Chapter 88: The Choice

In the days that followed, everything progressed according to plan, and it all went smoothly. The installation of the new production line at the pharmaceutical factory was also proceeding well; barring any mishaps, it would be up and running within a day or two. With the sudden addition of several hundred free workers, it was impossible for the pace to be anything but fast. The schedule was accelerated by more than twenty days, finishing well ahead of the originally projected month.

Everyone, even provincial heavyweights like Li Shujie, were filled with anticipation for the soon-to-be-launched Rejuvenation Pill. Meanwhile, construction on the new factory had already begun, and Mo Han had transferred over two hundred workers to the Qianlingshan construction site. Of course, managing such a large workforce, especially when many were former thugs, required oversight. Over the past few days, Mo Han had directly hired more than a hundred security guards from a local security company.

After transferring the money from Fifth Master’s account to his own, Mo Han did not sell off the assets of Gathering Virtue Manor. He intended to keep them for future use.

Mo Han continued his daily training with Xu Jing and the others, while in those three days, the city’s underworld was shaken to its core. Three days earlier, Mo Han had declared, “From this day forth, there is no more underworld in Qian City,” leaving the entire criminal fraternity unable to sleep at night. Xu Biao, Zuo Qinglong, and the others were dissatisfied and unwilling to accept it, but Mo Han’s fearsome reputation chilled their hearts. Even Fifth Master and Blade Tyrant had fallen—what could they possibly use to oppose Mo Han?

For the past three days, these local bosses gathered together to discuss countermeasures, but none could come up with a viable plan.

“Second Young Master, Gathering Virtue Manor has fallen, and the underworld of Qian City is now leaderless. Xu Biao and the rest do not dare to openly defy Mo Han. This is the perfect opportunity for our Zuo family to make a big move into Qian City,” Zuo Qinglong said, looking at Zuo Wenshan with anticipation.

He knew the Zuo family had always coveted the lucrative turf of Qian City, and now truly was the best chance. But there was one precondition: the Zuo family had to dare to go head-to-head with Mo Han. Mo Han was simply too wild and explosive. However, if the Zuo family sent their two most formidable experts, they might just have a good chance of taking Mo Han down.

The current situation was clear: whoever could claim Mo Han’s head would inherit the entire fat prize of Qian City’s underworld.

“Alright, I’ll get in touch with my father again in a while,” Zuo Wenshan nodded, clearly tempted himself. He had once doubted Mo Han’s strength, but after witnessing with his own eyes Mo Han felling monstrous foes with a single punch, his courage had faltered. He knew that the two men his elder brother had arranged were nowhere near enough for Mo Han. So, even if it wasn’t just about seizing the underworld, he would find a way to persuade his father to send someone to avenge him.

“Second Young Master, today is the last day. Mo Han said that if the underground factions don’t disband within three days, he’ll help them personally. I’ve asked around: in all of Qian City’s underworld, no one doubts Mo Han’s word. By tonight at the latest, Xu Biao and the others will have to yield to the pressure, dissolve their organizations, liquidate their assets, and leave this world behind for good.

So, before they disband tonight, we have to stabilize them and bring them over to our side. That way, our Zuo family can build a new Gathering Virtue Manor.” Zuo Qinglong explained.

Zuo Wenshan nodded; it made sense, and he no longer hesitated—he picked up the phone and called his father.

...

The Sakura Society received three visitors, making Xu Biao, Wang Gao, and the other underworld leaders of Qian City extremely nervous. These three were Zuo Wenshan, Zuo Qinglong, and Zuo Lengqi, the Zuo family’s top enforcer.

Zuo Lengqi swept his gaze over Xu Biao and the others, a flicker of contempt in his eyes. The cold, venomous look made Xu Biao and his peers shudder involuntarily. That gaze instilled a sense of baseless terror in them.

“To be frank, I have always been a man of the Zuo family from Yuzhou. My time in Qian City, living in the shadows, was all in preparation for this day,” Zuo Qinglong declared to Xu Biao and the others. Now that things had come to this, it was time to lay his cards on the table. “This is our Second Young Master, who will represent the Zuo family in taking control of the Qian City underworld,” he continued, introducing Zuo Wenshan. “To be clear, our family’s aim is to reestablish a new Gathering Virtue Manor.”

At the tea table, the group remained composed; it was as if they had expected someone to wade into these murky waters sooner or later.

“Mo Han is strong, but the main reason Fifth Master and Blade Tyrant lost so badly was that they’d grown old. For years, they dominated Qian City’s underworld, growing arrogant and complacent. That’s why they failed. Even had they gone all out, they wouldn’t be a match for my Uncle Qi here,” Zuo Wenshan said, narrowing his eyes, a vicious glint flashing within.

“Mo Han may have felled Fifth Master and Blade Tyrant with a few punches, but my Uncle Qi can take down Mo Han with a single blow!” As he finished speaking, Zuo Lengqi let out a cold snort and pressed his palm onto the tea table. When he lifted his hand, five deep imprints remained, making Xu Biao and the others widen their eyes in shock.

Was this the legendary internal energy at work?

They glanced at the table, then at Zuo Lengqi’s menacing face, fear written plainly in their eyes. If that palm strike landed on them, who could survive it? Mo Han was someone they dared not provoke, but these Zuo people were even more terrifying.

“But Mo Han has already threatened us: if we don’t disband tonight, he’ll come for us tomorrow!” Xu Biao finally spoke after hesitating.

Zuo Lengqi’s display was intimidating, but as Xu Biao recalled Mo Han’s blow that shattered a long blade and sent Blade Tyrant flying several meters, his heart wavered again.

“Mo Han is nothing. Sooner or later, I’ll twist his head off myself!” Zuo Lengqi sneered.

“You hear that? My Uncle Qi doesn’t see Mo Han as any threat at all,” Zuo Wenshan added with a cold laugh.

Xu Biao said nothing, his fingers tapping a peculiar, rhythmic pattern on the table. Seeing this, Wang Gao and the others also remained silent. However much they feared Mo Han, at least he was a local and seemed to have boundaries. The Zuo family, on the other hand, were true outsiders, and it was hard to guess what their treatment might be.

“With Gathering Virtue Manor gone, you may think you’ve gained room to maneuver, but under Mo Han’s influence, you’ll find yourselves unable to act. Even if he lets you be, your prospects for development are grim,” Zuo Qinglong suddenly said. “It’s a hard world for our kind these days.”

Xu Biao’s face shifted subtly; he caught the underlying meaning in Zuo Qinglong’s words.

“Hard or not, we’ve chosen this road, and we’ll walk it to the end,” Xu Biao sneered. “What, you think we can just walk away?”

Zuo Qinglong chuckled. “Exactly. Once you’re in our line of work, no matter how bitter it gets, there’s no turning back. But, you can choose to board a bigger ship—at least that way, you might survive the storm.”

He was forthright: “Our Zuo family is offering in good faith. Gentlemen, you might want to consider it.”

There was no ambiguity. The Zuo family wanted to swallow up Xu Biao and the others entirely. Xu Biao and his group had expected some subtlety, but were caught off guard by the Zuo family’s directness. The choice placed before them would determine their fate—on one side, Mo Han’s threat; on the other, the Zuo family’s overture. What would they choose?

It was not an easy decision.

Once you’re in this life, true withdrawal is nearly impossible. But if you stay, you risk being ruined by Mo Han. Xu Biao and the others exchanged glances, seeing confusion and hesitation mirrored in each other's eyes.

What were they to do?