65: Duel

3:00 PM sharp, Hongbin Restaurant.

Li Zhan stood by the window on the third floor, the ash on the tip of his cigarette half an inch long.

A low growl of engines suddenly came from downstairs as three black mercedes-benz pulled up in a row at the main entrance of the restaurant.

The door of the middle car was pushed open abruptly.

First to step out was a polished crocodile leather shoe, followed by a long leg clad in black suit trousers.

Brother Qiang of Tiger Gate, also known as Bai Shaqiang, bent down to step out of the car. At that moment...

Li Zhan squinted his eyes instinctively—

The man's shoulders were almost as wide as the car door, and as he stood up, he rose like an iron tower from the ground.

"He really is a tough character..."

Li Zhan crushed out his cigarette butt, watching Bai Shaqiang raise his hand to adjust his cuffs.

Those hands had protruding knuckles, and the scars winding across the back of them gleamed pale in the sunlight.

Several lean lackeys silently crowded around him, but were halted three steps away by a wave of his hand.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the stairwell, the wooden floorboards groaning under the weight.

Just as Li Zhan turned around, the private room door was pushed open.

The moment Bai Shaqiang lowered his head to cross the threshold, the light in the room seemed to dim.

His 1.85-meter frame filled out the suit with sharp angles.

His square face under a buzz cut looked as if it were hewn with an axe, every line exuding a sense of ruthlessness.

His gaze swept across the private room before fixing on Li Zhan's face.

"Boss Li."

His voice was deep, like rolling thunder.

Li Zhan didn't rush to respond, first glancing behind the man—

The four lackeys all had buzz cuts, their necks a circle thicker than average, standing like steel bars driven into the ground.

Only then did he smile and raise his hand. "Brother Qiang, I've heard much about you."

As the two sat down across the round table, the mahogany chairs made different sounds.

Bai Shaqiang slammed himself down, while Li Zhan lowered himself slowly.

Old Zhou and three brothers silently took their positions behind Li Zhan.

The gazes of both parties collided in the air with a crackle.

Young Master Hua was huddled in a corner, eyes downcast, looking utterly dejected.

Bai Shaqiang suddenly grabbed a teacup and hurled it; porcelain shards exploded at Young Master Hua's feet.

"You disgraceful thing, get over here and apologize to Boss Li!"

Young Master Hua was trembling and about to speak, but Li Zhan smiled and waved his hand.

"Brother Qiang, you're being too polite."

Bai Shaqiang's thick brows suddenly furrowed, his knuckles grinding against the mahogany armrest with a piercing sound.

He slowly leaned forward like a black panther ready to pounce.

"I'm clear on the cause and effect of this whole matter.

But—"

His voice suddenly dropped. "No matter how useless my son is—"

The dull thud of his knuckles rapping on the table made the water in the teacup ripple.

"It's not an outsider's place to discipline him."

Li Zhan met his blade-like gaze without a hint of fear.

He rubbed the rim of his teacup. "Brother Qiang,

The fact that I let him return in one piece is already giving you plenty of face."

Li Zhan's body also suddenly leaned forward, elbows propped on the table, his voice rising a notch.

"Let's look at it from another perspective.

If someone caused trouble on your turf and wanted to touch your woman... how... would you handle it?

According to my past habits, your son... by now... would probably have been planted in the ground."

Bai Shaqiang's expression changed, his eyes narrowing, his gaze hacking toward Li Zhan like a cleaver.

Li Zhan calmly leaned back in his seat, tapping a finger lightly on the table.

His eyes still met the other's blade-like gaze, without retreating an inch.

Their gazes collided, and the air seemed to freeze.

“Of course, if you want to start a war over this...”

Li Zhan tapped his teacup lightly on the table and gave a soft chuckle.

“We... will... be... ready... to... oblige... at... any... time...”

Each of those words was enunciated slowly, full of power.

The private room fell into a deathly silence.

Bai Shaqiang suddenly burst into laughter, the sound making the glass cups tremble slightly.

"Good! You've got guts!"

Then he abruptly stopped laughing. "Your words have a hidden meaning, Boss Li."

