7: Brother Biao

The nearby security guard immediately leaned in and whispered, "Brother Biao..."

After listening to the guard's report, Brother Biao...

...swept his gaze over Li Zhan and Mad Dog Luo before finally walking toward Mad Dog Luo, who had just scrambled up from the ground.

"Mad Dog Luo, you've got some nerve, daring to act wild in Phoenix City?"

Mad Dog Luo snorted and spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, glaring viciously at Li Zhan.

"I'll take the loss today. I didn't expect Phoenix City to have an expert like you... Let's go!"

"Go?"

Li Zhan spoke up suddenly, his voice as cold as ice.

"You bullied my woman, and you think you can just leave?"

He lunged forward suddenly, swinging a whip-kick toward Mad Dog Luo's temple.

Mad Dog Luo hurriedly raised his arms to block, but the force of the kick sent him reeling back several steps until his back slammed hard against the wall.

Just as Li Zhan was about to follow up—

"Friend..." Brother Biao suddenly spoke.

Li Zhan stopped his movement and turned to look at Brother Biao.

Brother Biao's brow furrowed. Although Mad Dog Luo wasn't a top-tier fighter, he was still a notorious figure in South City.

Even if he were to step in himself, it would take at least a dozen rounds to take him down.

He glanced at A Zhen and said in a deep voice,

"There's more to this than meets the eye. If you trust me, brother, let me handle this."

Li Zhan looked at A Zhen. Seeing her nod slightly, he took a step back.

Brother Biao lit a cigarette and turned to Mad Dog Luo with a cold sneer.

"Mad Dog Luo, go back and tell Seventh Uncle that Ninth Master is definitely taking that piece of land in South City."

"If you play these dirty tricks again... you won't be as lucky as you were today."

Mad Dog Luo's face turned ashen. He clutched his bruised lower back and spat.

"Biaozi, don't be so arrogant! If it weren't for..."

He shot a venomous glance at Li Zhan. "We'll see about this!"

"Get out!"

Brother Biao roared, and over a dozen lackeys immediately cleared a path.

The people from South City stumbled away and disappeared down the corridor.

The private booth suddenly fell silent, leaving only a mess on the floor and heavy breathing.

Brother Biao's gaze lingered on Li Zhan for a few seconds before he suddenly grinned.

"Good skills. How should I address you?"

Li Zhan took a step forward, cupped his right fist in his left palm, and gave a traditional martial arts greeting. "Li Zhan."

Brother Biao raised an eyebrow and returned the gesture in kind.

"I'm the one in charge of this place. People on the streets are kind enough to call me Brother Biao."

After his gaze lingered on Li Zhan for a few more seconds, he turned to A Zhen.

"A Zhen, why didn't you tell me you had such an expert by your side?"

He stepped forward and patted A Zhen on the shoulder, his tone softening.

"Don't worry, the company will give you an explanation for what happened today."

He signaled to the lackeys at the door.

"Take A Zhen and her people to the booth next door. Open two bottles of good wine to help them calm down."

Then he turned back to Li Zhan.

"Brother, I'll go wrap things up first. I'll come back later so we can have a few drinks."

Li Zhan didn't reply, only nodding slightly.

Brother Biao didn't mind. He turned and led his men out, but before leaving, he looked back and added,

"By the way, tonight's drinks are on me."

Once Brother Biao's men left, the booth became quiet.

Only then did A Zhen breathe a sigh of relief. Her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed, but Li Zhan caught her.

Lily and Xiao Wen rushed over, one handing her a tissue and the other a glass of water.

A Zhen took a deep breath and brushed back her messy hair.

"A-Zhan, that was Brother Biao. He's Ninth Master's top man and manages this area."

As she spoke, she straightened her skirt. "It's a good thing you arrived in time today."

A bartender came in from outside. "Sister A Zhen, the booth next door is ready."

"Alright."

A Zhen turned and tilted her chin toward Lily and Xiao Wen. "Let's go. Make sure you keep your Brother Zhan good company tonight."

She placed her hand on Li Zhan's arm. "Brother Biao values face above all else. Make sure to toast him a few times later."

Then she leaned closer to Li Zhan's ear. "If he offers to recruit you..."

A Zhen suddenly looked directly into Li Zhan's eyes, her red lips pursed slightly. "Think it through for yourself."

"Once you take this step, the road ahead... will be different."

—

Inside the booth

The neon lights refracted through the liquid in the glasses, creating a hazy glow.

Lily held a wine glass, her cheeks already flushed with a drunken glow.

She leaned in close to Li Zhan, her fingers playfully poking his arm muscles.

"Brother Zhan, is your arm made of iron?" she giggled, her fingertips sliding from his biceps down to his forearm.

"That kick earlier, the way Mad Dog Luo went flying... tsk tsk..."

Feifei wasn't to be outdone. She deliberately leaned over to reach for the fruit platter on the coffee table.

Her cleavage, exposed by her low-cut top, rubbed against Li Zhan's arm.

"Exactly. Brother Zhan is so strong, I'm afraid Sister A Zhen alone might..."

She trailed off suggestively, winking at A Zhen.

Their antics made Li Zhan's ears burn. He tilted his head back and gulped down some beer to hide his embarrassment.

Consequently, Lily sat directly on the armrest of his sofa, her leg beneath her short skirt brushing against his arm, whether intentionally or not.

"That's enough, you guys."

