Chapter Forty-Four: The Three Tigers of the Southern City

Chapter Forty-Four: The Three Tigers of the Southern City

With nearly thirty free laborers at work, the pace was astonishingly fast. By the end of the day, these local toughs—already battered from previous beatings—had lost all their usual swagger. Not a drop of water or a grain of rice had passed their lips since morning; the gnawing hunger was a torment that wore them down.

Guoguo finished school early that afternoon. On her first day, Qiu Yan spent the entire time secretly watching over her—though Guoguo was blissfully unaware.

“Daddy, who are these unlucky souls?” Guoguo asked the moment she walked into the medicinal cuisine restaurant, immediately sensing something was off about the group.

“They beat up our renovation workers yesterday. Today they’ve come to atone,” Xu Yun replied, scooping Guoguo into his arms with a smile. “How was school today? Were you good? Did Miss Su say she missed us?”

Guoguo nodded solemnly. “Of course! Not only was I good, I helped you flirt with Miss Su!”

Oh, for heaven’s sake!

Xu Yun nearly wanted to bang his head against the wall—he hadn’t even made his move, and it seemed Guoguo had already sabotaged him.

“What do you plan to do with these people?” Qiu Yan suddenly asked.

Xu Yun shook his head. “Still figuring it out. If we let them go, they might tip someone off. But there’s really nowhere to keep them here.”

“I’ll handle it,” Qiu Yan said, turning to make a few calls.

In less than half an hour, three cars pulled up outside the restaurant: a Land Rover Freelander, a Jeep Wrangler, and an Audi Q5—all rugged SUVs costing well over 400,000 to 500,000 yuan.

Out of the vehicles stepped three burly men with fierce looks, the kind who would make most people step aside. Yet in front of Qiu Yan, every one of them was nothing but respectful.

Xu Yun couldn’t help but smile. He’d suspected that Qiu Yan hadn’t spent last night idly. For Guoguo’s safety, she’d begun to intervene in the criminal underworld of Hedong South District, and apparently with considerable results.

“Holy crap…” Qiangzi’s jaw practically hit the floor. These men, though not as infamous as the bosses of the Blade Axe Society or the Four Wolves Gang, were certainly not people to trifle with. “Kong Zhong, Lu Feng, Shan Hongning… The Three Tigers of the Southern City! Heavyweights in the city’s second southern district…”

The Three Tigers was the nickname for Kong Zhong, Lu Feng, and Shan Hongning. Each was formidable in his own right: in high school, each had ruled a different school in Hedong. After dropping out, none wasted time—Kong Zhong started a lucrative quarry business, Lu Feng seized opportunities in urban redevelopment to form a construction crew, and Shan Hongning, backed by family wealth, opened a profitable hotpot restaurant.

Their businesses thrived, but they all had a foot in the shadows—these days, if you didn’t have a few brothers backing you up, you’d get trampled in any trade. The fact that these men had made it this far meant they were not to be underestimated.

Xu Yun didn’t know them personally, but from their cars alone, he could tell they were leagues ahead of Qiangzi.

Qiu Yan, uncomfortable dealing directly with them, simply pointed at Xu Yun. “Do whatever he says.”

With that, she took Guoguo upstairs.

Guoguo, uninterested in the adult commotion, scampered up the stairs with her little backpack. She’d missed her mother all day and wondered if her mother missed her too.

…

Xu Yun watched with a smile as the three so-called heavyweights approached, each looking rather subdued.

“Brother, just tell us what you need,” said Kong Zhong, sizing Xu Yun up. Aside from being a bit more handsome, this guy seemed inferior in every other way. Still, Kong Zhong kept a cautious, polite smile. “Yan has given us instructions—whatever you need, just say the word.”

Shan Hongning frowned at Xu Yun. He was not one to put on a pleasant face. His impatience was evident. “Let’s get this over with. What do you want with us? I’m busy.”

Of the three, Lu Feng showed Xu Yun the least respect. He was wary of Qiu Yan, not this ragged-looking kid. “What are you grinning at, punk? If Yan hadn’t called, I wouldn’t be here…”

“Watch your mouth!” Qiangzi flared up. These men might have bigger reputations, but with Brother Yun backing him, he feared nothing.

“Who the hell are you to talk to me like that?” Lu Feng didn’t even look at Qiangzi. “Come talk big when you’ve grown some wings!”

Kong Zhong cleared his throat, a reminder to Lu Feng that Qiu Yan was still upstairs.

Shan Hongning patted Lu Feng on the shoulder and whispered, “Let’s just get through this.”

Xu Yun was amused. These men clearly only respected Qiu Yan. He was curious what Qiu Yan had done to them the night before. Still, she was a classic warrior—good at killing but not at commanding. Xu Yun decided to have them follow Sister Shuang instead.

“Heh, let’s not make it hard. We’re all just trying to make a living,” Kong Zhong tried to smooth things over, pulling out a pack of Su cigarettes. He offered one first to Shan Hongning and Lu Feng, then extended the pack to Xu Yun and Qiangzi.

Xu Yun waved it away. “I don’t smoke.”

