club. The name was certainly imposing, but she wondered what it was like inside. What did Yu Lin mean by "there's a good show to watch"?

From the outside, the building occupied a vast area, but it looked somewhat old and unremarkable. However, once inside, it was a completely different world. Before them lay a spacious room designed by a Chinese architect, exuding a strong classical Chinese style. The rustic oil paintings and deep brown Thai glaze conveyed the wartime scenes with a distant yet intimate feel. The building's lines were extremely sharp, giving it a very strong impression.

Zhang Bing's first thought upon entering the clubhouse was that the owner must be a soldier, because everything inside had that simple, rugged military style. Moreover, the clubhouse's bold name also hinted at this.

Led by Yu Lin, they walked through a series of corridors, and then heard a commotion in the distance. Zhang Bing knew they had arrived at their destination. Lin Jing, seeing her friend, still refused to let go of Zhang Bing's arm, continuing to hold it as they entered. Lin Jing, beautiful and alluring in a white Chanel outfit, walked side-by-side with Zhang Bing, who was rather handsome in a black casual suit; they looked remarkably well-matched.

After turning a corner through a long, carpeted corridor, the space suddenly opened up before them. A large hall, several thousand square meters in size, appeared before them. The hall was designed like a bar, with a bar counter and chairs for customers. In the center of the hall was a T-shaped stage, but unlike a bar's stage for song and dance performances, here a man in a black tight-fitting t-shirt was wrestling with a shirtless, burly man wearing boxing gloves. Countless brightly dressed men and women cheered and shouted at the two on stage.

Lin Jing's violent and rebellious nature was fully displayed here. She didn't show any ladylike frown; instead, she was extremely enthusiastic about the scene, her face beaming with excitement as she glanced around, her big eyes shining brightly. After comparing them, Zhang Bing decided the shirtless man looked more handsome and joined the others in chanting, "Go, handsome guy! Kick him! Smash him into a pulp!"

Zhang Bing raised an eyebrow. He really hadn't expected Beijing to have such a place; it was quite like an American underground boxing ring from a movie. Six months ago, he wouldn't have dared to imagine that Beijing, a place that valued peace and stability, had such a venue, especially since it was frequented by high-ranking officials. However, seeing that Yu Lin didn't explain, he remained silent to avoid being looked down upon. He simply followed behind Yu Lin with a smile. Lin Jing shouted as Zhang Bing dragged her forward, excitedly waving her arms and legs.

Yu Lin led Zhang Bing and Lin Jing to a table in the center below the stage. Everyone was seated there; everyone from the last gathering, except Jiang Yan, was present, even Yuan Zixuan and Lin Tao.

When Yuan Zixuan saw Lin Jing holding Zhang Bing's arm, her expression changed instantly. She stood up sharply to greet him, pinching him as she shook his hand, leaving Zhang Bing with a headache for a long time. He dared not make a sound, knowing full well that this fiery woman would be jealous of his intimacy with Lin Jing. But what could he do? He couldn't very well refuse a beautiful woman's advances with a stern face, could he? That would probably make Lin Jing hate him to death, and that wasn't Zhang Bing's style.

"Zhang Bing, we meet again. How have you been?" Lin Tao sat smiling at Zhang Bing, secretly delighted. This guy had finally come to his turf, and without Jiang Yan by his side to keep him in check, he'd see how he dealt with him tonight and regain his face in Changxiang. Moreover, what Zhang Bing didn't know was that he had chosen the location for tonight. After hearing Yu Lin's phone call that Zhang Bing was coming, he had made meticulous preparations. Even if Jiang Yan came along, he would still carry out his plan, only with a slightly less intensity.

"Hehe, Young Master Lin is becoming more and more dashing, congratulations." Zhang Bing replied with a double entendre. A bachelor has nothing to fear; as long as Lin Tao doesn't use underhanded tactics, Zhang Bing isn't afraid of open fights. After all, with his divine strength, he's practically invincible.

Zhang Bing, this new face, being welcomed by a group of the most powerful young men in the capital, and seemingly by two beautiful women, is extremely conspicuous. Countless people shifted their gaze from the duel on the catwalk to this side, thoughtfully sizing up the newcomer Zhang Bing.

"Haha, everyone is in their prime, of course we should be spirited. How about it? Are you used to this scene?" Lin Tao pointed to the stage, where the strong, shirtless man was punching the man in the black t-shirt in the face, blood splattering everywhere. Lin Jing, seeing this, closed her eyes in fright and buried her head in Zhang Bing's arms without a care.

"It's alright," Zhang Bing glanced at her, saying nonchalantly.

At a table opposite them, a man downed a glass of crimson liquid in one gulp, staring intently at Zhang Bing, whose arm Lin Jing was still clinging to. He asked the group of young men around him, "Who is he?"

"Don't know. Never seen him in the capital." The group shook their heads.

"Then why don't you go check immediately?" Li Xuan said with a chubby smile, but it didn't feel friendly; instead, it exuded a chilling aura.

Immediately, some people ran out behind him. They were probably going to mobilize their intelligence network to find out who Zhang Bing was. They all knew that Young Master Li was pursuing Lin Jing, and now they saw the woman he admired holding someone else's arm. Given Young Master Li's narrow-mindedness, it would be strange if he didn't make that man look bad. But judging from the current situation, that man seemed to have quite a background, being able to join the circle of wealthy young men in the capital. They had to carefully assess their own strength first—after all, without some real ability, no one would dare to barge in and risk their life, nor would they be accepted by these arrogant young men.

"Young Master Li, shall we go sit down?" A burly young man next to Li Xuan said excitedly. Although the fight on stage was bloody, how could it compare to the thrill of stepping on someone? The circle in the capital was only so big; people rarely went to the point of fighting.

"Sima Rui, are you itching for a fight?" A man, also holding a glass and with a woman of excellent figure and temperament sitting in his lap, chuckled. He was thin, with sparse eyebrows and eyes like a predatory vulture.

"You're the one itching. I just want to chat with him, tell him about the customs, culture, and historical sites of the capital," Shi Guang said with a displeased expression.

"If I'm itchy, I'll touch my woman. If you're itchy, you should step on someone. What? You don't like that kid? Before you step on him, you should consider his strength. Don't make things difficult later." The man stroked the soft breasts of the woman in his arms through her clothes while smilingly advising.

"Hmph, I've never seen that guy before. Even if he's powerful, he's just a small fry in the local area. Do we need to be afraid of him? Stepping on him is fine. Haven't we stepped on plenty of people like him before? This is a good opportunity to let him know how deep the water is in the capital. Let him go back and drink milk from his mother for a few more years." Shi Guang said with a sneer, glancing at Zhang Bing. He really considered Zhang Bing an enemy.

Chapter 211 Murder

"We're all adults. We should change our way of thinking. Conflicts without any benefit are just reckless courage. No different from street thugs." Li Xuan said with a smile. Obviously, he was the leader of this group.

After hearing Li Xuan's words, the others fell silent. Shi Guang stopped clamoring to talk to Zhang Bing, but asked reluctantly, "Young

Master Li, are we just going to let it go like this?" "There's plenty of time! Today, we still have a lot to do. First, we need to crush the opponents who threaten our interests, and then we can deal with the others. Didn't you see how Lin Tao's expression was towards that kid? The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I don't want to fight on two fronts and force him to the other side. Comparatively, I'd rather become friends with him. Besides, I've never met him before; he must have just met Lin Jing and the others." Li Xuanping's calm, deep eyes gleamed with wisdom as he gazed at the smirking Lin Tao, speaking thoughtfully. Today was his duel with Lin Tao, and he couldn't afford to lose.

Everyone reacted, turning their attention to the stage. On the stage, their own men were fighting Lin Tao's opponents.

"The Mad Dragon Club was opened by an old guy with a strong military background. In the beginning, the members were purely military personnel, special forces, police, and public security officers—people with military connections. The decor and activities were all based on military tastes,"

Yu Lin explained, pouring Zhang Bing a glass of Russian-made vodka. Drinking the strongest liquor, embracing the sexiest women, and watching the bloodiest performances—that's a man's ultimate pleasure, and for soldiers, these three things are even more irresistible.

"I want some too," Lin Jing said, wrinkling her nose as she picked up a clean glass from the table and waved it at Yu Lin. After pouring Zhang Bing the drink, Yu Lin carefully capped the small, cute metal bottle, completely ignoring her presence, which displeased her. "

This liquor is too strong; it's not suitable for girls," Yu Lin explained with a wry smile. Lin Jing's grandfather was the head of the General Staff Department, and her parents were both senior researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She herself was a genius in military equipment, with several inventions and creations attracting significant attention from military experts worldwide. At a young age, she already held the rank of colonel. With a few more years of experience or some further groundbreaking research, becoming the youngest female general in Chinese history wasn't out of the question. However, contrary to her brilliant military research, she was remarkably clueless in other areas. Yu Lin couldn't afford to offend this girl, so he carefully explained,

"The stronger the better." Lin Jing pointed at Zhang Bing with her little finger: "If he can drink it, so can I. After all, I'm a soldier."

