You promised steampunk martial arts, but you've got an internal combustion engine in your chest

Upon seeing the infamous Third Master Ding of the Blackwater Gang, the three people at the table suddenly stood up.

However, Ding Yan himself was quite relaxed. With his large, protruding belly, he chuckled and walked to the tea table, pulled over a chair, and sat down.

"Sit down, everyone sit down. Standing makes us feel too formal."

While greeting them, Ding Yan took a clean, empty teacup and leisurely poured himself a cup of warm tea.

He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, then glanced at Hua Xiangrong and smiled:

"Didn't expect me to dare show up here? That's not surprising. My second brother made a deal with Prefect Huang last night, involving both transferring constables and cleaning up the docks. Logically speaking, I shouldn't be here..."

Ding Yan shook his head and made a series of clicking sounds:

"It's a pity. My second brother loves opera too much. He performs three or four big shows a day. How tiring is that? With him busy with that, he naturally can't take care of me."

Upon hearing this, Hua Xiangrong's expression darkened slightly. The gears inside the mechanical arm turned, and a little exhaust fumes slowly spewed out from her wrist.

Seeing this, Ding Yan didn't even lift his eyelids, and while stirring the floating tea leaves in his cup, he smiled and said:

"You bitch, don't even think about making a move. I know you broke the magnet last night. Without the magnet, you're only worth 30% of your strength at most."

"Believe it or not, if you dare to make a single move... this day next year will be your death anniversary. Listen to me, drink your tea, be good."

Hua Xiangrong's eyes flashed violently, and a layer of cold sweat seeped from her forehead.

She stared at Ding Yan's chubby face, and after struggling for a few seconds, she finally lowered the mechanical arm slowly, then picked up her teacup and took a sip.

The brothers Baili Jing and Baili Jie completely ignored their game of wits.

The two brothers had already begun to subtly move towards the window.

Ding Yan didn't even glance at them, sipping his tea as he leisurely said:

"Trying to jump out the window? Save your energy. Even this bastard can't escape, do you think you two kids can get away?"

Upon hearing this, Baili Jie, who was a step closer to the window, secretly glanced down through the window crack.

Upon seeing this, the boy's face instantly turned even more grim.

He looked away and said:

"Brother, down there... it's packed with people. We're completely surrounded."

Baili Jing nodded, knowing that breaking the deadlock by force was now harder than climbing to heaven.

But for some reason, faced with this desperate situation, he didn't panic. Instead, he sat down again, poured himself a cup of tea, and smiled at Ding Yan.

"Ding Yan, is it? Since you've already made all the preparations, why don't you just have someone come up and chop me to pieces? Instead, you're leisurely chatting and sipping tea with us... You like opera, just like that Second Master?"

Hua Xiangrong twitched the corners of her mouth and coldly took over the conversation:

"Blackwater Gang is only being suppressed, but they don't want to die. If Third Master goes on a killing spree without regard for consequences, he will break the agreement he signed with Second Master and the Prefect last night. At that time, White Flower Gang and the yamen will come out together, and your Blackwater Gang will probably not even be able to drink a drop of water in Shanghai."

Ding Yan chuckled and nodded, saying:

"You bitch, you're absolutely right... Unless it's absolutely necessary, I really don't want to break the rules and fight with my second brother."

His first sentence was kind and reasonable, but who knew that as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand and swung it hard!

Snapped! !

A crisp slap suddenly rang out!

Hua Xiangrong's head was tilted to the side by the slap.

Half of her cheek was visibly swollen and red, a trickle of blood seeped from her lips, and the gold hairpin on her head fell to the ground with a "clang".

However, she neither screamed nor begged for mercy; she simply turned her head slowly and looked at Ding Yan expressionlessly.

"What was the reason for Third Master's slap?"

Ding Yan smiled and withdrew his hand:

"These two little brats aren't even members of my gang yet, so they're still outsiders. You almost spilled all the secrets of my gang just now. Didn't I deserve this slap?"

A fleeting look of resentment flashed in Hua Xiangrong's eyes.

She gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and replied in a resentful tone:

"Third Master, you are right to reprimand me. It was my fault for being too talkative."

"That's right."

Ding Yan seemed very happy and patted her large belly:

"Although you are Second Brother's man, in the end, you are still a watchdog of my canal gang. It is perfectly reasonable for me to discipline a few disobedient servants, no matter where you go to say it."

At this point, he finally turned his gaze to Baili Jing.

"Young man, what you just said was quite insightful. You're very clever; you even managed to guess that there's an even bigger sphere of influence above our canal gang."

