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

On a winter night, the wind along the Huangpu River is as cold as a boning knife.

Chen Jinbiao led Wen Xiao out of the cramped underground hall and stood at the highest point of the pier at Gonghexiang Wharf.

In the distance, the neon lights of the former International Settlement flickered, and the gramophone in the Peace Hotel faintly emitted decadent music. But beneath their feet, a completely different scene unfolded.

Huge iron-hulled cargo ships were moored on the river, their chimneys spewing acrid coal smoke. Even in the dead of night, when the wind was biting cold, countless shirtless laborers hunched over like ants on the dock.

They carried two or three hundred pounds of raw silk, sacks, or heavy wooden boxes, shouting hoarse Jiangbei work songs, and moved down the shaky planks step by step.

"See that? This is the root of our union." Chen Jinbiao leaned against the railing, took out a crumpled pack of "Old Knife" cigarettes from his pocket, shook one out and handed it to Wen Xiao, then lit one for himself.

Wen Xiao took the cigarette. Chen Jinbiao struck a match, cupped the flame with his rough hands, and handed it to him. Wen Xiao leaned in, lit it, and took a deep drag. The cheap tobacco shot straight into his lungs, making him wince. He didn't smoke.

"Life here is cheaper than mud in the river." Chen Jinbiao exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze complex as he looked down. "Foreigners eat meat, warlords drink blood, and even traitors like Zhang Sulin who sell out their country for personal gain come to gnaw on our bones. We peasants can only protect these few docks, relying on taking 20% ​​of the water from the laborers to get a meager meal."

Wen Xiao flicked his cigarette ash, and the night wind ruffled his hair.

"At least crops can grow in the mud, but on this land of ours, only bones grow."

Chen Jinbiao paused for a moment, then chuckled, "You always speak with a crazy yet insightful edge. But in this city, only the crazy and the reckless survive long enough."

He turned around and placed his hands on the railing: "Brother, you established your power last night and defeated Zhang Sulin today. From now on, you're in charge of Gonghexiang's territory. But your path extends far beyond this one port."

Wen Xiao turned her head and looked at Chen Jinbiao.

"The 'King Yama' I mentioned to you before, that's the true backbone of our union these past few years." Chen Jinbiao's voice was filled with awe.

He patted Wen Xiao heavily on the shoulder: "Do a good job. Yama values ​​capable madmen the most. As long as you follow him and establish a foothold in Gonghexiang's territory, you will surely have a seat in half of Shanghai in the future."

Wen Xiao, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, gazed at the black mist rising from the Huangpu River. The words "[Authority Node 1/6]" on the system panel flickered faintly at the edge of his vision.

"We'll talk about the 'favor' later." Wen Xiao flicked the half-smoked cigarette butt into the churning river, the sparks swallowed by the darkness. He grinned, "I have a big appetite, and I'm afraid this little Gonghexiang won't be enough to fill my stomach."

......

The rain started to fall gradually.

Before parting, Chen Jinbiao stuffed several pieces of cheap candy wrapped in oil paper into Wen Xiao's hand.

"Fifth Master, suck on one when your throat feels fishy to suppress the taste. Alright, I have to go downstairs and keep an eye on those bastards counting the goods. You hurry back to the place the young lady from that foreign firm in the concession arranged for you to stay."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Uncle Biao."

The two parted ways at the end of the pier. Wen Xiao tightened the collar of his ripped coat and walked alone into a dark alley on the edge of the French Concession, where even streetlights couldn't reach.

"Cough...cough cough..."

From deep within the alley, a suppressed cough suddenly rang out.

Wen Xiao stopped, his gaze piercing through the rain like a hawk's. Beside a puddle of dirty water at the back door of an opium den, a small, dark figure huddled under the eaves.

As she got closer, Wen Xiao could see that she was a little girl who looked to be only a little over ten years old. She was wearing a cheap, ridiculously oversized monkey king costume, and the makeup on her face was washed away by the rain, making her look like a tattered rag doll that had rolled in the mud.

The substance he coughed up in the muddy water was a pool of black blood. These dying symptoms were exactly the same as when he was in acute illness.

Wen Xiao looked down at her.

With a blank expression, he took out the cheap candy that Chen Jinbiao had just given him from his pocket, peeled off the crumpled wrapper with one hand, and casually stuffed it into the girl's muddy, trembling palm.

