Chapter 89: Goddess Strikes!

The Four Great War Gods stared coldly at Lin Yuan, exuding a chilling pressure.

Chang Jinghe gave a deep smile, "Xiao Lin brother, I, Chang Jinghe, rarely take the initiative to invite anyone to join. So many people on the streets beg to join my Changsheng Group, yet they get no chance. You refuse? Do you know how rare this opportunity is?"

Lin Yuan asked, "Why must you invite me?"

Chang Jinghe slowly smiled, "Because you're skilled, you managed to defeat two of my enforcers in a row—you deserve my invitation."

"Xiao Lin brother, if you join my Changsheng Group, you'll become the fifth war god under my command. I'll give you a security team for you to manage. Besides, I'll pay you an annual salary of two million. From now on, I guarantee you'll rise to greatness."

Lin Yuan's expression changed—Chang Jinghe's offer… was too tempting.

No one would refuse.

Money and power—you'd have them both.

Both money and people are given.

But Lin Yuan still shook his head, "Sorry, Chang Dong, I really don't want to join Changsheng Group. Please look elsewhere."

Chang Jinghe narrowed his eyes, "What? You think the money isn't enough? Then I'll give you three million a year."

Lin Yuan still shook his head, "Chang Dong, it's not about the money—I don't want to work in gray‑market businesses, I don't want to wander the jianghu. Your group's trade is illegal; I can't accept that, so I'm sorry."

Chang Jinghe laughed scornfully upon hearing that, "Xiao Lin brother, by joining the Goddess Bar you're already in the jianghu—do you think you're some kind of good person?"

Lin Yuan shook his head, "The Goddess Bar is different from you—they only run the bar lawfully, no illegal activity, no crime; I can accept that work. Sorry, Chang Dong, I appreciate your kindness, but I truly don't want to wander the jianghu, let alone do illegal deeds."

Chang Jinghe took a sip of baijiu, then said slowly, "You don't want to wander the jianghu? Lin Yuan, you're too naive. Once you're in the jianghu, you have no control over your fate. From the moment you stepped into it, there's no chance to leave."

"Why can't I leave?" Lin Yuan countered.

Chang Jinghe chuckled amusedly, "Your martial arts are so fierce—you were born to mix in our jianghu. Without my protection, more jianghu gangs will come after you, and your troubles will multiply. You possess skill, and that itself is a crime."

Lin Yuan's face darkened.

He finally understood the meaning of his grandfather's repeated warnings back then…

His grandfather had repeatedly warned him back then, telling Lin Yuan not to show his skills in front of outsiders, and certainly not to reveal his sharpness.

Now, Lin Yuan understood.

"Xiao Lin brother, I'm giving you one last chance to choose—join us, and I'll pay you three million a year plus year‑end bonus. Besides, I'll give you a security team of a hundred men for you to command. Whether it's money or power, I'll give you both." Chang Jinghe threw out the olive branch again.

……

Meanwhile, inside the Goddess Bar.

An Yunxi kept calling Lin Yuan over and over—several times—but no one answered.

An Yunxi finally realized—Lin Yuan was in trouble!

An Yunxi hurriedly called the mysterious boss!

"Boss! The Changsheng Group has been courting Lin Yuan lately, and now he went alone to the Changsheng Group… saying he wanted to talk with Chang Jinghe? He's now out of contact! I can't reach him by phone, and he doesn't reply on WeChat!" An Yunxi reported gravely.

From the other end of the line came a soft woman's voice, "Oh? That guy… really is unexpected."

"Boss? What should we do? Should I send people over? Lin Yuan is alone in the Changsheng Association—he's probably in more danger than safety." An Yunxi said anxiously.

"No, stay at the Goddess Bar. You don't need to handle this—I'll take care of it." The mysterious Goddess Boss on the other end replied slowly.

……

Night, the top floor of the Changsheng Group.

Lin Yuan sat in the presidential suite, watching Chang Jinghe.

He shook his head again, "Sorry, Chang Dong… I don't want to join the Changsheng Association."

Lin Yuan refused Chang Jinghe again.

Chang Jinghe smiled deeply, "Lin Yuan, in this society most people are just ordinary, spending their lives accomplishing nothing, wanting to make big money but lacking the chance. Now I've given you this opportunity—why don't you cherish it? What's wrong with breaking the law? As long as you make money, who cares if it's illegal? Besides, I have connections in the government; the police can't touch us. Your courage is too small."

