Gao Wu: I became the minor villain that the protagonist was about to destroy.

"I...I don't know..."

The gang leader squeezed out these words through clenched teeth, his voice trembling under immense pressure, but his bloodshot eyes revealed a stubbornness that was willing to risk everything.

Even when faced with the near-real threat of death posed by this unfathomable young man, he remained steadfast and refused to reveal a single piece of information about Ji Wubai.

A barely perceptible hint of appreciation flashed in Ye Ming's narrow eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Almost simultaneously, the suffocating aura that had enveloped the entire area receded like a tide, vanishing without a trace.

"Not bad, a tough guy." His tone was calm, but with a hint of approval.

He then ignored the thugs who were on high alert, turned around leisurely, walked to a pile of building wreckage made of broken cement slabs and twisted steel bars, casually brushed off the dust, and sat down.

The gang leader, known as Ji Ba, suddenly felt a lightness in his body and almost collapsed to the ground. He struggled to support his weak legs and slowly straightened up, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for breath. He stared intently at Ye Ming, his eyes filled with surprise, fear, and a hint of wariness.

("Just who is this guy? Those pampered young masters in the city center would never have this kind of murderous aura... Is he some big shot that Wubai offended outside?")

("No, we have to find a way to get out of here. We need to notify Wubai as soon as possible and tell him to leave Baiquan City immediately! This guy is too dangerous!")

Just as Ji Ba was racking his brains for a way to escape, Ye Ming's voice rang out again, breaking the brief silence, but the content was unexpected by everyone.

"You guys are quite interesting," Ye Ming's gaze swept over Ji Ba and the group of brothers behind him who were almost trembling with tension. "Interested in working for my gang?"

Ji Ba was stunned, and the thugs behind him looked at each other, almost thinking they had misheard.

Their area was the dirtiest and most chaotic corner of Baiquan City. Even thugs from other neighborhoods disdainfully called it "the sewer." Apart from shady clients of prostitutes and drug addicts, no one would dare to set foot here, let alone recruit anyone.

A strong sense of absurdity and unreality made Ji Ba even more wary. He asked in a hoarse voice, "Who...who exactly are you?"

Ye Ming chuckled lightly, a hint of mockery in his voice: "Shouldn't I be asking you that now? What's your name?"

Ji Ba took a deep breath and replied, "Ji Ba."

"Pfft—!!!" Ye Ming couldn't help but burst out laughing. He quickly waved his hands, but his shoulders were still shaking slightly. "Sorry, sorry... It was windy just now, I didn't hear you clearly. Say it again, what's your name?" (There is indeed no homonym here.)

"Ji Ba! What's wrong? Is there something wrong with this name?!" Ji Ba looked at Ye Ming with a puzzled expression. He didn't understand why his name made this young master of the city so happy.

"No...it's nothing," Ye Ming said, trying to suppress his laughter, and commented seriously, "It's just that it's the first time I've heard someone have such a...well, imposing name."

Ji Ba snorted through his nose: "I think so too."

"Pfft—hahaha!" Ye Ming couldn't hold back this time and burst into laughter. His hearty laughter sounded particularly abrupt in this dilapidated area.

Although Ji Ba was confused, the other party was genuinely laughing. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his teeth were grinding together. ("Damn it! If... if I weren't weaker than you, I'd show you today why the name Ji Ba sounds so powerful! I'd give you a couple of whacks!")

"Ahem!"

Ye Ming finished laughing, cleared his throat, and still had a smile on his face.

"Excuse me, I'm a professional... I don't usually laugh unless... I can't help it."

Seeing Ji Ba's explosive expression, he quickly changed the subject, "You also have the surname Ji? What's your relationship with Ji Wubai? Is he your younger brother?"

When the word "younger brother" came out of Ye Ming's mouth, Ji Ba's eyes suddenly narrowed. Although he returned to normal in an instant, the subtle change did not escape Ye Ming's sharp eyes.

Ji Ba forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart and denied it stiffly: "There are plenty of people with the surname Ji around here! I don't know any Ji Wubai! How dare they use such an arrogant name, humph, I won't allow such a person to exist!"

Ye Ming understood and stopped pressing for answers. Instead, he said, "I came here with no ill intentions. I just heard that Ji Wubai has some talent and I want to recruit him."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Ji Ba and his brothers behind him once more.

"By the way, I think you guys are pretty good, loyal and tough. How about it, interested in working with me? It's better than rotting in this ditch."

Ji Ba's heart sank. The other side really was after Wu Bai! He didn't believe in such a windfall; they were just stinking rats in the gutter, why should they be chosen? There must be some conspiracy behind this.

"No interest!" Ji Ba refused decisively, his voice cold and hard.

Ye Ming seemed to have anticipated his refusal, shrugged nonchalantly, stood up from the wreckage, and dusted off non-existent dust from his pants.

"It doesn't matter if I'm not interested. I'm mainly here to see Ji Wubai."

Ye Ming's tone was relaxed, yet carried an undeniable threat. "It's alright if you won't tell me. I think there will always be someone 'sensible' in this neighborhood who will be willing to tell me."

As he spoke, he made a move to walk deeper into the neighborhood.

Ji Ba panicked! He and his brothers were able to keep the secret because of him.

But the people in this neighborhood are a different story. Those drug addicts who would sell everything for a few dollars, those opportunists who bully the weak and fear the strong... He dares not gamble!

With a determined look, Ji Ba hurriedly called out, "Wait a minute!"

Ye Ming stopped, slowly turned around, and looked at him leisurely with a playful look in her eyes: "Oh? Is there anything else?"

"I...I..." Ji Ba was torn internally, as if a fire was burning within him. ("Damn it! What should I do?!")

In the end, the thought of protecting his younger brother overwhelmed everything. He straightened his chest, with a hint of determination: "What do you want with him? If... if he accidentally offended you, and there's any debt he owes, I'll pay it for him! Even... even if you take my life, I'll accept it!" This was the only bargaining chip he could think of.

Ye Ming raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Oh? Really?"

Looking at his malicious smile, Ji Ba felt alarm bells ringing in his heart, and a strong sense of foreboding welled up inside him.

"Ji Wubai..." Ye Ming said slowly, "He owes me ten million. How do you plan to pay it back?"