Demonic King of the Metropolis - Chapter 96 - Jiang Dong's Revenge

After school, Tang Jie, Chen Shuran, Qin Haozhong, and Xiao Ran left through the school gate together. Since Qin Haozhong’s sports car only had two seats and couldn’t accommodate four people, they discussed it and decided that Xiao Ran would happily ride with Qin Haozhong, while Tang Jie and Chen Shuran called a taxi and followed Qin Haozhong’s sports car to a hotel.

Qin Haozhong was quite generous and brought Tang Jie, Chen Shuran, and Xiao Ran to a luxury hotel. As they entered, Tang Jie glanced around. Although it wasn’t as high-end as the place Chen Jiankai had taken him and Chen Shuran to last time, it wasn’t much inferior.

The group was led to a private room meant for three people. After ordering food, Qin Haozhong also requested a bottle of Moutai¹. Ever since Xiao Ran stepped out of the sports car, she had been in a dazed state, as if Qin Haozhong had cast a spell on her. Her cheeks remained flushed red the entire time.

Chen Shuran, being accustomed to high-end hotels, remained calm and composed without showing much reaction. Tang Jie, on the other hand, couldn’t help pondering a question. He glanced at Chen Shuran, then at Qin Haozhong, his gaze flickering back and forth between them. That night, when Chen Jiankai and Qin Tian’s father were together, the tension between them was evident. However, looking at Qin Haozhong and Chen Shuran now, it seemed they didn’t share the same animosity, and Chen Shuran didn’t appear to particularly dislike Qin Haozhong.

Chen Jiankai had mentioned that if the feud between him and Qin Tian could be resolved, it would be a good thing. Was there a way to address the issue through Chen Shuran and Qin Haozhong?

As Tang Jie mulled over this question, the waiter came in with the drinks first. Qin Haozhong poured a glass of wine for Tang Jie, then stood up, looking at him with respect and sincerity. “Master, I’d like to propose a toast to you,” he said.

Tang Jie was momentarily stunned, only reacting when he noticed the wine glass in Qin Haozhong’s hand. However, seeing Qin Haozhong’s serious demeanor, he couldn’t help but laugh. The scene was reminiscent of Sun Wukong² bowing respectfully to Tang Seng.

Amused though he was, Tang Jie acknowledged Qin Haozhong’s sincerity. He took the wine glass and downed it in one gulp without saying a word. The distinctive aroma and sharpness of the Moutai spread down his throat. It was good alcohol, but he didn’t particularly enjoy it.

Qin Haozhong also downed his glass, but when he went to pour another, Tang Jie stopped him. He didn’t like drinking baijiu³.

Understanding Tang Jie’s meaning, Qin Haozhong signaled the waiter to take away the bottle of Moutai and replace it with beer. Soon, the dishes were served one by one, and the group started eating, chatting and laughing freely without much formality.

“Qin Haozhong, you don’t strike me as a playboy, but why do you look so much like one?” Xiao Ran’s bubbly personality surfaced again as they began eating.

Chen Shuran couldn’t help but laugh at her comment. Wasn’t that just stating the obvious? She might as well have directly called Qin Haozhong a gigolo.

“Heh, well, I noticed you brought along two apples. They look so fresh and juicy-mind if I take a bite?” Qin Haozhong retorted playfully, his face still adorned with an innocent smile. Xiao Ran, not understanding what he actually meant, froze for a moment and replied, “I didn’t bring any apples with me.”

After saying this, she glanced at Chen Shuran and Tang Jie, wondering if either of them had brought apples instead.

Tang Jie quickly caught on, noticing the mischievous glint in Qin Haozhong’s eyes. He looked over at Xiao Ran’s flushed cheeks and instantly understood the playful innuendo. However, he didn’t explain it to Xiao Ran. This little chatterbox was always chirping around him, so for once, he decided to let her be teased a bit.

With that thought in mind, Tang Jie gave Qin Haozhong an approving look while keeping a straight face and said, “You’re right, I saw them too. I think Qin Haozhong just had a bit too much to drink earlier and needs something to quench his thirst. Xiao Ran, don’t be stingy-go ahead and let him have a bite.”

