Chapter Eleven: To Each His Due

Feng Tao felt a secret delight in his heart as he saw Yang Meng standing before him unmoving, convinced he'd intimidated Yang Meng. But in the next instant, Yang Meng suddenly punched him hard in the stomach.

That punch was anything but gentle. Feng Tao’s belly churned as if stirred by a storm, tears and snot streaming down his face in a grotesque display.

After taking that blow, Feng Tao’s legs buckled and he collapsed, kneeling at Yang Meng’s feet.

Yang Meng looked down at him with cold disdain. “Just another parasite living off others, huh? I don’t even know where you get the nerve to talk like that...”

He had hesitated for a moment earlier for a simple reason: Bai Qi had returned to the Underworld.

Yang Meng had too little merit and too weak a spiritual power to command a ghost soldier for long. Bai Qi could only possess him for three minutes, and the time had just run out. The punch that struck Feng Tao was delivered by Yang Meng himself!

But after throwing that punch, Yang Meng noticed something strange: he had never before been able to hit so hard.

The reason was simple, and owed thanks to that mysterious immortal. When Yang Meng was sent back to the mortal world, his physical body was reforged in the “Black Domain.” In terms of cultivation novels, Yang Meng was at least at the “foundation building” stage now. No wonder Feng Tao couldn’t withstand that punch.

Feng Tao let out a guttural cry and vomited, and even though Yang Meng dodged quickly, his shoes were still splattered with filth.

Yang Meng looked disgusted and wiped his shoes on Feng Tao’s clothes for a long while. “I paid sixty yuan for these shoes! Now you’ve dirtied them! Well, I suppose I’m too kind—today I won’t make you pay.”

Feng Tao stared helplessly as Yang Meng smeared his dirty shoes on his clothes, almost in tears. His suit was a Zegna, purchased for over fifty thousand yuan by Long Nanyao. Now, how could he wear it after such a mess?

At that moment, the conference room door swung open. Those inside, aware of a commotion outside, came out to see what was happening. Leading the way was Long Nanyao.

Long Nanyao saw the scene and rushed forward, pushing Yang Meng aside to help Feng Tao up. “Tao, are you alright? Come on, get up.”

Feng Tao shook his head in pain. He wasn’t unwilling to rise—he simply couldn’t. That punch hadn’t knocked the life out of him, and he was lucky for it.

Long Nanyao glared angrily at Yang Meng. “How could you hit someone?”

Yang Meng gestured at the sprawled bodies around him. “So you mean I should just stand here and let this bunch beat me? Are you paralyzed above the neck? Or simply brain-dead?”

“You!” Long Nanyao pointed at Yang Meng, grinding her teeth. “You’re finished! You have no idea who you’ve offended!”

Yang Meng sighed. “You really are two peas in a pod—your lines are identical. Can’t you come up with something new? Let me teach you something: if you bully someone and then announce your name, that’s called swagger. If you get bullied and then announce your name, that’s just stupid! If you’re beaten, you’d best slink away with your tail between your legs. You’ve shamed yourself all the way back to your grandmother’s house!”

Long Nanyao jabbed her finger at Yang Meng. “You... I’m calling the police! Secretary Duan, make the call now!”

The man with her was the very Secretary Duan Bowen, sent by her father to keep an eye on things.

Old Liu hurried to Yang Meng’s side. “Xiao Yang, what’s going on?”

Yang Meng took out his phone and tapped play. “Everyone, come take a look! The illustrious Long Group is stooping to gangster tactics—what do you think will happen if this video goes online? Oh? I hear Long Group is a listed company. Tsk tsk, how much will their stock drop? What was your name—Secretary Duan, right? Hurry, call the police! Haha, you little kept man, you’re quite expensive to support. One careless moment and the stock market trembles. Hey, kept man, have you married in yet? If you have, well and good; if not, and you’re already so ruinous, tsk tsk. This isn’t finding a pretty boy—it’s finding an ancestor!”

Duan Bowen saw the video on Yang Meng’s phone and broke out in a cold sweat. “Uh, sir, are you threatening Long Group? Let me clarify: Mr. Feng in the video has no connection to Long Group. His actions are entirely unrelated to the company.”

Feng Tao’s eyes widened at Duan Bowen’s words—what was this? Sacrificing the pawn to save the king?

Long Nanyao was displeased. “Secretary Duan, what are you saying? How can you claim Feng Tao has nothing to do with our family?”

Duan Bowen looked troubled. “Miss Nanyao, I must act for the sake of the company. The situation is unfavorable for us, and I hope you understand. The chairman would handle it the same way.”

