Unrivaled Soldier in the City

Chapter 438 438: Reinforcements Retreat

Seeing this, Song Anran gave a slight smile. "Mingshi, it's been a while. What brings you to East Sea?"

"There was a class reunion, so I came," Hou Mingshi said respectfully. "It just so happens Uncle Song opened a club here, so I arranged for the party to be held at your place."

"Oh, is that so? You mentioned on the phone that some trouble had come up. Tell me, what happened?" Song Anran asked with a smile, though his voice remained perfectly calm.

"It's like this, Uncle Song. Some guy came in here causing a scene. He beat up more than a dozen of my bodyguards and was about to come after me. I was helpless and furious, so I had no choice but to call you for help," Hou Mingshi said, his voice thick with anger and grievance.

"Oh? Quite arrogant, isn't he? Take me to have a look," Song Anran said with a smile.

"Yes, Uncle Song." Hou Mingshi quickly agreed. He walked toward Lin Kuang with a triumphant stride, his gaze filled with smug satisfaction. In his mind, Lin Kuang was as good as dead.

At that moment, Lin Kuang also spotted Song Anran. Not just him, but Lin Guo'er, Yao Wenwen, and Xu Yingying saw him too. Yao Wenwen didn't recognize Song Anran, but when Lin Guo'er looked at him, he seemed familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before but couldn't quite recall where.

"Ugh, why is this guy here? What an annoying fellow," Lin Kuang muttered unhappily after glancing at Song Anran.

"Song Anran. So he really is the man behind this place," Xu Yingying said flatly. Clearly, she didn't think much of him. Even though the Song Family is doing quite well in Yanjing and has strong backing, the Xu Family isn't just for show!

"If I had known this was his turf, I would've raised even more hell just now," Lin Kuang said with a sigh.

Hearing this, Xu Yingying shot him a glare. "You haven't changed a bit, have you?"

"And you have, Yingying?" Lin Kuang grinned, flashing two rows of snow-white teeth.

Xu Yingying paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded. That's right, I really haven't changed either.

Just then, Hou Mingshi led Song Anran over. He looked at Lin Kuang with a mocking sneer, his expression seemingly saying, 'Kid, you're finished!'

"Uncle Song, this is the guy," Hou Mingshi said respectfully as he turned. He failed to notice, however, that Song Anran's face had turned ugly—or rather, extremely ugly.

Song Anran completely ignored Hou Mingshi and walked straight up to Lin Kuang.

Hou Mingshi watched the scene with excitement, eager to see how Song Anran would teach Lin Kuang a lesson. His classmates also fixed their gazes on the two men. They all knew of Hou Mingshi's status, and seeing his deference to Song Anran, they understood that this man must be someone incredibly powerful. They waited with bated breath to see what would happen.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd, Song Anran forced a smile. "Lin... Lin Kuang! Yingying! What are you two doing here? You came all this way without even calling your uncle. I would have loved to play the good host."

As he spoke through a strained smile, he was reeling from shock. I knew Lin Kuang was out of that Devil's Island prison, but I never imagined he would be clashing with Hou Mingshi. If I had known Lin Kuang was here, I would never have come! As for dealing with Lin Kuang? That was a moment of pure insanity. Lin Kuang could crush me with a single finger. Besides, with the Lin Family's immense power, I'm lucky I'm not already on my knees, groveling.

At the same time, Song Anran was viciously cursing Hou Mingshi in his heart. You provoked Lin Kuang? You're practically begging to die!

In that instant, Hou Mingshi was completely dumbfounded. I had assumed that with Song Anran's arrival, Lin Kuang would be nothing more than dirt under my shoe. But seeing Song Anran's reaction, this guy is clearly no nobody. He's a goddamn prehistoric leviathan! For someone to make even Song Anran grovel so readily, their background has to be terrifyingly powerful—far beyond anything I could ever dare to provoke.

At this thought, Hou Mingshi's face turned deathly pale, his heart instantly seized by terror. This time, I didn't just kick an iron plate; I slammed into a goddamn mountain of steel! His body began to tremble uncontrollably as overwhelming panic set in.

"Uh, Mr. Song, let's not get too familiar," Lin Kuang said disdainfully, showing him no respect at all. "I can't afford to call you 'Uncle.'"

"That's right, Mr. Song. We wouldn't dare call you Uncle. Please don't put us in such an awkward position," Xu Yingying added, standing up.

The Lin and Xu Families were never on good terms with the Song Family—or more accurately, with the Song Family's masters. In the eyes of the Lins and Xus, the Songs were nothing more than lapdogs. And this particular lapdog had done plenty of detestable things in Yanjing, so neither Lin Kuang nor Xu Yingying had any intention of showing Song Anran any respect.

Hearing their words, Song Anran's face flushed crimson with embarrassment. The rage inside him boiled, but he didn't dare let a hint of it show. The power gap between them was simply too vast. Here, he couldn't make a single ripple.

Suppressing his fury, Song Anran forced another smile. "Ahem, Lin Kuang, Yingying, since that's the case, you all carry on. Tonight, everything is on my tab. I have some other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first. Let's meet again when we have the chance."

With that, Song Anran prepared to flee. If he stayed any longer, he would lose what little dignity he had left.

"Hold on, Mr. Song," Lin Kuang called out, stopping him. "Weren't you the backup this monkey called for? Leaving so soon?"

"Uh, no, not at all! Lin Kuang, you've misunderstood. I was just passing by to see what was going on," Song Anran stammered, his heart pounding in his chest. "Yes, just checking in. You and Yingying, don't overthink it."

Lin Kuang's cold gaze was locked on him, and Song Anran was keenly aware of just how ruthless he could be. He genuinely feared Lin Kuang might attack him right then and there, which would be truly tragic.

"Oh? Is that so? Then it seems I was mistaken," Lin Kuang said. "Well then, Mr. Song, take care. And while I'm not in Yanjing these days, let me give you a reminder. A lapdog should know its place. Don't go throwing your master's weight around, or you'll come to a bad end."

Lin Kuang's tone was glacial, and his indifferent gaze seemed to pierce straight through Song Anran's soul. As furious as Song Anran was, seeing those cold, penetrating eyes filled him with nothing but sheer terror.

He managed a stiff nod, unable to utter a single word, then turned and walked away.