"Okay. Pour a little for you to try first." Yu Lin reluctantly opened the silver-white metal bottle and poured a little into Lin Jing's glass.

"More!" Lin Jing glared at Yu Lin.

Yu Lin jolted, pouring down quite a bit more. His heart ached. He'd gone to great lengths to get this liquor from the Lanzhou Military Region Commander, a real struggle involving deception and trickery. He'd relied on his father's connection to the Commander, and even got a scolding at home for it. He'd specifically chosen this liquor to bring today, knowing he was coming here, and now it was all gone, while this girl was clearly wasting it.

"The Red Star Club is specifically for military personnel. Naturally, it has things other clubs don't have. For example, this catwalk—no celebrity performances, no supermodel shows, no—only fighting. Anyone who thinks they're skilled can go up and test their skills. The winner gets all their club expenses for free. And, beautiful women will offer themselves to you."

"The idea of having soldiers who value martial prowess was originally well-intentioned. However, because of this special rule, the club's popularity has grown, and the number of members has increased. And it's not just soldiers; people with certain backgrounds also like to come here. All the big shots in Beijing have gathered here."

Yu Lin raised his glass to Zhang Bing, clinked glasses, took a sip of vodka, closed his eyes to savor the moment, and then continued, "Originally, those who went on stage were mostly soldiers, with relatively simple goals—just to entertain everyone or attract some women's attention. After all, there are quite a few wealthy young ladies here. Now it's different; this stage has become a battleground for several powerful factions."

Zhang Bing thought to himself, "These powerful factions are probably the sons of high-ranking officials, right? Those truly high-ranking people wouldn't participate in this childish stuff, and ordinary people have even less chance of getting on stage."

Yu Lin's detailed explanation to Zhang Bing was actually meant to give him a heads-up. From Lin Tao's attitude towards Zhang Bing, Yu Lin sensed something was amiss, even a hint of hostility. Considering Lin Tao's enthusiasm in helping him secure the venue and his repeated insistence on Zhang Bing's attendance, Yu Lin was certain something was wrong. Admittedly, he couldn't afford to offend Lin Tao, but he was even less willing to offend Zhang Bing. Others might not know the relationship between Zhang Bing and Jiang Yan, but he certainly did. As the organizer of this gathering, he had only intended to gather these people and build momentum, since he was of lower status than Lin Tao, Jiang Yan, and Lin Jing. If it weren't for Jiang Yan's name, these people might not have even bothered to attend. However, now, Lin Tao clearly had ulterior motives for this gathering, not only arranging for his rival Li Xuan to challenge him but also bringing Zhang Bing along. If Zhang Bing were humiliated, and Jiang Yan wasn't there, Yu Lin truly didn't know what to do.

Yu Lin pointed to the battle on the stage, which was nearing its end, and looked at Zhang Bing meaningfully. "The duel on stage now is between Young Master Lin and the Li family. The one shirtless is Young Master Lin's prized henchman, famous for his Muay Thai skills; the one in the tight black t-shirt is Young Master Li Xuan's men. It looks like they're going to lose. Look at their faces, so mournful—haha, so satisfying!" Yu Lin's last sentence was clearly flattery of Lin Tao, making Lin Tao beam with joy.

Hearing Yu Lin's explanation, Zhang Bing was quite surprised. He hadn't expected that there were such unusual and exciting places in Beijing. He had only heard of the four king clubs of Beijing and the famous "Heaven on Earth" club, but he had never heard of the Mad Dragon Club. He never expected that all the big shots in Beijing would move their base here.

With the Red Star Club's current function, it truly combined entertainment and business. Settling personal scores while also enjoying a visual feast and immense spiritual pleasure—isn't that exactly what these thrill-seeking young men crave? Just look at the frenzy of the crowd below; you can imagine its popularity. Like Spanish bullfighting, it's cruel, a human flaw, something deliberately sought by those with empty spirits.

"Ah—Clang—" A roar echoed from the stage. A shirtless man delivered a side kick, leaping high into the air before delivering a powerful chopped blow to the head of the man in the black t-shirt. The man's body slammed to the ground, his head hitting the floor hard, brains splattering everywhere, large clumps of blood spraying in all directions, staining those near the stands. Then everyone screamed and fled.

Lin Jing, who was leisurely sipping vodka like Zhang Bing, stared wide-eyed at the bloody and cruel scene, unknowingly downing half a glass of vodka. By the time she realized what was happening, it was too late. She covered her mouth and vomited violently. It was unclear whether it was from the strong liquor or the splattering red and white brain matter. Zhang Bing thought, "Now I don't need to call her in fights anymore. Looking at her delicate appearance, she wouldn't dare to fight even if you beat her to death, right?

" "You can kill people in here?" Zhang Bing was shocked.

"It's just everyday food. Who dares to interfere?" Yu Lin said calmly. Although he tried to hide it, the superiority of someone in a high position was still evident in his eyes.

Perhaps, in the eyes of these young masters, the person on stage was just a pawn, a tool! Zhang Bing thought to himself, feeling somewhat saddened. The closer he got to the lives of these so-called upper-class people, the more he felt the tragedy of this society: humanity, morality, and the rule of law—the things they touted—had completely collapsed in their own circles. Only cold-bloodedness, self-interest, and brutality ran rampant here!

"Zhang Bing, what do you think of my man?" As Zhang Bing was deep in thought, Lin Tao looked at him with a sinister smile, looking smugly at the stage.

Zhang Bing knew that Lin Tao's revenge had come. Although he wasn't afraid, this wasn't his territory after all, so he smiled slightly respectfully, "Young Master Lin's capable henchman is certainly excellent, his Muay Thai is very good."

Lin Tao laughed loudly, "Tell me, what would have happened if I had brought him with me to the bar last time?"

Lin Tao was forcing him to bow his head, Zhang Bing understood, but he was unwilling. He smiled at Lin Tao, without answering.

"The result will definitely be that those two beauties turning into ugly monsters, right?" Lin Tao pressed on relentlessly, "And you, standing by, can only watch helplessly!"

Chapter 212 A reward of 10 million yuan

This is tantamount to saying that Zhang Bing is a gigolo, it's too much! Zhang Bing didn't expect his forbearance to be looked down upon by his opponent like this. If it were just him alone, it wouldn't matter, after all, his power is not as great as the other party's. However, today he appeared as Jiang Yan's boyfriend, and everyone knows that they have a close relationship. Losing face for him is losing face for the Jiang family. Zhang Bing is not sure how the Jiang family will view this matter, so he hesitated and dared not answer casually.

Seeing Zhang Bing's predicament, Yuan Zixuan put aside her resentment for the time being and said with a smile, "Lin Tao, we're just friends out drinking today, why talk about those things? It's all in the past!" In front of others, Yuan Zixuan never showed that domineering temper, and she gave Lin Tao a lot of face. These were the things she was taught from childhood.

Normally, Lin Tao would have readily agreed to Yuan Zixuan's every whim. However, today was a meticulously planned event. He needed to prove his pride in front of everyone. His defeat in Changxiang was a disgrace, something that had to be washed away—especially since his companions from that day were also present. If he let Zhang Bing off so easily, what would his other followers think? Therefore, he had no choice but to force Zhang Bing to submit, and that was the lightest punishment, considering Jiang Yan and Yuan Zixuan's feelings.

"Zixuan, don't interfere in men's affairs. I'll know what I'm doing," Lin Tao said to Yuan Zixuan, trying to sound as composed and gentle as possible. He felt uncomfortable seeing the woman he was pursuing speaking up for her rival, but he restrained himself. He knew Zixuan was a woman who responded better to gentleness than force.

Yuan Zixuan glanced at Lin Tao, then at Zhang Bing, and remained silent for a moment. She didn't need to intervene now; Lin Tao's meaning was clear—he wouldn't go too far. Besides, she wanted to see if Zhang Bing, the man she was physically infatuated with, was just a gigolo or if he actually had some skill.

Zixuan remained silent, Lin Jing was still drunk and dizzy, and the others were even less likely to speak. Jiang Yan was a universally acknowledged beauty in their circle, everyone's dream girl, and now she'd been snatched away by a nobody. Everyone was somewhat unhappy and determined to make Zhang Bing pay.

"Is Young Master Lin sure he wants my answer?" Zhang Bing, seeing there was no way to avoid it, steeled himself and asked with a smile.

Lin Tao didn't speak, but arrogantly held up his glass, staring at him with smugness.

"My answer is, no matter where you are, the result Young Master Lin wants won't happen; it will be the same as last time!" Zhang Bing raised his glass and clinked it against his in the air, slowly taking a sip of his premium vodka.

