Yang Yi and his companions stepped into the spatial bar, found a quiet corner, and settled in, their demeanor relaxed—hardly the look of a group intending to cause trouble. Yet, they seemed to sense something unusual about the atmosphere.

“Boss, this place feels markedly different from last time. Those big fellows in suits pacing around are practically on patrol. Could it be…?”

“Indeed. It seems the man running security here isn't a fool. He knew I was coming for him. This is getting increasingly interesting,” Yang Yi remarked, a devilish smile playing on his lips, leaving his true thoughts hidden.

Ye Xiaohou and the others exchanged glances, then asked, “Boss, so are we still going to make a move?”

“Heh. Since he anticipated my arrival and prepared such an extensive welcome, we can’t be petty. Let’s give him quite a show!” Yang Yi chuckled.

“Give him a show?” Everyone looked puzzled, except perhaps Lin Fatty and Feng Shi, who seemed to grasp the implication.

“Brother Yi, leave this to me!” Lin Fatty offered.

“Good. Make it look good,” Yang Yi said with a knowing grin.

Xu Ming and Ye Xiaohou remained utterly confused, clearly not understanding the cryptic exchange between Yang Yi and Lin Fatty. Then, Lin Fatty stood up and headed toward the other side of the dance floor.

“Boss, what exactly are you sending Second Brother to do?” Xu Ming inquired, puzzled.

“Yeah, Boss, it feels like you guys are playing charades,” Ye Xiaohou added.

Yang Yi glanced at them, smiling. “You’ll know when you watch.”

Hearing this, Xu Ming and Ye Xiaohou pressed no further, focusing their attention on Lin Fatty as he made his way toward the DJ booth.

In moments, Lin Fatty reached the platform and tapped the DJ, who was vigorously nodding his head and swaying to the rhythm, gesturing for him to step aside.

The DJ gave Lin Fatty a questioning look, then waved him away dismissively. Clearly, the DJ was working and wouldn't tolerate anyone interfering, assuming Lin Fatty was trying to disrupt his set.

Lin Fatty offered a wry smile, then applied a touch of force with one hand. The DJ staggered, tumbling clumsily aside. Lin Fatty seized the microphone, abruptly cutting the music, and roared into it, “Man down! Run!”

With a deafening CRASH that echoed jarringly, the sound blasted into the ears of the men and women currently gyrating wildly, bodies pressed close in the heat of the moment. Hearing the words "Man down," panic instantly seized them. Their previous fluid dancing instantly transformed into a frantic stampede for the exits.

“Holy hell,” Xu Ming exclaimed, eyes wide. “Second Brother, that was brilliant!”

“A single command, and the entire floor collapses… No, they’re fleeing now,” Ye Xiaohou observed, watching Lin Fatty, who stood smiling triumphantly at the DJ station.

However, the chaos sparked by Lin Fatty’s shout had already drawn the attention of the suited enforcers.

“Quick! Secure the exits! Don't let any patrons leave without paying! You few, get up there and grab that punk!” a towering man in black barked furiously at his subordinates.

“Yes!” A group of heavy-set men immediately moved into action.

Meanwhile, in a private room upstairs, Chen Hu and Lin Bai, each nursing their own motives, seemed to have sensed something was amiss. The noise generated by the sudden pandemonium downstairs was considerable, amplified by the fact that the music from the DJ booth had ceased. If they hadn't heard it, their ears would certainly be impaired.

“Someone!” Chen Hu called out, knitting his brows.

“Yes, Master Hu!” A subordinate scurried in.

“What in the world is going on out there?” Chen Hu demanded.

“Master Hu, an unknown youth forced his way onto the DJ platform and caused a disturbance, resulting in…” The subordinate rapidly summarized the situation for Chen Hu.

Chen Hu shot up from his seat, visibly enraged. “What are you all good for? Sort that out immediately! Can’t you see I’m sharing a drink with Brother Bai?”

“Yes, Master Hu, I’m going now!” The subordinate retreated, trembling.

“Heh, Hu Zi. It seems your establishment is indeed experiencing some excitement today. And you claimed nothing was happening?” Lin Bai remarked amiably, lifting his wine glass and taking a measured sip.

Chen Hu’s expression darkened. He glanced at the smiling Lin Bai, seemingly deciding to come clean. “Brother Bai, what are your thoughts on Snake Ghost’s death?”

“Oh? Snake Ghost’s demise?” Lin Bai’s expression shifted instantly upon hearing the name. “Snake Ghost served under you for quite some time. He was never shy about getting his hands dirty—knife in clean, blood out messy. He certainly died brutally, every bone shattered, and in such a pathetic manner.”

“Actually, I suspect the one who killed Snake Ghost will show up here tonight. And I’m betting he’s affiliated with the Bing Jian Society,” Chen Hu stated calmly as he sat back down.

Men operating in the underworld possess a composure and steadiness that surpasses ordinary people, especially veterans like these two who had seen countless battles.

“No wonder you deployed so many men tonight. You must hold that person in high regard!” Lin Bai commented, maintaining his unflappable, sophisticated air.

“Haha, Brother Bai, there aren’t many men Chen Hu respects. There’s our Gang Leader, the leader of the Xiong Ying Gang, that old immortal Li Yang, and you. Everyone else? I frankly look down on them,” Chen Hu declared. This wasn't empty boasting; he possessed the standing to back up such claims.

Chen Hu entered the criminal underworld in his early twenties. After three years fighting alongside the leader of the Hungry Wolf Gang, the gang rose to regional dominance within two years, with Chen Hu playing an indispensable role. In just one more year, he climbed the ranks to become one of the Four Hall Masters, placing him even above the Hungry Wolf Gang Leader. His trajectory was anything but ordinary.

“Haha, you are quite the arrogant one,” Lin Bai laughed, a genuine, unforced sound. In Lin Bai’s estimation, Chen Hu’s assessment was accurate. Few people in A City indeed commanded Chen Hu’s respect. Was he ruthless? Chen Hu was ruthless enough. Was he cunning? Chen Hu was cunning enough too. In this line of work, even if you possessed immense power and reached the top, without sufficient treachery and venom, you were merely a scrap of meat dangling near someone else’s jaws, ready to be devoured at any moment.

[Due to a power outage, your humble author forgot to save the manuscript while writing last night. When the electricity failed, the work vanished. Now that power is restored, I have rushed to complete this section. I beg my readers for forgiveness. Rest assured, I will do my utmost to update diligently today. Keep pushing! Rise up!]