161: Chapter 161 What can you do with me?

Xinhuo Stronghold, South District.

An area even further south, where the streets were cluttered, buildings were low, and the air carried the scent of rusted metal.

In the center of the area stood a three-story brick building.

On the third floor, inside the largest room.

Skinny Monkey Man remained in the same posture, his feet propped up on the table, leaning back in his chair, which let out a faint "creak" as he swayed.

There were seven or eight other people in the room, either standing or sitting, all of whom were his core confidants.

These seven or eight people were currently listening to him curse and swear.

"Damn it," Skinny Monkey Man spat. "Does that Su Wan really think Xinhuo Stronghold is her own home? She brings in whoever she wants and sits wherever she pleases?"

He shook his head, his face full of disdain. "A woman who, just because she has more people and territory, puts on a long face all day. I don't know who she's trying to impress."

Hearing Skinny Monkey Man's complaints, his confidants began to chime in.

"The boss is right. She's just lucky to have gathered those hundred or so people. If it really came down to a head-on clash, it's hard to say who would win."

Hearing his lackeys' agreement, Skinny Monkey Man's mood seemed to improve slightly.

"And that pretty boy she brought," he narrowed his eyes, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Hmph, acting all dignified, but didn't he chicken out in the end? He just stood there like a good boy."

He sneered. "At least he knows his place. Otherwise, I'd like to see if he could walk out of the Stronghold in one piece."

"Exactly, exactly..."

The crowd broke into another round of laughter and flattery.

Skinny Monkey Man enjoyed this atmosphere, swinging his feet on the table even more contentedly.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sound of knocking interrupted the noise in the room.

Skinny Monkey Man frowned, stopped rocking his chair, and looked over. "Come in!"

The door was pushed open.

A lackey with pattern tattoos on his face poked his head in, his expression somewhat subtle.

"Boss," the tattooed lackey said, "someone's looking for you downstairs."

"Hmm?" Skinny Monkey Man grunted through his nose. "Who is it? Looking for me here?"

"Don't know him," the lackey shook his head and described, "a fresh face, looks quite young, and... well, quite handsome. There's a black crow perched on his shoulder."

Skinny Monkey Man's expression froze the moment he heard that description.

Then, Gu Changming's figure surfaced in his mind.

Wasn't this the kid who was with Su Wan at today's meeting?

He's looking for me?

Skinny Monkey Man's mind raced through several thoughts.

Then, the corners of his mouth slowly curled into a playful smile, his eyes gleaming.

"Go!" He waved his hand at the lackey. "Bring him up!"

"Yes!" The lackey immediately responded, quickly withdrew, and closed the door.

After the lackey left, Skinny Monkey Man immediately pulled his feet back from the table.

He straightened his back and deliberately tilted his chin up a bit to make himself appear more intimidating.

Having done this, he glanced at his lackeys standing haphazardly around the room, and his brow furrowed.

"Stand up straight, dammit!" he barked. "What's with this sloppiness? Show some Spirit for me!"

The lackeys were stunned for a moment and hurriedly adjusted their postures. They all wiped the grins from their faces and put on fierce, serious expressions.

Some even deliberately moved the weapons at their waists outward to make them more visible.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted from the previous laziness and rowdiness to a heavy, oppressive silence!

Skinny Monkey Man seemed satisfied with the change. He leaned back against the chair and narrowed his eyes.

"Knock, knock."

The knocking sounded again.

Skinny Monkey Man didn't speak; he just jerked his chin toward the door.

The lackey closest to the door immediately understood and stepped forward to open it.

Outside the door, Gu Changming appeared. The jet-black crow on his shoulder perched quietly, its blood-red eyes darting around as it scanned the people in the room.

Upon seeing Gu Changming, Skinny Monkey Man deliberately sized him up with his eyes, a broad, overtly mocking smile slowly spreading across his face.

"Yo," he drawled, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. "Look at this. The star of Regiment Commander Su's team has actually graced my humble place with his presence."

He paused, then his smile vanished instantly, his tone turning icy.

"You've come here specifically to apologize to me, haven't you?"

The pressure surged forward like a tide.

However, he saw that Gu Changming didn't react at all. He stepped directly into the room and walked toward him, his gaze falling on an empty chair in front of him.

"May I sit?" Gu Changming asked politely.

Skinny Monkey Man's expression stiffened.

He hadn't expected the other party to react this way; it was completely outside his expectations, making the follow-up mockery he had prepared fall flat.

His mouth twitched, and he let out a short, cold snort from his nose. He raised his hand and spoke in a loud, condescending tone.

"Sit!"

Gu Changming still seemed to feel nothing. He nodded and sat down in the chair.

Skinny Monkey Man watched him sit, his eyes narrowing slightly, feeling very annoyed.

Is this kid... truly stupid, or just playing dumb?

"Alright, stop beating around the bush." Skinny Monkey Man put on a fake smile. "Did Fang Shouzheng send you?"

Gu Changming shook his head. "No, I came on my own."

"Oh?" Skinny Monkey Man grunted.

Gu Changming continued, "I want to talk with you."

"Talk?" Skinny Monkey Man said. "Talk about what?"

"About the matters Fang Shouzheng proposed at today's meeting," Gu Changming said.

Hearing this, Skinny Monkey Man turned his head to look at his men and pointed at Gu Changming as if he had heard something hilarious.

The other lackeys in the room followed Skinny Monkey Man's lead and began to laugh mockingly.

"Boss, has this kid not woken up yet?"

"Exactly. Is it because we haven't made any big moves lately that everyone thinks we're easy to talk to? Any stray cat or dog thinks they can just walk in."

Skinny Monkey Man laughed for a while before stopping. He wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes and looked back at Gu Changming.

"Kid, did you hear that? Everything that needed to be said was already said and argued about at the meeting, wasn't it? What the hell is there left to talk about!"

Gu Changming waited for their laughter to subside slightly before speaking again, still remaining calm and composed.

"Today's meeting was indeed tense because of my presence."

"So, I don't want your cooperation to suffer because of me."

"Fang Shouzheng's proposal is actually beneficial for all of you. Resource sharing can lower costs, and once the paths are cleared, future profits will be even higher..."

Gu Changming spoke earnestly. "Moreover, a more unified and powerful Xinhuo Stronghold is good for the development of everyone in it. It can also ensure that you don't fall behind other factions in future competitions..."

As he listened to Gu Changming, the sneer on Skinny Monkey Man's face gradually faded.

After Gu Changming finished, he curled his lip into an ambiguous smile. "Finished?"

Gu Changming nodded. "I'm finished."

Skinny Monkey Man seemed to have heard the answer he wanted. He grinned, revealing a smile filled with blatant malice and mockery.

"Yes—what you said sounds somewhat reasonable," he drawled.

"But—"

"I'm not listening."

He leaned forward, his elbows back on the table, almost pressing into Gu Changming's face, and asked one word at a time:

"What. Can. You. Do. To. Me?"