Chapter 580 Jiang Bai, you've crossed the line!
"Where's the basic trust between people? What kind of deep-seated grudge do you two have that you would betray your best friend like this?"
Wu Lili's words made Jiang Bai, who was drinking water, choke. He coughed for a while before he could stop, and he couldn't help but think to himself.
This drew a surprised glance from Chen Jiayi, who looked at Jiang Bai with a puzzled expression.
Jiang Bai was about to drink his juice when he saw Wu Lili wink at him and Liu Mang with a lewd smile on his face. Jiang Bai was speechless and wanted to stop her from drinking it.
He didn't know what Wu Lili had put in it, but he was certain it wasn't anything good.
Otherwise, the two people's smiles wouldn't be so ambiguous.
Jiang Bai isn't that kind of person. Would he drug someone just to sleep with them?
Even if a celestial being were in front of him, Jiang Bai would not do such a despicable thing, so he spoke up to stop him.
Unfortunately, before he could speak, there was a commotion outside.
The restaurant door was kicked open with a bang, and a young man in his thirties slowly walked in, leading a group of people, who looked to be at least twenty or thirty.
Each of them carried this thing, and then a young man in a sharp suit, with his hair slicked back with gel and a shiny scar on his face, walked in. He was clearly not a good person.
They marched towards Jiang Bai and his group, kicking anyone they saw and pushing all the passersby away, scaring the surrounding people into screaming. Naturally, Chen Jiayi couldn't drink her orange juice anymore, as she was drawn to the group.
They looked at each other with some surprise.
Seeing the other person walking towards them, Jiang Bai clearly noticed a flash of fear on Chen Jiayi's face, while Wu Lili, who had seen a bit of the world, turned pale. She had already recognized the person.
As for Liu Mang himself, he was fiddling with his phone rapidly, seemingly doing nothing in particular.
The only one who seemed calm was Jiang Bai.
What's there to be afraid of with a bunch of hooligans?
Even though the other party may have ill intentions.
"Clang!"
The other person slammed a baseball bat onto the table where Jiang Bai and his companion were sitting. Then, the young man, whose face screamed "I'm a gangster boss," said menacingly to Jiang Bai, "Jiang Bai! You've crossed the line!"
One sentence made Wu Lili swallow hard, not daring to utter a sound. Chen Jiayi, while filled with fear, was also stunned. She turned her head to look at Jiang Bai, not understanding what this young man Wu Lili had brought was doing.
Jiang Bai lit a cigarette, took a puff, and then slowly asked, "Excuse me, who are you? I don't know you!"
He wasn't lying; in fact, he didn't know this man with the air of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) elder brother in front of him at all.
Because he didn't care about the messy affairs of the Four Seas Gang at all, he saved Mantis, was promoted by Mantis, and was put in charge of a street, so he could be considered a little big brother.
Jiang Bai was just a figurehead; he hadn't done anything. The one who was really in charge was Liu Mang. Jiang Bai didn't even know all the hundreds of people who followed him.
It's not that he can't; he has a photographic memory and can remember anything he's seen at a glance. The problem is that he hasn't even seen it.
He simply doesn't care; his ambitions lie elsewhere.
Naturally, how could Jiang Bai, who didn't even recognize all his own people, possibly know this big brother with a strong江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) aura in front of him?
But his words caused the other person's expression to change drastically. He felt greatly insulted, his face contorted as he glared at Jiang Bai, his eyes wide with rage. He spun around in anger, then put his hands on the table and stared at Jiang Bai, saying, "Jiang Bai, you've got guts!"
"People say you, Jiang Bai, are tough and powerful, but I didn't believe it. But today I've seen it for myself. You really are tough! Eating on my turf, and you dare to say you don't know me? You're going to embarrass me!"
"Do you not want to leave this street?"
At first, the other party was just speaking in a fierce tone, but later they were almost shouting, which frightened Chen Jiayi, who was next to Jiang Bai, so much so that she leaned back and looked scared.
After he finished speaking, the people behind him glared at Jiang Bai and symbolically took two steps forward to surround Jiang Bai's table.
Fortunately, Jiang Bai and the others were sitting against the wall, otherwise they would have formed a circle.
They surrounded Jiang Bai, remaining silent and cold, yet exuding a powerful aura.
Jiang Bai could clearly sense that the other three were a bit timid. The two girls were one thing, but Chen Jiayi was obviously not on the same side as Wu Lili; she must be a well-behaved girl.
It's normal that you haven't seen such a scene before.
As for Wu Lili, it was precisely because she had seen such scenes before and knew what would happen next that she appeared even more fearful.
As for Liu Mang, he surprised Jiang Bai quite a bit. Although he was a bit cowardly, Jiang Bai could clearly see that the guy's legs were trembling, but surprisingly he did not try to run away or beg for mercy.
Although it was a bit embarrassing, Jiang Bai knew that Liu Mang was absolutely capable of doing such a thing.
In fact, if you know Liu Mang, you can find from his personal history that Liu Mang has done this kind of thing before, and it is definitely not just once or twice.
This is one of the reasons why, despite being taken care of by the praying mantis, he hasn't risen through the ranks over the years.
After all, what's popular in this line of work is hot-blooded, brainless men who don't care who you are, they're just like that, they'll stand their ground even if you kill them, and they're the kind of hot-blooded, brainless men that gangsters love and admire the most.
If someone is willing to fight to the death, knowing they are no match but still going all out, Jiang Bai thinks it's understandable if it's for something, for the people around them; that's called heroism. But if it's for face or just that kind of stubbornness, Jiang Bai thinks that's just being a fool.
But this kind of person is popular in this circle.
Come to think of it, normal social elites have long since entered a certain high-class class. Only low-level thugs struggle in the underworld. What kind of brains can you expect from them?
Undeniably, there are some formidable figures among them, such as Yin Tianchou and Flying Eagle Wang Zhenxu, who are outstanding individuals who have emerged from the ranks. They are not only skilled in combat but, most importantly, intelligent.
They had both opportunity and good brains, which led to their later success, but such people are too few and far between.
Therefore, Liu Mang was destined to have a hard time making a name for himself in this circle, but his performance surprised Jiang Bai. He wondered what tricks this guy had played, which made him feel both fearful and at ease.
Was it because of myself? Or because of something else?
Jiang Bai had no idea.
"Brother, are you making a movie? What does my eating here have to do with you? I don't even know you, and you're already yelling at me like this? Are you out of your mind?"
Chapter 581 Inability to Communicate
Jiang Bai said this to the fierce-looking man in front of him, whose face seemed to say, "I'm a gangster."
This guy in front of me is clearly a hot-blooded, brainless idiot.
I have no grudge against him, why would he come looking for trouble?
Even if the two companies don't seem to get along, haven't the higher-ups already reached an agreement?
You're just a nobody, what are you yelling about here?
Even if the gang I belong to is your enemy, I didn't provoke you. I was just having a meal, and you brought a bunch of people over. What's the meaning of that?
Is it to show off how great you are? Or what?
Therefore, Jiang Bai really didn't want to talk to him.
"Hmph! You've got guts! With so many of us here, you still dare to talk to me like that! Do you not want to leave this street?"
The other party snorted twice after hearing this, and then said the same thing.
This left Jiang Bai speechless. He looked at the other person with an expression as if he were looking at an idiot, as if to say, "Brother, can't you use a different word?"
But the other party clearly didn't understand Jiang Bai's meaning. Seeing that Jiang Bai remained silent, they thought he was scared and laughed, "What's wrong? Scared? Don't dare to say a word?"
Jiang Bai was speechless; he couldn't communicate with the person in front of him.
He drank his water silently without making a sound, completely oblivious to the person in front of him, simply keeping track of time and waiting for the food to be served.
I'm really hungry.
However, Wu Lili was quite disappointed by Jiang Bai's behavior, while Chen Jiayi, who was next to her, was also surprised and curious, wondering what Jiang Bai was thinking.
Are you scared?
