Chapter 733: Chapter 703: Blackmail
Li Changyou said with a calm smile, "For us, it’s a market investigation. We aim for win-win cooperation, not warfare. While making money, we also help your country develop economically. It’s a perfect situation, so why not do it?"
Xu Chunliang said, "It seems you have it wrong. It’s not you helping us; we’re giving you the opportunity to make money. But you must be clear that I can give the opportunity to you or others, depending on who follows the rules better."
Li Changyou had long heard of Xu Chunliang’s methods, but this was the first head-on clash. How could a small deputy town chief be so confident, thinking he could do whatever he wanted just because he held the Renhe Hall trademark? Li Changyou sighed and reminded, "Our tripartite cooperation has been approved by your city leaders."
Xu Chunliang smiled, "It seems you don’t understand our country. We are a democratic society. It’s not up to me, not even the leaders. It’s the common people who are the real masters."
"Democratic society?"
Xu Chunliang said, "I forgot, your country has foreign military bases. Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand. You can’t even talk about a democratic society when your sovereignty is incomplete, can you?"
This remark was a significant insult to Li Changyou, and he could no longer remain calm. He angrily said, "What did you say? I demand an apology from you."
Although Zhou Yiwen and the Mingde Group were in the same camp, he didn’t think there was anything wrong with what Xu Chunliang said as it was all factual.
Xu Chunliang said, "You apologize when you’re wrong. Why apologize when you’re right? It seems your country’s customs are different from ours. When someone else is wrong, they grovel and apologize. Sorry, we Chinese don’t have such a soft bone."
Li Changyou roared, "Xu Chunliang, I will file a complaint against you. You’ve not only insulted me but have also insulted my country. This is absolutely intolerable. Our national dignity is sacred..."
"Oh, come off it. Don’t come to me with your high talk of dignity. If you want dignity, go talk to your Uncle Sam or the East Asian Ghosts. Why discuss dignity with me? Do we have troops stationed in your country or invaded you? Complain if you want. I don’t have the time to entertain you," Xu Chunliang turned hostile in an instant, already starting to dismiss him.
Li Changyou was so angry that his face turned ashen. He gave a look to Zhou Yiwen, but Zhou Yiwen wasn’t in a rush to leave. He had more to say.
After Li Changyou left, Xu Chunliang saw that Zhou Yiwen had no intention of leaving and couldn’t help but laugh, "What? Planning to have a meal here with me?"
Zhou Yiwen said, "Young man, as your elder, let me advise you. Even the fiercest enemy should be spared when defeated."
Xu Chunliang glared, "Go to hell. Who the hell do you think you are to call yourself my elder?"
Zhou Yiwen didn’t expect such a direct flip and vulgarity from Xu Chunliang. Xu Chunliang called his father ’uncle,’ didn’t he? What’s wrong with him being a generation older?
"You... you have no manners."
Xu Chunliang snorted coldly, "Manners depend on who you’re dealing with. Can you even comprehend the idea of manners with a heartless guy like you?"
"You..."
Xu Chunliang said, "You really think this matter is over? Zhou Yi Wu getting caught was well-deserved. Even though you weren’t caught, you’ve done plenty of unethical things. The law can’t deal with you, but I can!"
Zhou Yiwen abruptly stood up, "Xu Chunliang, everything Renhe Hall has today has been hard-earned by us. What right do you have to take it away?"
Xu Chunliang sneered, "The law is my right. Let me tell you, don’t have vain hopes. Even if the Renhe Hall brand goes to ruin, it won’t fall into the hands of you heartless bastards."
"That’s not necessarily true!"
"Not convinced, huh? I like it when you’re not convinced. Go ahead and resist, and let’s see who ends up hurt in the end."
Zhou Yiwen gritted his teeth, "Xu Chunliang, I’ve given enough face to your Xu Family. Don’t push it too far!"
Xu Chunliang slowly approached him, "I’m precisely the kind of person who likes to push it too far. I either don’t do something, or I do it to the fullest extent."
Zhou Yiwen lowered his voice, "Don’t think I don’t know about the Xu Family’s dirty laundry. If I expose Xu Changying’s matter, let’s see how your Old Xu Family can still show their face."
Xu Chunliang felt a chill in his heart. Very few people knew about the abusive love between Xu Changying and Zhou Renhe, and normal people, even if they knew, wouldn’t use it against them. Zhou Yiwen, disregarding the kindness of parental upbringing, dared to use this to blackmail the Xu Family. The man is devoid of any conscience.
Xu Chunliang said, "I would like to hear how you plan to expose it."
Zhou Yiwen said, "The two of them were actually siblings but engaged in disgraceful acts. Why did Xu Changying commit suicide? Wasn’t it because he couldn’t face the world? Why did your great-grandfather commit suicide? For the same reason, overcome with shame, the family..."
Bang! Zhou Yiwen saw stars in front of his eyes, then a piercing pain in his nose as Xu Chunliang’s fist landed squarely on his face. Zhou Yiwen first felt fear, then a burst of joy. Xu Chunliang was still young, provoked by his words into hitting him. Even though he got hit, this punch reversed the situation. He thought, "I’ll get an injury assessment. I’ll sue you. I’ll make sure you lose everything, even end up in prison."
