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

Mud and blood mixed together, seeping through the precious leather.

In his quest to kill, Du Risheng abandoned even the last shred of dignity and politeness.

Wen Xiao poured two glasses of whiskey. "You must be Boss Du, right? You didn't come here just to wipe your tears with a handkerchief, did you?"

Du Risheng wasn't angry. He picked up the glass of strong liquor, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

"If a handkerchief can't dry it, you'll have to use your life to fill the void." Du Risheng held his empty wine glass. "Detective Wen, Lu Xiaojia's tanks crushed the face of the French Concession, and you spent a whole day pretending to be a dead dog in the hospital, didn't you?"

Their eyes met in mid-air.

Du Risheng put down his wine glass: "I got Brother Huang out of the water dungeon, and the price was 70% of the dry shares of Sanxin Company. I've already signed and sealed the agreement, giving it all away to He Fenglin for free."

Wen Xiao paused, his fingers holding the cigarette still. "Seventy percent? You've cut off the Green Gate's lifeline?"

Du Risheng's eyes were sinister. "The words on the paper only count if you're alive to write them. Detective Wen, I'm here tonight to ask you to use your connections at Jardine Matheson to do me a favor."

Wen Xiao pulled up a chair and sat down: "Speak."

"I promised Lu Xiaojia that I would publish a public statement on the front page of the Shenbao tomorrow morning, kowtowing to the warlord and admitting my mistakes." Du Risheng stared directly at Wen Xiao.

"I want you to make sure every page of the *Shenbao* newspaper tomorrow features an apology letter on its front page, and I also want you to print the sentence 'Qingmen voluntarily donated 70% of the shares of Sanxin Company to General He Fenglin' ​​in the largest bold font! I want everyone in Shanghai to see it the moment they open their eyes tomorrow!"

Wen Xiao gave Du Risheng a deep look. "Are you going to gamble with the lives of 20,000 laborers from Qingmen?"

"We had no choice," Du Risheng said coldly. "Lu Yongxiang is fighting on the front lines, while the other warlords are watching. If they see He Fenglin single-handedly taking over the Sanxin Company, which costs millions of taels of silver annually, do you think those envious warlords will still send troops to support him?"

Wen Xiao stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "I'll take this job." He stared into Du Risheng's eyes. "But Boss Du, before this big show begins, I need you to do something for me first."

[Main Storyline: Earthly Branch Authority Node Longhua Branch Factory (0/1), awaiting capture. Countdown remaining: 2 days 8 hours]

……

On the morning of the thirteenth day, in the French Concession, at Zhang Sulin's residence.

From the gramophone, a Suzhou storytelling melody played softly. Zhang Sulin leaned back in his mahogany chair, his eyes closed, chewing on a lychee that his fifth concubine had just peeled.

"Sir, here's today's morning paper."

The butler stepped forward and handed over a copy of the "Shenbao" newspaper with both hands.

Zhang Sulin unfolded the newspaper with one hand. Just as his gaze fell upon the front page headline—"Crack!" Zhang Sulin's elbow trembled, and the famille rose teacup beside him was knocked over and shattered.

On the enormous front page of the *Shenbao* newspaper, a dozen striking bold characters read: "[Du Risheng of Qingmen issues a tearful apology, voluntarily offering 70% of the shares of Sanxin to comfort the Military Governor's Office]".

The butler quickly stepped forward to flatter him: "Master, please calm down. This Du Risheng usually acts so unfathomable, but he turns out to be a spineless coward. From today onwards, the entire Qingmen of Shanghai belongs to you, Master Zhang..."

"Bullshit! Get lost!"

Zhang Sulin slapped the butler across the face, sending him spinning halfway around.

The fifth concubine covered her mouth in fright, and the butler's face turned pale. The two of them backed away and closed the door.

The only sound in the large hall was the sound of Suzhou storytelling. Zhang Sulin remained motionless for a full minute, still holding the complaint paper.

A fine layer of white sweat seeped from his forehead.

He realized a truth even more terrifying than warlords driving tanks into the concession—Du Risheng of Qingmen and Wen Laowu of Hongmen, these two vicious wolves who should have taken the opportunity to fight each other, had actually joined forces behind his back!

He turned his head sharply and looked at the pile of old newspapers in the corner of the coffee table—all of which were rumors he had spread a few days ago.

Zhang Sulin's gaze darted back and forth between the old newspapers and the Shen Bao newspaper in his hand. He tore the Shen Bao newspaper to shreds and strode to the mahogany sideboard in the corner of the hall.

"Clatter!" He pulled open the drawer, his hands trembling, and pulled out a white porcelain bottle about the size of a thumb.

He strode to the small red clay stove. He uncorked it and poured the entire bottle of white powder into the boiling ginseng soup. The powder sizzled on the stove rim, releasing a pungent, burnt smell.

He picked up a ladle, stirred it a couple of times, and then slammed the lid of the casserole onto the pot.

He turned around, grabbed a napkin, hastily wiped away his cold sweat, and yelled towards the door:

"Someone! Go and fetch Huaibu for me!"

The door to the hall was pushed open. Lin Huaibu, wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, walked in.

"Huaibu." Zhang Sulin's eyes were red as he pointed to the torn newspaper on the ground. "Du Risheng kowtowed to the warlord, completely disgracing our Qingmen! This newspaper was managed by Wen Laowu; he's defecating on our Qingmen's head!"

Lin Huaibu lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Zhang Sulin walked to the small stove, poured a full bowl of ginseng soup, and placed it in front of Lin Huaibu, his eyes filled with sorrow:

"Huaibu, you are the face of our Qingmen, your martial arts skills are unmatched, and you are the most influential among the younger generation. Drink this soup, then go to the police station. In front of everyone, challenge Wen Laowu to a duel! If you win, the reputation of our Qingmen will be restored! Even if you lose, you will still be a legendary figure in our Qingmen history!"

Lin Huaibu reached out and took the bowl of piping hot ginseng soup.

The hall was so quiet that you could hear the background noise of the stylus scraping against the floor.

He held the bowl, looked up, and quietly gazed at Zhang Sulin.

"Master Zhang," Lin Huaibu spoke, his voice flat and emotionless, "You messed up your previous schemes with rumors, and the Marshal no longer wants you. What you're really after now—is it my life, Lin's life, or just a stepping stone to becoming a warlord's lapdog again?"

The tragic expression on Zhang Sulin's face suddenly froze.

His right hand instinctively reached for the pistol at his waist.

"Click".

A cold Browning was already pressed against Zhang Sulin's forehead.

"Last night, Mr. Du's men came to see me around midnight."

Lin Huaibu flipped his wrist. The bowl of scalding ginseng soup was slowly poured onto the carpet.

Zhang Sulin's legs went weak, and he slumped into a chair. His lips trembled, and he made gurgling sounds of pleading.

Lin Huaibu looked down at him.

"Brother, don't you see? Boss Huang was beaten like a dog in the water dungeon, and Boss Du kowtowed until his head was broken at the warlord's mansion. The warlord only wants our money and our lives; he's never treated us like human beings."

His finger on the trigger slowly tightened.

"Boss Du asked me to pass on a message to you. The Green Gate gang is a bunch of thugs, but thugs can't be spineless dogs."

"Bang!"

Zhang Sulin, a powerful and ruthless figure, didn't even utter a word of begging for mercy before being struck between the eyebrows and falling straight down from his chair.

Lin Huaibu walked to the phone and dialed the French police station's number.

"Fifth Master Wen".

The call connected, and Lin Huaibu's voice came through:

"Boss Du asked me to inform you that the matter you requested has been taken care of."