The glare from the middle-aged man hidden in the darkness struck Yang Yi with such palpable malice that he felt as though he’d been plunged into an icy abyss. Yet, remembering he couldn't reveal himself yet lest he incur his daughter's displeasure, he remained silent.

Yang Yi withdrew his gaze, glanced at Xuanyuan Bing, and a subtle smile reappeared on his lips. "My apologies. Didn't mean to startle you."

"..." Xuanyuan Bing didn't know how to answer him. Everything that had just happened was too unexpected, leaving her utterly bewildered. What kind of man was Yang Yi? And who were those six figures who suddenly appeared? Judging by their attire and prowess, they were certainly ancient martial artists, but why would they be so utterly obedient to this seemingly carefree youth?

"Heh heh!" Yang Yi chuckled lightly, as if reading her thoughts. "Who I am isn't important. What is important is that I can tell you this: from now on, you belong to me, and me alone!"

"............" Xuanyuan Bing was speechless.

Yang Yi didn't press the issue. His objective had been achieved, and this was not the time to waste energy; he had many matters requiring his attention. With a final glance at the stunned Xuanyuan Bing, he walked to his car, turned the key, and drove away.

"That young man is likely more than he seems," the middle-aged man, who had remained cloaked in shadow, remarked once Yang Yi and the Six Paths of Reincarnation had vanished.

"Hmph!" Xuanyuan Bing saw the man emerge and pouted before letting out a sharp huff. Ignoring him completely, she got into her own car and drove off.

The middle-aged man watched her go, a flicker of helplessness crossing his face. He glanced down at the groaning figures littering the ground and shook his head. "This person interests me."

###################################### Inside Yang Yi’s villa, the atmosphere was tense.

"Has the Boss not returned yet?" Xu Ming muttered, shifting his weight anxiously; time was running short for him.

"I don't know either!" Fatty Lin waved a hand with a look of frustration.

"The Young Master is back," Feng Shi called out, hurrying down the stairs while clutching a file.

Just as Feng Shi announced, Yang Yi drove his car into the villa grounds and stepped out.

"Dragon Lord, you’ve returned?" Long Yi stepped forward to greet him.

"Mmm. Let's discuss this inside," Yang Yi said thoughtfully as he walked toward the entrance.

"Yes!"

Moments later, Fatty Lin and the others saw Yang Yi return, bursting out in unison: "Brother Yi! Boss!"

"Mmm. Are preparations complete?" Yang Yi asked with a faint smile.

"Everything is ready," the group responded.

"Long Yi, the Zhongchuan Group files!"

"Here!" Long Yi produced a file bound in a black folder and handed it to Yang Yi. "The Zhongchuan Group's influence in Shanghai has been growing frequently. Their tentacles have infiltrated nearly every sector."

"Oh?" Yang Yi took the file and finished reviewing it in mere moments. It was undeniable; the Black God Gang’s shadow influence was growing formidable—from high-tech hacking intrusions to low-tech manual infiltration, stealing mid-level sensitive data, and extracting crucial documents at the highest tiers.

As he reviewed the data, Yang Yi silently acknowledged that Zhongchuan Group, being a publicly listed company, possessed substantial capital. Their pervasive reach across various industries explained why they only managed to secure a mere ten percent stake during the initial stock offering.

"What is the reaction from the Zhongchuan Group now?" Yang Yi inquired.

"They operated as usual today. It seems their high command has managed to keep our stock manipulation a secret; no leaks have gotten out," Long Yi reported, his expression grave.

"Heh heh. It seems Zhongchuan Tengjun has caught on," Yang Yi chuckled, a note of sarcasm in his voice.

"Boss, if they realize it, they will surely make a move," Ye Xiaohou observed.

"No rush. Based on Zhongchuan Tengjun’s current approach, he’s sealing the information. He won't act immediately; instead, he’ll be frantically trying to investigate," Yang Yi said, putting the files down. He turned to Xu Ming. "Third brother, how are the project negotiations going?"

"How else? We're going to consume the Zhongchuan Group sooner or later. The price we name now, no matter how high, is meaningless!" Xu Ming sounded genuinely depressed.

"Uh!" Yang Yi blinked, feeling a bizarre mix of amusement and exasperation.

Indeed, just as Xu Ming stated, Yang Yi’s sole objective was to crush the Zhongchuan Group and acquire it completely, erasing the once-celebrated conglomerate from Shanghai’s business landscape. Whether publicly or privately, devouring the Zhongchuan Group was only a matter of time.