Before he could finish his thought, Xu Chunliang punched him hard in the stomach. Zhou Yiwen felt excruciating pain between his ribs, as if the brute had broken them. He immediately realized what was happening, opened his mouth to shout for help, but not a single sound came out.
Xu Chunliang sneered, "Trying to call for help? Too late, I’ve hit your mute acupoint. Even if I were to kill you, you wouldn’t be able to make a sound."
The joy Zhou Yiwen felt earlier turned back into fear. This guy was ruthless! He took another heavy punch to the abdomen, lost his balance, and fell to the ground as Xu Chunliang struck several more acupoints, rendering Zhou Yiwen completely immobile.
He watched helplessly as Xu Chunliang opened a drawer, took out a needle pouch, and approached him again.
Xu Chunliang said, "I have countless ways to kill you. The only reason I haven’t acted yet is because I hoped you had some conscience left. But it seems I was wrong." He pulled out two fine needles and inserted them into Zhou Yiwen’s temples. Zhou Yiwen felt the needles penetrate deeper into his skull, terrifying him nearly to tears.
Xu Chunliang then stabbed the Dangyang acupoint, the Qianding acupoint, the Tongtian acupoint, the Baihui acupoint, the Naohu, the Fengchi acupoint, and the Fengfu acupoint.
For someone who didn’t understand Chinese medicine, this might not mean much, but Zhou Yiwen had studied medicine since childhood. Under the guidance of his adoptive father Zhou Renhe, his medical skills had advanced rapidly, especially in acupuncture, reaching at least a first-rate level if not top-tier. He knew Xu Chunliang was targeting critical points in the skull with deep needle placement.
Xu Chunliang said, "Turning you into an idiot is very easy for me, but considering my great-uncle raised you for so many years, I’ll give you a chance. Tell me, who made you do this?"
Zhou Yiwen felt dozens of fine needles penetrating his brain, the excruciating pain twisting his face, veins bulging on his forehead and neck, yet he still could not utter a sound despite his suffering.
Xu Chunliang said, "This is called the Nine-Turns Annihilation Needle technique. Naturally, you wouldn’t have heard of it since you’re not a Xu family descendant. After I insert the needles, you’ll suffer hellish torment every nine days. Each time will be harder to endure, a torture in which you’d rather die than live. Generally, an average person can’t last more than nine days; those with strong willpower can’t last more than nine months. Even top martial arts experts can’t endure beyond nine years. Using this technique on a beast like you is somewhat of a waste."
Zhou Yiwen felt a fine needle pierce into his Dazhui acupoint. Didn’t Xu Chunliang say it was the Nine-Turns Annihilation Needle? Why was there more to come?
This needle pierced deeper still, sending Zhou Yiwen’s soul flying. Wouldn’t he be paralyzed by such needlework?
Xu Chunliang said, "No matter what, my great-uncle raised you and your brother, yet not only did you disregard familial ties, one mercilessly injured your adoptive father, leaving him for dead, while the other, after his death, wasn’t above defaming his reputation for profit. Are you even human?"
By now, Zhou Yiwen had lost all sensation in his body, but suddenly his throat freed up—Xu Chunliang had unlocked his mute acupoint, and he could speak.
"You dare harm me! Aren’t you afraid of legal consequences?"
Xu Chunliang chuckled darkly, "It’s just the two of us here. Who would believe your words? If you dare to report me, you’ll never see the next day’s sun."
Zhou Yiwen’s voice trembled, "I’m not afraid of you..." Despite saying he wasn’t afraid, his voice quivered, and he didn’t dare to shout for help.
Xu Chunliang said, "I’ve never even considered you my enemy—you’re not worthy! The matter of slandering my great-uncle probably wasn’t your idea. Even if you don’t tell me, I know it’s Huang Youlong, right?"
Zhou Yiwen’s face turned pale as clay. Xu Chunliang had guessed everything. Huang Youlong, oh Huang Youlong, you used me. Since you held so much evidence, why didn’t you confront him directly? He now realized he’d been played by Huang Youlong.
"I...I was just trying to scare you, trying to force you to give me the rights to Renhe Hall. I...I never actually intended to reveal my father’s past misdeeds."
"Bullshit!" Xu Chunliang scolded.
Zhou Yiwen felt the fine needles in his body tighten simultaneously, his entire being feeling as though it were splitting apart, especially his cranium. Just as he let out a scream, Xu Chunliang immobilized his acupoint again. In agony, he could only bang his head against the ground, trying to alleviate the pain this way.
Xu Chunliang said, "You and your brother are truly both foolish and evil. What kind of person is Huang Youlong? He holds a generational grudge against the Xu family. He’s only using you as pawns to deal with them. If you plan to go down this dark path, I won’t stop you."
Releasing Zhou Yiwen’s mute acupoint again, Zhou Yiwen shook uncontrollably in pain, unable to make any noise despite his bruised forehead, not out of embarrassment if seen by others but out of pure fear of Xu Chunliang.
Zhou Yiwen whispered, "I...I won’t bring this matter up again..."
Xu Chunliang said, "You still haven’t told me, was it Huang Youlong who ordered you to do this?"
Zhou Yiwen nodded, completely giving up on resisting.
Xu Chunliang said, "Today’s events are known only to heaven, earth, you, and me. If you choose to resist to the end, go ahead and report me. I’d actually respect you for being a real man."
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