Chapter 87: Luo Hongli's Display of Grandeur

The first man to rush forward barely had time to swing his machete before Yang Batian snatched it away. He felt a sudden dizziness and collapsed, though Yang Batian had only tapped his head lightly with the flat of the blade. But Yang Batian’s strength was formidable; even a gentle tap was enough to knock the fellow out cold. Tossing the knife aside, Yang Batian laughed heartily and charged ahead. It had indeed been days since his last fight, and his body itched for action. Yet, these forty men were far from enough for him; within minutes, they all lay sprawled on the floor, leaving only Qiu Long standing, dazedly clutching a bottle of liquor.

The scene had changed so abruptly that Qiu Long had no time to process it. He still hadn’t grasped how his group of over forty men had been felled entirely by this towering figure before him. Even if the man was a skilled fighter, could he really be this formidable?

“Hey? Wake up!” Yang Batian waved his hand before Qiu Long’s eyes. The latter instantly dropped the bottle, stumbling backward several paces, staring at Yang Batian as though he’d seen a ghost.

Those on the ground were either unconscious from pain or groaning pitiably. Weapons lay scattered, and each man had at least a few broken ribs. Those who had charged hardest and struck most ruthlessly now sported a broken leg or arm for their trouble.

“I said, if you want to fight, you should come to me. But honestly, you’re all far too weak,” Yang Batian remarked, feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

“You, you—” Qiu Long was at a loss. With so many men down, was he supposed to carry them out himself? He could call for help, but would the man before him let him go? Caught between fear and uncertainty, Qiu Long was paralyzed.

Yang Batian grabbed a chair, strode over, and, ignoring Qiu Long’s frantic pleas for mercy, smashed it down on his head. Qiu Long let out a cry and slumped to the floor, likely suffering at least a severe concussion, if not worse. The others, who had been groaning moments before, now fell silent in terror, witnessing Qiu Long’s fate.

As their cries died away, a commotion erupted outside the room.

The first to enter was a man nearing thirty, dressed in military garb. From the insignia on his shoulders—two bars and three stars—he was at least a regimental officer. His complexion was pale, reminiscent of Shi Jin from Liangshan, so fair-skinned he almost seemed feminine. Yet his features were pleasant enough; if compared to those from Liangshan, while not as handsome as Yan Qing, he was nearly as attractive as Hua Rong.

“Who is that?” Long Fei whispered to Yang Danni.

“Oh, that’s my brother’s friend, Luo Hongli. He used to live in Yan Capital and often fought alongside my brother, grew up in the military compound. I think both his parents work at Yan Capital’s military district. I’m not sure why he’s here in Tianhai now,” Yang Danni replied, a bit surprised to see Luo Hongli.

As soon as Luo Hongli entered the private room, he sighed and complained bitterly, “Brother Tian, couldn’t you leave a few for me? You knocked them all out! Every time we fight, you’re always like this. Next time something fun comes along, I won’t invite you!”

Long Fei was amused. Here was another man who seemed to take fighting as life’s greatest joy—a true eccentric!

Seeing Luo Hongli, Yang Batian kicked at him, laughing, “Serves you right for not being quick enough. If I had to rely on you to save me, I’d lose a hundred lives right here!”

Luo Hongli was sent tumbling by the kick, but climbed up and stopped the soldiers behind him, who were about to storm in with submachine guns. He shouted, “Damn it, can’t you see I’m greeting Brother Tian?”

Turning back, he immediately put on a fawning smile. “Brother Tian, who could ever beat you? I’ve never seen anyone do it. When I heard it was the Green Gang, I mobilized a whole company, brought three army vehicles, and had them bring their guns. If anyone dared to mess with Brother Tian, I’d be the first to gun them down!”

Long Fei found it hilarious. Wasn’t this overkill? Mobilizing a company—hundreds of men, three military vehicles, all armed with submachine guns—why not bring armored cars and rocket launchers? It was just a handful of thugs; was such a spectacle necessary?

Yang Batian laughed, “You idiot, and then you blame me for not leaving you a couple to play with? If you weren’t so noisy, maybe you’d get your chance. I don’t get it, why do you always hide at the back during fights, and why do you love such theatrics?”

