He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

On Sentosa Island at night, the sea breeze carries a humid, salty smell, which mixes with the expensive agarwood scent permeating the Song Family Manor, creating a suffocating atmosphere of extravagance and decay.

As the three black helicopters of "Sky Capital" hovered in mid-air, their massive searchlight beams, like sharp swords, pierced the manor's false peace. Jiang Che, holding Shen Qingge's hand, walked step by step down the red carpet into the "Hall of Gathering Righteousness," a core building symbolizing the underground power of Southeast Asia, under the astonished, awe-inspiring, yet somewhat gloating gazes of hundreds of guests.

The interior design of the hall does not follow a modern luxury style, but retains the retro style of the time when the family went to Southeast Asia a century ago. The huge teak beams, the pillars carved with ferocious dragon heads, and the calligraphy and paintings by famous artists hanging on the surrounding walls all demonstrate the family's century-old heritage and history of plunder.

In the very center of the hall, there was a huge huanghuali armchair, covered with a complete tiger skin.

The current head of the Song family, Song Tianyang, who is seventy years old, is sitting in this tiger-skin chair.

He was dressed in a black Tang suit, and held two priceless jade walnuts in his hands. Although he was in a wheelchair and half of his body was paralyzed, his cloudy but still piercing eyes were like an old venomous snake lurking in the shadows, staring intently at Jiang Che as he walked in.

Beside him stood Song Wanyi, dressed in a red cheongsam, as alluring as a poisonous flower, and the pirate leader "Black Shark," with a face full of scars and a bulging waist.

"The younger generation is truly formidable."

Song Tianyang spoke first. His voice was hoarse and grating, like two rusty iron plates rubbing together, echoing in the hall:

"Twenty years ago, when that coward Ye Zhentian first came here, he crawled in on his knees. I never imagined that twenty years later, his son would dare to fly a helicopter and shine its headlights in my face."

"Jiang Che, do you think my old bones in the Song family can't take you anymore?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the dozens of bodyguards who had been lying in ambush all stepped forward in unison. Although they did not draw their guns, their murderous aura pressed down on them as if it were a tangible force.

Shen Qingge's hand tightened slightly, but she did not back down. Instead, she straightened her back and, with the demeanor of an empress, coldly met those malicious gazes.

Jiang Che stopped and stood five meters away from Song Tianyang.

He released Shen Qingge's hand, gently patted the back of her hand to reassure her, then put his hands in his pockets, a faint smile playing on his lips:

"Old Master Song is joking."

"Ye Zhentian is kneeling because he's spineless and owes you a debt. But I, Jiang Che, am a standing man and have never had the habit of speaking while kneeling."

"and……"

Jiang Che glanced around at the well-dressed but greedy guests, his gaze finally settling on Song Tianyang's face:

"I'm not here tonight to catch up. I'm here to give the old man a gift."

"Ah Biao said at the door that he was going to search me because he was afraid I was carrying some dangerous items. Actually, he was overthinking it."

Jiang Che took out the exquisite gift box he had prepared beforehand from his pocket and casually tossed it out.

The gift box traced a graceful parabola in the air and landed precisely on the coffee table in front of Song Tianyang.

"Smack."

A crisp sound.

"Open it and take a look," Jiang Che said casually. "This is an 'old item' that I specially brought from the capital for the old man's 70th birthday."

Song Wanyi narrowed her eyes and gave Black Shark a wink.

Black Shark snorted coldly, stepped forward, and roughly tore open the gift box.

"Splash—"

Wrapping paper was scattered.

The moment the contents were revealed, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.

Immediately following was a gasp of shock.

That's neither a treasure nor an antique.

It was a clock made of pure gold, with an antique design but exuding an eerie aura.

Sending off the bell.

To see someone off at their deathbed.

In Chinese tradition, this is absolutely a taboo, a curse that will never be forgotten! Especially at a 70th birthday banquet, giving such a gift is like slapping someone in the face in public, and it's like throwing excrement on their ancestral graves!

"Damn it!!"

Song Wanyi trembled with rage, pointing at Jiang Che and screaming, "Jiang Che! You're asking for it!!"