But it doesn't look like it.
Thinking about a problem?
But this isn't the right time.
Chen Jiayi said she didn't quite understand.
Jiang Bai remained silent, and Liu Mang did not try to stand out at this time. He deeply understood the principle that "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down," and Liu Mang kept his mouth shut at this moment.
But Jiang Bai shut up and didn't say a word, but the other person still wouldn't let it go. Seeing Jiang Bai's reaction, they immediately thought that Jiang Bai had chickened out.
There was a slight worry when we got here, because the mantis had described Jiang Bai as a god, and he had brought twenty or thirty people, all of whom were called in at the last minute, so we lacked confidence.
Although this was his territory, he learned that Jiang Bai was coming here for dinner, so he immediately brought his men. However, he was unprepared and had a limited number of men with him.
More importantly, none of the younger men have started work yet. For people like them, it's like 6:30 in the morning for office workers. Many people haven't gotten up to start work yet, so it's impossible to call a lot of people.
Jiang Bai had been described as having some strange and mysterious things, so it was normal for him to have some worries.
However, it seems that these are all just rumors. This kid isn't that powerful, otherwise he would have made a move long ago.
You made yourself worry for nothing.
Having dispelled his worries, the older brother said menacingly, "What, scared now? Do you know who I am?"
"I thought you were all that powerful outside, but it turns out you're just a coward. Let me tell you, if you want to leave today, you'd better kneel down and call me grandpa!"
"And I'll add one more thing: Grandpa Explosive Beef, I was wrong, I know you now! Say it three times!"
"Then crawl between the legs of every one of my men and give me your territory, and we'll call it even!"
"Wait a minute, these two beauties next to you are pretty too, haha, you're quite the lucky guy! Stay here tonight and let us have some fun too! That's the only way to settle things!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Lili's expression changed slightly, while Chen Jiayi's face was filled with fear and turned deathly pale. She wanted to say that she didn't know Jiang Bai at all, they had just met and hadn't even exchanged a single word yet, so how could he be involved with her?
But she found that even speaking was difficult, and the fear in her heart made her tremble all over.
As for Jiang Bai...
He felt like he had been utterly screwed over.
"I don't know you at all, we have no grudges against each other, I just came here to have a meal. Okay, I've crossed the line as you said."
"But I crossed the line, so I won't eat it, okay? I haven't paid any attention to you from beginning to end."
"You fucking want me to offer you women to play with again, then you want me to hand over my territory to you, then you want me to kowtow and call you grandpa? And you even want me to crawl between your legs? How come your family has so many dramatic ideas?"
Jiang Bai felt helpless. He had run into a fool. What could he do?
It was like a scholar encountering a soldier; there was no clear answer. Besides resorting to violence, Jiang Bai couldn't think of any other moves.
"Brother, this is a society governed by law. Have you been reading too many novels? Do you know that I can call the police if you do this?" Jiang Bai sighed helplessly and said dryly, without being too harsh. There was no anger in his tone, only helplessness.
"Call the police? Heh, so that's what you were thinking? Jiang Bai, we're all bosses here. We'll settle things privately. You want to break the rules?"
"Besides, so what if you call the police? I, Bao Niu, call the shots on this street!"
The other party was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then sneered and said these two sentences in a very domineering manner.
Jiang Bai realized that he could no longer communicate with this guy. He was indeed a typical hot-blooded idiot, unable to communicate with normal people.
With a sigh, Jiang Bai said, "What if I don't agree?"
"Then you'll never get out of this street!"
It's that same phrase, that same expression, that same gesture again. Jiang Bai thought, "I'd rather die a thousand times over."
"Do you think you guys can beat me? Stop bothering me while I'm eating, okay? I don't even know you, I'm just here for a meal, why are you making such a fuss?"
"Did I kill your father? Or did I sleep with your mother? Why are you picking on me like this?"
Jiang Bai said angrily, almost slamming his fist on the table and about to attack.
In this situation, he realized that reasoning with him was pointless; this guy was no ordinary person, and Jiang Bai couldn't understand him.
I reckon only Liu Mang and that Lu Mao from before can communicate with this kind of person. Jiang Bai really can't communicate with him, so he can only resort to fists.
This is Jiang Bai's most powerful weapon at present.
That's also the most practical.
"Hey, let me tell you, I didn't just bring this few people with me this time. There are dozens more waiting outside, enough to make a hundred people, all armed. I don't believe you can take on a hundred of us by yourself!"
Bao Niu chuckled, quite satisfied with Jiang Bai's reaction. He felt this was a signal that he was about to make his move. Once he dealt with Jiang Bai, he would be able to take over Jiang Bai's entire street, not only establishing his authority but also making a fortune.
There are many benefits.
"So you're just bullying me because I'm outnumbered?" Liu Mang suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, speaking arrogantly.
This left Jiang Bai somewhat bewildered, wondering what Liu Mang was up to.
Did you take aphrodisiacs?
Jiang Bai remembered that the pill Wu Lili had just thrown away should have been in Chen Jiayi's orange juice, right?
Why is Liu Mang all high up, like he's been injected with chicken blood?
This is not normal.
Chapter 582 Good Classmate
Jiang Bai was quite surprised by Liu Mang's reaction, because it was unlike his usual self.
But he just stood up like that and said this.
Then Jiang Bai saw the phone in his hand, his eyes lit up, and he roughly guessed what was going on.
"We're just bullying you because you're outnumbered. So what if I have more people? Are you convinced or not?" Bao Niu was stunned when he saw Liu Mang step forward, then pointed at Liu Mang and roared.
Liu Mang is a notorious character, and Bao Niu knows him, so naturally he wouldn't back down in front of him.
"Then I'll chop you up! You think you can outnumber me? Don't you know who my boss is?!"
"Let me tell you! My older brother has already called for reinforcements. Go outside and check before you talk to me! Explosive Bull!"
Liu Mang, hands on his hips, pointed at Bao Niu's nose and roared, seemingly getting into the zone himself.
The two actors perfectly recreated classic gangster movie scenes, leaving Jiang Bai speechless.
These two are acting like they've been injected with adrenaline. Don't they realize that everyone in the restaurant is watching them?
Jiang Bai was quite embarrassed, covering his face and remaining silent as the two people shouted at him. Chen Jiayi and Wu Lili, standing nearby, were dumbfounded, staring blankly at the two people, unsure of what to say.
The two women differed slightly in their reactions. Chen Jiayi was bewildered and slightly fearful, while Wu Lili looked at Liu Mang with a gleam in her eyes, perfectly embodying the word "brainless."
Just then, one of Bao Niu's men rushed in, shouting in a panic, "Boss, something bad has happened! There are a lot of people outside, all from the Four Seas Gang, several hundred of them!"
One sentence made Bao Niu's face turn ashen, his eyes wide as he stared at Jiang Bai and Liu Mang in front of him.
"You guys are ruthless!" Explosive Bull said, turning and leaving.
But just as he turned around and hadn't even had a chance to leave, Liu Mang's voice rang out: "What, you want to leave? You think you can just come and go as you please? Explosive Bull, do you think that's possible?"
"So what do you want?"
Bao Niu knew things were unlikely to end well. He had only been angry because he knew Jiang Bai was having dinner on his turf, and he wanted to cause trouble for this newly powerful man to solidify his own position. But he never expected to run into something like this.
The saying "trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead" perfectly describes the current situation of "exploiting cattle".
He was in a difficult position.
"How about it, Bull, if you don't kowtow and admit your mistake to my boss today, you can forget about leaving this street peacefully!" Liu Mang said coldly.
As they were talking, the restaurant door was opened and a crowd of people poured in.
Jiang Bai also vaguely saw Wu Lili's boyfriend, Lü Mao, who was leading the way, holding a large machete and standing there excitedly, eager to try. Jiang Bai's face turned ashen.
Bao Niu's expression changed instantly, and he remained silent.
