Chapter 179: Mr. Jin?

Upon hearing the shout from behind, Wang Dalong turned in fury to see who dared to meddle in his affairs.

“Ah, Mr. Jin… Mr. Jin, you’ve arrived.”

But when he turned and recognized the newcomer, his face instantly shifted, as he hurried over with a fawning smile, nodding and bowing profusely.

Internally, he lamented. Mr. Jin was an emerging force in Jinghai City’s underworld, significantly more powerful than Qian Yong, who only held influence in Zhenjiang District.

Wang Dalong didn’t dwell on Mr. Jin’s arrival, assuming Mr. Jin was there to assess the situation, perhaps even to personally avenge Qian Yong. After all, it was Qian Yong who had invited this hotshot of Jinghai City’s underworld to the club.

“Mr. Jin, you’ve arrived. We were just handling a little troublemaker. Rest assured, I’ll sort out this pest immediately.”

At this point, Qian Yong, propped up by others and looking pitiful, also noticed the newcomer. A hint of fear flashed in his eyes as he suppressed his pain to speak respectfully.

Then, glaring at Wang Dalong, Qian Yong snarled, “What are you dawdling for? Grab this little pest now!”

“Yes, Mr. Qian, I’m on it,” Wang Dalong hastily agreed, then turned to Lin Xiao with a venomous command, “Well? What are you waiting for? Take him down!”

“What are you doing? Wang Dalong, he’s with me. You dare?!”

Li Yunxi then stepped out to place Lin Xiao behind her, her face seething with anger as she stared down Wang Dalong.

Watching Li Yunxi shield Lin Xiao, under normal circumstances, Wang Dalong would hesitate to act impulsively. But now, not only was the local tyrant Qian Yong present, but also a formidable underworld figure from Jinghai City was too.

At this moment, his concerns were set aside. Li Yunxi’s family might have a significant influence. They operated within legal constraints, which meant dealing with him would require following certain rules. However, the two individuals behind him were known for their ruthlessness, capable of ousting him from Jinghai City in an instant.

What he overlooked was the mix of fear and gratitude in Mr. Jin’s eyes–a rising power in Jinghai City’s underworld that Wang Dalong thought was beyond his reach–directed at Lin Xiao.

Even if Wang Dalong had noticed, he would likely dismiss it as a mistake, unable to comprehend the significance.

What status did Mr. Jin hold?

He was a king of the underworld. To someone like Qian Yong, just a local bully in Zhenjiang District, Mr. Jin could dismiss him with a mere sentence, and as for Wang Dalong, even more so.

Regarding Lin Xiao, although unaware of his exact identity, Wang Dalong judged from Lin Xiao’s clothes and demeanor that he was merely a laborer, which influenced his decision to target Lin Xiao as a scapegoat.

Naturally, one picks on the seemingly weaker targets.

Unfortunately, he didn’t realize that what appeared to be a soft persimmon might actually be a rock-solid stone when confronted.

“Miss Li, my apologies.” Having made his decision, Wang Dalong respectfully gestured toward Li Yunxi and then signaled the security guards, pointing at Lin Xiao, “Pull Miss Li away and capture this brat. I intend to– Ah…!”

However, before he could finish his sentence, Wang Dalong felt an immense force from behind. A sharp pain hit his back, and he stumbled forward, landing face-first on the ground.

“Your mom’s an animal?!”

“Looking for death?” Wang Dalong, after taking a moment to gather himself from the face-plant, turned around in a fury, eager to see who dared to kick him.

But as soon as he saw who it was, his expression stiffened. Mr. Jin, whom he regarded as way out of his league, was glaring at him with palpable anger, his eyes radiating a frightening killing intent.

“Mr… Mr. Jin, do you… Do you need anything?” Wang Dalong, managing to suppress his anger, awkwardly forced a smile.

He was baffled as to why Mr. Jin would suddenly admonish him.

Regrettably, Mr. Jin didn’t bother with him, instead walking over to Lin Xiao with a look of unease, respectfully greeting, “Big Brother, are you doing well?”

“What?”

Wang Dalong’s mouth hung open in disbelief upon hearing Mr. Jin’s words.

Had he heard correctly?

Mr. Jin, a prominent figure in Jinghai City’s underworld, was addressing a young man as ‘big brother’?

How was this even possible?

Not just Wang Dalong, but even Qian Yong, who was being supported by others, wore a look of disbelief, his voice trembling, “Mr… Mr. Jin… could there be some mistake? This little brat—”

“Are you asking for death?”

Yet before he could finish, Mr. Jin quickly stepped over to him and delivered a slap across his face, resulting in a sharp, resounding smack.

Mr. Jin’s actions unequivocally confirmed to Wang Dalong that he hadn’t misunderstood. The seemingly easy target before him indeed had a connection with Mr. Jin. Moreover, Mr. Jin was even addressing this soft persimmon as his big brother.

Despair filled Wang Dalong’s eyes as he realized he was probably doomed.

Lin Xiao, oblivious to Wang Dalong’s turmoil, and indifferent even if aware, looked at the visibly anxious Mr. Jin with a smirk, saying, “Seems like you’re doing quite well, Old Jin. Now flourishing enough to be called Mr. Jin, huh?”

Indeed, this Mr. Jin, the emerging underworld boss of Jinghai City, was the same Old Jin who had pledged loyalty to Lin Xiao after a confrontation involving Song Tianxing and Wang Lin.

Following Lin Xiao’s decisive action against Wang Lin and his departure from the Starlight Bar, Old Jin used Lin Xiao’s influence to consolidate Wang Lin’s forces, rising as the new underworld overlord of Jinghai City.

Yet, despite being a major force in the expansive city, Old Jin hadn’t yet brought all smaller factions under his sway. His visit to Zhenjiang District aimed to bring Qian Yong, the local strongman, into line.

Unexpectedly, he ran into Lin Xiao here.

Old Jin harbored both gratitude and fear towards Lin Xiao.

Grateful, for without Lin Xiao’s elimination of Wang Lin and the subsequent power vacuum it created, he would likely remain a minor gang leader under Wang Lin’s thumb, rather than the revered Mr. Jin he was today.

The fear was due to Lin Xiao’s prowess, which seemed almost divine or demonic. Old Jin could hardly believe a person could possess such immense strength.

Responding to Lin Xiao’s words, he hastily gestured, “No, no, no, big brother, I’m merely uplifted by friends. In your presence, big brother, I am always your sword. Wherever you command me to go, I’ll always go.”

“Also, big brother, I’ve nearly completed the tasks you assigned. Within my sphere of influence in Jinghai City, no atrocious acts are being committed,” Old Jin added as if it had just come to him.

When consolidating Wang Lin’s forces under Lin Xiao’s influence, Lin Xiao had made it clear that he wouldn’t tolerate any inhumane business activities.

Eager to clear any potential misunderstandings, Old Jin quickly mentioned his compliance.

Lin Xiao acknowledged this with a nod but remained silent.

After dealing with Wang Lin, Lin Xiao recognized that underworld forces and the gray economy were impossible to fully extinguish. Just as white exists alongside black, the fall of one underworld boss merely paves the way for others to rise.

They couldn’t be killed off completely or eradicated

Only through control and regulation can the underworld’s impact be minimized. Hence, he tacitly accepted Old Jin’s use of his influence to unify forces and rise to become the overlord of Jinghai City’s underworld.

Lin Xiao was fully aware of Old Jin’s actions and found them satisfactory. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed Old Jin to retain his position to this day.