"Yellow Cripple, I am your guest, and this is how you greet me?" Scar's hoarse voice carried a distinct edge of assurance, and the moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.

"Oh, look who it is, Brother Scar has arrived!" Several more lamps were lit inside, this time illuminating the entire courtyard brightly, and the door slowly opened once more.

The old man hobbled out, meeting Scar with a slight limp: "Big Brother, you've finally arrived! Come in, come in, please come inside!" As he extended his hand to usher Scar in, his eyes caught sight of Zhou Huan, and he immediately inquired, "And who might this be..."

"The person I brought, is he not safe?" Scar clearly possessed a rather domineering nature.

The old man's eyes darted around shrewdly: "Of course, he is safe. Anyone Scar vouches for is one of our own brothers. Come, come, step inside!"

Yielding to the old man's courtesy, Zhou Huan followed Scar into the room, and entering proved to be quite an unexpected shock. From outside the courtyard, the place looked like an abandoned wreck with paper-patched windows. But once inside, the room's décor was something money couldn't buy—a ceiling chandelier, a rosewood bed, a circular tea table, antique carved chairs, oak flooring, and an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling glass. Such extravagance, at that time, even the Japanese wouldn't dare indulge in.

"Good heavens, Yellow Cripple, your taste is truly refined. I, Scar, still haven't managed to acquire a foreign-style mansion, yet your place resembles a palace! Oof!" A flash of intense golden light erupted, making it difficult for Zhou Huan and Scar to keep their eyes open.

The old man reached out: "Hurry up and move that wine urn, shift those lights to the side!" Zhou Huan, squinting hard, followed the old man’s gaze. The two petty thieves he had just dealt with were staring at him from the corner, trembling uncontrollably.

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Didn't you hear me? Move it quickly! Can't you see the guests' eyes are being scorched? If you blind them, will you compensate them?" As he spoke, the old man limped slightly and raised his hand as if to strike the two thieves. The thieves, however, pointed at Zhou Huan and muttered something in low voices to Old Man Huang.

Afterward, Old Man Huang helped move the wine urn and the lights. Then, Old Man Huang leaned in close to Zhou Huan and, without warning, whipped out a throwing knife from his sleeve, pressing the blade against Zhou Huan's neck.

Zhou Huan immediately crouched to the ground, looking at Scar with a mournful face: "Big Brother, what is this? If things continue like this, I won't participate anymore. I'd rather you cut me down."

Scar’s brow immediately furrowed: "Old Huang, what are you doing?" His expression softened considerably as he tightly grasped Old Huang's hand: "The men I bring are brothers. Drawing a blade at the slightest provocation is a bit inappropriate, wouldn't you say?"

"Heh heh, I was just testing how capable your brother here is. In our line of work, if you don't have a few tricks up your sleeve, you’re easily taken advantage of." Saying this, the old man retracted his knife, then graciously gestured for Scar and helped Zhou Huan up, leading them and the two small thieves to a table.

The two thieves watched Zhou Huan with eyes full of suspicion, but Zhou Huan was the complete opposite, wearing only a faint smile on his face.

The banquet began. The small thieves closed the doors and windows. Old Man Huang poured wine for Zhou Huan and Scar, while the two younger ones poured for themselves.

"Scar, I heard you have a big job for me today?" Old Man Huang cut straight to the chase, the flush on his face carrying a definite hint of malice and cunning.

Scar, however, wore a look of fierce disdain: "I say, Old Huang, you're making too much of a fuss. You have all this money—go out and eat and drink a bit! What's the point of all these decorations? In the end, it will all belong to the Japanese anyway."

"Damn the Japanese! I swear on my ancestors, I won't bow to them! Never mind that they’ve taken so much of my stock." The old man grumbled while expertly scooping a large slice of fatty meat into his mouth. While refusing them, he declared: "Once I milk them for this last haul, I’ll finally take care of that son of a bitch Kameda!"

"Hahaha, excellent! You have spirit! I see I didn't choose the wrong man, Scar!" Scar then continued, "Elder Brother, let me introduce you to a friend—this is my sworn brother, Zhou Huan!"

