Chapter 124: Rising Once More, the Treachery of the Human Heart

Li Chao sat in the corner of the private room like an old monk on a meditation mat, unshakeable and steady.

Drinks were served? He didn’t refuse. Cup after cup, he drank with such gusto that it seemed as if the alcohol were nothing more than a refreshing spring, sweet as nectar to his palate. Several bottles of fine liquor vanished as silently as sand through an hourglass. Li Chao remained composed, his eyes clear and sharp. Lu Bin watched this with growing astonishment, though he refused to concede. With a grand wave of his hand, he ostentatiously ordered five more bottles of imported spirits, as if signaling a "showdown" at the table.

The room was boisterous, the atmosphere thick and humid like a steamer. Yet, beneath the laughter, there was an undercurrent of something else. Liu Dan, Li Chao’s close friend, immediately sensed that something was off. She tugged at his sleeve, her eyes filled with worry, but Li Chao simply chuckled and waved her off, implying, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

Inwardly, he was amused, thinking, "With my tolerance, drinking this is no different than sipping water." A confident smile curled at the corners of his mouth. He knew he was no longer the novice he once was; on the drinking scene, he was now a "master" who could hold his own against anyone.

Time flew, and the five new bottles were gone. The three women, despite their desperate attempts to cheat or play tricks, were now bleary-eyed and disoriented. One had even slumped onto the sofa, legs splayed in a display of total internal collapse. Lu Bin, the "host," paced like an ant on a hot pan. He was bewildered: "Is this guy pickled in a wine vat? How can he drink so much?"

Li Chao, his face flushed and his posture swaying, looked as if he might topple over at any second, yet he remained upright like a roly-poly toy. Shaking an empty bottle, he squinted at Lu Bin and slurred, "Manager Lu, we're out again! Didn't we say no one leaves until they're drunk? Come on, bring a few more!"

Lu Bin’s brow furrowed like a bitter melon as he darted glances between Li Chao and Liu Dan. He realized that Li Chao’s tolerance was formidable—this drinking session had far exceeded his expectations. Provoked, he gritted his teeth and signaled the waiter. Before he could speak, however, Li Chao grabbed the waiter and declared with booming bravado, "Go! Bring us ten of the most expensive bottles you have!"

Lu Bin was stunned. He cursed internally: *Are you joking?* The prices here were exorbitant; the drinks they had already consumed were premium, costing thousands per bottle. The imported vintage spirits were even more absurdly priced, reaching hundreds of thousands each. Even as wealthy as Lu Bin was, he didn't usually spend money like this. Yet, Li Chao was ordering ten at a time, treating him like an ATM!

Lu Bin was livid, but he reasoned that Li Chao had already drunk so much that another two bottles would surely knock him out. Gritting his teeth, he decided to play along and waved his hand: "Bring me ten of the best!" The waiter, overjoyed, sprinted to the bar, fearing Lu Bin might change his mind.

Li Chao watched Lu Bin with an air of triumph, as if he could already see the dawn of victory. Lu Bin, however, was calculating: *Just a little more, I can't let all this effort go to waste! It’s just a million or so, right? Drink! I’ll let you drink your fill today! Once you're out, I'll show you how I can toy with your woman right in front of your eyes!*

The waiter returned, lugging ten bottles of Louis XIII as if he were carrying a treasure chest. Li Chao grabbed a bottle and began pouring, his hand shaking so much that more spilled than made it into the glass. Lu Bin’s heart bled at the sight. *Brother, steady your hand! That’s not just liquor; that’s money!*

Before long, with the bottle barely finished, the remaining two women had completely passed out. Li Chao, despite appearing unable to even hold his glass, still refused to fall. It was a miracle. Finally, Lu Bin couldn't take it anymore and joined in, attempting to outlast Li Chao. After six bottles, he was forced to concede—he truly couldn't drink another drop.

Looking at Li Chao, Lu Bin was at a loss for words. Throughout the night, Li Chao had remained as immovable as a pillar. It defied logic! Even water would have been hard to consume in such quantities.

Lu Bin finally understood: Li Chao’s tolerance was monstrous. Expecting to get him drunk with these bottles was an impossibility. He felt a wave of bitter regret; he had been the one to set the trap, only to be caught in it himself.

"Manager Lu, shall we keep going?" Li Chao asked, holding a remaining bottle.

