"Fine, you said it!"
Although Liao Yifan's father instinctively felt something was amiss, all he needed was for Master Hong to show himself, and the 2.8 billion debt would be waived, perfectly resolving the matter.
So, what reason did he have to refuse?
What's more, he harbored a subconscious suspicion that Ying Chen had already been scared upon hearing Master Hong's name but refused to lose face, hence coming up with such a ploy to save face.
Since that was the case, he would humor Ying Chen!
Liao Yifan's father walked to the living room entrance, took a deep breath, and shouted into the night: "Master Hong, you can appear now!"
"As long as you stand here for a moment, no need to even lift a finger, and our Liao family will present you with a five-million check! We won't go back on our word!"
Liao Yifan's father's voice carried far into the night sky.
After shouting, he confidently waited for Master Hong's appearance.
In his opinion, there was no reason for Master Hong not to appear.
Firstly, he had invited Master Hong himself;
Secondly, the Liao family had maintained good relations with the Sanhe Sect over the years, and the sect wouldn't stand idly by when the Liao family was in trouble;
Thirdly, just showing his face would earn him five million. This was practically like picking up money, and Liao Yifan's father was confident Master Hong wouldn't refuse.
However, what Liao Yifan's father never expected was that two full minutes had passed since he called out.
For some reason, Master Hong still hadn't appeared!
It was as if Master Hong hadn't come at all!
"Impossible! Master Hong clearly told me he'd be here right after me. After this long, he wouldn't have even left, let alone not arrived!" Liao Yifan's father muttered in disbelief.
He then shouted into the night again: "Master Hong, please appear! Liao respectfully awaits your esteemed presence!"
The first call might not have been heard, the second might have been missed, but the third one surely would be heard, right?
Even if Master Hong were asleep, calling out three times should have woken him up by now!
Liao Yifan's father's face regained its certainty, and he continued to wait at the entrance.
What Liao Yifan's father didn't know was that beneath the large camphor tree at the Liao family's entrance, Master Hong was slumped there, a wry smile on his face.
He had heard Liao Yifan's father's calls long ago, and he had also heard the offer.
Honestly, five million just for showing his face did tempt him.
For a moment, he even considered crawling over to complete the act of "appearing"!
Unfortunately, even crawling, he couldn't move!
He was like a pile of mud thoroughly dissolved on the ground, completely incapable of any independent action.
Most importantly, he was also scared!
After all, the person inside was a super formidable individual who had suppressed him with just a single glance!
He simply didn't have the courage to face that person!
"Grandpa, hurry up and come!"
"Five million! I don't want to give it up..." Master Hong muttered incessantly.
He hoped that the true leader of the Sanhe Sect would arrive quickly.
At that time, not only would the situation be reversed, but he could also conveniently fleece the Liao family out of five million!
Alas, the person Master Hong had hoped for did not appear.
The five million was destined to slip away from him.
At the entrance of the Liao family's living room.
Liao Yifan's father's heart gradually sank to the bottom.
Since he started calling Master Hong, he had called out three times, and more than ten minutes had passed.
Master Hong, let alone a person, not even a shadow had appeared!
What was going on?
Did Master Hong encounter something and simply not come?
Or did Ying Chen somehow know some inside information and was certain Master Hong wouldn't come?
Otherwise, on what grounds did he dare to make a bet with him?
Thinking of this, Liao Yifan's father looked suspiciously at Ying Chen.
Ying Chen, with a half-smile, looked at Liao Yifan's father and said leisurely, "I told you he couldn't appear!"
"How about we make another bet? If I can make him appear, then your family's debt will double; otherwise, the debt will be waived. What do you say?"
Upon hearing Ying Chen's words, a flicker of cunning flashed in Liao Yifan's father's eyes.
He immediately nodded and agreed without hesitation: "Okay!"
What a joke, if he couldn't call Master Hong, Ying Chen could?
It was obvious Master Hong hadn't come for some reason!
Where did Ying Chen get the confidence to call someone who wasn't even present?
This bet was simply a sure win, a fool would refuse!
"Heh heh." Seeing Liao Yifan's father's confident gaze, Ying Chen couldn't help but laugh.
Then, he performed the same action as Liao Yifan's father, clapping his hands twice.
And shouted, "Come in!"
His voice echoed in the night.
Outside the gate was pitch black and silent, with only the rustling of bird wings and fleeting blurry figures.
Let alone Master Hong, neither Master Li nor Master Zhao were visible!
Seeing this, Liao Yifan's father eagerly wanted to mock Ying Chen.
However, he had barely opened his mouth, and before any sound could escape his throat, he heard a rustling sound from the entrance!
It sounded like something was crawling at the doorway!
"What... what's going on? Could it be a wild beast or a large snake?" Liao Yifan's father exclaimed in surprise.
But in the next second, his expression changed drastically, and he froze in place!
As the sound gradually approached, it soon entered the illuminated area of the entrance.
It was not a wild beast or a large snake, but a person!
A person with a fierce face and a powerful build, who now looked incredibly humble and pathetic!
Master Hong!
Hiss!
Not only Liao Yifan's father but also Liao Yifan and Zhuang Ruoting gasped in unison.
They were stunned by the bizarre scene.
Didn't Master Hong not come? Why did he suddenly appear?
Even if he appeared suddenly, why wasn't Master Hong walking properly? Why was he crawling?
Was Master Hong practicing some obscure martial art?
"Alright, stay right there!"
Ying Chen waved his hand casually at Master Hong.
Master Hong, who had been crawling, instantly froze in place as if struck by a spell!
His body, like rotten mud, slumped to the ground.
"Well, the person you wanted has appeared. You lost the bet, so the 2.88 billion debt doubles, making it 5.76 billion. I'm a generous person, so I'll round off the decimals for you and call it 5.7 billion. You're welcome."
Ying Chen said magnanimously.
Upon hearing this, Liao Yifan's father's vision went black, and he almost collapsed to the ground!
So Ying Chen's so-called doubling of the debt was not based on 1.4 billion, but on 2.8 billion?
This was simply… too much!
Liao Yifan's father was filled with grief and indignation.
The Liao family had only accumulated assets worth twenty to thirty billion over the years.
The vast majority of this was fixed assets, not liquid capital.
When it came to actual liquid funds, they might not even have tens of billions.
Ying Chen, however, was demanding 5.7 billion, which was equivalent to draining all of the Liao family's liquid assets!
And as everyone knows, once a company's liquidity breaks down, the consequence is the paralysis of the entire enterprise!
Employees would have no money to pay their salaries, leading to strikes;
Suppliers would stop supplying goods because they wouldn't be paid;
Without personnel and materials, the company couldn't fulfill orders, leading to breaches of contract.
This could even lead to bankruptcy!
Ying Chen wanted the Liao family to perish!
"Impossible! You want to take away over 5 billion from me with just your words? Who do you think you are!"
"Unless you kill me, you'll never get a cent from the Liao family!" Liao Yifan's father roared sternly, his expression sinister.
Ying Chen, upon hearing this, seemed unperturbed.
He simply nodded: "Alright."
"As you wish."
Then, his figure flickered, and he instantly appeared before Liao Yifan's father.
Raising his palm, he struck down towards Liao Yifan's father's head!