He said with a forced smile, "However... these things happening beneath the surface in Shanghai are none of your business right now."

Baili Jing still showed no fear.

He spread his hands, tossed the teacup he was holding onto the table, and said casually:

"Hey fatso, stop beating around the bush. What I hate most is people like you who don't just say what they mean and insist on showing off. What do you want? Just tell me!"

If he had said those words under normal circumstances, the Blackwater Gang thugs would have chopped him into eighteen pieces and thrown him into the sea to feed the fish.

But Ding Yan, instead of getting angry, burst into laughter:

"Good! That's great! You're young, but you've got guts! You're right, I'm here today specifically to... mark the way for you, brave warrior Baili."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ding Yan took out a piece of paper from his pocket and pushed it in front of Baili Jing.

Baili Jing raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Third Master Ding, this thing... it can't be that confession from yesterday, can it?"

"Heh, young man, as I said, I'm here to pave the way today. How could I possibly try to fool a hero with something so low-class?"

Ding Yan picked up his teacup to moisten his throat and said with a smile:

"This is a bet. Take a look and then make your decision."

Baili Jing tore the Xuan paper over and handed it to his younger brother:

"Xiao Jie, you're well-read and thoughtful, come and take a look."

Bailijie immediately accepted it.

His eyes scanned the prepared Xuan paper quickly, reading it line by line and word by word in silence.

As his gaze moved downwards, Baili Jie's brows furrowed into a tight knot.

Baili Jing asked, "Tell me, what's written on it?"

Baili Jie swallowed hard and looked up at his brother:

"Brother... this is indeed a bet, a very big one. The contract states that the Blackwater Gang wants to have a bet with you. They will choose a dock and warehouse area in the eastern suburbs of Shanghai to... hunt you down."

"If you can't get out of that warehouse within an hour... then Ding Yan will have to rip out your heart and liver to prolong his son's life!"

Ding Yan laughed even more heartily:

"My poor son, he only has one day left to live. Even a miracle couldn't save him. But as his father, I must try my best to fulfill my duty as a father, right? What do you think, Warrior Baili?"

Baili Jing's expression remained completely unchanged.

Is this some kind of battle royale?

He met Ding Yan's gaze and said coldly:

"What if I win?"

Baili Jie looked at the bet and quickly replied:

"The bet states that if you can really break through, Brother, the Blackwater Gang will never again target your heart, liver, spleen, lungs, or kidneys. Your grudges with the Blackwater Gang will be wiped clean."

"To wipe the slate clean?"

Baili Jing sneered, a deep mockery playing on his lips:

"Third Master Ding, I almost died at your hands last night, and now I have to risk my life to pass this trial. The only price for winning is that you won't come back to rip out my heart? You've got to take all the benefits in the world, haven't you?"

Ding Yan seemed to have anticipated Baili Jing's question.

He shrugged dismissively and said with a smile:

"As I just said, you are a talented person. I really don't want to kill you, but I also truly love my son. If it can save him, I will naturally give it a try."

"But if my son's life comes to an end, then naturally there's no way to save him. At that time, I might even want to compete with my second brother... to see if I can bring you, Baili Jing, under my command."

Baili Jing found it utterly absurd and unbelievable:

"You fatso, have you lost your mind? You actually think you can win me over?"

Ding Yan picked up his teacup, drank the remaining tea in one gulp, and said with a smile:

"Why not? Young man, in this world, there are never any eternal enemies, only interests that aren't big enough and fists that aren't strong enough."

"Back then, my second brother and I fought tooth and nail over a salt route, resulting in hundreds and thousands of deaths and injuries. But what about today? He's putting on his grand show, and I'm just drinking my tea. Isn't this the kind of quagmire the martial arts world is all about?"

Hua Xiangrong suddenly snorted.

Her eyes flickered, and she gave a soft, cold laugh:

"Third Master Ding, if you send Miao Xingxing to hunt, how will Baili Jing survive?"

Ding Yan shook his head, somewhat amused:

"Don't worry, Miao Han was also seriously injured last night, so he can't come today. As for what you mentioned, I'll also give you a heads-up. For this duel, I will only send three people at the fifth level of the Forging Realm to lead the charge. Of the remaining people, there will be five at the third level of the Forging Realm, ten at the second level of the Forging Realm, and fifty ordinary members of the Canal Gang. That's all there is to it, not one more."

"How about that? Haven't I given you enough face?"

The Five Realms of the Forging Furnace?

Baili Jing frowned slightly.

