Chapter Twenty-Seven: When Enemies Meet

The wealthy now favor self-service cocktail parties. In the glittering banquet hall, clusters of privileged guests hold tall glasses, swirling wines worth hundreds of thousands, gathering to drink and converse, each radiating an air of opulence and nobility. The atmosphere is lively, punctuated by bursts of laughter.

As Ling Feng entered, his presence could be described as dignified, or perhaps eccentric. Yet, seeing him with Fang Jingmei, most quickly adopted the same assumption as the bodyguards, and thus felt nothing particularly strange. Fang Jingmei herself hovered about him like a maid, treating Ling Fei with utmost respect. Those who knew her notorious reputation could only praise her in their hearts: “President Fang, you truly know how to play!” She grows ever more daring.

Ling Feng, with his striking looks and commanding aura, soon caught the attention of several wealthy women. In this upper-crust society, some women, beyond indulging themselves and squandering wealth, relish the hunt for handsome young men. Ling Feng stood out in his ancient attire, exuding an unusual charm that made their hearts flutter.

The robe he wore, though incomprehensible to the bodyguards outside, was recognized by the discerning here. A woman, turning her glass in her hand, observed him with keen interest, analyzing aloud: “President Fang truly spares no expense. No wonder—this fellow must be full of vigor.”

“How so?” asked a glamorous woman in her thirties, a hint of frivolity in her manner as she stared at Ling Feng, evidently intrigued.

“You see, I’ve spent my life in the clothing business, yet I’ve never seen such exquisite fabric. This robe is woven entirely of gold threads, thin as cicada wings—the material alone is worth two hundred million. And the pearls adorning it are all genuine. Fang Jingmei, for a handsome man, you’ve really gone all out.”

“Cat’s eye stones, emeralds, Hetian jade, luminous pearls—each gem worth millions, perhaps even more. She’s truly a master in the jewelry trade!”

“And the craftsmanship—I’ve never seen its equal. Even the greatest domestic tailor, Granny Sun, couldn’t achieve such finesse…”

“President Wu, you’re the wealthiest among us, and your assets rival Fang Jingmei’s. How about it? Dare to snatch love from Fang Jingmei, steal from the tiger’s mouth? I’ll bet ten million you won’t succeed!” A corpulent woman, pig-like in girth, slapped the jewelry businesswoman’s shoulder.

“Oh, not necessarily! Such things require skill! Hmph, Fang Jingmei… what if I do take him?” Wu Qian’s exquisitely shaped lips curled into a smile; she turned her head and pinched the fat woman, who immediately withdrew her hand in embarrassment.

“Remember your wager. We’ll see you at the auction.” Wu Qian strode away, glass in hand.

Ling Feng was unaware of these women’s gossip. He toured the banquet hall and then found a quiet spot to sit. The Qi family had yet to arrive in full; he was in no hurry to act. Tonight, he would first silence the Qi family, then strike.

Fang Jingmei left briefly, sent by Ling Feng to gather information and find out when Xiao Yan would appear. That venomous woman—he had plans for her.

“Sir, would you like a glass of wine?”

“Hey, Brother Feng!” Suddenly, a waitress in a white shirt and black trousers, apron across her chest, called out to Ling Feng. She bounced over, lifted her tray, and gave him a cheerful hug.

“Shadow, why are you here?” Ling Feng rose with a calm smile, surprised to run into a familiar face.

The waitress, Lin Ying, was a neighbor of Han Laomin, a recent graduate with bright eyes and delicate features, especially those large, spirited eyes. She was lively and radiant—a beautiful young woman and also a close friend of Han Xinyi.

Three years ago, when Ling Feng fell on hard times, she had cared for him; their relationship had always been good. Seeing her now inevitably reminded Ling Feng of Han Xinyi, causing a sudden pang in his heart and a fierce murderous gleam in his eyes.

“I… I’m working here as a servant. After graduating, I couldn’t find a job, but the pay here is decent. Though, for us servants…” Lin Ying gestured to her maid uniform.

Suddenly, Lin Ying seemed to recall something, her expression changing drastically: “Brother Feng, how did you sneak in dressed like this? I know why you’re here, but you can’t possibly succeed. Security is tight; this isn’t a place for games. They treat us poor folks like dirt. Come, I’ll get you out.”

