22: Seventh Uncle

Little Night suddenly stood up, walked to the door, and locked the office door with a "click."

When she turned around, the respect in her eyes had transformed into an alluring charm.

"Boss—" She drawled, walking back with a cat-like strut, "Yesterday, you asked about my sincerity..."

Before Li Zhan could respond, Little Night was already sitting on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck.

She leaned in deliberately, the full curves inside her neckline on full display. "Boss, shall we make good on that now?"

Li Zhan's breathing grew noticeably heavier. His hands instinctively gripped her shapely buttocks, feeling the astonishing elasticity through her leather pants.

Little Night chuckled triumphantly, her waist swaying gently. "In such a rush?"

Li Zhan slid his hand inside her top. Little Night leaned into his ear, "I'm afraid the boss might go back on his word..."

Li Zhan suddenly tightened his arms, pulling her entire body into his embrace. Little Night let out a cry of surprise as the softness of her chest pressed directly against his torso. She could clearly feel the man's gradually rising body temperature...

— — At the top floor of Phoenix City, sandalwood incense curled in the air.

Ninth Master tapped his fingertips lightly against the rosewood tea table; the tea in the Zisha teapot had been refilled three times, yet the color remained clear and bright.

"Clack—" A chess piece landed on the torreya wood board.

Brother Biao stood by the tea table, the scar on his face appearing particularly ferocious under the lights. "Ninth Master, isn't this kid Li Zhan... having it too easy?"

Ninth Master didn't look up, placing another piece. "Taking down two venues in one move is indeed faster than expected."

"I've checked," Brother Biao lowered his voice. "He first had A Tai feign defection, then disguised himself as an old man to launch a sneak attack... these methods..."

"Cunning enough, and smart enough too. Especially the methods he used to subdue the underlings over there; ruthless enough..."

Ninth Master chuckled suddenly, turning his prayer beads once around his wrist. "How long have Scar Qiang and Sausage been secretly colluding with Seventh Uncle? A year?"

Beads of sweat seeped from Brother Biao's forehead. "Almost a year."

"So then..." Ninth Master picked up his teacup. "This kid is essentially helping us clean up the house."

The tea room fell silent, with only the faint humming of the kettle. Brother Biao clenched his fists. "I'm just worried that this... might be letting a tiger back into the forest?"

"Letting a tiger back into the forest?" Ninth Master suddenly laughed, but the laughter was as cold as ice. "What time do A Zhen and the others start work every day? Which apartment complex do they live in? Where is their hometown... You've kept track of all this, right?"

Brother Biao's pupils constricted. Ninth Master slowly fished a black piece from the chess jar. "Besides, I've been worrying about not having anyone to fight Seventh Uncle."

The chess piece landed with a "clack" on the center point. "Once he's fattened up a bit, we'll leak the truth about the matter with The Thai Guy to the South City side..."

Brother Biao looked up abruptly. "Let them tear each other apart like dogs?"

"Wrong." Ninth Master's face suddenly darkened. "It's to let our blade test the shield of South City."

He stood up and walked to the window. "However, he is too weak right now; I'm afraid he'll be devoured by South City tomorrow. Tell Sister Hong—"

As he turned, he pulled a photo from his pocket—in the photo, Li Zhan and A Zhen and the others were drinking beer at a barbecue stand. He tossed the photo onto the table casually.

"Those new girls who arrived in District B, transfer them to A Zhen next week."

Brother Biao subconsciously touched the scar on his face. "What about the share from the Gambling Den and the entertainment center..."

"Turn a blind eye as usual. Even when raising a pig, you have to provide some feed; I hope he bulks up as soon as possible."

Ninth Master suddenly picked up a tea needle and stabbed it fiercely into the wood grain of the tea tray with a dull "thud." "Have A Tai take him to meet those soldiers as soon as possible."

He laughed sinisterly, "That group of thorns isn't willing to follow me, but perhaps they'll be birds of a feather with him. Either way, the one that gets smashed... will be South City's territory. We can just step in to clean up then."

The tea needle vibrated in the wood grain, emitting a teeth-grinding creak. "This kid... say what you will, but he is quite generous. He doesn't even blink when it comes to A Tai and A Zhen and those little sisters."

