Martial Arts Crossover: It All Started with Hijacking Li Canghai

Yun Yuzhen, the female leader of the Giant Kun Gang, was a high and mighty figure in the eyes of ordinary water bandits.

In Dugu Ce's eyes, Yun Yuzhen had two values.

A face.

A fleet of ships.

These two things combined are enough to make it worthwhile for him to come all this way in person.

Their gaze fell on Yun Yuzhen.

It's about assessing whether the other person is worth your continued effort.

To be fair, this woman is indeed beautiful.

She was in her early thirties, with a voluptuous figure, long and narrow phoenix eyes, and extremely well-maintained skin. I heard she had never been with a man before; she was simply a rare beauty.

She doesn't have the naivety of a teenage girl, but rather the charm that comes from having weathered storms and faced life and death without being dulled by time.

Even with blood on his lips and his clothes slightly disheveled, the smell still lingered.

Dugu Ce was very satisfied.

It's worth the effort to put in for this woman.

"Chief Yun, let me make myself clearer."

Dugu Ce spoke, his voice carrying a habitual command.

"Du Fuwei of Jianghuai recently broke through to the Grandmaster level, and his power has expanded even further. He has already set his sights on your Giant Kun Gang. The Qing government is currently cracking down on the waters around Yangzhou. That is your headquarters, and now your Giant Kun Gang is caught in a dilemma, attacked from both sides."

He took a step forward and scoffed.

"In addition, two other gangs in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River have already shown their intention to unite and prepare to swallow up your Giant Kun Gang together. The Japanese pirates along the East China Sea are causing a lot of trouble, and although the waterways in Taihu Lake are good, the powerful families in Jiangnan are not to be trifled with."

Dugu Ce stopped in front of Yun Yuzhen.

"Chief Yun, do I need to say more about your current situation?"

Yun Yuzhen remained silent.

With his fingers pressing on the armrest of the chair, Dugu Ce spoke the truth in every word.

In the past two years, many masters have emerged in the Central Plains. The Giant Kun Gang has long lost its former dominant position. She understands the current situation better than anyone else.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were surrounded by enemies on all sides.

The cargo ship on the east side was hijacked.

The western branch was investigated by the government.

Japanese pirates are probing from the south.

Du Fuwei's men in the north were secretly bribing her water fortress leader.

Even members of the gang themselves are starting to waver.

There is only one reason: Yun Yuzhen is just a woman, and she has no powerful figure backing her up.

Faced with a dire situation, his subordinates were no longer united.

She's been so stressed lately that she hasn't been able to eat properly for days.

Being annoyed is one thing, but being insulted and said in a hurtful way is another.

"Young Master Dugu is certainly well-informed."

Yun Yuzhen spoke, her voice somewhat cloying.

"It seems that quite a few people in the Giant Kun Gang have also taken advantage of you."

Dugu Ce didn't care.

"Problems that can be solved with money are not problems at all."

"What about the ones that can't be solved?"

"Use a sword."

Yun Yuzhen glanced at Bu Tianzhi and Chen Laomou.

"I can tell."

Dugu Ce said, "You should be glad you're a woman, and even more glad you're a beauty. Otherwise, if I really wanted to kill them, they wouldn't even have a chance to breathe by now."

Bu Tianzhi lay on the ground, struggling to lift his head, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

"You surnamed Dugu... if you've got the guts, come at me... if your Grandpa Bu even frowns, he's your son!"

Dugu Ce's face darkened noticeably.

A guard stepped forward from behind, placing his toes on Bu Tianzhi's shoulder.

With a click.

Bu Tianzhi groaned, veins bulging on his forehead.

Yun Yuzhen patted the armrest.

"That's enough!"

Dugu Ce then raised his hand.

The guards stepped back.

Bu Tianzhi lay on the ground, breathing even more heavily.

Dugu Ce said, "Chief Yun, I am not here to make an enemy of you."

Yun Yuzhen almost burst out laughing.

The deputy leader was beaten so badly, the strategist was half-dead, and he himself was also struck by a palm.

Is this not considered not forming an enmity?

What exactly constitutes a feud?

The situation was beyond our control; the strength was unequal, so we had no choice but to suppress our anger.

"Then what are you doing here?"

Yun Yuzhen asked the question knowing the answer already.

"I'll give you a way out."

Dugu Ce looked at her.

"Submit to the Dugu family."

The cabin quieted down, and the faint sound of the river lapping against the boat could be heard outside.

Yun Yuzhen thought to herself, "Just as I expected, 'Submitting?'"

To put it bluntly, it's surrender. To put it nicely, it's seeking refuge.

Dugu Ce said, "From now on, the Giant Kun Gang will work for the Dugu family. You will still be the gang leader, and the Giant Kun Gang will still be your Giant Kun Gang. I will protect you from the Southern Song government. I will speak up for you from the Jiangnan aristocratic families. As for Du Fuwei, no matter how far his reach is, he can't get over me."

Yun Yuzhen asked, "And the price?"

Dugu Ce showed a hint of satisfaction.

"Chief Yun is a smart man."

Yun Yuzhen stared at him without responding, waiting for him to continue.

"Sixty percent of the annual profits go to the Dugu family. Important personnel changes within the gang require my approval. News from the waterways must be delivered to Lin'an immediately."

Dugu Ce paused, then added, "And you too."

Yun Yuzhen's face was flushed; she was furious.

Anyone would be angry if they were manipulated at will, especially a female gang leader like Yun Yuzhen.

Bu Tianzhi cursed on the ground.

"You bastard!"

The guards were about to move again, but Dugu Ce waved his hand to stop them. This man was quite loyal. As long as Yun Yuzhen agreed, there was no need to worry about such a small matter.

Looking at Yun Yuzhen, his tone was so calm it was irritating.

"Be my woman."

Yun Yuzhen was silent for a moment, then chuckled.

"Is Young Master Dugu interested in the Giant Kun Gang, or in me?"

"I've got my eye on them all."

Dugu Ce answered very directly.

"You and the Giant Kun Gang are inseparable."

Yun Yuzhen asked, "What if I don't agree?"

Dugu Ce looked at Bu Tianzhi on the ground, then at Chen Laomou in the corner.

"You've already seen it."

Yun Yuzhen didn't respond.

Dugu Ce continued, "On this ship are the people you trust most. Outside, there are guards I brought. Even if you arrive at the Yangzhou docks right now, there are experts from the Dugu family waiting to meet you there."

"If you agree, from today onwards, the Giant Kun Gang will have a powerful backer."

"If you don't agree, there will be more corpses on the river tomorrow. As for the rest of the Giant Kun Gang, someone will always be willing to become the gang leader."

Yun Yuzhen slowly leaned back in her chair.

The internal injury aggravated his chest, causing a tightness, but he didn't let himself show too much distress.

She's been the gang leader for so many years, what storms hasn't she weathered?

But today's game was truly ugly.

The other party is no ordinary person from the martial arts world.

Ordinary people in the martial arts world talk about revenge, profit, and face; at worst, they'll just resort to swords.

Dugu Ce is different.

He has government officials and powerful figures behind him, and an entire invisible network.

You might try to strike him with your sword, but you might not actually hit him.

But if he wants to get rid of you, he can strangle you bit by bit through grain routes, salt routes, ship contracts, and ferry crossings.

That's the most troublesome part.

Yun Yuzhen said in a low voice, "Young Master Dugu has quite an appetite."

Dugu Ce said, "My appetite is worthy of my background."

"Well said."

"Just telling the truth."

Yun Yuzhen looked at him and suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid that I'll pretend to agree and then find a chance to betray you?"