Zhou Yan’s entire face had twisted beyond human recognition—half of it was collapsed, with blood frothing from the corner of his mouth. If not for the occasional twitch of his body proving he was still alive, everyone present would have suspected that these black-clad men would simply drag his “corpse” out to sea and dispose of the evidence.
But even if he was still breathing, the way he looked now seemed far worse than death itself.
The other two members of the Zhou family were so terrified that their faces turned ashen. They shook off the black-clad men restraining them, dropped to their knees with a loud thud, and wailed with tears streaming down their faces.
“Sui Sui, please spare us! It was all Zhou Yan’s idea! We didn’t know anything!”
“Yes, yes! Please let us off, considering all the years we’ve worked for the group!”
“Your uncle Zhou Yan acted on his own—it has nothing to do with us!”
“......”
These two clearly weren’t tough nuts to crack. Before the men of the Wanlong Society had even started using their methods, they had already confessed everything.
Still, after seeing what had happened to Zhou Yan, it was easy to understand—after all, not everyone could withstand a slap from that giant.
Bai Shisui closed her eyes, unwilling to look at their pleading faces.
“Take them away!”
At Yun Cheng’s command, the black-clad men immediately stepped forward and forcibly dragged the two out as well.
The cries for mercy grew fainter and fainter until they finally faded completely from everyone’s ears.
In the banquet hall, silence fell over the crowd.
They secretly glanced at the towering, terrifyingly built man outside, then at the dent in the wall left by Zhou Yan’s impact, and shivered in unison.
Many people instinctively touched their own cheeks, feeling an imaginary ache.
Holy shit! What kind of monster possessed that kind of strength?
If they had had any doubts earlier about whether this was the legendary “Hell Giant,” that single slap had erased them completely.
Aside from the legendary brute who had once knocked out a foreigner nicknamed “The Steamroller” with just one slap, it was hard to imagine anyone else whose hand could deliver such devastating force.
A few who had been harboring secret schemes immediately abandoned their unrealistic ideas after witnessing this.
What were interests and factional struggles in the face of absolute violence? Utterly meaningless.
They were on a completely different level from these black-clad men!
If these people didn’t feel like reasoning with you, one slap was all it took to shut you up—permanently.
Liu Yutong also saw what had happened outside. The corner of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
That idiot Ji Yu didn’t hold back at all. Hadn’t they agreed not to kill anyone? Sure, he technically hadn’t, but was there any real difference?
Given Zhou Yan’s current state, even if he survived, he’d probably spend the rest of his life in a hospital bed, drooling.
Still, the effect was unexpectedly good.
She scanned the room again at the terrified, silent crowd and sighed inwardly. Indeed, in many situations, reasoning with people was far less effective than a physical demonstration—especially in an overseas environment like this.
Of course, Liu Yutong considered herself a law-abiding businesswoman, and the Wanlong Society was a legitimate company. This was just an accidental incident—well, she’d have to have Zhao Tianyi carefully study the relevant American laws to see how this “accident” could be legally defined.
After all, she wasn’t sure if Ji Yu’s disability certificate would hold up here.
Zhou Yan had committed a crime, sure, but even criminals in America had human rights, right? You couldn’t just go around slapping people like that.
At that thought, she almost felt like laughing. Did criminals really have human rights in this place?
“Ahem.” Liu Yutong cleared her throat lightly, breaking the silence in the meeting room.
All eyes immediately locked onto her, and their expressions had become noticeably more respectful.
“Ji Yu, be more careful next time. We’re civilized people—we rely on reason. Don’t kill anyone. Quickly, send him to the hospital.”
“Oh, got it, Miss.” Ji Yu scratched his head and responded in a deep, gruff voice.
Then, like picking up a chick, he lifted the unconscious Zhou Yan and handed him to one of the black-clad men: “Find a doctor. Don’t let him go meet his great-grandmother.”
“Yes, sir!” The man took him quickly, handling him far more delicately than before, as if afraid of causing any further trouble.
The door closed again.
Liu Yutong turned back to the crowd and spoke slowly: “Alright, just a little interruption. Sorry for the show, everyone. The Wanlong Society has always abided by the law, loved peace, and opposed violence. That was nothing but a minor accident.”
Everyone: “......”
Right, right. You do “love” peace, you really don’t “like” using violence. We all saw that hallucination.
And yeah, that slap was just a “minor accident”—one that happened to crush half of Zhou Yan’s face into nothing.
Despite their internal sarcasm, the smiles on their faces grew even more sycophantic.