Tang Jie managed to suppress his laughter as he spoke, while Chen Shuran, ever sharp and perceptive, had already realized that Qin Haozhong and Tang Jie were pulling a prank. Though she remained silent and pretended to focus on her food, she couldn’t entirely hide the amused smile on her face.

“What are you two talking about? I really didn’t bring anything! The apples I brought earlier were eaten long before the afternoon. If I still had any, I’d definitely share with him. I’m not that petty,” Xiao Ran replied indignantly, giving Tang Jie a glare as she tried to defend herself.

“No, you do have some. They’re right in front of us. If I find them, though, will you let him have a bite?” Tang Jie said confidently, his gaze fixed on Xiao Ran, while Qin Haozhong simply stood by, his mischievous grin growing wider.

“Fine! If you find them, then sure, he can have some. I’ll even share with you if you want-both of you, go ahead!” Xiao Ran replied while looking suspiciously at the two of them. Their sly faces suddenly struck her as a little too suspicious, making her second-guess her words the moment they left her mouth. Still, she wasn’t sure what was off.

“Why don’t you go over there and take a look in the mirror? You’ll figure it out,” Tang Jie said, grabbing a bite of food and chewing deliberately, trying to hide his laughter. Chen Shuran quickly picked up her tea to take a sip, only to end up choking on it as a fit of giggles escaped her.

Xiao Ran was utterly confused, staring blankly at the others. Half-believing and half-doubting, she slowly stood up and walked over to the side where a mirror hung on the wall. She stared at her reflection for a while, her face slightly flushed, but there were no apples to be seen… until it finally hit her-apple face!

Realizing the tease, Xiao Ran spun around and charged back toward the table. “Tang Jie! You’re messing with me!” she exclaimed. But before she could finish her sentence, the three others had already burst out laughing, nearly collapsing under the table from the hilarity of the situation.

Even Chen Shuran was hunched over, laughing uncontrollably. That only made Xiao Ran pout as she looked at her and said, “Shuran-Jie, you joined in on this too? You’re so mean!” Huffing in frustration, Xiao Ran plopped back into her chair. Seeing the others continuing to laugh, she decided to retaliate in the only way she could-she grabbed her chopsticks and began eating furiously. “Laugh all you want. I’ll eat everything so you’ll have nothing left!” she thought to herself.

And so, the meal went on with laughter, teasing, and lighthearted banter. Even the waiter nearby couldn’t help but be infected by the lively atmosphere, chuckling along as they worked.

After dinner, Tang Jie and Chen Shuran planned to head back to the villa. Meanwhile, Qin Haozhong naturally took it upon himself to give Xiao Ran a ride home. The four parted ways at the hotel entrance. When Tang Jie and Chen Shuran arrived back at the villa, the night sky had just turned dark.

Tang Jie followed closely behind Chen Shuran as they walked through the villa gate. Suddenly, from the shadows outside, two figures emerged silently. One of them, a slim and short man, watched the pair walking toward the villa and quickly pulled out his phone to make a call.

“Boss, they’re back. I just saw them go inside,” the little guy reported eagerly.

“Keep an eye on them. I’m bringing people over now,” a cold and menacing voice replied from the other end of the line. The small man nodded repeatedly before the call abruptly ended.

“Don’t worry, brother. Tonight, just wait and see. I’ll personally bring back one of that guy’s legs for you!” Jiang Dong sneered with a brutal expression, leaning back in the booth of Passion Bar. Dressed in a black T-shirt, his eyes glinted mercilessly as he addressed Zhu Nan, who sat beside him.

The memory of his last misadventure had clearly not faded. Back then, he had tried to take advantage of the situation but had ended up in a miserable state, humiliated and tormented at the hands of Wang Qianya. The experience had been so excruciating that he almost didn’t survive it-and to make matters worse, his… let’s just say ‘equipment’ had been out of commission for weeks, nearly leaving him permanently incapacitated.