Brother Biao stared at the trembling tea needle, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his back. "I'm just afraid he's too good at buying people's hearts..."

"Then we'll see how he chooses." Ninth Master picked up his teacup and slowly rotated it under the light. "Will he choose the path to success in Phoenix City... or will he choose... that road of no return."

— — South City · Jinsha Tea House. At noon, in a private room on the third floor of Jinsha Tea House.

Outside the window was an old street in South City, Chang'an. The scorching sunlight filtered through the carved wooden windows, casting dappled light spots onto the tea table.

The sound of cicadas drifted from the banyan trees on both sides of the street, mixed with the clamor of tea drinkers downstairs, making it feel exceptionally sultry.

Seventh Uncle sat in the main seat, leaning on a cane. His thin frame was wrapped in a navy blue Tang suit, with reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose; the eyes behind the lenses were sharp as knives.

Mad Dog Luo sat on the left, his dragon tattoo peeking out from under his short sleeves, his fingers tapping incessantly on the table.

Sitting on the right was the middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses who had appeared at the "Welcoming Banquet." The Man with Glasses was brewing tea in a leisurely manner; amidst the swirling tea aroma, his expression remained calm throughout.

"Scar Qiang and Sausage are gone." Seventh Uncle closed his eyes, his voice low. "The people we planted over there have also lost contact."

Mad Dog Luo snorted coldly. "It must have been Phoenix City that made a move! That kid named Li Zhan launched a sneak attack as soon as he arrived, playing dirty!"

The Man with Glasses pushed up his glasses and said indifferently, "He actually knows how to conduct himself; he took the initiative to show goodwill at the Welcoming Banquet and even conceded an extra ten percent of the profits."

Seventh Uncle slowly opened his eyes. "Luo, you've crossed hands with him. How is his kung fu?"

Mad Dog Luo's face stiffened, then he stuck his neck out and said, "A little better than me, but not by much! If it weren't for his sneak attack that day, how could I have possibly..."

Seventh Uncle waved his hand, interrupting his excuse, and turned to look at the Man with Glasses. "Shu He, what do you think of this person?"

Shu He pondered for a moment. "He knows when to advance and retreat, understands when to bow his head; he is a smart man. It's a pity... he is a Phoenix City man."

Seventh Uncle rubbed his cane with his thumb. "Have you checked his background?"

Shu He shook his head. "The time has been too short; I only know he emerged recently. Before he clashed with Mad Dog Luo, he had almost never appeared on the scene."

Seventh Uncle narrowed his eyes. "Phoenix City suddenly pushes a newcomer forward and has him take over Scar Qiang and Sausage's territory..."

He sneered, "Are they trying to test our bottom line? Or is there another motive?"

Mad Dog Luo slapped the table. "Seventh Uncle, if you ask me, let's just take people over there, flip his venues, and take everything back. Who cares what tricks he's playing!"

Shu He frowned. "Brother Luo, don't be impulsive. He is nominally Ninth Master's man right now; acting rashly will only give Phoenix City a pretext."

Seventh Uncle suddenly looked at Mad Dog Luo. "Do you think he is related to what happened at the Wharf?"

Mad Dog Luo immediately interrupted, "Impossible! With his build, he absolutely couldn't have crippled The Thai Guy!"

Shu He shook his head slowly. "I haven't seen him make a move with my own eyes, so I dare not make a rash judgment."

Seventh Uncle pondered for a moment, then slowly stood up, leaned on his cane, and tapped it gently on the ground. "Then let's watch for two months."

His gaze swept over the two, his tone chilling. "Keep a close eye on him; I want to see whether this young man... is truly a pawn crossing the river, or a hidden piece tucked away by Phoenix City."

Mad Dog Luo grinned. "Don't worry, Seventh Uncle, I'll watch him personally!"

Shu He nodded slightly. "I will have people investigate his background thoroughly."

Seventh Uncle nodded, turned, and looked out the window; the sunset had sunk, and the night was deepening.

"Remember," his voice was low, "if he really is a pawn that Phoenix City has pushed out... then let him become our blade."