In the private room of Yuyuefang.
Scarface Brother twisted open the cap of the Maotai liquor, and the rich aroma instantly exploded in the air, teasing everyone’s senses.
He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing slightly as an intoxicated expression spread across his face. "This liquor... now that’s the good stuff..."
The underlings beside him swallowed hard in unison.
One of them opened his mouth, about to remind Scarface Brother that they still had business to attend to tonight, but the words died in his throat.
After all, who wouldn’t want a taste of such fine liquor?
Scarface Brother and his crew were men of the streets, and once alcohol hit the table, restraint went out the window.
Two bottles of baijiu down, and it was only the beginning of their drinking spree.
Soon, bottle after bottle of liquor was emptied, and crates of beer were hauled into the room.
Brother Erkun sat to the side, trying several times to urge Scarface Brother to slow down. But every time he opened his mouth, Scarface Brother mistook it for a toast and shoved a glass in his face. "Come on, bottoms up!"
With no choice, Brother Erkun took the glass and downed it in one go.
The more Scarface Brother drank, the happier he became, and the more he warmed up to Brother Erkun.
"Brother, you’re a real one! This liquor, these dishes, this brotherhood—nothing beats it!"
He poured himself another glass, tilted his head back, and gulped it down, letting the liquor dribble down his chin without bothering to wipe it.
Brother Erkun was already dizzy, his vision blurring with double images.
He strained to keep his eyes open, fighting to stay conscious, but his mind felt stuffed with cotton, utterly scrambled.
Finally, seizing a rare moment when Scarface Brother paused to refill his glass, he stammered out the question he’d been holding back: "Scar... Scarface Brother, when... when are we making our move?"
"Th-those guys aren’t pushovers... You... you gotta be careful."
Scarface Brother waved a dismissive hand, his face flushed. "Small fry, easy pickings!"
Brother Erkun wanted to say more, but Scarface Brother suddenly leaned in close, his alcohol-laden breath hitting Erkun’s face. "Brother, you know how I became Brother Pan’s right-hand man?"
"Y-you tell me."
"It’s ‘cause I’ve got... got a secret technique—bare-handed blade catch. Once, some punk argued with me, pulled out a machete, and tried to chop me down. I just pulled off this move..."
"Wh-what happened next?"
"I caught that blade with my bare hands. You... you should’ve seen it, blood splattered everywhere. That bastard was so scared, he dropped to his knees begging me not to die!"
"See... see this scar on my face? That’s from back then. Not to brag, but... but the man who can take me down hasn’t been born yet."
"Scar... Scarface Brother, you’re a legend!"
"..."
Slumped drunkenly in his chair, Scarface Brother pinched his glass between his fingers. "The guys we’re dealing with... they’re tough. One of ‘em’s called Yun Cheng. You... you heard of him?"
Brother Erkun nodded. "Heard... heard of him."
Not only had he heard of him—he’d been on the receiving end of his fists.
"Folks in the gang say he’s a beast, can take on a dozen men single-handed. Pfft, they just haven’t met me! Cross me, and he’ll be groveling too!" Scarface Brother boasted, oozing bravado.
Brother Erkun quickly played along. "No doubt... Scarface Brother’s got skills. A small fry like him’s no match for you."
Then, feigning concern, he added, "But... they’ve got numbers."
Scarface Brother scoffed. "Numbers mean nothing! I’m with the Yilian Society—bring ‘em all, I ain’t scared. Not to brag, but unless they kill me... me, they’ll be the ones begging for mercy. That’s just how I roll!"
"Legendary!" Brother Erkun raised a thumbs-up, eyes full of admiration.
After the feast, the group staggered downstairs to the first-floor hall.
The hall was empty, not a soul in sight.
They didn’t think much of it, assuming the dinner rush had ended and customers had all left.
Brother Erkun, swaying at the front, pulled open the door to leave—only to immediately slam it shut and turn back.
Scarface Brother frowned. "Wh-what’d you close it for?"
Brother Erkun walked up to him. "Scarface Brother, I gotta ask... that bare-handed blade catch technique of yours—is it hard to learn?"
"What’re you getting at?"
Before Scarface Brother could process the question, the door was pushed open from the outside.
A group of men strode in, faces grim, each gripping a gleaming machete that reflected cold light under the lamps.
Behind them, a sea of yellow-haired thugs crowded in.
