Chapter 030: Brother Le

Lin Kai had seen it right. The man surrounded by the crowd, looking every bit like a big shot, was none other than the legendary enforcer of the Tianxiong Gang, Fire Ox!

"Brother Fire Ox? But didn't you just say he wasn't in Haizhou recently, and wouldn't be back for a few days?" Lin Xueling asked, perplexed.

"Well..." Lin Kai was suddenly at a loss, awkwardly searching for an explanation.

"Lin Kai, were you lying to me? Or were you just bragging?" Lin Xueling said bluntly.

"I... Of course not! I really do have some connection with Brother Fire Ox," Lin Kai protested.

"Then he's here to deal with Lin Le now. Why don't you go over and smooth things out?" Lin Xueling urged anxiously.

This time, Lin Kai was completely stumped, unable to answer. He regretted coming here, cursing himself for letting his head get muddled. If it weren't for the desire to witness Lin Le's humiliation, none of this mess would have happened.

Lin Xueling was no fool. Seeing Lin Kai's flustered state, she realized his claim of brotherhood with Fire Ox was nothing but empty boasting. Disappointment overtook her.

Meanwhile, Zhao Hu was feeling triumphant, hurrying to greet Fire Ox.

"Brother Fire Ox," Zhao Hu nodded and bowed obsequiously.

"Hmm, where is he?" Fire Ox was arrogant, fully commanding the scene.

"Right there, that kid!" Zhao Hu pointed at Lin Le.

Just a moment ago, Zhao Hu had looked cocky, but the instant his eyes landed on Lin Le's calm, unruffled face, he was dumbfounded, mouth agape, the cigarette tumbling from his lips.

As Zhao Hu approached, Ji Xiaorui assumed he was about to attack Lin Le, so she barked a warning, "Fatty, don't think you can scare me just because you're with the Tianxiong Gang. If you dare lay a finger on Lin Le, I'll—"

"Brother Le..." Before Ji Xiaorui could finish, Fire Ox bowed deeply, his face full of deference.

"Ah?!" Ji Xiaorui was stunned on the spot.

Not only Ji Xiaorui, but also Zhao Hu, Lin Xueling, Lin Kai, Ma Zhifeng, and all the onlookers were frozen in disbelief. Had they heard correctly? The famed enforcer of the Tianxiong Gang, Brother Fire Ox, was calling Lin Le "Brother Le"?

What was happening? Had they misunderstood? How could Fire Ox, the notorious hitman, address Lin Le with such respect?

"Mm." Lin Le replied with quiet indifference, though inwardly he was surprised. He hadn't expected Zhao Hu's chosen man to be Fire Ox.

"Brother Le, would you like a smoke?" Fire Ox hurriedly offered a cigarette, hands trembling with fear.

He couldn't help but shudder at the memory of Lin Le single-handedly sweeping through the Night Banquet Club, and at the thought of Lin Le's connection with Old Master Gu. Fire Ox was terrified; this was no ordinary "Brother"—Lin Le was practically a living legend, someone even Boss Guan Tianxiong dared not offend. Fire Ox wouldn't dream of crossing him.

Fire Ox cursed inwardly, damn that Zhao Hu for dragging him into trouble. If not for Zhao Hu's family money and their ability to grease his palm, he wouldn't have bothered with this mess!

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Le accepted the cigarette, which Fire Ox lit for him with the utmost respect.

"Is he one of your boys?" Lin Le asked casually, glancing at Zhao Hu.

"No, no, not at all! I have nothing to do with that kid. He just paid me a hundred thousand to handle a matter for him. Who knew he'd be so blind as to provoke you, Brother Le? I promise I'll teach him a lesson!" Fire Ox hurriedly distanced himself from Zhao Hu.

The crowd was astonished. So Zhao Hu wasn't connected to the Tianxiong Gang after all—he'd merely hired them. Contempt rippled through the onlookers.

"Brother Fire Ox, you can't—"

"Shut up! You dare offend Brother Le? Are you tired of living?" Fire Ox shot Zhao Hu a glare that made him tremble, silencing him instantly.

At that moment, Zhao Hu felt utterly lost. Damn it, what was going on? Wasn't Lin Le just a penniless nobody? Why would Fire Ox treat him with such reverence? Zhao Hu was at a complete loss.

Fire Ox turned back to Lin Le, his face once again plastered with sycophantic smiles.

"Brother Le, Boss Xiong said he'd like to invite you to dinner these days, to apologize to you. Would you have some free time?" Fire Ox asked cheerfully.

The crowd was dumbstruck.

Boss Xiong? Wasn't that Guan Tianxiong, the underground king of Haizhou's southern district?

