"Alright, Sophie, you look like something’s happened at home, hasn’t it? Is it the pharmaceutical plant, or the sales channels? I’ve actually been working on a new plan to expand the Su Group’s pharma business..." Ryan Ling noticed Sophie Su was clearly distracted, so he quickly grabbed her hand and said.
Hearing Ryan say this, Sophie’s eyes turned red and tears suddenly began to flow.
"What’s wrong? What happened?" As soon as Ryan saw Sophie cry, he instantly knew something was up. Angie Chen, who was beside them, was also stunned and hurried over.
"Sophie, what’s wrong? Who bullied you?"
"My uncle and his people suddenly came back. They found a powerful backer, and my grandpa was beaten by them last night..."
Hearing this, Ryan’s anger flared instantly. Sophie’s uncle, Victor Su, had already been kicked out of the Su family last time, and Samuel Su had strictly ordered them to leave Harbor City forever—if they ever came back, their legs would be broken on the spot.
Ryan remembered clearly that Victor Su was especially afraid of Samuel Su. If he dared come back, he must have some serious confidence this time.
"Who did he find as a backer?" Ryan asked urgently.
"He’s hooked up with the Azure Dragon Society, and not just anyone—the Pill Hall’s Hall Master, Vincent Wang. We can’t afford to mess with them!" Sophie said, glancing anxiously at Ryan. In her mind, even though Ryan had fought Azure Dragon Society people before, this time their opponent was a Hall Master—his power and influence were on another level entirely.
"I can afford it!" Ryan snorted coldly. He’d already stomped Logan Long, the Hall Master of the Mystery Hall, to death—why would he be afraid of the Pill Hall? Ryan knew perfectly well that Mystery Hall, Pill Hall, and Divine Martial Hall were all rotten to the core; not one of them was any good. If they dared to cause trouble, he’d show no mercy.
"Ryan!" Sophie stared blankly at Ryan Ling, then suddenly threw her arms around him. Honestly, she wanted revenge too, but didn’t dare cause trouble. Hearing Ryan sound so determined, she got all worked up—this was exactly the kind of tough boyfriend she wanted.
As she spoke, Sophie actually kissed him right then and there. Clearly, after so many days apart, the girl couldn’t hold back anymore.
Holding his girlfriend in his arms, Ryan couldn’t help but get a little drunk on the moment—and started kissing her back.
"Alright, you two, could you maybe spare a thought for the third wheel here?" Next to them, Angie Chen’s forehead veins were about to pop.
"Sorry, Angie, it’s just—we haven’t seen each other in days, so..." Sophie froze, instantly realizing Angie was right there, and quickly apologized.
"If you two want to get busy, at least wait till tonight, seriously!" Angie was clearly getting jealous.
Hearing that, Sophie’s face instantly turned pale. But then, as if thinking of something, she sighed, leaned in close to Angie, and whispered, "Angie, you don’t know—I actually want to do the real thing with him too, but you don’t get it, he... he’s got a bit of a premature problem!"
"What?" Angie shrieked, then immediately burst out laughing, practically doubling over.
"Sophie, have you lost your mind? You’re saying that in front of other people!" Ryan’s face turned green on the spot.
But Sophie looked like she actually had a point, huffing, "Angie’s not ‘other people’! When I was little, I told her all my secrets. What’s the big deal telling her this? Besides, maybe she has some remedy for you in the provincial capital!"
"Hey, you know what? My family really does have a secret remedy for men’s problems. Next time, I can take your boyfriend to get treated!" Angie Chen laughed even harder.
"Great! Awesome! Hurry up and take him!" Sophie chimed in enthusiastically.
"Little girl, with such a handsome boyfriend, aren’t you afraid your big sister might sneak a taste?" Angie teased.
"No worries! If you really want him, that’s his good luck. I’m not that petty!" Sophie snorted, totally clueless about the real situation.
Meanwhile, Ryan was shaking his head inside. With things going like this, he was definitely a lamb walking into a tiger’s den.
Angie was even more delighted now. No matter what, she insisted on going to Harbor City with Sophie to help teach a lesson to those bullies. The two girls each grabbed one of Ryan’s arms and marched straight out.
Ryan was totally speechless!
As they walked out of the cabin, all the Jiangnorth tycoons were stunned by the sight. Plenty of people started whispering. Sophie and Angie couldn’t hear, but Ryan’s sharp hearing picked up every word.
