The blond man's name was Jin Xiaozhong, but few people called him by his real name; they nicknamed him Golden Lion.
His ferocity in fights was comparable to Black Saber's, but he had always followed the same person, so his reputation within the Green Gang wasn't very high.
However, this didn't affect his confidence in his own strength. Even Third Master, who was solely responsible for training the thugs, had once extended an invitation to him, which was enough to prove his prowess.
Unlike Black Saber, however, he preferred to use his brain rather than his fists. If a problem could be solved with intellect, he wouldn't get his hands dirty. Thus, after leaving Black Saber's stronghold, Golden Lion made a phone call.
"Little San, right? I contacted you before. Help me deliver a message to Huang Bao..."
After finishing the call, Golden Lion's face was etched with a cold smirk.
"Boss, is this really okay? What if the higher-ups find out..."
Golden Lion glared at the subordinate speaking, saying coldly, "If the higher-ups find out, then none of you will live!"
The subordinates immediately trembled, their throats involuntarily sliding.
"Don't worry, as long as you don't leak anything, this matter won't be discovered."
Golden Lion explained briefly, then waved his hand.
"Let's go, we'll go enjoy ourselves first. Within seven days, this stronghold will be mine!"
The group swaggered off to a pleasure house, while Black Saber, inside the stronghold, was filled with anxiety.
Li Chonglou's words had reminded him. Under normal circumstances, Golden Lion wouldn't dare to openly challenge him for the stronghold. After all, as long as Li Meixia didn't agree, he was still protected by Green Gang rules.
But this was not a normal situation!
Every stronghold supervisor had performance requirements. Among other things, the stability standard within their territory was enough to give Black Saber a headache.
Based on past experience, an area couldn't remain above the stability standard for long. Many times, he had to lead his subordinates to resolve underground issues to meet the stability requirements.
But now, he was not only the Bald Commander, but he was also still recovering from serious injuries. Let alone pacifying underground issues, he could barely take care of himself!
Therefore, if Golden Lion invited outsiders to cause trouble in the area at this time, then there would be no need for Li Meixia's approval. The higher-ups would directly replace him!
Even Vice Supervisors and Supervisors could be changed on a whim. He, a mere acting station chief, couldn't be protected by Li Meixia!
"Brother Li, it seems I really have to leave with you this time..."
Black Saber thought of many methods, even considering asking old friends for help, but ultimately rejected them all.
The biggest problem now was that the supervisor position for this area had changed. The only reason he could remain here, protected by Green Gang rules, was because he was personally assigned by Li Meixia. Even if the new supervisor took over, they couldn't arbitrarily replace him without Li Meixia's consent.
But this also presented a problem: the other party was only respecting Li Meixia's face by not replacing him arbitrarily. If he sought help from his old friends at this time, bringing people in to stabilize his position, it would be equivalent to forming factions and opposing the current new supervisor.
This would clearly harm his friends. Having just experienced the life-and-death struggles of his brothers, he couldn't bring himself to do such a thing.
Thus, he could only look at Li Chonglou with a helpless expression.
Brother Li, it's not that I don't want to stay, but reality doesn't allow it!
"Moreover, Brother Li, now that the supervisor has changed, he can replace me anytime he wants. Even if I can keep my position this time, what about next time?"
However, Li Chonglou didn't see it that way.
"You cannot lose your position no matter what. The other party has taken up the supervisor position. A supervisor is not only responsible for one area. This area doesn't necessarily have to be held in their own hands. So, as long as you can stabilize your position now, it won't have any other impact on you in the future."
Black Saber's brow furrowed immediately.
"But as you said, Brother Li, what if he lets people from other gangs come to cause trouble? I can't handle it in my current condition."
What Black Saber mentioned was indeed a big problem. If his strength was still intact, he wouldn't have to worry. But if his strength was still intact, such a problem wouldn't have arisen in the first place, because this supervisor position wouldn't have fallen to someone else.
So, the reality was that there were no "ifs." Li Chonglou, burdened by the curse, was powerless to resolve it even if he wanted to personally intervene.
Was this connection going to be severed just like that?
Li Chonglou frowned, pacing back and forth in the stronghold. Black Saber sighed inwardly, beginning to resent his own weakness, and his inability to help when others needed him.
Just as Black Saber clenched his fists tightly, Li Chonglou's figure suddenly stopped.
"I actually forgot about this!"
"What is it?"
Seeing Li Chonglou's sudden excitement, Black Saber looked at him with confusion.
"It's nothing! This is a minor issue! You wait here, I'll bring Xiaobai to you."
After speaking, Li Chonglou left the stronghold without regard for Black Saber's astonished expression.
Yes, he had finally remembered Xiaobai again!
After returning to Shangjing, because Xiaobai was still asleep, he had rented a house in the suburbs to house it. After all, carrying a sleeping pet around wasn't his style. Not only would it look strange to others, but he himself couldn't accept it.
This was why he had forgotten Xiaobai's existence for a moment.
In the current situation, as long as he handed Xiaobai over to Black Saber, what couldn't be solved? Most importantly, this way he could remain a behind-the-scenes figure. This was truly a perfect choice that killed two birds with one stone!
What Li Chonglou was worried about now was whether Xiaobai had woken up, or when it would wake up.
Li Chonglou had a vague guess about its condition, believing it should be in an evolutionary or growth state. Otherwise, given Xiaobai's monstrous physique, it wouldn't have slept for so long.
Therefore, Li Chonglou had already made up his mind: as long as he could forcibly awaken Xiaobai, he would not hesitate!
As for whether it would affect Xiaobai's subsequent growth and development, Li Chonglou thought that if that were the case, he would just have to go back to Tieling. There was a specialized Sacred Beast training and cultivation base there. Even if it couldn't forcibly increase its upper limit, it could still be repaired.
With full preparation, Li Chonglou soon arrived at the foot of the mountain where his rented house was located.
Wutaoshan, a seemingly ordinary small mountain.