Chapter Forty-Three: Inviting the Gods Is Easy, Sending Them Away Is Hard

“Director Qian, help me! Don’t listen to Zhu Guangming’s nonsense!” Lying on the floor, Zhao Qijin saw that the newcomer was Qian Huafu and, thinking his savior had arrived, summoned all his strength to cry out.

“Eh, isn’t that Seventh Lord? Who did this to you? This is outrageous, lawless!” Qian Huafu turned and saw that the man on the ground was Zhao Qijin of the Axe Gang. His expression changed dramatically, and he roared in anger.

The two were old acquaintances, often drinking and carousing together, their relationship not shallow. The Axe Gang gave him generous tributes every year, so he had always acted as their protector—police and gangsters, two sides of the same coin. Nowadays, many policemen are certified scoundrels, worse than the underworld thugs, with even greater harm.

“Director Qian... you must save me... Ugh... I just wanted them to give up their private room. Today I was supposed to host distinguished guests from Japan for dinner, discuss some investment matters. We only exchanged a few unpleasant words, and they beat us like this. Look at my injuries—ah, I’ll need six months in the hospital to recover. Mr. Yamamoto, an international friend, tried to break up the fight and was beaten beyond recognition. That’s him on the floor.”

Seeing someone backing him, Zhao Qijin was secretly delighted. Hearing Qian Huafu’s inquiry, he endured his pain and twisted the truth, even signaling Qian with his eyes.

Qian Huafu knew exactly what this meant. He’d known Zhao Qijin for years and was well aware of his character—a failed attempt at seduction, followed by a savage beating, now trying to reverse black and white. Qian despised Zhao Qijin inwardly, but ultimately, nobody turns down money, so he cooperated, his voice stern: “What? Even an international guest here for investment talks was assaulted? Who will dare invest in Shanghai after this? You’re destroying the city’s reputation! Lawless! Men, arrest these criminals and take them to the station for questioning!”

Qian Huafu was truly a leader; his words elevated the matter to an international incident, making it clear he intended to bring Liu Fan and his companions down.

“On what grounds do you judge us as criminals based only on one side of the story? I think you’re the ones who ignore the law!” Chen Yazhi, fiery-tempered, protested angrily. Though she came from an illustrious background, she was inexperienced and couldn’t hide her feelings. As a martial artist, she was intolerant of injustice, let alone being falsely accused. If she could endure this, she wouldn’t be herself.

“Did I falsely accuse you? The victims have identified you, and look at these people on the floor—didn’t you beat them? Are these injuries fake?” Qian Huafu spoke with sanctimonious seriousness, deliberately distorting the facts.

“They started it! Liu Fan acted in self-defense. You’re convicting people without investigation—since when do the police preside as judges?” Sun Junyao chimed in.

Qian Huafu was repeatedly rebuffed, his face as black as the bottom of a pot. He barked, enraged, “When did little girls get to interfere in police business? We decide who’s a criminal!”

“You—” The three women had never encountered such brutish law enforcement, and for a moment, they were speechless, their beautiful eyes blazing with anger.

Liu Fan, who hadn’t spoken yet, saw Qian Huafu enter and immediately knew he was no good. When Zhao Qijin exchanged glances with him, Liu Fan understood they were up to something. He waited calmly for the drama to unfold; in his eyes, these men were mere clowns. Life’s road was long and dull, and a little swatting of flies made for good entertainment.

“Oh? I’d like to see how the police investigate. Is it like the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Guards—grab someone and hack away indiscriminately?” Liu Fan spoke with a cheerful smile, but his gaze flashed with a cold, chilling light. Clearly, he was angry.

Qian Huafu felt a chill under Liu Fan’s gaze, inwardly startled: What a terrifying look. But remembering he had powerful backing this time, and for the sake of his own “career prospects,” he gritted his teeth and shouted, “What are you waiting for? Take them away!”

