Douluo: A Century-old Legend I Am the Second Uncle Chenxin

Chapter 1828 A Show of Force and Oppression
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That's all for today (5/5)

……

As soon as Chen Xiaojun sat down, a thick plume of white smoke, carrying a pungent tobacco aroma, drifted over.

Xia Yun frowned slightly, waved her hand at Zhu Yanfeng and Qin Luguang with annoyance, and complained, "Hey, are you two smokers ever going to stop? Before, when we were having a meeting behind closed doors, you kept smoking non-stop, the smell was practically ingrained in our souls. Now that our 'guests' have arrived, is it appropriate to keep puffing away like this?"

Qin Luguang was comfortably half-closing his eyes, a long brass pipe dangling from his lips. Upon hearing this, he lightly tapped his fingers on the pipe, shaking off a few specks of ash, and his dark gold outfit swayed slightly with the movement.

He lowered his voice, his tone slightly arrogant: "Old Xia, you're really not being considerate. You know my nickname 'Double Guns Like Life'—one a red-tasseled spear, the other a pipe."

"I've been cooped up over there for the past few years, barely able to smoke, it's like I've lost half my life. Now that I've finally been released, how can I not get some 'blood' back?

He took another big, satisfying puff and exhaled a perfectly round smoke ring.

Zhu Yanfeng chuckled. His pipe was even more rugged than Qin Luguang's, with a dark brown, shiny handle.

He exhaled smoke, a satisfied look on his face: "Exactly! Old Xia, you hold back for a bit, let's finish this 'good stuff' before we talk. Once Old Qin comes out, my 'new grain' will finally be settled, hehe."

Amidst the swirling smoke, a sense of contentment appeared on his square face, as if the negotiation hall were the warm kang (heated brick bed) in his backyard.

Chen Zhang watched from the main seat, his lips twitching slightly, but he did not say anything to stop it.

Ximen Wenye kept his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought, but a barely perceptible smile seemed to flicker across the corner of his mouth.

Yang Zhicheng remained expressionless, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Tang, Tan, and Hahn across from him.

Ma Zhibin, meanwhile, continued drinking a small bottle of Wupinjiu Zhijiu.

The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat awkward due to the swirling tobacco smoke and Xia Yun's blunt criticism.

Tang Hengyu looked at the group of people opposite him, and the scar on his face seemed to twitch.

Old people are shrewd; how could they not see through this disguised form of intimidation?

Tan Yashuang picked up her teacup, using the act of drinking tea to conceal her furrowed brows and the complex thoughts in her eyes.

Chen Xiaojun sat beside Zhu Yanfeng, the hem of his robes silently brushing the ground. His gaze was calmly fixed on the void in the center of the hall. The filth and smoke before him were nothing more than a gentle breeze.

His very existence is the heaviest weight.

……

The air was filled with the fragrant aroma of spiritual tea, but it couldn't mask the intangible solemnity.

Tang Hengyu sat upright, as hard as iron. His scar, accentuated by the lamplight, appeared even more menacing. His rough fingers traced the rim of his teacup as he spoke first: "Gentlemen, I come from a military background, a rough fellow. I'm not good at complicated matters." "I've come here today only to know, what do you intend to do with our Rust Brotherhood? Give me a straight answer!"

His gaze swept over Chen Zhang, finally settling on Chen Xiaojun.

Chen Zhang smiled slightly, folded his hands in front of him, and said calmly, "Brother Tang, you are too kind. The word 'punishment' is too heavy. The four of us joined forces to take down the underground network in Huagai District. Our initial intention was not to exterminate them, nor was it to be unreasonable."

"What we seek is nothing more than 'stability and order.' The chaotic and lawless world of the underworld is not a sustainable solution for any party."

"Since the three of you are here today with the intention of discussing the future, you can naturally have a frank and open conversation."

Before he could finish speaking, Tan Yashuang let out a slightly mocking laugh, her narrow phoenix eyes sweeping over Chen Zhang: "Heh, Minister Chen, that's a well-chosen word. On the battlefield back then, did your allied forces ever show any mercy?"

"It's not just the underground internet cafe in Huagai District, but what about the neighboring Huading District and Huaguang District? Weren't they also taken over by the various families of your Douhun City faction at almost the same time? You really swallowed this huge pie of the underground districts in one gulp!"

She tapped her slender fingers on the long table and continued in a cool tone, "As far as I know, the Long, Chen, Xue, and Ning families all have chambers of commerce that have been operating in Tiandou City for many years and are deeply entrenched. The day they conquered Huaguang District, it had the largest and most active underground black market among the surrounding districts!"

"The Gui, Fang, and Zhong families are geographically close and have always worked together. This time, they cooperated with the headquarters of the Heavenly Dou Great Soul Arena to take over the underground network in Huading District, which has the largest population and the most entrenched influence."

Tan Yashuang's gaze finally settled on Chen Zhang's face, tinged with self-mockery. "Only our Huagai District... heh, it certainly has 'distinctive characteristics,' being recognized as the most powerful and resilient in the underground networks of the surrounding districts. Unfortunately, even the toughest bones can't withstand the unyielding sword of this 'human calamity' from your Chen family!"

Tan Yashuang's words were laced with barbs.

Chen Zhang remained calm and nodded frankly: "What Ms. Tan said is basically true. This operation was indeed a joint effort by various parties in our Douhun City, aimed at eliminating the long-standing chaotic and disorderly underground forces and rebuilding order."

“The large black market in Huaguang District, the dense population in Huading District, and the strong military power of our district are all facts. We acknowledge and respect these characteristics, which is the basis for today’s negotiations.”

Just then, Ma Zhibin, who had been leaning against something, suddenly chuckled and spoke.

He looked intently at Tan Yashuang, his tone carrying a hint of familiarity: "Yashuang, to be honest, I don't know if your decision to run the Shadow Sisters in this underground city was your own wish after you left in a huff back then, or if it's some kind of hidden scheme the Tan family has laid in Tiandou City. We don't care."

"But considering the long-standing friendship between our two families and the good relationship between our elders, now that you're sitting at the negotiating table—let's talk this out!"

He leaned forward slightly, exuding a powerful sense of pressure: "Stop with your barbed, sarcastic tone! Do you think we really need your sorority's manpower and territory? Or do you think that with me, Ma Zhibin, here, we'll just watch them corner you and exploit you?"

"Dignity! I'm telling you right now, if you, Tan Yashuang, are willing to sit down and talk, and follow the rules, I guarantee you and your sorority a dignified ending! Otherwise..."

Ma Zhibin's lips curled into a meaningful smile, but he didn't say anything more.

Tan Yashuang's face instantly turned extremely ugly. Her red lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to refute something, but when she met Ma Zhibin's warning eyes and heard the words "Tan family" and "respectability" in his words, her chest heaved violently a few times. In the end, she gritted her teeth and swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

She was well aware of Ma Zhibin's influence and the meaning behind his words—the Ma family and the Tan family had a close relationship, and if he really disregarded personal feelings and exerted pressure, the situation of the sorority and even herself in the Huagai District would become even more difficult.

She leaned back heavily in her chair, pursed her lips, and turned her head away, tacitly agreeing with Ma Zhibin's words and giving up.

(End of this chapter)