You promised steampunk martial arts, but you've got an internal combustion engine in your chest

Chapter 60 Strange Woman

Inside the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, Baili Jing's coughs still echoed, but a single sentence from the maid froze the lively atmosphere into ice.

Baili Jing finally managed to stop coughing, and when he looked up, his face was red from choking.

He stared at the maid in front of him, his mind went blank for a moment, and then a surge of anger rose up within him.

"Please, what do you mean I can't drink alcohol? You have no idea what this stuff tastes like—wait, who are you?!"

""

He glared at him: "What does it have to do with you whether I take over Jiangshan Fengyu Tower or not?"

He certainly had reason to be angry.

Although everyone is just going through the motions today, it is still his big day. At this crucial moment, he was humiliated in public by a wine-pouring maid. What kind of behavior is this?

However, before he could even react, Zhou Erquan's expression changed drastically.

He quickly took a step forward, forcing an overly kind smile onto his face, a smile that even contained a hint of nervousness.

"It's Zhiyao! What brings you here? You didn't even tell me beforehand."

Baili Jing was taken aback and looked at Zhou Erquan.

Not only Zhou Erquan, but even Ding Yan looked at the maid with a hint of apprehension.

As for Prefect Huang Qixiu? He didn't dare look at her at all.

But the maid Zhiyao didn't even glance at Zhou Erquan.

She just sneered: "Zhou Lao Er, Ding Lao San, you two have really grown up. You gave away Jiangshan Fengyu Tower without even asking any questions? I'll settle accounts with you later."

Upon hearing this, Zhou and Ding both shivered, and beads of sweat instantly appeared on their foreheads!

Huang Qixiu shrank back, keeping his eyes down and not daring to utter a sound.

Baili Jing was completely shocked.

Wait, who exactly is this woman?!

He turned his head, refusing to believe it, and looked down at the audience.

Miao Han and Hua Xiangrong both swallowed hard and began to back away, trying to bury themselves in the crowd.

Beside Hua Xiangrong, Baili Jie grabbed her sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Pretty sister, who exactly is that person on the stage? Why does everyone seem so afraid of her?"

Hua Xiangrong smiled faintly, but dared not say another word.

On the other side, Zhiyao slowly lowered her head, her eyes slightly rolled upwards, revealing a large expanse of white, staring intently at Baili Jing, a sinister smile playing on her lips: "Want to know who I am? Fine, I'll tell you—I am the head chef of Jiangshan Fengyulou. That bowl of Sichuan peppercorn and numbing soup was a new dish I specially developed for you, Master. Was it delicious?"

A head chef?!

Baili Jing's eyes suddenly widened.

The words the boss had said last night flashed through his mind: "Take good care of the head chef in that building for me, and don't mistreat her."

""

"She is one of the few people in this world whom I feel somewhat indebted to."

He probably guessed something in his mind.

This woman has a powerful boss behind her, and probably has another identity as well. Plus, she has an eccentric personality, no wonder everyone avoids her.

But Baili Jing got angry and wouldn't listen to reason at all!

I don't care if you're a master chef or a junior chef!

He sneered, took half a step closer, and looked down at her: "I will be your boss in the future! You came to the headquarters in broad daylight to cause trouble for me and put on this show. Do you think I have no temper?"

'

Zhiyao's smile grew increasingly sinister and terrifying.

She tilted her head slightly, and her eyes and expression were even colder than a vengeful ghost!

"What, you don't accept it?

'

"Zhiyao, come here."

Just then, an incredibly gentle voice broke in.

The one speaking was the old woman in green who had just guided Baili Jing to offer incense.

She had a gentle smile on her face and waved to Zhiyao.

A miracle happened.

Zhiyao, who had just been like a vengeful ghost, suddenly looked pale, and her cold aura vanished instantly.

"Grandma Ruan————"

She muttered something under her breath, then slowly moved to Grandma Ruan's side, her head bowed, but her face was still full of resentment.

Grandma Ruan patted Zhiyao's head helplessly, then looked up and smiled at Baili Jing: "Fourth Master, please forgive her. This child has always been strange and disrespectful. Today is your special day, so don't let her spoil your mood. You all continue. I'll take this child downstairs first."

""

After saying that, Granny Ruan nodded to Zhou Erquan, took Zhiyao's hand, and walked towards the back door of Juyi Hall.