Lin Tao and his companions from the previous bar fight immediately sharpened their gazes, shooting towards Zhang Bing like arrows. A chill permeated the air, and not only those at their table but also the surrounding crowd felt the heavy atmosphere, all turning their attention in their direction. Zi Xuan was also taken aback by Zhang Bing's answer, looking at him with a mixture of admiration and worry, but remained silent.

Lin Tao stared at Zhang Bing, who was casually sipping his wine, for a long time, then chuckled, "Good, you have guts, I like it!"

He then pointed to the burly man on the stage, "It's said that Village Chief Zhang has fought many battles in Changxiang, and is highly skilled. Of course, he doesn't take this little Muay Thai fighter seriously. Come up on stage and let us broaden our horizons?"

"Why should I go up?" Zhang Bing rested his chin on his hand and grinned slyly, "Exercise requires energy loss, what kind of compensation is there?"

Lin Tao was speechless with anger; this guy was actually playing dumb.

"You win, our feud is wiped clean!" Lin Tao glared at him fiercely.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Bing gently shook his head, "In my opinion, we have no grudge at all! I'm a rather lazy person; I won't do anything without a benefit."

Seeing his subordinate killed by Lin Tao's men, Li Xuan suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with anger as he glared at the leisurely Lin Tao. The people sitting next to him also stood up with a bang.

The hall suddenly fell silent; a battle was about to break out. The

vast hall was completely silent. Li Xuan stood up angrily, and the group of young masters behind him also stood up. The man named Sima Rui looked like he was about to step forward and overturn the table, but was stopped by the skinny man standing next to him who had just teased him about being itchy. He pointed to Li Xuan, who was standing at the front, signaling him to calm down and see how Young Master Li would handle the situation.

Li Xuan wore a simple white shirt, black casual pants, and white casual leather shoes. His attire was quite understated, but his handsome face, coupled with his deep and reserved temperament, made him extremely attractive, even though his face was a bit chubby. At least, there were at least thirty women in the hall, their eyes thoughtfully observing him. Of course, it was unclear whether they were interested in him personally or in the power he represented.

Some people are simply destined to be without love.

Li Xuan remained silent, and the young men behind him dared not make a move. The others, though curious about his potential retaliation, could only think about it in their hearts, not daring to discuss it openly. They knew everyone here well; a single careless word could bring ruin upon themselves or their families.

Although fights were frequent at the Red Star Club, they rarely beat someone to death unless there was a deep-seated hatred. Li Xuan had long since lost the ability to fight back, but Li Rui's men persisted, delivering a heavy kick that knocked the man to the ground, killing him instantly. His head was shattered, brains spilling out—a gruesome sight. They were clearly trying to humiliate Li Xuan. The

expected outburst from Li Xuan did not occur. After a series of changes in expression, Li Xuan finally calmed down and gently sat back down in his original seat. Seeing Li Xuan sit down, the young men who had sat up with him had no reason to remain standing. A clattering sound of chairs being moved filled the air. Everyone sat down. Sima Rui grabbed a bottle of red wine from the table and smashed it onto the T-shaped stage. The shirtless man, who hadn't been subdued after the death, was still standing on the platform; no wonder Sima Rui couldn't resist taking his anger out on him. With a crisp bang, the wine bottle shattered, just like the impact of the man hitting the floor.

A flash of malice crossed the shirtless young man's eyes as he glanced in Sima Rui's direction, but dared not utter a sound of insult. No matter how strong one's body, life is quite fragile in the face of these privileged young men from prominent families. Maybe you can handle one, maybe ten, but what if an army appears?

Li Xuan originally wanted to back down. His opponent tonight was obviously well-prepared and might have fallen into a trap. He knew he was unprepared tonight and would lose face, so he would have to get back at a later time. Anyway, this place had become the stage for the duel, and they would meet again in a few days.

However, just as he was about to tell the others to leave, he noticed that Lin Tao and Zhang Bing were clashing. These young masters were all shrewd; Zhang Bing and Lin Tao's conversation hadn't been hushed up, so anyone paying attention could still hear it clearly amidst the loud music. He was delighted and stopped in his tracks, watching the situation unfold with great interest.

"Zhang Bing? The village chief? Related to the Jiang family? Someone Old Master Jiang admires?" At that moment, his subordinate brought over information about Zhang Bing. Looking at the mere piece of paper, Li Xuan was utterly shocked and even more interested in the conflict between the two, especially when Zhang Bing completely disregarded Lin Tao's intimidation and directly confronted him forcefully. Li Xuan waved his hand and led his men over.

"I bet 10 million on Zhang Shao to win!" Li Xuan smiled and waved a check, walking over with an air of nonchalance. He nodded slightly to Zhang Bing, "Zhang Bing, right? Nice to meet you, Li Xuan. I hope we can be friends!" He didn't even glance at Lin Jing, who was still clinging to Zhang Bing, as if he didn't know her. Lin Tao was

truly furious. Li Xuan, his defeated opponent, had also joined in the fun, and even got involved with Zhang Bing! He wasn't a fool. Zhang Bing was backed by the Jiang family, but he was confident that as long as he didn't seriously injure Zhang Bing, he could handle it. The Jiang family was always peaceful and wouldn't fight him for a small fry like Zhang Bing. After all, the power dynamics in the capital were complex and intertwined, and everyone had too many reservations. But with Li Xuan involved, things were different. If the Jiang and Li families joined forces, they could completely suppress him. If this small matter caused a ripple effect, leading the Jiang and Li families, who had always been independent in the capital, to unite, it wouldn't just be a matter of being scolded to death by his father when he got back; his family might be wiped out from the annals of history.

Lin Tao hesitated, staring fiercely at the smug Li Xuan. Not only had he lost all the advantage he had gained earlier, but he had also gained the upper hand over his opponent. All his plans and hard work for the night had gone down the drain. Lin Tao was extremely frustrated and troubled.

Zhang Bing paid no attention to his surroundings. After casually shaking hands with Li Xuan, he saw Li Xuan begin talking to Lin Tao. He was happy to relax and quietly sat down to drink. This wine was a rare find; it would be a waste to waste it. "

Mr. Yu, who is Li Xuan?" Zhang Bing asked Yu Lin beside him with a smile. "Li Xuan of the Li family, the son of the current Chairman of the National People's Congress," Yu Lin told him softly, pausing slightly when he said the name, making it sound weighty. At least, that's what he thought. "Does Lin Tao and Li Xuan have a conflict?" Zhang Bing asked curiously. A country is so big; everyone should just make their own money. Money can't be earned forever. There's no need for young masters of their caliber to fight so fiercely. “Once things start, they’re hard to stop. It started with a multi-billion dollar project. Both wanted it, and then a conflict arose. Since then, their clashes have been frequent. They’ve fought here at least ten times, one winning today, the other tomorrow, but before, there was always some room for compromise. This is the first time they’ve gone so far as to try and kill each other. It seems Young Master Lin is losing patience and wants to settle things,” Yu Lin whispered to Zhang Bing. The room was completely silent; he was afraid of being overheard. Although his background was respectable, he was still a level below these people. Even though he was low-key and had good relationships with many, he wasn’t afraid of anyone. It’s not the thief you should fear, but the one who holds a grudge. It’s never a good thing to be resented. Zhang Bing nodded and stopped asking questions. Asking too many questions can be tiresome. Besides, having your thoughts controlled is never a pleasant experience. Zhang Bing glanced at Lin Jing beside him. The girl's face, lightly powdered, was rosy. Due to excessive drinking, her movements were noticeably slow and uncontrolled, her expression somewhat dazed. She was staring at Li Xuan approaching with surprise, her eyes having lost their former sparkle, appearing drowsy. It was unexpected that she hadn't collapsed yet. The scene just now was so bloody that even those accustomed to seeing dead bodies felt nauseous. Waiters were cleaning up the corpses lying on the ground, and when someone used a shovel to lift the red and white objects, many women covered their mouths and gagged. If it were any other fight, one would end quickly and another would begin. However, today's conflict involved Lin Tao and Li Xuan. These two were prominent figures in Beijing's upper echelons, representing the younger generation. Their matter was unresolved, and even if others wanted to get involved or settle personal scores, they dared not interfere at this time. So, the runway suddenly emptied. The hall was also quiet, a stark contrast to its usual frenzied atmosphere. Although there was no intense performance, no one wanted to leave. Compared to a brutal, life-or-death struggle, this undercurrent of tension was just as alluring. Li Xuan, having suffered such a great humiliation, didn't vent his anger in public, but instead went to Lin Tao's table to confront him—that was exciting enough. But what was even more exciting was that Lin Tao, who had gained the upper hand, was now caught in a dilemma by a young man at his table teaming up with Li Xuan. The advantage he had just gained through a life-or-death struggle vanished in an instant, and now he was standing there, bewildered—truly unexpected. After some deliberation, Lin Tao decided to first break up his opponents' alliance. So he laughed, ignoring Li Xuan who was watching the spectacle, and sat down with feigned nonchalance, saying to Yuan Zixuan beside him, "Zixuan, tell me, should I resolve the internal conflicts first, or should we unite against external threats first?" Everyone was a sensible person, and upon hearing his words, Yuan Zixuan understood that Lin Tao wanted to ease the conflict with Zhang Bing, which was exactly what she hoped for. She quickly smiled and said, "The old saying 'to pacify the internal before resisting the external' has already been proven wrong by Chiang Kai-shek. Shouldn't we learn from this lesson?" She then smiled at Zhang Bing and said, "Zhang Bing, don't you think so?" Zhang Bing didn't insist on opposing Lin Tao. In his opinion, it was best for him to watch the two of them fight like dogs, and besides, he knew his own strength; he was simply not up to the task. He smiled, took a sip of his wine, and praised the fine brew, saying, "I don't care. I already said I have no grudge against Young Master Lin. Why bother him when there's nothing to worry about?" He had to maintain a certain facade; after all, he had been branded as a member of the Jiang family from the start. Losing his own face was fine, but representing the Jiang family meant he couldn't afford to lose their reputation. Perhaps Old Master Jiang was watching his every word and action right now. This was perfectly understandable; everyone heard the hint of reconciliation in Zhang Bing's words. His somewhat forced demeanor was also understandable—everyone was a public figure, and everyone had some pride. But some people didn't see it that way! "Kid, what's so great about a lousy village official? Our Young Master Lin is giving you face, don't you want to die?" This was a rich young man who had gone to Changxiang with Lin Tao last time. He knew Zhang Bing's background and had always looked down on him due to his long-standing arrogance. He couldn't help but want to help Lin Tao save face. In his view, Zhang Bing would eventually have to bow his head. Now that Young Master Lin was giving him such face, he had no reason not to accept it, even if he was scolded a few times. However, Zhang Bing's expression changed. He looked at Lin Tao, but showed no intention of apologizing. Instead, he smiled at the man and gave him a apology. "Heh, face is earned, not given. Even if you gave it to me, I wouldn't necessarily accept it!" Zhang Bing frowned coldly, giving the guy a provocative look. "Isn't it you who smashed a bottle for a little girl last time, leaving her bloodied? You deserved it!" When Zhang Bing raised his eyebrows, Zi Xuan knew something bad was about to happen, but it was too late to stop him. After Zhang Bing finished speaking, seeing the man about to grab the bottle and rush forward, Zi Xuan grabbed him. "Xiao Liu, what are you doing? Calm down! Don't cause trouble among your own people!" She was also speaking to Lin Tao, hoping he could calmly consider the situation. Unfortunately, Lin Tao had already lost his composure. Faced with the situation, he chose to support his brother and save face. The smile on his face vanished instantly, and he stared at Zhang Bing with a livid expression. "Zhang Bing, for Jiang Yan and Zi Xuan's sake, I don't want to fight. Think it through!"

