Dongzi and the other two headed straight for the hotel entrance. Just as they walked inside, Zhou Huan’s car slowly pulled up to the curb outside the hotel, found a parking spot, and stopped.
“Master, why are we following Dongzi? Didn't he say he had an engagement to attend tonight?” Shi Bingyuan asked Zhou Huan.
Zhou Huan’s lips curled up, and he smiled faintly. “We don’t have much else going on anyway. Following Dongzi tonight is just to see if the guy has truly made any friends, to see how he handles things. If this fellow stirs up trouble again, we’ll be here to smooth things over for him. Otherwise, this impulsive guy is capable of doing anything.”
As the two were chatting, a cold gust of wind, seemingly from nowhere, swept past the car, following Dongzi and his two companions up to the private room on the third floor.
Zhou Huan felt a sudden chill, and Shi Bingyuan reacted immediately, guessing, “Master, do you think the matter of the foreman’s death is connected to Dongzi, or perhaps Dongzi can help us find some clues?”
Zhou Huan smiled faintly again, and a strange voice remarked, “Bingyuan, let’s follow them up. We’ll ask which room they are in, and we can have a decent meal ourselves tonight.”
Shi Bingyuan was older, and he didn't have much desire for fine dining or drinking, but since Zhou Huan suggested it, he felt he had to follow his master up to take a look.
As soon as Zhou Huan reached the third floor, he asked the floor attendant, “The group of two women and one man who just came up to this floor—which room are they in?”
“Room 319. And you are?” the attendant asked, showing surprise.
Zhou Huan smiled and inquired, “Is the room next to 319 occupied?”
“Uh, well, it seems like all the rooms are occupied!”
“Oh, that’s fine. Please take me there. I have an urgent matter, and I need to dine in the room beside theirs!” When Zhou Huan said this, the attendant became flustered. This was pure nonsense; it was obvious he was trying to commandeer a table. The other guests hadn't even had dinner yet, and besides...
Before the attendant could react fully, Zhou Huan glanced around quickly and then headed toward room 320, right next to 319. The attendant tried to block him from behind, but Shi Bingyuan understood Zhou Huan’s intent and prevented the attendant from getting close by flanking him. The attendant truly got anxious, calling the main desk to find the manager and threatening to call security.
Zhou Huan’s face maintained only that unwavering, supremely confident smile—a smile that was truly difficult to fathom. Perhaps only someone of a master level could achieve such composure.
Shi Bingyuan knew what Zhou Huan wanted. After ensuring Dongzi’s room showed no anomalies and the door was firmly shut, he turned and knocked twice on the door of room 320 before pushing it open and stepping inside.
As Zhou Huan entered, he first bowed deeply and said in a low voice, “Gentlemen, Zhou Huan needs to borrow this space today. I wonder what your intentions are. Give me one hour, and I will cover all your meal costs today!”
After Zhou Huan spoke these words, the room suddenly fell silent. The strong aroma of alcohol still saturated the air above them. When Zhou Huan straightened up from his bow, what greeted his eyes were seven or eight men, bare-chested, heavily tattooed with dragons and tigers. Among them was one woman, quite fair and delicate, wearing a thin camisole, her shoulders and back covered in gaudy, elaborate patterns.
One of the men, clearly drunk—perhaps to the point where he wouldn't recognize his own father—shouted loudly, “Hey, kid at the door, where did you crawl out from? Be careful I blow you away!”
Zhou Huan realized from the way they spoke that they were likely not local; they sounded like people from the Shenyang area. But seeing their menacing demeanor, glaring at him, Zhou Huan understood the situation clearly: he would have to take this place by force.
“Gentlemen, all I ask is to borrow this space. I don’t intend to spoil your pleasant evening, but rather to ensure your safety.” The moment Zhou Huan said this, five or six of the men instantly stood up, clutching their beer bottles like weapons.
One man with a shaved head scoffed, “Who the hell are you, kid? My brothers and I just want a good meal here today, no blood, no trouble. Wise up and get lost, or I’ll make sure you leave here carried out horizontally tonight.”
“Gentlemen, please calm down!” After speaking, Zhou Huan pulled out a thousand Yuan note from his pocket and tossed it onto the table. “I’ll cover the bill. Take this thousand Yuan and find another room to continue your drinking spree. How about that?”
“Don't play games with us!” As soon as the words fell, a beer bottle whizzed straight toward Zhou Huan.
Shi Bingyuan immediately slammed the door shut. Zhou Huan lifted his right leg high and delivered a powerful downward axe kick, shattering the bottle into fragments. He then stood perfectly straight again and smiled, “Gentlemen, I am serious. I truly want to ensure your safety, otherwise, some unusual spiritual events might occur shortly, and it will be difficult to manage when more people are involved.”
The five or six men who had risen suddenly charged toward Zhou Huan. Just then, an older man sitting in the middle of the table spoke loudly, “Stop! What did he say his name was just now?”
“Something like ‘Huan’,” someone mumbled.
“My name is Zhou Huan! Zhou Huan of Andong Fushou Hall!” Zhou Huan repeated his identity clearly.
The man inside suddenly brightened, “You’re that Zhou Huan who deals with the dead? The close buddy of Old Wang from Andong?”
“Exactly!” Hearing them say that, Zhou Huan felt relieved. They must know him or know Mr. Wang. This made things much easier.
Shi Bingyuan guarded the door, with one man constantly watching him. However, Shi Bingyuan paid him no mind; both he and Zhou Huan were highly skilled martial artists whose reflexes and capabilities far surpassed ordinary people.
The man who had questioned Zhou Huan earlier nodded, smiled, and said, “Looks like enemies always cross paths.” Then, a glint of cold steel flashed behind him as he drew a long broadsword and shouted, “Brothers, get him!”
The seven or eight people, each wielding a weapon, pressed in on Zhou Huan and Shi Bingyuan. After a fierce brawl that lasted less than five minutes, Zhou Huan stood panting heavily on the floor. “Honestly, not exercising every day really shows. Just eight people, and one woman, and it was this tiring.”
“Master, I think we really need to step up our training sessions. These guys weren’t much, but we never know when we’ll cross paths with our enemies again,” Shi Bingyuan grumbled.
Looking at the floor, all eight opponents were crouched down, none daring to stand up and face Zhou Huan directly. Especially the one who seemed to be the leader, whose mouth was murmuring and hissing in pain.
Zhou Huan pulled up the man’s arm and gave it a sharp twist. A sound erupted from the joint, and the man instantly stopped hurting.
“Brother, my touch was too heavy; please forgive me. I don't know what enmity I have with you. Next time, I promise to gather everyone, and I will host a banquet. You must eat and drink your fill!” Zhou Huan then slipped his business card into the leader’s coat pocket, followed by the thousand Yuan note, helped him put his shirt on, and said, “Brother, stop playing gangster games. Nowadays, harmony is key. I truly needed this room for a purpose. Why bring trouble upon ourselves? Please call me if you have time!”
At first, the leader dared not accept the money, but when Zhou Huan insisted on stuffing it in, he reluctantly tucked it into his pocket. After taking his clothes and gathering his men, they slunk away shamefacedly. After leaving, they settled their own table bill, ordered a full spread of dishes for Zhou Huan, and then had the attendant return the thousand Yuan to Zhou Huan. They then drove their car away from Wanlixiang.
Remarkably, although Zhou Huan and Shi Bingyuan had beaten up seven or eight men, the room itself showed almost no damage, save for two broken beer bottles. They called the attendant to help clear the table and serve the food. The master and disciple were indeed hungry. After eating their fill, Shi Bingyuan asked, “Master, have Dongzi and the others left?”