Chapter 60 Don't Cross Me

The VIP lounge of the Anthony Hotel was in complete disarray, thanks to the actions of Zhou De and Qin Chao. Li Chao's wailing had finally attracted the attention of the lobby manager.

This man, dressed in a black suit, stared aghast at the VIP lounge that was practically in ruins. His expression was quite the spectacle. It seemed like he was on the verge of bursting into tears.

"I'll cover all of today's damages," Su Ji said, relieving the manager who slumped against the wall, visibly relieved.

"As for this gentleman, Mr. Li, he has been injured by the thug who came in with him. You should report this immediately and don't forget to call an ambulance."

Qin Chao lit a Red River cigarette for himself, patting Li Chao, who was curled up on the ground next to him. "Isn't that right, Mr. Li?"

"Y-yes..." Li Chao's face was completely drained of blood. He probably realized that there were things in this world that he should not have messed with. Both Zhou De and Qin Chao, had a hundred ways to kill him.

"Good. I'll get to it right away," the lobby manager replied, finally noticing the blood on Li Chao's hand. He asked with some panic, "Mr. Li, are you alright?"

"Don't worry, he won't die," Qin Chao chuckled, "But if you don't get that ambulance here soon, he might bleed to death."

"Damn it, go now!" Li Chao, horrified at the prospect of dying, chilled to the bone, yelled at the manager who scampered downstairs in a hurry.

"Mr. Li, don't forget our agreement today," Qin Chao said, squatting down and, ignoring the sickening smell of blood, patted Li Chao's face. "It wasn't me who hurt you, but that so-called master of yours. It really makes one wonder how you got mixed up with such a thug."

"I..." Li Chao was filled with resentment. His injury was clearly Qin Chao's doing, yet he washed his hands off it. Never had he, a prestigious young master, been so unjustly treated. His eyes flickered with a hint of malice.

"Heh, it seems you're a bit dissatisfied." Qin Chao's eyes suddenly ignited with green flames, his face covered with black scales. At the same time, the arm resting on Li Chao's shoulder morphed into a monstrous claw.

"That leaves us with one other option," Qin Chao said ominously, "It might be simpler to kill you and blame it on your 'master'. Only the dead, who can't speak, can truly be trusted."

"Don't, don't kill me!" Sensing the murderous intent radiating from Qin Chao, Li Chao panicked, backing up against the wall, and roared, "I, I will definitely not tell anyone!"

"I trust the dead more."

At this ominous statement from Qin Chao, he lunged forward, aiming a punch at Li Chao's head.

"Ahh!" Li Chao instinctively ducked, and Qin Chao's fist landed on the wall above him. With a loud bang, dust filled the air, covering the already disheveled Li Chao with debris.

Qin Chao's punch had gone right through the wall, and Li Chao could feel the cold of the hole above him.

Feeling the chill, he suddenly felt his pants become wet.

"Missed...?" Qin Chao pulled his arm out of the wall, his clenched fist cracking ominously, "Let's go again. This time, hold still. It'll be quick. The feeling of having your head explode from a punch is truly invigorating, like a watermelon being smashed. In an instant, your brains would be splattered all over the place. Don't be afraid, it's quite amusing. Have you ever seen spilled milk? Exactly like that. Come on, relax, it won't hurt, I'll be quick."

As he spoke, Qin Chao wiped his fist and gave Li Chao a huge grin.

Li Chao's dignity was completely destroyed, and his courage was utterly shattered. He pleaded with a raspy voice.

"Let me go, I don't know anything! I don't know you, I've never seen you!"

"Good, keep it that way." Qin Chao nodded in satisfaction. "If the police give me any trouble, rest assured, I have a thousand ways to escape from the police station and find you, to let you experience the sensation of brain splatter."

"I swear on my family, if I tell anyone, my entire family will meet with calamity."

Though not particularly fond of such oaths, Qin Chao stood up contentedly, clapping his hands, and said to Su Ji, "Done."

"Really, this whole meal was ruined, I'm not even full." Su Ji rubbed her flat belly, pouting.

"Invite me to another meal." Qin Chao proposed with a jovial tone, "How about the barbecue on East Street? A hundred bucks is enough for both of us to eat our fill."

"Okay then, let's hit East Street!"

The two of them disregarded the limp Li Chao on the ground and went downstairs to kickstart their vintage bike, leaving the chaotic scene of Anthony Hotel stylishly.

Soon, ambulances and police cars surrounded the Anthony Hotel.

The head of the criminal police, Luo Hao, personally led the team and cordoned off the crime scene at the Anthony Hotel.

"Li Chao, what happened to you?" Luo Hao had known Li Chao since his younger years when he had just joined the police force, and Li Fumin was merely the team captain.