Just as she was being led away, Zhiyao suddenly turned her head sharply, her messy hair flying off, revealing half of her face through the hair, and once again gave Baili Jing a sinister smile.

Those eyes were like those of a vengeful ghost demanding a life.

Baili Jing couldn't help but shiver and cursed inwardly.

Seeing that this plague god was finally taken away, a series of panting sounds immediately filled the entire Gathering Hall.

Baili Jing turned to Zhou Erquan: "Second Brother, what's going on? This woman—"

Zhou Erquan chuckled a few times, patted his shoulder and said, "Fourth brother, the ins and outs here are really not something we can say too much about. Anyway, later, after the banquet, you can go and talk to her yourself."

""

Having said that, seemingly to cover his embarrassment, he suddenly turned around, faced the gang, gathered his strength, and shouted with one arm raised: "The ceremony is complete! The establishment of the headquarters and the establishment of the headquarters! Fourth Master is back in his place! Brothers, set the tables, serve the dishes, pour the wine! We will feast for three days, and we will not leave until we are drunk!!"

""

"Oh! We won't leave until we're drunk!!"

'

The gang members were all seasoned veterans. Seeing that their leader was offering a way out, they all laughed along, as if the female ghost had never even appeared.

In an instant, the entire headquarters was once again filled with noise and bustle as people carried tables, served dishes, and moved wine jars.

Before long, hundreds and thousands of large round tables were set up inside and outside the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, filled with steaming river delicacies, large chunks of demon beast meat, and more.

The rich and fragrant wine flowed over like a stream.

Baili Jing naturally sat at the head table.

As the absolute protagonist of the day, he was toasted by countless people and naturally drank to his heart's content, but he was still thinking about Zhiyao.

Zhou Erquan refused to say, so he went to Hua Xiangrong to sound her out. However, after wandering around the place, he couldn't find anyone because there were too many people. Soon, he was dragged back to drink.

However, his attention was quickly diverted to something else.

"Second Master presents Fourth Master with three thousand taels of silver and five martial arts manuals as a congratulatory gift!"

"Third Master is gifting Fourth Master twenty bolts of brocade, twenty fine horses, and a carriage!"

"Prefect Huang presents Fourth Master with 100 catties of demon beast meat, 10 weapons, and 10 boxes of top-grade spiritual medicine!"

The gifts from last night were private; these are the gifts that are given in public.

Next, the head of the gang sent a congratulatory gift through someone: a house in the north of the city, along with a large amount of gold and silver!

Moreover, the major businesses, prominent families, and figures in the underworld of Shanghai, seeing that the Canal Gang had opened its fourth branch, dared not fail to curry favor with them.

Invitations arrived like snowflakes, and boxes of gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and martial arts manuals were carried into the Hall of Righteousness one after another, almost dazzling Baili Jing.

He had never seen such a scene before.

All the prominent figures in Shanghai were now shamelessly fawning over him, calling him brother and showering him with obsequious flattery.

Even though Baili Jing was determined, he couldn't help but feel a little smug for a moment, as if his bones had become lighter.

However, just as he was chatting and laughing with several wealthy businessmen beside him, suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up one by one!

He shivered!

Baili Jing subconsciously turned his head to look—

In a corner of the Hall of Righteousness, behind a huge cargo box, a figure suddenly appeared.

The woman was dressed as a maid, with most of her body hidden behind a cargo box, only half of her face showing. Her eyes were rolled back like a dead fish, and a ghostly smile hung on her lips as she stared at him eerily.

It's Zhiyao again.

The woman was still there, like a ghost, hiding in the shadows and staring at him.

Bai Lijing's drunkenness vanished instantly.

Damn it, is this never going to end? Just because I'm not showing my teeth doesn't mean I'm a pushover.

"Please enjoy your drinks, everyone. I'll be right back."

He apologized, put down his wine glass, then suddenly stood up, flicked his long coat, and strode towards the cargo box.

Approaching her, Baili Jing stared at Zhi Yao, gritted his teeth, and said angrily in a low voice, "What exactly do you want?!"

""

Zhiyao's smile became even more sinister: "Master, would you dare to come with me somewhere?"

""

Baili Jing sneered, "You think I'm afraid of you? Fine, I'll go! Lead the way!!"