That was a man whose slightest move could shake all of Haizhou! Even the elite families of Haizhou showed him respect and fear.

Yet even such a figure wanted to invite Lin Le to dinner and apologize. It was unimaginable!

Zhao Hu, standing behind Fire Ox, shuddered at the words.

What? Did he hear right? Even the underground overlord, Guan Tianxiong, held Lin Le in such esteem?

How was this possible? Even at the peak of the Lin Group, they couldn't reach such heights.

Now the Lin Group was bankrupt, Lin Le was a debt-ridden down-and-out, someone even Zhao Hu looked down on. How could he possibly be valued by Boss Xiong?

Zhao Hu felt his entire worldview overturned.

Not far away, Lin Kai was wide-eyed at Fire Ox's reverence for Lin Le.

He'd come hoping to see Lin Le humiliated, but what was he witnessing now?

The Fire Ox he'd boasted about, who was supposed to be his connection, looked more like a lapdog before Lin Le.

Even Boss Xiong, whom Lin Kai regarded as unattainable, wanted to invite Lin Le to dinner and make amends.

Recalling his earlier arrogance before Lin Le, Lin Kai couldn't help but feel a wave of fear. If Lin Le decided to make trouble for him, he'd be in real danger.

The thought alone made Lin Kai tremble.

Ma Zhifeng felt the same foreboding.

Ma Zhifeng now felt fortunate—luckily, he hadn't had any direct conflict with Lin Le.

But how had Lin Le managed to connect with someone as powerful as Boss Xiong? This warranted a thorough investigation once he returned.

At this moment, Lin Xueling looked at Lin Le in the distance, her heart filled with shock and annoyance.

So this was your source of confidence, Lin Le? Backed by a figure like Guan Tianxiong, you dared to face Zhao Hu's provocation so fearlessly, surrounded by hundreds, yet you remained unafraid. You knew Zhao Hu's power was nothing compared to Guan Tianxiong behind you.

But if that's the case, why pretend you have nothing to rely on? Why hide your preparations from me, letting me run around trying to help you like a fool?

Thinking this, Lin Xueling grew angry.

Yet, more than anger, Lin Xueling was filled with confusion.

Until now, she'd never heard of Lin Le having any connection to the Tianxiong Gang.

He'd only been back in town for a week—how could he have made ties with someone as powerful as Guan Tianxiong so quickly?

The Lin Le standing before her now, after three years apart, someone she thought she knew so well, suddenly felt unfamiliar and inscrutable...

Under everyone's watchful eyes, faced with Fire Ox's obsequious invitation, Lin Le merely nodded and responded coolly, "Alright, we'll talk when I have time."

With that, Lin Le, Xu Xier, and Ji Xiaorui prepared to leave.

As he passed Zhao Hu, Lin Le suddenly stopped.

"You—"

Having learned of Lin Le's close ties to Guan Tianxiong, Zhao Hu was already terrified into silence. Now, hearing Lin Le speak, his shoulders jolted, his legs went weak, nearly dropping to his knees.

Before Lin Le could say anything, Fire Ox jumped in, "Yes, yes, this kid offended Brother Le—he can't get off so easily! Zhao Hu, hurry up and apologize!"

Zhao Hu hesitated, then finally bowed his head to Lin Le.

"Brother Le, I was blind and foolish to offend you. Please, have mercy and forgive me this once."

To bow and admit fault to Lin Le in front of all the Haizhou First High classmates, and with all his own men present, was a humiliation beyond words for Zhao Hu!

Yet he had no choice. Lin Le was backed by Guan Tianxiong and the entire Tianxiong Gang, a force far beyond Zhao Hu's reach.

The surrounding crowd sighed and marveled at the spectacle.

Zhao Hu had been one of Haizhou's most influential figures. Now, with this act of submission, his days of ruling Haizhou First High were clearly over.

And before him, this down-and-out scion, clad in bargain clothing, from today onward, would likely never be troubled again at Haizhou First High.

Lin Le regarded the bowing, apologetic Zhao Hu for a moment, then left with Xu Xier and Ji Xiaorui, saying nothing.

There was nothing left to say to someone like Zhao Hu. Lin Le was long past the age of trading barbs and childish quarrels—he preferred to let his fists do the talking.

If trouble comes again, fine. Lin Le can forgive once, twice, but a third time—he will not be so lenient.

The men who had blocked Lin Le's way, along with the onlookers, hastened to clear a path as he approached, eager to avoid him.

The crowd quickly parted, leaving a passage for Lin Le, Xu Xier, and their friends.

As Lin Le walked through the crowd, the gazes that followed him had changed.

Once upon a time, Lin Le was all too familiar with such looks.

They were the looks of awe—of admiration!