At that moment, Zhu Qiang scrutinized Ling Zhenfei and burst into laughter. "Sir, hello, may I ask what you are doing in my office?"

Ling Zhenfei didn't know whether Zhu Qiang had already discovered his identity. Since Zhu Qiang seemed unaware of who he was at this juncture, he absolutely couldn't admit to it as long as the other party was in the dark.

"So this is your office—I'm terribly sorry, I must have come to the wrong place. How about you let me out and I'll be on my way?"

Hearing Ling Zhenfei's words, Zhu Qiang and Feng Kai both laughed heartily. Feng Kai chuckled and said, "Do you think this is a public restroom to just wander into by mistake? Do you take us for fools? Just come clean—who are you and what is your purpose here?"

Ling Zhenfei felt a surge of relief—could it be they really didn't know his purpose? If that was the case, there was still a sliver of hope for him to stay alive.

"Since I've been caught by you all, I might as well confess—I'm from 'above'. We received an anonymous tip alleging violations at the Imperial Palace Club, and I was sent in to investigate."

Ling Zhenfei hoped his words could deceive them, but even he wasn't sure if he could pull it off.

"Oh, so you came down to investigate, did you? And brother, what did you find out?" Zhu Qiang asked coolly.

Ling Zhenfei replied with a smile, "You must be well aware of the many issues your Imperial Palace Club has. But now that I've been caught, it's different. I think perhaps we should have a serious talk."

Zhu Qiang, intrigued, said, "Oh, and what exactly is there left to talk about between us?" Ling Zhenfei responded, "Of course, we can talk. After all, me going undercover for an investigation is just a job, just as running this club is your job. And what are jobs for, if not for money?"

It seemed that Zhu Qiang understood and said with a smile, "From what you're implying, brother, as long as the money is right, everything can be negotiated, yes?"

Ling Zhenfei gave Zhu Qiang a thumbs-up and said, "Zhu Laoda is truly astute. There's nothing in this world that money can't solve. If it can't solve a problem, it's simply because the amount isn't enough. I can assure you, as long as you pay the price, I'll make your Imperial Palace Club's issues disappear."

Feng Kai laughed from the side, "Wow, I didn't know you had that kind of capability. So, how much do you think is appropriate?"

Feigning contemplation, Ling Zhenfei replied, "I'm not greedy, five million and I'll make it go away. How about it? That's nothing to you guys, right?"

Zhu Qiang chuckled and said, "Sure, five million isn't much, but what if I don't feel like paying?"

Zhu Qiang's expression was unreadable to Ling Zhenfei, giving no indication whether he believed his words. Yet, he didn't expose him, which Ling Zhenfei found odd.

"Zhu Laoda, for such a big issue, not offering any money wouldn't be quite right. Or do you still doubt my capabilities?" Ling Zhenfei put on a troubled face.

"That's right. I do have serious doubts about who you are. How can you prove you're part of the investigation team?" asked Zhu Qiang.

This was indeed a problem for Ling Zhenfei, who had just bluffed without any way to actually provide proof.

"Do I even need to prove it? Let me go, and I'll have the investigation team withdraw by tomorrow."

Zhu Qiang said coldly, "No way, without proof of your identity, you're not leaving today."

Ling Zhenfei was still very happy inside, at least he now had the possibility of leaving. He thought for a moment and said, "I know all about the investigation team's business, like how the team was attacked on their first night in Binyang, and the attackers were Oxhead and Horseface. You should know about this, right?"

No sooner had Ling Zhenfei spoken than he saw the expressions on Zhu Qiang and Feng Kai's faces change. Very few people knew about this incident, and among them, only Zhu Qiang and Feng Kai were aware, so Ling Zhenfei's words immediately dispelled half of their doubts.

"Are you really from the investigation team?"

Seeing that the two men were close to believing him, Ling Zhenfei quickly said with confidence, "Is there any doubt about it? Who else but the investigation team would dare lay a finger on you? Just release me, and I will tell them that your Imperial Palace Club is only involved in minor prostitution, not worth making a fuss over. I will try to get them to leave. What do you say?"

Zhu Qiang and Feng Kai exchanged glances, then quickly split up. Zhu Qiang nodded and said, "Alright, I can release you, but you have to keep your word, or else I'll kill your family."

Ling Zhenfei smiled and said, "Don't worry about that, I guarantee your club will be fine."

After Ling Zhenfei finished speaking, Zhu Qiang waved his hand to someone at the side, creating a pathway for Ling Zhenfei to leave.

Ling Zhenfei breathed a sigh of relief at this point, it was too close, he was almost besieged. Although he hadn't completed his mission, being able to leave was good enough.

As he was thinking this, Ling Zhenfei walked towards the exit. By that time, Zhu Qiang's men had all retreated to the door. Just as Ling Zhenfei reached the doorway and was about to step out, he suddenly felt a gust of cold wind slap towards him from both sides of the door.

"It's an ambush!" Ling Zhenfei immediately realized.

The wind was fierce and the force behind it extremely powerful. Fortunately, Ling Zhenfei had been mentally prepared and had never fully trusted Zhu Qiang and Feng Kai, so the moment the wind struck, he sensed it.

Ling Zhenfei's reaction was quick; with a strong twist of his body and the help of his Spiritual Power, he retreated back into the room. At that moment, the two gusts of wind at the door collided, resulting in a loud noise. Had Ling Zhenfei not dodged, he would definitely have been hit by both gusts simultaneously.

The consequences of being hit by such powerful Spiritual Power would have been dire.

Suddenly, two figures darted in, blocking the doorway. Ling Zhenfei was astonished to see the two middle-aged men who entered, one with a broad square face looking very mighty, the other with a skinny triangular head. Both men were powerful.

Ling Zhenfei's Divine Sense easily made out the Northern Spiritual Energy on the two men, feeling that both were at the Peak of Mingmu. The emergence of two such individuals at once was indeed a surprise to Ling Zhenfei.

Zhu Qiang and Feng Kai also entered from the doorway, sizing up Ling Zhenfei, evidently surprised that he had not been hit.

"Zhu Laoda, what is the meaning of this? How could you go back on your word and set up an ambush for me?" Ling Zhenfei still did not want to make the situation explicit; with their numerical advantage, a direct confrontation would not be in his favor.

Zhu Qiang turned his gaze back onto Ling Zhenfei and said, "Who exactly are you?"

"I am Zhang Benjian, a businessman."

"To hell with that, don't give me that crap. Your strength is so great it makes me think of someone," Zhu Qiang cursed roundly.

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