Chapter 185 164: The Outlook Is Grim (Bonus Chapter for 13,000 Monthly Votes)

Lu Qi was also puzzled. The bar had been in operation for over two years without any similar incidents. Hundreds of spiders and centipedes suddenly appeared on the dance floor, and dozens of bats teamed up to attack humans. Such news could definitely make today's bizarre headlines.Was this related to Xu Chunliang? This guy can control a cauliflower snake; could he also control bugs and bats? How could that be possible? He's not the Five Poison Sect Leader.

Early the next morning, before dawn, with a light rain falling from the sky, a Toyota Alpha arrived at the entrance of SEVEN STAR. As the car drove into the parking lot, Xie Chunlei led a few subordinates, holding umbrellas, to greet them.

After the Alpha came to a stop, a man in a black suit and sunglasses first got out of the car and quickly opened an umbrella after stepping out.

A woman in a black Burberry trench coat emerged from inside. She was about 1.70 meters tall, walked with a brisk pace, and had a powerful aura. Her bodyguard followed her with precise steps, using the umbrella to shield the fine rain from her head.

Xie Chunlei bowed respectfully with his group, saying, "Sister Hua!"

The woman known as Sister Hua ignored him completely, striding into the chaotic bar. She was Hua Zhuyue, the Left Protector of the Orchid Sect, also the CEO of the East China Region, Vice President of Lanxing Entertainment Group, and one of the top three power figures in the group.

The bar looked as if it had been through a war, with scattered furniture, shattered glass from bottles and windows, and the bodies of bats and spiders still on the floor.

A bat, not yet dead, flapped its wings in struggle on the ground. Hua Zhuyue walked over, her heel like a sharp spike piercing the bat's body. It let out a squeal, frantically flapping its wings before succumbing to death.

Xie Chunlei hung his head low. He was just a small shareholder. In other words, the biggest loser this time was not him, but Lanxing Group.

Hua Zhuyue's cold gaze pierced through her sunglasses at Xie Chunlei.

Xie Chunlei felt a dryness in his throat, murmuring, "This kind of situation has never happened before. The police are investigating..."

Hua Zhuyue interrupted him: "What happened the day before yesterday?"

Xie Chunlei was taken aback: "Tang Tianyi from Huayuan Group had a conflict with a group of local young people, so..."

Slap!

Suddenly, Hua Zhuyue raised her hand and slapped Xie Chunlei hard across the face. Caught off guard, he staggered, nearly falling onto the glass-shard-covered floor.

Holding his face, Xie Chunlei was filled with anger but dared not express it. He didn't even understand why Hua Zhuyue slapped him.

Hua Zhuyue moved her fingers, and the bodyguard beside her took out a box of cigarettes. She pulled one out, and the bodyguard quickly lit it for her.

Hua Zhuyue took a puff of the cigarette, walked a few steps forward, and said, "How many times have I said it? We do business for money, not to get involved in other people's disputes. If anything goes wrong, leave it to the police. Why wouldn't you provide the police with the surveillance footage?"

Xie Chunlei said, "Sister Hua, Tang Tianyi's father is Huayuan..."

Hua Zhuyue slapped him again with more force than before, causing Xie Chunlei's head to shake violently, his cheeks burning with pain.

Those around remained silent with dread. Hua Zhuyue's reputation in the group was formidable, even more intimidating than the reclusive Chairman Ji Buyao.

Hua Zhuyue scolded, "I don't care who they are. Anyone who walks in here is our guest, and you should treat them all the same. Doing business requires fairness, and if you can't uphold this basic principle, it's no wonder you're in this situation."

In Hua Zhuyue's view, irrespective of whether the bar's disaster was a coincidence, Xie Chunlei was wrong. He shouldn't have chosen sides, foolishly thinking he was smart by helping Tang Tianyi, essentially involving himself in the battle.

If the opponent wasn't Xu Chunliang, whom he deemed an ordinary person, but someone more ruthless than Tang Tianyi, the bar—indeed, the entire Lanxing Group—would become a target for revenge.

The Orchid Sect has survived from the Spring and Autumn period till now by adhering to the principle of opening the door for business focused on money.

They are not a court; they have no right to judge others' rights and wrongs, let alone foolishly choose a side and get tangled in conflicts.

Life is unpredictable and full of uncertainties. Today's super-rich could end up on the streets overnight due to bankruptcy, and today's ordinary youth, who knows if they'll rise to prominence in the future?

The disaster at SEVEN STAR, even if caused by human actions, was retribution for Xie Chunlei's improper behavior.

"Where's the footage?"

Tang Tianyi lay in the VIP ward on the twentieth floor of Changxing Hospital, his mind still replaying the scene of Xu Chunliang charging at him like a tiger, causing his muscles to tense up.

Whenever he got tense, the wound on his thigh began to ache dully. He believed he was seriously injured, but the police's injury report indicated that Xu Chunliang hadn't caused serious injury.

The lawyer, initially full of confidence that Xu Chunliang could be put behind bars, was no longer optimistic after returning from the police station today. The police had classified the incident as mutual fighting, and they initiated the trouble.

Tang Tianyi was surprised by the police's sudden change in attitude.

The lawyer informed him that SEVEN STAR had provided the police with surveillance footage, showing that he had first harassed Zhen Chun, starting with him trying to flirt with Zhen Chun, who then rejected him, and then infuriated, he took Zhen Chun to his private room—all captured clearly.

As for Tang Tianyi's claim that Xu Chunliang had stabbed him, there was no footage of that. Even if the bar had surveillance footage of the private room, they wouldn't provide it, as it involved others' privacy. If such things got publicized, who would still visit their bar?

Now, Tang Tianyi found himself in a passive position. If the other party sued, he might be charged with harassment and restricting someone's freedom. The lawyer's advice was to settle the matter.

Tang Tianyi stubbornly said, "If we need to sue, let's sue. Who's afraid of who?"

The lawyer sighed, not feeling optimistic about the case. Moreover, if they went to court, the news would expose Tang Tianyi's harassment of Zhen Chun.

His personal reputation was minor compared to Huayuan Group's reputation. If the scandal of the Huayuan Group chairman's son got publicized, it would trigger a chain reaction, potentially leading to a drop in Huayuan Group's stock price.

By then, it wouldn't just be his personal problem or his family's, but an issue for the entire Huayuan Group, and the board would certainly hold the chairman accountable.

The lawyer advised Tang Tianyi to compromise, which was also his uncle Tang Jinglun's suggestion.

Tang Tianyi realized that things weren't as optimistic as he thought. Although he couldn't swallow his anger, he was also worried about potentially escalating the issue, causing the group losses that his father wouldn't forgive.

The lawyer continued, "Actually, to retaliate against someone doesn't necessarily require legal means. Xu Chunliang works at Changxing Hospital."

Tang Tianyi's eyes lit up, and he whispered, "Really?"

The lawyer nodded: "A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years."