The surrounding guests were also stunned. They had expected Jiang Che to be arrogant, but they hadn't imagined he would be this crazy! This was Song family territory!

However, Song Tianyang, who was sitting in a wheelchair, suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Good! Excellent!"

Song Tianyang laughed until tears streamed down his face, coughing violently between laughs: "For so many years... no one has dared to curse me to death like that. Jiang Che, you've got guts. Much better than your good-for-nothing father!"

He abruptly stopped laughing, his eyes turning incredibly sinister:

"Since you gave me a bell, I can't be impolite."

"All intentions."

"exist."

"Since Young Master Jiang enjoys playing so much, let's play along." Song Tianyang stroked the golden bell, his tone chilling. "Tonight's birthday banquet is more about food than just eating. In our Southeast Asian customs, anyone crossing the river must first pass three tests. Since Young Master Jiang has presented this bell, let's take a gamble."

"What are we betting on?" Jiang Che asked, his expression unchanged.

Song Wanyi walked out in her high heels and went to a huge gambling table. She patted the table, and Black Shark immediately understood, grinning as he pulled out a dice cup and three ivory dice from his pocket.

"It's very simple."

Song Wanyi looked at Jiang Che, her eyes flashing with murderous intent: "Let's bet on big or small. Best two out of three."

"If you win, I'll accept this bell, and tonight I'll treat you as an honored guest. Whatever business you want to discuss, the Song family will take you on."

"But if you lose..."

Song Wanyi pointed at Shen Qingge, then at Jiang Che's hands:

"Miss Shen, you'll have to stay and drink with Black Shark tonight. And your hands, which can cook, play the piano, and sew..."

"It must be left as a snack for my father to have with his drinks."

This is no longer gambling.

This is fatal.

Shen Qingge's face turned pale, and she was about to refuse.

"it is good."

Jiang Che agreed readily. He took off his white suit jacket, handed it to Shen Qingge, and then, while unbuttoning his cuffs and rolling up his sleeves, walked towards the gambling table.

"However, the stakes are too low."

Jiang Che stood in front of the gambling table, his hands braced on the surface, leaning forward, his imposing presence pressing down on Song Wanyi like a mountain.

"Since it's a gamble with our lives, let's go all out."

"If I win, I won't take your money."

He pointed at the black shark, his eyes as cold as ice:

"I want one of his hands."

"And..." Jiang Che pointed at Song Tianyang, "the antidote for the poison you gave my mother back then."

"So? Dare to accept?"

Song Tianyang's pupils contracted sharply. The antidote formula? This kid actually knew about this?

"Catch!" Black Shark roared first, licking his lips and greedily eyeing Shen Qingge. "I've been at sea for twenty years, and I've never seen anyone dare to gamble with me on dice! Kid, don't cry to your parents if you lose!"

He was a seasoned gambler, possessing unparalleled skill in cheating. In Southeast Asia, he had never lost at the gambling tables.

"Please." Jiang Che gestured.

first round.

Black Shark picked up the dice cup, flicked his wrist, and the cup instantly danced in his hand as if it were alive. The sound of the dice striking the cup was crisp and melodious, like a rain of pear blossoms.

"Bang!"

The dice cup was placed on the table.

"Place your bet now!" Black Shark said confidently.

Jiang Che didn't even glance at the dice cup, simply uttering a single word: "Small."

"open!"

Black Shark lifts the lid.

One, two, three, six o'clock, small.

"Oh, not bad luck." Black Shark paused for a moment, then sneered, "But luck is something you can only use once, and then it's gone forever."

Second round.

Black Shark was serious this time. When he was rolling the dice, he secretly used special techniques, using sound to pinpoint the location, and even tapping the edge of the table with his little finger the instant the dice hit the table, thus changing the numbers.

"Big," Black Shark silently thought to himself.

Jiang Che still didn't even glance at it, and spoke again: "Little one."

"Hahahaha! You're dead this time!" Black Shark laughed wildly as he lifted the lid.

However, the smile froze on his face instantly.

Two, two, one, five o'clock, still small!

