Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Give Me an Explanation
Zhou Tai looked disdainful, "Beat it, what are you supposed to be? I'm asking who's causing trouble on my turf. Is it you?"
In his eyes, anyone who could make Ding Wanchang back down had to be at least in their mid-thirties, an extraordinary figure of some sort.
And the young man in his twenties before him looked like nothing special, had he come to make a joke? Or was he just some clown who had bounced in from nowhere?
The onlookers wore peculiar expressions as Young Master Zhou had just returned to the country, so it wasn't strange that he didn't recognize Ling Fan.
However, upon seeing Zhou Tai, a flicker of interest passed through Li Mengying's eyes. Ding Wanchang's submission had caught her off guard, and she was unsure whether she could handle this trash herself.
Fang Jun and the others were so excited their faces turned red. Ling Fan was a scourge they had deeply offended, and naturally, they were thrilled to see someone formidable come to deal with him.
"This idiot actually bumped into Young Master Zhou, just wait for him to die," Xiao Jingjing's face, previously pale with fright, finally regained its color.
A man she had always seen as worthless had suddenly become someone she looked up to—the disparity was too much for her to come to terms with.
Li Mengying also harbored some expectations, hoping this Young Master Zhou wouldn't disappoint her, not embarrassing himself like that trash Ding Shicheng.
A trash she despised had suddenly become someone even the Li Family feared; this was something she couldn't accept.
So, she hoped that Zhou Tai could squash Ling Fan like an ant.
Liu Yuqiong felt anxious behind Ling Fan, knowing that the Zhou Family's energy couldn't compare to Ding Wanchang's. The Ding family was terrifying enough, but they still lagged a few levels behind the Zhou Family.
She had no idea how Ling Fan managed to get Ding Wanchang to give up on revenge, but that didn't mean he could handle Zhou Tai as well.
Right now, all she could do was worry. Even if she wanted to help, it was out of the question—the Liu Family might be a powerful clan in Binzhou, but they were still vastly inferior to the Zhou Family.
"I am the one you're looking for. So, do you want to end up like that guy they carried out just now?" Ling Fan said, his face half-smile, half-mockery.
"Hm?" Zhou Tai's expression darkened, finally taking a serious look at the young man before him.
"It's you causing trouble here? That famous waste son-in-law from the Xiao Family?" Zhou Tai now recalled that his men had mentioned something about the troublemaker being a waste son-in-law from the Xiao Family.
"Young Master Zhou, he's here to cause trouble for my Li Family. Just earlier, Young Master Ding spoke on my behalf, and he broke Ding's arms and legs.
I think it's better for you not to get involved, Young Master Zhou. If something happens to you too, I wouldn't want to be distrusted and resented by the Zhou Family," Li Mengying said with a loaded implication.
Ling Fan cast a meaningful look at Li Mengying, finding this woman rather interesting. The reputation of the Li Family's social butterfly was indeed well-earned; with just a sentence, she had pushed Zhou Tai to the front line.
In truth, the Li Family was only seemingly strong, relying solely on Li Mengying, the socialite, and her manipulative tactics to leverage power.
There were even rumors that the Li Family's heir wasn't the sole male, Li Guohao, but Li Mengying herself, which showed how capable she was.
Zhou Tai's eyes lit up upon seeing Li Mengying, a glint of greed passing through. He was familiar with the four great beauties of Binzhou.
But he fancied Li Mengying the most as she always had a charm that could trigger thunder and fire.
However, he felt slightly displeased upon hearing Li Mengying's words, "Xiao Ying, that's not very fun of you to equate that trash Ding Shicheng with me. We had a deal—if I take care of this trash for you, how about you become my girlfriend?"
Zhou Tai wasn't stupid; he was looking for an opportunity to win over Li Mengying. After all, even Ding Wanchang had shown weakness, indicating that this trash before him must have some tricks up his sleeve.
The Li Family would probably lose a couple of teeth trying to deal with him, but to him, Zhou Tai, it was no big deal. In Binzhou, the Zhou Family truly feared no one.
"Hehe, Young Master Zhou, you are quite confident? Is this a letter of allegiance you're offering, or a betrothal gift? If you want to pursue me, you'll need to show some sincerity, and handling this kid might not be enough!" Li Mengying said with a coquettish smile.
Zhou Tai, hearing Li Mengying's response, immediately felt reassured, as if she had implied agreement, "Hehe, you will definitely see my sincerity!"
A trace of smugness crossed Li Mengying's heart. This was her tactic, maneuvering amongst the scions of noble houses, making them willingly do her bidding.
However, she was also somewhat moved by Zhou Tai. After all, the Zhou Family's influence was clear for anyone to see. If she could hook up with him, the Li Family would surely ascend several ranks.
Mainly, she had other plans. She couldn't quite see through Ling Fan, this waste, and without complete certainty, she didn't mind drawing disaster to someone else. Letting Zhou Tai deal with him was the best choice.
"Kid, I don't know how you did it, beating up Young Master Ding Wanchang and he let you off, but I'm not him. Maybe you have some background.
But it's useless against me. Causing trouble here, daring to bother Miss Li, if you can't give me a satisfactory explanation, the consequences are not something you can afford," Zhou Tai said with ease, not taking Ling Fan seriously at all.
"Hehe, how would you like me to explain?" Ling Fan asked, amused, another pawn with an overinflated sense of self-worth.
Zhou Tai showed impatience, "Didn't you hear me clearly? Break your own arms and kneel to beg for mercy, that would be your explanation. Do you need my help?"
"Hmm, your suggestion isn't bad, I'm just curious where your confidence comes from."
"By being the heir of the Zhou Family, is that enough?"
"Zhou Family?" Ling Fan mused.
Seeing Ling Fan's hesitant expression, Zhou Tai felt a surge of pleasure and was very satisfied with his reaction. The reputation of the Zhou Family was indeed formidable enough to cow others.
Seems like his family's influence had grown even greater during the years he had spent abroad, and he was proud of his family's strength.
Li Mengying secretly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, it seemed her judgment was correct. Zhou Tai could indeed handle this 'waste', much better than Ding Shicheng.
"Hmm, that's enough!" Ling Fan nodded slightly as if after serious consideration.
Zhou Tai lifted his proud chin, like a victorious general, and flashed a smug smile at Li Mengying.
But in the next second, an abrupt change occurred.
Ling Fan moved as fast as lightning, slapping Zhou Tai's face with a palm infused with Inner Strength.
Zhou Tai felt a great force hit him, sending his body flying into the air.
But Ling Fan didn't let him fly away. He grabbed Zhou Tai's arm and shook it violently while pressing down on his shoulder, forcefully smashing him to the ground.
"Crack!"
"Thud!"
A series of bone-cracking sounds filled the hall, sending shivers down the onlookers' spines.
The marble floor tiles cracked, Zhou Tai's arms hung limply, he knelt on the ground with his knee bones shattered, his face as pale as a dead man.
The surrounding crowd was completely numb. They had witnessed Ling Fan's audacity along the way and now realized that this guy truly feared neither heaven nor earth, having directly crippled Young Master Zhou. He had punctured a hole in the Binzhou's sky.
"Your suggestion was very good; I've helped you break your arms and kneel to beg for mercy. Now you can inform the Patriarch Zhou and ask if he dares to demand an explanation from me?" Ling Fan spoke chillingly, as if an Arctic breeze swept through the hall, making everyone's color change in fright.