The rumors had spread like wildfire. Brothers under him and even underworld acquaintances had all been gossiping behind his back, laughing about how he was taken down by a boy and a girl. The humiliation was unbearable.

The thought of it made Jiang Dong grind his teeth in seething rage. He downed another glass of whiskey from the table, the alcohol fueling his anger, and then rose to leave with his men in tow, his expression as dark as the night outside.

Zhu Nan watched as Jiang Dong stepped out of the bar and suddenly stood up, calling out, “Dong-Ge, I want to come with you, too.”

Hearing this, Jiang Dong thought to himself, Perfect. Having someone familiar with the area lead the way would make it even easier for his men to take action.

He nodded in agreement, and Zhu Nan followed him out of Passion Bar. Several black luxury sedans were parked in front of the bar, gleaming under the dim streetlights. Jiang Dong walked up to one of the cars, glanced at a bald man standing nearby, and asked, “Did you bring everything?”

“Don’t worry, Dong-Ge. Everything’s ready,” the bald man replied confidently. With that, he opened the trunk of the car. Inside were several guns, their metallic surfaces glinting coldly under the light.

Only after seeing the weapons did Jiang Dong feel assured. He opened the car door and got in. Zhu Nan followed him into the back seat. Taking a quick glance behind them, Zhu Nan noted there were a total of five cars. Judging by the number of people, there were easily at least twenty, all armed. That should be more than enough to handle Tang Jie, right? But Zhu Nan couldn’t shake off his worry. Although Jiang Dong seemed confident, Zhu Nan was well aware of Tang Jie’s capabilities.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhu Nan turned to Jiang Dong and said, “Dong-Ge, are you sure this many people will be enough?”

Hearing this, Jiang Dong froze, staring at Zhu Nan with confusion. Twenty-something guys, all armed to the teeth, and Zhu Nan still thought it wasn’t enough to take down one guy who just happens to know some martial arts?

Noticing Jiang Dong’s puzzled expression, Zhu Nan struggled to find the right words to explain. Before he could respond, Jiang Dong spoke first: “I’m not going there to fight him-I’m going there to kill him. No matter how good his martial arts are, can he be faster than my bullet?”

Jiang Dong’s voice carried an ominous chill, and his gaze turned ruthless. Seeing his confident demeanor, Zhu Nan fell silent. As much as Tang Jie’s skills concerned him, he had to admit there was little that could be done against bullets. He decided not to say anything further.

The convoy of vehicles sped toward the villa. Less than twenty minutes later, they had arrived near the villa gate. Jiang Dong instructed his men to park the cars in discreet spots where they wouldn’t be easily noticed.

He gestured for the bald man to step out of the car and then gave him some instructions while seated in the back. The plan was clear: hold off on any action for now and wait until the dead of night.

Afterward, Jiang Dong pulled out his phone and dialed the little guy who had been keeping watch outside the villa. On the other end, the little guy reported that he had been observing the whole time and that neither Tang Jie nor Chen Shuran had stepped out of the villa. Jiang Dong grinned maliciously and told him to stay in position. If Tang Jie were to come out, they would ambush him at the gate immediately. If he didn’t, they would wait until the dead of night, break in quietly, and finish him off inside.

“And that pretty Chen Shuran? Grab her and bring her back. I’ll make sure to ruin her-she’ll wish she were dead,” Jiang Dong sneered darkly as he hung up the phone.

Footnote:

1. Moutai(茅台):Moutai is a famous Chinese brand of baijiu, a type of distilled liquor made from fermented sorghum. It is known for its distinctive flavor and high alcohol content.
2. Sun Wukong(孙悟空):Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, and Tang Seng (Tang Sanzang) are characters from the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” Sun Wukong is a powerful and rebellious monkey who becomes the disciple of Tang Seng, a pious Buddhist monk, and accompanies him on a pilgrimage to retrieve sacred scriptures.
3. Baijiu(白酒):Baijiu is a traditional Chinese distilled spirit, typically made from grains like sorghum, with a high alcohol content and a strong flavor.