Ambush

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Li Ming asked, noticing Li Xuan's strange expression. It seemed like she was on edge, making him realize that something was amiss.

"It appears that I have caused a lot of problems for you," Li Xuan sighed. "I never realized how hard you've been working."

Li Xuan spoke as though she was genuinely concerned about him, but her eyes glanced towards the door, silently signaling him to take a look.

"I understand. You don't have to worry about it. I am working hard because this is purely a business collaboration," Li Ming nodded, while examining the area. It occurred to him that he could hear faint crackling sounds near the room. He asked, "By the way, how many workers do we have?"

Li Ming seemed to be asking about the workers downstairs, but Li Xuan understood that he was actually inquiring about the number of enemies present. Li Xuan pointed towards the door, the side wall, and the rooftop as she answered, "I'm not sure. I think there are about thirteen people."

"I see. I need to be careful not to overwork our people, right?"

"You don't have to worry. Our Li Clan will take care of them," Li Xuan reassured him, shaking her head.

Li Xuan and Li Ming shared a silent understanding. Li Ming's right hand was already holding his gun in its holster, while Li Xuan gripped the sword from the side of the table.

Meanwhile, a few individuals stood outside the room, watching each other, waiting for the right moment to strike. The people on the roof were also poised for action.

Just as Li Xuan and Li Ming exclaimed, "Cheers!" their voices meant to raise their glasses, signifying an opportunity for their attackers to strike without raising suspicion.

Without hesitation, the two individuals standing by the door swung it open, allowing the others to enter.

However, at that very moment, a loud scream came from the side. Li Xuan's people were being attacked from within. She had taken them by surprise.

"Gaaahhh!"

"Not good!" The attackers rushed into the room, attempting to attack Li Xuan. However, they witnessed Li Ming swiftly moving away from them, leaning against the wall near the window as if he were waiting for an ambush.

"N—" The attackers wanted to warn their companions on the roof, but it was too late.

As they heard the screams, the rooftop assailants swiftly moved to attack. Unfortunately for them, they discovered only Li Xuan on the opposite side of the room as they were about to break through the window.

As the first person shattered the window and entered, a pistol suddenly appeared from the side and shot him in the head.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Li Ming asked, noticing Li Xuan's strange expression. It seemed like she was on edge, making him realize that something was amiss.

"It appears that I have caused a lot of problems for you," Li Xuan sighed. "I never realized how hard you've been working."

Li Xuan spoke as though she was genuinely concerned about him, but her eyes glanced towards the door, silently signaling him to take a look.

"I understand. You don't have to worry about it. I am working hard because this is purely a business collaboration," Li Ming nodded, while examining the area. It occurred to him that he could hear faint crackling sounds near the room. He asked, "By the way, how many workers do we have?"

Li Ming seemed to be asking about the workers downstairs, but Li Xuan understood that he was actually inquiring about the number of enemies present. Li Xuan pointed towards the door, the side wall, and the rooftop as she answered, "I'm not sure. I think there are about thirteen people."

"I see. I need to be careful not to overwork our people, right?"

"You don't have to worry. Our Li Clan will take care of them," Li Xuan reassured him, shaking her head.

Li Xuan and Li Ming shared a silent understanding. Li Ming's right hand was already holding his gun in its holster, while Li Xuan gripped the sword from the side of the table.

Meanwhile, a few individuals stood outside the room, watching each other, waiting for the right moment to strike. The people on the roof were also poised for action.

Just as Li Xuan and Li Ming exclaimed, "Cheers!" their voices meant to raise their glasses, signifying an opportunity for their attackers to strike without raising suspicion.

Without hesitation, the two individuals standing by the door swung it open, allowing the others to enter.

However, at that very moment, a loud scream came from the side. Li Xuan's people were being attacked from within. She had taken them by surprise.

"Gaaahhh!"

"Not good!" The attackers rushed into the room, attempting to attack Li Xuan. However, they witnessed Li Ming swiftly moving away from them, leaning against the wall near the window as if he were waiting for an ambush.

"N—-" The attackers wanted to warn their companions on the roof, but it was too late.

As they heard the screams, the rooftop assailants swiftly moved to attack. Unfortunately for them, they discovered only Li Xuan on the opposite side of the room as they were about to break through the window.

As they shattered the window and entered, a pistol suddenly appeared from the side and shot the first person in the head.

Bang!

The bullet's impact caused the body to instantly collapse, startling the two individuals who were about to enter.

Li Ming quickly stepped to the side, positioning himself to observe the second attacker. Once he had a clear shot, he fired, killing the person with a bullet to the chest and head.

Bang!

Bang!

The gunshots resounded, alarming everyone inside and outside the restaurant.

Li Ming swiftly shifted his focus, trying to locate the last attacker, but the individual had managed to conceal themselves from his sight. Unable to target the remaining assailant, Li Ming turned around, pointing his gun at the people rushing through the front door.

Clink!

Clink!

Li Xuan swung her sword several times. The attackers tried to stop her, but they encountered difficulties. The entrance was too narrow to surround her, enabling Li Xuan to hold her ground effectively.

Spotting a gap in their defense, she struck, killing one attacker. Before she could strike the second one, Li Ming approached, aiming his gun at the attacker.

