A miraculous doctor descended from the heavens.

After the banquet ended, the 21st Master walked out of the Ding family villa.

There are guards every three steps and sentries every five steps here; the security is even tighter than that of a federal prison.

Just a hundred meters away from the main gate is that spacious open-air parking lot.

The gang leaders' cars and their accompanying men were scattered here and there, forming a dense, dark mass when viewed from above, resembling piles of cow dung.

Long ago, Ding Lisheng set a rule for his subordinates: No one, including the 21st Hall Master, is allowed to bring weapons, vehicles, or subordinates into the Ding family compound. Anyone who violates this rule will be punished as an "insubordination".

The hall masters emerged from the Ding family residence with varying expressions, and their subordinates waiting outside immediately surrounded them.

Amidst the entourages, each hall master drove off in their own vehicle, leading convoys of five or six, or three or four cars, respectively. Once at the fork in the road, the convoys gradually disappeared into the vast night.

In a gang leader's car, the gang leader received a call from his subordinate as soon as his cell phone was turned on.

"Boss, we're all outside the hospital now. Just give the order, and we'll rush in!"

"Calm down, calm down, now is not the time."

"When will that be?"

"You all just wait there, don't make a sound, don't get out of the car, all of you play dead for now!"

"Why?"

"Idiot, do I need to teach you this? Isn't my meaning clear enough? Wait!"

"Boss, what are we waiting for?"

"You're hopelessly stupid! Don't you understand? This is called 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' We'll wait until they've done their killing, then we'll go in and reap the benefits. If Ding Lisheng and the advisor aren't quite dead yet, we'll finish them off; if they're unharmed, we'll say we received word and came to their rescue!"

"Brilliant, boss, that's brilliant!" the subordinate flattered on the other end of the phone, then asked, puzzled, "Boss, how are you so sure someone else will be going to the hospital tonight?"

"Idiot, I'm asking you, are you content to be a petty thug for the rest of your life?"

"Of course I'm not willing to accept this."

"If you had the opportunity to become the boss, would you give it up?"

"Of course not!"

"That settles it then? You'd better stay there and play dead! Don't let anyone find out, or you'll all come back with your heads!"

"Okay, got it!"

"..."

The other car belonging to the head of the hall, while not as high-end as a Bentley, was not far behind in terms of luxury and comfort.

The gang leader stood imposingly in the middle of the back row, while a woman nicknamed "Blood Demon," with a fox-like allure, curled up against him like a cat.

"Master, why is your heart beating so fast?" Blood Demon gently rubbed his chest, her voice sweet and coquettish.

"There are only three reasons why your heart beats faster: illness, excitement, or fear." Although the hall master's heart was beating fast, his tone was surprisingly calm.

"Sir, which one are you?"

"excited!"

Why?

"With a major battle imminent, how can I not be excited! Only when that old bastard, the advisor, and Ding Lisheng are completely dead will I have a chance to sit in the leader's chair."

"But even if they're dead, isn't there still Ding Hanhan and her fiancé?"

"The two of them? Haha, just two ants. How high can they jump? I can crush them whenever I want!"

"Sir, you are so cruel."

"Blood Demon, how's the person you found? Is everything alright? I've really gone all out this time."

"Don't worry, sir. Those guys are all top-tier mercenaries from overseas. They can take heads even in the midst of a massive army, let alone kill two pieces of trash. Relax, there won't be any problems."

"Hehe, that's good."

"However, sir, there is something I really have to worry about."

"What is it?"

"You want Ding Lisheng and the advisor dead, but don't the other hall masters feel the same way?"

"What's the problem? Anyway, once Ding Lisheng and the advisor are dead, they'll all die too. If we happen to run into them tonight, we might as well kill them all together. Wouldn't that save us some trouble later?"

"Sir, you're terrifying... I... I love you so much!"

"Haha, if you like it, come over here quickly and let me pamper you. I'm so excited right now."

"..."

Looking at the other car belonging to the leader, to be precise, it was a sedan modified to look like a sports car.

As always, this gang leader went his own way, without hiring a driver or bringing any henchmen.

Among the twenty-one hall masters, he was recognized as an honest man, low-key, and disliked showing off.

However, honest people are still people, and honest people also have dreams.

He shared the same idea as some other gang leaders—a gang leader who didn't want to be the head of the gang, and wasn't a ruthless and heartless gangster!

He wanted to be the leader; he dreamed of it.

Tonight, the moon is dark and the wind is high, the sky is pitch black, and such a night is perfect for either murder or being murdered.

There are many ways to kill, but this well-known honest leader felt that killing did not necessarily have to be done by himself. He had always disdained the kind of foolish thing that would kill a thousand enemies but also lose eight hundred of his own.

What if they are on guard?

What if you try to kill someone but end up being killed instead?

What if I make a mistake and it becomes a regret for the rest of my life?