When introduced, Zhou Huan immediately clasped his fists together respectfully: "Brother Huang, I am Zhou Huan!"

"No need for formalities, no need. I frightened you just now, didn't I? May I ask, Brother Zhou, how many years have you been in this trade?" Old Huang asked Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan was utterly baffled, unsure how to answer. He knew these men dealt in stolen antiques, but he didn't know how to respond because they likely used specific jargon, and if that came up, he would be completely lost.

Scar glanced at Zhou Huan, then smoothly interjected: "My brother here wasn't in this line of work before. Ever since he became my sworn brother, he decided to follow me. In fact, tonight is when he officially joins the fold at my house."

"What? You dare take someone like that?" Old Man Huang immediately stood up, once again reaching for the knife in his sleeve.

Scar also stood up instantly: "This is my sworn brother; how could he not listen to me? If this fellow ever obstructs our path to wealth or commits an act of betrayal against a brother, you strike him down without hesitation—I, Scar, will absolutely not intervene."

"Don't worry, Elder Brother Huang. To tell you the truth, I used to be a funeral director for the deceased. How much can one earn doing that? It’s much more satisfying to follow Big Brother and enjoy the good life!" Zhou Huan echoed Scar’s assurance.

Old Man Huang’s face was truly capable of the seventy-two transformations of Sun Wukong. Hearing Zhou Huan’s words, it immediately broke into a smile: "On Scar’s account, I suppose I should trust you. But what about my two young nephews? You two had a run-in earlier, didn't you?"

Zhou Huan pretended ignorance, turning back to look carefully at the two thieves, then slapped his forehead: "Ah, look at my memory! I met you two brothers back at the Mountain God Temple, but after this sleep, I didn't recognize you. I suppose drinking too much wine really isn't good." As he spoke, Zhou Huan raised his wine cup: "You two brothers, this fault is mine for handling things poorly. I will fine myself with a cup; consider it an apology to you both. Please forgive me."

Zhou Huan drained his cup in one gulp. Old Man Huang, being quite smooth with his words, said, "Alright, let's consider that settled. We need to focus on the main business."

"Right, the main business is what matters." Scar set down his cup: "I came to find Elder Brother Huang because I want to take that piece of ancestral land behind the Japanese arsenal."

"Hahaha, I knew you, Scar, had your eye on that burial ground for a long time. Now that the Japanese are here, that's the only plot they haven't thoroughly looted. Actually, we aren't the only ones eyeing that ground. I heard the Old Ghost from Fengtian has already dug his tunnel all the way to the minefield."

"Them? Hahaha, it’s not that I look down on them, let them dig. My aim this time is to travel by air. It’s just the right time, when the leaves are falling, and the trees are at their strongest. The leaves haven't completely fallen yet; if we coordinate well up in the trees, getting into the tomb won't be an issue," Scar spoke with considerable confidence.

Old Man Huang scoffed: "Brother, you joke well. Are the Japanese patrol teams blind? Can't they see you? Never mind you flying in the trees, even if a tunnel is dug deep, they can hear it. That’s their arsenal; if that place gets raided, will there be any good left for us?"

"Don't worry, I have it all planned. There are five of us in total now. Since you are older, you just need to devise a strategy to keep their patrols tied up. Your two brothers will follow us, taking turns; one waits outside for you, and once we are in the tomb, you fly up into the trees. Once we're in the ground, it’s our world. We'll use the tunnel to move what we steal. I’ve already started hiring men to dig a hole from the well at the Japanese tavern—that's the safest place near the Japanese quarters. Once we're out, we sell it straight back to those Japanese, then we take the money, recruit men, and kick those sons of bitches in the teeth!" Scar appeared to be something of a 'patriot.'

"Hmm." Old Man Huang stroked his beard, looking at Zhou Huan, then at the two younger men, and finally concluded: "Alright then, that works out well. What about the split?"

"Splits? Don't worry, fifty-fifty for everyone!" Scar agreed readily.

Old Man Huang then smiled sinisterly: "Brother, aren't you thinking a little too simply? I still have my two brothers here, you know!"

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