Chapter 284: Don’t Blame Me For Not Holding Back

Shortly after the match, the Red Flag High School team and their cheer squad boarded their new bus and left Quanye High School. Before they left, Tsukiha Yaiba gave Li Xiaofei her contact information.

"Whenever you think of your request, just contact me," she said honestly.

She had returned to the arena before the team battle ended. Her dizziness was a recurring ailment, so she had gotten used to it. Li Xiaofei accepted her contact information and left with his schoolmates.

Red Flag High School held a post-match reception dinner at the Qingya Pavilion Hotel, inviting commentators, journalists, and some of the event staff. It was a league tradition. Red Flag High School had never held a reception before because of their lack of funds. But now, they could. It was also a chance to promote the school and the Great Xia martial lineage, and building relationships with the media was essential.

As the dinner began, Tan Qingying arrived at Qingya Pavilion on her heavy motorcycle.

"Congratulations, idol." She greeted Li Xiaofei with a big hug.

Their relationship was already known to their teammates. However, this was the first time the media and streamers were witnessing it, and the cameras immediately started flashing. It was clear what tomorrow's headlines would be about. After all, one was now the biggest star in the high school league and the other was the city leader's daughter. The fact that these two were together was guaranteed to be a sensational story.

"Why are you here?" Li Xiaofei asked, surprised. "Weren't you supposed to be with your family's guests?"

Tan Qingying wrinkled her nose adorably and let out a playful hum, smiling brightly. She said, "Being with them isn't as important as being with you. I snuck out."

Li Xiaofei felt a wave of warmth and gratitude.

"But with that hug just now," He teased, "Our relationship will be known throughout the entire city."

Her eyes curved into crescents as she grinned at him, "I want the whole world to know that I'm yours and you're mine."

Li Xiaofei gently took her small, cold hand in his.

"Alright, enough with the show," Bai Longfei chimed in, perfectly timing his interruption. "At this rate, we won't even need dinner. We're already stuffed with your PDA."

Everyone around burst into laughter. The reception dinner proceeded smoothly, full of lighthearted moments and camaraderie. After the event ended, Li Xiaofei hopped onto Tan Qingying's heavy motorcycle, and the two of them broke away from the group, heading off on their own.

Vroom!

The motorcycle roared down the road, cutting through the night. The winter snow was still slowly melting away, but the night wind was bitterly cold. Li Xiaofei released his inner energy to shield Tan Qingying from the harsh cold.

"Where to?" He shouted over the roar of the engine.

"To your place," She replied with a smile.

"Alright."

Li Xiaofei twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle sped up instantly.

They soon arrived at the slum, but the entrance to the street was blocked by a steel barricade. There were about twenty fully armed martial artists from the Starry Sky Hotel guarding the area.

"What’s going on?" Li Xiaofei asked as he stopped the bike.

"Starry Sky Hotel business, get lost if you don't want trouble," barked a warrior who seemed to be the captain. He glanced condescendingly at Li Xiaofei before impatiently adding, "I’m An Guangyuan, captain of the Starry Sky Hotel inspection team. Who the hell are you? Move along and don’t cause any trouble."

Anger flared up inside Li Xiaofei.

I’m at my own doorstep, and some wild dogs dare to block my way?

Boom!

He threw a punch without another word. The force of his fist exploded like a dragon, instantly blowing apart the barricade in front of the entrance.

Boom!

The motorcycle's exhaust roared as the two sped through and into the slums.

"How dare you?! Someone, report this to Captain Zhen immediately!" The captain shouted furiously, his voice shaking with rage.

***

"What's the deal with those Starry Sky Hotel people outside?" Li Xiaofei asked.

Li Junjie was clearly incensed as he replied, "Boss, they're deliberately causing trouble. They’re accusing us of illegal activities. Three different groups came earlier today and took a few of our Incense Masters for interrogation. They’ve locked down the whole slum and aren’t letting anyone in or out. Oh, and the guy in charge, Zhen Jiahui, left a number, saying you should call when you got back."

Li Junjie handed over a slip of paper that had Zhen Jiahui's contact information.

"I see," Li Xiaofei waved him off.

Li Junjie quickly exited the room, leaving only Li Xiaofei and Tan Qingying inside.

"Need me to get some people to help?" Tan Qingying offered. "Starry Sky Hotel interfering with gang affairs is overstepping their bounds. There's a way to deal with this."

Li Xiaofei smiled and replied, "A man should handle his own problems."

He pulled out a mini light core. "Let me make a call first."

After a moment, the LightChat call connected.

"Hello? What’s up?" came the voice of Teacher Li Zhoumin.

"Hello, Teacher! How have you been? It’s been a while since we last talked, I’ve missed you," Li Xiaofei said with a grin.

"You rascal, if you’re calling me this late, you must need something. Speak up," Li Zhoumin replied, a hint of joy in his voice.

"Teacher, you're always spot on," Li Xiaofei laughed. He then explained the situation with the Starry Sky Hotel causing trouble and finished, "This Zhen Jiahui keeps making things difficult for me, and I suspect Inspector Wu Fohai is pulling the strings from behind."

"So it seems Wu Fohai has chosen to side with the Gu family," Li Zhoumin said after a brief moment. "I’ve heard about what you’ve been doing in the base city. You’ve done well, and as your teacher, I’m proud. I have only one thing to say, go all out, and if anything happens, I’ll take responsibility for you."

Wow. You wouldn't find a teacher like this in five hundred years.

Li Xiaofei was overjoyed and replied, "Got it, Teacher. Don’t worry, I won’t let you down."

After hanging up the phone, Li Xiaofei’s spirits were instantly lifted.

Tan Qingying, leaning against his back, asked, "All sorted?"

Li Xiaofei turned, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her forehead. "Yes, it's handled. Now that I have the teacher’s backing, I can act without hesitation."

Tan Qingying, wrapping her arms around his neck, asked softly, "If I leave Liuhe Base City, would you miss me?"

Li Xiaofei smiled, "Of course, I’d miss you day and night, and then I’d come find you."

Tan Qingying laughed joyfully and leaned in to kiss him. Their relationship had progressed rapidly since that night at Old Chen's Offal Shop. Li Xiaofei eagerly returned the kiss.

The phone rang. Li Xiaofei declined it, but a second later, it rang again. He declined once more, but it rang yet again.

"Who the hell keeps calling at a time like this?" Li Xiaofei muttered angrily, but since it might be something important, he freed one hand to grab his mini light core.

The number was unfamiliar but he answered it.

"Hello?"

"Heh heh heh, President Li, you seem to have quite the patience. It's so late, and yet you haven’t bothered to call me." A sneering voice came through the phone. It was Zhen Jiahui.

"Say what you need to say and spare me the nonsense," Li Xiaofei snapped, clearly irritated.

"Well, I have some bad news for you," Zhen Jiahui said coldly. "During our interrogation of your Incense Masters, we uncovered evidence of numerous heinous crimes committed by your organization over the past few years. It’s truly shocking. You have one hour to come down and provide an explanation for these actions."

So, this is what it was about.

Cloudy Sky Gang had been one of the cleanest groups in the slums ever since the days of Zhong Yuanshan. Whatever Zhen Jiahui claimed to have discovered was nothing more than fabricated evidence. It was just an excuse to bring him down.

If Li Xiaofei showed up, it would be like throwing a bun to a dog; he wouldn’t be coming back.

"Time and place," Li Xiaofei said calmly.

If they were playing dirty, he wouldn’t hold back either. His heart boiled with murderous intent.