88: Torrential rain night

Two days later, in the afternoon,

the originally clear sky suddenly began to rain.

The tea room on the top floor of the Phoenix City Nightclub.

On the Mahogany Tea Tray, an old Zisha teapot was steaming,

Ninth Master's calloused hands steadily held the handle of the pot.

Boiling water poured into the teacup,

the rising aroma of tea mingling with the scent of rain from outside the window, permeating the room.

"Ninth Master, regarding the Lianhua Residential Area..."

Brother Biao bowed slightly,

Ninth Master kept his head down, staring at the tea. "Speak."

"The brothers on lookout reported that A Zhen hasn't shown her face for several days."

Brother Biao glanced up at Ninth Master. "But those two girls under her are still living there. Should we...?"

The tea swirled in the cup.

Ninth Master chuckled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkling.

"It seems we've alerted Boss Li."

He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"Since he dares to leave those two girls there, he's not afraid of us making a move.

Forget it..."

A flash of lightning streaked across the sky outside,

illuminating Ninth Master's round face in flickering light.

The Red Sandalwood Prayer Beads on his wrist shimmered with a faint light.

"What's the situation with the Chaoshan Gang? Why has there been no movement?"

Brother Biao bowed his back even lower.

"They... are still waiting and watching.

Although they rejected Li Zhan's invitation, they haven't given us a definite answer either.

I suspect... they think our chips aren't enough."

"Heh, these businessmen..."

A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Ninth Master's eyes. "Go tell Chen Jinshui that as long as we take down Li Zhan—

South City and the Wharf will belong to them; I only want the West Side."

Brother Biao's pupils constricted. "This..."

"You can't catch the wolf without sacrificing the child.

Those smugglers have been coveting the Changan Wharf for a long time."

Ninth Master picked up his teacup. "By the way, have the documents been sent to Young Master Liu?"

"As per your instructions, he was given a ninety percent stake in that land, and we kept ten percent."

Brother Biao quickly added, "Isn't this too..."

"Idiot..."

Ninth Master suddenly slammed the teacup down onto the table.

"That land is in South City. Can we even reach it?"

The tea splashed out of the cup.

"It's better to use this land to pull Young Master Liu into this game.

The more we give now,

the more miserable that man named Li will be later..."

Cold sweat broke out on Brother Biao's forehead as he hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the table.

"Are those Thais arranged?" Ninth Master suddenly asked.

Brother Biao quickly replied, "They've already been planted in various venues. All of them are top-tier experts."

Ninth Master wiped his hands slowly, then suddenly broke into a sinister grin.

"Very good."

The wrinkles on his face smoothed out,

and he returned to his Maitreya Buddha-like smile.

"This kid is too smart and too skilled. I have to find him some suitable opponents."

He looked out the window at the pouring rain.

"Go make the arrangements. This rain...

has come at just the right time."

—

The torrential rain shrouded Chang'an.

At the same time, in an office on the second floor of the New Sharp Center,

Li Zhan stood quietly by the window,

also watching this sudden downpour.

His gaze was terrifyingly calm, a sharp contrast to the raging storm outside.

In the face of absolute power, all schemes are futile.

This was a truth Li Zhan had always believed in.

This time, he didn't want to play any mind games with Ninth Master—

as long as the person is dead,

even the most ingenious layout will crumble.

Among these so-called allies, who would take a risk for a dead man?

His Master had also told him

that he sometimes overthinks things, which causes him to lose the initiative.

When playing against someone too clever,

don't think too much; when it's time to be reckless, be reckless.

Rain drummed against the window,

as if echoing this simple truth.

Shui Sheng sat on the sofa, flipping through the latest intelligence.

"Our people are already lying in wait near the Chaoshan Gang headquarters. We'll receive word immediately of any movement.

So far, there's no sign of them mobilizing their forces."

He paused. "Ninth Master...

is now all alone in the country.

He sent his family abroad long ago..."

Li Zhan sneered at this.

"They're all the damn same..."

Shui Sheng suddenly sat up straight

and pulled a photo from the folder.

"Ninth Master recruited a few experts from Thailand a few days ago."

He pushed the photo onto the coffee table, showing several dark-skinned, lean men.

"They've been planted in various venues,

and we'll be facing them directly this time...

Should we modify the battle plan?"

Li Zhan stared at the photo in silence, his finger lightly tracing the rim of his teacup.

After a moment,

he shook his head. "Proceed according to the original plan. Just have my junior brothers make some minor adjustments."

It grew dark, and the rain outside intensified.

When the clock struck seven-thirty, Li Zhan turned and walked back to his desk.

Old Zhou entered the room with Big Courage, Big Ox, and Li Zhan's three other junior brothers,

all dressed in black tactical gear.

"Everything is ready," Old Zhou reported in a low voice.

Li Zhan turned around, his gaze sweeping over his junior brothers.

"Big Ox, Tie Zhu, Little Black, A-Wang,

you are my junior brothers, and this is your first time participating in such a large operation.

Originally...

I should protect you, but since you've chosen this path..."

The office was so quiet that the sound of rain hitting the window was audible.

"Tonight, you must charge at the very front for me.

Tell all the brothers below...

that my junior brothers aren't here just to slack off."

Li Zhan's voice suddenly turned cold. "If anyone chickens out, you'll be sent back to your hometown tomorrow."

Big Ox wore a rare serious expression.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother, we won't let you down!"

The other three immediately straightened their backs. "We will definitely charge at the very front!"

Li Zhan's gaze slowly swept across the faces of his junior brothers,

his voice low and powerful.

"Remember, this isn't practicing moves in Master's courtyard."

A flash of ferocity suddenly crossed his eyes.

"The opponent has placed Muay Thai experts in every venue.

Your task is to let them know—

who the ancestor of Muay Thai is!"

"There are Muay Thai experts too?"

Big Ox shouted excitedly, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists.

"Master said

that our Fist Style is their true ancestor!

We'll show them this time!"

The other three junior brothers also rubbed their hands together, fighting spirit igniting in their eyes.

Li Zhan watching their eagerness, patted each of them on the shoulder.

"Apply the kung fu Master taught you flexibly. Be adaptable when facing the enemy; don't just rely on brute force."

Big Ox nodded heavily. "Don't worry, Senior Brother!"

To say Li Zhan wasn't worried at all would certainly be a lie.

He remembered the advice his Master gave him when he left home.

If a young eagle doesn't take a few falls, how can it soar freely in the sky?

He took a deep breath, turned around, and waved his hand.

"Proceed according to the original plan. Go."

Old Zhou immediately led everyone out of the office.

A short while later,

the roar of engines came from outside.

Several black SUVs followed by a dozen vans quietly drove out of the parking lot.

Their headlights pierced through the curtain of rain,

like unsheathed blades pointing straight toward Phoenix City.