The vehicle that appeared was also a luxurious Mercedes-Benz S-Class, its pitch-black body gleaming with a cold sheen under the sunlight. Everyone at the scene was taken aback by the sight of the car, and the previously noisy demolition site suddenly fell silent.
"Who is that?"
"No idea, maybe some big shot?"
"Is he here for Niu Ben?"
"......"
Just as people were speculating about who might be inside the Mercedes, someone suddenly noticed something behind the car and exclaimed in shock.
"Holy shit! Look at the back!"
From behind the car came the sound of perfectly synchronized footsteps, followed by a dark tide of figures emerging from around the corner—nearly a hundred of them.
All of them were dressed in identical black suits, with an unfamiliar dragon-like emblem embroidered on their left chests. The dragon pattern shimmered with a dark golden luster under the sun, looking incredibly imposing.
The only slightly off-putting detail was their various dyed hairstyles, but it didn’t detract from the overall effect. If anything, the contrast with their neat black suits added a rebellious edge.
As the car came to a stop, the black-clad men swiftly lined up in two rows in front of the vehicle, their movements perfectly coordinated.
They stood about a step apart, forming a path from the car door all the way to the demolition site, their hands clasped behind their backs as if waiting to welcome a VIP from the Mercedes.
The scene stunned not only the villagers but even Niu Ben and his gang of thugs, who were all drawn to the spectacle.
Niu Ben himself frowned.
Since when did Wushui County have someone like this?
This person’s presence seemed even grander than his own.
While the crowd was still murmuring in hushed tones, a young man stepped out from the front passenger seat of the Mercedes. He was also dressed in a well-tailored black suit, his expression cold and his gaze sharp.
He walked to the rear door and opened it.
A pair of feet clad in black ankle boots stepped out.
Then, a girl with long black hair and striking, icy beauty emerged from the car.
She wore a black suit paired with a white deep V-neck blouse, her slender waist accentuated by a black belt adorned with a gold decorative buckle.
Though her suit was similar in style to those of the black-clad men, there was one key difference—her chest bore no emblem. Instead, her cuffs were embroidered with intricate dragon and phoenix patterns, the golden threads glinting brilliantly in the sunlight.
Despite her seemingly young age, she exuded an undeniable aura of power that demanded attention.
As the girl walked through the human corridor, the black-clad men all bowed and greeted her in unison.
"Young Mistress!"
"Young Mistress!"
"Young Mistress!"
"......"
With every step she took, the men fell in line behind her with disciplined precision.
In no time, a dense crowd of black-suited followers had gathered behind her, their collective presence overwhelming.
Both the onlookers and Niu Ben’s men couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.
"Holy shit! A female boss?! Am I seeing this right?"
"Are you deaf? They clearly called her ‘Young Mistress.’ She must be some big shot’s daughter."
"Whether she’s a big shot’s daughter or not, this is something else."
"Her presence feels even stronger than Niu Ben’s."
"Yeah, I wonder whose side she’s on."
"I bet she’s with Niu Ben. Gangsters always stick together."
"Then Chu Yue and that Ma Da guy who stood up for us are screwed. Between these two groups, there must be nearly two hundred people now."
"We’re done for!"
"Damn, suddenly Wushui County feels like it’s under a dark cloud!"
"......"
Chu Yue had already paled at the sight of Niu Ben’s arrival, and now, with this new group of even more intimidating figures appearing, she felt utterly hopeless.
Just as she was about to say something to urge Ma Da and the others to leave, Ma Da suddenly sprang into action.
He hurried toward the black-clad men, his face lit up with excitement.
The more he looked at their uniforms, the more he liked them.
The Young Mistress’s idea to have them all dress alike was brilliant—it really set them apart.
He had thought Niu Ben’s entrance was impressive, but compared to the Young Mistress, it was nothing.
One side was a chaotic mess; the other was perfectly organized.
They weren’t even in the same league.
The only downside was that the Mercedes was rented, and the uniforms the men were wearing hadn’t been fully paid for—only the deposit had been covered.
It was the same story as their supermarket project.
Yang Xin had already rented a space based on the research he’d done at his previous company, and renovations were underway—again, with only a small deposit paid.
They were racking up debts left and right.
But it didn’t matter. The Young Mistress had assured them they’d be able to settle everything soon.
Of course, if it were up to Ma Da, they could just skip paying altogether.
"Young Mistress!" Ma Da greeted Liu Yutong eagerly, then blurted out, "Where’s my uniform?"
Yun Cheng, standing beside Liu Yutong, promptly handed him a jacket.
Ma Da quickly put it on. While the others could fasten at least one button, his belly prevented him from doing the same.
Still, he grinned in satisfaction. "Looking sharp!"
His interaction with the group made it clear to Niu Ben’s men who these newcomers were.
They were outsiders from Bright Pearl City—a dragon crossing the river.
For some reason, the villagers, despite their fear of the sudden appearance of these black-clad men, felt a strange sense of relief.
Some were even a little excited.
They never expected Ma Da and his crew to have such powerful backing. Though they didn’t know where these black-suited men came from, the sheer force of their presence made it clear they were no small players.
Now, what had seemed like a one-sided fight had turned into a battle of equals.
At that moment, the two factions stood facing each other, Niu Ben and Liu Yutong at the forefront of their respective groups.
Their eyes met—a clash of titans.
Niu Ben was equally stunned.
"So, you’re the daughter of the former leader of the Righteous Union?"
"You’ve crossed the line. Wushui County isn’t your territory."
"This is my domain!"
He had known for a while that the leader of the Righteous Union’s exiled remnants was the daughter of their former boss, but he hadn’t paid much attention to her.
Just a woman, after all.
He hadn’t bothered dealing with them before because he was preoccupied with the demolition work—there were plenty of troublemakers to handle.
Later, when he found out they had swindled him out of nearly ten million in loans, he was furious but held back.
Now, seeing them for the first time, he regretted it.
He never should have let them gain a foothold in Wushui County.
To assemble such a large, disciplined force in such a short time—this young woman was far more capable than he had imagined.
In fact, she was more formidable than most bosses he had ever encountered.
Liu Yutong let out a light laugh. "Your turf? My apologies, I had no idea. I’m just a legitimate businesswoman. Do I really need your permission to operate wherever I please?"
Niu Ben’s face darkened instantly. "You’ve got some nerve, little girl!"
There was no way he could back down today—not unless he wanted to lose all face in Wushui County.
Those restless troublemakers needed a reminder too, or they’d start thinking Niu Ben had gone soft.
"Get them!" Niu Ben suddenly barked, waving his hand.
His lackeys surged forward, brandishing bats and clubs, their shouts shaking the air.
"Take them down!" Yun Cheng roared, swinging a steel pipe as he charged ahead.
