Night fell over Qingling.
Inside the Black Peony Bar—the pulsing rhythm of bass-heavy music throbbed through the walls. The air reeked of a volatile mix of alcohol, perfu, and sweat, an intoxicating blend that stirred the senses and agitated the blood.
On the dance floor in the main hall, colored lights swept like blades across writhing bodies. n and won moved in unison, hips swaying to the beat, eyes glazed with indulgence.
Then—crack!—a harsh chanical snap echoed through the space. The lights cut out, plunging everything into shadow. The music ca to an abrupt halt.
A few seconds later, the lights flickered back to life.
The mont was enough to ruin the vibe. The crowd in the pit started grumbling; the collective mood soured by the interruption.
A man with a dark, unpleasant expression strode to the front stage. Without asking, he snatched the mic from a startled lounge singer.
“Everyone who doesn’t need to be here—get out.”
The words weren’t a suggestion. They were an order.
One of the bar’s security staff moved to confront the intruder, face drawn tight with annoyance.
“Hey, who the hell do you think you are—”
He didn’t get to finish. A massive figure slamd a boot into his gut, sending him flying several ters through the air.
The other bouncers rushed over at once, fists clenched and weapons drawn, trying to swarm the towering intruder. But in less than ten seconds, every last one of them was sprawled on the ground, groaning in agony.
“Croc, at least leave a few,” a lean man with a cigarette dangling from his lips called out as he watched the one-sided beatdown.
“Don’t worry, Old Ghost. There’s plenty more,” the giant nad Crocodile flashed a grin, relaxed and bloodthirsty.
“We’re not here to ss around,” another man stepped forward calmly.
His na was Vulture, Mu Bai’s top enforcer and trusted right-hand man—the one responsible for gathering intel on the Black Peony. Among Mu Bai’s n, there were four lieutenants known as the Four Heavenly Kings: Vulture, Crocodile, Old Ghost, and Wild Ox. In the underworld circles near Qingling, their nas alone were enough to make people tremble.
Only three of them had co to Black Peony tonight.
But that was more than enough.
In the bar’s surveillance room, the staff had already picked up on the disturbance. One of them grabbed the intercom and barked into it, alerting the entire security team to mobilize.
Dozens of n rushed toward the main hall, brandishing bats and tal rods, the sound of their arrival a thunderous echo. Chaos broke loose inside the bar. Patrons scread and scattered, scrambling for the exits, desperate to avoid being caught in the fray.
Within monts, the bar was emptied of all custors.
And then it was war.
Vulture, Crocodile, and Old Ghost clashed with the bar’s dozens of security guards. Fists slamd, chairs shattered, bodies fell.
—
“Miss Chenyu, bad news!” a waitress burst into the office, panic all over her face.
“What are you screaming for?” Zuoqiu Chenyu, better known in the streets as Black Peony, was reclining with a face mask on.
“Soone’s smashing up the place!” the waitress reported breathlessly.
“Who is it? How many?” Zuoqiu Chenyu tore off the mask, frowning in disbelief.
Ever since Crow got taken down, her turf had been peaceful. Who the hell had the balls to stir trouble now?
“Not sure who they are. Only three of them, though,” the waitress said.
“Three?” Zuoqiu Chenyu had been expecting a mob. When she heard the number, her irritation flared. She rolled up her sleeves and marched straight out.
She entered the main hall within minutes—and froze.
The floor was littered with her n, all of them groaning in pain, lying in twisted heaps.
Only three n remained standing.
And she didn’t recognize a single one of them.
Her face grew grim.
She could easily take on ten n in a fight—but the aura coming off these three was different. If it ca down to a one-on-one, she wasn’t confident she could beat any of them. If all three ca at her at once, she wouldn’t last ten seconds.
“You’re Black Peony?” Vulture asked, staring her down.
“Who the hell are you, and what do you want?” Shen Yu demanded, her voice cold.
“Our boss wants a word. He’s inviting you personally,” Vulture said casually.
“This is your idea of an invitation?” Shen Yu swept her gaze across the fallen bodies of her n, fury flashing in her eyes.
