Volume 1 Chapter 33: Turmoil at the Clubhouse

Xie Feng, having clashed with Zhou Yang before, was well aware of his opponent's capabilities. To ensure there would be no slip-ups this time, he had summoned his entire circle of friends for backup.

After making five consecutive phone calls, Xie Feng picked up his wine glass with a smug sense of confidence. "Give it an hour. Once my brothers arrive, I’ll make sure Zhou Yang pays dearly for this!"

"Brother Feng is the man!"

...

In the adjacent private room where Zhou Yang was, the group had opened their drinks and were laughing and making merry. The bonds of college classmates are the purest; though it had been over a year since graduation, being together again felt as if they had returned to their university days.

Zhou Yang sat beside Bai Lu, listening to her sing. She truly lived up to her reputation as the star performer of Shen University back in the day; her voice was as clear and melodic as an oriole’s call.

Just as Zhou Yang was becoming lost in the music, his phone suddenly rang. Seeing that it was Wei Changqing calling, he was puzzled. It was nearly ten o'clock at night; why would the director be calling now?

Zhou Yang got up and stepped outside to answer.

"Director Wei, you're still up this late?" Zhou Yang asked.

"As for me, I rarely sleep before the early hours!" Wei Changqing replied. "Mr. Zhou, the injured man you helped save at our hospital yesterday just woke up. He’s insisting on seeing you. I told him to rest, but he won't take no for an answer—he demands to speak with you."

"Oh?" Zhou Yang recalled that when he went to see a client yesterday, he had helped stop the bleeding for an injured man. It had been over twenty-four hours before the man regained consciousness; his injuries must have been severe indeed. "What does he want to say to me?"

Wei Changqing didn't hesitate; he handed the phone to one of Qiao Youliang's subordinates standing nearby. The subordinate put the phone on speaker and held it to Qiao Youliang’s ear.

"Mr. Zhou..." Qiao Youliang’s voice was weak, and he began to cough as soon as he spoke.

"Boss!" "Boss!" The subordinates rushed forward, terrified that something might happen to him.

"I'm fine, my throat was just a bit ticklish," Qiao Youliang said, a trace of dry humor flashing across his rugged face. He was clearly a tough man. "Mr. Zhou, I heard from Director Wei that yesterday, when I was losing so much blood that it wouldn't stop, it was you who used a special method to save me."

"You saved my life, so I want to meet you and thank you in person."

Zhou Yang quickly replied, "No, no, there’s no need for that! You’re being too kind!"

"Mr. Zhou, it’s a bit noisy on your end!" Qiao Youliang hadn't caught his words.

"Oh, I'm at a club, it is a bit loud here," Zhou Yang said.

"Oh? Which club?" Qiao Youliang asked.

"What was it called again?" Zhou Yang pondered for a moment before saying, "Oh, it's the Imperial Club."

"Understood. I won't keep you from your fun then," Qiao Youliang said. "Once I’ve recovered, I will come to see you myself!"

"You're too kind!" Zhou Yang replied.

After hanging up, beads of cold sweat stood out on Qiao Youliang’s forehead. It was evident that he had used every ounce of his remaining strength to make that call. His companion stepped forward to wipe his brow.

Qiao Youliang looked at a hulking man nearly two meters tall standing by the bed. "A-Long, Mr. Zhou is at the Imperial Club. That’s our territory. Go there now, take our token of sincerity, and thank Mr. Zhou properly on my behalf."

"Understood, Boss!" A-Long nodded and headed out.

Back at the Imperial Club, Zhou Yang finished his call and returned to the room to rejoin his friends. A short while later, the door swung open, and Xie Feng led a group inside.

Everyone froze, and the music cut off abruptly.

Clap, clap, clap!

Xie Feng clapped his hands. "Beautiful, that was quite a song. You could win a grand prize with that!" He looked at Bai Lu, who was holding the microphone, his eyes filled with greed and lechery. If Zhao Ziying hadn't been standing behind him, his true colors would have been on full display.

Liu Yan walked in as well, accompanied by a pure-looking woman wearing glasses.