Seeing this, Chen Jiayi dared not speak. Wu Lili stood up and pointed at Bao Niu, saying, "Weren't you so tough just now? Why are you so quiet now?"
"I'm sorry, Boss Jiang, I was wrong." In the end, Bao Niu compromised and bowed to Jiang Bai in apology.
If he hadn't done that, Jiang Bai wouldn't have bothered arguing with someone like him. But since he did it, Jiang Bai's expression turned ugly.
It looks terrible.
What does this mean?
Does he really think he's a mob boss?
Seeing the changed way people were looking at him, Jiang Bai felt very unhappy, especially Chen Jiayi next to him, whose face was full of strange expressions and whose pupils were filled with deep fear.
"Come here, let's go outside and talk."
Jiang Bai really didn't want to resolve these issues with Bao Niu here, so he stood up, reached out and hooked his arm around Bao Niu's neck, and before anyone else could react, he carried Bao Niu out.
He wanted to teach this guy a lesson, to make him regret going down this evil path from this day forward.
Jiang Bai hooked his neck and led him out. Bao Niu didn't dare to resist. His previous arrogance had completely vanished. Especially after being dragged out by Jiang Bai and seeing hundreds of people standing densely at the entrance of the restaurant, he became as obedient as a grandson.
As for his men, they had long since vanished like birds and beasts, scattered to the four winds. If it weren't for these twenty or thirty people following him into the restaurant and now unable to leave, they probably would have run away long ago.
Once they reached the backstreets and alleys, Jiang Bai casually tossed the fried beef aside, waved his hand, and went out to smoke a cigarette. The next second, the sounds of slashing and killing rang out, and screams filled the air.
It wasn't that Jiang Bai was heartless, it was just that this Explosive Bull was too despicable, why did he have to cause him trouble for no reason?
Isn't that just courting death?
If Jiang Bai doesn't deal with his current identity, how will he survive?
How can we gain the mantis's trust?
More importantly, even the former Jiang Bai would definitely have given this guy an unforgettable lesson.
Are you kidding me? You want me to crawl between his legs?
How could he even think of that?
Ten minutes later, Bao Niu and the others were already on the verge of death. Liu Mang was trembling all over, his blood rushing to his head. He staggered out and said to Jiang Bai with great momentum, "Boss, everything's taken care of. Tonight, shall we take this opportunity to sweep through this street?"
Jiang Bai was speechless. He glanced at Liu Mang, who was beaming with excitement, and said, "You figure it out."
After saying that, he turned and left. He had ordered quite a lot of food at the restaurant, and judging by the time, it should be served by now. He couldn't let it go to waste.
Upon returning, Jiang Bai immediately noticed something was amiss. Chen Jiayi appeared dazed and flushed, while Wu Lili looked excited, having already finished the glass of orange juice that had been on the table.
Jiang Bai was speechless at this; he already knew what had happened.
While he was away, the "good classmate" had already coaxed and tricked Chen Jiayi into drinking the whole glass of orange juice.
"Brother Bai, it's all taken care of. I've booked a room nearby. You can go now and enjoy yourself."
Wu Lili left those words behind, then tossed aside a room key and turned to leave.
Jiang Bai was speechless and helpless.
Jiang Bai wanted to send her away, but seeing Chen Jiayi's condition, he didn't know what to do. He carried her into a nearby room that Wu Lili had booked. After thinking for a moment, Jiang Bai decided to call the hospital and ask them to come and rescue her.
As for himself, it was really inconvenient for him to be here.
Unfortunately, Jiang Bai underestimated the efficacy of the medicine Wu Lili had prepared.
In fact, Jiang Bai had never used such a thing before, so naturally he couldn't possibly have a very detailed understanding of it, because he had misjudged the timing of the medicine's effects.
Before he could even make a call, Chen Jiayi had already torn her clothes and pounced on him.
Chapter 583 Blindly Accompanying
Jiang Bai was never a gentleman. Although he was disgusted by such despicable things, it would be a waste not to take advantage of the opportunity. After hesitating for a while, Jiang Bai finally couldn't resist and something happened when the other party was very proactive.
After a passionate night, Jiang Bai woke up to find that the other party had already left.
Jiang Bai actually knew when she woke up, but he was a little embarrassed and didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything.
After the other person cried quietly for a while, they left on their own. As soon as they opened the door, Wu Lili was already waiting there.
The two then argued, with Chen Jiayi threatening to call the police, but she was eventually persuaded by Wu Lili, who left somehow, leaving Jiang Bai speechless.
After getting up, I felt somewhat guilty.
Liu Mang called Wu Lili, wanting to hand her over for a talk, but found that she had already returned to China that same day.
Jiang Bai felt somewhat helpless about this, but he didn't delve into it. He admitted that he had made a mistake by losing control, but it wasn't intentional. He felt a little guilty, but he didn't feel a great psychological burden.
Afterwards, Jiang Bai stopped thinking about it and returned to his life.
A few days passed in the blink of an eye. Jiang Bai had been living an ordinary life these past few days, eating, drinking, and sleeping, almost turning into a pig.
Feeling hopeless about life, Liu Mang, on the other hand, has been acting like he's been injected with adrenaline lately. Ever since he took down Bao Niu, he's seized his territory and now has a strong army, acting like some kind of influential figure.
Every now and then, he would whisper something in Jiang Bai's ear, saying that they should take this opportunity to defeat the others and dominate Dongmen Town, but Jiang Bai completely ignored him and treated him like he was talking nonsense.
That day, Jiang Bai's phone suddenly rang. It was Mantis calling: "Xiao Bai, the people are almost here. Their flight is this afternoon. You need to prepare to receive them well. They are from the Yamaguchi-gumi. You need to be careful and not make any mistakes. The leader is called Horii Saburo."
After saying that, the other party hung up the phone. When he met Jiang Bai a couple of days ago, Mantis had already told him that he could use the money in the territory he controlled to entertain him, and that he could report the expenses to the company after they were spent.
This is a way to win over Jiang Bai, because there's no price for hospitality; Jiang Bai can quote whatever he wants, and as long as it's not too outrageous, it can be ignored in the face of important matters.
Instead of providing Jiang Bai with dedicated funds, the mantis allowed him to withdraw money at will, giving him an opportunity to blatantly embezzle. Jiang Bai understood this perfectly.
If he were truly just a petty thug, he would naturally be grateful for such an opportunity, but he isn't.
Regardless of whether it was true or not, he had to make people think that he was, so Jiang Bai hurriedly thanked the mantis profusely and made promises.
He then summoned Liu Mang and asked him to prepare several cars so that he could take them to pick up Liu Mang from the airport in the afternoon.
Since he didn't know how many people the other side had, Jiang Bai prepared two sedans and four vans, making quite a grand entrance.
In the afternoon, after waiting at the airport for about an hour, I saw the exit and a group of short men in suits came out, each one looking very imposing in black suits and sunglasses.
Led by a man in his forties, they came out and looked around. Only when they saw the large sign that Liu Mang was holding next to Jiang Bai did they walk towards them.
Jiang Bai knew that the people who came must be a group from the Yamaguchi-gumi in Mantis's mouth.
Upon closer inspection, nothing particularly noteworthy was found. However, in the center of the opposing group, there was a man of similar short stature with a gloomy face. Despite his best efforts to conceal himself, he still stood out from the crowd.
It wasn't just his unique attire—his all-black kimono clashed with his surroundings—that drew attention. The cloth-wrapped samurai sword he carried on his back was also quite perplexing.
The main reason was that this person's murderous aura was too strong. Even from a distance, Jiang Bai could feel the undisguised killing intent emanating from the other party, which was faintly cold and made people unwilling to get close.
Jiang Bai knew that this kind of person was the kind of person rumored to be so murderous that even ghosts and monsters dared not approach.
Unconsciously glancing at the other person, Jiang Bai was surprised to find that the other person seemed to be looking at him as well. He quickly turned his head away and stopped looking at the other person.
He felt helpless; the other party was so high-profile, showing no intention of hiding anything.