"Brother Qiang is perceptive."

Li Zhan unhurriedly poured the tea. "Actually, your son isn't entirely to blame this time."

He looked up directly at Bai Shaqiang. "He was just being used as a pawn without even knowing it."

Bai Shaqiang raised an eyebrow. "Are you talking about Ninth Master?"

Li Zhan pushed the teacup in front of Bai Shaqiang.

“For the specifics, you can ask your son.”

He picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

"But I believe the other party's main goal was to draw you out, Brother Qiang."

Bai Shaqiang suddenly slammed a fist onto the table, making the tea set rattle.

His lackeys stepped forward in unison, and Old Zhou's group immediately tensed up.

"All of you, back down!"

Bai Shaqiang barked at his men to retreat.

He grabbed the teacup and drained it in one gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing violently as he swallowed.

When he put down the teacup, the ruthlessness in his eyes had turned into a sharp scrutiny.

"Boss Li, what you mean is..."

"The kind of petty tricks Ninth Master uses,"

Li Zhan gently swirled his teacup. "They're not fit for the big stage.

Brother Qiang is a sensible man; you can naturally see the schemes at play here."

Bai Shaqiang suddenly grinned. "Interesting."

As he stood up, the chair scraped against the floor with a piercing noise.

"Boss Li, I've noted this matter.

As for Ninth Master..."

He straightened his suit cuffs. "I'll pay him a visit personally."

After a pause, a sharp light suddenly flashed in his hawk-like eyes.

"Next month, I'll be hosting an underground boxing match in Tiger Gate."

"I've invited many experts. I wonder if Boss Li..."

Li Zhan slowly stood up, the lines of his muscles faintly visible under his suit.

"If Brother Qiang is also going to join in the fun, I will certainly oblige."

The private room instantly became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Bai Shaqiang stared at Li Zhan for three seconds before bursting into a thunderous laugh.

"Good! Good!

As expected, heroes have come from the youth since ancient times!"

He cupped his fists. "Then I shall look forward to your arrival.

I'll have someone deliver the invitation later,

I'll take my leave now."

The corners of Li Zhan's mouth slowly curled up as he returned the gesture. "Take care, Brother Qiang."

He watched the tower-like figure step out of the room, the footsteps growing distant in the hallway.

Just as Old Zhou was about to speak,

Li Zhan had already turned toward the window and raised a hand in a silencing gesture.

Outside the window, the three black mercedes-benz were lined up, their tires splashing water as they drove through puddles.

In the lead car, the silhouette of Bai Shaqiang's signature buzz cut was faintly visible.

The convoy made a sharp turn and disappeared around the corner.

Li Zhan walked slowly back to the round table.

Old Zhou stepped forward and said in a low voice,

"The underground boxing match he mentioned is no simple thing.

It's an annual event held in rotation across the various towns of Dongguan, scheduled for the last day of the solar calendar.

This year, it's Tiger Gate's turn.

At that time, the underground bosses from every town in Dongguan will bring their men.

During the event, personal grudges and territorial disputes can also be settled in the ring.

Last year, the top fighter of the Zhangmutou boss had his spine snapped in the ring; he's still bedridden."

"I heard that many bosses have hired Southeast Asia fighters to help them this year."

Big Courage chimed in, making a gesture across his throat.

"In the last session, that Malaysian guy kicked someone's throat bone to pieces."

Li Zhan suddenly smiled, a rare fighting spirit lighting up his eyes.

"This is a way of pushing me."

He picked up the cold tea on the table and drained it.

"If I don't completely take over Chang'an, I won't even have the right to go."

The last trace of daylight outside was swallowed by dark clouds, and the lights in the room flickered.

Old Zhou pulled out a cigarette case, the metallic click exceptionally crisp in the silence.

"Shui Sheng, then let's speed things up."

Li Zhan toyed with the empty teacup. "Within seven days, I want to take over Nancheng.

During this time, keep a close eye on Seventh Uncle's movements.

Tell AZu to contact those who might defect as soon as possible."

The teacup was slammed onto the table with a 'clack,'

"Once the time is up, I won't be waiting."