“There’s nothing I can do. I can’t stand being insulted unless he apologizes right now!” Zhang Bing said with a smile. He was also very nervous, hoping that his actions met Old Master Jiang’s expectations. Everything he was doing now was based on his analysis of the Jiang family’s interests and style, and he couldn’t afford to make a single mistake.

“Who insulted you?” Lin Jing suddenly turned around and asked, looking completely bewildered. It seemed she hadn’t realized what had happened around her for a while; she was clearly quite drunk.

“Him,” Zhang Bing said, pointing at Xiao Liu.

“Then you should insult him too,” Lin Jing said dazedly, her face flushing more and more with the effects of the alcohol. Zhang Bing wondered if she was just talking nonsense.

“I don’t know how to insult people,” Zhang Bing said, shaking his head.

Lin Jing raised her head, thought for a moment, and then sighed. She said, "I don't know how to swear either. I promised Jiang Yan I'd take care of you, but I can't help you when you're being bullied. Why don't you kill him? You promised to take me with you to kill someone, now's the perfect time!"

"But... killing is illegal." Zhang Bing pinched Lin Jing's pretty little face and said with a smile. The girl's drunken foolishness was extremely cute. But this extremely intimate action made Li Xuan and his subordinates, who were secretly observing from the side, frown.

"But he just killed someone too. How come he's fine?" Lin Jing pointed at the big man who was still on the catwalk.

"Because he has a good master." Zhang Bing said with a smile.

The two of them talked as if no one else was around, which made Xiao Liu and Lin Tao, who were standing next to them, furious. They were being treated like dirt.

"I'll ask you one last time, Zhang Bing, which side do you choose?" Lin Tao laughed angrily, his voice sharp. Yuan Zixuan, who was next to him, knew something was wrong. Lin Tao had made up his mind to kill Zhang Bing.

“Unless you make him apologize to me first, he insulted me.” Zhang Bing persisted on the topic.

“Ungrateful.” Lin Tao curled his lip, said with a cold laugh, and then ignored him.

“Lin Tao—” Yuan Zixuan was anxious. Lin Tao was someone she wanted to use, and Zhang Bing was someone she admired. She didn’t want to lose either of them. She grabbed Lin Tao’s hand and whispered in his ear to persuade him.

Zhang Bing didn’t care. Although he was somewhat unhappy with Zixuan and Lin Tao’s intimate behavior, his relationship with Zixuan couldn’t be made public. He couldn’t and had no right to lash out. So, he kept the adorably drunken Lin Jing company, chatting drunkenly, while waiting for Lin Tao’s persuasion to yield results. He didn’t want to offend anyone unless absolutely necessary; he was too busy currying favor.

“Do you think I’m pretty?” Lin Jing asked, her eyes glazed with drunkenness. She rested one hand on Zhang Bing’s shoulder and tilted her head to look at him.

“Pretty.” Zhang Bing replied honestly.

"So, who's prettier, me or Jiang Yan?" Lin Jing's face was very close to his, no more than 20 centimeters apart. Her unique girlish scent filled his face, making him feel dizzy and infatuated. Even to outsiders, their posture was quite ambiguous.

Chapter 214 Choosing Sides

"Both are pretty." Zhang Bing smiled, thinking to himself that this girl was truly a beauty.

"You can only choose one." Lin Jing's face moved even closer, their noses almost touching.

"Jiang Yan is prettier." Zhang Bing chuckled, moving a little further away from her, not wanting others to gossip and let it reach Jiang Yan's ears.

"Ugh, can't you lie to me just once—" Lin Jing playfully punched Zhang Bing's chest, almost falling into his arms, her expression as ambiguous as could be.

"Women become more beautiful the more you look at them. I've known Jiang Yan for so long, of course I think she's prettier than you, hehe." Zhang Bing lied, anyway, this girl was drunk, and he wouldn't remember lying tomorrow.

“Hmm, that makes sense. No wonder my dad always says my mom is getting prettier and prettier, hehe!” Lin Jing leaned her head on Zhang Bing’s shoulder without any hesitation. “Jiang Yan will only be in Changxiang for a month, right? Starting tomorrow, I want you to stay with me for a month, and then we’ll compare ourselves to Jiang Yan, okay?”

“No problem!”

“No cheating, okay? Come on, pinky promise!” Lin Jing grabbed Zhang Bing’s hand without waiting for a reply, muttering, “Pinky promise, I’ll hang myself, it’ll last a hundred years! Haha.”

Zhang Bing smiled wryly, letting her play with him. This girl was really funny; she was so old and still believed in these childish tricks.

――――――

However, before Zhang Bing could get a signal of reconciliation from Lin Tao, someone came to disrupt things.

“Zhang Bing, Jing’er.” Li Xuan walked up to the two of them with a smile and called out.

Zhang Bing looked up, smiling at Li Xuan, then at Lin Jing, and asked, “Do you two know each other?”

“Who wants to talk to him? He’s always bothering me!” Lin Jing remained leaning against Zhang Bing and muttered.

Zhang Bing immediately realized something was wrong. He'd sensed something was off when Li Xuan called out to Jing'er; people wouldn't be so intimate. He smiled and helped Lin Jing's head up, glancing at Lin Tao's unchanged expression. He then smiled at Li Xuan and said, "Young Master Li, you're not still going to give me that 10 million check, are you?"

"Young Master Li, please sit down." Yu Lin stood up and offered him his chair.

"Thank you, Young Master Yu. Your company is doing very well lately; I'm envious." Li Xuan smiled at Yu Lin.

"You flatter me, Young Master Li." Yu Lin smiled modestly.

Li Xuan smiled and put the check into Zhang Bing's pocket. "It's exactly what I wanted to give you, brother. Consider it a small gift, whether you go to the ring or not." Li Xuan sat down next to Zhang Bing, his face beaming.

"Hehe, you really are a big shot, quite generous indeed. Then Zhang Bing won't stand on ceremony." Zhang Bing said with a chuckle. Sometimes, talking to a man can be just as interesting as talking to a woman. With women, it's about romance; with men, it's about strategy.