That knife was so long; I don't know how such a dangerous weapon got through security.
However, considering the other party's influence in the Yamato region, and the fact that it was Flying Eagle who invited him, Jiang Bai was not surprised.
After greeting the leader, Saburo Horii, Jiang Bai politely invited everyone to get into the car and then left the airport. Accommodation was arranged at a villa in the northern suburbs of the island, one of Wang Zhenxu's properties. Jiang Bai was asked to take everyone there.
After settling in briefly, Jiang Bai, as instructed, invited them out for dinner and some entertainment.
These things were all arranged by the mantis beforehand.
The other party readily agreed, and led by Saburo Horii, the group followed Jiang Bai and left the villa in a grand procession.
The only surprise was that the person who had made eye contact with Jiang Bai earlier had disappeared and did not leave with Saburo Horii and the others.
This surprised Jiang Bai greatly. He frowned slightly, wanting to go back and investigate the truth, but he knew it was impossible, so he didn't do so.
He simply took Saburo Horii and the others away to see if he could glean any useful information from them. If nothing came of it, Jiang Bai would then conduct a night raid on the villa.
Saburo Horii and his group were very polite and courteous, and they were also very courteous under Jiang Bai's hospitality. The group got along quite well.
He was very grateful for the dinner Jiang Bai had arranged, but... that was without drinking. Once he drank... he would be completely ruined.
The group of guys revealed their true colors, singing and howling, their faces slurred with drunkenness. They dared to say and do anything, and their contempt for Jiang Bai and his group was already subtly evident throughout the gathering.
Gone was the polite and respectful demeanor he had before.
If Jiang Bai hadn't forcefully suppressed them, who knows if Liu Mang and his group would have already started fighting with these guys.
Jiang Bai was speechless. The other party was already quite drunk after the meal. During the meal, Jiang Bai tentatively asked about the purpose of Horii Saburo and his group's visit. The other party did not hide anything.
While still slightly drunk, he told Jiang Bai that they were only there once, and that their superiors had instructed them to eat, drink, and have fun before heading back. He wasn't really sure about anything else.
Jiang Bai was speechless. He realized that he had wasted the whole night on these guys and hadn't gotten any useful information at all.
Chapter 584 Flower Girl
After realizing he couldn't find anything useful in these guys, Jiang Bai decisively gave up on them.
After arriving at the KTV with them, Jiang Bai arranged for Liu Mang to entertain them and then made an excuse to leave.
He wanted to go to the villa where these people were staying to see if he could find anything.
Jiang Bai was particularly curious about the Japanese man carrying a sword; he really wanted to know what he was up to.
If Jiang Bai's guess is correct, then he is the center of Horii Saburo's group this time.
They were also key personnel who came to negotiate and meet with Flying Eagle, and even provided support.
Once we find him, a large part of our mission to come to Taiwan will be accomplished.
Since he came here specifically for this purpose, Flying Eagle couldn't possibly refuse to see him. Moreover, he is a master, and if Flying Eagle were to make any move, he wouldn't be able to shake him off; otherwise, there would be no point in him coming.
Actually, there was a better option, which was to keep a close eye on Flying Eagle. However, compared to a master of martial arts, keeping a close eye on Flying Eagle would be much more troublesome and too easy to expose, so Jiang Bai was unwilling to do it.
But just as he was about to leave, someone suddenly blocked Jiang Bai's way: "Jiang Sang, what are you doing?"
A drunken Saburo Horii blocked Jiang Bai's path and asked in broken Chinese.
The main reason why Saburo Horii was entrusted with this important task and sent here as a cadre in the Osaka area is that he can speak Mandarin, although... he's not very fluent.
"I have to leave now. You guys stay here and have fun. I'll have my men entertain you. Just let them know if you need anything!"
Jiang Bai smiled and said noncommittally.
Saburo Horii has become useless, and Jiang Bai has wasted so much time on him. He clearly has no intention of wasting even a little bit of time on this useless person.
However, now was not the time to turn against each other, and Jiang Bai did not do anything too outrageous, remaining polite as ever.
In fact, he himself is not a radical youth, nor does he have any innate hatred for Yamato. The events of the previous generation have been over for so many years, and they are not really related to many people now.
Driven by national and personal grievances, many people harbor hostility towards them, though that is somewhat irrational. Of course... such hatred is complex.
There are reasons related to education, as well as national and personal grievances. Some of these less likable individuals are indeed annoying, but not all of them are.
In fact, there are many things we can learn from them. This nation was able to rise again in just a few decades after the war, which shows its remarkable strengths.
Jiang Bai didn't feel much ill will towards them, nor did he feel any particular fondness for them; at the very least, he believed he could treat them equally.
Of course, sometimes I get angry and become impatient with these people, mainly because some of them are really annoying.
For example, Saburo Horii right in front of me right now.
"You mean you're disrespecting us? Disrespecting the Yamaguchi-gumi?" Saburo Horii said coldly, swaying as he spoke, almost collapsing and unable to stand steadily.
"How could that be!" Jiang Bai said with a smile.
He vehemently denied it, but the truth was that he did not respect the man in front of him, Saburo Horii, and even looked down on the Yamaguchi-gumi behind him.
Given his current status, he is simply trying his best to hide this.
"I can see that's what you're thinking. You have a terrible conscience; how dare you disrespect us!"
Saburo Horii's angry voice was harsh, and for a moment the once lively private room fell silent.
"So what do you want?"
Jiang Bai frowned. He didn't want to offend these people easily, but that didn't mean he was afraid of the guy in front of him.
"From the moment you first met us, I knew you harbored hatred towards us, but at least you behaved on the surface. However, whether it was during the meal or now, you haven't shown us the slightest respect. What gives you the right to disrespect us, you little thug?"
"We are from the Yamaguchi-gumi. Even your boss, Flying Eagle, wouldn't dare to underestimate us. Who are you to dare treat us like this?"
At this point, Saburo Horii was already using Japanese. He was very dissatisfied with Jiang Bai because when he first saw Jiang Bai, he realized that although Jiang Bai was very polite on the surface, he was actually quite contemptuous of them.
But Jiang Bai was at least outwardly entertaining them, so they tolerated it.
But at this moment, Jiang Bai was unwilling to even put on a show, which made Saburo Horii feel that he and his companions had been insulted.
They were guests, and Jiang Bai was in charge of receiving them, but now he was ignoring them altogether?
Did they hire a few street thugs to entertain their group?
What's this?
In Saburo Horii's view, this was a blatant insult, so he couldn't help but stand up and demand an explanation from Jiang Bai.
Give them an explanation.
"You're drunk," Jiang Bai said calmly, a hint of dissatisfaction creeping over these guys.
That's enough. I've already condescended to entertain you. You should also stop. Grandpa has something to do. In the past, your group leader wouldn't have been entitled to be entertained like this by Grandpa.
"I'm not drunk! I demand an apology from you for your behavior!" Saburo Horii said angrily, clearly displeased with Jiang Bai's words, but refrained from making any other extreme remarks.
The Yamaguchi-gumi is not to be trifled with, but the Flying Eagles are not to be trifled with either. Jiang Bai is a member of the Flying Eagles, and this is their territory. If any conflict really occurs, it will always be them who suffer.
Therefore, he maintained a certain degree of restraint, but since it concerned his dignity, he felt he had to get an explanation from Jiang Bai.
This made Jiang Bai frown, quite dissatisfied.
Apologize? Apologize my ass! What did I do to you?
Neuropathy!
Jiang Bai really wanted to slap this guy to sober him up.
But in the end, he told himself that with important matters at hand, he had to prioritize the big picture, so Jiang Bai held back and said with a frown, "If my previous attitude caused any misunderstanding, then I apologize to you and your friends now. Shouldn't that satisfy you, Mr. Horii?"
Saburo Horii was still somewhat dissatisfied with this, but he had saved face and knew he couldn't go too far. Jiang Bai's attitude was bad, but at least he apologized.