At the front stood a chubby young man. His eyes swept over the Yilian Society members—now completely incapacitated—before locking onto Scarface Brother. A cold smirk curled his lips.
"Scarface Brother, huh? Heard you’re good at catching blades bare-handed?"
Scarface Brother’s drunken haze vanished in an instant. He dropped to his knees, hands clasped together. "Boss, it’s all a misunderstanding!"
Brother Erkun’s jaw dropped.
So this was the legendary bare-handed blade catch?
Sure enough, he was frighteningly skilled.
Not daring to slack off, he immediately mimicked Scarface Brother’s actions, dropping to his knees and clasping his hands together in prayer.
Though he’d had quite a bit to drink, he hadn’t forgotten the key technique Scarface Brother had taught him—once this move was executed, the enemy would be left begging for mercy.
Right now, all he could do was pray that it actually worked.
At the same time, Brother Erkun’s mind raced, desperately trying to figure out where things had gone wrong.
The plan had been foolproof—so how had they suddenly ended up cornered like this?
Someone must have leaked the details!
Just then, Brother Erkun witnessed a scene he knew all too well.
Several young men with dyed hair swiftly replaced the restaurant’s menus and posters with freshly printed ones.
Brother Erkun glanced at the new menu, and when his eyes landed on the price list for the drinks section, his heart nearly stopped.
The bottle of Moutai they’d been drinking earlier was now listed at 88,888 yuan?
And they’d ordered several more bottles—that added up to at least 400,000 yuan!
400,000! He couldn’t pay that back even if he sold his soul!
Scarface Brother, still unaware of the severity of the situation, was completely stunned by the sudden appearance of over a hundred gangsters.
Even though he was a member of the Yilian Society, the organization rarely gathered in such numbers!
Who the hell were these people?
His first thought was Niu Ben, the undisputed ruler of Wushui County.
But he’d never crossed Niu Ben before!
Just then, a cold-faced young man stepped forward from the crowd.
“Scarface, long time no see.”
Scarface Brother recognized him immediately—it was Yun Cheng, the rising enforcer of the Yilian Society’s new generation.
In that moment, he completely forgot his original mission in Wushui County. Shuffling forward on his knees, he pleaded, “Brother Yun, you still remember me! Please put in a good word for me—we’re both from the Yilian Society, we’re on the same side!”
Yun Cheng swept a glance over the trembling men kneeling on the ground and said, “Scarface, I never thought you’d become such a big shot. Bringing so many men here—what’s the plan? Looking for the Young Mistress?”
Scarface Brother didn’t deny it. Instead, he tried to persuade Yun Cheng: “Brother Yun, the boss ordered us to bring her back… You know how much he values you. If you help me take her back, he’ll definitely promote you—”
Yun Cheng shook his head. “Sorry, I’ve already left the Yilian Society.”
The color drained from Scarface Brother’s face. “Brother Yun, deserting the Yilian Society means facing the family punishment! You really want to risk that?”
Yun Cheng smirked, his eyes filled with disdain. “Scarface, seems like you still don’t understand the situation here.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd parted once more.
A young woman in a black dress walked forward, her presence impossible to ignore.
The sea of young men in the restaurant immediately straightened their postures, bowing respectfully as they greeted her in unison:
“Young Mistress!”
“Young Mistress!”
“Young Mistress!”
The voices echoed powerfully, filling the room.
Scarface Brother’s pupils shrank to pinpricks as he stared at the stunningly beautiful yet ice-cold young woman. His expression shifted from shock to disbelief, then finally to sheer terror.
“Y-Young Mistress?”
How was this possible?
How could it be?!
The Young Mistress—someone who had never been involved in the underworld—had built up such a force in such a short time?
Scarface Brother’s mind reeled as he recalled the intel he’d received. Yun Cheng had come looking for the Young Mistress with just over a dozen men, and she herself had no prior gang connections—at most, she might have a handful of followers.
But now, standing before him were at least a hundred men, all showing her unwavering respect.
The intel had been dead wrong.
A chill ran down Scarface Brother’s spine, as if he’d been thrown into an ice cellar.
If the Young Mistress returned to Bright Pearl City with this kind of force, what would become of the Yilian Society?
What terrified him even more was the genuine loyalty in these men’s eyes. They weren’t being coerced—they followed her willingly, with absolute devotion.
This level of unity, this commanding presence—it was downright terrifying.
Was this the power of a woman who carried the blood of the former boss?
Too frightening.
