"Li Tianlong?" Qin Heng was taken aback when he heard this, then snorted coldly and said, "What is he that he deserves me to go and meet him?"

"Young Master Qin, what do you mean by this?" Wei Ying's delicate eyebrows knitted slightly, her expression somewhat dissatisfied as she said, "Director Li said your status is extraordinary and I should not neglect you, yet this is your attitude?"

"If Li Tianlong knows my status, why would he send you, a mere maidservant, to invite me?" Qin Heng began to walk away, saying indifferently, "If he wants to see me, he must come to my doorstep tomorrow, perform the three kneels and nine kowtows, and then beg me to come!"

Having said that, he walked past Wei Ying without giving her so much as a glance.

Maidservant!? Wei Ying bit her lip, a flash of resentment in her eyes as she looked at Qin Heng. She said through clenched teeth, "Qin Heng! You're spurning a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! Do you realize the status our Tianlong Group holds in Tianhai? Our Director Li—"

BOOM!

A loud explosion, like a clap of thunder, suddenly erupted, making Wei Ying nearly lose her balance before she could finish speaking.

The Mercedes parked on the side of the road, which Qin Heng had kicked on its side door, skidded sideways for four or five meters. The passenger door caved inward, and all its windows shattered.

It was as if another vehicle, traveling at high speed, had T-boned it, bending the entire car into an arc. It was practically a total wreck!

Wei Ying was stunned, staring at Qin Heng in disbelief. She rubbed her eyes, almost thinking she was hallucinating.

This was a Mercedes-Benz!

Even if someone hammered it fiercely, they wouldn't get this kind of result, right?

"If Li Tianlong really wants to see me, then he should do as I said," Qin Heng withdrew his foot and continued walking, saying indifferently, "Otherwise, whether it's his Tianlong Group or he himself, their fate will be the same as this car's."

Wei Ying stood there dazed for a long time. By the time she came to her senses, Qin Heng had vanished without a trace.

"Damn it!" She stamped her foot, her face flushing red with anger. Then, she took out her cellphone and made a call. "Hello, Director Li? This is Wei Ying. Here's what happened…"

She recounted everything that had just transpired, down to the last detail.

「Inside the Heaven Room of Yunqing Pavilion.」

Li Tianlong, dressed impeccably in a suit, was very solemn. In his thirties, he was in his prime. As the CEO of a major corporation, it was rare for him to be this formal.

This was all to host Qin Heng and discuss certain matters.

Behind him stood two bodyguards dressed in black and wearing sunglasses. There was a slight bulge at their waists; from the outline, they were undoubtedly carrying handguns.

Sitting beside Li Tianlong was a young man in his mid-twenties, dressed in an old-fashioned long gown. He had a crew cut and a somewhat fierce look in his eyes. The clearly defined muscles on his arms hinted at tremendous strength.

"Go find a place to get the car fixed first. There's no need for you to come back today." Li Tianlong's expression was extremely unsightly as he hung up. With a CRACK, he slammed his phone to the ground, smashing it to pieces, and roared, "Excellent, Qin Heng! Excellent, the Qins! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!!"

The two black-clad bodyguards maintained their professional composure. Even with this outburst, they stood as still as statues, as if their sole purpose was to await Qin Heng, and everything else was irrelevant to them.

"Director Li, did that brat from the Qins refuse you?" the young man furrowed his brow and asked. "Even if he's the biological son of those two from the Daqin Group, there's no need for him to be so arrogant, is there?"

"No, this brat is far more arrogant than you can imagine," Li Tianlong sneered. "Not only did he reject my invitation, but he also wrecked the car I had arranged for Wei Ying. He even said that if I want to see him, I must go to his doorstep tomorrow morning and respectfully invite him with the three kneels and nine kowtows."

"Such audacity!" The young man chuckled coldly. "It seems Qin Heng has indeed been spoiled rotten by his parents. He's completely unaware of his own standing, much less your status, Director Li! Since he's acting like this, it's time we taught him a lesson!"

"A lesson is definitely in order, but we still have to go and invite him tomorrow," Li Tianlong tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said in a deep voice, "As long as he comes out tomorrow, he'll realize that the Lis are not to be trifled with! Currently, there's some tension between the Daqin Group and the state, likely due to conflicts over certain projects. Qin Heng's parents are too preoccupied to manage their own affairs, let alone find the energy to oversee things in Tianhai. This is the perfect opportunity!"

"As long as we don't kill Qin Heng, anything else goes," the young man said, his eyes flashing with viciousness. "This is our best chance, Director Li. The Daqin Group's assets in Tianhai are astronomical!"

「The next morning.」

Sunlight streamed through the window.

Qin Heng had slept soundly the previous night, completely dismissing the matter of Li Tianlong wanting to see him. After all, it was Saturday, so there was no need to wake up early.

However, at eight o'clock in the morning, knocking and shouting shattered the peace.

When Qin Heng awoke and looked through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he saw Li Tianlong outside the villa estate. Accompanied by a group of people, Li Tianlong was kneeling and respectfully kowtowing.

He was also shouting at the same time.

"I earnestly implore Mr. Qin Heng to come out for a meeting! I shall receive you with the utmost ceremony and respect…"

Li Tianlong was truly performing the three kneels and nine kowtows, exactly as Qin Heng had previously demanded, using this grand ritual of obeisance to request an audience.

Passersby who witnessed this scene wore expressions of disbelief. In modern society, it was the first time any of them had seen someone kneeling and kowtowing to invite another person out.

Li Tianlong kept his head lowered, listening to the murmurs of the passing crowd. Outwardly, he remained composed, but inwardly, he was seething with rage. I wish I could skin Qin Heng alive and tear him limb from limb right now!

He roared internally, Damn it! Qin Heng, just you wait! When you come out, I'll make you pay this back double—no, ten times, a hundred times over!

Meanwhile, Qin Heng, looking through the floor-to-ceiling window, clearly saw the details of Li Tianlong's expression and could sense the fury in his heart. He snorted lightly and said, "He really is quite the character. A pity that an ant will always be an ant."

When Li Tianlong finally completed the full ritual of three kneels and nine kowtows, Qin Heng's figure appeared at the entrance of the villa estate. He looked down at Li Tianlong, still kneeling on the ground, and said indifferently, "Get up, ant. What do you want from me?"

Ant? He called me an ant!?

Hearing this epithet, Li Tianlong felt his blood boil, as if his head were about to explode. He nearly lost the last shred of his sanity and was on the verge of lashing out.

Fortunately, the young man beside him placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

Li Tianlong, still kneeling, said respectfully, "I humbly request Young Master Qin to adjourn to Yunqing Pavilion. I have matters to discuss with you there."

CLUNK!

The Servants who had accompanied him opened the car door for Qin Heng.

Qin Heng nodded, settled into the back seat, and then closed his eyes, seemingly in meditation, paying no further attention to anything else.

「In the Heaven Room of Yunqing Pavilion.」

Li Tianlong ushered Qin Heng in with a deferential attitude and then locked the door to the room. Once Qin Heng was seated, Li Tianlong's gaze suddenly turned sinister.

"Qin Heng, to be honest, I never imagined you'd be so arrogant, so utterly oblivious to the prospect of death!"

CLICK! CLICK!

The sound of handguns being cocked rang out. Li Tianlong's two black-clad bodyguards, now holding pistols, had moved to stand behind Qin Heng, suddenly aiming their muzzles at his head.