Chapter 008: The Ruthless World of M&A

xx

“Phew, I’m about to die.”

Indeed, being a freelancer isn’t something just anyone can do.

I did win the fight fair and square, but if there had been one more expert like that old man, I would have definitely died today.

Shiver.

The thought of ending my second life as a bachelor is truly terrifying.

‘Still, it’s been a while since I’ve been here.’

This is the safe house I set up in advance, thinking I might leave Nine Dragon City someday.

I planned to wait here until the Red Dragon Gang’s experts secured safety and gave the signal to move.

“Where did I put it...”

I took out the first-aid kit I had left in the safe house and gave Lu Zhu the medicine.

After a while, Lu Zhu regained consciousness and groaned.

“Ugh...”

“Are you feeling better?”

“Screeech!”

Thud!

The moment Lu Zhu regained consciousness, she swung a punch and hit my jaw.

The fierce punch hit the precise point on my chin, almost making me lose consciousness.

“Y-You, kidnapper! How dare you do this! Do you even dare to hope for your life? I’ll tell Lord Jin...”

Poke. Poke.

I quickly pressed the pressure points to stop her from speaking and moving.

She glared at me with bloodshot eyes, as if looking at a pervert.

As if she hadn’t been playing the queen just a moment ago.

“Sigh, women are really unpredictable.”

It’s really a difficult problem.

***

“Good job.”

At dawn, while I was still awake, Jihua Lan greeted me with a clear smile.

“But, can kidnapping the head of Jinhu Lou alone bring down Jinhu Lou?”

“Just watch, Senior. I’ll take care of the rest.”

No, it’s just that I don’t trust you.

“...Well, if you say so.”

Anyway, if there’s a problem, the Red Dragon Gang leader will step in, so it shouldn’t be a big issue.

However, Jihua Lan seemed to think differently.

“This is an opportunity. It’s a chance to leave a deep impression on Grandfather and the elders. You can do it.”

“...”

I should just take the payment and cut my losses.

“Money?”

“...That’s right... Like this... Huh?”

“Give me the money. I did what you asked.”

“Oh! That?!”

Jihua Lan finally remembered and took out a small wooden box from the table.

Her confident expression made me want to hit her.

“Haha, open it.”

Inside the box were two small pills.

One pill emitted a fresh, blue fragrance, while the other emitted a deep, red fragrance.

“What are these?”

“Qinghong Twin Pills.”

“So, what are they?”

“They’re elixirs, of course. Do you know, Senior, that you’re benefiting from this talented junior? Elixirs that can’t be easily obtained even with money are being handed over to you like this. How many juniors would do that?”

I was speechless for a moment, and Jihua Lan laughed with her usual annoying expression.

“Are you so moved that you’ve fallen for me? Hehe, that would be a problem... But, if it’s Senior, maybe meeting once wouldn’t be bad?”

“...Mumble mumble.”

“What did you say? If you don’t speak up, I won’t hear you.”

“...You bitch.”

“Say it louder, please.”

“Give me the money, you bitch!”

***

Liu Zhenhua, who brought the head of Jinhu Lou, calmed me down when I went berserk.

Fortunately, the moment her ample something touched my elbow, my excitement subsided instantly.

Jihua Lan sniffed.

“Shut up! What are you crying for?!”

“Sniff! I, I’m sorry...”

As the voices rose, Liu Zhenhua stepped between me and Jihua Lan.

Her ample something swayed, catching my attention.

“Team Leader Jin, please calm down. After all, didn’t Lady Jihua think of you and go to great lengths to obtain this item?”

“...Ahem, is that so?”

“Furthermore, the Qinghong Twin Pills are rare treasures that can’t be obtained even with money if you don’t have the right connections. I don’t know how much you thought to pay as a reward, but it’s certainly worth more than that.”

“Ahem, I seem to have gotten a bit excited. I’ll apologize to Hua Mei too.”

A man should listen to a woman’s advice.

Following the advice of my future wife, I apologized to Jihua Lan.

“Then, I’ll take my leave. Please tell me how things turn out over a cup of tea sometime.”

“Understood.”

She’s really charismatic.

***

After Wu Chuan left, Liu Zhenhua immediately reported the events of the early morning to Jihua Lan.

Somehow, she detailed every move Wu Chuan had made.

“...That’s the process of how Team Leader Jin brought the head of Jinhu Lou.”

“Did the head of Jinhu Lou talk?”

“Calling Shikno, it won’t take long.”

Hearing the name of Shikno, the Red Dragon Gang’s best interrogator, Jihua Lan smiled coldly.

“I can trust him.”

“And...”

“Hmm?”

“Team Leader Jin seems to have captured the Golden Dragon Gang’s Yaoyao Jinjian.”

“Really?”

“There’s intelligence that last night, Young Master Jin left the Golden Dragon Gang with Yaoyao Jinjian and returned alone. He must have been severely injured or even killed.”

“I didn’t expect it...”

“Yes, it seems Lady Jihua’s judgment was accurate. He was a hidden dragon among hidden dragons.”

Liu Zhenhua was genuinely impressed.

In fact, Yaoyao Jinjian isn’t a particularly remarkable martial artist in Nine Dragon City.

Even the Red Dragon Gang alone has over thirty experts stronger than him, and in the entire Nine Dragon City, there are over three hundred.

