"Bang!"
A kick was thrown, and the sound of the strong wind howled.
The previously ferocious Liang, like being struck by a vehicle, was sent flying out the door.
He crashed heavily onto the ground, continuously spitting out fresh blood.
With just this one move, everyone around was completely petrified.
"You… you dare to hit… me… Eighth Brother… will not spare you… your Ning Family… will all die…"
After a good while, Liang finally managed to stand up with the support of his underlings.
His face was deathly pale; he definitely had several broken ribs.
"Go tell that old turtle, to come and kowtow to apologize in person, or else, when I come looking for him, things are going to get much worse!"
Lin Fan glared at the others with menace in his eyes.
This one kick had already drained the will to fight from everyone.
In a panic, they rushed to help Liang and hurriedly drove away to escape.
"The Blade Debtor really didn't lie to me... Thank goodness, Meng Yao can be saved!"
Ning Zhenyue was visibly excited.
He really was the savior sent by the heavens for the Ning Family.
"Mr. Ning, what on earth is going on?"
Lin Fan quickly helped Ning Zhenyue and walked towards the inner room.
He had tried to ask Meng Yao earlier, but she had refused to speak.
"Sun Ba is the head of the Green Dragon Alliance, a major underground force in Jiangning. Everyone who sees him has to call him Eighth Brother. He has thousands of men under his command, and he made his fortune in the past by stepping on people's blood. Although he has turned to legitimate businesses in recent years, he still controls most of the gray industries. Some days ago, he suddenly sent people to deliver a letter, saying he wanted to marry Meng Yao."
Seated in the Taishi Chair, Ning Zhenyue finally recounted the whole event.
"Of course, I refused, but he didn't care at all. He sent people to forcibly deliver a dowry; they're supposed to take Meng Yao away tonight in a grand bridal sedan chair. Otherwise, he threatened to wipe out our Ning Family."
"What era is this, that there's still talk of forced marriage; he really thinks he's some kind of bandit. Mr. Ning, rest assured, now that I am here, nobody can touch the Ning Family, and nobody can take Meng Yao away."
Lin Fan scoffed.
Dangerous days abroad in the shadow wars.
Global organizations and forces didn't dare to provoke him.
Some insignificant gangster from Jiangning dares to make a move on his turf.
"Alright, we can talk about the rest later; you must marry Meng Yao in a ceremony right away. I'm going to inform Meng Yao of this news now; she will definitely be happy!"
Ning Zhenyue quickly waved his hand, and several servants stepped forward to assist.
Without further ado, they put the traditional groom's attire on Lin Fan.
Looking at the big red flower hanging on his chest, Lin Fan couldn't help but wryly smile.
If he hadn't really taken Meng Yao's virginity, he would have absolutely refused.
Wondering how she would react when she saw him, would she be surprised or happy?
"The auspicious time has arrived, bring out the bride!"
As the Emcee's voice boomed, in no time, a graceful figure was supported onto the makeshift stage.
Wearing a phoenix crown and a xia pei robe, and with a red veil covering her head, Meng Yao walked tremblingly.
From under the veil, one could faintly hear crying.
Lin Fan wanted to speak but was interrupted by the Emcee.
"Groom and bride, bow to heaven and earth!"
"Second bow to the high hall..."
"The couple bows to each other..."
As per Ning Zhenyue's wishes, the whole ceremony was simplified.
Sitting alone at the higher hall's position, he tearfully accepted the tea offered by the two.
The way he downed it in one gulp didn't quite feel celebratory.
More like a brave farewell toast before heading to death.
"Drip-drop, wa-la... drip-drop, wa-la..."
Just as the two performed a slight bow, suddenly, the sound of bugles came from outside.
On closer inspection, the bugles were playing a funeral tune.
On this great joyous day, such accompanying music was displeasing to everyone's heart.
"The ceremony is complete, quickly escort the bride to the bridal chamber!"
Ning Zhenyue urgently instructed everyone to assist Ning Mengyao, who was covered with a red bridal veil, to the rear hall.
From beginning to end, she hadn't seen the person with whom she had taken her wedding vows to know what he truly looked like.
"Boom!"
The tightly closed door was suddenly forcefully smashed open.
But the first to enter wasn't a person but a huge red coffin.
Eight muscular men bare on top, carrying the coffin, crossed the threshold and walked into the courtyard.
Following them, more than twenty burly men also poured in one after another.
Looking closely, their snarling faces weren't in any way kind.
Upon entering, they started dismantling the original decorations.
From among the crowd, an elderly man with graying hair, leaning on a cane, slowly walked into the courtyard from where the crowd had parted.
"Sun Ba, you're going too far!"
Seeing Sun Ba, who was about his age, Ning Zhenyue's face turned ashen.
"Mr. Ning, you're not playing fair. We agreed that I would take wedding vows with Meng Yao, and our families would form a century-long alliance. I trusted you so much, but today you pulled a fast one on me. So I can only go with the flow and give you a decent funeral. Consider it the grandest filial respect from your future son-in-law," Sun Ba said with a cold laugh, sitting down on a chair brought over by his men.
A pair of narrow, venomous eyes gleamed with malice.
"Sun Ba, how shameless can you be? You have already lost seven wives. At your age, you still want to harm my granddaughter. Give up on that wish, whether in this lifetime or the next, my Ning family will never accept a son-in-law like you!"
Ning Zhenyue trembled with rage.
"Ning Zhenyue, don't act like getting a little color means you can open a dyehouse. I, Sun Ba, have dominated Jiangning for so many years. My word is law. The woman I fancy has to be my wife as long as I live. Even on the day I ascend to heaven by crane, she must accompany me to sleep in the underworld. As for you, you old fool, I'll send you on your way today to scout the path ahead!"
Sun Ba licked his lips and laughed ferociously.
The men standing behind him quickly charged towards the stage.
Coming from a background of desperados, they didn't bother with niceties.
But just as they were leaping onto the stage, a gust of fierce wind swept over.
"Pfft!"
Caught off guard, several men were kicked off the stage.
Crashing to the ground, their blood stained their originally white clothes red.
"Didn't someone send you a message just now to come to my door and beg for forgiveness? It looks like you have not learned your lesson," Lin Fan said, ripping the big red flower from his chest.
His eyes ablaze with anger, emitted a chilling murderous intent.
"You little bastard, who do you think you are, speaking to Laozi like that!"
Sun Bayi slapped the armrest and stood up with fierce glint in his eyes.
"Alright then, since you're so keen on playing the hero, Laozi will oblige you. The coffin is big enough to bury both of you together!"
"Yes!"
With Sun Ba's command, the more than twenty people behind him all rubbed their hands in anticipation.
Opportunities to make a name for themselves like this did not come often; they had to make a good show of it.
"So you like wearing white, huh."
Lin Fan, facing the crowd, did not take a single step back.
With an evil smile on his lips, his eyes began to show a hint of red light.
"Today, your blood will serve as the red carpet for my wedding day!"
"Kill!"
Dozens of people shouted in unison.
The sound was like a thunderclap.
As he watched the swarming crowd, Ning Zhenyue felt the world spin around him.
In such a scenario, it wasn't just a matter of being flesh and blood.
Even a body forged from diamond could be flattened into a metal pancake.