Ning Beichen watched his retreating figure, a cold smile appearing on his lips.
He could tell that the old man had come specifically to teach him a lesson, but he had underestimated Ning Beichen's strength too much.
He P's strength was actually quite decent, at least not weak in the martial world. However, he didn't realize that he hadn't even managed to force thirty percent of Ning Beichen's strength.
Not long after, a dejected He Pu appeared before Liu Shaoyuan, his hair disheveled and his face pale, looking as if he had aged ten years.
"Master, I lost to him."
A spark of light flickered in Liu Shaoyuan's originally dim eyes. No one knew better than Liu Shaoyuan how capable his trusted subordinate was.
Even though Liu Shaoyuan was old now and not as formidable as he was in his youth, he was still not someone ordinary people could deal with.
"Is that Ning Beichen really that strong?"
Liu Shaoyuan asked, incredulous.
"Yes, I didn't even have the ability to force him to use his full strength."
He Pu thought for a moment and then said seriously.
During the earlier fight, he could actually feel that Ning Beichen had not used his full power, but He Pu believed that Ning Beichen had used at least eighty percent of his strength to defeat him.
If he knew that Ning Beichen had only used thirty percent of his strength, he would be utterly shocked.
"Hiss..."
Liu Shaoyuan gasped, then said to his trusted subordinate with great sympathy.
"Ah Pu, you've suffered with your old bones."
"I'm fine, that kid showed mercy. I only need a few days to recover."
He Pu replied somewhat dejectedly. Since he had been defeated by Ning Beichen, he had been forced to face reality. It was indeed no longer his era.
"Ah Pu, take whatever you need. Don't be polite with me. Of all the brothers back then, only you and I are still alive."
Liu Shaoyuan said with great emotion.
"I understand, Master."
Ah Pu replied respectfully.
"By the way, did that kid say why he approached my granddaughter? If it's for money, I can give him a sum and let him leave."
Liu Shaoyuan asked.
"No, he said he had no specific purpose, and was just the young lady's bodyguard, so I shouldn't worry."
Then He Pu recounted his entire conversation with Ning Beichen.
"Ah Pu, do you believe what he said?"
Liu Shaoyuan asked, frowning.
"I can't tell. Logically speaking, with his strength, there's no need for him to be a bodyguard, yet he's willing to stay by the young lady's side. Unless..."
Ah Pu recalled Ning Beichen's reaction and said.
"Unless what?"
Liu Shaoyuan quickly asked him.
"Unless he likes the young lady and is willing to stay by her side as a bodyguard to protect her, or he has other motives."
Ah Pu analyzed.
Liu Shaoyuan sat in his chair and pondered for a long time. If Ah Pu could have defeated him, it would have been a different story.
However, what troubled him was that.
This Ning Beichen was very powerful, and even Ah Pu was no match for him. If such a master of unknown origin were to stay by his granddaughter's side, who knew what risks he might bring to his granddaughter.
"Ah Pu, you say... could he be someone sent by our enemies?"
Liu Shaoyuan asked.
"It's unlikely. If he were truly sent by our enemies, he would have made a move on the young lady long ago, or used her to threaten us."
He Pu replied.
"In that case, don't make a move on him for now. Send people to monitor him. If you find him having any ill intentions towards Xiao Lin, arrange for someone to kill him immediately."
After a while, a fierce look appeared in Liu Shaoyuan's eyes as he said.
"Yes, Master."
He Pu nodded.
Meanwhile, Liu Yilin was completely unaware of this. She didn't even know that Ning Beichen had just fought with her grandfather's confidant.
She didn't stay at home for long. After about two hours, she left with Ning Beichen.
Ning Beichen drove the car, constantly observing his surroundings. The streets outside were at their liveliest. As they passed a bustling plaza, Liu Yilin suddenly had a whim and said she wanted to go to the night market.
Ning Beichen didn't stop her. He parked the car and followed by Liu Yilin's side, protecting her.
However, with his tall and imposing build, walking beside Liu Yilin, he looked more like her boyfriend than her bodyguard.
Ning Beichen had always disdained bodyguards who wore sunglasses, suits, and dressed coolly. Such a menacing appearance was like clearly telling enemies, "My employer is here, come and kill them!"
Of course, this depended on the occasion. In some environments and places, such attire was necessary to warn enemies.
Liu Yilin, perhaps because she was happy tonight, didn't cause Ning Beichen any trouble. Instead, like an ordinary girl, she wandered around the bustling plaza, seeming interested in everything.
Not long after, Ning Beichen's hands were full of shopping bags.
But this didn't prevent Ning Beichen from being vigilant and nipping potential dangers in the bud.
Just like now.
Ning Beichen, carrying the shopping bags, leisurely walked up to a man squatting on the ground pretending to tie his shoelaces, and suddenly, without any reason, kicked him in the face.
This man, who was pretending to tie his shoelaces, didn't even have time to feel the pain before Ning Beichen kicked him unconscious.
This was the third person Ning Beichen had knocked unconscious that night.
Ning Beichen couldn't be bothered to care about the identity or background of these people who were tracking and monitoring them. He acted as if he had done something insignificant.
And throughout the entire process, Liu Yilin hadn't noticed anything.
Soon, a fourth guy appeared in Ning Beichen's sight. Just as Ning Beichen was about to deal with him, this guy decisively raised his hands and said.
"Mr. Ning, don't make a move yet. We are people sent by Master to protect the young lady."
"Your tracking skills are too poor. Go back and tell your master to send some more skilled people."
Although Ning Beichen didn't kick him, he showed him no respect.
This guy was already covered in sweat, not from the heat, but from fear.
This Ning Beichen was like a shrewd cat, while they were like mice hiding in the dark. No matter how they concealed themselves, they couldn't escape his piercing gaze.
Afterward, Ning Beichen stopped paying attention to these guys. He knew in his heart that these people were not so much protecting Liu Yilin as they were monitoring him.
To be honest, Ning Beichen was a bit annoyed. He had been inexplicably ordered by his master to protect this woman, gained no benefits, and instead got into trouble.
Therefore, his greatest desire was for this year to pass quickly.
As for what the old man from the Liu family wanted, Ning Beichen didn't care at all.
If he really angered him, he wouldn't hesitate to go over and beat the old man up.