"How about it? Interested in going up on stage for a bit?" Li Xuan nodded at the man on the T-shaped stage, asking with a smile, "I've heard you once faced three knife-wielding thugs and quickly dispatched them, without even getting hurt yourself."

"Oh? Young Master Li's information network is truly impressive!" Zhang Bing sincerely praised, suppressing his inner thoughts and giving Li Xuan an even higher evaluation; this was a very capable fellow.

"Hehe, at our level, we can generally get some information, after all, you're so famous in Changxiang, brother!" Li Xuan laughed and readily admitted, staring at Zhang Bing, "Go ahead, I'm really looking forward to seeing your skills, brother."

"Oh, you can't handle your men?" Zhang Bing remained noncommittal; he wanted to see the man's magnanimity.

Li Xuan smiled wryly, touched the tip of his nose, and said, "They clearly wanted to humiliate me today. You've been here for a while, you should have seen it. My men are already incapacitated, yet they still relentlessly pursue them—I can't swallow this insult."

Li Xuan calmly gazed at the man on the stage who refused to come down without his master's order, and sighed softly, "I have to admit, that guy is quite capable; my men are no match for him. So, if you can help me with this, I would be extremely grateful. Losing is fine too; I promise I won't let you get hurt."

Zhang Bing picked up the wine glass on the table again, swirling it gently in his hand, but didn't drink it. As if he had forgotten to answer, he swirled it for a long time without giving Li Xuan any reply.

Li Xuan wasn't in a hurry, calmly looking at Zhang Bing, patiently waiting for his response.

"Don't worry, I will repay the favor, whether it's yours or the Jiang family's," Li Xuan said firmly after a long while.

Li Xuan shifted his gaze, making sure he was looking directly at Zhang Bing instead of at an angle, and said earnestly, "Living in this world means constantly having to make choices. In simple terms, it's about choosing sides. Choose the right side, and you'll rise to prominence; choose the wrong side, and you'll be doomed. I like making friends, and I believe we can cooperate well."

"Wouldn't it be better if I chose to watch the show?" Zhang Bing smiled.

"No," Li Xuan shook his head, "Do you think you can stand by and watch in your current situation? Even if Lin Tao lets you off tonight, it's hard to say what will happen next. I think you know his motives."

"I'm just a small farmer, here in Beijing to entertain the leaders," Zhang Bing said, half-jokingly.

"Zhang Bing, you should be able to feel my sincerity. Think it over carefully. If you're not willing, I won't force you. I'll invite you for drinks again tomorrow." Li Xuan smiled, stood up, nodded to Yu Lin and the others, and turned to walk back to his previous seat.

"Wait," Zhang Bing called softly, putting down his glass and calling out to Li Xuan's back, "How do you want him to die?"

"Burn to smithereens," Li Xuan turned around, grinning at Zhang Bing. The smile was utterly devoid of warmth, sending a chill down the spine of the arrogant man who had stood on the T-shaped stage. He knew that in Zhang Bing's eyes, he was nothing more than a small worm.

Zhang Bing nodded, put down his glass, and turned to the bewildered Lin Jing, saying, "I'm a man who doesn't like to break promises. I promised you that when I kill someone, I'll take you with me. Now, it's time for me to keep my promise."

"Zhang Bing—" Yuan Zixuan saw Zhang Bing actually walk onto the stage and quickly tried to stop him.

Zhang Bing stopped her, "Thank you for your kindness, Zixuan. You've seen what happened. I didn't want to cause trouble, but others won't let me go, and there's nothing I can do. I don't want to be seen as someone who always hides behind women."

Yuan Zixuan stammered, glancing at Lin Tao, whose face was still ashen and burning with anger, and sighed softly.

Zhang Bing smiled gently at Yuan Zixuan, then stood up and walked innocently towards the T-shaped stage.

Most of the conversation between Zhang Bing and Li Xuan went unheard, but Zhang Bing's final question, "How do you want him to die?" to which Li Xuan replied, "Burn him to smithereens," was clearly heard by everyone in the hall. They understood that Li Xuan had gone to fetch reinforcements, and those reinforcements were this seemingly honest and unassuming man.

Knowing that a new round of fighting was imminent, the audience could no longer remain seated. Some began to whisper among themselves, and then others followed suit, until everyone in the hall was whispering.

Everyone had witnessed the skills of the shirtless man; his methods of killing were exceptionally cruel, smashing people's heads against the floor until skulls shattered and brains splattered. Although they didn't know the skill level of this seemingly honest man, from his appearance—he was just a pretty boy. Going to be a gigolo, a prostitute, a gigolo, or a chrysanthemum seller would be fine, but why did he have to come here and learn to fight? Did he have a death wish?

Many women in the audience, upon seeing Zhang Bing's face, began to worry for him, but many more cheered him on.

Although Zhang Bing knew underground boxing was lucrative, he had never done it. Now, walking towards the fighting stage in front of everyone, the blood in Zhang Bing's veins began to boil—a man should kill, everyone wanted to crush their opponent in the most explosive way, then leave a pile of dung on their head—it felt great, it felt cool.

Zhang Bing leisurely walked onto the stage, glanced at his opponent standing before him, and said with a smile, "Someone asked me to blast you to smithereens. I agreed."

"Going to your death," the shirtless man, revealing lean muscles, said disdainfully.

"Fine, I don't want to waste time talking to a dead man. Come here and let me punch you a few times, then you lie down obediently so I can go back and sleep with my woman." Zhang Bing impatiently beckoned to the man who spoke broken Chinese and seemed to be Thai.

"Wait." Someone shouted from below the stage.

Zhang Bing turned to look at the audience. Lin Tao casually stood up from his chair and slowly walked towards the T-shaped stage.

Li Rui walked onto the T-shaped stage, came to Zhang Bing's side, and asked, "Do you know what it means for you to be standing on the stage at this time? Are you sure you want to be my enemy?"

"Yes. Someone reminded me." Lin Feng said with a smile.

Chapter 215 Violent Aesthetics

Lin Tao stared at Lin Feng for a while and nodded. "Very good. One last question. Are you representing yourself, or someone else?"

Lin Tao's eyes were filled with murderous intent when he said this.

"You know my situation, I'm just a small fry. I can only represent myself." Lin Feng still smiled. He knew this was the answer Lin Tao wanted.

"That's good." Lin Tao felt relieved, turned around and walked towards the audience. He said to the man behind him, "Kill him."

"Zhang Bing, good luck, defeat that bad guy. I'll film your video and take it back to show Jiang Yan—" The vodka was too strong, and Lin Jing was very drunk. She was completely unaware of how loud she was shouting. Under normal circumstances, she would never have said such a thing. Alcohol and women are both poisons, and for a woman to drink alcohol is like adding poison to poison.

As Lin Jing shouted loudly, a camera with video recording capabilities appeared in her hand, filming the stage. Lin Jing's unrestrained cheering left Yu Lin and his group exchanging bewildered glances, unsure what to do: they were all at the same table, supposedly on their own, so why were they suddenly splitting into two opposing factions, each cheering for the other? Moreover, as the granddaughter of the head of the General Staff, the Lin family wielded considerable influence, and Lin Jing herself was favored by many senior leaders. Now, she was openly siding with Zhang Bing, leaving Yu Lin and the others at a loss.

However, Lin Jing's words stirred the minds of the other audience members. She mentioned the name of a woman equally renowned in Beijing: Jiang Yan, rumored to soon become the beloved daughter of one of the most powerful families in the country, and a stunning beauty celebrated throughout the capital.

Zhang Bing stood on the stage, pondering how to quickly eliminate the Thai boxer. He knew his own limitations. He could take a beating; he was strong enough. But his opponent wasn't an ordinary person. A professionally trained boxer wasn't someone he could easily handle with just superhuman strength. He had to find a way to exploit his opponent's weaknesses and finish the fight quickly.

Having decided, Zhang Bing decided to first underestimate his opponent to provoke him, then launch a surprise attack and take him down in one fell swoop. He beckoned to the Thai man, who had received Lin Tao's orders to 'kill' him, and said contemptuously, "Hey, big guy, I don't like Thai guys coming to China. Come on, let me give you a couple of punches."

The Thai man clearly understood Zhang Bing's words. His already somewhat sunken eye sockets twitched, a fierce glint flashing in them. Then he began circling around Zhang Bing, looking for an opportunity to attack.

"Stop circling. I won't move, you can hit me," Zhang Bing said impatiently. Knowing his own limitations, Zhang Bing was still struggling to find openings. If he got bogged down in a prolonged fight and let his energy wane, he'd only be a punching bag. It was better to let his opponent attack freely, then risk injury to obliterate him.

The Thai man was visibly startled. Seeing Zhang Bing standing there with a relaxed stance, showing no intention of retaliating, he didn't want to miss the opportunity. He twisted sharply to the left, his right fist hurtling towards Zhang Bing.

