149: He Tou Jiu

Li Zhan pushed open the door of the octagon cage and walked out.

Big Ox, who had been waiting nearby, immediately stepped forward and handed over the black suit jacket he was holding.

Li Zhan did not put on a shirt; he just threw the suit jacket directly over his bare torso, leaving it open.

The exquisite black fabric created a striking visual contrast against his glistening, sweat-soaked, and blood-stained bronze chest. The image, a mix of ferocity, unruliness, and the aura of a superior, was immensely imposing.

With Big Ox standing beside him like an iron tower guard, his murderous aura still undissipated, the two of them stood there like an insurmountable mountain.

People from various factions around them watched this scene, all feeling a sense of awe. They exchanged low glances, and murmurs of admiration arose.

"Chang'an... this time, he has truly established himself."

"A fierce dragon crossing the river... The landscape of Dongguan is going to change."

The crowd automatically parted to make a path for them, their eyes filled with awe and reverence.

Li Zhan returned to his booth and high-fived Old Zhou, AZu, and the others one by one. There was no need for words between brothers; everything was understood.

Yang Yuying immediately stepped forward and hugged his arm tightly, as if she were afraid he would disappear the moment she let go. The emotion in her beautiful eyes was almost overflowing.

AZu laughed excitedly, "Brother Zhan! That was awesome... You guys keep drinking, I'm going to collect the money! We've hit the jackpot now..."

After saying this, he grabbed Big Courage and Shui Sheng and ran excitedly toward the betting area, clearly having won a staggering return on their heavy wager.

Old Zhou leaned closer to Li Zhan and whispered, "In that situation just now, the other factions must have seen that something was wrong with A Hao, but none of them said a word. It's clear they wanted to use us to do their dirty work and test our weight."

Li Zhan grabbed a chilled beer, tilted his head back, and took several large gulps. The icy liquid made him sigh with relief.

His gaze swept toward the direction of Bai Shaqiang's booth, where the man was busy directing his subordinates with a serious expression. Li Zhan sneered, "We've just joined the table, so naturally, others want to see the newcomer's cards and capabilities. Hmph, but... now that the probing is over and they've watched such a grand show, it won't be justifiable if they don't bleed a little to compensate me later."

His tone was calm but carried a hint of dominance; he had already begun planning the division of interests following this probe.

Meanwhile, the Grudge Match on the ring was still ongoing. However, with the comparison of Li Zhan's previous heart-stopping, twist-filled peak duel that ended in such a soul-crushing victory, the private grudges settled afterward, no matter how bloody or brutal, seemed dull to the audience and the various big shots. It was like the aftermath of a climax, unable to stir the same passion or attention.

Everyone's thoughts seemed to still be lingering on the previous duel and the upcoming investigation results regarding the banned substance incident. The atmosphere in the entire venue had fallen into a strange state of calm, mixed with anticipation and restlessness...

Not long after, AZu, Big Courage, and Shui Sheng returned to the booth, but the heavy suitcases were nowhere to be seen behind them.

AZu, with an irrepressible grin on his face, carefully took out a well-crafted paper voucher with special watermarks from his inner pocket and handed it to Li Zhan. "Brother Zhan, the amount is too large, and moving that much cash is too conspicuous, so the organizers just exchanged it for this."

Li Zhan took the "check." This was not a traceable note like those from ordinary banks that require real-name verification and leave stubs. It was more like a "hard currency" voucher circulating within a specific circle, based on reputation and strength, usually endorsed by powerful, reputable underground banks or similar institutions. As long as insiders recognized this voucher and knew where to "redeem" it, it could circulate like real gold and silver, a common method for handling large amounts of gray income.

Li Zhan glanced at the staggering long string of numbers on it, nodded calmly, and handed the voucher back to AZu. "Alright, keep it safe... Once we go back, find a reliable channel to redeem it as soon as possible and get the accounts sorted out."

"Understood, Brother Zhan!" AZu solemnly took the check and carefully tucked it into his inner jacket pocket. This thin slip of paper in his hand represented a massive fortune, yet Li Zhan had handed it to him to handle without even a second glance. This unconditional trust warmed his heart and further solidified his determination to follow him to the death.

Immediately after, AZu leaned in closer, lowering his voice until only Li Zhan could hear him. "When I was coming back, I passed by the Hong Kong booth, and Mr. Su's people quietly passed on a message: he wants to invite you for a late-night snack at the usual place tonight. It looks like he has something important to discuss."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhan nodded calmly. "Alright, I understand."

AZu paused and continued whispering, "Also... Brother Qiang from Tiger Gate sent word as well, asking you to stay in Tiger Gate for the next two days instead of rushing back to Chang'an. Once the boxing match is over, he will host a Reconciliation Banquet and sincerely requests your presence..."

A "Reconciliation Banquet" is a gang term originating from the Cantonese-speaking region, carrying a strong traditional gang flavor. Its meaning goes far beyond the literal "setting out wine and food"; its implications are much deeper. It is a form of public, ritualized mediation and apology. It is usually initiated by the party in the conflict who is at fault, is weaker, or wishes to end the matter, inviting the other party and a respected intermediary to attend a banquet. The purpose is to publicly admit fault, demonstrate sincerity for reconciliation, and trade substantive concessions for peace, while the intermediary guarantees the execution of the agreement, ultimately resolving the grudge while preserving face for both sides.

Bai Shaqiang inviting Li Zhan to a "Reconciliation Banquet" meant he acknowledged that the organizer was responsible for the banned substance incident during the tournament and owed Li Zhan. He hoped to proactively resolve potential ill feelings, avoid future conflicts, and was willing to offer some tangible benefits or cooperation opportunities as "compensation" to repair the relationship. This move was not only a public recognition of Li Zhan's strength and status but could also imply an intent to probe Li Zhan's true intentions and pave the way for subsequent decisions. Therefore, this was far from an ordinary dinner; it was an important diplomatic prelude concerning the future division of interests and the balance of power.

Upon hearing this, a cold smile curled at the corner of Li Zhan's mouth, and his gaze drifted toward the organizer's booth. As it happened, Bai Shaqiang was also looking this way. Their eyes met briefly in the air, and Li Zhan immediately replaced his expression with a perfectly measured, slightly reserved smile, giving a slight nod toward that side to indicate that the message had been received and the invitation was accepted.

Seeing this, Bai Shaqiang returned an ambiguous smile and raised the teacup in his hand. A meeting that seemed to signal a temporary end to the turmoil but actually hid more maneuvering had already been quietly set. Li Zhan knew in his heart that the "negotiation" with this local tiger of Tiger Gate would be the key to determining exactly how many real benefits he could reap from this trip to Tiger Gate and his future status in the Dongguan landscape.