"I don't want to meddle in future matters, but until Young Master Wu arrives, Poyang City is still under my jurisdiction. Zhou Longqi, tell me—what do you plan to do today? If you still intend to subdue the Luohong Gang, I will stop you, and I won't hesitate to utterly suppress you, even expelling you from Poyang City."
Shu Sheng didn't want to dwell on Young Master Wu any longer. Talking further was pointless; the best course was to hold his ground and observe how the situation unfolded.
Zhou Longqi snorted coldly. "Now that you've personally intervened and even broken through to the Star Absorption stage, I won't make any further attempts to bring the Luohong Gang under my control before Young Master Wu arrives. However, the conflict between the Luohong Gang and the Qingshan Gang still stands. Even though I won't be absorbing the Luohong Gang, the Qingshan Gang now answers to me, so I have the right to mediate their disputes."
"You're right," Shu Sheng said with a cold laugh. "That useless pawn Song Lei submitted to you, so you're welcome to manage his affairs. But I've been friends with Hong Feiqiu for many years. While I won't intervene directly in today's matter, I'll be watching closely. If I see any underhanded schemes, don't blame me for taking action."
Although Zhou Longqi claimed he wouldn't take over the Luohong Gang, suppressing them a little would still serve his interests. Shu Sheng couldn't afford to let that happen—it would be tantamount to undermining his own authority.
For both practical and sentimental reasons, Shu Sheng decided to oversee the situation carefully.
Zhou Longqi shrugged indifferently. "I won't stop you from watching, but I suggest you refrain from interfering. If you do, Poyang City will no longer concern me. Let's see how you handle other powers trying to encroach on the city without my help."
"Hmph." Shu Sheng flicked his sleeve and stepped aside, his heart simmering with frustration. Over the years, he had worked to cultivate new powers like the Luohong Gang to balance the city's factions. However, those forces had failed to grow strong enough, with none of their leaders surpassing the Meridian Opening stage Level 5. Without adequate strength, they couldn't develop properly, leaving Shu Sheng little choice but to tolerate the continued presence of factions like the Skull Gang and its ilk—a classic case of raising a tiger that would eventually turn on its master.
Zhou Longqi turned to Song Lei behind him. "Now it's up to you and Hong Feiqiu to settle this matter. Hmph, don't disgrace me."
"Rest assured, Boss Zhou. I won't disappoint you." Song Lei grinned wickedly before stepping forward with a bare-chested brute trailing behind him. "Hong Feiqiu, let's settle the grudge from three days ago right here and now."
Hong Feiqiu took a step forward, his face a mask of disdain. "Song Lei, how do you propose we settle this? With brute force? Your strength barely reaches Meridian Opening Level 5. No matter how tough your body is, you're no match for me."
"I'm not here to compete in strength today," Song Lei replied. "Both of our factions operate gambling dens, and we have many skilled gamblers under our roofs. Let's each choose one gambler to represent us, and let their match decide the outcome. If you win, I won't bring up the Star Crystal you took from me again, and I'll also transfer five inns and a gambling den on Changsheng Street to your control. But if I win, you'll hand over five inns and a gambling den from this street and compensate me with 100 high-grade Star Crystals. Do you dare to take the bet?"
Hong Feiqiu narrowed his eyes. The gambling skills of the Qingshan Gang were infamous throughout Poyang City, and few could best them. While the Luohong Gang's gamblers weren't bad, they were clearly a notch below those of the Qingshan Gang.