"Little Yang is putting you on the spot? Master, at worst, you can just hand Xiang Nan over. Does Little Yang really dare to demand five million from you?"
Ah Bao clearly didn't understand his master's meaning.
"Ah Bao, this isn't about five million. I told Little Yang that he's in charge of what happens inside the casino, and I'll handle things outside. He's trying to escalate this to test my strength.
If I don't stand with him and choose to concede to the Xiang family, it will break the hearts of my brothers and damage my reputation in the underworld.
But if I go along with his demands and force the Xiang family to pay five million, not only will we offend the Xiang family completely, but we might also incur the wrath of the Xin Lian Gang, as Xiang Fei is an elder of the Xin Lian Gang."
Bai Zheng's Xin Yi Gang and the Xin Lian Gang were both established triad forces in Hong Kong, each with their own territories. While they competed, they also had dealings.
After all, this is no longer the era of constant fighting. Gang influence has permeated every aspect of business. You are in me, and I am in you. If you completely offend the other party, you will face attacks from all sides, especially economic attacks, which are impossible to guard against.
Ah Bao finally understood his master's predicament. This was truly a no-win situation.
As the master and disciple were considering their options, the light above the operating room door turned on, and Meng Meiyun was wheeled out.
The two quickly followed her into a ward in the inpatient department. Seeing that Meng Meiyun had woken up, Bai Zheng asked Ah Bao and the others to wait outside.
"Xiao Yun, how are you?"
Bai Zheng shed his persona of a doting father in public, his face filled with tenderness and concern, even a touch of fawning.
Meng Meiyun did not reply. Her eyes were fixed on the ceiling, and tears welled up, falling onto the pillow.
"Xiao Yun, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were pregnant. Otherwise, I would never have let you go to work at the casino."
"There's nothing to be sorry about. The child was an accident. I didn't even know I was pregnant. Even if I had, I would have had it aborted."
Meng Meiyun finally spoke. The pregnancy was an unexpected event for her. She had never thought of having a child with Bai Zheng.
Despite Bai Zheng's current tenderness towards her, their relationship was simple: Bai Zheng coveted her beauty and body, while she relied on Bai Zheng to obtain immense wealth.
Bai Zheng looked heartbroken. "If I had known you were pregnant, I would never have allowed you to abort it. This is my child."
"Forget it. There's no point in saying these things now. The child is gone. I just want to know how you're going to deal with the scumbag who hurt me?"
Since childhood, she, Meng Meiyun, had never been so brutally beaten. The loss of her child was painful, as it was a piece of her own flesh. Therefore, she harbored intense hatred for that scumbag. If she had had a knife at the time, she would have killed him.
"That person has been apprehended by Little Yang and is being severely beaten. Don't worry, I will definitely give you an explanation for this."
"Was I sent here by Little Yang?"
"Yes, Little Yang brought you here before calling me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known such a major incident had occurred."
Just as Bai Zheng finished speaking, his phone rang. Seeing that it was a call from Hong Kong, he quickly walked out of the ward and went to a deserted spot on the staircase to answer the phone.
"Hello, Brother Song. What are your instructions?"
"Xiao Bai, did you detain Xiang Fei's eldest son, Xiang Nan?"
The voice on the other end was that of Chen Song, an elder of the Xin Yi Gang.
"Brother Song, you found out so quickly? I was just agonizing over this matter."
"Xiang Fei himself called me, saying his son was being held by you and asked me to put in a word to have his son released. I don't know the situation yet."
"This Xiang Nan is too arrogant. He openly molested and assaulted my goddaughter in the casino and was subdued by the casino security."
Bai Zheng briefly explained the incident.
"This is indeed Xiang Nan's fault. I've met both of Xiang Fei's sons. The elder, Xiang Nan, is arrogant and overbearing, a complete spoiled rich kid. The younger, Xiang Bei, is academically gifted and has shown promise in the entertainment industry since he was a teenager.
Since your people also beat Xiang Nan, let's consider this matter settled. Give Xiang Fei some face and let him take his son home. I heard he's already on his way to Dongjiang."
"Brother Song, this matter is not that simple. Xiang Nan is not in my hands right now. He is being held by Yang Wu. Yang Wu personally called Xiang Fei and demanded five million for his release."
"Yang Wu? Isn't that your junior brother's friend?"
"Yes, he's my junior brother's representative and a shareholder of the casino. He is fully responsible for the casino's security."
"So what if he's a shareholder? You can't control him?"
"Brother Song, Yang Wu is young but stubborn and ruthless. He was wanted in Hancheng for running the largest casino there, and in Dongjiang, he almost single-handedly wiped out the entire Yu Nan Gang.
It's precisely because of this that I entrusted him with the casino's security and promised him full authority over any incidents within the casino, without interference.
Therefore, this time he is determined to make an example of Xiang Nan. The reason for demanding five million is that Xiang Nan injured a brother he brought from his hometown. My goddaughter is also his classmate and was beaten by Xiang Nan, causing a miscarriage. She is now lying in the hospital.
Under these circumstances, if I release Xiang Nan, wouldn't that be a slap in my own face? My goddaughter was assaulted in my own territory, and I'm expected to forgive the perpetrator? If this gets out, then I, Bai Zheng, will have no face to operate in the Dongjiang underworld."
"Hmm, what you're saying makes sense. Releasing Xiang Nan so easily would indeed be bad for your reputation. However, Yang Wu's demand of five million is excessive, and we can't afford to offend Xiang Fei. Have you thought of a solution? He'll be in Dongjiang soon."
"That's why I'm in a bind right now. Yang Wu is a stubborn fellow, and he's a partner, not one of my subordinates. It's really difficult for me to order him to release the person or reduce the ransom."
"This Yang Wu has some character. I actually admire him. How about this, let Yang Wu handle the negotiation with Xiang Fei directly? I'll say you're abroad and unreachable on a plane."
Bai Zheng was taken aback. "Wouldn't that be inappropriate? Yang Wu is ruthless and wouldn't show respect even to the leader of the Xin Lian Gang. If he meets Xiang Fei, he'll likely have a bad attitude. If the negotiation breaks down, he might even dare to attack Xiang Fei."
"Damn, he's that formidable? Is his martial arts skill very high?"
"I heard from my junior brother that his hand-to-hand combat skills aren't particularly outstanding. If it were a one-on-one fight, Xiang Nan's bodyguard could handle him. However, he has studied martial arts since childhood and applies traditional knife techniques to his extendable baton. Coupled with his ruthless style and extensive combat experience, few people can withstand his attacks.
My junior brother's several disciples have received his guidance, and their combat effectiveness is also terrifying. In the latter half of last year, the four of them joined forces and routed over two hundred people from the Yu Nan Gang, all while emerging unscathed and even kidnapping their leader, Chen Kai."
"Holy hell, this Yang Wu is a talented individual! Do as I say and let him handle this. As for Xiang Fei, he should pay a price. After all, it was his son who trashed our turf. If we don't teach him a lesson, he'll think our Xin Yi Gang has backed down."
"What if this escalates the situation?"
"It's no big deal. If Xiang Fei dares to retaliate afterward, I will personally step in to rein him in."
Chen Song knew that Bai Zheng was in the mainland and had too many concerns. Otherwise, with his temperament and strength, he wouldn't have given Xiang Fei any face. At this juncture, the gang had to support him.