Chapter Seventy-One: A Direct Confrontation

Creak!

An imposing off-road vehicle aggressively blocked the path of Tang Long’s pickup, forcing him to a stop. At first, Tang Long assumed it was just a convoy of tourists heading to Yutou Village for leisure. But what happened next made Mountain Boar calm down, turning to glance at Tang Long and asking coldly, “How should we handle this?”

A murderous aura radiated from her; she clearly wasn’t joking.

Tang Long shook his head and replied, “It’s nothing serious. Remember, you’re no longer an assassin. Ordinary people should follow ordinary rules.”

With those words, he opened the door and stepped out.

Ordinary people should follow ordinary rules? Mountain Boar frowned, then the corner of her lips curled into a smile, as bright and wild as a mountain flower in full bloom—beautiful, but fleeting, quickly hidden.

“Hey kid, did you guys just come from Yutou Village?” Four or five men jumped down from the off-road vehicle.

A young man with bleached yellow hair and a hooligan air squinted at Tang Long and asked.

“We did,” Tang Long replied, smiling at them. “Are you heading to Yutou Village for a visit?”

The yellow-haired youth rolled his eyes at Tang Long and snapped impatiently, “Cut the crap. Our boss wants a word with you—get over here.”

Boss?

When Mountain Boar got out of the car behind Tang Long, the yellow-haired youth’s eyes lit up, his gaze lingering greedily. With a lewd chuckle, he said, “That girl’s pretty hot. What a waste, riding around in a beat-up pickup. Hey girl, why not come hang out with us instead?”

Mountain Boar frowned and glanced at Tang Long, seeing he had no intention of intervening. She rolled her eyes and muttered, “Go home and play with your mother.”

The yellow-haired youth was taken aback, and the others around him burst into laughter.

“Feisty, huh.” The yellow-haired man hesitated, but made no move—better wait to see what Young Master Rui decided. If he took a liking to her, maybe they’d get a taste of good fortune as well.

Wen Rui stepped out, his arm draped around a heavily made-up woman, approaching from behind. He had a sharp memory; upon seeing Tang Long, he instantly recalled who he was. The last time they met, Wu Zhengyao was present, and although they’d crossed paths, there had been no introductions. Later, Liu Meijia had given him a detailed dossier—with Tang Long’s photo included.

“Well, if it isn’t Chief Tang Long of Yutou Village! What a pleasure!” Wen Rui’s eyes gleamed as he let go of the woman and strode over in exaggerated fashion.

“We were just about to visit Yutou Village to find you. Who would have thought we’d bump into each other on the road? Fate, indeed!” Wen Rui squinted and smiled, stealing a glance at Mountain Boar as a flicker of amazement flashed in his eyes. Laughing, he introduced himself, “I am Wen Rui. I visited Yutou Village just a few days ago.”

“Young Master Rui? I’ve heard much about you!” Tang Long smiled, equally surprised to encounter him here. With a playful tone, he said, “Young Master Rui, you’re as bold and domineering as ever!”

The last time Wen Rui stirred up trouble in Yutou Village, it had alarmed many officials from the town and county. If Wu Zhengyao hadn’t intervened, few could have kept him in check. Today, blocking Tang Long’s car for no reason was yet another sign that this ‘Young Master Rui’ was not one to be trifled with.

Wen Rui froze. Frankly, he didn’t care for Tang Long’s tone—a chief from some remote village, acting as if he mattered to Wen Rui? In Wen Rui’s eyes, Tang Long was nothing.

“Chief Tang Long, from the way you’re talking, do you have some kind of issue with me?” Wen Rui tilted his head, half-smiling.

Tang Long nodded, blunt as ever. “I do, actually. I’ve never liked the smug, spoiled brats like you, Young Master Rui.”

Wen Rui and his entourage were stunned. Wasn’t that a bit too direct? No respect at all.

“Damn you, talking to Young Master Rui like that? Are you looking for trouble?” The yellow-haired youth glared, pulling a spring knife from behind his back and cursing.

This was his moment to shine—otherwise, why did Wen Rui keep them around?

“Young Master Rui, want me to spill a little blood?”

A strange look flickered in Wen Rui’s eyes. He hadn’t said much yet, and Tang Long was already picking a fight? That wasn’t how things usually went. Normally, even if someone disliked him, they wouldn’t show it so blatantly.

He wondered—was Tang Long just tactless? But Wen Rui recalled Liu Meijia's dossier: Tang Long was neither shortsighted nor brainless.

If he was so quick to confront Wen Rui, perhaps he meant to... shut him up before things escalated?

“Spill blood, my ass! What do you think you are, a bandit or a thug? We’re businesspeople—put that thing away!” Wen Rui snapped at the yellow-haired youth.

Then he turned to Tang Long, smiling. “Chief Tang Long, you certainly speak your mind. There are plenty who dislike my spoiled ways, but you’re the first to say it to my face. Refreshing. I like your style.”

“Let’s get properly acquainted—Wen Rui. Everyone calls me Young Master Rui.” Wen Rui approached Tang Long, offering his hand with a smile.

Tang Long met his gaze, responding coolly, “Let’s skip the pleasantries. Speak your purpose.”

Tang Long had no intention of befriending Young Master Rui, nor even pretending to. People like him had no place in Yutou Village; it was best to nip his ambitions in the bud.

A hint of anger flashed in Wen Rui’s eyes. He had already gone out of his way, yet Tang Long remained so ungrateful.

“I want to invest in Yutou Village,” Wen Rui said, withdrawing his hand with a smile. That was indeed his purpose.

“Not interested,” Tang Long shook his head.

“Not interested?” Wen Rui was stunned. Didn’t Tang Long even want to know how much he planned to invest or what kind of partnership he proposed? Just a flat ‘not interested’?

Wen Rui had always thought himself quite the showman, but Tang Long outdid him—every sentence was a challenge. Wen Rui had brought dozens of men today; wasn’t Tang Long afraid of provoking him?

Wen Rui’s smile finally faltered, his face darkening. “Tang Long, don’t think that just because Wu Zhengyao’s got your back, I won’t do anything to you.”

Tang Long shook his head, smiling. “I never thought that. I just don’t see what’s so special about you, Young Master Rui. I don’t like you. Is that a problem?”

“….” Wen Rui was speechless.

His entourage was equally baffled—did this village chief have a screw loose?

Wen Rui took two steps back, something predatory flickering in his eyes. No wonder Liu Meijia said Tang Long was hard to deal with.

“If that’s how it is, brothers, go teach Chief Tang Long a lesson. Beat him to a pulp; I’ll take care of any trouble,” Wen Rui said grimly, raising his hand.

Tang Long grinned, muttering, “I was waiting for you to say that, Young Master Rui. Last time, I warned you—if you ever dared come to Yutou Village again…I’d break your legs.”