Chapter 63 - 61: Jianghu Gathering, Confrontation and Standoff
Chapter 63: Chapter 61: Jianghu Gathering, Confrontation and Standoff
By evening, Tie Qingyang had arrived at the Ruby International Hotel with Wan Ze. Several cars were already parked out front.
Tie Feiyang hurried forward with his men. "Dad, the people from Yu Shang Group are already here... That man with them must be Xiao Qing."
"This is my son, Tie Feiyang." Ignoring his son’s anxiousness, Tie Qingyang turned to Wan Ze with a smile and made the introduction. "Feiyang, this is Mr. Wan!"
Tie Feiyang froze. ’Why is the old man making small talk at a time like this?’ Still, having been by Tie Qingyang’s side for many years, he knew what was important. He quickly gave a polite nod. "Mr. Wan, a pleasure to meet you."
Wan Ze returned the nod.
Tie Feiyang felt a flicker of unease. This Mr. Wan was far too young.
Of course.
He also knew that this was the same Mr. Wan who had killed Brother Xiao Zhao.
In other words, the man could kill him just as easily.
But...
Hearing about it and seeing the man in person were two completely different things.
However, Tie Qingyang’s obvious deference toward Wan Ze commanded a respect from Tie Feiyang that he dared not question. That was why, despite his own anxiety, he couldn’t show the slightest hesitation.
"Mr. Wan, shall we go up together?" Tie Qingyang didn’t mention Xiao Qing again. In fact, after his private conversation with Wan Ze yesterday, the outcome of today’s negotiation was already a foregone conclusion.
Tie Feiyang opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again. Watching his father and the young Mr. Xiaowan walk ahead, he couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation.
He had no choice but to hurry and catch up.
The owner of the Ruby Hotel and his manager had just finished pacifying the men from Yu Shang Group. Before they could even catch their breath, they were trotting over again. "President Tie, you’ve finally arrived."
"Boss Wang, I apologize for the trouble today," Tie Qingyang said with a pleasant smile.
How could Boss Wang of the Ruby Hotel dare to put on airs? He nodded and bowed repeatedly. "You’re too kind. This way, please."
The large group proceeded forward.
The entire Ruby Hotel had been booked out and was filled with burly men in black suits. Even though Tie Qingyang had brought Wan Ze for support, he had naturally made his own preparations as well.
The top floor was a single, sprawling apartment of over seven hundred square meters.
The eastern corner of the room was already crowded with about twenty men, all standing. Only two were seated: one was the big boss of Yu Shang Group, Sun Shengji, and the other was Xiao Qing. A waiter tremblingly poured them tea. The entire hall was silent.
Sun Shengji’s throat felt a little dry. He glanced at the men standing behind him—they were the best fighters in his Yu Shang Group. More importantly, Xiao Qing was sitting right beside him.
"Mr. Xiao?"
"Don’t worry. I’m here," Xiao Qing said, sipping his tea unhurriedly. Though Sun Shengji hadn’t said a word, it was as if Xiao Qing knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Of course I trust you, Mr. Xiao," Sun Shengji said with an awkward smile. He opened his mouth, wanting to bring up the expert Tie Qingyang had supposedly found, but seeing Xiao Qing’s absolute confidence, he decided against it and swallowed his words.
"They’re here," someone at the door announced suddenly.
Sun Shengji’s expression soured. To be honest, the thought of dropping all pretenses with that old fox Tie Qingyang still made him a little nervous.
A sharp rebuke was heard from just outside the door.
CRASH! The door was thrown open, and a figure staggered in, collapsing to the floor. At once, the expressions of the men behind Sun Shengji turned grim, and they glared menacingly toward the entrance.
A group of men in black suits strode in, pushing the door wide and clearing a path. Tie Qingyang appeared, dressed in a Tang suit and leaning on a cane, supported by Tie Feiyang. Beside them walked a young man.
"Tie Qingyang, you dare strike my men?" Sun Shengji shot to his feet, enraged. "If you don’t want to negotiate, just say so! I’m not afraid of you!"