“Heh, if we didn’t do this, you wouldn’t have co out,” Vulture sneered.
“Who is your boss?” she asked again.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Vulture said, making a gesture. “Let’s go.”
Zuoqiu Chenyu stood rooted to the spot, fists clenched.
Crocodile and Old Ghost stepped forward slowly, their gazes full of threat.
She weighed her options. There weren’t any. These n were too strong, and if she tried to run, they’d just use her n to punish her.
In the end, she let out a quiet breath and followed them.
Still, a chill crept through her heart. Sothing about this felt ominous.
In a mont of desperation, she thought of Wang Haoran. That guy could fight—when she faced him, she did not even stand a chance. Maybe he could help.
But then she paused.
Even if Wang Haoran was strong, he was still just one person. Maybe he could take on twenty guys—but thirty? Forty? These n weren’t simple street punks. They were probably carrying real weapons.
And no matter how good your fists were, one bullet ended it all.
Calling Wang Haoran now would be sending him to die.
She didn’t particularly like him, but she wasn’t heartless.
After all, he had given her a lot of money.
“Please let this not be the worst-case scenario,” Zuo Qiu Shen Yu silently prayed.
—
Elsewhere, Wang Haoran drove out from the villa and arrived at a five-star hotel. After parking in the underground garage, he stepped out and walked slowly toward the elevator.
But he hadn’t gone far when a van skidded to a stop beside him.
The door flew open.
A man inside pointed a weapon at him.
“Get in if you don’t want to die.”
Wang Haoran remained calm. Even a sniper from several hundred ters out couldn’t hurt him—this kind of weapon was less than a mosquito bite to him.
“Who sent you?” he asked, not even bothering to raise his hands.
“You think we forgot what you did to Brother Mu?” the man snapped.
The mont he heard that, Wang Haoran understood.
Back at that restaurant, he’d spared Mu Bai’s life because the setting wasn’t right. Then things got busy and he forgot about the guy.
And now Mu Bai was the one coming after him?
“Alright. Let’s go,” Wang Haoran said, stepping into the van without resistance. He had plenty of ti tonight. Might as well settle this.
“Drive,” the gunman said to the driver.
The van rumbled off into the night.
—
Zuoqiu Chenyu was brought to a grand mansion.
Under the watchful eyes of Vulture, Crocodile, and Old Ghost, she stepped through the doors and entered one of the inner bedrooms.
“Boss, she’s here,” Vulture announced.
Mu Bai leaned against the headboard, eyes closed. At the sound of his subordinate’s voice, he opened them slowly, gaze landing on Zuoqiu Chenyu, and brightened at the sight.
But then he thought of his injuries and sighed to himself.
“From now on, Qingling’s underground is under my control. Do you have a problem with that?” he asked.
“I’ve already washed my hands of all this. I’m out of the ga. If you want Qingling, take it,” Zuoqiu Chenyu replied calmly.
“You really expect to believe that?” Mu Bai let out a cold laugh.
“Tell plainly. Will you submit—or oppose ?”
Zuoqiu Chenyu silently cursed him for being insane. But if he didn’t believe her, what else could she do?
“Do I even have a choice?”
“Then I’ll take that as your submission,” Mu Bai grinned smugly.
She said nothing. There was no point in arguing. In her heart, she was already thinking of ways to deal with him once she gets out.
“Now take off everything you’re wearing,” Mu Bai ordered if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Zuoqiu Chenyu’s temper flared. She almost spat back Why don’t you go look at your damn mother instead?
But she swallowed it down. She had no choice.
“Didn’t you hear ?” Mu Bai’s eyes glinted with perversion. “If you’re going to submit, act like it.”
His intention was simple. Even if he couldn’t do anything with his body in this state, he could still feast his eyes.
Vulture, Crocodile, and Old Ghost didn’t wait. They stepped forward, their expressions showing they had the sa filthy thoughts. They didn’t believe Shen Yu would obey, so they were ready to use force.
They’d seen countless won in the underground world—but never one like her.
Zuoqiu Chenyu gritted her teeth, preparing to fight to the death.
Just then—
“Boss! Wild Ox has brought the rich kid who ambushed you!”
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