"How is this possible?!" Black Shark's eyes widened, cold sweat instantly pouring down his back. He clearly swiped for three sixes! How did it become five?!

The surrounding guests began to stir. Winning two hands in a row was more than just luck.

"One last round."

Jiang Che looked at Black Shark, who was covered in sweat, and said with a playful tone:

"If you lose this round, your hand is mine."

"I won't lose!!"

Black Shark roared, shaking the dice cup with almost all his might. Even more cautiously, he secretly activated the magnetic device under the table the moment the dice cup fell (this was a mechanism in the Song family's gambling table).

"Bang!"

The dice cup slammed heavily onto the table.

"This time, I'm betting on a triple! Three sixes!" Black Shark roared ferociously. "What are you betting on?!"

Song Wanyi stood to the side, arms crossed, a cruel smile playing on her lips. This table was specially made; once the magnet was activated, all the dice would roll a six. Jiang Che was doomed to lose.

Jiang Che looked at the obviously faulty table and felt the faint electrical sound coming from underneath.

The "God of Gamblers" skill granted by the system allowed him to instantly see through all the mechanisms.

But he didn't expose it.

"Since you bought the leopard..."

Jiang Che slowly extended his right hand, hovering it above the dice cup without touching it, but an invisible force (the internal energy of an ancient Muay Thai master) had already condensed in his palm.

"Then I'll buy it..."

Midnight.

"Zero points? Hahahaha!" Black Shark exclaimed as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world. "Are you out of your mind? The lowest possible value on a die is one! Where did this zero point come from?!"

"Yeah?"

Jiang Che's eyes narrowed, and he pressed his palm down sharply.

"Bang!"

The palm didn't land on the dice cup, but on the table.

The seemingly casual slap caused the entire solid wood gambling table to tremble slightly.

"Go ahead and open it." Jiang Che withdrew his hand.

Black Shark sneered and reached out to lift the lid: "Die..."

However, the moment the lid was lifted...

Everyone in the room, including Song Tianyang, nearly had their eyes pop out of their sockets.

There is no six o'clock.

Not a single one.

There weren't even dice.

Beneath that dice cup, the originally hard ivory dice had turned into a pile of... white powder!

The powder dispersed, and it was indeed—zero point.

"This...this..." Black Shark trembled all over, looking at Jiang Che as if he had seen a ghost.

Hitting a cow from across the mountain?!

Internal energy shattering objects?!

Is this gambling? This looks like a martial arts movie!

You lost.

Jiang Che's voice was like the pronouncement of death:

"According to the rules, leave your hand here."

"No! You're cheating! This is sorcery!" Black Shark broke down, violently pulling a Black Star pistol from his waist, pointing it at Jiang Che's head, and roaring with a ferocious expression:

"Screw the rules! In Southeast Asia, my gun is the rule!"

"Go to hell!!"

"Watch out!!" Shen Qingge screamed.

However, even faster than her voice was Jiang Che's action.

The moment Black Shark drew his gun, Jiang Che moved.

The system reward of [Ancient Muay Thai - Killing Technique (Grandmaster Level)] has been fully unleashed.

Instead of retreating, he took a step forward, leaning slightly to the side to avoid the gun barrel. Immediately afterwards, his right knee, like a heavy hammer, slammed into Black Shark's abdomen with a whistling sound.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

Black Shark was forced into a squat position by the impact, and the gun in his hand flew out of his grasp.

But it's not over yet.

Jiang Che seized the opportunity to grab Black Shark's hair and pulled it downwards sharply. At the same time, his right elbow slammed into Black Shark's arm joint like a battle axe.

"Snap!!!"

The sickening sound of bones cracking echoed throughout the hall.

"Aaaaaaah!!!"

Black Shark let out a piercing scream, his right arm bent at a bizarre 90-degree angle, revealing white bone fragments that pierced through his flesh.

one second.

Just one second.

This pirate leader, who had been running rampant in Southeast Asia for many years, was removed from office.