"Swallow it," Wen Xiao's voice was hoarse and broken from the wind and rain, "and the taste of blood in your throat won't be so strong."

He didn't stop, and walked towards the bustling French Concession without looking back.

Half an hour later, Avenue Joffre.

Following the address Shelly had given her, Wen Xiao pushed open the oak door of a detached luxury apartment building.

Inside and outside the door are two worlds torn apart.

Outside lay frozen bones and black blood, while inside blazed a crackling fireplace and sat a heavy Persian carpet. A gramophone played languid French jazz. The air was thick with the scent of fine cigars mixed with expensive perfumes.

The door had just closed when it made a soft "click" sound.

Wen Xiao felt a sudden chill run down his spine, his instincts kicking in and triggering a frantic alarm.

In the shadows of the entryway, Sister Yuan blended into the darkness. She didn't draw her gun, but the killing intent of a Grandmaster of Bagua was already locked onto Wen Xiao's throat.

Yuan Jie coldly swept her gaze over Wen Xiao's muddy leather shoes, and flicked her wrist.

A snow-white, scalding hot towel was slapped onto Wen Xiao's chest.

"Wipe it clean, don't get Miss's Persian carpet dirty."

Wen Xiao pulled off the towel, a smile curving her lips. She casually wiped the rain off her face, then strode onto the priceless carpet, her muddy shoes barely touching the ground.

"Know your place, Fifth Master."

"Crack—" The wooden plank under Yuan Jie's feet cracked slightly, and she was about to lash out.

"Never mind, Yuan'er."

A languid, slightly drunken female voice drifted down from the second-floor corridor.

Wen Xiao raised her head.

Shelly was carrying a half-empty glass of amber-colored whiskey as she slowly walked down the stairs. Tonight, she wasn't wearing her usual smart British trench coat, but instead a deep burgundy silk slip dress.

The silk clung to her stunning mixed-race curves, and the slit, as she descended the stairs, subtly revealed her long, fair legs. She was barefoot, each step resonating with the rhythm of jazz music, striking a chord with men's primal instincts.

Shelly walked up to Wen Xiao, her scent, a blend of power and desire, forcefully dispelling the metallic tang of blood from his nostrils. She leaned forward slightly, pressing her glass against Wen Xiao's chin, forcing him to tilt his head back.

"This room is a reward for not dying on the docks last night." Shelly exhaled a breath of warm, wine-scented air. "Do you like it, my Fifth Master of Hongmen?"

Wen Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly but remained silent.

"But this house may change hands soon."

"Lu Yongxiang has made his move." Shelly's fingers slowly slid down Wen Xiao's jawline and stopped at his chest. "The news came two hours ago that his army, under the guise of anti-smuggling, has secretly joined forces with Yuemen to cut off the land supply routes and fresh water supply to Gonghexiang Wharf."

"You're the daughter of the tycoon of Jardine Matheson," Wen Xiao said in a hoarse voice. "Cutting off his weapons and armaments is just a matter of a word."

"Fifth Master Wen, you think too highly of me," Shelly said self-deprecatingly. "Yesterday at the dock, I said I'd cut off his firepower, but that only fooled his men, not Lu Yongxiang."

Her fingers gently traced circles around Wen Xiao's heart.

"I can't directly mobilize the vast resources of the foreign firm to save you. The money exchange in the Sixteen Wharves has already been targeted by the Japanese." Shelly stared into Wen Xiao's eyes. "I can only give you this shelter from the wind and rain, and a little capital to enter the game tomorrow. If you want to save your docks, you have to be the mad dog that bites the Japanese throat for me. It's a very fair deal, isn't it?"

Wen Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed violently.

The next second, he suddenly raised his hand, grabbed Shelly's fair and delicate wrist that was pressed against his chest, and pulled her forward with the force.

The distance between them instantly disappeared. Wen Xiao's warm, heavy breath, carrying the smell of cheap tobacco, landed directly on Shelly's slender swan neck.

"Miss Shirley, since you've made me your dog..." Wen Xiao lowered his head, "you should at least give me a piece of real meat to fill my stomach."

[System notification: A core faction event has been detected]

[Earthly Branch Authority Node: Shiliupu Trading Company]

Current control level: 0% / Status: Awaiting conquest

[Remaining time: 13 days 10 hours]