Chapter 128: A Furious Slap, The Arrogant Tyrant

Li Chao and Luo Su walked into the scene of the incident.

Luo Su hurried to her mother, reaching out to wipe the blood from her face. Seeing her mother’s helpless appearance, she couldn't help but shed tears.

Li Chao stood in front, squinting at the middle-aged men opposite, and asked in a deep voice:
"What is going on here?"

The pot-bellied man in the lead sneered:
"Are you blind? Can’t you see she scratched my car?"

Luo Su’s mother explained in a low voice:
"I had just pulled out on my electric scooter when a child suddenly ran in front of me. I swerved to avoid him and ended up scraping someone’s car. This is my fault!"

Li Chao frowned. Looking at the pot-bellied man, he questioned again:
"If she scraped your car, you can just ask for compensation! What is the meaning of hitting someone? And that broken electric scooter on the ground—was that your doing too?"

The pot-bellied man answered arrogantly:
"So what if I hit her? So what if I smashed her piece-of-junk scooter? Who told this old woman to crash into my luxury car? This is a brand-new car I just bought; it’s breaking my heart!"

Li Chao glanced at the car and shook his head, saying:
"You’ve had this car for at least a year, haven’t you? You call this brand new?"

A man behind him stepped forward and threatened:
"Never mind whether it's new or old. You scratched our car, so pay up!"

Li Chao wanted to argue further for Luo Su and her mother, but he saw Luo Su helping her mother stand up and saying with forced submission:
"It was my mother’s fault first. Tell us how much, and we will pay."

Li Chao sighed softly, feeling both pained and frustrated. Luo Su was good in every way, but she was far too submissive. Back at the Jiangnan Chun restaurant, it clearly hadn't been her fault, yet she had been forced to shoulder a debt of tens of thousands. If he hadn't stepped in to help, there was no telling how badly she would have been bullied. Now, the same situation was playing out again.

Hearing Luo Su’s words, the pot-bellied man became even more arrogant. He boasted:
"This car cost over six hundred thousand when I bought it!"

Li Chao, already dissatisfied, let out a cold laugh:
"What? You expect someone to pay the full price for a small scratch?"

The pot-bellied man shouted:
"What do you mean 'a small scratch'? Why don't you let me carve a line like that into your face and see how you like it? I’m a perfectionist; everything has to be flawless! Since there’s a problem now, you need to buy me a new car!"

The surrounding crowd began to murmur, all feeling that he was being unreasonable and overbearing. Luo Su was also furious. She had initially thought it was her fault and was willing to yield and pay, but she hadn't expected the other party to be so greedy.

"If that’s how it is, we won't settle this privately. Let's call the traffic enforcement authorities!" Luo Su said firmly. She decided she would no longer be a pushover and would use the proper channels to protect her rights.

The pot-bellied man mocked:
"It’s useless to call them! The people in the traffic enforcement team are all my friends! Even if they come, they’ll still rule that it’s your fault!"

Li Chao laughed upon hearing this, his tone filled with sarcasm:
"So, there is no law here?"

The pot-bellied man said triumphantly:
"You could say that. In this corner of Kaiyuan County, people like us are the law! You’re not leaving until you pay up!"

Li Chao smiled, took two steps forward, and said:
"So, you have no intention of being reasonable?"

The pot-bellied man lit a cigarette and shook his head:
"Reason, my ass! Pay up! Or else I’ll beat you along with her..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Li Chao suddenly swung his hand, slapping him directly across the face and knocking him to the ground.

The sudden action stunned the onlookers; no one expected this young man to resort to violence so quickly. The other three men started to step forward, but seeing the murderous glint in Li Chao’s eyes, their hearts skipped a beat. They were the type to drink and eat well, but when it came to fighting, they were cowards.

Li Chao looked at them with disdain, rubbing his fingers as he said:
"I prefer to be kind. If you want to be reasonable, we can follow the path of reason. If you want to be thugs, we can spar properly. Four against one—I’m giving you the chance to gang up on me."

Although he was alone, Li Chao’s aura overwhelmed the scene, leaving people unable to look him in the eye. The middle-aged men looked at each other, not daring to step forward. The pot-bellied man scrambled up from the ground, furious, but when he saw his companions hesitating, he didn't dare to charge either. He knew that numbers didn't always mean strength; just as a hundred sheep are no match for a single lion.

Rubbing his face, the pot-bellied man asked:
"How do you intend to be 'reasonable'?"

Li Chao chuckled, thinking to himself: *Some people are just born with a mean streak; they don't listen until they've been beaten.*

He looked at the BMW and said:
"We were at fault for scratching your car. I will pay for the repairs, using the best paint and the best mechanic. If it wastes your time, I’ll even pay for your lost wages. Is that fair?"

The pot-bellied man squinted, gesturing for Li Chao to continue. Li Chao nodded and pointed at Luo Su’s mother:
"That’s for your side. Now for my side: my people were hit! The electric scooter was smashed! You will pay the medical expenses, pay for the scooter, and offer an apology! That settles it. How about that?"

