“Greetings, we are from the Century Casino…!” “No need to say more. My young master is already waiting for you. Please follow me.” Feng Shi waved his hand before Qin Hou could finish speaking.
Qin Hou exchanged a look with Tian She, a wry smile finally flickering across his face as he followed behind Feng Shi.
“Knock, knock!”
The door was gently tapped. Yang Yi, sitting inside, smiled faintly. “Come in!”
Feng Shi, opening the door, gestured toward Qin Hou and Tian She. “Please!”
“Thank you!” Qin Hou responded softly, then peered inside, seeing Yang Yi and Fatty Lin seated on the sofa, looking at the two of them with smiles. He took a deep breath; “Mr. Yang, we apologize for this intrusion, please forgive us!”
“Heh, Marquis, there’s no need for formalities. Please take a seat.” Yang Yi gestured toward the sofa beside him.
After the two were seated, Xuanyuan Bing had already served the tea. It was hard to imagine this young lady normally throwing fits; it was remarkable enough that she wasn't acting like a spoiled noble today, instead serving as an ‘attendant’ for Yang Yi.
“The purpose of our visit today, actually…”
“Chip exchange?” Yang Yi interrupted Qin Hou mid-sentence, cutting straight to the chase. “If you’ve come to see me purely for matters like that, it’s quite unnecessary!”
“This…” Qin Hou pondered for a moment, glancing at Yang Yi, who was looking directly at him, his brow furrowing. “Since Mr. Yang has been so straightforward, I have one question I need to ask you.”
“Please ask!”
“May I ask if Mr. Yang has any connection to the Black God Gang?” Once the core topic was broached, people often became especially serious, especially with such a targeted question.
Tian She stared intently at Yang Yi throughout, his mind seemingly working on something unknown. His fingers kept subtly twitching beneath the table, as if calculating, or perhaps not, since the movements were barely perceptible.
“The Black God Gang, you say?” Yang Yi heard this, paused for a moment, picked up the tea from the table, and took a sip. He then said, “Marquis, how exactly do you need me to answer? To put it plainly, yes, I do have a relationship with the Black God Gang.”
“…” Qin Hou’s heart sank. Hearing the answer he had anticipated still caused a slight tremor within him. “Then please tell me, what is your relationship with the Black God Gang? If you could be direct, that would be best.”
“Are you trying to find out my background so you can seize an opportunity to wriggle out of the consequences of what happened last night?” Yang Yi smiled at this point. “It seems the Dragon Gang is even more complex than I imagined!”
As the saying goes, ‘No need for ugly talk or empty pleasantries; when it’s time to speak or negotiate, it’s all about the words between the lines!’
Hearing Yang Yi say that, even the biggest fool would understand, let alone the seasoned veterans Qin Hou and Tian She, who had navigated the underworld for years.
A smile suddenly appeared on Qin Hou’s lips, though it was a strained, flavorless one. He picked up his teacup from the table, blew across the surface, and took a sip, as if steadying his nerves. “Shezi, it seems our thoughts align perfectly.”
“Marquis, since we are here today, and the higher-ups are watching our every move, waiting for us to slip up so they can strike—this is an opportunity, isn’t it!” Tian She’s previous expression vanished, replaced by a smile. He stood up. “Dragon Lord of the Black God Gang, I am Tian She. I ask your forgiveness for any prior disrespect.”
“No matter, no matter. State the true purpose of your visit today, right out in the open,” Yang Yi invited.
“Very well, since Your Excellency the Dragon Lord says so, Qin will hide nothing further.” A sharp glint flashed in Qin Hou’s eyes, fixing directly on Yang Yi. He spoke, “I, Qin, have been involved in the Century Casino for many years. In the underworld, reputation is everything. In my pursuit to stand at the apex of the Century Casino, I have offended many, including those positioned above me. The events of last night, involving the Dragon Lord in my casino, are now known to them. Even if the Dragon Gang leadership doesn't punish me, those above me will seize this chance to eliminate me.”
Pausing there, Qin Hou continued, “So, my true objective today is this: I have immense ambition. While I may not compare to you, I have my own desires. For that, I need to know if you possess the capacity to fulfill those desires.”
“Damn, this guy is bold enough to say that even after learning Yi Ge’s true identity?” Fatty Lin thought inwardly upon hearing Qin Hou’s words.
“And what if I say I lack the capacity to fulfill your desires?” Yang Yi’s lips held a profound expression, showing no concern for Qin Hou’s tone or the sharp glare in his eyes.
“This—!” Qin Hou was suddenly stumped. He truly had not considered the possibility that Yang Yi would claim inability to satisfy his ambitions.