A Zhen laughed and scolded them, tossing a peanut. "Don't scare my A-Zhan away."

Xiao Wen sat in the corner, stifling a giggle.

Even the usually cold-faced Xiao Xue surprisingly came over for a toast.

"Thanks."

Although she only said two words, her eyes were much softer than usual.

Li Zhan really couldn't handle it anymore and stood up to escape, using the restroom as an excuse.

Lily's unrestrained laughter followed him from behind.

"Sister A Zhen, look how well you've trained Brother Zhan. He doesn't even dare to touch us!"

A Zhen swirled her wine glass, her gaze following Li Zhan's retreating figure with a faint smile playing on her lips.

When Brother Biao pushed open the booth door,

Lily was stuffing a grape into Li Zhan's mouth. Seeing him enter, she was so startled that the grape fell to the floor.

"Brother Biao!" The girls hurriedly tried to stand up.

"Sit, sit."

Brother Biao waved them off and pulled up a chair to sit opposite Li Zhan.

He took the wine A Zhen handed him and drained three glasses before speaking.

"A-Zhan, I really owe you one this time..."

He refilled his glass. "If it weren't for you, and word of this got out, Phoenix City would have become a laughingstock."

Li Zhan also raised his glass. "You're joking, Brother Biao. If you had returned a few minutes earlier, there wouldn't have been anything for me to do."

Brother Biao laughed heartily and gave Li Zhan a heavy pat on the shoulder.

He refilled the glass again.

"Come on, let's have one." The glasses clinked with a crisp sound.

Both tilted their heads back and drained their glasses.

The empty glass spun between Brother Biao's fingers as he suddenly stopped smiling.

"A-Zhan, seeing your skills, I won't beat around the bush. Are you interested in working here at Phoenix City?"

"We're short of experts like you. If you join us, I'll at least make you a squad leader."

Hearing Brother Biao's words, A Zhen couldn't help but lean in closer.

Li Zhan rubbed his glass, pondering for a moment.

"Brother Biao, I'm used to a carefree life. Asking me to work and manage people is really..."

Brother Biao's glass paused, and A Zhen's eyes dimmed.

"However,"

Li Zhan changed his tone. "I live nearby. If you ever need anything, Brother Biao, you can call me anytime."

Brother Biao's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh with a laugh. "Look at me, getting all senile!"

"How could an expert like A-Zhan be bothered with managing trivial matters?"

He winked at A Zhen. "Tell you what, A-Zhan. You'll have a nominal position at Phoenix City with a monthly salary of twenty thousand."

"Except for the top floor, you can roam the club as you please. This way, it'll also be convenient for you to pick up A Zhen after work."

A Zhen immediately raised her glass. "A-Zhan, why aren't you thanking Brother Biao?"

"Little work and lots of money—where else would you find such a good deal?"

She nudged the tip of Li Zhan's shoe with her foot.

"Thank you, Brother Biao." Li Zhan also raised his glass.

"Hahaha, we're family from now on. Come on, bottoms up!"

Brother Biao laughed and put his arm around Li Zhan's shoulder, draining the glass from the table.

"Tomorrow come by to handle the paperwork, and I'll get you a VIP card."

He leaned in and whispered in Li Zhan's ear, "The top floor is Ninth Master's private tea room... you understand."

—

Night shrouded the streets of Wusha Village, with neon lights casting mottled reflections on the damp pavement.

A Zhen leaned on Li Zhan's arm, her high heels clicking sharply against the concrete ground.

"Back in the booth, I was really afraid you'd reject Brother Biao outright," A Zhen said suddenly.

Li Zhan stopped and looked down at her. "So, did you want me to go or not?"

A Zhen rested her head on his shoulder, the faint scent of her perfume mingling with the smell of smoke and alcohol from the nightclub.

"I do, and I don't..."

Her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.

"Why?" Li Zhan squeezed her palm.

A Zhen suddenly turned and hugged him, her cheek pressed against his firm chest.

She whispered, "You coming to Phoenix City is obviously good for me; I'll have someone to rely on... but I'm also afraid..."

She looked up, the streetlights making her eyes glisten with moisture.

"Once you step into this circle, it's not so easy to get out."

Li Zhan stroked her long hair.

"A Zhen, this is my fate."

"A martial artist either kills enemies on the battlefield or wanders the underworld."

He gave a bitter smile. "In times of peace, people like us are the most redundant."

"Then why did you pretend to decline?" A Zhen gave him a light punch.

Li Zhan suddenly gave her shapely backside a firm pat.

"Silly girl, Phoenix City is its own little underworld."

"Every position is watched. If I had agreed too hastily, I might have offended a bunch of local thugs before even stepping through the door."

He put his arm around A Zhen and continued walking.

"This way is much better. With a nominal position, I don't have to take anyone's livelihood, and I don't lose face for Brother Biao."

A Zhen burst out laughing, her finger poking his rock-hard abs.

"They say martial artists are all one-track minded, but I didn't expect you to be so clever in addition to being a great fighter."

She suddenly stood on her tiptoes and leaned into his ear. "But... I like you just the way you are."

Suddenly, the sound of stray cats fighting came from the corner.

Li Zhan instinctively shielded A Zhen behind him. When they saw it was just two stray cats fighting over food, they looked at each other and smiled.

A Zhen tucked her loose hair behind her ear and took Li Zhan's arm again.

"Let's go. I'll go home and cook some hangover soup for you."