“Yes, Director.” The accompanying officers, though fearful of Liu Fan’s martial prowess, had to obey orders. They stepped forward to seize Liu Fan.

But Liu Fan was no fool—he wouldn’t submit, especially since he was innocent. He let a little celestial energy seep out and snorted coldly: “Hmph, are you planning to break the law yourselves?”

With that snort, Qian Huafu and the officers felt their heads buzz, as if someone was striking their skulls with a battering ram. The world spun, and they stood dazed, wavering, unable to move. Had Liu Fan used greater force, they might have become simpletons.

After a while, the group regained their senses and finally realized Liu Fan’s power, hurriedly drawing their service pistols. At last, they felt a bit superior. Qian Huafu, even more arrogant, said, “Kid, I know you’re skilled, but can you dodge a bullet? Even if you’re fearless, your friends aren’t as formidable. So best surrender quietly, ha ha!” His laughter made his fat jiggle, sickening to behold.

Since becoming immortal, Liu Fan had lived comfortably, even a little complacently, longing only for freedom. But he realized this stifled his nature. Even women who admired him left him hesitant; now, even an ant dared provoke and threaten him. Finally, he understood that excessive humility only made others think him weak and easy to bully, while too much ostentation brought disaster—the tree that stands out in the forest is the first blown down. The true way is to live humbly, act boldly.

With this thought, Liu Fan seemed to reach enlightenment. The philosophy of “natural law” is to follow one’s heart and sense the world—precisely so. With one insight, all became clear; his spiritual realm broke through from human immortal to earth immortal, a leap of three levels, ready to advance further with consolidation. (Note: The stages of Liu Fan’s cultivation in “Nine Transformations of the Dragon God” correspond to the immortal realms mentioned in Chapter Two; magical power and cultivation are separate concepts, and only when cultivation surpasses power does one avoid disaster.)

After his breakthrough, Liu Fan gave off an even more ethereal aura, his temperament more extraordinary and refined. Those around him noticed the sudden change but couldn’t explain it, even his close friends like Zhang Yi.

“I was the one who struck them. My friends have nothing to do with this. I’ll go with you, but don’t say I didn’t warn you—it’s easy to invite a deity, hard to send one away.” Liu Fan was no longer the man he had been; a moment of enlightenment had transformed his character. Those who dared threaten him must be prepared to pay a bloody price.

As soon as he finished, his companions panicked. Zhao Wanyi, concerned for him, hurriedly said, “No, Xiaofan, you can’t go! The police are so corrupt now—who knows what’ll happen once you’re inside? I’m worried they’ll...”

Her words were cut short by Qian Huafu, who pointed his gun at Liu Fan and said arrogantly, “Hmph, you don’t get to speak here—I decide everything. Take them all away. And call an ambulance to get the injured to the hospital.”

Just as the officers moved to seize Liu Fan and his group again, the crowd in the hotel began murmuring:

“Ah, such injustice! The gangsters were clearly at fault, but the victims go to the station? Is there any justice left?”

“Exactly! Don’t the police follow procedures or look at evidence anymore?”

“I say, the police are always like this now—no wonder the underworld is rampant and can’t be stamped out.”

“They take our taxpayers’ money and abuse their power. The real scum are these people.”

…

The crowd’s complaints grew louder, and Qian Huafu’s expression darkened even more. Under public pressure, he forced himself to say, “What are you all waiting for? Take him away!” He marched out without another word.

Liu Fan paid no mind, turned to Zhang Yi, and quietly explained something to him. Zhang Yi’s eyes darted, glinting with cunning.

Then Liu Fan, calm and composed, got into the police car surrounded by officers and left...

Meanwhile, the three women were worried about Liu Fan, not noticing that Zhang Yi had approached Zhu Guangming and spoken to him. Zhu Guangming nodded heavily, turned, and hurried off. Shortly after, Zhu Guangming returned, sweaty-faced, and handed Zhang Yi a disc.