In the dim warehouse, Chen Xingzhou, sitting on the Taishi Chair, still looked as if he had been plagued by illness for a long time, his face sallow. After putting down the phone, he looked up at the Chosen One, who was hanging by chains in mid-air, barely alive.

He waved his hand indifferently.

"Betrayed from within, lost sight of loyalty for profit, colluded with outsiders to frame brothers."

He said, "According to the rules, three cuts and six holes, eradicated from the group. From today on, you have no more ties with the syndicate. Your life or death is now up to fate."

"It's a pity for so many years of friendship."

Suspended by the chains, the Chosen One struggled violently, his eyes wide open, making muffled sounds, yet unable to utter a word.

The executor indifferently drew out a long knife covered in wriggling blood veins, approached, grabbed the chain, and dragged the victim away; only faint wailing could be heard, followed by nothing but the sound of dripping water.

"Alright then, get back to whatever you should be doing."

Chen Xingzhou disinterestedly waved his hand, signaling others to leave before he picked up the phone and asked directly, "How's the situation on the Thousand Islands side?"

"Since you know, why ask, Dragon Head?"

"It doesn't concern me."

Chen Xingzhou said decisively, "Although we don't interact much, since you and Yubo are such good friends, with recent events, if you're willing to involve him, I can't thank you enough.

As the Dragon Head, I also wish well for Cliff City because the better Cliff City is, the more I profit. There's no reason for me to sabotage this, either publicly or privately."

"I know." Ji Jue nodded.

If Chen Xingzhou intended to abandon ship, he wouldn't have agreed from the start for his younger brother to associate with Coast.

Moreover, the Coast equity that Ji Jue holds was given to his teacher Ye Xian by Chen Xingzhou. There have been too many transactions and interests behind the scenes; Chen Xingzhou had bet on this long before becoming the Dragon Head.

"This matter, it's the Thousand Islands who have overstepped."

Chen Xingzhou did not speak bureaucratically or evade the question, saying straightforwardly, "Now, in Cliff City, as the Dragon Head, it's naturally my inescapable responsibility. However, the key at the moment is how you wish to resolve it."

Ji Jue asked, "How can it be resolved?"

"Two ways."

Chen Xingzhou said, "First, as the Dragon Head, I can make Guo Jianglong cough up the goods, make him apologize and offer you a drink, cut off his fingers, and scoop out his heart.

Force the bull to drink water by pressing its head down.

Whether it's a dragon or a tiger in Cliff City, they all have to listen to me!

However, if he's not convinced, there will surely be troubles later on. At that time, life and death and success and wealth will be in the hands of fate."

Thus, casually placing the fuse for internal warfare in the Desert Market in front of Ji Jue, telling him: "By then, Chen, though untalented, won't be completely uninvolved."

Desert Market dealing is just par for the course. Everyone is doing shady and illicit work, relying on crooked and evil ways, all believing in the White Deer; life and death is the norm.

If we're both making money, why should I let you earn it?

Can't I do it then?

The Desert Market is originally a wild gathering; even if the leader can't be bothered with these trifles before things completely spiral out of control, why worry about them when survival of the fittest is the natural path of the White Deer? If it makes for spectacular and substantial slaughters, even the leader would rejoice.

"And the second?" Ji Jue asked.

"Negotiate."

Chen Xingzhou said, "Business is about seeking profit. If we can reach an agreement, everything can be discussed. I'll host a meeting, everyone can have some tea, drink some wine, and clear things up, and then there'd be no issue."

Ji Jue fell silent at this point, mainly because Chen Xingzhou's tone was so matter-of-fact, yet so serious that it was difficult for him to discern whether he was joking or not: "Will it work?"

"Such are the rules."

Chen Xingzhou remained solemn: "Desert Market's peace talks are to minimize bloodshed.

All disputes and grudges can be wiped clean with a cup of wine. At the table, it doesn't matter how harsh the words are. If no agreement is reached, at worst, overturn the table, walk out, kill if necessary, fight as needed.

However — if an agreement is reached, whoever dares to renege afterwards, they're disrespecting everyone."

You can choose not to drink Desert Market's wine, but once it's drunk, the agreed matters cannot be denied by anyone.

Otherwise, dying would be in vain, killing would be meaningless!

This is the essential work of Desert Market — mediating conflicts, balancing ecology, maintaining the development of the wild gathering, avoiding self-depletion due to meaningless infighting.

The two choices provided by Chen Xingzhou are currently the best options.

Yet at the same time, they're not entirely satisfactory.

Some implications only need a hint; there's no need to spell it out fully.

Smart people will naturally understand; if Ji Jue were too foolish to comprehend, then it would serve him right to fall with such a foolish ally.

The first method involves Chen Xingzhou stepping forward, as the Dragon Head, directly slashing Guo Jianglong to death. If the situation escalates, he would stake his property and life, supporting you even in warfare with the Southern Thousand Islands Dragon Head!

However, if Desert Market put in so much effort, the brothers bled and risked their lives for you; a simple thank you wouldn't suffice, would it? When dividing the spoils, shouldn't I get a bigger piece?

