Though Seventh Uncle found the $100,000 increasingly unpleasant to look at, he wasn't about to turn it down. After all, refusing money offered to a gang would be unheard of.
"Yes," the burly man known as Xiao Li responded, stepping forward to pick up the bag of money. With a firm grip, he hoisted it over his shoulder and quickly returned to Seventh Uncle's side, following him out of Eren's three-story home.
The sound of the heavy front door slamming shut echoed as Xiao Yang strode ahead to open the car door for Seventh Uncle, respectfully helping him into the vehicle.
Once inside, Xiao Li, still holding the money, couldn't help but ask, "Seventh Uncle, why are we leaving just like that? $100,000 to settle this matter? Isn't that way too cheap? Yuan Li and the others died for practically nothing!"
"And that kid! He's just spouting nonsense—claiming Yuan Li and the others were killed by a cursed artifact left by a demon? What kind of fairytale is that? There's no such thing as demons in this world!"
Before Xiao Li could continue, Seventh Uncle, who had closed his eyes as if to rest, spoke in a low, eerie voice, "Are you so certain there aren't?"
"Uh…"
Xiao Li's mind went blank, a metaphorical question mark forming over his head.
What does that mean? Could demons actually exist?
Without letting Xiao Li dwell on his confusion, Seventh Uncle began recounting, his tone tinged with recollection.
"When I was younger, during Zhongyi Hall's heyday, we tried to expand beyond New York and establish Chinatown in other states. I was sent to Texas. There, we encountered a demon—a real one."
"Knives, swords, even guns—they were useless against it."
"Of the seventy or eighty men we sent, only three of us survived. I was among the lucky few. If it weren't for the legendary Ghost Rider of Texas appearing and burning that demon with hellfire, none of us would have lived to tell the tale."
"After that incident, Zhongyi Hall declared Texas off-limits. No one has dared set foot there since…"
The car grew eerily quiet as Xiao Yang, Xiao Li, and even the driver listened in stunned silence.
"There are really demons in this world?"
Had it been anyone other than Seventh Uncle—a man they deeply respected—they would have dismissed the story outright.
Xiao Yang suddenly had a realization.
"Seventh Uncle, does this mean leaving with the $100,000 has something to do with that?"
Seventh Uncle gave Xiao Yang an approving glance before nodding slightly. "That kid isn't as simple as he appears. How does he know things the police don't? And why was he able to enter the sealed-off Morningstar Bar multiple times?"
"Until we figure out what he's hiding, we can't act recklessly."
"Besides, he shared the truth about Yuan Li and the others with us. Zhongyi Hall owes him for that."
With that, Seventh Uncle closed his eyes again, lost in deep thought.
No one in Zhongyi Hall understood the terror of demons better than he did.
That's why he believed Eren's claim about Yuan Li and the others falling victim to a cursed artifact left behind by a demon.
"The Water Ghost Gang's territory… Why would something like that appear there? Could they be connected to demons somehow?"
Initially, Seventh Uncle had intended to capitalize on the chaos within the Water Ghost Gang, hoping to absorb some of their operations to offset Zhongyi Hall's losses.
But now, learning that the Water Ghost Gang was entangled with something as dangerous as a demon's cursed artifact, he couldn't help but reconsider.
What if more of those cursed artifacts are hidden within their ranks?
Seventh Uncle had no desire to see Zhongyi Hall destroyed from within by something as deadly as what had devastated the Water Ghost Gang.
Better to prioritize safety. We'll leave the Water Ghost Gang's mess alone.
Meanwhile, back at Eren's house, he stood by the window, watching the convoy fade into the distance.
"Zhongyi Hall… Uncle Yuan…"
Eren sighed deeply, his thoughts drifting to Yuan Li's past.
Yuan Li had been a bachelor. Though once married, his wife had left him, tired of living a life filled with fear and uncertainty due to his gang affiliations. The divorce court had granted her full custody of their daughter, believing a father with ties to the underworld couldn't provide a stable childhood.
Despite their separation, Yuan Li had continued to support his ex-wife and daughter financially, sending them money every month.
Now that Yuan Li was gone, what would happen to them?
"I think they still live in Chinatown. I should visit them when I have the chance," Eren muttered to himself.
If not for Yuan Li's willingness to help, he wouldn't have gone to that cursed Morningstar Bar. And if not for that, Yuan Li might still be alive.
Eren couldn't ignore the plight of Yuan Li's daughter, especially not after everything Yuan Li had done for him.
As night fell and the city lights flickered to life, Eren finished his meditation session. Stretching his legs, he massaged his slightly numb limbs before picking up the teacup by his side and taking a sip of water.
This time, his meditation wasn't focused on the "Cosmic Brain Visualization" technique but rather on the method tied to the Seer potion.
Though less profound and powerful than the "Cosmic Brain" technique, the Seer's meditation method was excellent for alleviating mental fatigue and sharpening focus. It provided a slight boost to Eren's attention and memory in a short time.
After drinking his water, Eren leaned against the headboard, grabbed a book on divination he had purchased earlier that day, and began reading under the soft glow of his bedside lamp.
(End of Chapter)
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