Cui Hong knelt on the ground, his gaze fixated on the gleaming blade before him, his pupils shrinking in fear, his face filled with dread.
Cut off two of his own fingers?
If he were to lose two fingers, how would he ever face the world again?
"Do you want me to do it for you?" Lafayette said coldly.
Due to Cui Hong's confrontation with the Zhao family, they retaliated and destroyed much of his business.
Everything was Cui Hong's fault!
Lafayette stared at him, his eyes filled with surging murderous intent and fury.
This worthless creature not only caused damage to his business but also embezzled his money in secret. Such treachery and personal gain were unforgivable sins.
If it weren't for Cui Hong being his distant relative, Lafayette would have gladly slaughtered him with a single stroke.
"Lafayette, I truly repent. Please, give me a chance to make amends," Cui Hong pleaded in fear while kneeling on the ground.
"Three fingers!" Lafayette said icily.
"Lafayette~" Cui Hong's expression changed.
Before he could finish speaking, Lafayette interrupted, "Four fingers!"
As he spoke, he extended his hand towards Cui Hong, and a sharp true energy shot out from the Shangyang acupoint on his finger, instantly shattering Cui Hong's left middle finger.
"Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!" Cui Hong screamed in agony.
Ten fingers connected to the heart!
Now, with one finger unexpectedly shattered, the excruciating pain immediately twisted Cui Hong's face, and he let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Iron King, Zhou Xiantong, and He Zizai were shocked and their pupils contracted at the scene. Their expressions were filled with disbelief.
True energy detached from the body, striking from a distance!
Lafayette's cultivation had become even more formidable and unfathomable than before. It was possible that he had surpassed the level of a war god and reached a higher realm.
With this realization, their gaze towards Lafayette became even more respectful and adoring.
Lafayette's expression remained emotionless as he coldly said, "Cui Hong, you have one more chance. Cut off three of your fingers immediately, or next time, it will be your life!"
Cui Hong, horrified by these words, paled and no longer dared to hesitate. He picked up the knife, hardened his heart, gritted his teeth, and chopped off all three of his fingers.
In an instant, the excruciating pain twisted his face into a mask of agony, his complexion turned ashen, and sweat poured down his face.
Witnessing this scene, Lafayette's murderous intent and fury diminished slightly, and he spoke in a cold voice, "Damn it, these are just punishments for you. After the negotiations tomorrow, I will slowly settle the score with you."
"Negotiations?" Cui Hong's expression changed once again.
"I made an agreement with Zhao Dong. Tomorrow night, at 9 o'clock, we will have a negotiation banquet at the Drunken Immortal Tower. At that time, all the grievances between you and Wang Chao will be discussed openly," Lafayette said in a low voice.
At their level of status, they had long lost the impetuosity of their youth. All they wanted was to conduct their business smoothly and make money without disturbance.
Regardless, the Zhao family was a renowned and influential clan in Canton City.
If they were to engage in a life-or-death struggle with the Zhao family, their influence would undoubtedly be damaged. At that point, their other enemies would likely take the opportunity to strike.
By then, they would be surrounded on all sides, in a precarious situation.
Therefore, Lafayette didn't want to escalate the situation. Sitting down for negotiations was the best way to minimize losses.
It was precisely because of this that Lafayette didn't kill Cui Hong when he learned of his numerous betrayals.
Otherwise, given his character, he would have torn Cui Hong to shreds and fed him to the dogs long ago!
Cui Hong's expression changed upon hearing this, and his heart sank once again.
He knew that Lafayette spared his life to make him pay the price and bear all the consequences during tomorrow's negotiations.
In other words, Lafayette intended to appease the Zhao family's anger through him.
At this realization, he felt even more despair in his heart.
Lafayette seemed to have anticipated Cui Hong's thoughts. He coldly stared at him and said, word by word, "Cui Hong, it's because of my sister's face that I spared you."
"But you are responsible for the troubles you have caused."
"If you dare to escape, I will kill your entire family!"
"And, the money you took from me must be returned to my account tonight. Otherwise, you will face the consequences."
After saying that, he placed several photos in front of Cui Hong and then led Zhou Xiantong and He Zizai as they departed.
Cui Hong stared at the photos, slumping to the ground, his eyes filled with even greater despair, murmuring, "It's over!"
In the photos were a beautiful woman and two adorable girls.
They were Cui Hong's wife and children, whom he had secretly hidden away. He had never mentioned them to anyone, nor had he let his wife and children know about his work. He kept them away, sending them abroad to keep them safe from the troubles of his life.
Never could he have imagined that Lafayette would uncover this secret.
He knew Lafayette's character well. If he were to truly escape, Lafayette would go all out and dismember his loved ones.
Thinking of this, he fell into utter hopelessness.
At this moment, he finally understood that everything he had done was not
foolproof. Lafayette had long seen through it all.
That cunning old fox!
Cui Hong gritted his teeth.
Bang!
Iron King took out a medical kit and threw it in front of Cui Hong, saying coldly, "Clean your wounds and don't dirty my floor with your blood."
Cui Hong gritted his teeth, opened the medical kit, stopped the bleeding, and bandaged his wounds. After finishing everything, he sat up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, his expression extremely grim, and asked, "Is there any alcohol?"
Iron King glanced at him and took out a bottle of Maotai, placing it in front of him. "This is from my collection. I can't bear to take even a sip. Consider it your farewell drink. Drink up."
As one of the Four Great Kings, he knew the gravity of Cui Hong's actions this time. If it weren't for the negotiation, Lafayette would have killed Cui Hong long ago. Even if Cui Hong survived tomorrow's negotiation and the Zhao family didn't harm him, Lafayette would never let him go in the end.
Cui Hong opened the bottle of Maotai and immediately tilted his head back, gulping down several mouthfuls, the fiery liquid bringing some color to his pale face.
He put down the glass, his face as dark as water, and said, "Since it's a farewell drink, shouldn't there be food?"
"Look at you, such an unambitious person. Even if you're going to die, you want to die full, huh?"
Iron King glanced at Cui Hong and immediately made a call, instructing his chef to prepare a table full of dishes, which were placed in front of Cui Hong.
Cui Hong wolfed down the food, devouring it all, regaining some strength, and sat on the sofa, staring blankly.
After a moment, he wiped his mouth and asked, "Iron King, what do you think people live for in this world?"
"Money, pleasure, power," Iron King replied.
"But when faced with death, what use are these things?"
Cui Hong sighed and said with a bitter smile, "Like me, I've been busy for half my life, and in the end, all the money has to be returned to Lafayette. I can't take the money I earned with me."
"Now looking back, I've been so busy, seemingly superior and powerful, but in reality, I do not even have a friend who speaks the truth by my side."
"I can't even get close to my own wife and children."
"I've been so busy, but what was it all for? Just to provide money for my wife and children? What about me?"
Iron King lit a cigarette, looked at him disdainfully, and said, "We're all people who live day by day with our heads hanging low, just trying to survive. Don't talk philosophy with me here!"
"You ended up like this because you're a dumbass who made mistakes and took the wrong path."
"Making mistakes comes with a price, that's the way of the martial world!"
Cui Hong: (╰_╯) "Can't you let me have a moment of reflection?"
Iron King threw a pack of cigarettes at Cui Hong and said, "You can think about your own path yourself. I don't want to hear your babbling."
With that, he left straight away.
Cui Hong looked at the cigarettes in front of him and fell into deep silence.
After a while, he took out his phone and sent a message to his wife who was far away in another country: "I've made up my mind. I won't immigrate. You and the kids live well over there, don't think of me."
After sending the message, he slammed the phone, shattering it.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m