Yang Meng laughed. “Secretary Duan, is what you say the truth? Everyone knows Mr. Feng is your young lady’s fiancé. If you don’t believe it, I’ll post it online right now. Tsk tsk, let’s show you the ferocity of internet users. Let you experience what ‘doxxing’ really means! These days, people love stories about the rich bullying others. I guarantee this video will go viral!” As he spoke, he pulled out his phone. “Where should I post it? What forums or video sites have the widest reach? Oh yes, let’s hit Kuaishen, DouShou, all of them. Tsk tsk, Long Group—I’ll give you some free publicity!”

Seeing Yang Meng lift his phone, Duan Bowen’s face changed color and he rushed forward to stop him. Yang Meng looked up coldly. “If you think you’re better than the men lying on the floor, come try me.”

Duan Bowen braked sharply and looked back at Long Nanyao with pleading eyes. She had started this, so she should finish it.

Long Nanyao was no fool. She gazed at Feng Tao with pity, then looked up at Yang Meng. “Get out of here now! Let’s leave it at that.”

Yang Meng had intended to leave, but hearing her words changed his mind. “You think it’s over just because you say so? Not for me. Come, let’s discuss the issue of unpaid wages for migrant workers.”

“What?” Everyone looked at each other in confusion. How did this turn into a discussion about unpaid wages for migrant workers? Where were the workers?

Yang Meng saw their confusion and smiled, pointing to himself. “The migrant worker is right here! I’m here to collect unpaid wages.”

At this moment, Zhou Bapi stepped forward, eager to show loyalty. “Yang Meng, what nonsense are you talking about? How can there be unpaid wages when delivering food?”

Yang Meng shook his phone. “Everyone saw it—these gentlemen invited me to hit them. I did the work, but they haven’t paid me for my labor yet.”

A flock of crows seemed to fly past everyone’s eyes—what was he saying? He beat them up and now wants compensation?

Yang Meng spoke matter-of-factly. “What’s so strange about that? You all studied physics, right? You know force is mutual? My hands hurt from hitting them. I rendered a service, so we have an employment relationship. You can’t just not pay me, right? Isn’t that bullying a migrant worker?”

Now, instead of crows, a herd of wild alpacas seemed to gallop past everyone’s minds.

What kind of person was this? How could he demand compensation after beating people up?

Old Liu and the others were speechless. Having known Yang Meng for so long, it was the first time they’d realized that the Yang Meng who always mouthed “turtle, endure, coward” was actually a real tough nut.

Yang Meng toyed with his phone. “Why the long faces? Oh, I get it—you think I don’t know the law and am just spouting nonsense, right? Fine, I admit I’m rough around the edges, so I’ll post the video online and let the public analyze whether I’m right or not!”

Long Nanyao gritted her teeth. “Go on, post it! But I warn you, you did assault someone! At the very least, you’ll be criminally detained!”

Yang Meng clapped his hands and laughed. “Challenging me? Alright, let’s go! I’d be happy to be arrested, then the impact will be even greater: why arrest someone for self-defense? Tsk tsk, whenever something like this happens, it always causes a stir, impossible to suppress. As expected of Long Group’s third miss, you’re going to great lengths for your family’s fame! Fine, as you wish! Let’s see whether I suffer more in jail, or your Long Group suffers more!”

With that, he prepared once again to post the video.

Duan Bowen hurried to intervene. “Mr. Yang, you’re right! They really should pay up! Otherwise, it violates the Labor Law! We absolutely cannot delay migrant workers’ wages!” He rushed to Long Nanyao and whispered, “Nanyao, I know you’re angry, but don’t act rashly. We can’t take this risk. As a listed company, if this causes a scandal, several days of consecutive stock crashes... I doubt the chairman could bear that responsibility! Besides, the chairman already has issues with Mr. Feng. If this isn’t handled properly... cough cough.”

His family and the Longs were actually old friends, so addressing Long Nanyao like this wasn’t unusual.

Long Nanyao’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? Just now you agreed to stand up for me!”

Duan Bowen shook his head. “Nanyao, you said you were catching a hooligan, so I stayed silent. But Mr. Yang has committed no such act. Yet Mr. Feng refuses to let it go, causing this mess. I have to say, Mr. Feng must bear primary responsibility.”

Long Nanyao stared at Duan Bowen—was he really determined to make Feng Tao take the blame?

Duan Bowen ignored her murderous glare, continuing in a low voice. “Nanyao, family matters can be handled at home. Let’s settle this situation first.”

Long Nanyao had no choice but to nod.

Yang Meng looked at them. “Well? Have you reached an agreement?”

Duan Bowen nodded with a smile. “That’s right, Mr. Yang. You’re absolutely correct—labor deserves compensation. How much do you think would be appropriate for your labor fee?”