First, the mountain is the mountain, the water is the water; then, the mountain is not the mountain, the water is not the water; later, the mountain is the mountain, and the water is the water again. What mysteries lie within this exquisite Zen saying, comprehended by the wise and containing boundless wisdom?

The act of trying to catch the moon in the water seems to occur frequently in modern society. No, to be precise, it happens every single moment. Some people often indulge in fantasy, imagining unreal events unfolding around them, with themselves as the sole orchestrators. Just when Shangguan Qingyun thought this was the case, he discovered he was mistaken, and utterly, ridiculously so.

"Brother Yi, for the old man Shangguan to play such a trick on you, don't you think this conversation of ours is utterly pointless?" Fatty Lin asked, his expression inexplicably grave.

Yang Yi glanced faintly at Fatty Lin, offering a cold, non-committal smile. He didn't deny the truth of Fatty Lin's statement, but he knew this was the only way to resolve the matter perfectly; otherwise, the endless wrangling would only be a waste of time.

"I think the Young Master doesn't wish to waste any more time here. Furthermore, at this juncture, Shanghai cannot withstand any major turbulence. The most crucial point is that even if the Shangguan family signs a cooperation agreement with us, we are still the primary party and can effectively control the terms of the Shangguan family's proposal!" Feng Shi analyzed thoughtfully.

"Heh!" Yang Yi let out a chuckle. Regarding Feng Shi, there were times he couldn't help but marvel at how favorably Fate had smiled upon him. People who were intelligent, capable, and willing to stand by him without complaint—there were too many. Yang Yi had lost count, and sometimes, while pursuing fame and fortune, he carried a deep sense of debt toward the brothers and sisters who had always followed him.

The ancients said: The wise act without striving in the world, and the great man establishes his life amid blood and turmoil, finding the grand principles of existence and walking the broad avenues of life. Though Yang Yi didn't believe he possessed the capacity to achieve the wisdom of the ancients, he at least could not allow his brethren to suffer a loss.

"Consider this an early warning for him. After all, pushing things too far stiff won't benefit us either!" A cold glint flashed in Yang Yi's eyes.

"Patriarch, everything is prepared. Should we...?" the old servant suddenly asked Shangguan Qingyun with a strange air.

"Yes, let's strike just as they are about to depart," Shangguan Qingyun sneered, sighing inwardly. "I truly adore that old adage: the marketplace is a battlefield. Although we cannot fathom the true strength of the opposing side, I still wish to test it. Perhaps after this ordeal, I will finally give up. Shanghai's economy truly holds too much allure for me." Muttering this, he sipped his red wine with a sinister smile, unsure if he was mocking himself or the ways of the world.

"Patriarch, do you think this might backfire?" the old servant asked, sounding slightly worried.

"It won't. If my guess is correct, he has anticipated this long ago, and he won't cancel the treaty we are about to sign tonight. At most, they will offer me a warning," Shangguan Qingyun smiled faintly. "However, even if he anticipates my actions, he cannot predict the precise moment I choose to strike. More importantly, I truly wish to gauge the extent of his power."

"The men we've brought in this time are hired from outside, and several of them are even Grandmaster-level experts. Do you think we are being too heavy-handed?"

"That depends on his luck. After all, we are gambling too!" Shangguan Qingyun glanced toward Yang Yi and his group with a smile, raising his wine glass. "My gamble is that he lacks the capital!"

"Understood, Old Slave," the old servant replied. He too glanced toward Yang Yi's side, then turned and walked away.

"That old fox. Hmph, I'd like to see when he makes his move. I'll make sure those men of his regret it," Fatty Lin sneered dismissively at Shangguan Qingyun, grumbling indignantly.

"Heh, I doubt you'll have a chance to act tonight," Yang Yi smiled faintly, raising his own wine glass. "Shangguan Qingyun isn't a fool. How could those of us who navigate the underworld reach this level without a few tricks up our sleeves?"

"Could he have invited Grandmaster experts?" Fatty Lin clicked his tongue. He hadn't reached the Grandmaster realm himself yet; his Yi Jin Jing was at the second stage of the ninth layer, just one level away from breaking through.

"It's hard to say. Among the Eight Great Families of Huaxia, the Shangguan family ranks first. Although they are purely a commercial family, they also know many capable individuals who have retired into seclusion. Moreover, the Shangguan family is wealthy. In the current world, capable people will bow down for the right price!"

