A moment later, she hung up the phone and said softly, “This Huang Ling’er is quite stubborn. In July, after she got her diploma from the University of Pharmacy, she applied to both the Medicine King Group and the Sunshine Laboratory. But she insisted on not using her father’s connections or mentioning her relationship with Professor Huang Zhihui, so no one knew. She got cut in the second round of interviews. And since she’s an independent, strong-willed person, she didn’t want to live off her parents like some spoiled young lady, so she insisted on finding a job herself…”
“Oh, I see…”
Jiang Tian nodded, then said gently, “Tell HR to give her a call later and place her under your supervision. That way, I can feel at ease too.”
“Sure thing. We still need a person in charge of the herbal fields on Mount Wolong. And this girl seems sharp-minded, plus she studied pharmacy…” Ye Ziwei quickly nodded in agreement.
She felt great sympathy for Huang Ling’er.
She’d just heard from Huang Zhihui that even though Jiang Tian had erased that part of her memory, she could never seem to develop feelings for any other man.
Countless talented young men had pursued her, but she’d brushed them all off. When her parents kept pushing her, she’d even gotten into huge arguments with them.
Maybe it was because she’d been driven up the wall by her parents’ matchmaking that she’d come to work in Bright Moon Town, living and eating there.
Ye Ziwei sighed inwardly. Meeting Jiang Tian had been her blessing, but also her curse. It was truly a case of “once you meet Jiang Tian, your whole life changes.”
…
“Ling’er, come here!”
As soon as Huang Ling’er stepped out of the private room, the floor manager called her to a changing room on the fifth floor.
She tossed a low-cut princess dress at Huang Ling’er and said, “Ling’er, Young Master Lei specifically asked for your service in the ‘Joyous Reunion’ room on the fifth floor. Get over there now.”
“Manager, I can’t go. I’m just a restaurant server…” Huang Ling’er’s heart tightened, her face turning pale as she cried out.
“This is Manager Yang’s decision.”
The female manager was wearing an off-shoulder evening gown, revealing a deep cleavage, radiating a worldly, jaded air. She frowned impatiently and said coldly, “If you don’t go, you can just pack your things and leave.”
“You don’t need to fire me—I quit!” Huang Ling’er stripped off her uniform and headed for the door.
“What kind of attitude is that!” The manager was taken aback by her cold refusal.
For a moment, she didn’t know whether to persuade her or let her go, and just stood there frozen.
“Ling’er, I’ve invited you time and again, and you still won’t budge. Won’t you even give me that much face?”
Just as Huang Ling’er reached the doorway, a tall figure suddenly blocked her path and cornered her back inside.
Lei Gang strode into the changing room, his face dark and grim, a sinister smile curling on his lips: “I heard that back in college, you were selling yourself. Now you’re playing all innocent in front of me? Who do you think you are—some kind of princess?”
“Move aside!” Huang Ling’er snapped angrily: “Let me out!”
Lei Gang pulled a stack of crisp banknotes from his bag—at least ten thousand.
Then he raised his hand and slapped the money right across Huang Ling’er’s face, grinning smugly: “Sleep with me once, and this ten grand is yours. I’ve got plenty of money!”
The brand-new bills, sharp as blades, struck her face and actually left a bloody scratch on her cheek.
“What are you looking at? Get the hell out!”
Lei Gang threw the money right in the manager’s face.
She didn’t dare make a peep, lowered her head meekly, and slipped out, closing the door behind her.
Lei Gang unbuckled his belt and advanced toward Huang Ling’er, sneering: “You wouldn’t take the easy way, so now you’ll take the hard way. Watch me run through eighteen different positions on you, you little slut!”
Huang Ling’er covered her face, backing away step by step, panic in her eyes, shouting: “Stay back! Don’t come any closer, or I’ll scream! Help! Help!”
But this changing room was tucked away in a corner, and the deafening music from all around drowned out her voice.
Outside, the female manager walked over to Yang Lili, looking troubled: “Should we stop this? She’s just a young girl who hasn’t gone down that path yet. Couldn’t we work on her some more first, and let Young Master Lei have his way later?”
“Stop him? Are you kidding? Lei Gang’s father, Lei Ming, is a martial arts master, very influential in Jinling. No one around Bright Moon Mountain dares to cross him…”
Yang Lili leaned against the wall, puffing on a cigarette to catch her breath, her face expressionless and indifferent:
“If he does her, it’s no big deal. He can just throw some money at it and it’s settled. This saves us the trouble of convincing Ling’er to take the plunge. That girl’s really hard to persuade…”
“True, she’s way too stubborn. Last time, some rich guy offered a million for her virginity, and she still wouldn’t budge!” The manager said with a sigh.
“What the—how did he get up here? Oh no! We’re screwed!”
Suddenly, Yang Lili’s face went pale, and she let out a shriek of terror.
They saw Jiang Tian dash toward the changing room in a flash, kick the door open, and then Lei Gang came crashing through the doorframe, tumbling out in a pitiful heap.
Yang Lili rushed over and was utterly horrified.
There was Lei Gang, slumped against the wall, barely breathing, blood gushing from his mouth, his chest caved in—broken bones and severed tendons, lying there like a dead dog.
Yang Lili was terrified. The Lei family was a powerful clan in Jinling, and now Lei Gang had been beaten right in her own establishment. If they came after her for this, she was done for.
“Jiang Tian! You actually dared to hit Young Master Lei! Don’t you dare leave!”
Yang Lili was shaking with rage, pointing at Jiang Tian through gritted teeth.
“Get in my way, and you’ll die!”
Smack!
Without a word, Jiang Tian slapped her across the face, sending her flying to the ground.
