As the moment arrived, Zhou Hu sat inside a black sedan, his face etched with profound agony, as if he keenly felt the pain and helplessness festering within.

"Master, have you seen the Young Master?" the driver in the driver's seat inquired.

Zhou Hu offered no reply, merely leaning his head back, breathing in short, sharp gasps. A closer look would have revealed tears tracing paths beside the eyes of this stern man—tears that seemed steeped in silence and a measure of bleak sorrow. The interior of the car was steeped in shadow, broken only occasionally by slivers of approaching twilight filtering in from outside. Even so, it was impossible to definitively confirm whether Zhou Hu was weeping.

"Li Bo, I fear years of deceit are rendering me increasingly brittle."

Hearing Zhou Hu’s weak words, the driver, Li Bo, felt a surge of emotion. It was as if he understood some hidden truth about his employer. With a forced, brittle smile, he replied, "Master, you worry too much. Perhaps this is simply how humans are—not demanding much, just wanting to be stable with their families."

"Family? Do I still possess the right to such a thing?" Zhou Hu spoke, though it was unclear if he was mocking himself. Despite knowing with certainty in his heart that the boy he met so often was not his own flesh and blood, the pain within stubbornly refused to accept it.

In truth, Zhou Hu had navigated the underworld for so many years that a certain ruthlessness was inherent to him. While he had seen the familiar face of his supposed child consistently over the past year or two, a seed of suspicion had been planted half a year ago: the person currently meeting him, Zhou Ming, was an imposter.

"Master, have you concluded that the Young Master is already..."

"Sigh. I can no longer deceive myself, Li Bo. Drive the car to City A. I need to see someone. I am truly exhausted, too weary to care about anything else," Zhou Hu stated, his demeanor utterly desolate.

"Alas..." Driver Li Bo sighed inwardly. He understood the depth of Zhou Hu's suffering; no parent failed to pin all their hopes upon their child. "I understand, Master."

Meanwhile, on another front, due to an unforeseen complication, Yang Yi had no choice but to explain to Xia Shiyun that an urgent matter had come up, preventing him from attending today. Seeing the flicker of disappointment in Xia Shiyun's eyes, the rogue felt a pang of regret. He slapped his chest and vowed to treat her entire family to dinner as soon as he had free time, an apology for breaking his promise.

Xia Shiyun, amused by his earnestness and the slightly comical sight of him pounding his own chest in assurance, didn't treat the cancellation as a major issue. She then let slip a comment that felt unexpectedly intimate to both her and Yang Yi: "It’s... fine, really. Just make sure you definitely come to my house next time!"

Returning to the present, Yang Yi was seated in a vehicle already approaching the headquarters of the Black God Gang.

"Dragon Lord!" Han Zhong greeted immediately upon seeing Yang Yi arrive.

"How is the progress?" Yang Yi asked as he strode towards his desk.

"Everything is proceeding as you commanded. The Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends are already positioned covertly in Jiangsu, no more than three hundred meters from the triad's main hub. They will strike without delay when the time comes," Han Zhong reported.

"Good. If they dare to make a move now, I want the front gates engulfed in flame and their retreat routes thoroughly scorched," Yang Yi narrowed his eyes, emanating an icy chill.

"It's just... Dragon Lord, they claim they intend to attack us, but perhaps they won't commit their full strength, right?" Han Zhong found the entire situation slightly perplexing.

"You don't need to worry about that. If my guess is correct, they will exert every ounce of power to annihilate us. After all, they have been in the game for many years; they cannot be underestimated," Yang Yi countered.

"That is true. However, Dragon Lord, there is one point I do not grasp...?" Han Zhong inquired.

"Speak."

"Can the triad gather all their personnel within a single day?"

"Hmm. I understand your implication. While it seems unlikely, they can certainly summon at least all personnel at the central command level or above. Jiangsu is not a small city, after all," Yang Yi said, a strange light flickering in his eyes. "Bring me the files on the triad."

"Yes!" Han Zhong acknowledged, handing over the documentation.

Time passed quickly; it was already eight o'clock in the evening when a black sedan pulled up toward the Black God Gang headquarters.

"Master, where is this...?" the driver asked, turning back to Zhou Hu with a look of surprise.