“Alright, Brother Tian. Next time, I won’t call so many people during a fight. The boss was trembling earlier; it’s not like he’s never seen guns. He’s seen planes and cannons during the National Day parade and didn’t flinch, but today, just seeing submachine guns, he nearly lost it. Anyway, what do you want me to do now?” Luo Hongli was quite familiar, grabbing a beer and downing it.

Only now did he notice Yang Danni. Smiling, he greeted her, “Oh, Danni! It’s been over a year. You’re getting more beautiful by the day. I hear you’re doing great here in Tianhai—lots of people chasing you. But I know Young Master Yan is devoted to you. I’ve just been assigned here to Tianhai’s military district as a division commander. Honestly, I’d rather stay in Yan Capital, drinking and fighting with Brother Tian. By the way, who’s this?”

Yang Danni was about to answer, but Long Fei gently lowered her hand and replied with a smile, “Me? Just a friend. I’m friends with him.”

He pointed to Yang Batian as he spoke.

“Brother Tian, aren’t you going to introduce us?” Luo Hongli frowned. He had clearly noticed the intimate gestures between Long Fei and Yang Danni. He also knew the Yan family had long intended to marry into the Yang family. This situation was unexpected, particularly Yang Batian’s reaction, which was also out of character. Luo Hongli knew Yang Batian was famously protective of his sister, but was his attitude here representing the family or just himself?

If Yang Batian’s attitude was personal, Luo Hongli, though somewhat influential in Yan Capital, was hardly powerful enough to intervene. He couldn’t afford to offend the Yan family, nor the Yang family. Among the elite, he was at best a second-tier figure, never able to break into the real upper echelons. That was why his bond with Yang Batian was so strong; perhaps it was because they both loved fighting, but Luo Hongli considered it an honor, absolutely.

However, if Yang Batian’s stance represented the Yang family, Luo Hongli would need to reconsider his position. If the Yangs and Yans couldn’t form an alliance, it meant the Yangs would either remain neutral or break with the Yans. In the current climate, neutrality seemed unrealistic, but a total breach with the Yans was equally improbable.

The Yan and Yang families were among the most powerful clans in Yan Capital. If their marriage alliance failed, whether or not they became enemies, it would inevitably create friction and division. Each family had its own sphere of influence, and such a disruption would not only alter the power dynamics in Yan Capital, but could even redraw the entire political landscape of the nation.

If it came to that, Luo Hongli would have to consider his position carefully. History was full of stories of those who lost everything by choosing the wrong side. Politics was not like business; sometimes the loss wasn’t just money, but one’s life—whether political life or actual existence.

Hearing Luo Hongli’s question, Yang Batian thought for a moment before replying with a smile, “He’s my friend.”

At first, the words seemed innocuous. On closer listening, they carried meaning: Yang Batian was distinguishing himself from the Yang family. Luo Hongli smiled, pretending nothing was amiss, and laughed, “By the way, Brother Tian, who are these people? They're not really thugs, are they?”

“What else would they be? Didn’t you see their weapons? That brat Chen Xin must be getting cocky—Green Gang’s getting bold. Isn’t this his turf? Tonight, I’ll have to ask him about it. Almost got chopped up on his turf. I’ll call him and make him apologize. At the very least, he should treat us to a night of fun to make up for it!” Yang Batian cursed with a laugh.

“Absolutely, I’ll call him right away. It’s been a while since we all got together,” Luo Hongli added. “So, what should we do with these guys?”

“Don’t you want to get some practice?” Yang Batian winked.

Luo Hongli’s eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily. Turning to the doorway, he shouted at the group of fully armed soldiers, “Arrest them all—take them away. Don’t forget their weapons; those are evidence. Unbelievable, they dared to assassinate Brother Tian!”

He turned back to Yang Batian and whispered, “Brother Tian, I’m going to make sure Chen Xin pays for this. If he doesn’t cough up, I’ll hand these guys over to Public Security and tip off the media. He’ll be scrambling to clean up the mess!”