<h4>Chapter 1102: Chapter 1109: Ling Beichuan (1)</h4>


    "You’ve been with Zhu Hong for so long, don’t you know anything? Chu Huaiyang, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance."


    Chu Huaiyang smiled bitterly, "Even if you kill me, it won’t help. I really don’t know. You saw it just now, Zhu Hong ditched me and ran for his life on his own. Do you think I’d still cover for such a heartless person?"


    Hearing this, Ling Chen couldn’t help but nod. He had just witnessed Zhu Hong’s ruthlessness, abandoning even his ownpanion for his safety.


    "Beison, are you all okay?" Ling Chen asked with concern, looking at the approaching Beison.


    "We’re fine, just took a few punches, nothing serious."


    "That’s good. Help me escort him back." Ling Chen pointed at Chu Huaiyang and instructed.


    After cleaning the battlefield, Ling Chen returned to the third-floor room with a few people. Upon entering, he saw Song Mingzhe lying on the floor, blood all over his mouth. Surprisingly, his vitality was tough; even after such severe injuries, he was still breathing.


    Ling Chen checked Song Mingzhe’s injuries. Although several ribs in his chest were broken by Ling Chen, it wasn’t life-threatening. With timely treatment, he could survive. Ling Chen immediately ordered people to carry Song Mingzhe and drive him back to the base.


    On the way back, Hu Fei called to inquire about the situation. Learning that Zhu Hong was rescued, Hu Fei was quite surprised.


    "How’s that possible? Zhu Hong only had a few people like Chen Quan around him, no other hands. Besides, anyone who could rescue Zhu Hong from you must be quite formidable."


    "You’re right. I find it strange too. Who on earth did this?" Ling Chen frowned secretly. The man who had fought him earlier was around thirty, very skilled, with a powerparable to the fifth rank on the Earthly List. Moreover, from Zhu Hong’s expression at the time, it seemed he didn’t know the people who were rescuing him.


    After thinking for a while, Ling Chen said, "Fatty, help me find the whereabouts of that SUV, see if there’s any clue."


    "Understood."


    ...


    East Sea City’s downtown.


    A nondescript building, and at this moment, a sedan drove from the roadside and parked outside. As the car door opened, Zhu Hong got out with the driver. Looking at the building in front, Zhu Hong asked, "Where is this?"


    The driver didn’t speak, instead knocked on the door. Shortly, the door opened, and an old man in a Tang suit came out. Seeing the old man, the driver immediately became respectful.


    "Housekeeper Luo, this is Zhu Hong, the person the master wanted."


    The old man nodded and asked, "Is everything handled well?"


    "Rest assured, Housekeeper Luo, it’s all done. They won’t track here."


    "Very good. You’ve worked hard, go rest." The old man instructed, and the driver acknowledged, then drove away, leaving Zhu Hong alone at the door.


    The old man carefully observed Zhu Hong, then stepped aside and said, "Come in, the master is waiting for you inside."


    Zhu Hong was wary, but being in a vulnerable position, he had to obey. Although he didn’t know these people’s identities, his intuition told him they were not simple. Following Housekeeper Luo, Zhu Hong soon arrived at the second-floor living room.


    The living room wasn’trge, dimly lit, with a few single sofas against the wall. At this moment, an elderly man with white hair was sitting in a wheelchair, wearing an oxygen mask, with an IV stand beside him. From the elderly man’splexion, he didn’t seem well, probably suffering from a prolonged illness.


    Zhu Hong stood quietly by the side, not taking a seat. Housekeeper Luo also didn’t invite him to sit, instead standing behind the elderly man, lowering his head, as if awaiting instructions.


    After half an hour, the infusion wasplete. Housekeeper Luo helped remove the needle, then took off the oxygen mask, handing over a steaming cup of tea.


    The elderly man took two sips of water before turning his gaze to Zhu Hong. After a brief nce, he weakly said, "Sit down."


    Having stood for so long, Zhu Hong’s legs were almost numb. Seeing the elderly man speak, he didn’t refuse and sat directly on a single sofa.


    "Do you know why I saved you?" the elderly man asked.


    "I don’t know."


    "Because of Ling Chen. Aren’t you curious about my identity?"


    Zhu Hong nodded. Indeed, he was very curious about the other party’s background. On the way, he kept guessing, but had no clues.


    "My name is Ling Beichuan."


    Upon hearing this name, Zhu Hong’s pupils constricted, and he said in a deep voice, "You’re from the Ling Family?"


    "Yes. The reason I brought you here is to let you hold Ling Chen in check. If you die, I’d have to find someone else, which is too troublesome. Besides, there’s an existing feud between you and Ling Chen, making you the most suitable person."


    "You want me to help you deal with Ling Chen?"


    Ling Beichuan said indifferently, "If you can deal with Ling Chen, that would be a good thing. Unfortunately, you’re not his match, and I didn’t expect you to kill him. I brought you here mainly to be a distraction, to create some trouble for Ling Chen, so he has no time for other matters."


    Being looked down upon made Zhu Hong very unhappy, but he couldn’t refute. With his current strength, he couldn’t possibly contend with Ling Chen. Previously, with a Heavenly List master like Chen Quan as his support, now with Ji Gang by Ling Chen’s side, his advantage disappeared instantly.


    After pondering for a moment, Zhu Hong spoke, "I can help you deal with Ling Chen, but we need to discuss the terms of cooperation."


    Upon saying this, Housekeeper Luo, who had been silent, slightly raised the corners of his mouth with a mocking smile.


    Cooperation?


    What a self-important guy.


    Ling Beichuan looked seriously at Zhu Hong, saying word by word, "Do you think... you’re qualified to talk about cooperation with me? You’re alive because you still have some use. Otherwise, there’s no need for me to send people to rescue you from Ling Chen. Zhu Hong, remember, the reason I let you stay is that I need a dog by my side. Do you... understand what I mean?"


    Zhu Hong said nothing, yet his eyes hidden behind the mask glowed with a chilling Yin Qi.


    A dog?


    This was the most insulting thing he had ever heard. The other party only regarded him as a dog, not a partner, because he wasn’t qualified. No wonder Housekeeper Luo showed such a ridiculous expression, because his earlier proposal was a joke.


    Seeing Zhu Hong’s silence, Housekeeper Luo spoke up, "Zhu Hong, you should feel fortunate. Not everyone qualifies to be the master’s dog. Being chosen by the master is your blessing. As long as you do well, even a dog can have unlimited potential. Don’t you... want to return to the way you were before?"