Chapter 139

Hearing this, Zhang Qi fell silent. He did not know how to respond to Lan Fenghuang, as this was the first time he had ever seen her show such great interest in a man.

"Bang!"

However, just as the two were speaking, the door to the Blue Phoenix bar was kicked open!

The violent sound startled both Lan Fenghuang and Zhang Qi, who immediately rushed out of the room to see what was happening.

"Dad?"

A middle-aged man in a black trench coat strode into the bar, radiating fury. Though his temples were streaked with gray, the imposing, domineering aura he exuded did not lose to that of any young man. A deep scar on his face served as a testament to his past and the hardships he had endured.

This man was Lan Fenghuang’s father, Lan Shihao.

"Slap!"

The man took two quick strides, arriving directly in front of Lan Fenghuang. Without a word, he raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap across her face. The force was so great that Lan Fenghuang staggered, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Seeing this, a flash of anger crossed Zhang Qi’s face. Just as he moved to step forward, Lan Shihao’s right hand flicked, and a short blade glinting with cold light appeared in his grip. With a swift motion, the blade stopped precisely one centimeter from Zhang Qi’s throat.

"This is a matter between father and daughter; it is not your place to interfere. Get out of the way!"

Lan Shihao finally spoke, his words dripping with extreme arrogance. He left no room for rebuttal, his tone filled with the weight of a command.

As one of the ten richest people in the Great Xia Kingdom, Lan Shihao’s style of conduct was worlds apart from that of Mu Sihai. If Mu Sihai was a scholarly merchant—refined, elegant, and calculating—then Lan Shihao was bold and unrestrained, his methods forceful and tyrannical.

"Zhang Qi, move aside!"

After a long moment, Lan Fenghuang finally recovered from the shock of the slap. Seeing Zhang Qi standing in front of her, she waved her hand to signal him to step back.

She knew very well that if her father were truly enraged, Zhang Qi would be no match for him. In a fit of fury, Lan Shihao might even kill Zhang Qi on the spot; after all, it was not as if he hadn't done such things before.

"Miss Lan, I..."

"Move aside! This is none of your business!" Seeing Zhang Qi hesitate, Lan Fenghuang scolded him sharply, and only then did he obediently retreat to the side.

"Do you know why I hit you?" Lan Shihao glared at his daughter, his voice thick with rage.

"I do!"

"Then give me a reasonable explanation. Why did Xu Haokun die in your bar?"

Lan Shihao swept his coat aside, and a subordinate quickly pulled up a chair. He sat down before Lan Fenghuang with the air of an underworld godfather, looking incredibly imposing.

"I didn't kill him!" Lan Fenghuang hurried to explain.

"I know, but he died in your bar!" Lan Shihao’s voice remained laced with anger. Without any hesitation, he raised his hand and delivered another resounding slap to Lan Fenghuang’s face.

"Slap!"

The crisp sound echoed throughout the entire bar. Lan Fenghuang felt a burning pain on her cheek; a buzzing sound filled her ears, and blood began to trickle from her nose.

Since she was a child, Lan Shihao’s method of raising her had been this simple and brutal. Lan Fenghuang had lost count of how many times she had endured such treatment.