Chen Hao listened with some disbelief. Here was a punk wearing a brave front, you'd think he was some language teacher if you didn't know any better.
He didn't let go, just picked up a cigarette and put it in his mouth, and Brother Ji, despite reacting extremely quickly, was in so much pain all over his body, especially his face which was now numb—he could no longer feel it was his own face. His body was pushed against the wall, yet he still managed a pained grimace, enduring the piercing pain as he fished out a lighter from his pocket to light Chen Hao's cigarette.
"Damn it, you think lighting a cigarette will let you off the hook?" Chen Hao certainly wasn't going to let him go easily. This kind of trash, one face to the world and another behind your back, needed to be taught a lesson!
He only took one puff of the cigarette before landing another heavy punch on Brother Ji's stomach. With that hit, Brother Ji immediately bent over, spewing filth from his mouth with a retch.
"No, no more... please," Brother Ji pleaded, bent over and pale, stretching out one trembling hand with difficulty. Then he shakily took out a wad of cash—not bothering to count how much—raised it over his head, "Boss, this is all the money I have on me. Take this as compensation, please let me go, okay?"
Chen Hao unapologetically snatched the money, then crouched down, "Kid, this is nowhere near enough. The things there, each one's an antique, worth millions combined. You're still far too short!"
By now, Brother Ji was completely disheveled, his speech slurred as he said again, "Boss, I really didn't know Old Zhao was under your protection. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have come to extort protection money."
Seeing him in this state, Chen Hao felt he had beaten him enough and stood up, but even though Brother Ji had been beaten to a mess, his eyes shot a venomous glance at Chen Hao as he stood.
Fucking hell, once you guys are gone, I'll make that old bastard pay!
Chen Hao casually counted the money, which came to over a thousand—probably enough to cover the damaged goods.
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly thought that if he left now, this bunch of little twerps would surely come back tomorrow. He definitely couldn't be here guarding the place every day. And Old Zhao would still have trouble.
With this in mind, Chen Hao crouched down again, yanked Brother Ji up, made him stand against the wall, and pointed at his nose, saying, "Kid, from now on, I'm the one covering Old Zhao's stall. If you dare to mess with him again, next time I'll take out your five limbs!"
Just as Brother Ji breathed a sigh of relief seeing the terrifying figure about to leave, he saw Chen Hao turn back, which scared him into a trembling mess. Was this guy a hitman in his past life or what?
Brother Ji struggled to shake his head, his hands frantically waving, "Boss, boss, absolutely not. I won't come near Old Zhao's place ever again."
Though he said that, in his heart he was already plotting how to beat Old Zhao half to death the next day, and even his granddaughter, damn it, a turn for each, to screw her over!
Suddenly, he saw a small object flash by in the hand that Chen Hao was holding the money with. Although he didn't get a clear look, the sight of the object turned his lips white with fear, and his breathing suddenly became labored. He cautiously glanced at Chen Hao and asked, "Boss, you, you're with the Hong Association?"
"Hm?" Chen Hao was taken aback, not quite understanding what he was talking about. "What Hong Association?"
Brother Ji saw him seemingly unaware and still pointed somewhat uneasily at the hand Chen Hao used to take the money, asking, "That thing in your hand…"
"In my hand?" Seeing him pointing at the hand he held the money with, thinking he was still after the money, he raised one hand ready to strike, but Brother Ji immediately shielded his face, shouting repeatedly, "Don't hit me, don't hit me, you have something in your hand."
Chen Hao raised his hand to look and indeed there was a small tag within the money. He immediately realized he had carelessly brought it with him while taking out the cash earlier. That item was given to him by a woman he had saved before, who said it was to thank him for saving her life, and that if ever he encountered trouble in Zhonghai, he could use the tag to seek her out on Dunhuang Street.
At the time, Chen Hao didn't take it seriously and had casually tossed it into his pocket. However, the item looked well-crafted, and being made of pure gold, it could even sell for a few thousand yuan if he wanted.
"You mean this?" Chen Hao held up a small, golden rose petal-shaped tag in front of Brother Ji and asked.
"It really is the Blood Token!" Suddenly seeing the tag, Brother Ji's legs went weak, and he nearly sat down on the ground, looking at Chen Hao in horror, "You, you, you…"
"You really are from the Hong Association!"
Brother Ji felt an immense regret. The small tag before him was none other than the Blood Token of the Hong Association, and this man was actually from the Hong Association, with an extremely high status!
The Hong Association in Zhonghai was an immense presence, boasting many strong and fierce soldiers under its command and controlling a third of the city's underground industries. And the leader, Xue Meigui, was tremendously formidable; not only was she extremely beautiful, a top-notch beauty, but her skills were also exceptionally competent, and she was extraordinarily clever. In just a few years, she had managed to build the Hong Association from a small gang to a force nearly capable of contending with the Great Tiger Association.
The Blood Token was a symbol of the upper echelons of the Hong Association, personally issued by Xue Meigui. Only those who had made significant contributions within the Hong Association, the most loyal and closest to her, would have one.
Yet here was this small-time substitute driver with a Blood Token!
In Brother Ji's heart, ten thousand alpacas galloped past. This time he hadn't just hit a steel plate; he had kicked right into Tiger's mouth!
Seeing Brother Ji's restless gaze on the small tag in his hand, Chen Hao was quite puzzled in his heart, but still, he didn't reveal anything and held it up to his face, asking, "What, are you afraid of this?"
"No, don't want it!" Brother Ji, terrified, kept retreating as if the inconspicuous tag was akin to the King of Hell's death warrant, "Boss, so you're a member of the Hong Association. I really didn't know, I truly had no idea, please, I beg you, spare me!"
Seeing that Chen Hao remained silent, Brother Ji's mind raced, crying out, "Boss, rest assured, as long as I'm here, Old Zhao will never have to pay protection money again. Moreover, I'll assign two of my guys to ensure that as long as he's in business, he'll be protected around the clock and absolutely no one will bully him!"
"Oh?" Now it was Chen Hao's turn to be surprised. He hadn't expected that after all his fighting, a small tag would prove more effective. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He had been wondering if Old Zhao might have trouble with these hooligans again, but now it seemed there was no need to worry.
This little tag must be a major taboo for them; otherwise, they wouldn't be so scared. Since that was the case, it seemed that the matter was handled...