Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 96: Explore the Path, Make Friends!

The van bumped and crawled along the wet, slippery streets in the early morning, its engine roaring.

Steep stone steps and alleyways wind their way up the cliff face, while the massive steel cable frame of the newly opened Caiyuanba Yangtze River Bridge is faintly visible in the mist.

The car sometimes rushed up steep slopes, and sometimes plunged into deep tunnels, its headlights casting shimmering spots of light on the wet walls.

Sometimes, they would narrowly miss the "porters" carrying loads on shoulder poles on narrow bends.

The man in the passenger seat with the gold chain stared intently at Qi Yun, who was resting with his eyes closed in the back seat, through the rearview mirror.

That excessively young face was calm and composed, as if he were not going to a den of thieves, but to an ordinary tea party.

This unusual calmness only intensified the unease in the man with the gold chain's heart.

The car eventually made several turns and stopped outside a high-walled compound in a suburban area.

The iron gate opened, revealing a three-story building covered in cheap white ceramic tiles, with two thugs squatting at the entrance, smoking cigarettes.

The man with the gold chain led Qi Yun across the empty concrete courtyard and straight into a very large tea room on the first floor.

The tea room's decor exudes an air of nouveau riche.

The large rosewood tea tray is so shiny and glossy that it reflects one's image.

A row of mahogany display shelves lined the wall, haphazardly displaying crudely made antique-style porcelain vases, root carvings, and lucky toads.

The most eye-catching thing is a huge framed calligraphy hanging on the opposite wall, with four gilded characters in a vigorous and elegant style: "Harmony brings wealth".

The man with the gold chain asked Qi Yun to sit down at the tea table, and then quickly went into the inner room.

Before long, a series of heavy footsteps accompanied by loud laughter came from behind.

"Hahaha! Distinguished guests have arrived! I have been so unwelcoming! Please forgive me!"

A man in his early forties strode out.

He was not tall, but very sturdy, with a short, thick neck that was almost invisible. His face was full of fat and he was all smiles. His shaved head with a thick layer of stubble made him look even more fierce.

He wore a flamboyant purplish-red satin Tang suit with Chinese knot buttons, but he left it open, revealing a tight white vest and a bulging belly underneath.

He wore a pair of tight black boss pants that accentuated his large buttocks, and shiny old-fashioned leather shoes.

It was the "rich and eclectic style" that was most popular among the gangsters in Chongqing in 95.

He sat down in the main seat with an air of grandeur, and the man with the gold chain immediately bowed and handed him a purple clay teapot.

The chubby-faced man skillfully scalded the cups, rinsed the tea, and poured it from a high position while simultaneously scanning Qi Yun up and down with his small eyes hidden in the creases of his flesh, clicking his tongue in admiration: "Brother! You're really good at this!"

They thought the kung fu skills shown on TV, like flying over walls and catching blades with bare hands, were all fake!
This is truly eye-opening!

He pushed a cup of bright orange-yellow tea in front of Qi Yun with a beaming smile, "Judging from your accent, brother, you're not a local? Just passing through Chongqing? Or... do you have some business opportunity you'd like me to help you with?"

"Just passing by." Qi Yun glanced at the teacup but didn't touch it.

"Oh?" The burly man's smile remained unchanged as he tapped his fingers lightly on the smooth tea tray. "So... you were a soldier before? Which port on the street did you make your fortune at?" he probed.

"Neither," Qi Yun answered decisively.

A glint flashed in the eyes of the burly man, but his smile grew even brighter. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Great! That's awesome! I love making friends like brothers!"

"No fight, no friendship!" He pulled open the drawer under the tea tray, and with a "whoosh," took out a thick stack of brand-new 100-yuan bills with four heads, probably half a finger thick, and slapped them directly onto the tea tray in front of Qi Yun.

"His men are blind and have offended the brothers!"
This little something is my brother's way of apologizing on their behalf!

Tonight, we're having a table at 'Lao Yu Restaurant,' brothers, you absolutely must come!

"Let's have a good drink and become friends!" He stared at Qi Yun, his tone warm and carrying an air of unyielding chivalry.

