Underworld: Starting with conquering countless lustful beauties

The following evening, at the South City Teahouse.

The place is filled with the aroma of tea during the day and governed by strict rules at night. With red lanterns hanging up, even if it's noisy outside, it becomes as quiet as a temple inside.

Mad Dog Qiang carried the money upstairs. The man in black at the door took the bag, weighed it in his hand, his eyes unchanged, and gently pushed open the door: "Ninth Master is inside."

Inside the private room, Ninth Master was still wearing his gray Tang suit, his movements as slow as if he were writing. There were two cups on the table, and an empty seat next to them, clearly indicating that Mad Dog Qiang was not the only guest today.

Mad Dog Qiang's heart sank, but he still spoke respectfully: "Ninth Master, here are the figures for this month."

Ninth Master grunted in acknowledgment, not immediately looking at the money, but instead asking, "Have you been having a tough time lately?"

Mad Dog forced a smile: "Just a minor setback."

Ninth Master picked up his teacup and gently blew away the tea leaves: "Your 'little saga' has made it all the way to the city. It's in the newspapers, and the inspection team has come down. You've certainly got some nerve."

Mad Dog Qiang's face turned pale: "Ninth Master, I..."

Ninth Master raised his hand to stop him: "You're such a useless thing. You've wasted all these years on a mere brat. You've ruined everything with this kid."

Mad Dog's knuckles turned white from clenching his fists, but he still bowed his head and said, "Ninth Master is right."

Ninth Master put down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over him indifferently: "Do you know where you went wrong?"

Mad Dog gritted his teeth and said, "I lost because of bad luck."

Ninth Master laughed, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "Luck? I heard he went to the detention center, was hit in the chest with a piece of paper, and refused to sign anything. After he got out, the sand quarry resumed operations, the clients stayed, and the brothers didn't fall apart. You're telling me that's luck?"

Ninth Master looked at Mad Dog Qiang with disdain and said, "You son of a bitch, you're adorably stupid, incredibly dumb!"

Ninth Master continued, "What you lost was your brain. You acted too loudly, causing trouble, gathering a crowd, and even using knives—did you think you were just smashing his door? You were smashing the 'rules.' Once the rules are broken, the higher-ups will investigate, and in the end, who will suffer the most?"

Ninth Master tapped his fingers lightly twice on the tea table: "The fact that you were able to pay the bill with your own money today shows that you understand the rules at least a little. But understanding the rules is one thing, but lacking the ability is another."

Mad Dog jerked his head up, a flicker of fear and humiliation in his eyes: "Ninth Master, I refuse to accept this..."

"You're not convinced? I can't beat you in a fight, so you want to play mind games? But your brain is smaller than a sesame seed; you can easily get yourself into a dead end by turning a corner. You're just being a complete idiot!"

Mad Dog Qiang's face was covered in bruises.

Ninth Master said calmly, "Wait for him to come, then have a good talk with him."

Mad Dog Qiang's heart skipped a beat.

Who are we waiting for?

Who else could it be?

Ten minutes later, the door was pushed open.

Chen Feng entered, wearing a clean black jacket, the collar neatly buttoned. His eyes were more somber than before, as deep as a well. Da Zhuang and Er Gou, who were following outside, did not come in, indicating that Chen Feng had been allowed to come alone.

Chen Feng first clasped his hands in greeting to Ninth Master: "Ninth Master."

Ninth Master nodded: "Sit down."

Chen Feng sat down, his gaze briefly meeting Mad Dog Qiang's, like blades clashing, sparks flying before he looked away.

Ninth Master poured tea for Chen Feng: "You two have made a scene like this. Outsiders are watching the spectacle, and officials are laughing at you. If you keep this up, who will take the blame for things in Nancheng?"

Chen Feng didn't say anything, but simply picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Mad Dog couldn't help but exclaim, "Ninth Master, this kid is stealing my business—"

Ninth Master raised his hand, and Mad Dog Qiang immediately shut up.

Ninth Master looked at Chen Feng: "You speak."

Chen Feng put down his teacup and said calmly, "Ninth Master, I just wanted to run a small business and make a living for my brothers. Someone vandalized my place and attacked my brothers. I'm just trying to survive."

Ninth Master nodded: "Well said, 'In order to survive'."

