Chapter 119: The Village Chief

As a former instructor of the Flame Dragon unit, Lu Ming felt a surge of displeasure upon hearing those words. How could such a scoundrel be allowed into the Flame Dragon? No matter how talented, a corrupt character was unacceptable.

Eating his noodles calmly, Lu Ming said, "Let him come."

With Lu Ming’s words, Wang Zeyan and the others felt greatly relieved. With the master’s protection, no matter who came, they had nothing to fear.

Lu Ming simply wanted to see if this Flame Dragon reserve team member was a scoundrel. If so, sorry, but Flame Dragon would have nothing to do with him.

Just then, there was a commotion outside the door.

“They’re right here! They just ran in here,” someone said.

A dozen or so men poured into the restaurant. Leading them was a burly man dressed in ethnic attire, his face coarse and tough.

He scanned the diners and then fixed his gaze on Wang Zeyan and the others with a sneer, “Damn it, you even dare lay hands on my Chimu people? You must be out of your mind.”

At the sight of this man, A’duo’s face paled immediately. She quietly moved to Lu Ming’s side.

“Hand over those two girls, and I might let you live today,” Chimu said, salivating as he stared at Lele and Yaoyao.

Wang Zeyan and Liu Shaokun were furious. In the capital, they were used to ruling their turf, but here in this backwater place, to be bullied like this — even their girlfriends were threatened — was a humiliation beyond words.

Just moments ago, while looking for somewhere to eat, some drunken hooligans had dared to grope Lele and Yaoyao. Wang Zeyan could not tolerate it.

He had Zhao Bing give them a harsh lesson, and the gang ran off with threats. Wang Zeyan had paid no mind; though Zhao Bing was no master, he was more than enough to handle a group of petty thugs. Wang Zeyan didn’t consider them a serious threat.

But unexpectedly, not long after, a larger group came back, including a powerful fighter who injured Zhao Bing in just three moves before leaving.

With Zhao Bing gravely wounded and unable to fight, they were no match for this group. Recalling Lu Ming’s earlier words about going to eat blood noodles, they had no choice but to seek Lu Ming’s protection again. Under Zhao Bing’s desperate cover, they escaped here.

Lu Ming glanced at Chimu and asked Zhao Bing in surprise, “Is this the one who injured you?”

To Lu Ming, Chimu was just an external martial artist, among the weakest fighters. The others were mere civilians. There was no way they could have hurt an internal martial artist like Zhao Bing.

Zhao Bing shook his head. “Master, the one who hurt me hasn’t come.”

Hearing this, Lu Ming slurped his noodles and said to Chimu, “Get lost quickly, and don’t disturb me while I eat.”

Upon learning the Flame Dragon reserve member hadn’t arrived, Lu Ming lost interest immediately.

Chimu’s gaze shifted from Lele and Yaoyao to Lu Ming, his expression darkening. “Who the hell are you?”

Lu Ming continued eating and said, “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is, if you disturb my meal again, I might get angry. And when I get angry, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Ha ha ha!” Chimu laughed heartily. “Kid, do you know whose turf this is? How dare you talk to me like that?”

Chimu looked at Lu Ming as if hearing a joke.

At that moment, A’duo whispered urgently into Lu Ming’s ear.

“Brother, this Chimu is the local chieftain of the Seven Towns in Danzou County. Please, don’t provoke him.”

“Chieftain?” Lu Ming looked at A’duo in confusion.

She nodded quickly and pretended to wipe the table, not daring to say more.

Lu Ming then understood.

Before the administrative reforms, these regions were governed by local chieftains, who held supreme authority over life and death. Their power was immense.

After the founding of New Huaxia, to facilitate governance, the system was reformed into districts and counties, with officials appointed directly by the state, abolishing the chieftain’s authority.

However, to respect local customs, the title of chieftain remained, passed down through generations, but it was now merely ceremonial.

Chimu’s ancestors had been the local chieftains, and he inherited the title.

Though the state governed directly, these chieftains still held influence and respect among their clans, explaining Chimu’s arrogance.

Lu Ming smiled at Chimu. “So it’s the chieftain himself. My apologies.”

Chimu grinned wickedly. “Hmph, good you know your place. Now, kowtow to me and get lost, and I won’t hold it against you.”

Lu Ming frowned and said slowly, “I was born with stiff knees; I can’t kneel. What shall we do about that?”

Chimu’s face darkened instantly.

A’duo looked terrified and whispered, “Brother, you really can’t afford to anger Chimu.”

As a local, she knew well how formidable Chimu was.

His family was the largest clan in the area. Though stripped of official power, their numbers and the chieftain title made them untouchable in the Seven Towns of Danzou County.

Locals would avoid him to stay safe.

Moreover, in recent years, Chimu’s cousin had risen to prominence as a captain in the special forces of the capital’s military district, making Chimu even more brazen and fearless.

A’duo saw Lu Ming’s slight frame and knew Chimu was skilled and had many followers. Offending him could easily lead to death.

Lu Ming was a good man in her eyes, and she desperately wished to prevent him from inviting such calamity.

Chimu glared at Lu Ming viciously. “I think you’re asking for death. Men, beat him until he kneels.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chimu’s henchmen surged forward, raising their machetes to strike Lu Ming.

A’duo screamed in fright, covering her eyes as she pressed against the corner.

At that moment, Lu Ming grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the bamboo container on the table without looking back and threw them out.

With a sharp whistle through the air came a series of agonized screams.

One by one, the men clutched their arms, wailing in pain.

Each had been pierced through the hand by the chopsticks, blood flowing freely.

Chimu was shocked, glaring fiercely at Lu Ming.

“No wonder you dared interfere—you’re quite skilled. But don’t get cocky. That guy you’re protecting? Tough as he is, I already dealt with him.”

Glancing at Zhao Bing, Chimu showed no fear, brimming with confidence.

Lu Ming smiled. “I don’t think you managed to deal with him.”

Chimu sneered, “Not me, but someone else did. My cousin is the captain of the special forces in the capital military district, a reserve member of the Flame Dragon. Taking out you lot is a walk in the park.”

“I don’t believe it,” Lu Ming said, continuing his meal.

“Hmph, just wait,” Chimu said, turning to leave.

He knew he couldn’t match Lu Ming, but with his cousin nearby—not far away yet—once he arrived, they’d be crushed. Then he could have his fun with those two long-legged girls.

Outside, Chimu waved his hand, and over a hundred followers blocked the restaurant’s entrance. He then pulled out his phone to make a call.

Meanwhile, Chi Shui was driving, preparing to leave Huishan Town for the capital military district.

In recent days, his heart was filled with countless emotions.

Born into poverty, it was his cousin Chimu who had sponsored him into military school. Through relentless effort, sweating and bleeding more than others, he advanced step by step, graduating with top honors and becoming a captain in the capital’s special forces.

Just last year, he received notice of becoming a reserve member of the Flame Dragon.

This news filled him with ecstatic joy.

Flame Dragon! The elite among Huaxia’s special forces. Only the finest from each military district could enter. It was the highest recognition for a soldier, the ultimate dream.

After a year of observation, just a few days ago, he was informed that he had passed and would soon begin a three-month training course. Upon completion, he would officially become a Flame Dragon member.

Overwhelmed with excitement, he returned home to thank his cousin, for without his help, none of this would be possible.

Driving with a smile on his face, Chi Shui daydreamed of his future in the Flame Dragon.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Seeing it was his cousin, he answered immediately.