It's better to be safe than sorry.

After much deliberation, the safest method he could come up with was to use someone else to do the dirty work.

Unlike other gang leaders, he didn't set up ambushes or spend a lot of money to hire assassins.

He casually used his brain to get the phone number of Sha Qiang, a leader of the Huilong Society, and then used a new SIM card to send a text message to Ding Lisheng, who was staying in ICU ward 03 on the 19th floor of the Municipal People's Hospital.

Why choose Sha Qiang when there are so many leaders in the Huilong Society?

The reason is simple: Sha Qiang's younger brother, Mad Dog, was the first vanguard and fierce general of the Huilong Society to step into the territory of the Yihe Gang. Ding Lisheng killed Mad Dog with his own hands to make an example of him.

If we're talking about someone who has a deep-seated grudge against Ding Lisheng, no one is more suitable than Sha Qiang.

After sending the text message, the seemingly honest but actually dishonest gang leader began to observe the situation. If it succeeded, he would be overjoyed; if it failed, he wouldn't lose anything, since he had only spent thirty yuan on a China Mobile SIM card.

……

Long Tai is the leader of the largest, most powerful, and strongest branch of the Yihe Gang – the Heavenly Silkworm Hall. He is also widely recognized as the third most powerful figure in the Yihe Gang, after Ding Lisheng and his advisor.

Perhaps at his level, there's no longer any need for him to hide his identity or act furtively.

At that moment, several of the hall masters' cars were following behind his Rolls-Royce Phantom 7.

Wang Han of the Black Horn Hall, Liu Lei of the Blue Mouth Hall, Zhang Santao of the Killing Wind Hall, and Qiu Qianli of the Giant Tiger Hall—these hall leaders have always had a good personal relationship with Long Tai.

The impression that Long Tai, the head of the Long Hall, had always been that of an upright, honest, and loyal person, and that he held a position in their hearts equal to that of the advisor, second only to Ding Lisheng.

Therefore, their interactions with Long Tai were always aboveboard, and they never tried to hide them, even before Ding Lisheng's downfall. They had never conspired against each other; their relationship was purely platonic, without any element of factionalism.

After Ding Lisheng was injured, all the hall masters felt sad and dejected. Especially after this banquet, these few felt it was necessary to sit down and chat with Hall Master Long.

The convoy soon arrived at the Long family villa.

The Long family villa, magnificent and elegant, is undoubtedly a symbol of status, wealth, and even taste. However, compared to the Ding family villa, it appears incredibly shabby. The Ding family villa exudes a regal luxury, not only unique in China but also among the most exceptional in the world.

Compared to Ding Lisheng, Long Tai was inferior in every way, so naturally he dared not set the same rules as Ding. The group of men drove straight in.

Soon, the group, each holding a wine glass, sat around Longtai's living room.

"Brother Long, what do you think of tonight's banquet?" Liu Lei from Lankoutang asked first.

"What do I think?" Long Tai smiled faintly, took a small sip of his wine, and then said, "I have no opinion. It's the best way to stabilize the Yihe Gang right now for the advisor and the young lady to temporarily take charge of the gang's affairs."

"What if the dragon head really can't be cured?" Qiu Qianli of the Giant Tiger Hall posed a very pointed hypothetical question.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the several hall masters changed slightly.

"Probably not?" Wang Han of Black Horn Hall said.

"Yes, I don't want it to be like this either," Zhang Santao of the Killing Wind Hall chimed in.

"I quietly asked the doctor who went into the operating room last night, and the dragon head's injury is very serious. The chance of a full recovery is very slim, so everyone should be mentally prepared." Long Tai's tone remained indifferent.

"Hmph, recover? It's a miracle if the leader survives tonight!" Qiu Qianli said with a sneer.

"Master Qiu, what did you say?" Liu Lei and Zhang Santao shouted at him in unison.

"Master Qiu, watch your words and actions. Some things shouldn't be said carelessly; if they get out, it won't be good for you or for us," Long Tai said calmly.

"Master Long, the three hall masters, you should all know in your hearts that I'm not talking nonsense, you just don't dare to say it out loud. Those scoundrels who have long harbored rebellious intentions have probably already prepared their men and are ready to storm into the Dragon Head's ward."

"The leader has been kind to me, and I will be the first to punish anyone who dares to harm him! Gentlemen, please sit down, I need to take some people to the hospital!" Liu Lei stood up emotionally.

"Master Liu, don't rush. Can you listen to what I have to say before making a decision?" Long Tai stopped him.

"Brother Long, please speak!" Liu Lei said politely, but did not sit down, clearly still thinking about rescuing people.

"Personally, I think the leader may already know that he has no hope of recovery, so he plans to abdicate. This time, he said he was temporarily handing over power to the young lady and the advisor, but it could actually be forever."

"Huh?" The hall masters were all stunned when they heard this.