“Stop crying. If you keep crying, your eyes won’t look pretty…”
Jiang Tian gently wiped the tears from Huang Ling’er’s cheeks, his heart full of guilt.
Hearing Lei Gang’s words, he wondered—would she have to bear the stigma of being his former contract lover for the rest of her life?
It made her seem like a tattered rose, with every lowlife buzzing around trying to take advantage.
Huang Ling’er still couldn’t remember her past with Jiang Tian, but deep in her soul, she felt that this man was someone she could rely on, someone who could keep her safe.
She wanted to act strong, but the fear and grievance overwhelmed her. She threw herself into Jiang Tian’s arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Come with me…” Jiang Tian wrapped his arm around her waist and led her downstairs.
Getting her away from the scene would help her feel calmer.
Besides, he was furious—so angry that he feared he might lose control and kill Lei Gang right there in front of everyone.
“Jiang Tian, you’ve caused a disaster! You’re not going anywhere! Today, you’re going to answer to the Lei family!”
Yang Lili scrambled to her feet, ignoring her numb, aching cheek, glaring at Jiang Tian aggressively and signaling the security guards not to act rashly.
“Disaster? This is what you call a disaster? Heh… Go tell Lei Ming to come see me. I’m going to wipe out his entire family today!”
Jiang Tian turned slowly, facing the furious Yang Lili, his smile icy cold.
In that moment, Jiang Tian changed his mind.
It seemed the Lei family had been bullying and oppressing others in Jinling for far too long. Since they were that kind of family, might as well just wipe them out!
“What did you say?” Yang Lili couldn’t believe her ears, a wave of unease and confusion washing over her.
What was Jiang Tian relying on that made him so bold as to ignore the powerful force behind Lei Gang?
This was the Lei family!
“Make the call. Tell Lei Ming to come here and die!”
With a cold glance at Yang Lili, Jiang Tian suddenly raised his foot and stomped down on Lei Gang’s knee.
A sickening crack rang out along with a piercing scream. Blood gushed out as broken bones pierced through muscle, exposing pale white shards of bone.
Lei Gang’s screams grew hoarse, then fainter, until finally silence fell—he’d passed out from the agony.
By then, Ye Ziwei and the others had rushed over. Seeing Huang Ling’er with torn shirt buttons and disheveled clothes, they roughly understood what had happened.
“Don’t be afraid. Sister and Jiang Tian are here for you.” Ye Ziwei took off her light coat and draped it over Huang Ling’er.
“Ling’er, let Sister Ziwei take you back first. I’ll handle the rest,” Jiang Tian said softly, cupping the girl’s tear-streaked face in his hands.
The Primordial Venerable, who once believed his Dao heart was unshakable and heartless, finally realized he couldn’t bear seeing the woman he cared about cry and suffer.
A beauty’s tears will always pierce a man’s heart—even one who’d returned after ten thousand years of cultivation couldn’t escape that.
He now wondered if leaving Huang Ling’er had been a mistake. If he’d given her a proper status, who would have dared to lay a finger on her?
“I won’t leave. Please don’t abandon me…”
Huang Ling’er shook her head frantically, tears streaming down, clutching Jiang Tian’s hand, looking up at him pleadingly, hesitating to speak.
For some reason, though she had no clear memories, she felt an overwhelming familiarity with this man.
It was as if he was a part of her—flesh and blood—and the thought of leaving him tore her apart.
Only by his side did she feel an indescribable sense of safety, as if nothing terrible could ever harm her.
…
Two Audis flanked a Mercedes-Benz S600, blocking the main entrance of Emperor International with arrogant swagger. The car doors opened with a series of dull thuds, and the night’s noise seemed to freeze. Onlookers scrambled out of the way.
Over a dozen burly men got out, bristling with menace, and formed a tight escort around a medium-built man as he strode forward quickly.
The man had a flat head, a broad face, sparse eyebrows, and large triangular eyes—naturally fierce-looking. Right now, his face was twisted with fury; one glare from him could probably scare a three-year-old into tears.
The group surged into the lobby. The twenty red-cheongsam hostesses flanking the entrance recognized the man at the core, and their heavily made-up faces all showed unmistakable fear and tension. They bowed respectfully, and only after the group had passed did they dare straighten up and breathe a sigh of relief.
They were terrified because the man at the center was none other than Lei Gang’s father, Lei Ming.
Martial arts weren’t flourishing in Jinling. Apart from the reclusive Xu Zhenlei, the most powerful martial artist was Cannon Fist Master Lei Ming.
He had numerous disciples, each with vast business empires. In Jinling—especially in Bright Moon Town—he was the undisputed top dog.
He was also the owner of Emperor International, with assets worth hundreds of millions. He used money to befriend powerful officials, relied on his formidable martial prowess, and wielded immense influence. He’d bullied and exploited countless people, and the number of decent women he’d ruined was easily in the dozens, if not hundreds.
…
The corridor opposite the changing room was decked out like a European palace—carpeted, with pairs of large celadon vases lining the walls. It wasn’t narrow, but with dozens of onlookers gathered, it felt a bit cramped.
The sound of heavy, orderly footsteps approached. People instinctively turned to look, then gasped sharply, pressing themselves against the walls to make way, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Lei Ming marched forward with the commanding presence of a dragon or tiger, carrying himself like an absolute overlord—a petty emperor in his own right.
This proud man walked to the end of the corridor, took in the pitiful state of his only son, and fell silent for a moment, his face dark. Then he slowly turned to stare at Jiang Tian, a cold smile curling on his lips:
“Kid, you dared to touch my son. You’ve got some nerve, don’t you?”