So he gave up, and the people around him burst into laughter.
"I really have something to attend to, so I have to go now. My men will take care of you."
Jiang Bai angrily threw down this sentence and prepared to leave, already plotting in his mind how to deal with these little devils after this was over.
Unfortunately, before he could leave, another member of the Yamaguchi-gumi stopped Jiang Bai, drunkenly pointing at him and shouting, "You, find a few...flower girls."
Chapter 585 Lost in Thought
This made Jiang Bai frown, but he didn't think there was anything wrong with finding a few prostitutes for these guys.
Those kinds of women do things for money, and you're talking to them about national and personal vendettas? That's just nonsense.
This is no longer an era of homesickness and bloodshed over every inch of our land. How can we resist such things?
Jiang Bai was a little unhappy, but he didn't say anything and just glanced at Liu Mang.
Liu Mang immediately understood, walked up to the drunk man, put his arm around him and tried to move him away, saying as he did so, "Don't worry, I'll be there soon. I've already given instructions, I guarantee everyone will be satisfied."
Liu Mang thought the matter was settled, but to his surprise, the other party suddenly pushed him away and then slapped him without hesitation.
He roared fiercely at Liu Mang, "You bastard! I don't want a filthy woman like this! I want a decent woman! A decent woman, do you know that?"
Then, drunkenly, he shouted at Jiang Bai, "I want decent women! You, bring your decent women from your families—wives, daughters, mothers, anything goes! We'll accept them all!"
"It is an honor for them to be favored by us Yamato men, just like my ancestors, who once had your women depart!"
"As your most honored guests, you must treat us this way. Otherwise, we will go back and tell our superiors that you have no sincerity in cooperating, and your boss, Flying Eagle, will not let you off the hook!"
"You can't afford to offend us!"
"Holy crap."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai's face immediately darkened. He had just been thinking that the angry young people shouldn't generalize and harbor one-sided hatred, but now... the one who was stirring up hatred had jumped out.
This kind of person who attracts hatred is more useful than ten peace-loving people. He endlessly provokes conflict, so it's no wonder that everyone hates him.
"Do you want to die? Or do you not want to leave here tonight?"
Jiang Bai was also angered. At this moment, national and personal grievances surged into his heart, and he glared angrily.
He couldn't care less about missions anymore. If he didn't teach them a lesson today, he wouldn't be Jiang Bai. As for whether this would anger Flying Eagle or ruin important matters, Jiang Bai didn't care anymore.
If Flying Eagle dares to distrust him or target him because of this, then he will directly break off relations and fight them. Jiang Bai has never been afraid of anyone.
As for things like the underground palace map, those were never Jiang Bai's concern; they were Cheng Tiangang's business, so let them worry about them.
The moment these words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point. Those who had been laughing heartily at this person immediately stopped laughing.
Liu Mang, who was standing next to him, had already picked up the phone and was yelling, "Get the fuck ready! You just beat me up on my turf and you still dare to talk back? One word from me and you're all coming up here and chopping these guys into mincemeat!"
This place originally belonged to Jiang Bai, one of the two streets he managed. There were usually hundreds of people here who followed Jiang Bai, or more accurately, who followed Liu Mang around. Finding someone was incredibly convenient; it was just a matter of a word.
This is why Liu Manggan is so arrogant.
"asshole!"
Saburo Horii's expression suddenly changed. He walked up to the guy who had spouted such arrogant words and, without hesitation, gave him two resounding slaps.
Then he bowed to Jiang Bai and said, "Mr. Jiang, I apologize for his impetuous words. Please forgive me!"
He bowed ninety degrees to Jiang Bai as he spoke, and his previous drunkenness vanished without a trace in an instant. He showed no signs of being drunk at all.
The guy who had been hit also realized the problem. After hesitating for a moment, he followed Saburo Horii in bowing to Jiang Bai.
"Boss, what's up!"
At that moment, the door to the private room opened, and Lü Mao led a group of men carrying weapons as they rushed in, looking around menacingly and asking questions.
Ignoring him, Jiang Bai frowned and looked at Horii Saburo in front of him, saying, "An apology alone is not enough. I heard that seppuku is popular among you? I'll give him a chance to end it himself!"
Jiang Bai said coldly, taking the weapon from Lü Mao's hand and throwing it to the ground.
These words caused Saburo Horii's expression to change. He glared at Jiang Bai, and after a long while, frowned and said, "Mr. Jiang, this is going too far! It was just a slip of the tongue while drunk, and you're telling him to commit seppuku? He's a member of our Yamaguchi-gumi!"
"He may have made a mistake, but it doesn't warrant death. Aren't you afraid of being blamed by Mr. Flying Eagle for doing this? Aren't you afraid of incurring the hatred between our two families?"
"What you're doing is not only disrespectful to Mr. Flying Eagle, but also a provocation against our Yamaguchi-gumi. You will become our enemy, and once you become our enemy, the consequences will probably be more serious than you think."
"No matter where you flee, you will be hunted down by us!"
"Moreover, what you're doing could very well affect the cooperation between Mr. Flying Eagle and us. If our people are driven to their deaths by you, then the cooperation between our two companies will likely have to be terminated, and it could trigger a large-scale conflict. Who knows how many people will lose their lives because of that!"
"I don't think this is what Mr. Jiang would want to see, is it?"
"I'm willing, I'm willing! What does it have to do with me if you fight with Flying Eagle? It would be better if you were all dead!" Jiang Bai thought to himself, but he couldn't say it out loud.
He sneered and asked dismissively, "Are you threatening me?"
"I wouldn't dare! I just hope Mr. Jiang will consider this carefully!" Saburo Horii responded coldly, bowing to Jiang Bai as if hoping he would give it a serious consideration.
Although he was polite, he subtly revealed his confidence, because he felt that Jiang Bai wouldn't dare to do anything to them, and that Jiang Bai would understand the seriousness of dealing with people like them.
Jiang Bai narrowed his eyes, remained silent, and sized the other person up before asking noncommittally, "You mean we're just going to let this go like this?"
"I hope we can reach a reconciliation, because it would be the best option for both of us and Mr. Jiang." The other party smiled slightly and bowed to Jiang Bai.
He then added, "Of course, Yujiro will apologize to Mr. Jiang for his words just now."
This made Jiang Bai's mind race. A small act of impatience can ruin a big plan. The other party admitted their mistake, so Jiang Bai should just let it go and tolerate it for now, and settle the score later.
This is the best option.
However, Jiang Bai was unwilling to do so. If he were to let this matter go so easily, he wouldn't be Jiang Bai.
For this reason, Jiang Bai fell into deep thought.
Chapter 586 It's unreasonable!
Time passed second by second, and Saburo Horii and the others looked at Jiang Bai, and Jiang Bai looked at them in return.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Jiang Bai's decision. However, as Jiang Bai remained silent, Saburo Horii and the others began to smile, because in their eyes, Jiang Bai had compromised and dared not do anything to them.
In fact, just as they thought, Jiang Bai himself was also somewhat hesitant, deep in thought, weighing the pros and cons, and considering how to deal with these guys.
Just then, Jiang Bai's phone lit up, and a text message appeared. It was from Zhou Min, just a few words: "The matter has been resolved. Come quickly."
This finally brought a smile to Jiang Bai's face.
"Kill them!" Jiang Bai said, then turned and left.
"You can't do this! Ah..."
At that moment, Saburo Horii's voice rang out, followed by a scream the next second.
The next second, pitiful screams and insults came from inside the house one after another. The moment Jiang Bai came out, at least forty or fifty young people rushed in.
All of this was no longer Jiang Bai's concern, because Liu Mang and his team would handle it. Jiang Bai himself went out, found a car, and went to the hotel where he had last met Zhou Min.
It was the same room, Zhou Min's long-stay room.
Upon knocking on the door, Zhou Min opened it excitedly and pulled Jiang Bai inside, saying as she led him in, "Things have progressed; I've found what you were looking for."
