Chapter 144: Only a Fierce Dragon Crosses the River [8]

Capital City, Hongde Building!

Hongde Building didn’t suspend business because of last night’s fight; the lunchtime crowd was still near full capacity. Fortunately, Lin Jian and his group arrived quite early, getting there at 10:30 AM, so there were still booth seats available.

Naturally, Lin Jian didn’t spot anyone he recognized at the Hongde Building. At the very least, none of the people from last night were there—not even Jin Er. The two plainclothes officers were very polite. When Lin Jian offered to let them order, they deferred to their host with modest humility. Lin Jian ordered a few specialty dishes and asked for a bottle of Maotai.

After ordering, Lin Jian smiled. "Old Qin, ask Uncle Hu if he has eaten yet. If he hasn’t, tell him to come over!"

A string of question marks popped up in Qin San’Er’s mind. What the hell did Uncle Hu have to do with him? However, Qin San quickly realized what was happening. Lin Jian was deliberately exposing his whereabouts so that Uncle Hu would leak the information.

"Alright, I’ll call and ask!"

Qin San’Er pulled out a lighter. As he lit his cigarette, he glanced at the phone number printed on it. The lighter was from Uncle Hu’s bar, complete with the address and phone number. He dialed the number, and the phone rang more than ten times before it was finally answered.

"Is this Uncle Hu? I’m Lin Jian’s driver. We met yesterday. Lin Jian and I are currently eating at the Hongde Building, and he asked me to see if you want to come over and join us!"

"Yo-ho, eight hundred!"

Uncle Hu’s mind worked incredibly fast. Almost as soon as Qin San’Er finished speaking, he understood exactly what he meant! Qin San silently praised Uncle Hu for truly being an information broker. He himself had hesitated for a moment earlier, but Uncle Hu hadn’t delayed for even half a second before immediately quoting a price!

"Sure, I’ll drop it off to you tonight, alright?"

"OK."

Uncle Hu hung up the phone after saying that.

Lin Jian smiled and asked, "Is Uncle Hu coming?"

"He didn’t say whether he was coming or not. The old man has a weird temper!" Qin San shook his head.

Lin Jian chuckled. "Then we won’t wait for him!"

Soon enough, before all the dishes had even been served at the Hongde Building, the news of Lin Jian dining there had already spread. In truth, everyone on the streets of Capital City and within the Ancient Martial Circle was eagerly waiting for drama, completely in the dark about what Jin Er and Lin Jian’s next moves would be! Many people were asking around everywhere to find out how this matter had ultimately been resolved.

However, the same Lin Jian who had stormed the building last night had run off to the Hongde Building for lunch today! This was far too surprising! Had Jin Er invited him? Or had he gone on his own? Was he deliberately showing off to Jin Er?

Regardless of the situation, many people were already en route to the Hongde Building! Last night, they—the drama-hungry onlookers—couldn’t enter the building. But today, the Hongde Building was open for business right at mealtime, which meant they could go in!

Therefore, after a little over twenty minutes, people started arriving one after another. However, since there were no seats left, the corridors and aisles were filled with onlookers waiting for tables!

...

Meanwhile, Jin Er also received the news that Lin Jian was dining at the Hongde Building! Upon hearing this, Jin Er was so infuriated that he smashed the teacup in his hand.

"Let’s go. We’re heading back!" He stood up and stormed out.

If he didn’t return, word would spread that he, Jin Er, was afraid of Lin Jian! Thus, he absolutely had to show his face. He had to make an appearance at the Hongde Building.

After getting into the car, Jin Er asked coldly, "Has Mr. Qin replied yet?"

"No!" Cui shook his head. "I’m afraid Mr. Qin might be worried about the Eight Trigrams Sect’s Sect Leader, Sun Keda. After all, this Lin Jian might be a disciple of the Eight Trigrams Sect."

RING RING RING.

Just then, the square-faced woman’s cell phone rang. She answered it with an apathetic expression.

"Alright, alright, I understand!"

The person on the other end seemed to be reporting a situation. The square-faced woman nodded, hung up, and said, "Lin Jian is not a disciple of the Eight Trigrams Sect. The Eight Trigrams Sect’s eldest disciple, Chu Shijian, just gave his reply."