Qiangzi, however, accepted eagerly. Those cost a fortune per stick!

Just as Qiangzi lit up, Xu Yun pointed at him and said to the three toughs, “Since we’re all just trying to get by, from now on, you’ll all work under him.”

A hush fell over the room. The three men, each with considerable standing in the southern part of Hedong, stared at the impudent young man.

Qiangzi was dumbfounded, dropping his lit cigarette on the floor. “Bro, you… you want me to be the boss?”

Xu Yun poked Qiangzi’s head. “Boss, my foot! Your boss is me, my boss is Guoguo, and Guoguo’s boss is Sister Shuang. Now, who’s the boss?”

“Sister Shuang!” Qiangzi nodded vigorously.

“Brother, we don’t have time for jokes,” Shan Hongning said, veins bulging on his neck. If not for the formidable woman upstairs who’d single-handedly taken out four of his best men, he’d have lost his temper by now.

Lu Feng was already impatient; only Kong Zhong’s restraint kept him in check.

Xu Yun didn’t bother arguing. If Qiu Yan could subdue them, so could he. He waved at Qiangzi. “Bring out that bastard and his men.”

“Right!” Qiangzi immediately ordered Xiao Fei to line up the battered laborers, while he himself dragged the half-dead Wei Weiming out like a sack of potatoes.

With a thud, Wei Weiming was dumped before the group.

Because Wei Weiming’s face was so swollen and bloodied, Lu Feng and Shan Hongning didn’t recognize him at first. Not until Kong Zhong exclaimed, “Wei Weiming?!”

Shan Hongning’s expression changed instantly. This was bold—someone had dared to beat Fan Nanjie’s man to such a state?!

Even Lu Feng was speechless. He hadn’t taken this young man seriously, but now it seemed he’d been wrong. Clearly, this guy didn’t care about them at all—he didn’t even care about the Blade Axe Society’s Wei Weiming. Was he dead?

“My request is simple. Find somewhere to keep these people locked up, and bring them back here first thing tomorrow to keep working,” Xu Yun said with a chilly smile. In Wei Weiming’s eyes and those of his men, he was a devil; even his smile was terrifying.

Kong Zhong swallowed hard. This guy was asking them to imprison members of the Blade Axe Society? That was openly making an enemy of Fan Nanjie, who now enjoyed the backing of major bosses from other districts. To cross him was to cut off any future prospects!

Lu Feng wanted to ask if this kid even understood the danger he was courting, but the words wouldn’t come out.

Finally, Shan Hongning couldn’t hold back. “Do you even know whom you’re offending?”

“What’s his name again?” Xu Yun genuinely couldn’t recall, turning to Qiangzi.

Qiangzi’s mouth twitched—he always felt uneasy mentioning the name. “Fan Nanjie.”

“Oh, right!” Xu Yun nodded. “The one your Brother Qiang mentioned.”

Brother Qiang? Lu Feng sneered inwardly. “You want to die, be my guest, but don’t drag us into it! Do you have any idea who Fan Nanjie is?”

“So, you’re refusing to do as I say?” A cold light flashed in Xu Yun’s eyes, and a chilling, murderous aura burst from within, striking Shan Hongning like a bolt of lightning.

Lu Feng was completely cowed by the overwhelming killing intent—a bone-deep chill crept up from the depths of his soul, crushing him with dread. This man hadn’t even moved, yet his aura alone had utterly defeated them!

Was he man or demon?

Lu Feng’s legs buckled, barely keeping him upright. Xu Yun’s deadly presence shattered Shan Hongning’s fragile resolve and sent cold sweat pouring down both Shan Hongning and Kong Zhong’s faces, soaking their backs.

Qiu Yan descended the stairs without glancing at the three men, took a bottle of mineral water from the fridge, and calmly returned upstairs. At the stairwell corner, her icy gaze swept over them—a warning from above.

Kong Zhong and Shan Hongning finally admitted defeat. Who would have thought this humble restaurant hid such dragons and tigers?

“Brother Yun, from now on, your word is law!” Kong Zhong was the first to make the wise choice. “I’ll follow you from here on out. Just say the word.”

Shan Hongning, though reluctant, was unnerved by Qiu Yan’s cold glare. “I’ll go through hell or high water—whatever you need, I won’t complain.”

“I’m willing to follow Brother Yun,” Lu Feng added, thoroughly subdued by Xu Yun’s killing intent. Xu Yun exuded a mysterious, terrifying aura.

Xu Yun grinned. “We’re all just making a living under Sister Shuang. No need to be so formal.”

Suddenly, footsteps sounded from the stairs.

Guoguo, still confused, dragged Ruan Qingshuang to the landing, boasting as if she ruled the world. “Do you know who this is?”

Everyone stared in astonishment.

Qiangzi raised his hands in reverence. “Take a good look—this is Sister Shuang, our future boss!”

Ruan Qingshuang frowned. “Qiang, are you out of your mind? What nonsense are you spouting?” She scooped Guoguo into her arms. “Little ones shouldn’t meddle in adult affairs. Come on, let’s go to our room. You haven’t told me what homework Miss Su assigned today!”