He took out a laptop, opened a video on it, and said to Jiang Bai, "I installed a surveillance camera in the conference room of Wang Zhenxu's villa and secretly recorded their meeting. They were already in a meeting half an hour ago."
"However, not everyone has arrived yet. They talked about the map, and the news just now said that the map is in the hands of the Nangong family."
"You've come at the right time. Now we can see what their plans are. A powerful figure from the Assassins has just arrived, and now is the perfect opportunity."
Jiang Bai was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then followed Zhou Min to look at the laptop in front of them, where the video was displayed.
Zhou Min cleverly installed a camera in the corner of the high wall of the conference room, or perhaps there was a camera there all along, and she just connected it to her computer through some means. Of course, there was also a listening device, but it was unknown where it was placed.
However, Jiang Bai didn't care about that, because there were more important things for him to care about right now.
In the picture, Flying Eagle King Zhenxu sits in the center, and there are only a few people in the conference rooms on both sides, except for the Yamato expert that Jiang Bai had met.
There was also a bearded man with a distinctively exotic look, his hair wrapped in a turban. Jiang Bai wondered who he was, but based on his own speculation, he was probably a member of the legendary Assassins.
This organization, starting with the Old Man of the Mountain, was single-handedly wiped out by Yang Wudi. However, this was only the surface. The Assassins' lineage was too long, so long that it became numbingly familiar, and it was no less powerful than the Four Great Families.
They have hidden an unknown amount of power throughout the Middle East, allowing this extremist sect to revive successfully, so Jiang Bai was not surprised by their appearance.
Even when Yang Wudi himself received the news, he didn't seem too surprised.
Although he destroyed the opponent and dealt them a heavy blow, he clearly did not completely wipe them out.
Besides these two, there was another person with a big nose. Jiang Bai automatically identified him as the SSS-level superhuman from the imperialist big brother, or perhaps his agent. Who can say for sure?
There was another Chinese man, dressed in black, around sixty years old, with a cold and sinister look in his eyes. Jiang Bai didn't know his background, but his fierce appearance made it clear to him that he was no good.
Besides the people mentioned above, Jiang Bai also discovered an acquaintance, Dongfang Liucheng, the elder of the Dongfang family, and the representative of the Dongfang family in the Human Group Executive Committee.
Jiang Bai had already heard before he came that this guy had been replaced, and that the member of the Executive Committee of the Eastern World had been replaced by another elder of the Eastern family. Dongfang Liucheng had been reassigned, but he did not expect him to appear here.
This greatly surprised Jiang Bai.
When Jiang Bai came in, he was certain that he hadn't misheard Zhou Min's words; the map of Lishan Mausoleum was in the hands of the Nangong family.
"Are you sure you didn't mishear? They said the treasure map is in the hands of the Nangong family?" Jiang Bai couldn't help but ask.
No wonder he asked that question. The four ancient martial arts families are closely related, with a history spanning thousands of years. Their relationship is practically inseparable.
Jiang Bai wasn't surprised that this group was targeting the Nangong family, but the appearance of the Dongfang family here was something he couldn't help but be surprised about.
Because this is illogical, telling Jiang Bai that the Dongfang family is preparing to deal with the Nangong family is like telling Jiang Bai that Cheng Tiangang is preparing to kill him—it's unbelievable.
"Yes, Flying Eagle just said that he has found the location of the treasure map they are looking for, which is in the old mansion of the Nangong family. He also invited everyone to join him in dealing with the Nangong family, but only two people showed up just now, the others did not."
"I see..."
Jiang Bai fell into deep thought after hearing this, staring at the screen without saying a word, his eyes flashing with a strange light. There was something eerie about this whole thing.
Could it be that the Dongfang family, blinded by greed, has truly disregarded the millennia-old relationship between the two families and is willing to help outsiders deal with the Nangong family?
From then on, he severed himself from the ranks of aristocratic families?
This shouldn't be happening!
If that's the case, then the price is far too high. The things in the Lishan Mausoleum are indeed attractive, but the Dongfang family shouldn't be allowed to ignore them like this.
The four great families are closely allied. Today they are helping outsiders deal with the Nangong family, and tomorrow the other twenty-six families on the executive committee, along with the mysterious Ximen family, will turn their guns on the Dongfang family.
The cost would be enormous, and not something the Eastern aristocratic family would be willing to bear.
Moreover, before Jiang Bai arrived, he had already received news that a bunch of powerful families had been flirting with people on this island recently, and it wasn't just the Dongfang family who were involved.
Why were members of the Dongfang family in Wang Zhenxu's conference room?
Do they have some other purpose?
Or perhaps Flying Eagle offered some conditions that the Eastern Family couldn't refuse, even making him confidently believe that his relationship with the Eastern Family had become so close that they could conspire together to deal with the Nangong Family.
Everything seemed illogical, causing Jiang Bai to furrow his brow.
Chapter 587 The Dark World Chapter 27
However, Jiang Bai didn't have much time to think before Flying Eagle King Zhenxu, who was sitting in the conference room, spoke up: "I just spoke with the others, but not everyone was here. Now that everyone is here, I'll say it again."
"According to my investigation, as well as a report from an informant within the Nangong family, the map of the underground palace of Qin Shi Huang's Lishan Mausoleum is in the Nangong family's treasure vault."
"This item was obtained by Nangong Wentian, the ancestor of the Nangong family, and has been preserved in the Nangong family for over a thousand years."
"They used to live in the Langya Water Pavilion in Suzhou, belonging to the Nangong family. But decades ago, during the Nangong turmoil, they had to leave China and settle on this island. Many treasures were moved, including this treasure map."
"I wanted to have it stolen, but unfortunately, we failed. The place was too heavily guarded. The treasure vault was built inside the mountain and had only one entrance. The key to the large door, made of fine steel, was in the hands of the head of the Nangong family. No one but him could get in. So if we want this thing, we have to join forces to deal with the Nangong family!"
Before Feiying could finish speaking, Dongfang Liucheng sneered, "Feiying, I don't find your words very convincing. Our four ancient martial arts families are closely connected, and we have had a marriage alliance with the Nangong family for thousands of years. We didn't even know that this was in the hands of the Nangong family, so how did you find out?"
"Could it be that you have some grudge against the Nangong family and want to use us to get rid of them?"
One sentence caused the expressions of the people around to change, and they all looked at Flying Eagle with suspicion.
The Nangong family is based in Taiwan. It would be a miracle if they didn't have conflicts with Flying Eagle. It is said that Flying Eagle's first son died at the hands of the Nangong family.
Not many people know about this; it's a secret. But who are the people present?
This information couldn't be kept from them, so when Dongfang Liucheng said these words, they all became somewhat suspicious.
They suspected that Flying Eagle was using them, using the map of the Lishan Mausoleum underground palace to lure them into attacking the Nangong family together, so as to help Flying Eagle Gang take revenge.
That... isn't impossible.
"Hmph, your Dongfang family has been allied with the Nangong family through marriage for thousands of years, but didn't you also try to seduce me for this treasure map? Did you, Dongfang Liucheng, tell the Nangong family about your arrival here? I bet they didn't expect that, did they?"
"If your Dongfang family can do this, what's so strange about the Nangong family hiding some secrets from you?"
Flying Eagle snorted coldly, mocking without any mercy.
He didn't trust the Dongfang family, but he was somewhat at ease knowing that an old friend was there.
One sentence made Dongfang Liucheng's face turn red. He glanced awkwardly at Feiying, who had a dark face, snorted coldly, and said no more.
On the other hand, Flying Eagle continued, "As for how I got this information, I'm not afraid to tell you all that I have a mole in the Nangong family. This mole was planted by my master many years ago. That person has a very high status, so it's not surprising that he knows about this."
This surprised Jiang Bai for a moment. He glanced at Zhou Min subconsciously and asked noncommittally, "Flying Eagle has a master? So he's also a master?"
"Ranked twenty-seventh in the underworld, Flying Eagle of Taiwan Island, you don't know him? He's not just a master, he's a genuine top-tier master, a successor of the Demonic Eagle Sect."