The constable Lin he killed yesterday was a fifth-level forging master.

In terms of speed and strength, he was obviously superior, but his opponent had more practical experience and was more familiar with martial arts techniques. If he did not rely on tricks, he could not have defeated his opponent quickly.

Judging by the sheer number of people, this is less than the number of people who besieged him at the dock last night.

But Baili Jing also understood that since Ding Yan dared to set up this scheme, the people he had brought in were definitely not simple!

While he was still pondering, Baili Jie also asked Ding Yan a question:

"Third Master Ding, if my brother really wins, but you deny it afterwards, where can we go to seek justice?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Yan laughed even more heartily.

He turned his head, looked at Hua Xiangrong, and gestured with his lips:

"You wretch, go back to Jiangshan Fengyu Tower and tell my second brother about this."

A meaningful, eerie smile appeared on Ding Yan's chubby face:

"Just tell him I asked him to be a witness... Go on, don't keep your second brother waiting."

Upon hearing this, Hua Xiangrong's eyes lit up. She had been wanting to report this matter to Zhou Erquan as soon as possible, and upon hearing this, she did not hesitate to climb out of the window and leave.

She returned in less than half an incense stick's time.

After she went upstairs, her expression was somewhat complicated, and she said in a low voice:

"Second Master agreed, but he also made a request."

Ding Yan smiled and said, "Oh? What are your requirements?"

Hua Xiangrong said, enunciating each word clearly:

"Second Master said, Third Master, you can't play tricks or use underhanded methods. Everything must be done according to the rules. If he finds out you've used any dirty tricks, we'll raze your Blackwater Gang to the ground!"

"Hehehe... Hahahaha!"

Upon hearing this request, Ding Yan let out a series of wild laughs.

He laughed so hard tears almost came to his eyes, and he kept slapping his thighs:

"Second brother, oh second brother, you really do... look down on me!"

As he spoke, he stopped laughing and waved to Hua Xiangrong:

"In that case, you'll keep a close eye on this bet the whole time. Don't make a mistake, and don't try to renege on your debt later!"

At this moment, Baili Jing sighed helplessly:

"I said... you two."

It was Baili Jie who spoke.

The young man gently placed the teacup on the table, then looked up to meet Ding Yan and Hua Xiangrong's gazes, his face devoid of any smile: "You two seem to be having a good time chatting here, but from beginning to end, my brother... doesn't seem to have agreed to this bet yet, has he?"

Ding Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, as if he had only just noticed the quiet young scholar.

Hua Xiangrong also turned her head and looked at him with great interest.

Bai Lijing seemed to know what his younger brother was going to do, and smiled: "Xiao Jie, right now... it seems we don't have the ability to refuse."

"I know."

Baili Jie turned his head and smiled as well: "Brother, we really can't refuse, but since we're gamblers risking our lives, we should have the right to... add some extra requirements at the dealer's place, right?"

Baili Jing nodded in satisfaction: "That's right, you should make the decision."

Ding Yan chuckled and patted his belly: "Little one, you're even better at business than your brother. Tell me, what do you want?"

Baili Jie held up a finger and said in a clear voice, "First, if my brother wins, regardless of whether he is willing to join the Canal Gang afterward, you must tell us every single detail of the secret you just mentioned. Even if we are just pawns, we must clearly understand what you want to use my brother for."

A cold glint flashed deep in Ding Yan's eyes.

But his smile grew even brighter, and he chuckled:

"Interesting. Okay, I promise you, if you win, I'll tell you about that matter myself."

Baili Jie then extended a second finger: "Secondly, if my brother wins, regardless of whether he stays or leaves in the future, and regardless of whether we are enemies or friends in the future, the Blackwater Gang must never lay a hand on anyone around my brother. Neither I nor my brother's other friends can use these people to threaten him. If you break this oath, may you be struck down by heaven and earth."

Ding Yan narrowed his eyes, seemingly weighing something, but after a few breaths, he smiled with relief again:

"Alright, I'm a respectable leader of the Canal Gang, after all. As long as your brother can walk off the stage alive, I'll grant your request... And what about the third one?"

Bailijie took a deep breath and slowly extended his third finger.

"Thirdly..."

He chuckled and said, "During the duel, my brother wants to eat demon beast meat. I want you to supply him with an unlimited amount, and it all has to come from your Blackwater Hall!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Yan finally froze: "That's...it?"

Baili Jing slowly grinned.

Baili Jie smiled slightly, withdrew his hand, and picked up the teacup on the table again: "That's it. I hope you won't complain about the cost later."