And the reason for Xu Ming’s glum mood was clear: everything everyone else was doing was moving the grand plan forward, while his efforts felt utterly extraneous.

"My boy, don't assume your current efforts are useless. You need to think more broadly. The reason I tasked you with negotiating projects with Zhongchuan Group wasn't about the projects themselves; it was for a different purpose," Yang Yi said, giving Xu Ming a pointed look as the latter looked on pitifully.

"What purpose?" Xu Ming asked, confused.

"To divert Zhongchuan Group's attention! Make them suspect we might be attacking their core business, but leave them uncertain! It's about keeping them unable to advance or retreat effectively. Understand?"

"Uh!" Xu Ming’s face flushed upon hearing Yang Yi's explanation, as he caught the contemptuous looks from the two individuals he least wanted to see them.

"Fourth brother, how are your tasks progressing?"

"We’ve begun large-scale performance expansion, and the number of cooperating companies is increasing daily. Our stock portfolio is rising across the board; today’s initial performance hit a high of two thousand points!" Ye Xiaohou stated confidently.

"Mmm! Not bad! Such results on the first day—it seems you won’t need much time before you can formally begin filming. But speed up the pace!" Although Yang Yi knew filming might present administrative hurdles and scheduling conflicts, these factors didn't directly impact their overall notoriety. What mattered most were stock performance and market trends!

Once they achieved a certain status in the commercial world—a status where merely being known implied understanding, and being understood meant knowing everything—Yang Yi was confident he could command this territory of Shanghai. He could then establish the Black God Gang’s headquarters right here, and no one would dare object.

"Understood," Ye Xiaohou replied.

"Good. Everyone must guard their posts tightly. No mistakes will be tolerated." Yang Yi’s expression sobered. He then turned to Feng Shi. "What is the situation with the Shangguan family?"

"No major movements, but the Shangguan family has already dispatched people to monitor us. They will likely make a move," Feng Shi reported.

"En!" Yang Yi frowned, and recalling certain events, he commanded, "Immediately have someone investigate the Xuanyuan family, including the current marriage arrangement between the Xuanyuan family and the Shangguan family!"

"Yes!"

"Boss, our immediate tasks are arranged. When will you be free?" Xu Ming asked.

"What is it?" Yang Yi inquired.

"My father arrives tomorrow afternoon."

"Uh!" Yang Yi’s mouth twitched slightly. "Very well, I'll take tomorrow afternoon off, then."

"Mmm!" Xu Ming nodded, though he was deeply suspicious why his old man was so insistent on meeting his Boss, especially knowing Xu Ming had already agreed to return for training and selection as a Major General.

Seeming to sense Xu Ming’s doubt, Yang Yi explained, "It’s nothing. If your father is coming to see me, it’s probably because of the Shanghai situation."

"The Shanghai situation?" Not only Xu Ming but everyone else present looked confused.

"Mmm. Although the Zhongchuan Group is a Japanese-owned entity, it serves as a vital artery for Shanghai’s economy. Any slight tremor could devastate many lives. Your father is likely coming for this reason," Yang Yi said with a slight smile.

"But what does this have to do with the Southern Military Region?" Fatty Lin asked.

"It’s quite simple. The Southern Military Region operates in a state of steadfast balance. The other three major regions are driven by factional interests. Meaning, while your father is here about Shanghai, the substantive issue is that he wants to have a talk with me."

"Could it be about the South..." Fatty Lin asked, startled.

"Possibly. My uncle never plays without a hidden card," Ye Xiaohou agreed.

"It seems my father has seen through the Boss’s ambitions regarding the Green Gang and the Dragon Gang. That's why he’s going to such lengths to come here!" Xu Ming cursed his own father’s opportunism internally.

"Once we resolve the Shanghai matter, the legitimate challenges will begin," Yang Yi thought, feeling a thrill of excitement. If the Black God Gang could establish a foothold in this critical location, attacking the Southern Underworld was only a matter of time.

"Young Master, regarding tomorrow's stock price situation...?" Feng Shi asked.

"Heh heh. Tomorrow is just the real beginning!" Yang Yi smiled faintly upon hearing this. In truth, he was most looking forward to tomorrow—for tomorrow would be the nightmare of the Zhongchuan Group and the shock of the Shangguan family...

For more novels, visit storyread.net.