Chapter 34: There Is No Future in the Underworld

The low-level thugs trembled in fear. Attack together? The man had over a hundred people backing him up. Challenge him one-on-one? Who had the guts to throw themselves away like that? Just watching Du Biao get beaten was painful enough. In the end, they chose to admit defeat.

“Um... Brother Nan, right... We have something else to do... We won’t keep you from your business...”

“Biao, take care of yourself...”

Xiang Nan kicked Du Biao back over to them. “Stop right there!”

The little thugs dropped their axes and knelt on the ground. “Brother Nan, spare us! We have families to support! We only joined the Ax Gang to make a living...”

Seeing these scared, broken men, Xiang Nan couldn't help but chuckle. Their pathetic sight stirred a touch of pity in him. He sighed lightly, “What age is it now? There’s no future in running with gangs.”

Everyone thought: What? Aren’t you a gangster yourself? The Eagle League is an old and established gang in the capital!

Xiang Nan, unfazed and unblushing, said, “Even if you’re in a gang, you’ve got to keep up with the times, right?”

“Look at our Eagle League—we sell genuine medicine at fair prices, honest business for all, benefiting people, contributing to society, even promoting the street vendor economy...”

And if you sell fake medicine, the system deducts virtue points!

“Now look at you lot—crooked, deceitful, arrogant scoundrels, a disgrace to humanity...”

After Xiang Nan’s tirade, the Ax Gang members hung their heads so low it seemed they’d bury themselves in the ground. Suddenly one looked up, tears streaming down his face, “Brother Nan, I admit my mistakes! Let me follow you! I want to join the Eagle League!”

As soon as he spoke, the dam burst. One after another, they pleaded:

“Screw the Ax Gang, I quit! I want to follow Brother Nan!”

“The Eagle League is my true love, the Ax Gang has no future!”

“Brother Nan, you’re my idol, my faith!”

The outpouring of emotion even got Xiang Nan fired up. He raised his hand to calm them, “Good! To err and then amend is true virtue!”

“But the Eagle League doesn’t keep freeloaders. If you want to follow me, go reclaim the stalls the Ax Gang took over these past few days! I’ll supply you with real medicine to sell!”

The little thugs leapt up, energized and eager.

“Don’t worry, Brother Nan! Brothers, let’s go take back those stalls!”

Thirty-some men set out in a grand rush, heading straight for the other night market stalls.

Wu Liang was so excited he was breathless. “Brother Nan, that was exhilarating! The Ax Gang finally got what was coming to them!”

Su Yao, who had been nibbling popcorn on a small stool, jumped up. “You look so handsome when you talk nonsense with a straight face!”

Only Xu Jiya’s eyes held a trace of worry. “Now you’re really up against the Ax Gang. They won’t let this go easily!”

Su Yao burst out laughing, pointing at Xu Jiya, “Ha! Jiya, you look so worried, like a little old lady.”

Xu Jiya’s cheeks flushed as she stomped her foot, ready to give chase. She protested playfully, “Yao Yao, you just love stirring up trouble! The Ax Gang has grown fast in recent years—their influence in the capital now overshadows the Eagle League. Brother Xiang Nan just took over the League, I hope nothing goes wrong!”

Su Yao dodged and teased, “If you keep this up, I’ll get jealous! All you talk about is Brother Xiang Nan. Relax, if the Ax Gang dares to cause trouble, I’ll guard one side and Xiang Nan the other—they won’t get out alive!”

“You and your mouth—always bragging!”

The two girls circled Xiang Nan, bickering and laughing, before finally settling down.

As for the Ax Gang, Xiang Nan didn’t spare them a second thought. With a grand gesture, he called out to the hundred-odd Eagle League brothers, “Pack up! Tonight, I’m treating everyone to barbecue!”

A hundred men marched off to the night market barbecue stalls. The vendors and customers thought the gang had come to rob them. The timid ran off, not even stopping to pay. The stall owners who couldn’t escape gripped their utensils in terror, some already calling the police.

Xiang Nan, full of swagger, strode up to a stall. “Boss, bring out all your grilled kidneys, soy-glazed tendons, and lamb skewers—pile on the cumin and chili!”

He turned to the others, “Don’t just stand there—find yourselves a seat. Order whatever you want!”

At his word, some three hundred people spread out among the barbecue stalls. The place was lively, joyful, and harmonious.

The stall owners and staff were dumbfounded. So they’re here for barbecue! Well, even gangsters need team-building, right?

Still, did they have to dress so uniformly, brandishing watermelon knives that glinted under the lights? It was terrifying!

The vendors wiped the cold sweat from their brows, put down their makeshift weapons, and started grilling. Business had to keep booming.

After rounds of barbecue and barrel after barrel of fresh-pressed booze, Xiang Nan and Su Yao were both tipsy.

Wu Liang and the others drank freely as well; none of them were in any condition to drive. They had to call for a driver.

Before long, a woman in a baseball cap, riding a scooter and dressed in work overalls, approached Xiang Nan with her head down. “Sir, did you call for a driver?”

Her accent showed she wasn’t fluent in the local language.

Xiang Nan, dizzy with drink, didn’t care. He tossed his car keys over carelessly. “Let’s go somewhere else—the night’s still young!”

He tried to stand, nearly stumbling over. The only sober one, Xu Jiya, quickly caught him, almost losing her balance as well.

Su Yao slapped the table, laughing loudly. “Look at you! Weren’t you boasting you could drink anyone under the table? All talk!”

Xiang Nan stumbled over to Su Yao, leaning on her, “Don’t believe me? Let’s switch places—three hundred more rounds! First one down is the loser!”

“Fine! Who’s afraid? You’re definitely going to lose!”

“I’m no loser, I’m the boss! Come on, call me daddy! Say it!”

Su Yao, her eyes glazed with drunkenness, looked up. “Daddy!”

With that, she collapsed onto the table, out cold.

But Xiang Nan wouldn’t let it go. “Get up! Don’t play dead—we’ve got more drinking to do!”

Xu Jiya was at her wit’s end. “Brother Xiang Nan, Yao Yao, please! Enough already!”

She turned to the driver, “Come help me—they’re heavy!”

The woman walked over and, with surprising strength, helped the drunken Xiang Nan and Su Yao into the car. Xu Jiya was startled; the girl looked tall and slender, yet she was strong. For a woman to work as a driver this late at night, she must have some skills.

Taking a closer look, Xu Jiya noticed that despite the girl pulling her cap low, she couldn’t hide her striking features and fair skin.

A foreigner?

Was the driving business this international now?

Though surprised, Xu Jiya didn’t dwell on it. With Xiang Nan and Su Yao sprawled in the back seat, she got into the front passenger seat.

“Shanhu Bay Villas, thank you.”

“Alright!”

With a step on the gas, the car sped off into the night.