Qi Yun looked at the stack of glaring banknotes, and a cold smile curled his lips: "I'd rather not take dirty money from loan sharks than soil my hands."

"Dirty?" The smile on the fleshy face froze instantly, as if a layer of paste had been applied to it.

He slowly leaned back in his chair, his sturdy frame radiating an invisible pressure, toying with a heavy, gold-plated lighter in his hand, clicking it open and closed.

His eyelids drooped, and his voice turned cold, carrying the rugged tone unique to Chongqing: "Brother, what you're saying is a bit off-topic."

My brother's businesses—sand and gravel, karaoke bars, bathhouses—aren't they all legitimate businesses?
This money, clean...clean...clean!"

Seeing that Qi Yun remained unmoved, he suddenly slammed the lighter heavily onto the rosewood tea tray, making a dull thud.

"You won't drink the tea, and you won't take the money. It seems you're determined not to give me, Zhang Biao, any face, and you don't want to be my friend anymore?"

Before the words were finished, "Bang!" The heavy, carved wooden door of the tea room was suddenly kicked open!

Eight burly men surged in like wolves and tigers, all wearing tight black vests, their bare arms bulging with muscles, tattooed with dragons, tigers, and ghost heads. Each carried a galvanized steel pipe more than a meter long, which gleamed with a cold metallic luster under the pale indoor lights.

In an instant, they surrounded Qi Yun at the core.

Zhang Biao lit a cigarette with his gold lighter, took a deep drag, and squinted at Qi Yun through the smoke. His voice was as calm as if he were asking what to eat tonight.

"Brother, I'm giving you one last chance. Think it through."

Be my friend, Zhang Biao, and you'll be unstoppable in Chongqing. Be my enemy…

He deliberately dragged out his words, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, "Then the outcome won't be so pleasant!"

"Hahaha, friend? You think you're worthy to be my friend?"

Qi Yun suddenly burst into laughter.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao laughed loudly as well: "Break their legs and arms, and throw them into the river to feed the fish tonight!"

Upon receiving the signal, the eight men unleashed their steel pipes with a piercing whistling sound as they slammed them down on Qi Yun's head, shoulders, back, and waist from all directions!

The angle was tricky, the force was heavy and fierce, clearly indicating that the person was well-trained and intended to smash him into a puddle of mud on the spot!
Just before they made their move!
"This is so true!"

A clear, resonant laugh suddenly erupted in the murderous tea room!

Before the laughter subsided, the heavy mahogany armchair beneath Qi Yun shattered with a deafening crash!
Wood chips shot out like shrapnel!
Qi Yun's figure had vanished from the spot like a ghost!
"puff!"

A fist, arriving later but arriving first, struck the middle of the steel pipe that had been slammed down first with perfect accuracy!

His fist was covered with a faint layer of light.

The immense force struck, splitting the man's hand and causing the steel pipe to slip from his grasp. He was lifted off the ground by an overwhelming force and crashed into the antique display shelf behind him like a cannonball!

"Crack!"

The inferior porcelain vase, root carving, and golden toad, along with their wooden frame, were smashed to pieces amidst screams of agony!

Almost simultaneously, Qi Yun's left hand, fingers pointing like a knife, struck the left rib of another man who was swinging a stick at his temple with lightning speed!
The sickening cracking sound of bones breaking was clearly audible! The man's eyes bulged out instantly, blood and foam spurted from his mouth, and his body collapsed limply like a shrimp whose bones had been removed, the steel pipe in his hand clattering to the ground.

Qi Yun's body spun rapidly like a top, his right foot transforming into a blurry whip shadow, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, lashing hard at the third person's waist and hip!
"Oh!"

The man couldn't even scream as his nearly 200-pound body flew sideways and crashed into the wall.

The remaining men were initially taken aback by the swift and ruthless methods employed, but their ferocity was then fully unleashed, and they roared as they swung their clubs and pounced!

Qi Yun's eyes flashed with a cold light, his killing intent now unleashed!
He reached out with his hand, and the canvas bag exploded, the newspaper wrapped around the sword turning into a flurry of white butterflies!
A chilling light, as sharp as autumn water, was suddenly drawn from its sheath!
(End of this chapter)