Seeing them, Zhou Yang’s brow furrowed. "What are you doing here?"

"Zhou Yang, we’re all colleagues, let’s just have some fun together!" Liu Yan said.

"That's right, Zhou Yang. I even took you to meet a client yesterday; why be so cold to me?" Zhao Ziying added with a suggestive smile.

Despite her words, the thugs Xie Feng had brought were menacing. They strode into the room, sprawled out on the sofas, and began harassing the women nearby.

"What are you doing?" Da Xiong roared.

"Oh? What? You looking for trouble?" Xie Feng glared at him. "Let me tell you, we’re here to hang out with Zhou Yang. Everyone else, keep your mouths shut, or I’ll slap you silly!"

Xie Feng sat arrogantly on the sofa and barked at Bai Lu, "Pour the drinks!"

The other thugs began grabbing at the women, who shrieked in terror and scrambled toward the door.

However, Liu Yan blocked the exit, refusing to let anyone pass.

"Hahaha!" Xie Feng laughed wantonly, turning to Zhao Ziying. "Look at them, so scared! Is it really that serious? Hahaha!"

"Xie Feng, every debt has its debtor. You want me, come for me. Don't drag others into this," Zhou Yang said, his face flush with rage.

"Have I been hard on them?" Xie Feng replied with a mocking grin. "Which eye did you see me being hard on them with?"

"This is our private room. If you want to drink and sing, go back to your own!" Da Xiong shouted. He had been acting as the protector of the group, and given his own background in the underworld, he felt compelled to step up. He pointed at Zhou Yang and said, "You have a grudge against him, take him outside for all I care, but these others are my friends. Don't you dare act out!"

"Oh, you're pretty full of yourself, aren't you?" Xie Feng gritted his teeth. "Say another word, and I swear I'll beat you!"

Zhou Yang stepped forward quickly. "Xie Feng, Liu Yan, we may have our issues, but there’s no need to involve innocent people. If you keep this up, I swear, I’ll stake my life on it to make you regret it!"

"Oh my, he's going to stake his life! He’s scaring me, I’m so afraid!" Xie Feng covered his mouth in a mocking, pathetic display, then sat upright. "Zhou Yang, I’m not an unreasonable person. Look at you—you caused my parents to divorce, and you upset my girlfriend yesterday. We have to settle these accounts, right?"

"Your parents' divorce has nothing to do with me; your father brought that on himself!" Zhou Yang looked at Zhao Ziying. "And as for your so-called girlfriend, she’s a bit too spoiled, isn't she? I didn't follow her wishes, and that counts as upsetting her? That makes absolutely no sense!"

"Damn you!" Xie Feng roared. "Still trying to argue? Get over here and kneel down to apologize!"

As he spoke, Xie Feng grabbed a wine bottle. "And then let me bash your head in until I'm satisfied! Otherwise, no one leaves this room!"

"You've gone too far!" Bai Lu cried out. "I'm calling the police right now."

"Calling the police? Do you really think you’ll get the chance?" Xie Feng signaled his thug, who lunged forward and snatched the phone from Bai Lu’s hand.

"If anyone dares to call the police, I’ll let my brothers have their way with her!" Xie Feng bellowed.

Da Xiong, seeing that they were serious, hesitated. He said to Zhou Yang, "Hey, kid, you caused this mess. You should go over and resolve it."

"Da Xiong?" Bai Lu frowned. "Are you telling Zhou Yang to go to his death?" They wanted Zhou Yang to kneel and let them bash his head with bottles. He would be killed!

"What else can we do? There are so many of them!" Da Xiong replied.

"Where are those friends of yours from the streets?" Bai Lu whispered.

"Oh, it's so late... and even if I called them, it’s too late now," Da Xiong stammered.

"Xie Feng, you really want to take this to the bitter end, don't you?" Zhou Yang’s voice turned ice-cold. "Fine. Then nobody leaves today. It’s either you or me!"

At that moment, Zhou Yang looked like a vengeful spirit possessed. His face was flushed, and his eyes were bloodshot. He had been suppressing his rage, but at this instant, it finally shattered his restraint. He had been bullied far enough; he could take no more.