Chapter 358: The Alliance

West City District, Deep Sea Resort.

This resort was an asset of the Mad Fang Gang. Although it appeared to be a typical resort on the surface, it was not open to the public. Instead, it served as the gang’s private venue for entertainment, gatherings, and meetings.

At this moment, the resort was bustling with activity.

Men in black suits stood guard at every entrance, their hands clasped behind their backs, standing with rigid posture. Each of them carried a pistol at their waist. Beyond the stationed guards, several others patrolled the area, their sharp movements exuding a sense of discipline and lethality.

These men were the elite members of the Mad Fang Gang, the Scarlet Tiger Gang, and the Green River Gang. Under the immense pressure brought by Lin Xiao, the three gangs had secretly formed an alliance, swearing to deal with him.

Even if they couldn’t eliminate him, they had to make him retreat, ensuring that he would no longer dare to interfere in the affairs of the underground world.

Inside the resort’s grand hall, the heads of the three major gangs were all present.

Since the former leader of the Mad Fang Gang, Fu Lei, had announced his retirement and completely withdrawn from gang affairs, leadership naturally fell to his successor. However, with his son, Fu Ying, incapable of taking charge, the position of gang leader instead passed to the former second-in-command, Hao Lifeng.

Hao Lifeng was a middle-aged man in his forties, lean in stature, with a scholarly appearance. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and a silk tunic, looking nothing like the head of a criminal syndicate—he resembled an intellectual more than anything.

Seated to his left and right were the leaders of the Scarlet Tiger Gang, Cheng Pingyang, and the Green River Gang, Ma Qingye.

Ma Qingye was nearly 1.9 meters tall, built like a bear. Even seated, he was half a head taller than everyone else. He wore a black suit with an open chest, revealing his broad, muscular torso.

Ever since Lin Xiao had crushed his beloved iron spheres, Ma Qingye had learned his lesson. He had replaced them with two slightly smaller steel balls, each twice as hard as his previous pair. He was currently toying with them in his hands.

Cheng Pingyang, in contrast, had an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were chillingly ruthless. At a glance, it was evident that he was a cold-blooded and merciless individual—someone who had taken lives without hesitation.

In truth, anyone who managed to climb to the position of gang leader had blood on their hands.

Cheng Pingyang had not personally witnessed Lin Xiao’s strength. During the underground tournament in Zhenjiang District, he had been absent. Naturally, he had no firsthand experience of Lin Xiao’s capabilities.

Although he had agreed to the alliance with the Mad Fang Gang and the Green River Gang under the advice of his subordinates, deep down, he remained unconvinced. He had no fear of Lin Xiao.

“Boss Hao, Boss Ma, aren’t you two blowing this out of proportion? He’s just a martial artist. Do we really need to go to such lengths?”

Cheng Pingyang sat casually on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other, his tone laced with disdain. “No matter how fast he is, can he be faster than a bullet? No matter how strong he is, can his body withstand gunfire and explosives?”

Hao Lifeng nodded slightly, though whether he agreed or simply acknowledged the statement was unclear.

The truth was, Hao Lifeng had never seen Lin Xiao in action. Everything he knew about him came from Fu Lei.

After being threatened by Lin Xiao, Fu Lei had lost all hope. Upon returning to the Mad Fang Gang, he had promptly stepped down, leaving the entire gang in Hao Lifeng’s hands, even relinquishing more than half of its assets.

The first thing Hao Lifeng did after taking over was seek out Cheng Pingyang and Ma Qingye, proposing that the three gangs unite against their common enemy.

To them, Lin Xiao was a sword hanging over their heads. Unless he was eliminated, they would never have peace.

Thus, the three leaders reached an agreement. After meticulous planning, they arranged this Hongmen Banquet, waiting to see if Lin Xiao would dare to attend.

If he came, then everything would be decided by strength—whoever had the bigger fist would dictate the outcome. If he refused, then it would prove he was afraid. And if that were the case, what was there for them to worry about?

“Boss Cheng, you haven’t witnessed Lin Xiao’s abilities firsthand, which is why you’re saying this.” Ma Qingye’s gaze was dark, the steel spheres in his hands clinking as he rolled them around. “To be honest, even with all these preparations, I still feel uneasy. Boss Hao, when will our guest arrive? Are you sure he can handle Lin Xiao?”

Hao Lifeng picked up his teacup, took a leisurely sip, and said, “Boss Ma, rest assured. The person I invited is a true master, far beyond any ordinary martial artist. If you doubt me, you’ll have the chance to see for yourself soon.”

“I hope so. If we fail today, there will be no place left for us in Jiangnan.”

Ma Qingye was a man of ambition, a warlord in his own right. But at this moment, his spirit was noticeably subdued. Lin Xiao’s dominance had left a deep impression on him. “If we can truly get rid of Lin Xiao or at least force him to retreat, then even a price of ten million each would be worth it.”

To invite Hao Lifeng’s so-called master, each of the three gangs had contributed ten million yuan.

Even though they were well-funded, handing over such a large sum in one go still stung.

Just as Hao Lifeng was about to continue, he caught something in his peripheral vision. A group of people had just entered through the resort’s main gate. His eyes lit up, and he abruptly stood from the sofa, rushing out excitedly.

Ma Qingye and Cheng Pingyang exchanged glances before following behind.

“Master Lei, you’ve arrived!”

Hao Lifeng greeted the man at the front of the group with an ingratiating smile, extending both hands in welcome.

The man, addressed as Master Lei, was neither tall nor short, neither thin nor fat. His eyes were sharp, his posture steady. He wore a loose white tunic, and every step he took was measured and precise, as if calibrated to perfection. It was a clear sign of formidable body control.

Behind him stood a young man and a woman.

The young man was tall and strikingly handsome, his gaze sharp as a blade, as if he could pierce through someone with just a look.

The young woman was beautiful, appearing around twenty years old. She carried a sheathed longsword on her back, her lips curving into a soft smile, but deep within her eyes, an icy coldness lingered.

Master Lei ignored Hao Lifeng’s outstretched hands, merely offering a polite nod before clasping his hands in greeting. “Mr. Hao, a pleasure.”

Hao Lifeng’s hands hung awkwardly in the air for a second before he smoothly retracted them, mimicking Master Lei’s greeting. “Master Lei, we have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Please, come inside.”

Without unnecessary chatter, Master Lei followed Hao Lifeng into the grand hall. He took a seat, while the young man and woman behind him remained standing.

From the moment Master Lei had appeared, Ma Qingye and Cheng Pingyang had been silently observing him.

Yet no matter how they looked, they couldn’t gauge his depth.

One thought echoed in both their minds.

Unfathomable!

“Master Lei, allow me to introduce you.” Hao Lifeng gestured to the other two men. “This is Cheng Pingyang, and this is Ma Qingye, the leaders of the Scarlet Tiger Gang and the Green River Gang.”

Then, he turned to Ma Qingye and Cheng Pingyang. “Boss Cheng, Boss Ma, this is Master Lei Qianting, a top-tier expert I specifically invited from the capital. His martial skills are extraordinary, renowned even in the highest circles of Beijing.”

Cheng Pingyang and Ma Qingye both cupped their hands in respect. “Master Lei, we have long heard of your great name. It’s an honor to meet you.”