Two peaceful days passed. Then news came: Skyreach Pharmaceuticals was coming to forcibly seize the land of the pharmaceutical factory.
When Zhang Wanqing got up in the morning and was about to head to work, Jiang Tian smiled and said, “Mom, I’ll go with you!”
“What are you going for? Stay home and keep Qing’er company!” Zhang Wanqing chided him, a trace of unease flickering across her face as she grabbed her purse and hurried out the door.
The first trial had concluded, and the court had issued the notice. Today was the day Skyreach Pharmaceuticals would come to claim the land. She feared things could turn ugly and didn’t want Jiang Tian involved in this mess.
“Wu Ji, come pick me up and take me to my mom’s factory,” Jiang Tian called Zhao Wuji, his tone casual.
…
Qixia Pharmaceutical Factory, Director’s Office.
Ma Yumu, the boss of Skyreach Pharmaceuticals, sat sprawled arrogantly on the sofa, legs crossed. Behind him stood several large men in black, holding long knives and steel pipes.
“Sister Zhang, here’s the court’s enforcement notice. Get out now and hand over the land,” he said, his face fleshy and smug as he puffed on a cigarette, looking at Zhang Wanqing as if she were already dead.
He was around forty or fifty, dressed in a pristine white shirt, polished shoes, and his hair slicked back into a loose pompadour—the picture of a successful businessman.
He was the one who had schemed against Zhang Wanqing. Superficially, he was the boss of Skyreach Pharmaceuticals, but in reality, he was just Sun Hao’s lackey.
“Ma Yumu, we’ve already filed an appeal! This isn’t the final verdict; that enforcement notice is void! If you dare cause trouble, I’ll call the police!” Despite being surrounded, Zhang Wanqing didn’t lose her composure as a strong businesswoman. She slammed the table and shouted sternly.
“Sister Zhang, just accept it. Can you really outspend me in a legal battle? Don’t make me laugh.” Ma Yumu snorted dismissively and waved his hand. “Escort Director Zhang out. Smash all the computers and junk in this office!”
The men surged forward, ready to act.
Just then, the door pushed open. A tall, slender figure appeared and said calmly, “Get out.”
“Who are you?” Ma Yumu, a former gang member under Sun Hao, immediately sensed a terrifying, bloodthirsty aura emanating from Jiang Tian. His heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out the question.
“Who my boss is, is none of your business,” Zhao Wuji sneered from behind Jiang Tian. “Go back and tell your master, my boss will be waiting for him tonight at Fengyi Tower.”
Since witnessing Jiang Tian’s fearsome power, Zhao Wuji had immediately positioned himself as Jiang Tian’s lackey, now reveling in the borrowed authority.
“Zhao Wuji, you think a bunch of brats like you have the right to negotiate with Young Master Sun?” Ma Yumu, operating in Jinling, had seen plenty of rich second-generation heirs. When had he ever regarded the son of a mere bureau-level official as anything? To him, they were just country bumpkins.
“Won’t leave? You have a death wish? Fine, I’ll oblige.” Jiang Tian chuckled coldly, his voice as icy as frost.
Hearing this, Ma Yumu flew into a rage. He threw his half-smoked cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his heel, then slammed the table and stood up, roaring like thunder, “You’ve got some nerve, kid! Alright, today I’ll show you why the flowers are so red!” He then pointed at Jiang Tian and Zhao Wuji. “Break their legs!”
At his command, the burly men, built like bulls, surged toward Jiang Tian and Zhao Wuji like a pack of wolves.
“Xiao Tian, get out of here!” Zhang Wanqing was terrified. Her son, who couldn’t even harm a chicken, surrounded by these thugs—wouldn’t he be beaten to death?
“Auntie, don’t worry. Just watch the show,” Zhao Wuji said, stepping back immediately and pulling Zhang Wanqing out of the fray. He looked at the tough guys with schadenfreude and laughed. “They have no idea what they’re in for!”
The leader of the men was particularly fierce. His fist shot toward Jiang Tian’s chest with a sharp whistle.
“Hmph, kid, if you don’t end up in the hospital after this punch, I’ll take your surname,” Ma Yumu snorted coldly, sitting back down and crossing his legs as if Jiang Tian were already a dead man.
The Qingyun Guild under Sun Hao was one of Jinling’s largest gangs, with thousands of members. The one who had just struck was the guild’s Red Rod—Dalong.
The so-called “Red Rod” was the title for the top enforcer selected from among the many members of a gang! Only those recognized as the most powerful within their gang could be called a “Red Rod!” In gang slang, it was called “Four-Two-Six,” meaning four times twenty-six plus four equals exactly one hundred and eight, matching the number of the 108 Heroes of Liangshan.
Legend had it that the Liangshan hero Wu Song wielded a red rod, hence the term “Red Rod” for top enforcers became tradition. A “Double Red Rod” was the strongest recognized among those “Red Rods!” The best of the best!
Every Spring Festival, according to tradition, Jinling’s gangs held events like lion dances, dragon dances, and worship of Guan Yu, along with arena fights between the Red Rods of various gangs. The winner earned the title of Double Red Rod.
