Time seemed to have slowed down as Lin Hui's words circulated inside Tao Meng's head. He stares at the eyes of the man whose face is hidden behind the motorcycle helmet.
Tao Meng could tell from a glance that Lin Hui's word shouldn't be taken lightly.
His Adam's apple bobs in motion as he swallows a hard gulp. It was as if he was trying to get rid of all emotions inside him.
After a long minute, time returned to its usual pace, and his mouth opened to speak.
"Why are you here?"
Ever since Fate came to Red Moon and gave a warning, he hasn't caused any trouble. He even made sure his men were in place, and the thought of wanting Han Yue Ling never crossed his mind again.
"I don't know what business you have here, but it has nothing to do with Red Moon."
His words fell as the members of Red Moon looked at Lin Hui.
They didn't need to question their boss's fear as they felt the same fear crawl within their bodies.
They don't know Lin Hui, but the moment he mentioned their fate, everyone knew he meant business.
Lin Hui knew his words had struck everyone to the core. He sneers at how easy these people were quick to change their attitude.
If he had been an actual stranger, there was no doubt he would be dead.
However, pushing his thoughts aside, he moves his gun from Jia Lin and points at Liu Peng.
"I will ask you again. Do you know this man?"
Tao Meng did not get angry at Lin Hui for disregarding his questions.
He glances down at Liu Peng. Due to the man's blood loss from getting shot in the leg, Liu Peng was passed out on the ground.
His eyes shift back to Lin Hui. He shakes his head without the need to think twice about his answer.
"No. That man is not affiliated with us."
His behavior and the intense look in his eyes made it seem like he was telling the truth. Anyone would have believed him, but that wasn't the case for Lin Hui.
He (Lin Hui) knew that Tao Meng was lying through his teeth.
"I see."
He makes a small chuckle like he understood and believed the man's words.
His shoulders motion up then down, and he sighs.
"It seems like you do know what's good for you and your men."
His hand holding the gun, lowers and walks over to Liu Peng. He stops in front of the unconscious man and raises his right leg. The tip of his foot lightly pats the man's cheek.
"This man's fate belongs to us. He crossed a line he shouldn't have."
He stares down at Liu Peng with eyes void of any emotions. He moves his foot away and slightly turns his head back to the leader of Red Moon.
"Anyone who helps this man will share the same fate."
His cold eyes and dangerous aura sent a chill down Tao Meng's spine. He Shivers with fear but maintains his calm not to let his men notice.
"You have my word."
Lin Hui got the answer he wanted and turned around. He calmly walks to his motorcycle like a man taking a stroll in the park.
"Fate, will you hold you on that then."
He gets on his motorcycle, and the engine loudly revs as he turns it on. He puts the shield of his helmet in place, but he sends a glance at Tao Meng before doing so.
As he drives away, all eyes are glued to him. It wasn't until he was out of sight that multiple heads turned to look at their boss.
"Boss, what is going on?"
"That man mentioned fate. Is he from Fate?"
"Fate? You mean that savage gang that almost killed us all?"
A commotion broke out as each member of Red Moon voiced their thoughts about what had happened.
However, Tao Meng turned deaf to his men.
He continued to stare in the direction Lin Hui had gone. Even when the man was no longer in view, he couldn't look away.
"Boss."
Jia Lin's voice brought him back to his senses. He finally averts his gaze from where Lin Hui was to his right-hand man, then the rest of his men.
He could see confusion and fear lingering in their faces.
"Everyone back inside."
Hearing his command, some understood in fear of Fate while the rest burn with rage. One member came forward with his hand grip tightly on his gun.
"Boss, why should we ignore this? He trespassed in our territory. We could have killed him. He was
alone. No one would have known we did it."
Tao Meng glares at the man while Jia Lin grabs the man by the neck.
"Are you asking for death?"
Jia Lin's grip tightens as he chokes one of his brothers.
"If you want to die, then do it alone. Don't drag us with you."
He was lucky to have made it out alive. He knew that if he had moved in the tiniest way, Lin Hui would have killed him.
Even with everyone here, he (Lin Hui) showed no fear.
"That's enough. Let him go."
Tao Meng orders as he pinches the space between his eyebrows. He heaves a long sigh and looks at the man.
"You are right. He was alone, and killing him was easy since he was outnumbered. No one would have known it was us."
He takes a few steps toward the man, and his following words put all thoughts of killing Lin Hui aside.
"But don't forget. He is with Fate."
He stops in front of the man with eyes that could kill a person.
"Just like how you think it is easy to kill him, it is easy for Fate to kill everyone in Red Moon."
Word had once spread throughout the underworld about how a gang that was destroyed for crossing the line with Fate.
"If he died, we won't be able to survive in this world, let alone even think of hiding."
If he or his men had harmed Lin Hui, even put a tiny scratch on him, it would be the end of Red Moon.
And for that, he will not let Red Moon go into ruins.
He heaves a sigh again and takes a step back. He turns away and walks in the direction of Red Moon.
"No one is to make a move. Is that clear?"
"Yes, boss."
Everyone quickly agreed as no one wanted to die at the hands of Fate.
"Boss, what about him?"
As Tao Meng walked away, Jia Lin's question stopped him in his tracks. He (Tao Meng) turns his head to the side enough to look at the person in question.
Liu Peng.
He ponders for a quick second, then continues on his way.
He knows that Lin Hui knew he was lying about knowing Liu Peng.
"Leave him. From this moment on, Red Moon has nothing to do with him."
It was a pity that he had to ignore Liu Peng. The man owes a hefty amount of money to Red Moon and is easy to monopolize. However, he already gave his word.
If he had said he knew Liu Peng, it would have been the end of Red Moon. His only option left was not to know him.
Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath as he enters the 7-story building along with his men.
When he reached the front door, he was taken aback by Ling Ni. The woman was just standing there like a bystander observing the scene.
"What are you doing outside?"
Ling Ni had her head turned, facing the direction Lin Hui had gone. She was in a daze, but when she heard Tao Meng's voice, she came out of her zone and looked at the man.
Her brown eyes met his, and she sweetly smiled at him with a worried face.
"You were gone for too long. I was scared something might have had happened, so I came to find you."
Tao Meng didn't respond right away but stared at her. He observed her expression as if trying to read her mind.
When he didn't find any suspicion in her, he approached her and placed his arm over her shoulder.
"When I tell you to stay inside and wait, do it. You know I don't like it when others defy my order."
Ling Ni's expression turned apologetic with her head lowered, and Tao Meng sighed when he saw.
"Let's go inside. There's nothing to see out here."
He leads her inside with his subordinates a few steps behind.
Right now, he just wants to get rid of any fear that is still lingering inside him.
Ling Ni didn't push him away but kept her thoughts to herself. She glanced outside the door before being led inside.
As the street became clear of the members of Red Moon, only a bloody and unconscious Liu Peng was left alone.
In the distance away from Red Moon, Lin Hui drives further away. Once he was out of the underworld, he made a phone call.
"Boss, where are you?"
["I'm with Jianan. We just left the hospital and are now on our way to meet Liu Shan, Liu Ye, and Liu Jingyi."]
Yue ling's voice sounds from the other line, and Lin Hui smiles under the helmet.
"Ah, I see. Send me the location. I'll meet you there."
[ "Where is he?"]
Hearing the question, Lin Hui knew who she was referring to, and his smile widened.
"Still alive for now."
A mysterious light reflects across the shield of his helmet.
"But his fate is broken."
No longer having his most substantial backing, Liu Peng is walking on eggshells.
No one will help him, and he will feel hopeless.
However, this is only the beginning for him.