Zhang Bing had studied boxing in college and knew that Muay Thai was known for its right straight punch—a simple yet powerful style, achieved through body twisting and a forward kick, resulting in a powerful and fast right punch.

To lull his opponent into a false sense of security, Zhang Bing decided to dodge the first few punches. He nimbly sidestepped, but just as he regained his footing, the Thai man launched a barrage of left hooks towards his chin, which he again hastily dodged.

Although the Thai man missed both of his punches, he forced Zhang Bing back several steps. It was clear this Chinese man lacked professional training; he might just be a show-off. Zhang Bing's expression brightened, and he relaxed considerably. Aiming at Zhang Bing's position, he charged forward, his knee raised high, aiming a powerful knee strike for Zhang Bing's abdomen.

Zhang Bing dodged the Thai man's attack again, and the audience erupted in cheers and applause, as if victory were already upon them.

When the Thai man attacked again, throwing a straight punch, ready to press his advantage, Zhang Bing suddenly retaliated, throwing a straight punch at his opponent. With a crack, the Thai man's arm cracked, and he groaned in pain, his right hand hanging limply. His right wrist was clearly broken.

Zhang Bing smiled smugly and threw another straight punch. The Thai man, already aware of his power, retreated hastily until he reached the edge of the platform, with nowhere left to go. He turned to run off the platform—but Zhang Bing wouldn't allow it. He accelerated forward and threw another straight punch at the back of the Thai man's head, devoid of any skill or speed, even his stance was rather clumsy, relying solely on brute force!

Bang!

The Thai man crashed forward, his head slamming into the hard granite floor, shattering into pieces like a watermelon falling to the ground, red and white matter spraying out once more.

Zhang Bing felt nauseous at his first kill, but he forced himself to remain calm. He knew that tonight, his name would enter the sights of everyone in Beijing's aristocratic circles. Men, especially successful men, must be strong and ruthless! A

deathly silence fell over the hall for a moment, then erupted once more into a cacophony of shouts and applause. Clumsy stance and terrifying power—these two completely incompatible elements became Zhang Bing's trademark of violent aesthetics. This unique, starkly contrasting beauty of mechanics further ignited the blood in people's veins. Having learned from their previous experience, the young women seemed immune to the sight of something resembling red and white tofu pudding with watermelon juice, and they started yelling and flirting with Zhang Bing. Now, they forgot about the political implications; they were like gladiators, simply enjoying the violence that exposed their inner brutality.

Li Xuan's men were the loudest, not only shouting but also banging cups and bottles on the table. Unless witnessed firsthand, it was unimaginable that these usually aloof young masters would act so indistinguishably from ordinary people. Even Li Xuan himself clapped with a broad smile—he was extremely pleased with his own judgment and foresight. Not only had he recruited an ally from Lin Tao's camp, but he had also used this ally to regain face and launch a strong counterattack against Lin Tao, which was truly gratifying. He felt he had never done anything so well,

and the more he looked at Zhang Bing on stage, the more pleasing she seemed. In stark contrast to the lively commotion around him, those around Lin Tao were deathly silent. The group that had been happily drinking after Zhang Bing went on stage had now split into two groups. Not only had Yu Lin and Lin Jing sided with Zhang Bing, but even Yuan Zixuan hesitated for a moment before leaving Lin Tao to sit next to Lin Jing. Several other young masters who had assessed the situation were also present. Li Xuan was right; every moment in life was about choosing sides. Choosing the right side led to meteoric success; choosing the wrong side led to utter ruin. Fortune changes every 500 years; the power struggles in the capital had never ceased. Every individual and family had to rely on their own insight to make timely judgments. These young masters might indulge in debauchery in ordinary times, but in crucial moments, they had to be calm and decisive—this was their sole mission.

No one spoke around Lin Tao; everyone's face was grim. Sitting at the front, Lin Tao calmly sipped his red wine, but the vicious glint in his eyes as he occasionally glanced at Zhang Bing on stage betrayed his inner thoughts.

After receiving applause and congratulations from the audience, Zhang Bing gracefully stepped off the stage. Yu Lin saw Zhang Bing walking towards him, his heart filled with mixed feelings of joy and worry. He was happy that it wasn't Zhang Bing who had collapsed on the stage; otherwise, he wouldn't know how to explain it to the Jiang family and Jiang Yan, since he had initiated this gathering and had a responsibility to ensure everyone's safety. He was worried because Zhang Bing had become involved in the struggle between Li Xuan and Lin Tao, which could lead to future dangers. He himself had been forced to distance himself from Lin Tao, and in reality, he wasn't on Li Xuan's side. His choice rested entirely with the Jiang family, but he had no idea whether they would accept him, how Li Xuan would view him, or how Lin Tao would deal with him—he didn't even know whether he should greet him with a smile or reprimand him with a sorrowful expression—as Zhang Bing approached. All eyes were on them, and the slightest misstep in expression would be remembered by those with ulterior motives—he couldn't afford to offend either side, and he certainly couldn't make any actions or expressions that would provoke either of them.

Yu Lin felt this way, and Yuan Zixuan felt it even more so. Moreover, she was even more awkward than Yu Lin. After all, in everyone's eyes, she was Lin Tao's girlfriend, and there had been some intentional or unintentional attempts to bring them together. However, when Zhang Bing went on stage to break up with Lin Tao, she didn't know why, but inexplicably, she stood next to the excitedly shouting Lin Jing, just like Yu Lin. She was somewhat silent and gloomy, but occasionally, when she glanced at the heroic figure of Zhang Bing on stage, a hint of infatuation and admiration would flash across her face.

Chapter 216 A Pleasant Cooperation

Zhang Bing, completely oblivious to the gazes directed at him, casually sat back in his original seat, grabbed a glass of Evian mineral water from the table, and gulped it down. This water was probably something they had gotten to help Lin Jing sober up. After running onto the stage and putting on a fight, he was actually quite thirsty—if he was going to act fearless and magnanimous, he should go all the way, so as not to embarrass Old Master Jiang. Zhang Bing thought that's how a soldier should think.

"Zhang Bing, you're amazing! I hereby declare that you are my idol." Lin Jing suddenly threw herself into his arms and kissed him on the cheek without any hesitation. "This is a reward for Jiang Yan, hehe!"

Yuan Zixuan sighed softly. She wished she could have been the one to act like that, but it was impossible—this bastard, how could he have so easily stolen her heart and soul? She had to teach him a lesson next time!

"Zhang Bing, I advise you to leave Beijing as soon as possible." Yu Lin said calmly. Although he was not at all calm inside, he had to make sure that his face was completely calm. He couldn't be biased, nor could he lean to one side.

"Why?" Zhang Bing asked with a smile.

"Just look at Lin Tao's face." Yu Lin used the opportunity of drinking to cover his face with his glass, so that others could not see what he was saying.

Even without looking, Zhang Bing knew Lin Tao's face must be incredibly dark. How could princes like them understand the feeling of being attacked? Even someone as composed as Li Xuan couldn't suppress his anger after his man was brutally murdered on the spot, and he humbly came to ask Zhang Bing to help him get revenge. How much more so would someone as narrow-minded as Lin Tao? Of course, if Lin Tao were more magnanimous, Zhang Bing would be on his side tonight. A man's magnanimity determines his future achievements. After comparing the options, Zhang Bing chose the one most suitable for him.

"Haha, I already guessed this outcome," Zhang Bing said with a smile, ultimately not considering that possibility. He respected Yu Lin's advice and didn't want to provoke Lin Tao too much; if he were driven to desperation, he might do anything.

Yu Lin sighed softly. “Zhang Bing, I saw it just now, your skills are indeed impressive. But, as a good friend, I still want to remind you to leave Beijing. Survival of the fittest; the fierce competition here will exceed your imagination. Relying solely on Jiang Yan's protection, you'll find it difficult to survive.”

“Okay. Thank you, I'll leave immediately.” Zhang Bing nodded to Yu Lin. This man's words at this time were already more than enough, and if his actions didn't gain the Jiang family's approval, he'd have no choice but to leave quickly for safety.

Yu Lin stopped speaking, his eyes turning playfully towards Lin Tao. Lin Tao had already put down his cup and was leading a group of people towards them. The cheers and discussions in the room ceased again, falling into a deathly silence once more, broken only by the sound of Lin Tao's shoes clicking on the floor.

Zhang Bing tried his best to remain calm, leaning comfortably back in his chair, his eyes playfully surveying Lin Tao and his group as they approached. While Lin Tao's face remained expressionless, the group of arrogant and unruly men behind him were far less forgiving, not even bothering to conceal their anger, glaring at Zhang Bing with furious expressions. Some were even itching to fight Zhang Bing, but the memory of how easily this man had dispatched a master made them hesitant.

Lin Tao stopped a meter away from Zhang Bing, scrutinizing him for a moment before speaking, "I'll ask you again, do you represent yourself, or the Jiang family?"

