Chapter Sixty-Nine: Mockery

"Compensation? Are you dreaming?" Lu Hao's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"I'm telling you, our people are arriving soon. Keep talking tough while you still can," Manager Zhang said coldly.

"Let me make it clear—Zhou Run, Sun Wenguo, and Boss Sun, I know them all. If we want to deal with you in Taohua Village, it's a simple matter," Manager Zhang continued.

At that moment, Zhang Shuilong sneered from the side, "Cousin, why waste so many words with him? Take apart both his hands."

"And drag his sister back. Tonight, my brothers and I will enjoy her."

"Let's see if he's still so stubborn after that."

His gaze, unashamed and predatory, continued to linger on Lu Hao's sister, Lu Han.

"And what about you? Isn't there anyone willing to stand up for my sister?" Lu Hao did not immediately respond to Manager Zhang and Zhang Shuilong. Instead, he turned his attention to the waiters and cooks nearby.

Only one cook, Zhao Xiaojie, stepped forward, slamming down his spatula and shouting angrily, "Brother Lu, I support you! I've long despised these bastards in the restaurant."

"I wanted to come up just now to see what was going on, but Manager Zhang and the others stopped me."

"I thought it was just a drunken guest causing trouble, but I didn't expect Zhang Shuilong to be such a scumbag!"

Several junior cooks tried to hold Zhao Xiaojie back, but he shook them off. He raised his kitchen knife, his anger boiling over. "Is there any justice left in this world? In broad daylight, you want to rape someone's sister and ruin a man's hands? Damn you all!"

"I quit!" Zhao Xiaojie yanked off his apron.

"I've worked here two years, always chopping vegetables and running errands, never allowed to cook—no future!"

Zhao Xiaojie, knife in hand, stood beside Lu Hao. "If anyone touches him or Lu Han, I'll fight them with everything I've got!" His eyes were red with fury.

Lu Hao patted his shoulder, smiling. "Good man. Seems there's still true heroes in this filthy place."

"Don't worry, you'll be glad you made this choice today."

Zhao Xiaojie, unaware of Lu Hao's true strength, felt only despair and righteous anger. With youthful loyalty burning in his chest, he said, "Don't worry, Brother Lu. The three of you head outside—I'll protect your escape!"

"If anyone tries to stop you, I'll cut them down right now!" Zhao Xiaojie threatened Manager Zhang and Zhang Shuilong fiercely.

Suddenly, Zhang Shuilong fell silent. Though he was drunk, it didn’t mean he wasn’t afraid of a kitchen knife.

Manager Zhang, meanwhile, threatened Zhao Xiaojie, "You've worked here two years, I pay you two thousand a month—that's not bad, is it?"

"And now you betray me, siding with outsiders. I'm disappointed! I was planning to train you, to promote you in a few years."

"Clearly, you'll never have that chance!"

"Who would want to cook in your damn kitchen anyway? Hmph! You were just stringing me along, making me waste my youth as your assistant!"

Zhao Xiaojie’s mind was unusually clear; memories of his years at the Neijiang Restaurant flashed through his thoughts.

"I've been here two years—I know how things work. Only your relatives get to be chefs! The rest of us will never have the chance. Who would trust you?" he retorted.

With that, he escorted Lu Hao and Lu Han toward the exit.

Manager Zhang couldn’t sit still, rushing to block their way. "You’re not going anywhere!"

"No matter who you are, you’ve assaulted people and wrecked the place—breaking the law! If you don’t pay up and apologize, you’re not leaving!"

Zhang Shuilong grabbed Lu Han, pulling her back. "You little girl, tonight you’re spending the night with me—don’t think you can leave!"

Lu Hao was ready, a silver needle in his hand.

"It seems people like you deserve not an ounce of mercy," Lu Hao said, stepping forward and grabbing Zhang Shuilong’s sleeve. The silver needle stabbed directly into Zhang Shuilong’s lower abdomen.

A hissing sound.

Zhang Shuilong felt as if his belly had deflated like a punctured ball, something leaking out continuously.

Suddenly, a wave of urgency hit him, and he lost control, wetting himself.

"What—what’s happening?" Zhang Shuilong sensed a catastrophic change within him.

Lu Hao’s needle had instantly drained his kidney energy—he was now impotent.

He lost not only his strength, but also his spirit.

"Ah!" Zhang Shuilong felt as if his brain had been sucked dry, dizziness overwhelming him.

He collapsed to the ground.

"What did you do to my cousin?" Manager Zhang cried as Zhang Shuilong suddenly fainted after Lu Hao’s attack.

He grew extremely wary.

"And you!" Lu Hao glared at Manager Zhang.

He stepped forward, plunging a needle into Manager Zhang’s lung meridian.

Manager Zhang began coughing violently, drenched in sweat, his face pale as if struck by a severe illness.

"Listen carefully—bring me a hundred thousand within a month and I’ll treat you. Otherwise, forget about your lungs. If you don’t believe me, try it and see," Lu Hao said, pushing Manager Zhang to the floor, his gaze sweeping the room.

"Who else dares to stop us?"

Instantly, the gathered thugs and gangsters shrank back, none daring to approach.

The scene left Zhao Xiaojie utterly stunned.

He looked at Lu Han, muttering, "I didn’t expect your brother to be so formidable."

"When you said he beat Zhou Run and Young Master Sun, I thought you were exaggerating. Turns out it’s true."

"Let’s go," Lu Hao said, pulling Zhao Xiaojie and his sister away.

As they stepped out, a stern-faced woman entered the Neijiang Restaurant.

Long Gui had been following Lu Hao these days, but he’d been so busy he almost forgot her.

Now, seeing him leave, she couldn’t rest easy and hurried after him, only to witness the scene firsthand.

She took out her satellite phone and spoke overseas to Shang Yunjie.

"Hello? Chairman Shang, you already know about the Neijiang Restaurant incident, right?"

"What? Buy it outright and give it to Lu Hao? Right now?"

"Understood."