The latter, Desert Market backs you, and Chen Xingzhou, as the Dragon Head, arranges a special meeting for your sake, with brothers and uncles present to uphold justice for you.

But, when the large scale is brought out, both sides will have to consider their positions thoroughly.

You may choose not to negotiate, or not to drink, but once you talk, it can't be denied; after drinking, even if Chen Xingzhou wished to take sides, it would be impossible.

"Frankly speaking, I want you to choose the first option. But as Yubo's brother, I advise you to think carefully; the other side might just be hoping you do this."

After a brief silence, Chen Xingzhou was the first to speak, making a promise: "Actually, you don't need to choose, just give me two days, and I will surely give you a satisfying answer. How about that?"

This would be the best choice for Ji Jue, no exception.

No matter past favors or considering the relation to his brother, Chen Xingzhou never regarded Ji Jue as an outsider.

The reconstruction of the Coast Group is an affair for the whole of Cliff City, he has his share too; now with Gray Port meddling on his turf, if he could tolerate it, he might as well be a turtle and not the Dragon Head anymore.

Moreover, his own younger brother being attacked as a result, as the Dragon Head, should he not show some stance?

If I say there will be an explanation, there will definitely be an explanation.

If I say I will satisfy Ji Jue, I will definitely satisfy Ji Jue.

But Ji Jue just couldn't be satisfied.

He said, "What if I can't wait?"

That batch of parts was completely insignificant to Ji Jue. The debt owed by Coast Group, what did it have to do with him, the scapegoat factory manager?

To put it bluntly, even if Coast Group went bankrupt, Ji Jue could just walk away without a care. Who would dare trouble him?

But Yan Jian couldn't do that.

As the sole remaining old employee of Coastal Automobile Factory, he was irreplaceable, not just in his skills as a first-level engineer but also in their cooperation and trust...

In the past few months, Yan Jian had been living a life of torment, going as far as selling blood and labor, except selling himself, giving everything for a job he could have left long ago.

He gambled his future for Ji Jue's empty promise to 'reopen'.

Now, because of him, Yan Jian was held against his will. Could Ji Jue just ignore his life or death?

"Mr. Chen, Yan Jian is my friend, just like Yubo."

Chen Xingzhou sighed silently and helplessly.

What could he say?

Great undertakings disregard trifles? For the sake of big things, he's just an insignificant person, might as well give up? Before you speak, don't forget how your brother survived!

He said, "No matter what you choose, I'll support you."

"Then let's negotiate."

Ji Jue said, "Doesn't he want an explanation? Then give him an explanation. After all, we're all in business just to make money; why make it so ugly?

Besides, I want to have a talk with someone too."

"...Heroic, extraordinary."

Chen Xingzhou pondered for a moment and finally assured, "No matter the outcome of the negotiations, I'm with you all the way."

"It won't hinder."

In the end, Ji Jue said, "You do your part, I'll do mine."

The call ended.

In the silence, Chen Xingzhou lowered his gaze, staring at the black screen, the phone silently twirling between his fingers.

For a long time.

"Old Lin."

A vague figure emerged from the darkness behind him: "Boss, I'm here."

"Contact the headquarters for me."

Chen Xingzhou tapped the armrest intermittently, speaking slowly: "I want to request the presence of the leader."

Old Lin was taken aback.

Then he nodded and turned to leave.

.

.

"Negotiate?"

Ten minutes later, Ling Zhou received a call from Chen Xingzhou and was amused: "What is his status, and what is mine? A mere craftsman, what does he have to negotiate with me!"

"Then would you like me to negotiate with you?" The voice on the phone seemed to laugh softly, "Rules are rules, Xiao Ling, some things, it's better to consult your father first."

"Oh? Using Sixth Uncle to pressure me?" Ling Zhou asked coldly.

"As an elder, just a reminder, I'm worried you'll create such a big mess that not even Ling Liu can protect you." Chen Xingzhou said indifferently, "Don't forget where this is; whether to negotiate or fight, it's not your call."

The call ended.

In the deathly silent room, smoke swirled.

Ling Zhou's face was ashen, almost crushing the phone.

Among the subordinates, an older man reminded, "Brother Zhou, be careful of a trap."

"If Chen Xingzhou dares to put on the airs of Desert Market, I surely dare to accept his challenge, don't I?"

Ling Zhou's expression shifted, finally turning icy: "Don't they want to negotiate? It's not like we haven't negotiated before. Tell Chen Xingzhou, we can negotiate, but I choose the location!"

"My place, my people, I want to see what he has to negotiate with me!"

.

.

Three minutes later, Ji Jue received a message from Chen Xingzhou.

10:30, Cliff City East Port, Tianbo Ship.

Ji Jue glanced at it, tossed the phone aside, turned around, and watched the silent Melting Furnace in front of him.

The fierce flames in the furnace rose silently, colors shifting. With Ji Jue's blood infusion, the interweaving of crimson and silver, the creation, after more than a month of purification and extraction, fluctuating between faint wails, gradually revealed a bizarre outline.

Malice, hideous.

"Perfect."

Ji Jue said, "Just lacking some materials."

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