The scene went quiet. Everyone waited for the man’s response. After dozens of seconds, the pot-bellied man rubbed his face and sneered:
"What are you talking about? My car was scratched, I didn't get the compensation I asked for, and I have to pay money and apologize? Is your brain broken?"

He continued:
"Let me tell you! Today, you’re going to stand there and let me slap you three times, and then you’re going to give me one hundred thousand in compensation. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t take a single step in Kaiyuan County!"

He was used to being arrogant. Being slapped in public and ordered to apologize to a woman on an electric scooter was something he could not accept.

***

However, he did not realize he was standing against someone he could not afford to provoke.

"If I really push him, I can just make a phone call, bring some people over, and handle this brat in a minute!" the pot-bellied man thought to himself, unaware that the person in front of him was no longer someone he could bully at will.

Li Chao stood his ground, looking at the man with a cold, piercing gaze, the corners of his mouth curling into a smirk:
"So, it seems reason doesn't work. In that case, let’s get on with it! I may not know your parents, but I can beat you until even they won't recognize you!"

His voice was cold and calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure that spread through the air, chilling the hearts of those around him. Li Chao was no longer the small-town doctor he once was; he was a man who could walk freely not just in Kaiyuan County, but even in Wannian City. He had originally intended to take a step back and resolve the matter peacefully, but this man had insisted on courting death.

*Do you think you’re a big shot just because you have a big belly? Do you think you’re invincible just because you know a few people in the county? With my current status, do you really think I’ll let you bully me?*

As he spoke, Li Chao stepped forward, ready to teach the man a profound lesson.

"Don't be so damn arrogant, you brat, or I’ll make you regret this!" Seeing Li Chao approach, the pot-bellied man’s face turned deathly pale. He gripped his phone and shouted, trying to use his connections to intimidate Li Chao.

However, Li Chao ignored his threats and kicked him squarely in the stomach. The man shrieked, rolling across the ground like a gourd. Li Chao followed up with a flurry of punches and kicks. The man lay on the ground, clutching his phone and howling, but Li Chao didn't care.

*I gave you a way out and you didn't take it, so don't blame me for being ruthless!*

The man’s companions stood in the distance, watching Li Chao, but after hesitating for a long time, they didn't dare to intervene, doing nothing more than shouting from the sidelines. After all, Li Chao’s current demeanor was truly terrifying. A wise man doesn't stand under a crumbling wall!

The onlookers were stunned, especially Luo Su. Her red lips were slightly parted, her eyes wide with shock, filled with nothing but admiration. *So domineering! Truly domineering!* Even though Li Chao had only used a fraction of his strength, he had already left the pot-bellied man’s mouth bleeding and his face bruised and swollen.

Just then, the sirens of an enforcement vehicle wailed in the distance. The crowd parted, and a group of officers in uniform walked in. Li Chao stopped his assault and stood to the side, his expression indifferent.

The pot-bellied man clutched his head and wailed loudly:
"Director Lin! This brat is beating people in the street! You have to stand up for me!"

The villain complained first! Even his companions, seeing the leader, grew bolder and walked over to help the beaten man up. The enforcement team was led by a county official named Lin, who was a distant relative of the man who had been beaten.

With him personally leading the team, Li Chao was surely in trouble. They could easily pin a "disturbing the peace" charge on him and lock him up for days. Hearing the beaten man’s plea, the onlookers were worried. *It looks like he’s one of their own! Li Chao is in big trouble now.*

However, they didn't know that Li Chao was not without support; he had significant backing of his own.

*This is going to be difficult!*

Director Lin waved his hand, signaling his team to spread out and control the scene while he sized up Li Chao. He raised an eyebrow and asked:
"What is your name? Where do you live?"

If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have asked. But this was different. As an officer, he had his instincts. The young man before him was too calm. The confidence on his face was something an ordinary person couldn't fake; he clearly had a strong foundation. Moreover, he felt the young man looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

Li Chao replied calmly:
"Li Chao! The village doctor from Li Family Fort!"

Hearing this, the pot-bellied man, who had just stood up, roared:
"Holy crap! You’re just a small-town doctor and you dare to provoke me? See how I handle you today!"

He was a minor official in the county with many powerful acquaintances. To be beaten in the street by a village doctor—if he didn't deal with him properly, how could he show his face in his social circles?

However, he failed to notice that when Lin heard the name "Li Chao," his pupils contracted. He finally remembered who this person was. The first time he heard the name was from Ye Wuji. At the time, Li Chao had saved Ye Wuji’s life in the street, and Ye had called him, asking him to help find the name and contact information of his savior. Later, during the Jiangnan Chun medicinal banquet, the name Li Chao had circulated among many powerful figures in Kaiyuan County.

Now, it all clicked. A guest of the Liu family and the savior of Ye Wuji—with these two facts alone, Director Lin did not dare to lay a finger on Li Chao.

