Qiao Long’s gaze fell upon Song Wenting, his eyes shamelessly roaming over her.
A smirk played on his lips. "Well, well, isn't this Boss Song? I didn't expect to see you after so long. You've only gotten more beautiful. If I could spend a night with you, even if it meant losing a few years of my life, I'd gladly do it."
Song Wenting’s face darkened, and she glared at Qiao Long with fury.
"Hey, Boss, you know I always speak my mind. You won't take offense, will you?" Qiao Long shifted his gaze to the masked man.
Hidden by the mask, the masked man's emotions were impossible to discern.
He took a few steps forward and sat on the chair before them. Chen Fan and Song Wenting stood on either side of him.
However, as Chen Fan glanced at the bodyguards behind Qiao Long, his brow furrowed slightly. He noticed that all of them had weapons tucked into the small of their backs.
Chen Fan was perplexed. Qiao Long clearly addressed the masked man as "Boss," yet he didn't exhibit the same apprehension or fear that Gui Shou and the others showed towards the masked man.
"It seems you've forgotten who you are over the years," the masked man finally spoke, his voice hoarse and carrying a chilling coldness.
Qiao Long exhaled a puff of smoke and chuckled mockingly. "Heh, Boss, you jest. How could I forget who I am? I've always known I am Qiao Long, and I know that I am currently the overlord of the Xiyun Province's underground."
"Qiao Long, without my godfather, could you have climbed to your current position?" Song Wenting challenged.
"Hahaha, that's right. Without the Boss's support, I certainly wouldn't be where I am today. That's why I'm here today, to repay the Boss for his kindness." As he spoke, Qiao Long waved his hand.
A bodyguard standing behind Qiao Long produced a briefcase, opened it, and pushed it towards the masked man.
Song Wenting looked inside the briefcase. It was filled with dozens of checks. She frowned slightly. "Qiao Long, what is the meaning of this?"
Qiao Long swung his leg. "What's the meaning? Didn't I just make it clear? This is to repay the Boss for his kindness. There are thirty billion yuan in here, more than enough to cover what the Boss helped me with back then."
Song Wenting was instantly enraged. "Qiao Long, are you trying to dismiss us like beggars?! And the underground forces of Xiyun Province have always belonged to my godfather. When did they become yours?!"
"Hahahaha!" Qiao Long burst into laughter.
"When I and my brothers risked our lives, what was he doing? Why should the underground forces I fought tooth and nail to secure ultimately fall into his hands?"
"He himself told me back then, 'survival of the fittest.'"
Song Wenting listened, her face filled with astonishment. "Qiao Long, are you openly betraying him?!"
"Betrayal? Don't pin such a heavy hat on me. The things I fought for, don't I have the right to enjoy them? And these thirty billion yuan checks are my repayment for the Boss's cultivation of me over the years. Otherwise, I fear people would call me Qiao Long an ungrateful beast who bites the hand that feeds him." Qiao Long pointed at the briefcase before him.
"Godfather," Song Wenting looked at the masked man.
The masked man's breathing was steady. Although his expression was hidden by the mask, he didn't seem surprised by the situation.
"How much do you think your life is worth?" the masked man's hoarse voice echoed again.
"My life? Boss, my life is, of course, priceless." Qiao Long replied.
The masked man shook his head. "No, in my eyes, your life is worthless."
Qiao Long chuckled mockingly. "Boss, if you had said that before, I wouldn't dare to object. But now, as the overlord of the Xiyun Province's underground, you say my life is worthless? Heh, Boss, you're underestimating me, Qiao Long, aren't you!"
"Even the few mines I seized in Xiyun Province are worth tens of billions."
The masked man remained silent, simply waving his hand.
Song Wenting, standing beside him, took a photograph from her pocket and tossed it to Qiao Long.
Qiao Long was initially dismissive, but as he clearly saw the photograph, his pupils constricted sharply, and a look of fury immediately contorted his face. "Song Wenting, what have you done to my mother!"
"Then, how much do you think her life is worth?" the masked man's voice inquired again.
"Boss, you're being too ruthless! Don't you know the saying in the martial world, 'misfortune should not extend to family'?" Qiao Long glared at the masked man in anger.
The masked man sneered. "I think her life is equally worthless, because, in my eyes, none of you hold any value."
"Do you know why I asked you to come back?"
"If you voluntarily hand over the Xiyun Province's underground forces, I can spare your life and let you go back to live with your mother. Otherwise, the two of you will only meet on the road to the Yellow Springs."
"Bang!"
Qiao Long slammed the table in anger, pointing at the masked man. "I didn't expect you to be so despicable, asking me to hand over the Xiyun Province's underground forces. I'm telling you, dream on! And don't think I haven't made any preparations today. I dared to come here because I was fully prepared!"
As he spoke, Qiao Long waved his hand. The dozen or so bodyguards who had been standing behind him all drew pistols from their waists, aiming them at the masked man.
"Godfather!" Seeing this, Song Wenting rushed forward, shielding the masked man.
Chen Fan's hand was already gripping more than a dozen silver needles, but facing so many dark gun muzzles, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Qiao Long, you insolent fool! Don't forget, if it weren't for my godfather, you would have been beaten to death long ago!" Song Wenting shouted angrily.
Qiao Long laughed heartily. "Hahaha, Song Wenting, I didn't want to escalate things with you. You forced my hand."
He then turned his gaze back to the masked man behind Song Wenting. "Also, you said I'm worthless in your eyes. At this very moment, you are also worthless in my eyes!"
"Song Wenting, crawl over here now and be my woman. I can still spare your life."
"Dream on!" Song Wenting replied coldly.
"If you dare to fire, I guarantee you won't be able to leave Red Leaf Bar!"
Qiao Long smirked. "Why would I need to leave after killing you? The position of Boss can't remain vacant, can it?"
"You! So you've had this ambition all along." Song Wenting was shocked.
Qiao Long licked his lips, staring at Song Wenting's figure. "Song Wenting, I'll give you one last chance. Choose life or death yourself."
Song Wenting remained silent, merely glaring at him with fury.
"Kill." Qiao Long slowly sat back in his chair, a murderous glint in his eyes.
"Bang!"
At that moment, a gunshot rang out in the room!