Think about it: in contemporary Huaxia, if even the Dragon Lord of the Black God Gang said such a thing, who else in this world would dare claim they could satisfy Qin Hou’s desires?
To put it plainly, Qin Hou’s ambitions were indeed vast. Since youth, he had aimed to become a regional overlord. For years, he hadn't married or had children, striving only for this ambition. However, whether brilliant or merely talented, many are often buried in obscurity. If they meet a benevolent master, that’s fortunate; if not, no matter how promising they are, they will face obstruction, perhaps even outright attempts on their lives.
“If even Your Excellency the Dragon Lord cannot satisfy our desires, I believe no one else in this world could,” Tian She proved to be the sharper one. He took Qin Hou’s nearly closed-off statement and turned it into a living opportunity on his own lips.
“Hahahaha! Good, truly worthy of the people I favor!” Yang Yi suddenly burst into a wild, arrogant laugh, waving his hand dismissively. “I advise you both to be candid. Otherwise, I fear I might change my mind. Remember, there is only one chance.”
“Alright, tell us. What terms do you require for me to join your Black God Gang?” Qin Hou stood up as well, asking Yang Yi.
“Is that so simple? What capital do you believe you currently possess to negotiate terms with me?”
“I believe you might be interested in the Century Casino?” Tian She said with a smile.
Hearing this, Yang Yi couldn't help but give the artful (sorcerer/strategist) Tian She a serious second look. He curled his lips into a smile so perfect it was terrifying. “If I understand you correctly, you mean to say that you wish to…”
“Yes, we have the capability to hand over the entire Century Casino. All you need to do is cooperate with us on a few things. Furthermore, in Macau, there are several casinos within the Dragon Gang’s sphere of influence. If you agree to our terms, we can arrange for those casinos as well…” Qin Hou left the sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear.
“Fine, I agree. As long as you can do something that makes me value you, I can guarantee you a chance to witness what true authority looks like!” Yang Yi smiled faintly.
“Thank you, Dragon Lord!” Qin Hou and Tian She bowed deeply toward Yang Yi in deference.
And so, Qin Hou, consumed by ambition, and Tian She, astute and possessing the ability to forecast events—it could not be denied that these two were indeed talents, capable of filling the void Yang Yi had been concerned about.
Simultaneously, several middle-aged men sat in an office, plotting something unknown.
“Big Brother, this is a perfect opportunity. If we replace a couple of men below us, the higher-ups won't even know, and even if they did, they wouldn’t risk eliminating us over those two men!” A tall, burly man said to the man with a prominent scar on his face.
“That’s right, Big Brother. Once we replace our people, the money will simply flow…”
“Mmm!” The Scarred Man waved his hand. “Don’t worry about that. I have my own plans. Rest assured, the three of us brothers haven't plotted against someone in a long time. This time, we certainly won't…”
“Heh heh, with Big Brother’s word, we are at ease.”
After leaving the Macau Grand Hotel, Qin Hou and Tian She got into the car. The driver called out, “Marquis!”
“En, let’s go back.” Qin Hou waved his hand.
“Marquis, how do you plan to proceed with this?” Tian She asked.
“Heh heh, this time, let us perform a ‘sensational’ drama. A venue stripped bare—can you still call it a venue, Shezi?” Qin Hou chuckled ominously.
“As expected of the Marquis.”
“Shezi, the fact that we've taken this step means there’s no turning back.”
“Yes, now we can only trust him.”
“You two have been in the underworld together for years, sharing life and death for so long. Let’s do it one more time.”
“Rest assured, Marquis, I, Tian She, will always follow by your side.”
“Haha, not just by my side, but by his side. Even if we enter his territory, if we achieve nothing, how can we claim great merit?”
“Hahaha, the Marquis speaks the truth.”
“Yi Ge, can you truly trust them completely?” Fatty Lin showed a rare hint of seriousness on his face in front of Yang Yi as he asked.
“Heh heh, one can never fully trust people. Trusting them by two-tenths is already being generous enough. Everything will only be made clear after what happens three days from now,” Yang Yi said. He paused, then turned around and instructed Feng Shi, “Yanran, immediately dispatch a few men to ensure the safety of those two. If anything untoward happens, silence them immediately!”
“Yes, Young Master!”
“The Dragon Gang? Heh heh!” Yang Yi smiled darkly, glanced at Fatty Lin, and said, “Come on, let’s go for a drink!”
“Drinking in broad daylight?”
“What? You’re not coming?”
“Uh, I’m coming. How could I not?” Fatty Lin smiled slightly. “To make the coming storm even more ferocious, let’s drink our fill.”