What’s noteworthy is that Jin Wuchuan, who is just twenty, captured the seasoned expert Yaoyao Jinjian alone.

At just twenty, to achieve this much, it’s hard to imagine how he will grow in the future.

“Huh, that’s why you gave him the Qinghong Twin Pills.”

“It seems Team Leader Jin didn’t understand their value and was disrespectful to you. Once he consumes the pills and his internal energy deepens, he will be greatly impressed by you.”

“Seems so, doesn’t it?”

“No doubt.”

“Speaking of which, how disappointed... So... How impressive... Me... Getting angry...”

The night at Honghua Lou passed.

***

Ten days later, while on duty at the North Gate, I heard a rumor that caught my attention.

“Jinhu Lou is disappearing?”

“It’s not disappearing; it’s merging with Honghua Lou.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

Look at this. They’re taking over Jinhu Lou completely?

As I marveled internally, the conversation continued.

“Do you know how it happened?”

“It seems Jinhu Lou has been involved in human trafficking to supply courtesans. The Red Dragon Gang exposed this and pursued the head.”

“So they took down the sign?”

“Yes. They couldn’t continue business after doing such things. As soon as the head was imprisoned, there’s a rumor that the Golden Dragon Gang handed Jinhu Lou over to Honghua Lou.”

“So now, is Honghua Lou’s owner Luo Nan?”

“Seems so. He became the best in the vast Nine Dragon City in just a month. From now on, it’s just a matter of raking in the money.”

The merchants talking passed through the outer city.

‘Not bad.’

To handle everything so cleanly by just capturing the head of Jinhu Lou.

It seems they dealt with the matter by burying the corruption of the Jinzhong Guild.

If I had known, I should have asked for more.

Why did I end up with useless elixirs?

Actually, I know what the Qinghong Twin Pills are and their value.

They are a popular elixir developed by the Tang family, the best chemical pharmaceutical company of this era. One dose can grant ten years of internal energy.

Thanks to the Tang family’s excellent refining technology, its purity is unmatched by other brands.

Although it can only be consumed once.

The problem is...

I don’t need to become stronger.

Being a man, martial arts aren’t that important.

What’s truly important is the wealth to support three concubines.

‘Yeah, that’s right.’

Still, it’s a pity that the head of Jinhu Lou is in prison.

Although she had some perverted tendencies, she was pretty, with a large chest...

I should add her to my list of ideal types.

Reflecting on my life goals, I was on my way home.

‘Huh?’

I sensed someone inside the house.

‘Could it be?’

Is it Liu Zhenhua?

After all, in the past ten days, I’ve been playing hard to get and haven’t shown my face at Honghua Lou. She must be missing me.

‘What a persistent man.’

Once you get involved, you can’t get out.

Having mentally prepared, I stood in front of the door, making as much noise as possible.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Creak.

Thinking Liu Zhenhua was inside, the old hinge sound was unexpectedly welcome.

Closing my eyes for a moment to savor the moment, I heard a greeting.

“Have you arrived?”

A clear, refreshing voice.

Opening my eyes, I saw a beautiful woman with a pure, clean, and refreshing aura smiling at me.

It wasn’t Liu Zhenhua, but someone who made me even happier.

“Sister!”

It was Miaoxiang, who had taken care of me more terribly than anyone during the Dangchuan Pavilion days.

A short while later.

The table was filled with dishes prepared by Miaoxiang, all of which were my favorites.

“Really, when did you prepare all this? And all my favorites.”

“No one else but Lord Jin, how could I forget your tastes?”

“Stop calling me Lord.”

“Should I call you something else?”

“Hmm... Call me Team Leader.”

“Yes, Team Leader Jin.”

“And speak more casually. You’re six years older than me.”

“Later. And it’s rude to talk about a woman’s age.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Seeing her face after so long, old memories flooded back.

‘You should eat the vegetables too!’

‘If you don’t eat a variety, I won’t serve you meat for a while.’

‘Where did you catch the sparrow? Are you going to roast such a poor little thing?’

‘I told you to put your clothes in the basket. Didn’t you?’

“...”

Well, memories are varied.

But one thing is certain.

Without Miaoxiang during the Dangchuan Pavilion days, I wouldn’t have made it.

And to me, she is like a real sister.

“Have a drink.”

“Stop being so formal. We’re not in Dangchuan Pavilion anymore.”

“Later.”

Clank.

Miaoxiang poured the wine.

The floral fragrance spread instantly, stimulating my senses.

Taking a sip, I recognized the wine.

“Honghua Wine?”

“Lady Jihua specially provided it.”

Taking the glass, Miaoxiang smiled and bowed respectfully.

Her sudden action surprised me, and I couldn’t say anything.

“I owe a great debt to Team Leader Jin.”

“No, Sister!”

Miaoxiang, with her eyes full of tears, said:

“Lady Jihua told me that Team Leader Jin risked his life to capture the head of Jinhu Lou.”

“It wasn’t that dangerous...”

“It was because of me.”

“I did it for the generous reward...”

“Thanks to you, I didn’t get sold to Bai Xiajin, and my brother in Nanjing can continue his studies safely. So, Team Leader Jin, you are my greatest benefactor.”

“No, it’s not that big a deal.”

“I can’t even imagine how to repay this debt.”

“Ha, between us, what’s this talk of debt?”

“So, I’ve decided to take care of Team Leader Jin.”

“Huh?”

Huh?