127: Sudden outbreak

The man leading the way had just turned around, a fawning smile still on his face, ready to escort these esteemed guests away from this troublesome place.

"Director Wang, this way please, I'll take you to a..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

A series of hurried, heavy footsteps suddenly erupted from behind them.

The dozen or so black-clad men, who had been standing like statues at various intersections, seemed to receive a unified command, their expressions changing abruptly.

They were no longer lazy door gods; a hint of urgency and solemnity now marked each of their faces.

Immediately following this, to the astonished gazes of those around them, they all turned in unison and quickly rushed into the cordoned-off area of the Old Ghost Hall.

Their movements were precise and uniform, carrying a military-like air of iron discipline.

It was clear that Chen Ao still had some skill in managing his internal personnel.

Wang Han, who was about to leave, paused.

Wang Qingxuan also stopped, curious.

Lin Yu, for his part, had never intended to move from the beginning.

The man leading the way's heart sank, and he grew incredibly anxious.

Gossip was human nature, he understood that.

But this spectacle was clearly not a good one.

"Director Wang, Director Wang, we should still..." He leaned forward, trying to persuade him.

However, Wang Han raised a hand, stopping him.

The man's words caught in his throat.

Wang Han didn't look back; he simply stared in the direction where the black-clad men had disappeared, a cold, sharp curve forming on his lips.

The arrogant attitude of those men just now, that emotionless "scram," still echoed clearly in his ears.

Now, seeing their frantic appearance, it was highly likely that something had gone wrong.

He wanted to wait and see.

To see what had happened with this so-called "big business" and how it would be resolved.

If he didn't see anything useful, he'd just treat it as entertainment.

If he saw them make a fool of themselves, then he'd have plenty to mock.

Furthermore, if he happened to uncover some secret, it might even prove very useful.

Unfortunately...

If it weren't for his daughter and Lin Yu, these two juniors, being present, he would have even wanted to go directly inside the cordon to watch.

"Dad, what's wrong with them?" Wang Qingxuan asked softly, her big eyes full of curiosity.

"I don't know," Wang Han replied, his hands behind his back, maintaining a perfectly composed posture. "Just watch."

He spoke casually, but inwardly, he was secretly delighted.

The bigger the commotion, the better.

The man leading the way looked at Wang Han's determined stance to watch the show, his face practically twisted into a bitter gourd.

"Director Wang, this... Chen Ao's people are overbearing; what if they offend you..."

"Offend me?" Wang Han shot him a sidelong glance. "Do they dare?"

The man was choked into silence.

How could he say that they had already offended him just moments ago?

Wang Han ignored him and instead looked at Lin Yu beside him with interest.

"Nephew, what do you think?"

He noticed that Lin Yu had been too calm from beginning to end.

This calmness made even him, a man who had struggled in the business world for half his life, feel a hint of something unusual.

Combined with the black card Lin Yu possessed, it made him feel that his nephew was no ordinary person.

Lin Yu met Wang Han's scrutinizing gaze, his demeanor composed.

"Watching a good show."

He uttered five words calmly.

These five words, though light, struck the heart of the man leading the way like a heavy stone.

A good show?

Oh my goodness, at a time like this, he's still thinking of watching a show?

The man's face turned pale, cold sweat trickling down his temples; he was almost in tears.

"My young master! This is not a good show!"

He stomped his foot in desperation, disregarding all etiquette, and grabbed Wang Han's arm, his voice trembling.

"Director Wang! Let's go quickly! Seriously, let's go!"

"You are a dragon among men, a big shot in Linzhou who can shake the city with a stomp of your foot! But this is the black market! That Chen Ao, he's a madman! He doesn't care who you are!"

The man spoke incoherently, practically pleading.

"For this small matter, if you and the young lady are offended, it's not worth it! It's really not worth it!"

He humbled himself to the lowest degree, but his words conveyed a clear meaning.

Chen Ao's people were unreasonable.

Here, the identity of Tianqing Group's director might not be a protective charm, but rather a target for trouble.

Especially when he saw Wang Qingxuan beside Wang Han, who was visibly startled by his words and instinctively clutched her father's sleeve, he found his breakthrough.

"Director Wang, look at the young lady... This place is a mess; don't scare her! Let's quickly leave this troublesome place!"

Wang Qingxuan was indeed a little scared.

Her upbringing was different from those within the country, making her more sensitive to such conflict-ridden situations.

The man's words immediately brought back some unpleasant impressions for Wang Qingxuan.

The faint murderous aura emanating from the black-clad men around them, and the eerily heavy atmosphere, all made her feel intensely uneasy.

She whispered, "Dad... maybe we should just leave?"

His daughter's single sentence was more effective than a hundred words from the man leading the way.

Wang Han's earlier interest, sparked by the desire to watch the commotion, instantly dissipated.

Face was important, but his daughter's safety was more so.

He let out a heavy huff, finding an excuse for himself.

"A chaotic place like this, there's indeed nothing good to see."

He put on a disdainful air, as if he wasn't retreating out of fear, but rather had actively grown tired of it.

"Let's go."

One word, concise and decisive.

The man leading the way felt as if he had been granted a great pardon, almost kneeling before Wang Han in excitement.

"Yes, yes, yes! Director Wang is wise! This way, please, this way!"

He quickly led the way, wishing he could sprout wings and fly away from this area immediately.

Wang Han turned, protecting his daughter, and prepared to follow.

Just as they took their first steps, and everyone thought this farce was about to end...

"Roar—!"

A furious roar, unlike any human sound, suddenly erupted from the direction of the Old Ghost Hall!

The sound was filled with endless ferocity and madness, as if a fierce beast, imprisoned for a thousand years, had broken free from its cage.

The sound wave transformed into a tangible shockwave, sweeping outwards.

Some nearby stalls, their bottles and jars, were instantly shattered!

Wang Han's body also stiffened abruptly; he instinctively shielded his daughter behind him, his face etched with an unprecedented gravity.

Before anyone could react to the roar...

A sudden change occurred!

Boom!

A thick, blood-red pillar of light pierced through the roof of the Old Ghost Hall, shooting straight into the night sky!

After reaching its apex, the light pillar suddenly exploded.

In an instant, countless blood-red threads spread out like a spiderweb in all directions, instantly engulfing the entire western district of the black market.

Each thread emitted an intensely thick, lingering smell of blood and an ominous aura.

The entire black market was tinged with a strange, bloody hue.

Pedestrians on the street all stopped, staring up in terror at the apocalyptic scene in the sky, screams and cries rising and falling.

"Wh-what in the world is that thing!"

"Run! People are going to die!"