"I'm just a lowly soldier, with only my own worthless life," Zhang Bing said calmly, hoping that Old Master Jiang would applaud his words; otherwise, his efforts tonight would have been in vain.

"So, you still represent yourself?" Lin Tao, provoked by Zhang Bing's composure, felt his anger rising uncontrollably, his face darkening.

“Yes. But I’m working for him.” Zhang Bing gestured with her mouth towards Jiang Bolin and said with a smile.

“I don’t care who you are, from now on, you are my enemy.” Lin Tao said firmly.

“We should have been friends, but unfortunately—” Zhang Bing shrugged.

“And you guys, are you really going to stand on this outsider village chief’s side?” Lin Tao ignored Zhang Bing and looked at Zi Xuan, Yu Lin, and Lin Jing with a cold expression, his eyes practically spitting fire.

It's no wonder he harbored even more resentment towards Zhang Bing. These three were his longtime friends, whom he had known since childhood. Their status wasn't much lower than his family's, and the families had always maintained a good relationship. Yuan Zixuan, in particular, was his childhood sweetheart, and he had long considered her his girlfriend, which was why he had always been so accommodating to her. However, at this crucial moment, Yuan Zixuan suddenly distanced herself from him, making him lose face completely. This was even more humiliating than losing the duel on stage to Zhang Bing. Not only had he lost a major hope for his family's support, but rumors would also circulate in the circle that he couldn't keep his woman. His prestige and influence in front of others would greatly decline. How could he not be furious?

Yu Lin and Yuan Zixuan both lowered their heads and drank in silence, not wanting to provoke Lin Tao, and they didn't know what to say. However, the charmingly drunk Lin Jing didn't have so many scruples. She looked up at the angry Lin Tao and shouted, "Hey, who are you? What's with all this 'over there'? We're having a good time drinking, don't block our way, okay?" It was as if she had said that dogs don't block the way.

Lin Tao was furious, his face turning ashen. He wanted to explode, but he was afraid of losing face. After all, arguing with a drunk girl would be a laughing stock, and besides, her family wasn't someone to be trifled with. He really couldn't do anything about her, so he could only glare at her fiercely before turning and leading his group towards the hall entrance. After what had happened, there was no need for them to stay in this awkward place any longer.

Lin Jing, probably inspired by Zhang Bing's bravery on stage, felt a surge of military tradition. Seeing Lin Tao glaring at her, she stood up, ready to argue with him, even looking like she was about to throw a punch. Luckily, Zhang Bing reacted quickly and restrained her, stopping the fight. After Lin

Tao left, it was as if the danger alarm in the room had suddenly been lifted. The previously silent audience erupted into heated discussion again, glancing frequently in Zhang Bing's direction. Tonight's events were incredibly juicy: a duel between two princes, the addition of a mysterious man, the support of a beautiful woman, and Zi Xuan's betrayal—it was more exciting than the most captivating novel! Thanks to Zhang Bing, he once again filled the emptiness in people's spiritual world.

After Lin Tao left, Li Xuanli walked towards Zhang Bing with a glass of red wine. This time, he wasn't alone; his entire table of young masters had come, all with beaming faces.

Jiang Bolin took two clean glasses, poured two glasses of red wine, handed one to Zhang Bing, and said with a smile, "Come on, let's have a drink. Happy cooperation."

Zhang Bing knew his purpose in doing this. He wanted to demonstrate their close relationship in front of everyone, or more precisely, to drag the Jiang family into the mess, and in front of hundreds of prominent figures in Beijing. Of course, this was exactly what Zhang Bing wanted. Now that things had come to this, he had to tie himself to Li Xuanli's chariot—of course, all of this depended on the Jiang family acknowledging Zhang Bing's existence; if they didn't, then everything was meaningless. But regardless, Li Xuanli hadn't lost anything. He had already gained tonight. Even without the Jiang family's alliance, Zhang Bing's personal involvement had enraged his opponents and divided their camps. He was the biggest winner, sitting comfortably on the sidelines.

Zhang Bing raised his glass and clinked it with Jiang Qilin's, smiling as he said, "Pleasant cooperation."

The two simultaneously tilted their heads back and drained their glasses, then burst into laughter, a display of mutual respect between two powerful figures.

"How about we go somewhere else to drink?" Li Xuan smiled at Zhang Bing; it wasn't convenient to talk here. Since the gesture had already been made, there was no need to stay and let others watch.

Zhang Bing glanced at Lin Jing, who sat obediently beside him, her face flushed and eyes glazed, and said with a smile, "I'm afraid not today."

Li Xuan naturally noticed Zhang Bing's gaze on Lin Jing and felt it necessary to let Zhang Bing know about his relationship with Lin Jing. He quickly reached out to support Lin Jing's shoulder and gently asked, "Xiao Jing, you've had too much to drink. Should I take you home now?"

Unexpectedly, Lin Jing completely ignored him, swatting his hand away and frowning coquettishly, "Ugh, what are you doing in the way? Zhang Bing and I are drinking. Go do whatever you want."

This dismissal left Li Xuan extremely embarrassed, but he was already used to Lin Jing's... Knowing that Lin Jing often acted impulsively, he wasn't angry. He smiled and said to Zhang Bing, "Hehe, Xiao Jing is just that spoiled and adorable. We're used to it, so please don't laugh at me, Young Master Zhang." Then, changing his tone, he added, "Since Xiao Jing wants you to drink with her, then I'll trouble you, Young Master Zhang, to take good care of her for me. Call me if you need anything."

Zhang

Bing nodded with a smile. He didn't care about the implication in Li Xuan's words. The waters in Beijing were already murky enough. He had a mountain of romantic entanglements, and Yuan Zixuan was glaring at him with resentment and anger. Naturally, he wouldn't provoke Lin Jing.

"Alright, I'll host a welcome dinner for Brother Lin at Zhonghua Restaurant tomorrow at noon. Please do me the honor of joining me. I'll introduce you to some friends," Li Xuan invited sincerely.

"Okay. Thank you in advance, Young Master Li," Zhang Bing nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll take my leave. Although I know Brother Lin is highly skilled, I still want to remind you to be careful." Li Xuan nodded to Yu Lin and the others, then led his group out.

"What about you guys?" Zhang Bing turned to Yu Lin with a smile.

"If you're alright, we can go back too. We'll take you home; it'll put our minds at ease." Yu Lin said with a wry smile. Today's events had left him feeling uneasy.

Zhang Bing thought for a moment and said, "You guys wait a bit before you go. I'll go first; Lin Jing will come with you."

"No. I want to ride back in your car. I promised Jiang Yan I'd take good care of you." Lin Jing, who had been half-asleep and looked like she couldn't even keep her eyes open, suddenly spoke up.

Zhang Bing smiled wryly. You got yourself drunk as soon as you arrived; how are you going to take care of me? But she was kind enough to say that, so he smiled and said, "Alright, I'll take her home first. If you're free tonight, stay a while longer."

"I'll have someone take you." Yu Lin knew Zhang Bing didn't have a car in Beijing. He had sent someone to pick him up when they arrived, so he would naturally be responsible for the return trip.

"Okay." Zhang Bing nodded.

After saying that, Zhang Bing helped Lin Jing up and left under the watchful eyes of many. Tonight's excitement in the capital city has temporarily come to an end.

"Zixuan, do me a favor and call your family to make some arrangements. Right now, only your grandfather can barely ensure this kid's safety on his way home, especially since Lin Jing is in the car." Yu Lin watched Zhang Bing and Jiang Jing's departing figures, hesitated for a moment before speaking to Yuan Zixuan. "Jiang Yan is our friend, and we invited him out tonight; we can't let anything happen to him."

"Don't worry, the Jiang family should have everything arranged!" Only Yuan Zixuan truly understood Zhang Bing's importance to Jiang Yan, so she wasn't worried about the Jiang family's protection. Seeing Yu Lin's continued concern, she smiled and said, "Even if we take it another way, with Lin Jing in the car, Lin Tao won't dare to act recklessly. He's not that bold."

Reminded by Yuan Zixuan, Yu Lin couldn't help but laugh. "Hehe, I didn't think it through; I worried for nothing."

"However, this guy still has a conscience; he knew to tell us not to go with him, afraid of implicating us. Humph!" Yuan Zixuan smiled, watching Zhang Bing's departing figure. That last hum left Yu Lin somewhat confused. Only she knew that she was clearly jealous: why was he supporting Lin Jing instead of her?

It was late at night, and the wind was strong outside. As soon as Zhang Bing stepped outside, a cool breeze enveloped his entire body. This natural breeze was much more comfortable than the air conditioning inside. Lin Jing shivered slightly, as if she was a little cold. Then, feeling Zhang Bing's warmth, she leaned closer to him.

Perhaps it was Yu Lin's arrangement, but the driver who had picked Zhang Bing up was already waiting by the car. Seeing Zhang Bing come out, he quickly opened the car door for him. Zhang Bing smiled at him. He glanced back at the sign of the Mad Dragon Club surrounded by a ring of flashing lights, then helped Lin Jing into the car.