"Master Long, do you mean that the position of leader is going to be passed on to the advisor?" Wang Han asked doubtfully.

"No, it's Miss." Long Tai's tone remained calm.

"Young Miss?" Zhang Santao's features tightened.

"The Yihe Gang was founded by the leader, and the young lady is also the leader's direct descendant. But she is so young, how can she shoulder this heavy responsibility?" Qiu Qianli immediately questioned.

"The leader must have been worried about this too, otherwise why would he have asked the advisor and fourth uncle to lend their full support?" Long Tai added.

"If that's the case, then I must strongly object! The position of leader should not be hereditary; it should be held by the most capable. Although Miss is extremely noble, she is, after all, a woman. How can she lead tens of thousands of Yihe people?" Qiu Qianli said.

"If this is truly the leader's decision, I will not object." Liu Lei's stance has always been firm.

"Whether it should or shouldn't be decided by us is not up to us, but by the leader. Don't you even see him anymore?" Long Tai's tone suddenly became authoritative and resounding.

"Of course not!" The four hall masters quickly shook their heads in denial, their faces showing unease, or even fear.

Seeing their expressions, a hint of disappointment flashed across Long Tai's eyes, and when his peripheral vision inadvertently swept over Liu Lei, a strong killing intent surged in his eyes. But it was only fleeting, and he quickly returned to normal.

Qiu Qianli continued, "If the leader can return and regain control, not only me, but any other hall master would be convinced. But if we were to hand over our gang of tens of thousands across twenty-one halls to a mere young girl, I would absolutely—"

"Shut up!" Liu Lei shouted. "Master Qiu, before the leader announces this, none of us should discuss it anymore!"

Qiu Qianli wanted to retort, but seeing how agitated Liu Lei was, he had no choice but to shut up.

"Master Liu, don't get agitated. We were just saying it casually." Long Tai smiled faintly, then picked up the wine and poured him another glass before saying, "Master Liu, do you know why I didn't want you to go to the hospital?"

"Why? Are you afraid I'll get caught up in it too? Long Da, you don't need to worry about that. As long as I can protect the dragon head, I'm not afraid of dying, because without him, I wouldn't be who I am today!" Liu Lei said resolutely.

"One reason is that I'm afraid you'll get involved, but the main reason is that I don't think the leader will be in danger tonight," Long Tai said calmly.

"Does Master Long mean that no one will harm the Dragon Head tonight, and that it's just Hall Master Qiu's wishful thinking?"

"No, you can't see into someone's heart. How can I be sure what they're thinking? I can only say that anything is possible."

"Then why did you say he was not in danger?" Liu Lei was completely baffled.

"Because I believe in the advisor's abilities, not to mention the future son-in-law."

"Future son-in-law? That guy who's even more of a rogue than us?" Liu Lei asked doubtfully.

Mentioning this person, the other hall masters also frowned.

"Yes, what do you think of this young man?" Long Tai asked the hall masters.

"As Master Liu just said, he's a complete scoundrel, a simpleton," Wang Han said disdainfully.

"No, you're all wrong. This young man is unfathomable!" Long Tai said heavily, downing his drink in one gulp.

"Dragon Master, what do you mean by that?" Zhang Santao asked.

"Heh, do you really think he was making a heartfelt confession there tonight?" Long Tai sneered.

"Isn't that right?" the hall masters asked in unison.

"He was just faking it, playing dumb to fool us! Think about it, after he said those things tonight, we were all stunned by his violence, and no one dared to speak up in time. That's tantamount to acknowledging his existence. In the future, at similar important occasions, as long as the young lady is there, he can walk out openly. To put it bluntly, his behavior tonight was just to buy himself a long-term ticket."

"Huh?" The hall masters were all taken aback.

"You all think he's a complete idiot, but the real idiots are us. We're completely at his mercy, and we dare not say a word!" Long Tai finally poured out all the pent-up frustration in his heart.

The hall masters exchanged bewildered glances, speechless. Even if they had known beforehand that the rogue son-in-law was going to pull this stunt, they would still be helpless. His unparalleled martial arts skills were something none of the twenty-one hall masters could withstand. Otherwise, would Hall Master Lei Ri have been rushed to the hospital by his men after the banquet?

"Furthermore, do you think those who want to harm the leader tonight will gain anything?" Long Tai asked the hall masters coldly.

"Dragon Master, what do you mean...?" Liu Lei asked.

"They are so naive. If I'm not mistaken, tonight they will be met with the advisor, or that future son-in-law, or even more likely, the two of them conspiring to set a trap, a net that has been laid from the ground!"

Upon hearing this, the hall masters couldn't help but gasp, secretly relieved that they hadn't harbored any disloyal thoughts.

"If you don't believe me, wait until next Saturday's regular meeting and we'll see how many of the twenty-one hall masters are left."