As Luo Qiyun was about to enter, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.
Turning around, she saw Xu Peiyu had called Cheng Minglang, who was boiling medicine in the shared kitchen, over!
This scene immediately warmed my heart.
The reason I wanted to win over Xu Peiyu to join my team was her exceptionally high intelligence.
Although she hadn't participated in the previous two operations, she had interacted with Luo Qiyun while following Xianyu around.
So she knew very well who Luo Qiyun was.
As the saying goes: one doesn't strike a smiling face!
To be honest, in the current situation, if it were any other woman, they would either let the person in out of respect for the gift, or they would drive them away with arguments and scolding.
And these two options are what the vast majority of women would choose.
But Xu Peiyu directly delivered an exemplary, exceptional answer.
She knew that since Luo Qiyun dared to come find me at this critical juncture, she must have something to discuss.
And she couldn't guarantee my safety, so she decisively chose to call for backup.
...
After putting down the things in her hand, Luo Qiyun looked at me as if I were invisible and said, "Can we talk?"
Hearing this, I replied with a cold face, "You almost got me twice, what do you think we can talk about?"
"Heh heh!" After a noncommittal laugh, Luo Qiyun said meaningfully, "The old saying goes that we get to know each other through conflict!"
"I hit you twice, and you hit me back twice, so aren't we even? What can't we talk about?"
Lifting my slightly heavy arm and swinging it a couple of times, I frowned and said in a deep voice, "You hit me, that's true! But who I hit... was your subordinate!"
"You're unharmed, and I'm severely injured and bedridden, is this called even!?"
Seemingly realizing she had spoken out of turn, Luo Qiyun suddenly changed the subject and said, "Do you know that after last night, more than half of the underground casino bosses in Wenzhou are looking for you?"
Hearing Luo Qiyun's words, Cheng Minglang and Xu Peiyu at the door both froze slightly.
Although I was also very surprised, to test Luo Qiyun's intentions, I still pretended to be unfazed and said, "Is that so? Since you can find your way here, it means you've put in quite some effort."
"I am seriously injured and cannot move. You can easily expose my whereabouts here, there's no need to come all the way to tell me."
Seeing my consistently cold and sarcastic responses, Luo Qiyun's face immediately fell.
"I came here to sell you a great favor, to resolve our past grievances!"
Hearing this, I immediately laughed, "Heh heh! You want to resolve grievances that almost cost me my life twice with just one favor? Forgive my rudeness... you're dreaming!"
Hearing this, Luo Qiyun replied excitedly, "But you're alive and well now, aren't you? And both times, I didn't really intend to kill you!"
"Otherwise, do you really think you could have survived twice by just risking your life in one go?"
This time, I didn't reply, but coldly watched Luo Qiyun.
After about two or three minutes.
After lighting a cigarette and taking a puff, Luo Qiyun calmed herself and said, "Chen Xiang, please understand one thing!"
"I'm not here today to argue with you, but to discuss cooperation with you with utmost sincerity!"
"To put it plainly, ever since you defeated Xiang Tianhua, I've been investigating you in secret."
"I know that when Duan Kun went to Ruichi to stir up trouble, you were the one who went to rescue the situation."
"As the saying goes, a thousand pieces of gold are easily obtained, but a general is hard to find."
"You've challenged Baoli's establishment twice. On the surface, it made Yu Youwei lose face, but who was behind it doesn't need me to say, right?"
"After the gambling match ended last night, Yu Youwei has mobilized all his connections to prepare to have you sunk in Wenzhou Port!"
"I've come today to tell you that if you still plan to operate in Wenzhou, staying at Ruichi is a dead end!"
"A good bird chooses its tree to perch in, a wise minister chooses his lord to serve."
"Yun Jin cannot protect you. If you are willing to join us, I can guarantee... no one in Wenzhou will dare to touch you!"
Ignoring Luo Qiyun's words, I directly asked, "Us? Are you one of Ying Baolin's people?"
I had expected Luo Qiyun to deny it, or perhaps quibble, but I never imagined...
As soon as I mentioned Ying Baolin's name, Luo Qiyun's eyes immediately became intensely bright, like a devout believer, and she replied with a face full of piety, "That's right!"
"Ever since I was abandoned by Yun Jin, I have defected to Boss Ying's command!"
"I have to admit, this is the most correct decision I've ever made in my life!"
"Boss Ying has great ambitions. Unifying the underground casinos of Wenzhou is just a part of his grand blueprint."
"Before long, all the underground casinos in the south will be under Boss Ying's control!"
"Chen Xiang, I believe your abilities are even greater than mine. As long as you are willing to join us, I can recommend you to Boss Ying."
"You'll have luxury cars, beautiful women, and endless gold and jewels!"
"It's even possible that you might have the chance to directly replace Xiang Tianhua and become one of Boss Ying's Twelve Dark Lanterns, just like me!"
Regarding Luo Qiyun's identity, I didn't even need to investigate to guess some of it.
There has never been a Dark Lantern who dared to overrule the boss and publicly announce the closure of a casino, that's one thing.
Secondly, losing ten million in two gambling matches, plus several million spent on arranging people to do things.
Not only did the job not get done, but Luo Qiyun was always unharmed, which was a bit too much.
Therefore, as soon as I saw Luo Qiyun at my door today, I guessed that she was likely one of Ying Baolin's people!
Although I haven't met Ying Baolin, the uncrowned king of Wenzhou's underground casinos, up to now, I have to admit that his way of managing people... is a bit like a drug cartel leader.
It seems that to absorb these casinos, big and small, Ying Baolin has likely been planning and strategizing for a long time.
If nothing unexpected happens, Ying Baolin must have cultivated a large number of Dark Lanterns over the years and deployed them to casinos outside.
It's just that I'm not sure what methods these Dark Lanterns used to make casino bosses so obedient to Ying Baolin!
After all, there isn't a single casino owner operating in the private sector who doesn't have some background.
Coercion wouldn't work at all.
As for temptation, how much profit would it take to be effective?
Seeing that I remained silent, Luo Qiyun assumed I was considering it and didn't rush me.
It wasn't until a quarter of an hour later...
"How about it, Chen Xiang? Have you made up your mind?"
Hearing this, I replied coldly, "Whether you're looking for cooperation or asking me to switch allegiance, please pick up your things and turn right at the door! Thank you!"