"Hmph!" Jin Er scoffed coldly.

Cui quickly took out his phone, dialed the Qin family’s number, and informed them that Lin Jian was not an Eight Trigrams Sect disciple. But the Qin family still told him to wait for Elder Qin’s response! After all, the elder was a Grandmaster, and having a Grandmaster make a move came with a very high price.

After hanging up, Cui said, "It should be soon. Faced with such a massive piece of cake, it’s impossible for the Qin family not to take a bite."

"If all else fails, I’ll go back and call my master!" the square-faced woman said stiffly.

Jin Er chuckled. "Ya, there’s no need to rush. First, Lin Jian might not even be my match. Second, Lin Jian wouldn’t dare kill me at this time. Third, let’s wait for Elder Qin.

"If Elder Qin doesn’t give a definitive reply, then we’ll invite your master over. It just so happens that I haven’t seen the old man in a long time."

"Mhm, I’ll listen to you, Second Brother!" the square-faced woman nodded and said.

Soon, Jin Er brought Cui and the square-faced woman back to the Hongde Building! The moment they returned, the customers lining up in the corridors all jumped to their feet in fright. Some were so terrified they fled into the restrooms, while others kept their backs to Jin Er, too afraid to turn around! Jin Er’s status in the circle was simply too high. If they came here to gawk at his spectacle and he ended up losing his temper, they wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences! Fortunately, Jin Er kept a dark expression and didn’t say a single word!

Soon, Jin Er arrived at the first-floor lobby. As soon as he entered, he looked straight at Lin Jian, who was facing him. There were three other people beside Lin Jian, none of whom he recognized. Naturally, two of them had their backs to him, completely oblivious to his gaze.

Lin Jian, however, glanced at Jin Er, the corners of his mouth curling upward. Jin Er responded with a faint smile.

At this moment, he had to admit that Lin Jian was a fierce dragon crossing the river. After this battle, Lin Jian had indeed broken out of obscurity and made a name for himself! It was safe to say that if Lin Jian didn’t die in the future, last night’s battle alone would have secured him a firm foothold in the circle!

However, there would be no future for Lin Jian. Anyone whose life Jin Er wanted to claim would never live to see tomorrow! Within two days, Lin Jian would cease to exist in this world. Not even his ashes would remain.

Jin Er led Cui and the square-faced woman upstairs. Since they had returned, there was no rush to leave. Thus, he headed back to his room on the third floor. Cui and the square-faced woman didn’t follow him inside. The square-faced woman stood guard outside the third-floor bedroom door like a sentinel, while Cui entered a small, private room on the third floor to make a phone call.

Meanwhile, Lin Jian took a deep breath. In his Thought, he pictured Jin Er sitting at the desk in the third-floor study! The study had a bookshelf and a red sandalwood desk, upon which lay Xuan paper, writing brushes, an inkstone, and other items. Naturally, inside the pen holder—alongside fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and gel pens—sat an awl used for bookbinding. The awl had a wooden handle and a barbed tip, clearly designed for binding. Jin Er seemed very agitated, sitting in his chair and rubbing his temples.

By now, Lin Jian was almost finished eating. The two plainclothes officers hadn’t drunk any alcohol, nor had Qin San’Er. Lin Jian was the only one who had a glass.

"Are you two full?" Lin Jian smiled. "Old Qin, go pay the bill. There are too many customers waiting for a table here, let’s not overstay our welcome."

"Alright!" Qin San’Er still didn’t understand why Lin Jian had come here to eat and make an appearance! Nevertheless, he hurried over to the bar to settle the bill.

After paying, the group of four stood up and headed for the exit! It wasn’t until they had walked out of the restaurant and gotten into the car that Lin Jian suddenly smiled and said, "Wait a moment. Let’s have a smoke before we leave."

As he spoke, he pressed the lighter with a loud CLICK. The very moment he pressed the lighter and the flame flickered to life, the awl in the pen holder in the third-floor study abruptly and soundlessly shot out on its own, aiming straight for Jin Er’s temple!

At that precise second, as if sensing something, Jin Er suddenly opened his eyes!