In an abandoned construction site, Old John’s men were either feasting on grilled meat and drinking by the furnace, or smoking at the entrance keeping watch.
"What’s up with Old John today? Usually, he’s the one who always prides himself on credibility, but today he’s the first to forsake it?"
Skinny Monkey still couldn’t swallow the indignation he felt just moments ago, cursing as he drank his liquor.
"Could it be that he fears Mr. Fu? I heard this Mr. Fu is pretty influential." one of the brothers suggested.
"If he really feared Mr. Fu, he wouldn’t have taken on this job in the first place." Skinny Monkey still found Old John’s behavior today baffling.
Skinny Monkey looked around and then asked, "By the way, where did Old John go?"
"He’s been inside since he came back, don’t know what he’s searching for." a brother informed Skinny Monkey.
Just as Skinny Monkey was about to stand up to look for Old John, a noise suddenly came from the brothers smoking outside.
"Hey, isn’t that the pretty girl from just now?"
"She came right to our doorstep looking for some fun!"
The two men both had sleazy laughs, catching the attention of Skinny Monkey and the other brothers, making them quickly gather at the main door.
Jiang Moxi had changed into a black down jacket and wide-leg pants, her head topped with a black baseball cap.
Her long hair still casually draped, fluttering in the cold wind.
Her face still bare, breathtakingly beautiful.
But whether it was the change into the black clothes, or the chilling wind of Yan City tonight.
The ordinarily demure Jiang Moxi now inexplicably had a coldness about her that one couldn’t fend off.
"Where’s Old John?" Jiang Moxi didn’t entertain the teasing from the men, asking in a clear cold voice.
Yet, some people just don’t learn.
Even though there was an obvious difference in this girl from before, they still couldn’t suppress the desire in their hearts.
Skinny Monkey was one of them, also taunting Jiang Moxi: "What do you want Old John for? Fat and short, might not satisfy you."
He even attempted to reach out to embrace Jiang Moxi, hoping to vent all his previous frustration on her.
"Why don’t you try with me first? I bet after that, you won’t want to look for Old John, and probably won’t even want to go back to Mr. Fu...."
But before Skinny Monkey’s hand could touch Jiang Moxi, she grabbed his wrist and threw him over her shoulder.
Skinny Monkey fell hard, feeling a general ache in his bones.
Especially being thrown to the ground by a little girl in front of his brothers, it was like rubbing his dignity into the dirt.
He wanted to strike back, even thinking of torturing Jiang Moxi.
To make her realize the severity of trampling on Skinny Monkey’s dignity.
But when he tried to get up, he was immediately faced with a dark muzzle of a gun.
Only then did Skinny Monkey realize, this girl was no simple character...
And it was only at this moment that Skinny Monkey’s brothers realized the imminent danger.
They all pulled out their guns, pointing them at Jiang Moxi’s head.
Amidst this standoff, Old John rushed out frantically.
"Stop it all of you!"
"Put down the guns, do you hear me!"
Old John shouted as he ran, then upon reaching, he fiercely slapped one of the brothers.
"I said put down the guns, are you deaf?"
The slap was so powerful it not only sent the man to the ground, but his gun flew far away too.
Seeing Old John getting serious, the others hurriedly put away their guns.
Yet, some were still contentious, "Old John, didn’t you see that this person is pointing a gun at Brother Skinny Monkey? Are we just going to ignore Skinny Monkey’s plight?"
Skinny Monkey also stared eagerly at Old John, disbelieving that Old John would ignore his safety.
To his surprise, Old John said, "If someone won’t heed advice, they deserve their fate."
After Skinny Monkey was stunned, his anger blazed like a burning sky.
He had followed Old John through ups and downs for so many years, and now the old guy seemingly didn’t care whether he lived or died!
But Old John just gave Skinny Monkey a cold glance and then looked at Jiang Moxi with sincere trepidation.
"Are you looking for me? Is there anything you need?"
Jiang Moxi raised her eyebrows at Old John: "Do you still remember me?"
Meeting her tranquil gaze and feeling the overwhelming intimidation, Old John’s back broke out in a cold sweat.
"Of course I remember..."
About five years ago, when Dead Ghost first wore women’s clothes, it was seen by someone from Candy Mercenary Corps, and it became well-known throughout the Corps; they even described her as "neither male nor female."
Thus, on a dark and windy night, Dead Ghost alone broke into the stronghold of Candy Mercenary Corps and made plum blossoms bloom on everyone’s foreheads.
Old John was just a minor figure in the Candy Mercenary Corps and was out on a minor mission at the time.
When he returned, he just happened to witness Dead Ghost firing the last shot.
That day was the first time Old John saw Dead Ghost’s real face, with a gun pointed right at his forehead.
"I never spoke ill of you, not even once. Please let me go, okay?" Old John remembered begging like that.
But in reality, he didn’t think the murderous Dead Ghost would let him go because of those words.
So he closed his eyes, waiting for the bullet to take his life.
Unexpectedly, Dead Ghost really did let him go: "Remember, don’t just echo others, or I will come for you."
Those words, and the malicious smile on Dead Ghost’s face at that time, were deeply etched in Old John’s mind to this day.
Under Old John’s fearful and anxious expression, Jiang Moxi said slowly: "I don’t want others to know I am here, do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand, I will definitely keep it a secret and not mention it to anyone."
Old John thought of something else, then looked at his brothers: "Including them."
"You want me to spare them?"
Jiang Moxi glanced coldly at the men.
"That’s not impossible. But you need to help me steal a batch of goods of the same value from the person who gave you orders today."
As soon as Jiang Moxi finished speaking, Skinny Monkey and his brothers began shouting: "Old John, don’t agree to her."
"If not only are we breaking the contract but also harming our employer, our reputation in the underworld would be ruined. Who would dare hire us?"
"She’s not giving us a way out; she’s clearly pushing us towards a dead end!"
Old John also hesitated about Jiang Moxi’s request.
But his hesitation resulted in Skinny Monkey being kicked viciously in the chest, spewing out a mouthful of blood.
Thus, Old John could only agree to Jiang Moxi: "Give me one week. In a week, I will deliver the goods to Mr. Fu’s warehouse."
Yes, Old John understood the purpose of Jiang Moxi’s act, not just to intimidate his corps, but also to let everyone in the underworld know that Mr. Fu’s goods are not to be coveted.
"Then I await your good news." After receiving a satisfactory response, Jiang Moxi put away her gun and turned to leave.
Skinny Monkey, feeling extremely reluctant, wanted to pick up the gun from the ground and fight Jiang Moxi.
But Old John immediately grabbed him and punched him several times.
"Skinny Monkey, she’s not someone you can afford to offend!"
"She’s just a young girl, what’s there to be afraid of offending?"
Skinny Monkey watched Jiang Moxi swagger away, furiously yelling.
"Just remember one thing, if you want to live, don’t ever provoke her!"
Leaving these words behind, Old John returned to the abandoned factory to discuss how to intercept the goods with his men.
Skinny Monkey was extremely frustrated and just sat in front of a stove, gulping down alcohol.
Meanwhile, Jiang Moxi returned to Tianqin Bay.
As soon as she pushed the door open, she heard Fu Youhan’s voice from inside: "Where have you been?"