He had a good private relationship with Li Chao, and seeing him in such a pitiful state, he couldn't help but frown.

"No...nothing..." To his surprise, this vindictive man with a petty temperament didn't reveal the name of the one who had humiliated him so.

Something was off. Luo Hao started to scheme. If he could catch the person who humiliated Li Chao, and Li Chao was satisfied, maybe when Li Fumin became chief, he might become deputy chief.

So, he found the hotel's lobby manager and began to inquire about what happened.

"A man dressed in black assaulted Mr. Li, then escaped through a window."

"A man in black? Where did this man in black come from?" Luo Hao frowned, "Does your hotel often host unidentified people?"

"No, he came with Mr. Li. Mr. Li said he was a friend."

"Li Chao's friend?" Luo Hao felt increasingly confused, the situation even more complicated. "Besides him, were there any other suspicious individuals? Who else did Li Chao interact with tonight?"

"Nobody else." The lobby manager quickly shook his head. He didn't mention Su Ji, as she had promised to cover the repairs for the VIP floor. If anything happened to Miss Su, and no one paid for the repairs, the hotel's chairman would have his head.

It was a responsibility he couldn't bear.

"Okay, that's it for now. If there are any developments or you remember Li Chao interacting with anyone else, you must inform me immediately."

Handling a case with no leads and a silent victim, Luo Hao could only hastily disband his team. From the big 113 case to today's assault on Li Chao at the Anthony Hotel, Luo Hao vaguely felt that a demon was lurking in the darkness of this city, ready to stir up chaos at any moment.

Luo Hao believed his mission was to unearth this hidden demon.

The night wind was somewhat cold; he tightened his police uniform collar and climbed into the police car.

Meanwhile, the instigator was on the bustling corner of East Street with a beautiful girl, enjoying beers and devouring skewers.

"This is the best, satisfying and stress-free!" Qin Chao declared.

"Indeed, I quite like this feeling..." Su Ji's words were slightly slurred due to the alcohol. "When I was little, my brother used to work and save money to take me and my sister out for food... but now, he doesn't like us anymore, he even despises us... I really want to go back to those days... Although we were poor, my brother and sister were very good to me... Brother, why do you like gambling now..."

Hearing Su Ji's words, Qin Chao couldn't help but frown. So Su Ji had a brother, and it seemed their relationship was strained. The recent series of incidents targeting Su Ji had put Qin Chao on alert. On TV, there were too many stories of siblings turning against each other over family wealth.

A pile of skewer sticks had already accumulated before them, and Su Ji had been steadily drinking. Her face was flushed, making her look both adorable and enchanting.

This part of East Street wasn't very safe at night, and Su Ji's beauty was already drawing unwanted attention.

Finally, a group of three or four thugs could no longer resist. They put down their beers and walked over, laughing and jeering.

"Hey, man, it's quite late, and you're here with a beauty, isn't that a bit inappropriate?" A skinny guy with dyed yellow hair approached, his breath reeking of alcohol, "How about we keep you company?"

"Scram." Qin Chao responded coolly without turning his head.

"Damn, you're really cocky!" The yellow-haired guy, unhappy with the response, extended his hand and put it on Qin Chao's shoulder.

"Slap!"

"Ah!" The yellow-haired guy howled in pain. There was a skewer stuck in his hand. Qin Chao, unfazed, continued to pour beer into his glass and said to the shopkeeper,

"Boss, give me ten more skewers of fat and lean, and two lamb chops! These are cold, please heat them up for me."

"Alright, alright, just a moment." The shop owner was also startled, nervously taking the skewers, afraid that the metal stick would pierce his hand next. But Qin Chao gave him a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to skip out on the bill. Someone else is treating."

"No worry, no worry." The shop owner thought, ‘Not that I dare.’

"Ah! Ah! He's killing someone!" The yellow-haired guy's hand was spurting blood, his yelps of pain filling the air. His companions were all in a panic, running around aimlessly. Some suggested taking him to the hospital, others said to find a small clinic and get it over with.

"If you all keep dawdling, he'll die." Qin Chao casually said as he took a lamb chop from the owner.

Only then did they notice that the yellow-haired guy had passed out from blood loss. They quickly hailed a taxi and rushed towards the hospital.

"They're notorious ruffians around here. Young man, you'd be wise to leave early." The shop owner kindly advised. "You're with your girlfriend, too. If they get their hooks into you, it will be disastrous."

"Don't worry, I'm curious to see what they can do to me." Qin Chao felt himself becoming more violent, more bloodthirsty. He gave a smile to the owner, who was startled enough to jump.

What kind of person was this? Could he be a murderer who had escaped from somewhere?