The Dragon Kingdom was a society built on connections, and the enforcement team was no exception. When dealing with those without connections, they handled things strictly; but when dealing with those with connections, they had to weigh their options. If they met someone with powerful backing, the situation would instantly turn into smiles and laughter.

*Two faces, two sets of rules!* There was no help for it; the county was only so big. Offending the wrong person would be a headache even for an official like Director Lin.

As Director Lin weighed the pros and cons, the scene grew quiet.

***

The pot-bellied man was confused and leaned in to ask:
"Director Lin, why haven't you arrested this guy?"

Director Lin took a deep breath, pulled the man to the side, and said slowly:
"He cannot be arrested!"

*What?* The pot-bellied man was bewildered. He was just a village doctor; the county could crush him like an ant. Why couldn't he be arrested?

Director Lin explained in a low voice, leaving the man stunned. He hadn't expected that while this young man was just a village doctor, his network was so vast that he was connected to the biggest figures in the county. Of course, this was without knowing Li Chao's status in Huaxi City, otherwise, his jaw would have hit the floor.

"Old Wan, let’s resolve this quietly," Director Lin said after a dozen seconds, patting the shoulder of the man who had been beaten.

The man, known as Old Wan, was silent for a long time before finally nodding. Although the other party was at fault, he had clearly been the one bullying others. Now that the other party had such strong backing, and he was just a head of a minor department, if he kept pushing, he might lose his job.

Eventually, under the mediation of the enforcement team, the matter was resolved privately. The costs for the car and the scooter were offset; Li Chao stopped pursuing the injuries to Luo Su’s mother, and Old Wan stopped mentioning his beating. Finally, in front of everyone, he apologized to Li Chao and Luo Su’s mother.

The onlookers were shocked. They had all expected Li Chao to suffer, but instead, the people in the BMW were the ones who backed down first. Seeing justice served, people cheered and cast admiring looks at Li Chao.

Li Chao took Luo Su and her mother to get the scooter repaired, and the crowd gradually dispersed, though the talk of the incident continued.

Old Wan wiped his nosebleed with a tissue and rubbed his face. Even though it was settled, he felt a deep sense of grievance. He hadn't expected that he, a minor official, would stumble before a village doctor.

Director Lin glanced at him and said coldly:
"Don't be ungrateful! These are just superficial injuries! If he had actually broken your legs, given his connections, you would have had to just endure it! Keep a lower profile from now on!"

Hearing this, Old Wan trembled and nodded hurriedly. He realized he had been too arrogant and needed to rein himself in. Thinking this, he felt slightly less miserable. He took one last deep look at Li Chao, vowing never to make an enemy of him again.

After settling things for Luo Su’s mother, Li Chao prepared to leave. Luo Su walked with him for a short distance and whispered:
"Brother Chao, if you keep helping me like this, won't I have to be your maid for the rest of my life?"

Li Chao laughed:
"In ancient times, maids were expected to warm the bed!"

Luo Su looked down, thought for a moment, and said seriously:
"Then I will warm it for you!"

Li Chao’s mouth twitched. *This girl, don't tell me she’s taking this seriously again?*

He waved for Luo Su to go back, then drove toward the County Culture Bureau. The Bureau was located in a remote, aging building. A faded plaque hung by the gate, looking like a department with no real power.

An old man sat at the gate. When he saw Li Chao’s car, he didn't even raise his eyelids. If it were any other department, the security guard would have stood at attention for a Porsche. But here, big shots rarely visited, and if they did, they drove BMWs, Audis, or Mercedes. To the old man, those were the only brands that mattered; everything else was just "junk."

Seeing the old man wouldn't open the gate, Li Chao rolled down his window:
"Sir, I’m here to take care of some business!"

The old man became even more dissatisfied and said coldly:
"Do you think this is a village committee? Anyone can just walk in? Do you have an appointment?"

Li Chao was speechless. He just wanted to look up some information; did he really need an appointment? And besides, who would he make an appointment with?

"I’m just here to look up some records!" Li Chao said, trying to be patient.

The old man waved him off firmly:
"Looking up records won't work! Park your car outside, write an application here, and go home and wait for notice!"

Li Chao frowned. It was clear the man was intentionally making things difficult. Seeing Li Chao’s expression, the old man pointed to a nearby convenience store and said meaningfully:
"If you can’t wait, go over there and look around; there might be another way."

Li Chao understood immediately. The man wanted a bribe. If everyone was treated the same, he wouldn't mind, but for a gatekeeper to be so blatantly corrupt?

Li Chao sneered:
"They say it’s easy to deal with the King of Hell, but hard to deal with the minor demons. That’s true! Today, you won't get a single cent from me!"

The old man was furious, slamming his desk as he stood up:
"Fine! Then I’ll say it right here: you will never step inside this gate as long as you live!"

Just then, a BMW X5 drove up, breaking the standoff. The car stopped at the gate, the door opened, and a middle-aged man in a suit with an imposing air stepped out.