Lu Bin waved his hand in refusal, his eyes filled with helplessness and frustration. Li Chao flashed a triumphant grin. *Little brat! Let's see if you dare to mess with me again!*

Just as Lu Bin thought it was over, something unexpected happened. Li Chao laughed, opened the remaining bottles, and downed them all in one go. Lu Bin watched, his jaw dropping, his fear turning into numbness. *Brother, are you a god of wine? Can you be any more ridiculous?*

After finishing, Li Chao wiped his mouth and let out a satisfied belch. Smiling at Lu Bin, he said, "Manager Lu, if we're done, I’ll be taking Sister Dan and leaving! Thanks for the hospitality! Have a good time!"

With that, Li Chao pulled Liu Dan away. Lu Bin realized he had been played and was filled with a burning, impotent rage. He could only watch them leave, consumed by frustration.

Just then, the curly-haired woman stumbled up, swaying, and began to vomit. The stench was unbearable, causing everyone to scramble away.

"Damn it! Disgusting!" A group of men approached from the distance, led by a burly man with a small black snake tattooed on his neck. The vomit had splashed onto his trousers. He cursed loudly, looking ready for a brawl. After venting, he kicked the curly-haired woman hard. She lost her balance and crashed to the floor, overturning Lu Bin’s table. Everything shattered in a chaotic mess.

Lu Bin, already seething, felt his pride stung. He smashed an empty bottle against the floor and roared, "You dare hit her? Do you have a death wish?"

The burly man didn't flinch. He laughed, "Oh? You’re pretty tough! You dare talk to me like that? Do you want to die?" His smile was sinister, like a serpent baring its fangs. His followers stopped dancing and crowded around, clutching bottles and glaring at Lu Bin. The pressure was suffocating.

Li Chao, who had been walking away, stopped and turned back. He felt a flicker of recognition upon seeing the burly man, though he couldn't quite place him.

Lu Bin, emboldened by alcohol, had lashed out, but now he felt the gravity of the situation. He hesitated, then tried to diffuse it: "Brother, it’s a misunderstanding! She’s with me. She was wrong, but you’ve already hit her, so give me some face and let it go!"

The burly man responded with a slap that sent stars dancing before Lu Bin’s eyes. "Who the hell are you? You think you have 'face'?"

Lu Bin, a deputy manager of a hotel, was incensed. "I am Lu Bin, deputy manager of the Nantian Hotel! You'll regret this if you don't stop!"

The burly man laughed coldly. "Regret? You're nothing! Howard is dead, and you think you’re important? Should I skin you alive?"

Lu Bin was reduced to a cowering mess. The burly man grabbed the woman by her hair and forced her to the ground. "You nasty bitch! You vomited on me! Lick it clean! If there's a trace left, I'll cut out your tongue and feed it to the dogs!"

The woman, terrified, looked at Lu Bin. "Brother Bin, help me! Didn't you say Liu Zhenhua gives you face here?"

Lu Bin wanted to cry. *You believed that nonsense? My face is already swollen!*

Seeing no one would help her, the woman crawled toward the man’s leg, sobbing. The burly man sneered and pointed at the other two unconscious women. "Boys, no need to go out hunting tonight! Take these three and have your fun!"

The followers cheered. The curly-haired woman was paralyzed with fear. Lu Bin remained silent, too focused on his own survival to care about their fate.

Li Chao watched with a complex expression. He felt no sympathy for the women—they had tried to trap him, after all—but his conscience wouldn't allow him to stand by.

Liu Dan whispered, "Xiao Chao, they are my classmates. Even if they were wrong, they don't deserve this. Can you help them?"

Li Chao sighed and stepped forward. "That’s enough."

His voice was calm and indifferent. Lu Bin, seeing Li Chao, trembled in fear. *What are you doing? This man doesn't fear me, why would he listen to you?*

But as Lu Bin tried to distance himself, he froze. The moment the burly man saw Li Chao, his face went pale with terror. He stood bolt upright, bowed low, and stammered, "Yes! Mr. Chen!"

The room fell deathly silent. Everyone was stunned. The bully, who had been so arrogant, was cowering before a seemingly ordinary young man.

Li Chao, surprised by this reaction, asked, "You know me?"

The man replied, "I was there the night you showed your power. You don't know me, but I know you!" He was a subordinate of Zhou Laosan and had witnessed Li Chao’s might. Terrified, he bowed again and, hearing the sirens of the law enforcement team in the distance, quickly retreated with his men, not daring to touch the women again.