Tie Qingyang’s expression remained unchanged. "If you truly wanted to talk, President Sun, why would you post men at the door just to cause trouble?" he asked coolly.
Boss Wang, the hotel owner, quickly tried to mediate. "Gentlemen, please, calm down. We’ve prepared some refreshments—our new house specialties. Why don’t you talk things over while you eat?"
"This has nothing to do with you! Get the hell out!" Sun Shengji, needing someone to vent his anger on, screamed, pointing right at Boss Wang’s face. The hotel owner looked utterly humiliated, trapped in an impossible position.
But what could he do? In his line of work, he had to swallow his pride and keep smiling.
After all, one was a veteran of the Holy City underworld, and the other was the city’s new powerhouse. He couldn’t afford to offend either of them.
"Boss Wang, why don’t you leave us? This doesn’t concern you, after all," Tie Qingyang said, giving the man an out. Boss Wang shot him a grateful look, clasped his hands in a brief gesture of thanks, and led his staff away.
As the door closed, the manager whispered, "President Wang, should we... call the police?"
Boss Wang shook his head.
Calling the police would be professional suicide.
He could only hope the two big shots in there would shake hands and make peace. Or, at worst, they would just have their men fight it out to settle the score.
’This renovation was damn expensive!’
...
Sun Shengji stared at Tie Qingyang and snorted. "Alright, how do you want to play this?"
"You’re asking me, Boss Sun?" Tie Qingyang walked over to the long table on the west side of the room and sat down, his gaze slowly sweeping over the men from Yu Shang Group.
"Then I’ll be blunt. The Iron Cross Group must pull out of the Qingya No. 1 Courtyard project!"
Sun Shengji had barely finished speaking when Tie Feiyang cut him off furiously. "Withdraw my ass! Don’t think for a second that just because you have the Management Committee and the police in your pocket, you’re some big shot, you son of a bitch! When the Iron Cross was laying down the law in the Holy City, you were still sucking on your mother’s teat!"
Sun Shengji gave him a cold, dark look. "Little brat, do you have any right to interrupt when your elders are speaking? Piss off!"
Tie Feiyang’s face flushed with anger.
Sun Shengji continued coolly, "I’ll say it again. The era of the Iron Cross throwing its weight around the Holy City is over. Mark my words: if you don’t pull out of the No. 1 Courtyard project, it will be no problem to have those men of yours who were arrested get eight to ten years in prison."
"Sun Shengji, you son of a bitch, you have no honor!" Tie Feiyang roared, unable to contain his fury. "You want to talk about dirty tricks? Are we really dirtier than you?! You know damn well how many people really died during the Shili Village demolition!" The men who had been arrested were his own trusted confidants.
Sun Shengji’s face turned to ice. "Didn’t I tell you to shut your mouth? Tie Qingyang, if you won’t discipline your son, I will! Slap him!"
As Sun Shengji finished speaking.
The figure beside him casually flicked a finger. A droplet of water from his teacup shot out, fast as a lightning bolt.
At that exact moment, Tie Qingyang was coughing into a handkerchief, his head lowered as if he hadn’t seen a thing.
Tie Feiyang raised a hand to defend himself, but it was clear he wasn’t fast enough to block it.
POP!
The droplet suddenly burst in midair, less than half a meter from his face, as if it had hit an invisible barrier.
In that instant, everyone’s attention finally turned to the young man sitting behind Tie Qingyang.
Sun Shengji’s heart sank.
He had noticed Wan Ze earlier, but had dismissed him because of his youth. He’d assumed Tie Qingyang’s expert was hidden among the other men in his entourage.
But now, he saw he was mistaken!
The atmosphere shifted subtly the moment the droplet was intercepted.
It was then that Xiao Qing spoke, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he looked at Wan Ze. "Since you’re the expert Boss Tie hired, why don’t we have a little match first? Should I give you a handicap, kid? One hand, perhaps?"