“Of course, of course, I could tell at a glance that Chairman Liu is a peace-loving person!”
“Not only that, but I think Chairman Liu is also very compassionate—someone’s face ran into a slap, and she even sent him to the hospital for free.”
“Zhou Yan dared to insult Chairman Liu and slander the Wanlong Society. Getting just a light slap was already far too merciful for him.”
“......”
Flattery erupted from all sides. It might have been clumsy, but the attitude was unmistakable.
Zeng Jin, the businessman from Taiwan, suppressed the shock in his heart and spoke with a respectful tone: “Chairman Liu, you are wise and decisive. I admire you. With your support, Miss Bai’s appointment as acting chairperson is truly the will of the people and a blessing for the Chamber of Commerce! I, on behalf of myself and my companies, fully support Miss Bai!”
Old Master Li trembled slightly as he said, “Miss Liu... your methods are extraordinary. I have no objections. Shi Sui, from now on, the Chamber of Commerce will depend on your and Miss Liu’s efforts.”
Even he, the toughest honorary chairman, had been frightened by that scene.
Earlier, he had relied on his seniority, thinking the black-clad men wouldn’t dare touch him. But now it was clear—their black suits weren’t just for show. They played for keeps.
Seeing this, the other directors didn’t dare hesitate. One by one, they voiced their support.
“I support Miss Bai!”
“I support Chairman Liu!”
“Under Chairman Liu and Miss Bai’s leadership, the Chamber of Commerce will surely reach new heights!”
“......”
Bai Shisui watched this dramatic turn of events with a storm of emotions—hatred toward her uncle’s possible involvement in her father’s murder, awe at Liu Yutong’s thunderous methods, and bewilderment at the heavy burden suddenly placed on her shoulders. But above all, there was a firm determination.
Her father was gone. Some had shown their fangs.
Now she had to grow up and protect the legacy he had left behind.
As for Yutong—she was now the one person she could trust and rely on completely.
"Thank you all for your support, uncles and elders. I will do my utmost to live up to my father's expectations and earn your trust. My first priority is to thoroughly investigate the truth behind my father's murder and bring the real culprit and the mastermind to justice! Secondly, I will stabilize the operations of the White Group and the Chamber of Commerce, ensuring that all business and charitable projects remain unaffected. I will discuss specific matters in detail with Sister Yutong and all the directors."
Liu Yutong nodded approvingly. This girl was tougher than she had imagined, which put her at ease.
She immediately made her stance clear: "What happened to President Bai is my concern as well. I hereby guarantee to everyone here—regardless of who is involved, no matter how powerful the forces behind them—that the Wanlong Society and I will pursue this to the end. We will seek justice for President Bai and for all our compatriots!
"At the same time, I also promise that since I myself have become a member of the Overseas Chamber of Commerce, I will fulfill my duty of mutual assistance from now on. If any of you need help in the United States—whether for business matters or personal safety issues—you can come to me.
"Lastly, I want to emphasize once more: we are all sons and daughters of the Dragon Country drifting overseas. We should stand together and look out for one another!"
After Liu Yutong's speech, the atmosphere in the banquet hall grew far more spirited than before.
If the previous statements had been made under pressure or threat, now many people's eyes truly lit up—a spark of excitement born from toiling in a foreign land and suddenly finding a powerful ally.
"Chairman Liu, those words are incredibly uplifting!" exclaimed a burly middle-aged man in the construction material business, standing abruptly with emotion. "To be honest, my warehouse in South Bay was extorted for protection money by a local gang last month. The police response was slow, and I didn't dare to fight back myself—it was humiliating. Now that I've heard you, I feel a solid foundation beneath me!"
A female business owner chimed in, "Exactly, Chairman Liu. When we do business abroad, we seek both profit and peace. But in the West, obeying the law doesn't guarantee safety. Take the Snakeheads, for example. When President Bai was alive, we could at least bargain and intimidate them. But once he was gone, many of us couldn't sleep soundly at night, afraid we'd be their next target.
"Now, with you personally taking action and uprooting the Snakeheads completely, you've not only avenged President Bai but also eliminated a major threat for all of us Dragon Country merchants! The gentleman who acted earlier must be the legendary Hell Giant, right? With him and the Wanlong Society's big brothers here, what do we have to fear?"
These words immediately resonated with others.
"That's right! Black Phoenix—oh, I mean Chairman Liu! We've all heard about how you wiped out the Snakeheads. They say you led those black-clad heroes and razed their lair overnight. We thought it was just rumor before, but seeing it today, I believe it!"