He pushed the two cups to the middle: "I called you here today to make peace. Not to turn you into brothers, but to prevent things from escalating. Things are tense in Donghai lately. The city is watching the projects, the media is watching the police, and the police are watching the public. Anyone who stirs up something that will make the newspapers is disrespecting me."

Mad Dog Qiang gritted his teeth, but still managed to squeeze out, "I'll listen to... Ninth Master."

Chen Feng nodded, "We dare not disrespect Ninth Master."

Ninth Master tapped the tea table, the sound was not loud, but the private room fell silent instantly: "You two, clink glasses in front of me."

From now on, when we meet, we'll keep our words polite. As for what we really think, that's none of my business.

Chen Feng raised his glass.

Mad Dog Qiang also raised his cup.

The two glasses clinked lightly, producing a crisp sound, yet it felt like bones hitting each other.

Ninth Master looked at the two men and said, "From today onwards—let's make a superficial reconciliation and go about our own business. Whoever sabotages it first will bear the consequences."

Mad Dog lowered his head and said, "Understood."

Chen Feng replied, "Understood."

But both of them knew that this was just a facade.

The tooth is still there under the skin.

……

"Alright, you can go out now. I have a few words I'd like to discuss with Chen Feng alone." Ninth Master waved his hand.

He didn't even turn his head when he left, but his steps were heavier than when he came. It wasn't respect, but a suppressed killing intent—he knew that Ninth Master was assessing him, and might even be leaning towards Chen Feng.

For Mad Dog Qiang, this was worse than being stabbed.

Only Chen Feng, Ninth Master, and the thrush that was still chirping merrily remained in the private room. The atmosphere suddenly became eerily quiet.

Ninth Master slowly refilled his teacup, not looking at Chen Feng, but saying as if to himself, "Chen Feng, you're a smart man. From when you first came to Donghai until now, less than a year, you've risen from a lowly underling to where you are today. It really makes me look at you in a new light. That girl Jiang Hong has a good eye."

"You flatter me, Ninth Master. I was just lucky," Chen Feng said modestly, but alarm bells were ringing in his mind.

"Luck?" Ninth Master laughed, a laugh tinged with meaning. He raised his eyelids, and a sharp glint suddenly flashed in his seemingly cloudy old eyes. "Luck can't accomplish great things. I heard that besides the battlefield, you've been doing quite a few side businesses lately? You've expanded your operations quite a bit."

Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface: "It's just a few arcades. They're Hong Jie's businesses. I help manage them to make a living. It's just small-scale business."

"Just a small-scale operation?"

Ninth Master's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air. A half-smile played on his lips as his gaze, like a hook, was fixed on Chen Feng.

"You know Ah Zhen, right?"

These five simple words exploded in Chen Feng's ears like a thunderclap.

Chen Feng felt the hairs on the back of his head stand up instantly, and his fingers gripping the teacup tightened slightly involuntarily.

Ah Zhen.

That alluring yet ruthless woman. She was Chen Feng's biggest cash cow, and also his most secretive asset. He thought he had gotten away with it perfectly, that even Liu Dapao hadn't noticed, but little did he know that Ninth Master had already seen through his scheme.

It turns out that the old fox wasn't unaware; he was simply raising pigs.

"What? Don't you recognize me?" Ninth Master blew on the tea foam, his tone light and casual.

"Her casinos, in just one night, probably make more money than Mad Dog Qiang's run-down nightclub for half a month, right?"

This is a blatant warning and a deadly threat.

Ninth Master was telling Chen Feng: Every move you make in Nancheng is under my watchful eye. I gave you face by letting you run the sand quarry business; I didn't expose you for taking over Zhao Biao's casino, which was giving you an opportunity. But I can crush you at any time.

Chen Feng suppressed his shock and the chill that surged through him. He knew that if he panicked now, he would truly become meat on a chopping block.

He took a deep breath, his face quickly regaining its composure, even revealing a helpless bitter smile: "Ninth Master is indeed Ninth Master; nothing can escape your eyes. That little business was indeed to support these brothers under my command. Since Ninth Master knows about it, yet hasn't sent anyone to seize it, it seems you've left a way out for this junior."

"You're very smart, much smarter than a mad dog." Ninth Master nodded in satisfaction. "I didn't expose you because you're capable and can keep things under control. The waters in the South City run deep, young man, don't take too big a step, or you'll easily tear your balls."