Inside the Mercedes RV.
Sun Wu asked with concern, “Old Huang, how’s your hand?”
“It’s just a broken bone, no big deal.” Recalling Ye Qiu’s terrifying skills, Old Huang still felt a lingering fear.
“Xiao Yu, drive to the hospital. Let’s get Old Huang’s bone set first,” Sun Wu instructed.
“No need,” Old Huang said. “Too many people knowing about this isn’t good. Have a private doctor come to the house instead.”
“Old Huang, you think of everything.”
Sun Wu gritted his teeth and continued, “I’ve been in Suhang for decades, and since founding the Green Wolf Gang, this is the first time someone’s slapped my face. It’s an utter humiliation.”
“What’s worse, he even broke one of Old Huang’s hands.”
“If I don’t get revenge, I’m not a man.”
“Xiao Yu, later you’ll gather the boys. Tonight, we’re going back to the Qian family.”
Old Huang’s expression remained neutral as he asked, “Fifth Master, what do you plan to do?”
Sun Wu spat out four words through clenched teeth: “Raze the Qian family!”
“Fifth Master, forgive my bluntness, but you’d best not do that,” Old Huang said. “If he held nothing back when we fought earlier, I wouldn’t have gotten off with just a broken hand.”
Sun Wu was startled. “Old Huang, you mean he was holding back?”
“Yes,” Old Huang said gravely. “His true strength is likely close to the top three on the Dragon List.”
Hiss!
Sun Wu sucked in a sharp breath.
“Even if you rallied all the boys, Fifth Master, we might not kill him. With his skills, if he wanted to escape, no one in Suhang could stop him.”
“And if he didn’t run, to take him down, we’d probably lose over a thousand men.”
“To kill one person at such a cost—it’s not worth it.”
“Besides, with enemies all around us now, the Green Wolf Gang can’t afford any losses.”
Old Huang concluded, “I think we should let this matter drop.”
Though unwilling, Sun Wu knew Old Huang spoke the truth.
“Fine, we’ll do as you say,” Sun Wu agreed, then asked, “Old Huang, any movement from Dragon Gate?”
Old Huang shook his head.
Sun Wu frowned. “Cao Yuan’s a cunning warlord. Dragon Gate’s already marching south. By all accounts, he should’ve set his sights on Suhang long ago. Why hasn’t he moved against us?”
“That is indeed odd,” Old Huang said. “It’s like Cao Yuan’s forgotten about Suhang.”
Sun Wu replied, “Cao Yuan’s the type to plan before striking. When he does, it’ll be a thunderbolt. He’s probably scheming something.”
Old Huang asked, “Compared to Dragon Gate, we have no edge at all. Fifth Master, if Dragon Gate comes to Suhang, what will you do?”
“What can I do? We’ve only two paths: submit or resist.”
Sun Wu continued, “Submission might offer a way to live. Resistance is a death sentence.”
“So, Fifth Master, do you choose death or life?” Old Huang pressed.
“Of course, life. I’m not done living,” Sun Wu said. “The Green Wolf Gang can submit to Dragon Gate, but I want to stay in Suhang.”
Old Huang understood.
Sun Wu intended to nominally submit to Cao Yuan while secretly remaining Suhang’s local tyrant.
“Fifth Master, I’m afraid Cao Yuan won’t agree to that,” Old Huang warned.
“That’s exactly why I wanted to recruit that kid at the Qian house,” Sun Wu said. “If I had a few Dragon List-level fighters under me, would I fear Cao Yuan?”
Old Huang suddenly recalled Ye Qiu’s words and cautioned, “Fifth Master, that kid said you’d face a bloody disaster. Be careful lately.”
“Bloody disaster? Nonsense…” Sun Wu began.
Beep beep beep—
His phone suddenly rang.
Sun Wu answered, listened briefly, then hung up, his face turning serious.
“What’s wrong?” Old Huang asked, noticing the change.
Sun Wu said, “Some unfamiliar faces showed up near Green Wolf Gang headquarters today. The boys suspect they’re Dragon Gate scouts.”
Old Huang replied, “Scouts or not, grab a few and ask. That’ll clear it up.”
“The boys tried, but oddly, those people seem skilled. Not one was caught.”
Oh?
A flicker of surprise crossed Old Huang’s eyes.
“Could Cao Yuan be preparing to move on us?” Sun Wu said, his face darkening.
Old Huang thought for a moment. “Fifth Master, let’s head straight to headquarters.”
Sun Wu had the same idea. “Xiao Yu, to headquarters.”
…
After Sun Wu left, Cao Chunmei and her daughter were officially expelled from the family.
With Ye Qiu resolving the Qian family’s troubles, everyone was delighted—except Ye Qiu himself. The reason? Old Master Qian had given him a courtesy name.
This bugged him all day.
That night, in his room, Ye Qiu muttered under his breath about Old Master Qian: “I could’ve lived to a hundred, but you gave me ‘Changsheng’ (Longevity)? Isn’t that cursing me to be short-lived?”
“If you couldn’t think of a good name, just go with Ye Xuan, Ye Wen, Ye Fan, Ye Chen, Ye Xiu, Ye Wudao—I’d have accepted any of those.”
“Why ‘Changsheng’? It’s got no style at all.”
“Grandfather, oh Grandfather, you may be a world-renowned scholar, but when it comes to naming, you’re no match for my grandpa.”
“Look at the names he picked: Ye Wushuang (Unmatched), Ye Wudi (Invincible)—one peerless, one unbeatable. They sound badass and awe-inspiring.”
Knock knock!
A sudden rap at the door.
“Who’s there?” Ye Qiu asked.
“Cousin, it’s me,” Qian Duoduo’s voice came from outside.
“Come in!”
As Ye Qiu spoke, the door cracked open, and Qian Duoduo slipped in sneakily.
“What’re you up to?” Ye Qiu asked.
Qian Duoduo grinned. “Cousin, staying home’s boring. Let me take you out for drinks!”
Ye Qiu scoffed. “If I want a drink, do I need you to take me?”
“Suhang’s nightlife is buzzing. I know a great spot. Come on, Cousin, let’s go!” Qian Duoduo grabbed Ye Qiu and dragged him out.
Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of a towering building.
Stepping out, Ye Qiu looked up. The building gleamed with opulence, its top adorned with four neon-lit characters—
Platinum Club!
Ye Qiu instantly knew what this place was and said, “Duoduo, let’s head back.”
Fearing Ye Qiu would leave, Qian Duoduo clutched his sleeve, pulling him inside. “Cousin, trust me, this place is a blast. They’ve got special services here~”