*Slap!*

*Slap!*

As Lin Ying spoke, a heavily made-up woman suddenly appeared and delivered two vicious slaps to her face.

“You wretched girl, who told you to fraternize with guests, hugging them like that? Do you even know your place? Trying to seduce a rich man, hoping to transform from a gutter bird to a phoenix? Shameless! If I hadn’t seen you, would you have stripped right here? Trash from the slums is always filthy. Since you love degradation, maybe I should arrange for someone to take turns with you. Out! Kneel as punishment!”

“Your poverty is your own business, but you’re humiliating the Qi family. If the young master finds out, you know the family rules.”

“I… I didn’t. He’s my brother… sob…”

Ling Feng’s face changed dramatically.

To insult my kin—death!

To oppress the weak—death!

“Sorry, sir. This wretch is new. Please don’t…”

But when the woman raised her head and saw Ling Feng, she froze, her expression twisting: “Damn, I thought you were some wealthy guest, but you’re just a country bumpkin. Do you believe I’ll kill you right here tonight?”

“Damn you, wearing a costume and swaggering in here pretending to be someone. You’ve got guts! Hell has no doors, yet you walk right in!”

“Where’s Huo Du? Where’s Chen Hei Bai? Didn’t they come with you? Let me tell you, the Qi family is mortal enemies with Huo Du—no one can protect you here. Slap, slap!” With that, Li Shishi clapped her hands, and a squad of black-suited bodyguards rushed in.

“Sister Shishi!” The guards bowed to Li Shishi.

Li Shishi crossed her arms, her face lifted in triumph, her gaze imperious as she ordered, “Drag this intruding pauper out. Find a secluded spot, beat him to death!”

Her words were laced with venom; she hated Ling Feng, this “worthless, wretched pauper,” with all her heart. For those who revel in raising themselves by trampling others, the greatest agony is being humiliated by someone they despise. She regarded this grudge as ten times worse than a mortal enemy.

“Come on, try to hit me again! Let’s see if you dare! Worthless trash, pauper, coward. Someone like you dares to strike me? When you’re dead, I’ll make sure someone deals with your wife. You had a cushy life but chose to provoke me—ha!”

Li Shishi’s satisfaction was palpable, her malice unfeeling and deep. She had thrown herself into Qi Ye’s arms, let him toy with her, and become the Qi family's housekeeper—all for revenge against Ling Feng and Huo Du.

All because the Qi family was Huo Du’s mortal enemy.

In her eyes, she was now a changed woman, while Ling Feng, the pauper, the kept man, was beneath her, worlds apart.

“Yes!” The bodyguards, upon hearing he was a pauper, grinned wickedly—they delighted in tormenting the poor.

“Hit you? You won’t be worthy even in ten lifetimes!” Ling Feng lounged lazily on the sofa, his right hand stroking a massive gemstone ring on his left, smiling calmly.

“You, come here. Slap her mouth!” Ling Feng beckoned to a timid figure nearby, who hurried over and knelt before him. “I—I—I kneel in greeting!”

“Go ahead!”

*Slap, slap!*

The moment Ling Feng spoke, Li Xinjie, holding up her cake-skirt, stood and strode to Li Shishi, delivering two resounding slaps.

“Miss Li…” Li Shishi was stunned by the blows, but upon recognizing her assailant, she dared not retaliate. Even if she commanded the bodyguards, they would never cross the eldest Miss of the Li family—the Li and Qi families had been allies for generations.

As women, Li Shishi, the housekeeper of ill repute, was worlds apart from the Li family’s eldest daughter, just as she had said of Ling Feng.

Yet the Li family's eldest daughter knelt before this pauper…

“Excellent. The Li family will thrive because of you!” Ling Feng nodded calmly to Li Xinjie. “Continue!”

*Slap, slap, slap, slap!*

A cascade of crisp blows echoed; Li Xinjie, as if wound-up, unleashed a barrage of slaps, so many she lost count, her own palm bleeding, the other’s face battered beyond recognition.

“Stop! What’s going on here?”

A young man in a suit and bow tie, with a serpentine face and a strange, effeminate voice, suddenly emerged from the crowd, laughing as he witnessed the scene: “Xinjie, Miss Li, what are you doing? Why are you beating my toy so fiercely?”

Qi Ye!