We agreed on the twelve zodiac animals, but you've transformed into the Monkey King?

On the morning of the fourth day, on the Bund, in the top-floor conference room of Jardine Matheson.

Winter rain pelted against the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, leaving winding streaks of water.

Lord Cavendish sat at the far end of the long table and slammed a telegram written entirely in English onto the center of the table. His voice was full of Victorian arrogance and anger.

"Shelly, a taipan (head of a trading company), works for the British Empire to make profits, not for some lowly beggar from the Chinese community to provoke Lu Yongxiang's military police, much less to challenge the bottom line of the Japanese!"

Shelly sat at the other end, her hands clasped together. Her knuckles were bluish-white from the force of her grip.

"That's part of the strategy." Shelly looked directly at him. "As long as Wen Xiao establishes a foothold in Shiliupu, our logistics revenue in the Chinese-controlled area can double!"

"That's interesting! But it's just an empty promise! And your madness last night has already earned the board a serious warning from the Municipal Council." Cavendish tapped the table. "The vote is over. Effective today, your foreign exchange signing authority is revoked indefinitely. Your three million dollars in reserves at HSBC, along with your personal funds, will be entirely under my control."

Shelly didn't say a word, got up, grabbed her coat from the back of the chair, and left.

……

Living room of the apartment on Avenue Joffre.

Wen Xiao stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding the telephone receiver.

"...Anyway," Shelly paused, then said with a self-deprecating laugh, "I don't even have the money to fill up this Ford with gas now. Good luck."

"understood."

Wen Xiao hung up the phone.

A pale blue light screen pulsed silently across my retina:

[Body-Targeted Repair Essence (Type α) Price: 20 Sumeru Points] [Current Account Balance: 1 Sumeru Point]

Wen Xiao stared at the glaring "1" and stubbed out his cigarette. He pushed open the slightly ajar bedroom door.

"Tick-tock"

The colorless liquid in the glass medicine bottle dripped down the thin tube.

Ah Man was nestled in the large velvet quilt, a cold IV needle stuck in the back of her delicate hand. Her high fever had subsided, but with each breath, a hoarse, leaky sound came from her chest.

Wen Xiao walked to the bedside, knelt on one knee on the carpet, and gently placed his large hand beside the back of her hand where she was receiving the injection.

"Great Sage..." Aman struggled to lift her eyelashes and turned to Wenxiao, her eyes filled with joy, but her breath trembled slightly.

"That's great, you're cured." Ah Man's voice was very soft, like a kitten's whimper.

Wen Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Yes, your Great Sage has blessed your uncle."

Ah Man's gaze swept over the crystal chandelier on the ceiling, then looked at the blanket covering her.

"So... even before he died, Ah Man could sleep on such a soft bed."

Wen Xiao lowered her eyes, and he reached out and tucked the corner of the blanket tightly under her neck.

"Rest well, Great Sage will go and make you an elixir. Once you eat it, the pain will go away."

"Hmm... Ah Man, wait for the Great Sage..."

She obediently closed her eyes.

Wen Xiao stood up, grabbed his suit jacket from the sofa, and strode into the rain.

……

At noon, the wind carrying cold rain swept across the Gonghexiang Wharf on the Huangpu River.

Wen Xiao stood on the street corner. The blockade lines of Yuemen and Lu Yongxiang were still in place, but thanks to the silver dollars exchanged yesterday, more than 500 shirtless coolies were wolfing down white steamed buns and braised pork in the open space of the dock.

Wen Xiao withdrew his gaze, turned and walked into a narrow alley, squatted down, and lit a cigarette.

A series of hurried footsteps broke through the puddles in the alley.

Chen Jinbiao didn't use an umbrella. He glanced around and strode over to Wen Xiao.

"Clatter".

A dusty rosewood box was thrown in front of Wen Xiao.

Wen Xiao frowned: "Uncle Biao?"

"Open it." Chen Jinbiao leaned against the damp brick wall and lit a cigarette.

Wen Xiao squatted down and unlocked the brass lock. Inside was a stack of yellowed land deeds.

"The land deed for Gonghexiang, plus the land for three deep-water berths and two warehouses." Chen Jinbiao exhaled a puff of smoke and wiped the rain from his face. "The market value is five million. Take it to Dafeng Money Exchange; that's enough for you to borrow the capital to dump the shares."

Wen Xiao's hand froze in mid-air. He stood up and looked at the towering man.

"You found out too?"

Chen Jingbiao pulled out a copy of the *Shenbao* newspaper—"A fit of rage pays a heavy price! Jardine Matheson's tycoon loses power to the board! The Fifth Master of Hongmen faces bankruptcy liquidation!"

"Now I guess the whole of Shanghai knows that you, Fifth Master, are a man of honor and loyalty."

Wen Xiao took the newspaper, stared at the headline, and frowned: "So this is how journalism students operate in this day and age?"

"Huh? Fifth Master, what do you mean?" Chen Jingbiao was taken aback.

"I mean, we've only known each other for four days at most," Wen Xiao said in a low voice. "This is the foundation built by generations of Hongmen with their lives. You're handing it over to me to gamble on?"

"Stop talking nonsense. I'm the head of the gang now, and you're my sworn brother." Chen Jinbiao grinned, his smile revealing the carefree attitude of a江湖人 (jianghu person, a member of the underworld).

"If the money isn't paid off, the Japanese will take the land deed." Wen Xiao grabbed his damp collar, bringing his eyes close. "You'll be the eternal sinner of this scheme. Have you thought about the consequences?"

"as a result of?"

Chen Jinbiao let him grab him, casually flicking off his cigarette ash.

"Without you, another little girl's body would have been buried in that mud pit in the Chinese territory last night. Without you, those five hundred brothers outside would still be gnawing on tree bark."

Chen Jinbiao slapped Wen Xiao's hand away.

"Alright, Fifth Master, stop ruining this sentimental atmosphere. Take it and get out!"

Chen Jinbiao kicked the box onto Wen Xiao's shin, then turned and strode into the rain.

Wen Xiao looked at that broad back, took a deep breath, and forcefully stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette on the wall bricks.

……

Half an hour later. Inside the Dafeng Money Exchange, the largest in Shiliupu with the strongest Japanese investment background.

Wen Xiao sank into the armchair. His tie was loose, his eyes were bloodshot, and his leather shoes tapped impatiently on the mahogany floor.

The carved wooden door opened. Zhao Degui, the vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, accompanied Matsuda, the head manager of the Japanese company, as they entered.

Upon seeing Wen Xiao, Zhao Degui instinctively flinched, but seeing Wen Xiao's desperate and anxious appearance, he straightened his back.

"Oh, isn't this the arrogant Fifth Master Wen from last night?" Zhao Degui swallowed hard, sneering sarcastically, "What, Jardine Matheson's funding dried up, so you've come begging on our Japanese turf?"

Wen Xiao stood up.

This single movement startled Zhao Degui, causing him to stumble back a step and slam his back against the door frame.

"I need cash! Now!" Wen Xiao slammed his hands heavily on the table, his eyes bloodshot. He flung open the lid of the sandalwood box and shoved it in front of Matsuda.

Matsuda stopped Zhao Degui, who was trying to run away. He glanced at the land deed and slowly sat down opposite him.

"Wen Sang. There's chaos and war outside, and land values ​​are plummeting. For the sake of the Hongmen, I'll lend you a maximum of 500,000. The interest rate is 5%, and you can pay it back in three months."

"Is 500,000 yen even enough to fill a tooth gap?!" Wen Xiao grabbed Matsuda by the collar of his kimono. "I need to borrow 3 million yen!"