Chapter 31: Mixing in the Underworld, Why Not Carry a Gun?

"Ahao, what's going on?"

Behind the burly man, a middle-aged man with furrowed brows approached, walking toward them.

He knew his subordinate's character all too well. Usually, hearing about a fight inside, he would have slapped someone by now. Why had he become so docile this time?

"Brother Ping, save me!" Hearing this voice, Lin Feng, who was curled up in a corner, seemed to see a savior. He leaped up from the ground and scrambled toward the outside.

"Lin Shao, it's you?" The middle-aged man was slightly stunned. He didn't have much contact with Lin Feng but remembered him as a regular in his nightclub.

"Brother Ping, please save me. I'll give you money, as much as you want!" Lin Feng, clutching at straws, begged with snot and tears, his hand still wrapped in bandages.

"What exactly happened here?" The middle-aged man was confused. Who was bold enough to treat the heir of the Lin Corporation like this? Even he wouldn't dare to lay such a heavy hand unless he wanted a life-and-death feud with the Lin Corporation.

In reality, unlike novels, people won't stand there to be slaughtered. When pushed, anyone will fight back.

Especially those controlling vast wealth. Unless you can crush your opponent easily, playing with lives like this can damage a big power significantly for a corporation with assets worth hundreds of millions.

With this in mind, the middle-aged man hurriedly looked into the private room. What he saw made his eyes widen just like the big man before him.

The room looked like it had been ravaged by a monster, shocking enough, but what truly astounded the middle-aged man was the person lying on the ground.

Chen, the martial arts master, a public figure known in the martial world. While many in the martial world might look down on his openness to taking disciples, making Chen's knowledge and connections in the martial world not much more extensive than Ye Tian's, to ordinary people, he's different.

A peak external strength martial artist is seen almost as a superhero to common folk.

And now, this 'superhero' was kneeling on the ground, looking up at a man in his twenties with a face full of pleading, while his proud disciple lay unconscious nearby on a sofa.

"Brother Ping, are you Zhang Wenping? The behind-the-scenes owner of this nightclub?"

Ye Tian looked at the middle-aged man with interest.

Almost every boy has such experiences, discussing in high school or even middle school dormitories about who is who in the local underworld, and who is so powerful.

Thanks to such chats, Ye Tian knew about the infamous Brother Ping of Heaven and Earth Grandeur, the largest and most luxurious nightclub in Yangcheng.

As the owner of Heaven and Earth Grandeur, Brother Ping is no simple character. On the contrary, it's said that Zhang Wenping has both black and white connections in Yangcheng, a real big shot with influence even throughout Tiandu Province. Some even call him the lord of Yangcheng, indicating his power.

A popular story among the youth of Yangcheng tells of someone who offended Zhang Wenping over a decade ago. The offender had connections and wasn't from the underworld, so Zhang, already a big shot, couldn't just eliminate him. Instead, he declared the man's expulsion from Yangcheng.

Soon after, the man and his family were forced out of Yangcheng, never to return.

Though Zhang Wenping became more low-profile after attracting attention during a crackdown, his terrifying connections and power remained clear. In Yangcheng, he could indeed be considered omnipotent.

"This little brother, I am Zhang Wenping. Could you please give me face and let this Lin Shao off the hook? This is, after all, my place."

Zhang Wenping squeezed a smile on his face, speaking politely to Ye Tian.

He had no choice but to be polite!

With the Lin Corporation's heir tortured like this and the martial artist he'd tried to recruit several times begging on his knees, who wouldn't be scared?

Doesn't he fear Lin Corporation's revenge or Chen's desperation?

Such a person is either overly confident or outright insane.

The first doesn't need explanation. Though Zhang Wenping has some confidence in his territory, he wouldn't offend such a powerful figure for a rich kid.

And if it's the latter, that's even more terrifying. The underworld fears those with no sense more than anything—those who don't consider consequences or losses.

Even a sensible person, when provoked, might not go to extremes. But a madman? They're considered one of the two great fears of the underworld along with young children. Unpredictable and dangerous.

Zhang Wenping once had a brother, back when he was young, killed by a fruit knife wielded by a minor over protection money. It was sudden and fatal.

And if even a partly rational child could be so deadly, what about a fully insane martial artist?

Zhang Wenping regretted it deeply. When you're in the underworld, why wouldn't you carry a gun? Even a couple of knives would bolster your courage.

Despite his odd expression, Ye Tian didn't notice. He didn't want to offend such people needlessly. Besides, he'd already asked what he wanted to know and didn't plan to really harm Lin Feng. So, giving face to Zhang Wenping, he said:

"Since Brother Ping has spoken, I'll let this guy off. But if he dares to cause trouble again, I won't be so lenient."

"Ha, you're generous, young man. May I ask for your name?" Zhang Wenping was pleasantly surprised by Ye Tian's easy agreement. After all, isn't face what everyone in the underworld seeks? Considering Ye Tian just offended Lin Corporation and a martial arts master for him, Zhang Wenping's esteem for Ye Tian greatly increased.

"I'm Ye Tian. If Brother Ping has no other business, I'll be leaving."

"So it's Brother Ye Tian!" Zhang Wenping wanted to invite Ye Tian to stay for drinks but then remembered what he'd just done. He swallowed his invitation and said with a smile:

"It can't be that Brother Ye Tian visits my place and gives me so much face without me offering anything in return. Today's expenses are on me. Feel free to enjoy."

Unaware of Zhang Wenping's apprehension, Ye Tian, seeing his enthusiasm, couldn't refuse without offending. He nodded and said with a smile:

"Then I thank you!"