This Double Red Rod wasn’t just the best fighter in one gang; they were recognized as the strongest among all gangs, essentially selected from among thousands of tough guys and fierce men in Jinling. Their skill was evident.
Ma Yumu had once seen Dalong punch a sandbag so hard the ropes broke and the bag split. He’d even tested the force—that punch packed five hundred pounds. Anyone on the receiving end would be dead or crippled.
So, even Sun Hao valued this Dalong highly, perhaps even more than Ma Yumu himself. It was only because the pharmaceutical factory was such a lucrative piece of fat that Sun Hao had allowed Dalong to accompany him to handle this matter.
Thinking of this, a scornful smile touched Ma Yumu’s lips. He lit another cigarette and smoked, his expression calm, as if Jiang Tian were already dead.
But the next moment, Ma Yumu’s jaw dropped. The cigarette fell onto his leg, burning his skin, but he didn’t even notice. His heart was roiling with shock and terror.
…
As Dalong’s fist came down, Jiang Tian simply stirred his energy. A golden glow enveloped his body.
But Dalong was sent flying as if hit by a cannonball, vomiting blood. He crashed through the solid wood door, sending splinters flying, and landed miserably on the ground.
Everyone turned to look. He was continuously vomiting blood, the blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. Countless bones throughout his body were broken, his skin torn and flesh ripped, blood flowing freely—he was almost a human-shaped mass of blood.
Time seemed to freeze abruptly at that moment. All the charging men stiffened, their eyes filled with terror, rooted to the spot.
The bloody mist filled the air, assailing everyone’s nostrils and stimulate their nerves.
The previous angry roars and battle cries seemed to be absorbed by an invisible sponge, leaving the scene utterly silent. You could hear a pin drop.
“He… he is a monster!” After a full ten seconds, one guy finally let out a terrified scream, his voice trembling.
Ma Yumu’s knees gave way in fear. He thudded to the floor, kowtowing and shaking like a leaf. “Spare me! I was just following orders! It was all Sun Hao’s idea…”
“Take a message to Sun Hao. Come see me tonight at Fengyi Tower,” Jiang Tian said indifferently.
“Yes, yes, yes! I’ll definitely pass the message! As long as you don’t kill me, I’ll even be your dog!” Ma Yumu kowtowed repeatedly, tears streaming, scared almost out of his wits.
Dalong hadn’t even touched him! He’d been sent flying several meters by some inexplicable glowing shield. Ma Yumu had no way to explain this bizarre event and could only rationalize Jiang Tian as some kind of supernatural being, a ghost or deity.
Such a terrifying existence was not someone he could afford to provoke. He could be dead in an instant.
“Carry that guy away and get out!” Jiang Tian waved his hand coldly, not bothering to look at them again.
His target was Sun Hao. These small fries weren’t worth his attention.
“Yes, we’re leaving, we’re leaving right now!” Ma Yumu and the others, scared out of their wits, scrambled and crawled away in a pathetic flight.
“Jiang Tian, you… how did you do that just now?” It took a full minute after they left for Zhang Wanqing to snap out of her shock and ask incredulously.
The Jiang Tian before her felt unfamiliar. Was this really her son, who always failed his PE tests and couldn’t harm a chicken?
“Mom, don’t worry. I’m not who I used to be. I told you, Medicine King Group won’t fall. From now on, I will protect the Jiang family and Medicine King Group,” Jiang Tian said, holding his mother’s trembling hand, his tone gentle but firm.
Zhang Wanqing nodded blankly. Her son didn’t elaborate, and she didn’t press. Finally, a kind and gratified smile appeared on her face, her eyes slightly red. “Mom always knew my son was the most outstanding in the world!”
“Well, of course, I inherited the best genes from you and Dad!” Jiang Tian grinned.
“Always such a smooth talker!” Zhang Wanqing shot him a mock glare, but then worry crept back in. She frowned and said, “Are you really meeting Sun Hao tonight? You have skills now, but… still, don’t cause too big of a scene. Everything must be legal and reasonable!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll have a good talk with them…” Jiang Tian nodded, masking the killing intent in his eyes.
…
Jinling, top floor of Wangchao Real Estate, Chairman’s Office.
“Hah, Zhang Wanqing and Zhao Wuji have some nerve, daring to touch my people! Do they have a death wish?” Sun Hao, dressed in a Versace suit, stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, calmly overlooking the misty Qinhuai River, Confucius Temple, Wuyi Alley, and other scenic spots, but a hint of ruthlessness flickered in his eyes.
Standing here, he could overlook most of Jinling’s bustling scenery, which always filled him with lofty aspirations and heroic spirit. He vowed to become the man with the most wealth and power in Jinling, to become a peerless powerhouse.
Over the years, his business had flourished; he was invincible in the commercial world, charging forward relentlessly, seemingly close to achieving his goal.
But today, he had hit a major snag, encountered a tough nut to crack, one that had even cost him a tooth.
“It seems you are newborn calves unafraid of the tiger, unaware of my power! I originally just wanted the land, but now you’ve forced me to kill you!” Sun Hao’s eyes were cold, the muscles on his face twitching, his teeth grinding audibly. He said harshly, “In Jinling, no one dares touch my people! With just the likes of you, I can make you die without a burial place in minutes!”
