97: Chapter 97: One sentence is all it takes to make them fight like dogs!

Early the next morning.

The door to the private room on the top floor of Moon Banquet Tower was pushed open once again.

The location remained unchanged, and the three people were still the same.

But the air was thick like congealed blood; there was no longer any hint of hypocritical pleasantries, leaving only oppression and irritability.

Yan Gang sat in the main seat, his face ashen.

The shoulder blade that had been crushed yesterday was still aching with a piercing pain.

No matter how good the medicinal pills were, they could not suppress that pain.

And they could not suppress that humiliation that had seeped deep into his bones.

Xiao Shi hid himself in the shadows of the corner.

His dark purple eyes swept over Yan Gang from time to time, filled with cold calculations.

Creak.

The door opened.

Ling Huanxin walked in.

She had changed into a simple, elegant moon-white dress, her face haggard, with a hint of perfectly measured anxiety in her eyes.

Anyone who saw her would think she had spent the whole night awake, worrying about the future of the three families.

"Good morning, two family heads."

She spoke softly, breaking the deathly silence in the private room.

Yan Gang let out a heavy snort from his throat and did not respond.

He picked up his teacup and poured the scalding tea down his throat, but the fire in his chest only burned brighter.

Xiao Shi twitched his thin lips, which served as a response.

Ling Huanxin did not care at all.

She sat down on her own, her slender fingers lifting the teapot to pour herself a cup.

Blowing away the swirling steam, she let out a soft, faint sigh.

"The two of you are aware of Commander Lin's ultimatum."

"Before tonight, thirty percent of our monthly revenue must be delivered to the City Defense Military Department."

"There is not much time left."

"We must come up with a plan as soon as possible to gather the resources, lest…"

Before she could finish her sentence.

Bang!

The celadon teacup in Yan Gang's hand turned into powder in his palm.

The scalding tea mixed with broken porcelain dripped from between his fingers, but he was completely oblivious.

"Gather! Gather my ass!"

Yan Gang finally exploded, his low roar reverberating in the private room!

"Does that little bastard really think he's the King of Heaven?!"

"I don't believe that if our three families join forces and stall, he would dare use the City Defense cannons to blast us?!"

Xiao Shi, in the corner, also spoke in a sinister tone.

"Brother Yan is right."

"That kid is just bluffing."

"If he really wants to tear off the mask, what good fruit can a commander with no troops eat!"

The two sang in harmony, their words venomous, turning yesterday's fear and humiliation into futile curses.

Listening to these foul words, the hand Ling Huanxin used to hold the teacup trembled imperceptibly.

Her face instantly lost all color.

Deep in the depths of her spiritual sea, that withered locust tree branch was emitting a deathly cold, as if issuing a silent warning.

Idiots!

Two hopeless idiots!

The one you are cursing is my master!

You are courting death! Do not drag me down with you!

Ling Huanxin's heart churned with huge waves; she wished she could tear the mouths of these two old things right there and then.

But she could not.

She still wore that worried expression on her face.

She put down the teacup, her tone bordering on pleading.

"Two brothers, please watch your words!"

"The current situation is stronger than the people; what is the use of being sharp-tongued?"

"That lord's methods… haven't we already experienced them yesterday?"

The word "yesterday" was like a basin of ice water, instantly extinguishing their anger.

The private room fell into a deathly silence once again.

That pressure like the descent of a god or demon, that dignity being trampled and crushed underfoot…

Every scene was a nightmare from which they could not escape.

Yan Gang's breathing became heavy.

Xiao Shi's body tensed even further.

Fear is the best sedative.

Ling Huanxin knew the time had come.

She spoke again, her voice not loud, but she accurately steered the topic toward the trap she had dug.

"Now is not the time for fighting over breath; it is time to solve the problem."

"Since this money must be paid, what we should discuss is how our three families… should split this thirty percent of resources."

This sentence made Xiao Shi's eyelids lift immediately.

Yan Gang also suppressed his anger and sat back down, his face terrifyingly dark.

That was right.

Cursing was one thing, but the money would likely still have to be paid.

But how to pay it was another matter entirely.

Ling Huanxin took in both of their reactions, a cold sneer in her heart.

Hooked.

She picked up her teacup, took a light sip, and then spoke unhurriedly.

"In this younger sister's opinion, it would likely be inappropriate for our three families to split this thirty percent of resources equally."

A flash of light appeared in the depths of Xiao Shi's eyes.

"Oh? Does little sister Huanxin have any brilliant ideas?"

Ling Huanxin put down the teacup, looked at the two, and spoke softly.

"What that lord wants is 'thirty percent of monthly revenue'."

"Since it is calculated based on monthly revenue, naturally, whoever earns more should pay more."

"Only this is called fair."

She looked at Yan Gang, with a "compliment" that sounded only natural on her face.

"The Yan Family has always been the number one family in our Baoan City, with industries all over the city, so naturally, the profits are the highest."

"And the Xiao Family… mainly deals in underground business, with the smallest scale."

"So this younger sister proposes…"

Her voice paused, and the air in the private room instantly tensed to the extreme.

"The Yan Family will bear fifty percent of this tribute."

"My Ling Family, thirty percent."

"The Xiao Family is the weakest, so they will bear the remaining twenty percent."

"What do you two brothers think?"

As her words fell.

The private room became deathly quiet.

A trace of wild joy flashed in Xiao Shi's deep-set eyes.

Fifty percent, thirty percent, twenty percent.

He pays the smallest share!

This proposal had a hundred benefits and no harm for him!

He almost did not hesitate and immediately stood on Ling Huanxin's side.

"Little sister Huanxin is right!"

A hint of a smile was squeezed into Xiao Shi's cold, sinister voice.

"The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility!"

He glanced sideways at Yan Gang, his words hiding a knife.

"Brother Yan, usually when it comes to the benefits in the city, your Yan Family takes the lion's share, and we haven't said a word against it."

"Now that it's time to bleed, you, the leader, should also contribute a bit more, right?"

These words were both sinister and damaging; they were putting Yan Gang on the fire to roast!

Yan Gang's face turned completely black.

"Xiao Shi! You fucking fart!"

Yan Gang could no longer hold back, slammed his palm on the table, and stood up abruptly!

The terrifying aura of a five-star King Realm exploded, causing the entire private room to buzz!