"Yes, absolutely! It has to be Chairman Liu! Who else could have such strength and audacity?"
"The name Black Phoenix is truly well-deserved!"
"With Chairman Liu at the helm of the Chamber of Commerce, no one will dare look down on us Dragon Country merchants anymore!"
"..."
Zeng Jin, the most perceptive—and the most sycophantic—among those present, seized the moment to address the crowd: "Ladies and gentlemen! Chairman Liu has not only set things right today, stabilizing the White Group and the Chamber of Commerce, but has also given us all a promise. What is this? It's a sense of responsibility! Boldness! And a pillar of support for us overseas Dragon Country people!"
He turned to Liu Yutong and bowed deeply: "Chairman Liu, I may not be talented, but after years of doing business in the bay area, I've accumulated some connections and resources. From today onward, I, Zeng Jin, and all my enterprises will follow your lead! We wandering sons abroad have long needed a leader like you to unite us."
Liu Yutong's words had also struck a chord with Elder Li, who couldn't help but sigh: "I have lived long enough to have seen storms and read people's hearts. Today, Miss Liu has shown me what it means to be a heroine and a true chivalrous person. President Bai devoted his life to benevolence and uniting overseas compatriots. Miss Liu carries on his legacy and even surpasses him—this is truly a blessing for us Dragon Country people wandering abroad! Ladies and gentlemen, since Miss Liu has spoken, let us cherish this moment and work in solidarity. No one should do anything underhanded!"
With these two heavyweights setting the tone, the other directors had no hesitation left. They vied to express their support, anxious not to seem insincere.
"Chairman Liu, our company's future security consulting services will be entirely contracted to your team—name your price!"
"Chairman Liu, I have a logistics center in San Jose in a great location. Would the Wanlong Society need a base there? I'll offer it at cost!"
"Chairman Liu, my son isn't studying well and hangs around with bad company. Could you let him come to your place for training under your heroes? He can endure any hardship—it's better than going astray!"
"..."
As Liu Yutong made her stance unmistakably clear, everyone's perception of her grew increasingly favorable.
Their earlier fear of her—even disgust at her being too ruthless and intimidating—stemmed from the uncertainty of distrust.
But now that she had explicitly declared she would share their fortunes and hardships, everything changed.
Now, they were people with a powerful protectors in the United States. A group that could obliterate the Snakeheads overnight, whose strength was formidable, whose terrifying reputation alone brought instant security!
Liu Yutong was pleased with the reaction. Earlier, Ji Yu had wielded a heavy stick, and now she offered a sweet carrot—the effect was immediate.
"Rest assured, everyone. I, Liu Yutong, always keep my word and deliver on my promises. I also hope that all of you will stay united, support Miss Bai, and support the Chamber of Commerce.
"But I will say this bluntly: If I discover anyone trying to play petty tricks, hold us back, or act recklessly in the future, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
The crowd once again enthusiastically responded.
"Never, never!"
"Chairman Liu, rest assured—we will fully cooperate!"
"Anyone who stirs up trouble at a time like this will be an enemy of us all!"
"..."
The remainder of the meeting went exceptionally smoothly.
Bai Shisui's position as acting president was officially confirmed, and in time, she would be formally promoted.
Liu Yutong was elected Honorary President after another round of voting.
As the meeting adjourned, every director stepped over to Liu Yutong and Bai Shisui to bid farewell with utmost respect, their attitudes far more humble than when they arrived.
Zeng Jin was the last to leave, but just as he finished his farewell, Liu Yutong called him back.
"President Zeng, hold on a moment."
Zeng Jin stopped in his tracks and smiled respectfully, asking, "Chairman Liu, do you have further instructions?"
Liu Yutong didn't answer immediately. Instead, she gestured toward the door of a nearby lounge. "Let's talk privately."
Zeng Jin extended his hand. "After you, Chairman Liu."
The two entered the rest lounge one after the other, and the door was gently closed behind them by Yun Cheng, who then stood behind Liu Yutong.
After sitting down, Liu Yutong first expressed her gratitude to him.
“President Zeng, thank you for your support today.”
“Chairwoman Liu, you flatter me!”
Zeng Jin quickly clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. “I merely said what needed to be said and did what needed to be done. You and Ms. Bai are deserving of the recognition. And I’m truly honored to have had the chance to meet you today, Ms. Liu.”
Liu Yutong smiled faintly. “No need for formalities. I asked you to stay because I want to discuss some practical cooperation.”
Zeng Jin’s spirits lifted. “Please go ahead, Chairwoman Liu. I’m all ears.”
...