This statement left Fatty Lin staring at Xuanyuan Bing in open-mouthed shock, and Yang Yi was no different.

"Uh! What's wrong? Did I say something incorrect?" Xuanyuan Bing asked, confused by their expressions.

"Heh, nothing at all! You are absolutely correct," Yang Yi said with a calm smile, turning to Fatty Lin. "Are your hands itching for a fight?"

"Yes, yes!" Fatty Lin exclaimed excitedly, only to suddenly look dejected. "I'm nearly ready to break through to the Grandmaster level. I am desperate to spar with an opponent above my current level, and you never have the time, while Long Yi and the others hold back. It's so frustrating!"

"Ah!" Yang Yi truly hadn't noticed that Fatty Lin was so close to the Grandmaster breakthrough. He hadn't paid much attention to the progress of his cultivation and felt a twinge of guilt.

"Of course, even if Brother Yi had time, I wouldn't fight you. Damn it, wouldn't I just be asking for trouble? How many moves could a Grandmaster expert manage against you?" Fatty Lin could sense Yang Yi's change in mood and didn't want his childhood friend to be distracted by his own affairs.

"Heh, how about this: If Shangguan Qingyun's people make a move, I'll let you handle it! But I must warn you in advance: if it proves too much for you, retreat immediately. Understood?" Yang Yi said with a gentle smile.

"Understood!" Fatty Lin felt his blood surge instantly. Fighting was, after all, an essential part of his life.

Xuanyuan Bing looked at Fatty Lin with curiosity, then glanced at Yang Yi, and then at Feng Shi, her expression utterly bewildered.

"After spending more time with us, you'll understand what kind of people we really are," Yang Yi said, smiling at Xuanyuan Bing's puzzled look.

"Everything is ready, the men are outside!" Ximen Ling said to Tang Shen beside him.

"Good, make your move!" Tang Shen nodded.

"They're coming," Ximen Ling smiled coldly, his gaze already fixed toward the entrance. .................................. A series of bizarre sounds, then the sudden appearance of strange figures—each wearing a moon-curved saber strapped to their waist, faces masked, and clad in simple black cloth garments. Their sudden arrival stunned everyone in the main hall. The first thought in their minds wasn't fear, but the question: "Is this a movie set?"

Seeing this formation, Shangguan Qingyun frowned and asked the old servant beside him, "Didn't I instruct you to have those men act only when he was about to leave?"

"Yes, Patriarch. These people don't seem to be ours, and judging by their numbers, there seem to be too many of them?" The old servant looked sternly at the dark-clad figures surrounding the hall. A quick count revealed forty to fifty men.

"If they aren't ours, then whose are they?" Shangguan Qingyun's brow furrowed, and a flash of anger ignited in his eyes. Daring to cause such a disturbance at a Shangguan family banquet—was this a deliberate attempt to undermine the Shangguan family?

"May I ask who you people are?"

".............." The black-clad figures did not speak, merely staring intently at the people in the hall, their moon-curved sabers drawn, standing with cold eyes.

"Heh, Uncle Shangguan, please don't be angry." A voice drifted from a corner, and Tang Shen walked toward Shangguan Qingyun with a smile.

"Are these men yours?" A cold glint flashed in Shangguan Qingyun's eyes. He did recall these two youngsters to some extent.

"Yes, they are our men!" Tang Shen stopped a few paces away and addressed all the business figures in the hall. "This has nothing to do with you; you are free to leave, but they are not."

Following Tang Shen's gesture, the assembled business leaders saw Yang Yi and his group. They immediately rushed toward the exit, but as they reached the door, they were blocked by the black-clad men. Ximen Ling had already spoken: "After you leave, be very careful what you say. I wouldn't mind using the Ximen family's name to inform you: if you don't want to die, then conduct yourselves properly and cautiously!"

"Mmm, mmm, mmm!" The group of business figures nodded repeatedly. Wasn't this obvious? Who would willingly invite trouble upon themselves?

"You Tang and Ximen families are far too presumptuous! Did your fathers not teach you any manners?" Shangguan Qingyun swept his hand wide, roaring with fury. "This banquet hall today is occupied by my Shangguan family!"