Lin Yuan shook his head, "Chang Dong, I'm truly sorry—I don't want to do anything against my conscience."

Chang Jinghe's trade is one that harms heaven and reason.

Selling toxic smoke, toxic liquor? Such highly addictive contraband… how many young people will it poison?

Lin Yuan didn't want to do that.

"Chang Dong, I'm really sorry tonight, and I hope you won't come looking for me again—I just want to be an ordinary person." Lin Yuan said, then rose to leave.

But Chang Jinghe narrowed his eyes and said slowly, "Xiao Lin brother, I'm used to offering two cups of wine—one a toast, one a penalty. You refused my invitation—do you want to drink the penalty cup? I'll give you another chance to think it over."

Chang Jinghe said, pouring two cups of baijiu… and placed them before Lin Yuan.

"This cup on the left is a toast, for those who join our Changsheng Association. The cup on the right… is a penalty, for those who disobey. Which will you choose?"

Lin Yuan glanced at it, then picked up the right-hand cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing that, Chang Jinghe laughed, his smile deep and amused, "Xiao Lin brother, it looks like you're determined to oppose my Changsheng Group."

As Chang Jinghe's words faded, outside the presidential suite door… a mass of footsteps appeared.

Countless black‑clad thugs in suits filled the hallway outside, sealing off the suite completely!

"Chang Dong, what do you mean?" Lin Yuan's face hardened.

Chang Jinghe snorted coldly, "Since we can't be family, we'll only be enemies. Tonight I won't let you walk out of the Changsheng Group standing. As for me, Chang, I deal with enemies by eradicating them root and branch."

Lin Yuan's face grew cold as he took a deep breath.

Suddenly he lunged at Chang Jinghe!

Lin Yuan knew well the principle: capture the bandit by catching its leader first!

But just as Lin Yuan was about to reach Chang Jinghe… he was suddenly blocked by four figures.

The Four Great War Gods of the Changsheng Association surged forward together, blocking Lin Yuan's path before Chang Jinghe.

"Bang—bang!" Lin Yuan threw a punch, but the four shoved him back two steps.

Chang Jinghe continued sitting in his chair, sipping his drink, "Xiao Lin brother, it's not too late to regret—I'll give you another chance to think it over."

Lin Yuan didn't answer; he grabbed a bottle, "Clang!" and smashed it to pieces.

Then he took off his suit jacket, wrapped it around his fist, and also clenched the two shards of glass from the bottle in his hand as he tightened his grip.

Lin Yuan intended to use the bottle glass as a weapon.

"Are you planning to fight your way out alone? Lin Yuan, you're being too naïve. Do you have any idea how many people are in this building?" Chang Jinghe laughed sarcastically.

Lin Yuan said coldly, "Tonight either let me go, or beat me to death."

Chang Jinghe sighed, "Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish."

Chang Jinghe snapped his fingers, "Go."

Instantly, outside the private room, a sea of thugs surged in!

Lin Yuan's expression changed, and he threw a fierce punch!

"Bang!" A thug who rushed forward was sent flying two meters by a single punch!

Lin Yuan, holding shards of bottle glass, plunged into the crowd.

"Plish! Plish! Plish!" The sharp glass shards sliced through the thugs' elbow and shoulder joints!

The thugs screamed in pain, clutching their hands as they fell back!

Lin Yuan struck with ruthless cruelty; if he didn't strike hard tonight, he might really die here!

So Lin Yuan showed no mercy in his attack!

The Four Great War Gods' faces turned grim, and they also surged forward!

Lin Yuan was alone, surrounded by the sea of people!

One person, facing dozens inside the private room!

Moreover, on the corridor outside the private room, a massive crowd waited to charge in!

This was basically an unwinnable battle!

"Ring‑ring!" Just then, Chang Jinghe's phone suddenly rang.

Chang Jinghe picked up his phone with interest and glanced at it.

Huh? Upon seeing the caller ID, Chang Jinghe's expression tightened.

Caller ID: 【8888-8888】

Across all of Hangcheng, a phone number with this top‑tier sequence of '8's belongs to only one person.

The behind‑the‑scenes boss of the Goddess Bar, that mysterious "Goddess‑Phoenix"!

The Goddess Phoenix is calling?

Chang Jinghe slowly pressed the answer key.