This surprised Zhou Min, who looked at Jiang Bai with a look of astonishment.
She didn't expect that Jiang Bai was unaware of this news.
She thought Jiang Bai knew about this.
"Forehead."
Jiang Bai's expression changed slightly, and he looked a little embarrassed.
He didn't know much about the underworld, nor was he interested in knowing everyone about it, so he didn't pay much attention to it. He never expected that Flying Eagle would have such an identity.
Ranked twenty-seventh?
In other words, his strength is even above that of Nangong Qingyun of the Nangong family.
Jiang Bai was unaware of this news, but at the same time, he suddenly understood why Flying Eagle, a gang leader, could wield such influence in Taiwan, maintain connections with so many powerful forces in the underworld, and even have them take the lead in this matter.
So that's why.
If that's the case, then it's not surprising.
All the previous speculations now seem reasonable.
As for the Sky Eagle Cult that Flying Eagle belongs to, Jiang Bai is not worried.
Jiang Bai knew about the Sky Eagle Sect, but it was just a declining demonic sect, not worth mentioning.
There are hardly any of them left, just a handful, and they've been gone for decades.
The only surprising thing is probably the emergence of someone like Flying Eagle.
Yin Tianchou was able to rise to prominence because he relied on the Nangong family back then. Jiang Bai was still wondering how Flying Eagle got to where he was, but now that he thinks about it, it's not really that difficult for a top-tier expert to reach this level.
It's not a matter of whether you're willing to do it or not; once you've done it, it's not a matter of whether you can't do it.
Zhou Min rolled her eyes at Jiang Bai without saying a word, but her gaze was somewhat strange. She even began to doubt whether she had come to the wrong person. How dare he clamor to help her deal with Flying Eagle without even knowing this information?
Although she only recently learned of this news.
Just an hour ago.
Slightly embarrassed, Jiang Bai added, "Top-tier experts are nothing special; I just killed one recently."
While this reassured Zhou Min somewhat, she turned her attention to the screen.
"Elder Tianying's mole? He's been fighting with the Nangong family for so long, it's not surprising that he has one or two moles. I'll believe you for now, but... so what if you have a map? Do you have the Qin Emperor's Key?"
The four great families have a long history and tradition, unlike people like Flying Eagle.
Although he is powerful, his foundation is not solid, and he is unaware of many secrets. As for others, they are completely clueless about this matter.
On the contrary, the Dongfang family knew the whole story very well.
"The Qin Emperor's Key?" This name left everyone around looking bewildered.
Realizing he had said something inappropriate, Dongfang Liucheng sneered and replied, "The Qin Emperor's Key is also a key, a key to opening the underground palace. Without it, the difficulty of our entry would increase exponentially."
"hehe."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai chuckled. Dongfang Liucheng wasn't telling the truth. Without the Qin Emperor's Key, going there would mean certain death. Cheng Tiangang had already told him this accurately.
This kind of talk can only fool foreigners and those with weak roots like Flying Eagle. Who would believe in a truly long-standing tradition?
"That's not important. We'll just have to make things a little more complicated later. As long as we can get in, it doesn't matter if we don't have a key. We're strong enough to open any mechanism or secret passage. That's not a problem. What we need to do first is to launch a surprise attack on the Nangong family!"
Upon hearing this, Flying Eagle responded coldly.
Chapter 588 Distribution of Profits
After saying this, Fei Ying turned his gaze to Dongfang Liucheng and said coldly, "Is your Dongfang family going to participate or not? If so, send your brother Dongfang Liuxing! You are not qualified!"
"If you're not going to participate, please leave immediately!"
"Participate? Of course we'll participate. My brother sent me here to tell you that no matter what, we'll participate in this, as long as it's to deal with the Nangong family!"
To everyone's surprise, Dongfang Liucheng's answer took Jiang Bai by surprise, and he immediately raised his eyebrows.
How to deal with the Nangong family?
The East?
Or is there someone else?
What exactly is their purpose?
While the map of the underground palace was certainly an important reason, it was by no means the main one. Since the Dongfang family knew about the "Qin Emperor's Key," they should have known that even with a map, without the Qin Emperor's Key, it was just a piece of waste paper.
The map was certainly a reason, but it was definitely not the main one, because it wasn't enough to warrant a falling out between the Dongfang and Nangong families.
"What do you want?" Flying Eagle realized that the problem was not so simple.
"We'll share the map, but we want a coffin from the Nangong family's treasury!"
Dongfang Liucheng said with a smile.
"A coffin? What's the use of that?" Flying Eagle asked immediately.
People around also cast curious glances. No one understood why the Dongfang family needed a coffin.
Unfortunately, Dongfang Liucheng was destined not to answer the question, but simply smiled slightly.
In the end, Flying Eagle didn't press the matter further. He knew that whether he asked or not, Dongfang Liucheng wouldn't tell him anything, so he just nodded silently, which was considered as tacit approval.
He then said, "The Nangong family has also sensed something different recently. I think they have already guessed it. I have been contacting people to target them. The Nangong family head and Nangong Qingyun have returned to Taiwan, along with their family members scattered throughout Southeast Asia."
"Unfortunately, they suffered a heavy blow when they went to the mainland some time ago. They provoked that big hedgehog in Tiandu and were almost wiped out by Yang Wudi and others. Otherwise, I would not have dared to provoke this behemoth so easily."
"You big hedgehog, my ass!" Jiang Bai retorted without hesitation as soon as he finished speaking, which made Zhou Min chuckle slightly.
Dongfang Liucheng did not refute Feiying's words. This was the weakest moment in the history of the Nangong family. The core strength of the family had been wiped out by Tiandu and Yang Wudi, and the power of the entire Nangong family had dropped by half.
Taking action at this time is indeed the best choice.
At the same time, Jiang Bai's eyes began to flicker. This Flying Eagle had already taken notice of him. Could it be that he already had information about him? However, he then shook his head. If he were the Flying Eagle, he would have revealed his identity immediately if he knew it.
He would never give himself the chance to hide by his side, so the chances of him knowing his identity are slim.
"When do you plan to make your move?" someone asked.
"The sooner the better. I've been waiting for you to arrive. I originally planned to take action tonight, but Dongfang Liuxing hasn't arrived, nor has the new Elder of the Mountain of the Assassins. We haven't reached an agreement on the terms either, so it will take some time. But the sooner the better."
"As far as I know, the Nangong family has also sensed the danger and has begun to seek help from the country. They have been in close contact with the country recently."
As Fei Ying spoke, his gaze drifted toward Dongfang Liucheng.
Dongfang Liucheng smiled slightly and did not hide anything, saying directly, "You are right. The Nangong family did sense the danger, so they have started to make contact with various ancient martial arts families recently."
"They want us to send experts to help them through this difficult time. Although they have only noticed that you are making some underhanded moves that may be related to them, they do not know what you want."
"So although they are pleading for reinforcements from the country, they haven't reached an agreement yet for various reasons. Moreover, Yang Wudi has gone crazy in the last two days and, together with Li Qingdi, has pinned down all the major families. Our people can't move around recklessly, otherwise it wouldn't be me who came today, but my brother Dongfang Liuxing."
"So if we want to take action against the Nangong family, we need to do it as soon as possible. My brother will try to come over tomorrow. If possible, we can make our move tomorrow night, and then he will have to go back. Yang Wudi has been keeping a close eye on us lately! We don't want him to have any leverage over us."
"Especially since we've joined forces with outsiders to deal with the Nangong family, if they find out, our Dongfang family will be in big trouble!"
Dongfang Liucheng shared what he knew and his thoughts.
There's nothing to hide.
They entrusted that item to the Nangong family, which is why they disregarded morality and took the risk of taking action, thus bearing a great risk. Naturally, they wanted to do it as quickly as possible.
"Our new elder of the mountains has arrived, but he is unwilling to show himself. We can take action tomorrow, but we still have issues regarding the distribution of the spoils."