"Master Ling really is something, huh? In just a short time, he’s landed two beauties. Respect!"
"And Angie Chen is such a spitfire, but she’s actually willing to share. Master Ling is seriously impressive."
"And did you notice, Angie Chen is acting like the side chick—look, Master Ling is still holding the younger beauty! Man, this guy’s a real playboy. I’m impressed!"
...
Ryan’s inner world was collapsing completely!
...
Meanwhile, in a club villa in Harbor City, a few familiar faces were plotting. One of them was Sophie’s uncle, Victor Su, and another was her cousin Yvonne Su. The rest were three Deputy Hall Masters from the Azure Dragon Society Pill Hall.
"That beating felt great! Finally, that old bastard got what was coming to him. Trying to go up against the Azure Dragon Society? He must have a death wish!"
"Totally! Too bad that little bitch Sophie wasn’t there. If she was, I swear I’d have made her beg on her knees!"
Victor Su and Yvonne Su exchanged a satisfied smile, feeling especially pleased.
"Alright, teaching them a lesson isn’t the main thing. What matters is taking back Samuel Su’s market in Harbor City—and all of Jiangnan. Now that Stanley Hong is dead, we can’t let Pill Hall’s business get snatched by anyone else!"
"Exactly. If the Azure Dragon Society Pill Hall can’t even handle the Su family, we might as well disband. And besides the Su family, there’s that punk Ryan Ling—I heard he won the Seven-City Martial Arts Tournament, and a lot of people think he’s hot stuff."
"So what if people think he’s good? The only reason he won that championship is because the Wuzhou crew was useless—and most importantly, the Azure Dragon Society didn’t get involved. If we’d stepped in, him winning? Dream on!"
The three Deputy Hall Masters from Pill Hall all snorted coldly, strutting around with their noses in the air. Clearly, they didn’t take Ryan Ling seriously at all.
"Exactly! That kid won’t be jumping around much longer. I bet he’s already back in town—when he shows up, we’ll deal with him too. Once I take over the Su family, I’ll go all-in supporting Pill Hall!" Victor Su said smugly.
"Right. As long as you work with Pill Hall, Stanley Hong’s old spot in Harbor City is yours. You’ll be our Pill Hall agent in Harbor City!" one of the Deputy Hall Masters said with a grin.
"Absolutely, I’ll give it my all!" Victor Su nodded eagerly. Just then, a soft voice called out from inside the villa.
"Hall Master, your body’s acting up again. Please have Miss Yvonne Su come in."
"Go on, daughter, quick!" Victor Su urged.
"Alright, I’m going!" Yvonne Su bit her lip and headed straight into the inner room.
"Ha! Ever since the Hall Master started practicing Fire Control, the fire inside him is no joke!"
"No kidding. If Miss Yvonne Su didn’t help him cool off two or three times a day, the Hall Master’s downstairs would probably catch fire!"
"Forget catching fire, he’d explode! Old Su, you really did well with this daughter—keep working hard, and you’ll be the Hall Master’s father-in-law. We’ll all have to call you ‘sir’!"
"Oh, I wouldn’t dare!" Victor Su chuckled. The only reason he’d gotten in with Pill Hall was thanks to his daughter.
Just as he was thinking this, Yvonne Su’s earth-shaking cries came from the inner room.
...
Meanwhile, Ryan Ling, Angie Chen, and Sophie Su had returned to the Su family home. Inside, Samuel Su was lying on a bed, his body covered in whip marks. Liu Sitian was tending to him. After coming back from Wuzhou last time, she hadn’t returned to Peachvale County, but stayed with the Su family to recover. With the Su family in trouble, she couldn’t just stand by.
"Those people were outrageous—especially that woman, Yvonne Su. She beat Grandpa as soon as she arrived, totally wild and unfilial! She even said she’d come tomorrow to take our biggest pharmacy in town, and if we don’t move out, she’ll smash it!" Liu Sitian said, biting her lip, feeling wronged.
"That beast! Tomorrow I’ll personally sit in the pharmacy—let’s see if she dares smash it!" As the Su Group’s chairwoman, Sophie naturally had to lead the way.
But before she finished, Angie Chen suddenly sneered, "Sophie, you’re too soft. To deal with a ruthless bitch like her, you need me. I’ll show her what it means to wish she was never born!"
Ryan nodded slightly. When it came to dealing with someone like Yvonne Su, Angie Chen really was the best choice. If you wanted ‘ruthless,’ there was no one in East River State who could top her...