Chapter 362 - 247: The Spirit of Lion Mountain

Chapter 362: Chapter 247: The Spirit of Lion Mountain

Gao Haitao’s phone was in his pocket. He looked at Lin Chu, then at Zhuang Yingcheng.

’The tension between these two is complicated,’ he thought. ’Young Master Zhuang obviously wants to put Brother Chu in his place. And Brother Chu probably got the short end of the stick in the car, which is why he told me to hit him after we got out. But the punch was just a warning; it didn’t go too far. Both sides seem to have their reservations. This call from Zhuang Yingcheng right now... it’s mostly a threat, an attempt to get his dignity back. As for Brother Chu... I have no idea what he’s thinking. In any case, what’s done is done. He’s already been punched.’

"President Zhuang, what’s the meaning of this? Are you trying to see who has more guys?" Gao Haitao suddenly asked with a smile.

’There were some things the boss couldn’t say without burning all bridges, but he could.’

"Hm? HAHAHAHA... I’m getting a new driver! Useless piece of trash. The one day I don’t bring a bodyguard, I get hit."

Zhuang Yingcheng kept his tone even. To explain was to show weakness, but not explaining right now could lead to a serious miscalculation.

’A gang war?’

’It hasn’t come to that.’

’And this wasn’t a planned confrontation.’

’Looks like I took that kick for nothing.’

He suppressed his rage. "You and I are quite alike, but you’re more cunning. I kind of admire it. Now... friend or foe, you choose."

Lin Chu chuckled.

"Let’s be enemies, then..."

"A gang war, huh? I was born too late; I’ve never seen any real action. Young Master Zhuang, care to play a round with me?"

Zhuang Yingcheng was speechless.

’Fuck!’

’He’s not giving me an out at all!’

"Old Gao, smash his car. I want tomorrow’s front-page headline to be: ’Eldest Young Master of the Zhuang Family Brutally Beaten in a Xiangjiang Underground Parking Garage, Rolls-Royce Destroyed.’"

Lin Chu continued, still smiling.

Gao Haitao was speechless for a moment.

’He had actually sensed Eldest Young Master Zhuang’s subtle concession, his unspoken request for a truce. He just never expected Brother Chu to push things even further and order him to smash the car. Is... is this a form of marketing too?’

"A reputation like that isn’t exactly a good thing. It’ll hurt your image, Boss," Gao Haitao said with a smile.

’He figured Brother Chu’s words were mostly a taunt. This is a society ruled by law, after all; a real brawl wouldn’t just break out in the open. Even if they were to fight, it would be handled privately. They certainly wouldn’t get their own hands dirty. Take away actual violence, and all that’s left is posturing.’

"His reputation already stinks. What’s that got to do with me?" Lin Chu started chatting with Gao Haitao, acting as if no one else was there.

Zhuang Yingcheng frowned.

’In this four-person standoff, my driver is just a driver. He’s no bodyguard. I was in too much of a hurry. A miscalculation. The one thing I didn’t count on was Lin Chu actually daring to get physical. My original plan was just to scare him a bit, then laugh it off as a joke. I never thought he’d show zero respect for the Zhuang Family, order his man to attack, and even draw blood... Shit, is this guy some kind of reckless fool?’

’Now he’s put me in a real bind.’

’Fighting would be easy, of course.’

’Making an enemy would be simple too.’

’Letting off some steam? Even simpler.’

’But what then?’

’This guy really doesn’t play by the rules!’

"Go on, smash it!"

"I’ll just stand here and watch!"

Zhuang Yingcheng gritted his teeth, his own resolve hardening.

’The car can get smashed, but I can’t lose face.’

’Damn it!’

The atmosphere grew tense once more. Gao Haitao’s brow furrowed, and he glanced instinctively at Lin Chu. The smile was gone from his boss’s face, replaced by a grim expression.

’The two bosses...’

’Neither is willing to be the first to back down.’

’Of course, this was all Zhuang Yingcheng’s fault. The one who started it is always the asshole.’

"Shut up!"

"Still trying to stir up shit, are you!"

"Tell me. What did you do in the back seat just now to piss off my boss?"

Gao Haitao strode over to Zhuang Yingcheng and stood before him, looking from him to his driver. ’Didn’t Brother Chu say something about Zhuang Yingcheng playing with a gun in the back seat? But now I need to hear it from his own mouth.’

The driver instinctively averted his gaze, not daring to make eye contact.

Zhuang Yingcheng cursed silently. ’Damn it, this bodyguard is sharp as a tack! Fucking brilliant!’

"It was a joke that went too far!" he grumbled. "I put a toy gun to his head!"

’Watching this unfold, Lin Chu suddenly thought that Gao Haitao was truly one of a kind—brawn and brains in one package.’

"You’ve got some real balls!"

"And you fucking call that a joke!"

With a flick of his wrist, Gao Haitao suddenly produced a small knife from his pocket. The cold, gleaming blade was instantly at Zhuang Yingcheng’s throat.

He always carried it.

Just in case, though he’d never had to use it before.

As the cold steel of the blade touched the skin of his neck, goosebumps erupted all over Zhuang Yingcheng’s body.

He was even more shocked by Gao Haitao’s move—it came out of nowhere!

Just then, Gao Haitao looked back at Lin Chu. "President Lin, you go on ahead. I’m entrusting my wife and kids to you. Just say the word, and I’ll make him bleed."

The intimidation was escalating.

Right then, Gao Haitao had the air of a man with nothing to lose.

But he had placed the ball firmly in Lin Chu’s court.

CLICK.

Lin Chu lit another cigarette, leaned against a pillar in the parking garage, and took a slow drag. "What’s that spirit of the Xiangjiang people called again? The Lion Mountain Spirit? My understanding of it is to be daring enough to fight and kill, and tough enough to take whatever comes next."

"Old Gao, you have it. And so do I."

"Young Master Zhuang, it seems you, a native, have lost it."

Zhuang Yingcheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He could feel the blade press against the stretched skin of his neck, and he barely dared to swallow.

A profound sense of humiliation washed over him.

’Fuck!’

’How dare he mock me like that!’

A part of him wanted to risk it all, but as he looked into Gao Haitao’s eyes and remembered the man’s "last words," a flicker of fear and a reluctance to die appeared.

’Motherfucker!’

’What kind of bodyguard is this?!’

Just then, an MPV came screeching toward them.

Before it even reached a parking space, the driver slammed on the brakes. The tires let out a piercing screech as they scraped against the pavement. Several men scrambled out of the vehicle and rushed over, their jaws dropping at the sight before them.