"Indeed, I think we need to reconsider this issue."
The SSS-level ability user from country A also expressed a different opinion at this time, agreeing to redistribute the benefits.
"We also think it's not fair."
Yamato with his back to the sword also spoke up.
Those present subsequently agreed, all believing that their interests had not been protected.
These words caused Flying Eagle's expression to change, and he coldly replied, "There are a total of six groups. As the initiator, I take half a percent, which I think is very reasonable. It's already very good that each of you can get ten percent. You should know that I don't only have you as collaborators; I can find other people!"
This surprised Jiang Bai. He didn't expect that Flying Eagle was so greedy that it wanted to take half of it.
He wants it... but these people won't agree.
As expected, someone immediately objected: "It's true that you can find other partners to cooperate with, but there are only a few forces that can provide top-tier experts, and they won't agree to your suggestion. We need to pay a considerable price to swallow up the Nangong family. You should know that although they are weak, they still have two top-tier experts."
"This is difficult to deal with. We will all pay a price, and after paying the price, we will only get one-tenth of the Nangong family's wealth and one-tenth of the benefits from the Lishan Mausoleum. We feel that we are at a great loss."
"That's right, we all agree that this distribution plan is unreasonable. You can't take so much for yourself! Since we're cooperating, we should share it equally! Flying Eagle can't take half for itself."
Immediately, someone chimed in, adding that everyone present unanimously opposed the idea of Flying Eagle taking half the prize, and no one was willing to stand on Flying Eagle's side.
Chapter 589 The Snipe and the Clam
The reactions of those around him made Flying Eagle's face turn ashen.
Seeing so many people opposing him, Flying Eagle had no choice but to compromise.
He proposed a plan where he would take 30% for himself, and the rest would be divided equally among the others, but it was still rejected.
After much bargaining, they finally came up with a plan: after the Nangong family was eliminated, Flying Eagle would take 25% of the benefits, while the other five families would each take 15%.
When they break through the Lishan Mausoleum, the distribution will still be based on this ratio. However, if there really is a secret formula for immortality, everyone must share it and no one can keep it for themselves.
After some haggling, the people finally reached an agreement.
Watching these people haggling on the screen, Jiang Bai sneered repeatedly. "Lishan Mausoleum?"
Are you dreaming?
As for the outcome of their surprise attack on the Nangong family tomorrow, Jiang Bai doesn't care. Ideally, both sides would be severely injured, with one dying completely, so he can take advantage of the situation and seize the map. If that doesn't happen, at least the Nangong clan will be wiped out, which wouldn't do him any harm.
Just then, Jiang Bai's phone rang. It was Mantis who answered, glanced at Jiang Bai, and immediately picked up the phone: "Jiang Bai, what are you doing! You actually killed Brother Flying Eagle's guest! I think you've had enough of living! Where are you? Come out right now!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai hung up the phone immediately, leaving Zhou Min standing beside him looking at him blankly. She asked in astonishment, "You killed Flying Eagle's guest?"
Jiang Bai did not answer, because the Yamato man on the monitor screen had already drawn his long sword from his back and placed it on the table, roaring at Flying Eagle Wang Zhenxu: "Flying Eagle, your men actually killed all the people sent by the Yamaguchi-gumi to cover for me! You have to give me an explanation. The Yamaguchi-gumi is an organization controlled by our Yagyu family and many other sword families such as the Two-Sword Style."
"You should know this news. As your guest, you actually ordered your men to murder them. You must give me an explanation!"
"Haha, I see. They were causing trouble, so I took care of them. The matter is clear now, and I know where the item is. I don't think I need to play hide-and-seek with Flying Eagle anymore. They kept provoking me, so I can't be polite to them."
With a laugh, ignoring the guy in the video who had turned against Flying Eagle King Zhenxu, Jiang Bai smiled at Zhou Min.
Zhou Min covered her mouth and chuckled softly without saying a word. Then Jiang Bai casually turned off the computer, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became somewhat ambiguous.
"What do you want to do!"
Zhou Min winked at Jiang Bai, her eyes incredibly alluring.
What do you think?
Jiang Bai mumbled something and pounced on him. The next second, the room was filled with the colors of spring.
After their passionate encounter, Zhou Min left, and Jiang Bai told Cheng Tiangang about it, asking him to find someone to come over.
Although Jiang Bai left alone, seven forces are now united, not to mention a large number of people.
With seven top-tier experts to choose from, the Nangong family is already in dire straits. Jiang Bai doesn't want to risk his life. If Cheng Tiangang and his group can't provide a strong guarantee, Jiang Bai won't make a move.
Because that's just too dangerous, it's practically suicide.
After listening to Jiang Bai's words, Cheng Tiangang nodded solemnly and then hung up the phone.
An hour later, Jiang Bai received a definite reply from Cheng Tiangang: the two SSS-level experts from the Divine Group had set off. Under Li Qingdi's orders, led by Lieyang, they would arrive at Taiwan Island that night.
Besides the two SSS-level experts, there were also the previous generation's Four Heavenly Kings, four SS-level experts, and a bunch of support staff, totaling around twenty people.
Each one of them is a true elite expert of the God Group, and also the God Group's trump card.
As for the Human Group, because it involves the Nangong family, the Human Group can only mobilize limited forces. More importantly, Yang Wudi needs to suppress those families and cannot leave.
Therefore, he couldn't offer Jiang Bai any help. He only contacted the Ghost Group to hire a master, and the arrangement was already made. He would personally contact Jiang Bai after arriving in Taiwan.
Jiang Bai was speechless. This amount of power was not weak, but it was still not enough, and it was somewhat weaker than the power of the Flying Eagle.
Jiang Bai frowned and replied, "Send all those useless guys under Li Qingdi back. What SS-level experts? If they're not top-tier, send them all back. They're just cannon fodder; they won't help us and will only drag us down."
"Besides Lieyang and the other two, we only have three top-tier combatants. We can count that Ghost Group expert as one, but it's still not enough. Don't you have any other ideas? With this little strength, how do you expect me to fight them?"
With three people plus the four top experts from the Ghost Group, that's quite a force, not one to be underestimated anywhere. But it's still not enough; it's not enough to deal with the Flying Eagles, and it doesn't achieve the overwhelming effect Jiang Bai wanted.
"We'll find a way to get in touch with the Nangong family. Yang Wudi will also relax his supervision so that the families on the mainland can help. So the main characters this time aren't actually you, but the ancient martial arts families on the mainland and Flying Eagle and his group."
"What you need to do is sit back and watch the fight, and make your move when they're ready."
Cheng Tiangang's answer was the conclusion reached after detailed discussions among them.
Jiang Bai doesn't need to act immediately. He can wait until the two groups have fought to a standstill before making a move. When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits.
"Are you kidding me? You leaked information to the Nangong family? Wouldn't that tell them we're also keeping an eye on them? Have you all lost your minds? They already know the news, and you're still letting me reap the benefits?"
"They might even cook me in one ladle!" Jiang Bai said angrily, quite dissatisfied with Cheng Tiangang's words.
If we leak this information to the Nangong family now, wouldn't that be telling them that we're keeping an eye on things here?
Then where will the element of surprise come from?
Still want to sit back and watch the tigers fight? Dream on!
"Don't worry, we are careful in our actions. We will just try to find some clues through some prominent families in the mainland, such as the Gongsun family, and report the matter to the Executive Committee. With the Nangong family's connections, it's impossible that they won't get the information."
"Of course, we won't give you any definitive information, just a vague concept. But even if it's just a vague concept, I believe that the Nangong family, with their cautious nature, will react." Cheng Tiangang stated his thoughts, which reassured Jiang Bai somewhat.
"What about the Dongfang family? The Nangong family, even in Southeast Asia, can get the news. The Dongfang family is a member of the Executive Committee, so they will also get the news. Won't we alert them?"
Then Jiang Bai thought of an even more serious problem: the Dongfang family.