“Order food? You think I, Lord Gong, would come to a pigsty like this to eat? You really think highly of yourself!”
“Let me be clear, I’m here to find someone, a man named Ma Sanlaizi. I heard he often comes here to drink, is that right?”
Lord Gong, though young, spoke with brazen arrogance. If it weren’t for giving the proprietress some face, the moment he mentioned “pigsty,” the crowd would likely have hurled benches at him.
The proprietress seemed wary of this man’s background. Even hearing such disrespectful words, she responded with a smile.
“Lord Gong, you may not know, but Ma Sanlaizi used to come here to drink last year. This year, for some reason, he’s only shown up a few times, and I haven’t seen him.”
As the proprietress spoke, an old man near Xu Fei’s table subtly shifted his frail frame behind a pillar.
Hell’s Ear, perhaps out of curiosity, couldn’t help but glance over. The old man immediately snapped in a low, angry voice.
“You little brat, go back to your meal! Didn’t your family teach you not to stare?”
Hell’s Ear, feeling he hadn’t provoked anyone, was caught off guard by the sudden scolding. Unable to hold back, he slapped the table and retorted.
“Hey, old man, what’s with the attitude? I just looked at you, is that worth cursing me over?”
As Hell’s Ear spoke, the old man was mortified, but he didn’t dare move, silently praying Lord Gong hadn’t heard.
Unfortunately, by sheer coincidence, the conversation between the proprietress and Lord Gong at the counter had just ended.
Lord Gong didn’t fully believe the proprietress’s claim that Ma Sanlaizi hadn’t been around.
He knew she was likely just trying to avoid trouble and not offend either side, which was why she said that.
So, Lord Gong and his men turned their attention to the hall, scanning the area.
And at that very moment, Lord Gong caught the commotion between the old man and Hell’s Ear.
“An old man? Let’s go check it out!”
Lord Gong slapped the counter and promptly led his group over.
“Lord Gong! Isn’t that Ma Sanlaizi? Damn, he’s hiding behind the pillar! No wonder we couldn’t find him!”
As soon as Lord Gong’s men arrived, they immediately spotted the old man, confirming he was indeed the Ma Sanlaizi they were after.
Lord Gong sneered, casting a cold glance at the old man cowering by the pillar.
“Ma Sanlaizi, you’re so capable, escaping from the Gong family. Why’d you stop running?”
Ma Sanlaizi, trembling, stammered.
“Lord Gong, this, this is a misunderstanding! I’m just a lowly locksmith, only good for fixing door locks and such. The task you gave me was far too difficult, I couldn’t complete it, so I fled out of desperation!”
But Lord Gong suddenly erupted in anger.
“Enough nonsense! Others might not know, but I do. In all of Tianjin, you’re the only one who can open that box. Take him back now!”
At Lord Gong’s command, his men rolled up their sleeves, pulled out ropes, and swiftly bound Ma Sanlaizi tightly. Then, they brazenly escorted him out of Fengtian Tower.
“Lord Gong, safe travels! Come back soon!”
After they left, the proprietress’s expression darkened noticeably.
