Chapter Eighty-Eight: Battle

The Kingline Group.

The president’s office.

With a bang, Secretary Zhou slammed the door open and rushed in in great haste.

“President Song, this is bad. Black Blindman has come, and he brought seventy or eighty men with him!”

Song Qingzhu knew Black Blindman. He was the foremost terror of the city’s underworld, and the Kingline Group had dealings with him from time to time.

It went without saying that this time he had been sent by the Hatred Family Village.

They had gone all in.

“What are you panicking for?” Song Qingzhu said calmly. “There are more than a hundred security guards in our building—”

“Not one of them dares touch Black Blindman. Gong Jun has already been beaten down, and Black Blindman is upstairs!”

Only then did Song Qingzhu’s brows knit slightly. “Where is Lin Qi? Has he come back yet?”

As her personal bodyguard, Lin Qi should have been the first to stand in front of her.

“Not yet!”

“Call him.”

“Yes!” Secretary Zhou fumbled out his phone and said anxiously, “President Song, please go to another office and avoid them for now—”

“No need. I’ll stay right here and see what he dares do.” Song Qingzhu sat unmoving as a mountain, still working at her desk.

Secretary Zhou was about to say more when the call connected.

“Lin Qi, come back quickly. Someone means to harm President Song!”

Before he had even finished speaking, the office door was kicked open. Black Blindman, towering like an iron pagoda, strode in.

“What do you think you’re doing—” Secretary Zhou rushed forward to stop him.

“Get lost.” With a casual shove, Black Blindman sent him flying several yards away.

Song Qingzhu remained outwardly calm.

Black Blindman pulled over a chair at random and sat down across from her.

“President Song, I’ve long admired your name. I’ve come today with a matter to discuss. I’ve had my brothers stay on the first floor, so it’s just the two of us speaking face-to-face. That’s sincere enough, isn’t it?” Black Blindman crossed one leg over the other, his massive frame making Song Qingzhu on the opposite side seem tiny by comparison.

Secretary Zhou finally struggled up from the floor and was about to come over again, but Song Qingzhu waved him away. “Go out first.”

Though unwilling, Secretary Zhou had no choice but to leave.

The first thing he did once outside was call Lin Qi again, urging him to hurry.

“Soon, soon—I’m already downstairs!” Lin Qi was sprinting like mad.

Inside the office, Song Qingzhu finished signing a document and tossed it casually aside before lifting her head. “State your business.”

“President Song, you’re straightforward.” Black Blindman gave her a thumbs-up. A woman who could remain this composed before him was someone he sincerely admired. “An old man from Hatred Family Village came to me and said one of your people cut off Old Third Hatred’s arm. Is that true?”

Song Qingzhu nodded. “It is.”

“How does President Song plan to handle this matter?”

“Medical fees and compensation. Whatever we should pay, we’ll pay.”

“Refreshing!” Black Blindman said. “President Song, you’re a true heroine among women, so I’ll speak plainly. You hand over five million, and that will settle it.”

Song Qingzhu gave a cold laugh. “He lost an arm, and you want five million? There’s no such logic anywhere under heaven.”

“How much does President Song think is appropriate?”

“Fifty thousand.”

Silence fell over the office, and the atmosphere grew somewhat stifling.

No one knew how long had passed before Black Blindman slowly said, “So President Song isn’t giving me the slightest bit of face…”

Both his gaze and his tone had taken on a faint edge of ruthlessness.

“Since he came asking for money, at most it’s fifty thousand. If it’s you, Black Blindman, I can give fifty thousand.” Song Qingzhu took out her checkbook and prepared to sign.

But Black Blindman said darkly, “Fifty thousand isn’t even enough to pay the fee to invite me. I brought so many brothers with me—don’t you think fuel costs money? Don’t you think meals cost money? President Song, are you trying to shoo away a beggar?”

He shot to his feet and leaned forward, both hands planted on the desk, his small eyes fixed on Song Qingzhu with an endless, chilling murderous intent.

Any other woman would have been terrified out of her wits by this display.

Yet Song Qingzhu’s expression did not change.

“Black Blindman, don’t push your luck.”

Her eyes narrowed as well.

“My apologies, President Song, but this is the business I’m in.” Black Blindman leaned in even farther, like a mountain bearing down. “Today, you must hand over five million!”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then don’t blame me for being rude!” Black Blindman reached out and grabbed for her collar.

Song Qingzhu’s palm moved slightly, and a silver needle shot out like lightning.

The whistling of the wind was barely audible, almost soundless.

Yet Black Blindman sensed it. His head jerked aside, and the silver needle skimmed past his ear.

Still, it left behind a streak of bright red blood.

“Ha! I never would’ve guessed President Song was such a skilled fighter!” Black Blindman touched his ear, but his expression grew even more exhilarated. “Wonderful. It’s been a long time since I’ve sparred with a real expert!”

With a sudden kick, Black Blindman struck out. A deafening boom rang out as the enormous desk split apart on the spot, fragments flying toward Song Qingzhu’s lower abdomen.

Song Qingzhu retreated swiftly, and then her palm flickered again. Several silver needles gleamed between her fingers.