Zhang Bing helped Lin Jing sit up straight, then nestled back in the soft backrest. He touched his face, leaning back to reflect on the day's events and consider his next steps.

"What are you looking at?" Zhang Bing suddenly turned around, smiling at Lin Jing. She had woken up as soon as she got in the car, her big eyes fixed intently on her profile.

"Looking at you," Lin Jing said in a slightly hoarse voice. The liquor was too strong, it had hurt her throat.

"What's so interesting about me?" Zhang Bing asked, touching her face.

"Jiang Yan has quite good taste," Lin Jing said, making a strange remark. Her eyes were closing again, her long eyelashes fluttering, and she fell asleep on Zhang Bing's shoulder. This woman really has no guile at all. Isn't she afraid that he might take her to a hotel halfway through? After all, he's a man.

Originally, the driver was heading towards the Changxiang Liaison Office in Beijing, and Lin Jing said it would be safer to take Zhang Bing home first, but halfway there, Zhang Bing suddenly told the driver to turn around and head towards the Xiangshan Villa. Jiang Yan hadn't come today, nor had she called. Zhang Bing tried calling her but

couldn't get through. He was worried something serious might have happened and wanted to go check on her. Lin Jing was also staying at the General Staff Villa, so he decided to take her home first. There were no incidents along the way, and the car smoothly entered the villa. Zhang Bing had a special pass given to him by Old Master Jiang, so the journey was unimpeded, stopping right at the entrance of the Jiang family's courtyard.

Old Master Jiang's secretary, Secretary Zhang, opened the door. She was initially surprised to see Zhang Bing, but immediately shook his hand warmly and said quickly in a low voice, "Keep your voice down, Old Master Jiang is ill."

Zhang Bing was startled. No wonder he hadn't heard from Jiang Yan; now he understood. But he didn't ask further. Secretary Zhang was extremely tight-lipped; her prior warning was already commendable. He guessed it was out of consideration for Jiang Yan; asking more would only be annoying.

He told the driver to wait in the yard, and Zhang Bing tiptoed into the house. The entire Jiang family was there, anxiously discussing the old man's condition in the living room.

Seeing Zhang Bing enter, Jiang Yan forced an apologetic smile and gestured for him to sit down beside her. The others ignored him, continuing their discussion.

Zhang Bing, being well-mannered, wasn't offended by the Jiang family's disrespect. He knew the old man's status within the family; everyone was naturally anxious about his critical condition. The Jiang family's treatment of him proved they didn't consider him an outsider, so he simply listened quietly without interrupting.

"Amitabha, Benefactor Zhang has arrived? Good, things have taken a turn for the better!" Just as Zhang Bing was quietly listening, a mature voice came from upstairs. Zhang Bing looked up and saw Master Hulun's lean and wiry figure before him.

Hearing Master Hulun's words, the Jiang family all stopped their discussion and looked at Zhang Bing.

"Master, what do you mean by that? What does Grandpa's illness have to do with Zhang Bing?" Jiang Yan, lacking the composure of the others, was anxious about her grandfather's condition and quickly asked.

“Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha said, it cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken.” The master smiled and turned to walk back. “You wait here, I’ll go back and discuss it with the old man.”

A moment later, Master Hulun came downstairs and beckoned Zhang Bing over, ignoring the questions from the others.

Upon arriving at the old man’s room, the other medical staff greeted them and left, leaving only the old man, his face contorted in pain, and Zhang Bing.

“Divine power? But, Master—” Upon hearing Master Hulun say he would use his divine power to heal the old man, Zhang Bing’s head drooped, and he dared not speak. The old man’s illness was simply old age and weakness, with internal organ dysfunction. According to Master Hulun, Zhang Bing’s divine power, through specific acupoint massage, could have miraculous effects, guaranteeing the old man’s health for a year.

After Zhang Bing haltingly recounted what had happened that evening, the old man, who had been battling his illness with his eyes closed, finally spoke up, praising, "Good, Zhang Bing, you handled this very well!"

"But, the divine power has already been used once, and according to the master, it can't be used again—" Facing the old man, Zhang Bing couldn't bring himself to say it, but he had to explain.

Fortunately, seeing Zhang Bing's embarrassment, Master Hulun offered to explain, informing the old man of the unique nature of divine power, thus relieving Zhang Bing's predicament.

"However, don't worry, if my old eyes aren't failing me, the divine power within Benefactor Zhang is still there; we can give it a try." Master Hulun ended his explanation with a surprised remark, leaving the other two speechless. Even the old man, with his composure, revealed curiosity in the face of this unknown divine power.

"This monk can only offer my congratulations again, Benefactor Zhang!" Master Hulun said with a broad smile, his mood excellent. "The characteristic I mentioned earlier refers to the location of the first level of the Joyful Buddha's cultivation technique. For some reason, Benefactor Zhang's progress has been incredibly rapid, and he has now reached the second level. His divine power can last for a month, or be used three times consecutively—this is truly a blessing for both of you!" Master Hulun himself was even happier.

Half an hour later, Zhang Bing emerged from the old man's room, sweating profusely, and beckoned Jiang Yongnian, who was pacing anxiously outside, to come in.

Downstairs, Jiang Yan and her mother were still in the living room.

Zhang Bing said apologetically to them, "Why aren't you asleep yet? Staying up late is the enemy of a beautiful woman." His words flattered both of them, earning Jiang Yan a glare.

"How is Grandpa? Is his condition stable?" Jiang Yan asked anxiously. Her mother also looked at Zhang Bing with concern.

"Don't worry, the old man is fine now. He'll be even healthier tomorrow after a night's rest. That's what Master Hulun said." Zhang Bing told them the good news with a smile, but he still kept a secret, only saying that it was Master Hulun who said it. In case things weren't like this, he could shirk responsibility, since everything was orchestrated by Master Hulun.

"Ah—that's good, I can finally relax." Jiang Yan breathed a long sigh of relief and then asked Zhang Bing, "How was your evening? Where's Lin Jing? Didn't I ask her to keep you company?"

Zhang Bing then remembered that Lin Jing was still in the car outside. He wiped his sweat, smiled wryly, and pointed outside, saying, "She's still in the car outside. She's drunk. I was so busy earlier that I forgot about her."

"Uh—then hurry up and bring her in!" The three of them rushed to the door. Fortunately, the driver and the car were still there; they hadn't just abandoned Lin Jing and run away.

Because Jiang Yan and her mother were present, Zhang Bing couldn't easily carry Lin Jing out. The principle of men and women not touching each other was taken very seriously by some, and Zhang Bing wasn't sure what the Jiang family thought.

"Oh dear, she's never drunk alcohol before! How could you let her drink?" Jiang Yan and Lin Jing were very close. Hearing Zhang Bing's words, she scolded him while trying to get into the car to help Lin Jing out. The driver was nearby and couldn't help.

Lin Jing was sleeping too soundly, and the car was small, so Jiang Yan couldn't pull her out. She called to Zhang Bing, "Come help!"

"Oh. Yu Lin gave her the drink. I tried to persuade her for ages, but it was no use." Zhang Bing shifted all the blame onto Yu Lin. This wasn't entirely unfounded; the alcohol was indeed provided by Yu Lin. Only after receiving Jiang Yan's permission did Zhang Bing run over to help pull Lin Jing out.

Jiang Yan came over to help Lin Jing, and frowned upon smelling the strong odor of alcohol on her. "Jing'er can't go home to sleep tonight. Grandpa Lin is very strict and dislikes girls drinking. If we send her back, she'll definitely get a scolding."

"Then let her sleep at our house. Call your Grandpa Lin later and tell him you two sisters are very close and want to have a good chat tonight. I'll go make some hangover soup. Zhang Bing must be hungry too, right? I made some pork rib soup, I'll bring it to you later." Jiang Yan's mother said as she hurried to the kitchen, her light pink casual dress clinging tightly to her body, highlighting her curves.

Zhang Bing and Jiang Yan helped Lin Jing to the sofa in the living room. Jiang Yan went inside to get a wet towel to wipe Lin Jing's face, and asked Zhang Bing beside her, "Did anything happen?"

"No." Zhang Bing smiled and shook her head. She had already told the old man about it, and he would handle it himself; there was no need for Jiang Yan to worry.

"That's good." Jiang Yan said with a smile. “I’ll share a bed with Jing’er tonight. You can sleep in the guest room, right?”

“Your bed is so big, and none of the three of us are fat—” Seeing Jiang Yan’s haggard face, Zhang Bing couldn’t help but try to cheer her up. The two of them often joked like this in Changxiang, and it was a habit.

“You wish. My little sister Jing’er has never been in love before, so I can’t let you take advantage of her.” Jiang Yan helped Lin Jing clean up and said to her fair and rosy cheeks, without mentioning that Zhang Bing was trying to take advantage of her.

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