"The data shows this is the Black God Gang headquarters," Zhou Hu narrowed his eyes, glancing at the illuminated high-rise building with sudden realization. "City A truly lives up to its reputation as the wealthiest place in Jiangsu, and the Black God Gang's headquarters is impressive."

"Could it be... Master, you...?" Driver Li Bo seemed to sense something significant.

"Sometimes, one must deviate from the established playbook. This Black God Gang leader, whether in intelligence or methods, exhibits the bearing of a great commander. These qualities compel me to meet him—to see what kind of man he truly is?" A cold smile crossed Zhou Hu's face.

"Indeed. The Hungry Wolf Gang, the Soaring Eagle Gang, even the Ice Mirror Society—their leaders were all singular figures, yet in the end, they were all crushed by this newly risen Black God Gang," Driver Li Bo noted, sensing the profound capability of this organization.

"Newly risen?" Zhou Hu murmured to himself, giving a cold laugh before concluding, "Let's go inside."

"Master, won't that be quite dangerous?" Driver Li Bo finally expressed his apprehension.

"Heh heh. Don't worry, nothing will happen," Zhou Hu chuckled, exuding an aura of complete self-assurance.

"Who goes there?" The two Black God Guards stationed at the main gate suddenly tensed, sensing a distinctly dangerous presence. They challenged the two middle-aged men.

"As expected of the Black God Gang; even the guards at the entrance are masters," Zhou Hu murmured internally, observing the two large men in black whose physique and gaze inspired instant awe. "We are here to see your Gang Leader. Could you please notify him?"

Driver Li Bo was deeply shaken by Zhou Hu's decision to lower his status and speak directly to these imposing guards, but he remained silent. After all, this was his master's intention, and he specifically needed an audience with the Black God Gang's leader.

"To see our Gang Leader?" The two Black God Guards exchanged a look, seemingly reading each other's intent. These two were definitely not from City A; their accents and manner of speech raised immediate suspicion among the guards.

"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable!" A sinister light flashed in Zhou Hu's eyes as he inwardly marveled. After a brief pause, he stated, "Brothers, just tell your leader this: We are from Jiangsu, and we hope he will grant us an audience. The gains will be considerable!"

"Oh?" The Black God Guards were about to respond when a black sedan suddenly drove up to the entrance.

"It's the Tenth General," one guard murmured quietly.

The car stopped abruptly, the window slid down, revealing Feng Shi seated inside. She looked out with confusion. "What's going on here?"

"This... this is the situation. These two men claim they need to see the Dragon Lord."

"Oh?" Feng Shi glanced at Zhou Hu and Li Bo, her heart skipping a beat. She thought to herself, Isn't this the leader of the Triad?

Feng Shi was well-informed about the Triad, and she had seen Zhou Hu's photograph. But what could bring him here, demanding to see her Young Lord?

"Hello, my name is Zhou Hu." Zhou Hu’s eyes were sharp, instantly catching the fleeting shock in Feng Shi’s expression. He dropped all pretense. "I am here to see the Dragon Lord."

"Understood. You two wait here for a moment," Feng Shi replied, then drove the car to a parking spot.

"Zhou Hu, early forties, active in the underworld for over a decade. He is a figure of consequence; he clawed his way up step by step," Yang Yi mused aloud, studying the file on Zhou Hu.

At that precise moment, the office door opened, and Feng Shi walked in. "Young Master, two people are specifically asking for an audience!"

"Oh? Who are they?" Yang Yi inquired.

"The leader of the Triad, Zhou Hu!" Feng Shi stated calmly.

"What?" Yang Yi exclaimed in surprise. "They've come looking for me? How many are there?"

"Two—Zhou Hu and one subordinate!"

After Feng Shi finished, Yang Yi paused, considering Zhou Hu's sudden arrival and the highly suspicious timing, right on the cusp of open conflict. "Take them to the private room downstairs first. I will be there shortly."

"Yes!" Feng Shi bowed and left.

"Dragon Lord, could this possibly be...?" Han Zhong asked from the side.

"I don't know, but I find this increasingly interesting. Since the Triad Leader has arrived, we must not be discourteous to our guest. Let's go, I'll meet them!" Yang Yi declared, rising to leave.

"Yes!" Han Zhong responded.