Jiang Che released his grip, letting Black Shark slump to the ground like a lump of mud, howling in pain. He didn't even breathe, but simply pulled a wet wipe from the table, slowly wiped his hands, and then turned around to look at Song Wanyi, who was already pale with fright, and Song Tianyang, who was sitting stiffly in his wheelchair.

"I've passed the first hurdle."

Jiang Che threw the wet wipe he had used to dry his hands at Black Shark's face, his eyes sweeping over the entire room with disdain:

"Shouldn't we talk about the antidote now?"

Or perhaps...

Jiang Che glanced at the bodyguards around him who had drawn their guns but were too frightened to fire after what had just happened:

"You want to see if your bullets are faster, or my fists are faster?"

"Or perhaps..."

Jiang Che pointed out the window, pointing to the helicopter hovering in the air, its machine guns already aimed at the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hall:

"Let's see how fast the missiles in the sky are?"

Dead silence.

Absolute silence.

Song Tianyang stared intently at Jiang Che, a hint of fear finally appearing in his cloudy eyes.

He never expected that this young man not only possessed immense wealth and unfathomable cunning, but also had such terrifying skills!

This is a Tyrannosaurus Rex in sheep's clothing!

"Put your guns away!!"

Song Tianyang suddenly shouted.

"Dad?!" Song Wanyi looked at her father in horror.

"Put it away!" Song Tianyang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He knew that if a fight really broke out tonight, the Song family might be able to kill Jiang Che, but the entire Song family manor would also be razed to the ground.

This is not a worthwhile investment.

"Well... well, Jiang Che."

Song Tianyang clapped his hands, a smile on his face that looked more like a grimace:

"You have to accept the consequences of your bet."

"Wanyi, go and get that prescription from back then."

"Dad! That prescription is under our control..."

"Go get it!!" Song Tianyang roared.

Song Wanyi gritted her teeth, gave Jiang Che a venomous look, and turned to walk into the inner room.

A few minutes later, a yellowed parchment was handed to Jiang Che.

Jiang Che glanced at it, and after confirming with the system that everything was correct, he carefully put it into his pocket.

Thanks.

Jiang Che took Shen Qingge's hand, who was already pale with fright, and turned to leave.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, glanced back at the solid gold clock, and said calmly:

"I won't take the bell with me."

"Let's keep it for the old man to keep track of time."

"The Song family's good days are numbered."

"Enjoy these last moments."

After saying that, the two swaggered out of the Song family manor under the cover of the helicopter.

Only after the black Rolls-Royce convoy disappeared into the night did the guests in the hall dare to breathe freely.

"A madman...he's absolutely insane..."

"This time, the Song family... has really offended the King of Hell..."

Song Tianyang sat in his wheelchair, looking at the golden bell, when suddenly he spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the tiger-skin chair red.

"Investigate! Investigate for me!"

Song Tianyang roared:

"Find out exactly who this 'Sky Capital' behind him is!!"

"I want him dead!! At all costs!!"

……

On the way back to the hotel.

Shen Qingge's hands were still trembling slightly. What she had just witnessed was too stimulating and too bloody.

"Are you scared?" Jiang Che pulled her into his arms and asked softly.

"I was scared." Shen Qingge nodded honestly. "When Black Shark pulled out his gun just now, I thought we were going to die."

"but……"

Shen Qingge raised her head, looking at Jiang Che's handsome yet cold profile, and reached out to stroke his eyebrows and eyes:

"When I saw you break his hand, I felt... at ease."

"Jiang Che, how many more sides of you are there that I haven't seen yet?"

"a lot of."

Jiang Che took her hand and kissed it.

"But no matter how many sides I have, in front of you, I will always just be the husband who cooks for you and warms your bed."

"As for that one just now..."

Jiang Che's eyes dimmed slightly:

"That's just a means to protect you in this cannibalistic world."

"Qingge, obtaining the antidote formula is only the first step."

"The Song family won't give up so easily. The real battle is about to begin."

"Notify 'Sky Dome'."

Jiang Che looked out the window at the rapidly receding night view, his voice turning cold and ruthless:

"Tomorrow morning."

"I want to see the Song Group's stock price fall below its issue price."

"I want them to know what it means to... ring the bell and send you to your death."