Chapter 85: Contest of Strength
"Master Sun has arrived!"
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed from outside the hall, resounding throughout the entire restaurant. Everyone rose to their feet and turned their gaze in anticipation.
"He’s here! I’m going to have a look!" Jiang Xiaoxiao changed her tune quickly, abandoning her principles as soon as she heard that such an important person had arrived.
Since everyone stood up, getting a clear view of Master Sun’s face was not an easy task. For Fang Yu, the prospect of seeing this old timer was rather uninteresting.
"You little brat, aren’t you afraid of getting chopped by carelessly barging in like that?" Fang Yu teased her with a mocking tone.
And wouldn’t you know it, the remark worked, making even the brazen Jiang Xiaoxiao pout and reluctantly sit back down.
It wasn’t long before Master Sun made his way to the most prestigious spot in the restaurant.
Fang Yu and Jiang Xiaoxiao finally got a good look at Master Sun.
Master Sun was said to be past sixty years old, but his brisk, vigorous walk, his upright posture, and the piercing, ice-cold look in his eyes all showcased the demeanor of Jiangzhou’s most prestigious figure. He was flanked by two burly bodyguards on each side.
Accompanying Master Sun, there was also a young girl in her twenties, dressed in a classic cheongsam, with flowing long hair and a pearl necklace that shimmered brilliantly around her neck.
Fang Yu sighed lightly, "The setting sun is boundlessly beautiful indeed, but it’s a case of an old bull grazing on young grass."
"Brother Yu, what fine poetry!" The fatty chuckled with a simple smile.
"Brother-in-law, is that Master Sun?" Jiang Xiaoxiao wasn’t paying attention to Fang Yu’s comment, her eyes were fixated on Master Sun, gleaming with fascination.
"Yes, that’s him!" Fang Yu nodded.
"Ah? Isn’t that old guy the one who proposed at Sister Peipei’s place last time?" Jiang Xiaoxiao asked.
Fang Yu smiled, "Finally your little brain has made the connection."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaoxiao turned pale with shock, "Brother-in-law... you can’t be serious!? You’re doomed!"
"What do you mean doomed? Don’t speak such inauspicious words!" Fang Yu rolled his eyes.
"I just realized you offended such an important figure! It’s over, it’s over! Brother-in-law is doomed!"
"——"
Fang Yu was speechless. "You have so little confidence in your brother-in-law?"
"He must practice martial arts, only someone with profound skills like Tai Chi could maintain such a state. Yes, that must be it." Jiang Xiaoxiao was certain.
"Perhaps."
"Brother-in-law, do you think I’d be too presumptuous if I ran over to take a photo with Master Sun now?" Jiang Xiaoxiao asked eagerly, rubbing her hands together in excitement.
"Not at all." Fang Yu said with a smile.
"That’s great. I’m going now!" Jiang Xiaoxiao declared.
"But——" Fang Yu’s tone shifted, "He’s fond of the old bull grazing on young grass. By running over there recklessly, you’re either going to get married off or chopped up."
"————" Jiang Xiaoxiao stopped in her tracks.
"Exactly, Master Sun is quite something indeed, always marrying young wives. And they’re all under twenty too." Yan Hu chimed in.
Jiang Xiaoxiao glanced left and right, then scurried back dejectedly.
"If I’d known, I would have worn makeup and made myself look uglier." Jiang Xiaoxiao bemoaned her lack of foresight.
"That would be even worse; if an ugly one rushes forward, what value would that have? Believe it or not, you’d be captured before you could even take a photo, hacked to pieces without mercy, and thrown into the sea to die with no intact corpse left!" Fang Yu mockingly frightened her.
"That’s so vicious?" Jiang Xiaoxiao recoiled in fear.
"That’s how it is in the underworld." Fang Yu stated matter-of-factly.
"Brother Yu is right. You’ve got to be ruthless in the underworld these days, or no one will take you seriously." Yan Hu added.
"Is it that exaggerated?" Jiang Xiaoxiao half believed and half doubted.
Fang Yu scoffed, "You think the underworld is like your school where kids with patchy fuzz play-fight and pretend? I’ll tell you straight, the real underworld is crueler than what you see in Hong Kong and Taiwanese movies. Xiaoxiao, you’re still too young and naive."
Jiang Xiaoxiao huffed and stayed quiet, head bowed.
Master Sun has dominated Jiangzhou for many years, and in this bustling city, countless people both respect and fear him.
...
The magnanimous "Boss Sun," along with his young wife, walked past the first row of three tables in the hall, toasting each guest. The importance of the seats naturally reflected the status of the guests. However, all the guests were extremely respectful, nodding and bowing to him.
Besides, the various powers from the underworld had also gathered here—some to take the opportunity to forge better relations, some hoping to catch a glimpse of the true face of this martial world’s big shot.
Back at the head table, Boss Sun raised his glass, looked around, and said with a heroic tone, "Ladies and gentlemen, I, Sun, thank you all for your support. I’ll drink first in salute!"
He drained the glass in one go.
Everyone raised a glass and drank.
"Feel free to eat and drink; don’t be shy!"
Having said that, Boss Sun took his seat.
The main guests at the front three tables held their wine glasses and took turns toasting.
Despite the large number of people in the hall, there wasn’t a whisper of noise; everyone kept quiet, daring not to make a sound.
Sun Guoting was outwardly amiable but internally he was considering his moves.
Today was the Dragon Tiger Banquet, which included all the necessary formalities, but the time had also come to reshuffle the powers that be.
He lifted his gaze, his shrewd eyes scanning the surroundings.
Wondering if that bastard Fang Yu had shown up today—I dare you to come; I will tear you apart!
Besides Sun Guoting, Xiao He and Xiao Yuanshan also shared this sentiment.
"Brother Hu, who are the people at those three tables?" Jiang Xiaoxiao curiously inquired.
Yan Hu took a sip of wine and explained with a smile, "The table on the left is a small group that has grown quite strong these past two years."
"The middle one is filled with Boss Sun’s relatives."
"The one on the right belongs to the Xiao Family."
Upon mentioning the Xiao Family, Jiang Xiaoxiao excitedly said, "I know this family; I’ve seen them at sister Peipei’s house..."
"You’ve seen quite a bit," Yan Hu said with a laugh, "Have you ever seen them beating someone up?"
"No."
"These people, they beat others up all the time," Yan Hu said, intentionally trying to spook her.
"Don’t scare me!" Jiang Xiaoxiao responded.
"I’m not scaring you; it’s all true," Yan Hu said.
"Society is a mixed bag. This is quite common," Yan Hu added.
Jiang Xiaoxiao listened, dumbfounded. All her life, she had known that underworld figures existed, but never to the extent of lawlessness that Yan Hu described.
Her understanding had remained at the level of schoolyard brawls. She had never experienced scenes like those in Hong Kong and Taiwan gangster films.
Fang Yu, who had been silent alongside them, could tell that Yan Hu was speaking from his own experience in the underworld.
But could this way of life really last?
Will he always follow Ji Qiubai?
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out.
"Boss Ji has arrived!"
Everyone in the hall looked towards the source of the voice.
Ji Qiubai, dressed in a white Chinese tunic suit, much like a white knight from television dramas, was elegant and dignified.
The cool and graceful Ji Qiubai immediately captured everyone’s attention.
This was the one man in Jiangzhou who could openly challenge Boss Sun, Ji Qiubai!
Jiang Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened uncontrollably.
Her gaze intensifying, she looked at Ji Qiubai from head to toe, took out her phone, and started snapping photos click, click, click.