Bang!

Bang!

Li Ming fired two shots at the head of the person in front of Li Xuan. With the individual dead, Li Xuan no longer sensed any resistance from their body.

She kicked the lifeless body, causing it to crash into the rest of the attackers.

Li Ming seized the opportunity to shoot all of them. The gunshots echoed multiple times as Li Ming killed three more people.

"Watch out!" Li Xuan sensed a presence from behind. She quickly turned and discovered the last attacker, whom Li Ming had missed earlier.

Unable to reach the assailant, she hurled her sword at him, causing the person to stagger and stumble.

"Kh!" The attacker's movements halted for a moment, allowing Li Xuan to close in, grab his hand, and lift him onto her back. She swiftly threw him to the ground.

"Gah." The man coughed when his back hit the floor.

Li Xuan intended to retrieve the sword she had thrown to finish him off, but the man had already noticed Li Ming pointing his gun at him.

Bang!

The shot to the head prevented him from retaliating.

Li Xuan, eager to relax, swiftly charged at the remaining attackers who Li Ming hadn't killed.

With their formation in disarray, they couldn't put up a proper fight against her.

"How dare you!" Li Xuan gritted her teeth as she sliced two people to their death. Afterward, she struck the last surviving individual in the shoulders.

"Gaaaahhh!" The man screamed in agony, having lost both arms.

Li Xuan's eyes were icy cold, exuding intense killing intent. She demanded, "Who is behind this? Who dares to target me?"

"We—" The man seemed like he intended to speak, but Li Xuan promptly stabbed his thigh with her sword, twisting it as if skewering his flesh.

"Gaaahhhh!" Tears streamed down his face as he writhed in pain. He could only point at Li Ming before the others mistook it as a threat.

Without hesitation, Li Ming shot him, ending his life.

Bang!

The last gunshot marked the end of the battle.

"..." Li Xuan wanted to say something, but she remained silent for the time being. Her focus was solely on searching for any remaining enemies.

Fortunately, it seemed that no one else was near the room anymore.

"Are there any more enemies?" Li Ming asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"No. I can't sense any traces of them. Seven people from the front, three people from outside, and three people from the side... That's all," Li Xuan shook her head.

"I see..." Li Ming took a deep breath as he retrieved his magazine. He checked how many bullets he had left before deciding to switch to a full magazine in case another wave of enemies appeared.

Li Xuan observed Li Ming and said, "It appears that the enemies were targeting you."

"I have never made enemies," Li Ming shook his head. "Besides, I have been either in my room or accompanied by you the entire time."

"I know," Li Xuan nodded. She wanted to continue, but their workers and a few others seemed to have arrived at the room.

"What happened?"

"Young Miss!"

The people gasped upon seeing the corpses. Despite facing these enemies, Li Xuan and Li Ming emerged unscathed, as if these assailants posed no threat to them.

Li Ming furrowed his brow, wondering what would come next. He never anticipated finding himself in this situation. However, if the value of oil were known, people would either want him on their side or eliminate him altogether.

There were a few suspects, particularly the three elders who had discussed the oil spill.

Li Xuan paid no attention to the onlookers as she approached Li Ming. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Li Ming nonchalantly nodded, keeping his hand on his gun holster, prepared to react to any potential attack.

"..." Li Xuan looked down. On one hand, if Li Ming were the target, he should apologize to her for placing her in this dangerous situation. On the other hand, there was no concrete evidence pointing to Li Ming as the cause.

Investigation was necessary.

"Summon the city guards and Gu Ling from the Yellow Dragon House. Inform them that I am waiting for them here," Li Xuan instructed the workers, clasping her hands.

"Yes, Young Miss," the workers responded, realizing that their celebration had abruptly come to an end. They needed to summon help swiftly to resolve the situation.

Meanwhile, Li Xuan extended her gratitude to the restaurant manager. "I apologize for the disturbance. The damages will be compensated by the Li Clan."

"I understand. Thank you very much. I apologize for the inconvenience," the manager politely clasped his hands.

"Unfortunately, we must cut our celebration short. It's best if we relocate to a safe place once those individuals arrive," Li Xuan said to Li Ming, her expression serious.

"Understood. In fact, we should remain in this location until the guards arrive. There's a possibility they may resort to cheap tricks," Li Ming gestured, realizing that the situation had been partially resolved.

"I see," Li Xuan pondered for a moment, stealing a glance at Li Ming. She muttered inwardly, "Li Ming possesses knowledge that surpasses a scholar, and he can even defeat multiple men with his weapon. His fighting style resembles that of an archer, but the range seems shorter when he's with his companion. This allows him to effectively fight in enclosed spaces."

Li Xuan also noted Li Ming's skillful movements. She had no doubt that she could defeat Li Ming in close combat, but if Li Ming fought under his own circumstances, she would find herself lying on the ground like these men.

Targeting Li Ming would be unwise.

Li Xuan needed to share this information with her father and conduct a thorough investigation. A single misstep could result in making an enemy capable of destroying their entire clan.

Though Li Ming seemed to have a high opinion of her since not only was she knowledgeable and understood what was taught, she also fought so well that she could overwhelm him if they clashed head-on.