Chapter Twenty-One: Sun Yibin

The black bear, who had been sent flying by a kick, clutched his chest and, with the help of his subordinates, struggled painfully to his feet. At this moment, the look in his eyes as he gazed at Ling Tian had transformed from the earlier disdain and contempt to sheer terror. That kick just now had been brutally fierce; the burly black bear, strong as a young bull, felt as if he had been struck by a speeding car.

To send a man weighing over two hundred pounds flying with a single kick—what kind of strength did that require!

The private room fell utterly silent. Even Wang Yong, his face battered and bruised, stared in shock. What did it mean to be truly formidable? This—this was it. At first, Ling Tian was extremely low-key, but once he erupted, he was like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, unstoppable by anyone.

In that instant, all of Wang Yong’s long-held disdain for Ling Tian vanished completely; he was thoroughly convinced.

Ling Tian took a swig of rum, smacked his lips, and said with a smile, “Not bad. Waiter, bring me another bottle.”

The waiter dared not delay, hurrying to the counter for more liquor and presenting it to Ling Tian with utmost respect. Before leaving, he whispered, “Sir, all drinks tonight are on the house. Please enjoy yourself. If you need anything else at all, just call for me. I’ll take my leave now.”

The waiter wasn’t stupid; anyone who dared thrash the black bear—and have the black bear not dare retaliate—was definitely someone important.

Ling Tian sat on the sofa and beckoned to the black bear, saying, “Come here. Let’s have a proper talk.”

The black bear didn’t dare approach. He stopped more than three meters away and retorted, “Kid, don’t think that just because you can fight, you can act wild here. Do you even know whose place Le Nest Bar is? None of you are walking out of here alive tonight.”

“Think about it. It’s been years since anyone dared speak to me like that. Do you know why?” Ling Tian replied with a question of his own.

The black bear snapped, “That’s because you’ve only run into trash.”

“You’re wrong,” Ling Tian said flatly. “The reason no one dares talk to me that way is because I’ve already sent those people to hell myself. Enough nonsense—bring out your boss. Wasting time with small fry like you is pointless.” He waved his hand impatiently; as a mercenary, Ling Tian valued efficiency above all.

The black bear swung his arm angrily and ordered his men, “No more business tonight. Clear the place. And fetch the boss right away—tell him we’ve got a tough one here.”

To be the head of security at Le Nest Bar, the black bear had to have some real skill, and at least his subordinates were efficient. At his command, the security team cleared out all the patrons—over a hundred people enjoying themselves were forced out, and the doors locked behind them. It was clear they intended to settle things with Ling Tian by force.

The once lively bar was now silent and tense, the waitstaff having withdrawn as well. Only the black bear’s group and Ling Tian’s remained, the oppressive atmosphere thick with menace.

The black bear had a table set up in the main hall and invited Ling Tian and his companions to sit. Ling Tian realized the real boss was about to arrive—negotiations were imminent. Wang Yong and his two lackeys sat shivering at Ling Tian’s side. Having frequented the place, Wang Yong knew exactly who was coming, and he whispered in Ling Tian’s ear, “Brother Tian, the owner of Le Nest isn’t your average man. Word is, he’s ex-special forces.”

Special forces? Ling Tian’s interest was piqued. If it was just a street thug, there’d be nothing to it. Once hailed as the king of mercenaries, Ling Tian knew that mercenaries and special forces both underwent rigorous military training and were highly capable fighters. However, if a mercenary and a special forces operative of equal skill faced off, the mercenary often had the edge.

After all, a mercenary was a hybrid of soldier and assassin, with a wealth of street smarts and experience—something special forces lacked.

“Tell me more,” Ling Tian said calmly. As the saying goes, know yourself and your enemy and you’ll never lose—a timeless truth.

Wang Yong continued, “After leaving the army, this guy worked as a bodyguard for the Li family. Thanks to his outstanding performance, the Lis funded him to open this bar. So, not only is the owner of Le Nest strong himself, but he’s also got powerful backing. The Li family is one of the Four Great Clans of Yunhai City—connected on both sides of the law.”

Ling Tian remained unperturbed. “The Four Great Clans? Nothing but paper tigers.”

Wang Yong was speechless, inwardly sighing. Paper tigers? In Yunhai, crossing any of the Four Great Clans was tantamount to suicide. Little did Wang Yong know that Ling Tian, not long after arriving in Yunhai, had already given the eldest son of the Li family a thorough beating. What would he think if he knew?

Hardly anyone was aware of the incident with the Li scion—it was a humiliating affair for the Lis, who were desperate to keep it secret. As for the Mu family, they didn’t want a big scene either, so they kept quiet.

“Friend, what’s happened here to cause such a commotion? Surely we can talk things out—harmony breeds prosperity, after all.” Amid hearty laughter, a stocky, well-built middle-aged man entered the hall, surrounded by more than a dozen men.

The black bear hurried forward, his face full of deference. “Boss Sun, please, this way.”

This black bear, who looked every bit the underworld boss, turned obsequious before Sun Yibin, wiping down an already spotless chair with his sleeve before respectfully inviting him to sit.

Compared to the black bear, Sun Yibin exuded authority, sitting naturally across from Ling Tian. He held up two fingers, and the black bear promptly produced a cigar, placing it in Sun Yibin’s hand and lighting it for him.

Sun Yibin took a satisfying puff, exhaled a thick plume of smoke, and said with great presence, “Friend, my name is Sun Yibin, owner of Le Nest. Blackie just told me there was some trouble between you. Even a fight? Is that so?” As he spoke, Sun Yibin glanced at the mess on the floor, frowning slightly.

The mighty black bear was now “Blackie” in Sun Yibin’s mouth. Wang Yong and the others nearly burst out laughing, barely managing to hold it in, their faces turning red.

Ling Tian answered coolly, “Some people didn’t know their manners, so I taught them a lesson.”

“Hmph! Friend, don’t you think you’ve overstepped? Since I founded Le Nest, no one has ever dared discipline my men here. Even if they make a mistake, it’s my place to correct them—not yours,” Sun Yibin said sternly.

Ling Tian said nothing, simply lowering his head to drink. By now, he had consumed nearly two-thirds of the bottle of rum, savoring it as though nothing around him concerned him—he was here only for a drink.

The black bear strode up and slammed the table, bellowing, “Are you deaf, you bastard? Didn’t you hear Boss Sun’s question? Don’t you dare act tough in front of him—don’t even dream of walking out of here in one piece tonight!”

Ling Tian didn’t even glance at him, still sipping his drink.

Being ignored, the black bear’s face grew dark. He roared again, “If I don’t teach you a lesson, you won’t know what hell looks like! Bring me a knife—I’m going to cut this punk’s tendons myself!”

Sun Yibin puffed on his cigar, saying nothing, as though he were simply enjoying the show. He was truly curious to see just what Ling Tian was capable of, to cause trouble at Le Nest Bar with only a ha