Park Bucheng looked at the Bald Man in front of him, his lips twitching slightly. Damn it, this guy just wouldn't let go. Clearly, the incident in the alley had left a grudge. But now, he was no longer the useless coward hiding behind a trash can.
"Hello, big brother," Park Bucheng said, adjusting his black-rimmed glasses and forcing a timid smile that resembled a frightened rabbit. "I’m just here for the meeting."
The Bald Man sneered, "Oh, isn’t this our 'Trash Can Hero'?" He grabbed Park Bucheng by the collar, his tone arrogant and domineering. "You still dare to show up? If you hadn’t run fast last time, I would have broken your legs!" The surrounding lackeys erupted in laughter, like a pack of hyenas watching a show, their eyes filled with mockery and derision.
Feeling the collar tighten around his neck, Park Bucheng struggled to breathe but maintained his cowardly demeanor. Yet a flicker of coldness flashed in his eyes. He forced out a smile that was more painful than crying and said in a voice barely above a whisper, "Big brother, let’s talk it out. Didn’t Boss Li say we were having a meeting?"
"A meeting?" The Bald Man laughed menacingly, spitting saliva all over Park Bucheng's face. "You think you’re worthy to join us?" As he spoke, his fist—big as a cooking pot—was about to swing toward Park Bucheng's face. The wind from the punch howled, carrying a foul odor; Park Bucheng could even feel the sweat on the man's knuckles.
At that critical moment, a cold voice sliced through the noise like an icy blade: "What’s all this ruckus? What kind of behavior is this?"
Everyone turned to see Li Zhenghao standing at the staircase with an expressionless face, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. Behind him were several grim-faced confidants who looked like demons risen from hell. The Bald Man quickly released Park Bucheng as if he had stepped on a cat's tail and awkwardly chuckled, "Boss, this kid is the coward from last time; I was just... just educating him."
Li Zhenghao glanced at Park Bucheng with a hint of amusement in his eyes, as if assessing a new toy: "Alright, everyone come in. We have important business to discuss today."
Park Bucheng straightened his wrinkled collar, took a deep breath, and quietly followed the crowd into the meeting room. He noticed that Li Zhenghao's expression was serious and his brows were tightly knitted; it seemed tonight's meeting was not going to be simple.
The meeting room was filled with swirling smoke that made one’s throat itch. Over twenty people were crammed together in the stifling heat, the air thick with sweat, smoke, and cheap perfume—a nauseating mix. Li Zhenghao sat at the head of the table with a cigar in hand, his gaze cutting through the crowd like a knife: "I called you all here because there’s a task to assign. Tomorrow we’re heading to Jiangnan District; there’s an unwise businessman who owes us protection money and still dares to act tough." His eyes locked onto Park Bucheng like a venomous snake. "You—yes, you—take some people and deal with him tomorrow."
Park Bucheng was taken aback but quickly understood Li Zhenghao's intention. This was a test to see if he was truly useless. The surrounding lackeys snickered, eagerly waiting for him to embarrass himself like spectators at a circus.
"Yes, boss," Park Bucheng replied with his head down and respectful tone while calculating how to handle things tomorrow in his mind. He knew this was an opportunity—a chance to prove himself.
After the meeting, the Bald Man approached with a smug expression, "Kid, I'm going with you tomorrow. If you screw up, you'll regret it!"
Park Bucheng nodded obediently, like a docile sheep. Once everyone had left, he raised his head, adjusted his glasses, and revealed a knowing smile. These people really thought they could push him around.
The next morning, the sun shone brightly and the air was fresh, a stark contrast to the filth of the previous night. Park Bucheng brought the Bald Man and two other lackeys to the Jiangnan District. Their target was a luxurious clothing store with an extravagant sign that sparkled in the sunlight, standing out awkwardly among the surrounding shops. The owner was Jin Taiyu, who supposedly had some connections and had never been particularly respectful towards Li Zhenghao.
"This is it," the Bald Man said, pointing at the storefront and arrogantly addressing Park Bucheng, "Don't mess this up for me."
Park Bucheng adjusted his glasses again, the lenses reflecting a glint of cold light as he silently followed him into the store. The interior was lavishly decorated, filled with a faint scent of perfume. A few well-dressed customers were browsing through clothes. Jin Taiyu was a middle-aged man in his forties, portly and slick-looking. Upon seeing them enter, his expression darkened immediately, looking as if he had swallowed a fly.
"Here to collect protection fees again?" Jin Taiyu said coldly, his tone laced with disdain. "I’ve told you before, I have my own people protecting this street; I don’t need you West District folks meddling here."
The Bald Man slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups to jump. "Are you looking for trouble?" he shouted as he prepared to strike.
Just then, the store door swung open suddenly, and several burly men strode in with an intimidating presence and a murderous aura. The leader had a face full of flesh and fierce eyes that made it clear he was not to be trifled with; a gold chain hung around his neck, glinting in the sunlight.
"Who dares to cause trouble on my turf?" Hengrou's voice boomed like thunder in the store, making everyone’s ears ring.
The Bald Man's expression changed; he clearly hadn’t expected reinforcements to arrive so quickly. Sweat beads formed on his forehead like a rabbit caught in a hunter's sights, feeling trapped. Park Bucheng narrowed his eyes; it seemed Jin Taiyu's backing was not simple.
"It's all a misunderstanding," the Bald Man stammered as he began to back away, his tone weak and feeble.
"You think you can just come and go as you please?" Hengrou sneered. "If I don’t break your legs today, I won’t be called Zhang!" With that, his group moved in to attack, fists raining down on the Bald Man and his companions like a storm.
At that critical moment, Park Bucheng suddenly stepped forward. He removed his glasses, his gaze sharp as a blade, and his entire demeanor transformed in an instant, as if a sleeping lion had finally awakened.
"Brother Zhang, right? Li Zhenghao asked me to convey that this matter is negotiable." Park Bucheng's voice was calm yet powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.
"Who do you think you are?" Zhang Hengrou scoffed at him, looking down as if at an insignificant insect.
Park Bucheng smiled slightly, his form suddenly blurring as he appeared before Zhang Hengrou like a ghost. His hands moved swiftly, reminiscent of a dragon rising from the sea, unleashing the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms from the Tian Long Ba Bu. A series of muffled thuds echoed as Zhang Hengrou was caught off guard and sent flying with a single palm strike, crashing heavily against the wall, causing the decorative paintings to fall. Before anyone else could react, Park Bucheng swept through like a whirlwind; in just a few movements, everyone lay on the ground, wailing in agony.
The entire scene unfolded too quickly for Bald Man and the other lackeys to comprehend; their mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg. Jin Taiyu was even more terrified, his face pale as he felt a foul odor emanate from his pants, dropping to his knees in surrender. "Big Brother, I was wrong! I'll pay the protection fee right away!"
Park Bucheng put his glasses back on, reverting to his timid appearance. "As long as Boss Jin understands. From now on, make sure to pay on time every month, and we can all live in peace."
As he walked out of the store, Bald Man hesitated, staring at Park Bucheng with a mix of awe and confusion in his eyes. Park Bucheng pretended not to notice and was about to leave when he suddenly heard police sirens approaching from afar, growing increasingly piercing.
"The police are coming!" someone shouted in panic.
Park Bucheng squinted at the flashing lights in the distance, a mysterious smile creeping across his lips. "It seems that the interesting part is just beginning..."
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