The cold voice echoed on the other end of the phone, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue—chilling and dangerous. Park Bucheng narrowed his eyes, a playful smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "Kim Byung Won, I know it's you."
"And what if you do? You've become a turtle in a jar, unable to escape!" Kim Byung Won's voice was filled with confidence, as if victory was already in his grasp.
"Is that so? I think you're the one who is the lamb waiting to be slaughtered," Park Bucheng replied casually, though there was an imperceptible hint of murderous intent in his tone.
"Hmph, still defiant even when death is imminent! Just wait, I'll make your life worse than death!" Kim Byung Won shouted angrily before hanging up the phone.
Park Bucheng tossed his phone onto the table, his gaze icy. "Want to play? I'll accompany you to the end!"
He turned and walked toward the conference room, the night filtering through the blinds and casting mottled shadows on the floor, mirroring the turmoil within him. Inside, the high-ranking members of Tai Chi Gang were anxiously awaiting his news, the air thick with the strong smell of tobacco mixed with sweat and anxiety, making it hard to breathe.
As he pushed open the heavy conference room door, a wave of thick smoke mingled with the nervous sweat of men hit him. Under the dim yellow light, smoke swirled like fog on a battlefield. Li Zhenghao, the leader of Tai Chi Gang, sat at the head of the table, his face dark as if it could drip water. He held a large cigar between his fingers, puffing out clouds of smoke; the crimson glow flickered in the darkness, illuminating his weathered face.
The other high-ranking members wore serious expressions—some rubbed their hands nervously, others paced back and forth, while some stared intently at the table. The atmosphere was stifling, reminiscent of the calm before a storm.
"Brother Cheng, what’s going on? Did you find anything useful?" A burly high-ranking member with a face full of flesh asked urgently as he saw Park Bucheng enter, quickly snuffing out his cigarette. There was an almost imperceptible tremor in his voice.
Park Bucheng walked to the conference table and slammed a document down with a loud thud that echoed in the silent room, instantly capturing everyone's attention. "This is intelligence I risked my life to bring back from our rival gang's stronghold—the Blood Wolf Gang's lair. Damn it, I almost didn't make it out; those bastards set traps thicker than spider webs!"
Li Zhenghao picked up the document, his rough fingers rubbing over its surface as he scrutinized it under the dim light that highlighted every wrinkle on his face. The other high-ranking members leaned in to look as well, their faces grave as if they were witnessing an apocalypse.
The document detailed Kim Byung Won's collaboration with the rival gang—the Blood Wolf Gang—a plan aimed at completely eradicating Tai Chi Gang and swallowing up the entire West District to establish an underground kingdom where everyone would bow before them. It even outlined specific attack times and methods against various Tai Chi Gang strongholds and strategies for sowing discord within Tai Chi Gang itself—insidious and chilling.
"Damn! That old fox Kim Byung Won has some serious ambitions! He really wants to wipe us out!" One high-ranking member couldn't help but curse loudly, slamming his fist on the table so hard that water splashed from a teacup.
"What do we do now? With Kim Byung Won teaming up with Blood Wolf Gang, we’re outnumbered... we might not stand a chance..." another high-ranking member said worriedly, his voice low and tinged with despair.
Li Zhenghao took a deep drag from his cigar and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke that swirled around him, obscuring his sharp eyes. "What are you afraid of? We Tai Chi Gang are not pushovers! Back in the day, I fought my way out of mountains of corpses with just a knife—what kind of storms haven’t I faced? Kim Byung Won? Blood Wolf Gang? Hmph! I'll make sure they come back empty-handed!"
His gaze sharpened as he looked at Park Bucheng. "Bucheng, you’re clever and resourceful; tell us what you think."
Park Bucheng narrowed his eyes again, a confident smile spreading across his face as he spoke assuredly. "I have a plan that might just turn things around and lead us to victory." He paused for effect and scanned the room, feeling a surge of ambition as all eyes turned toward him. "Although Kim Byung Won and Blood Wolf Gang have joined forces, they are not united; each has their own agenda and hidden motives. We can exploit this weakness to divide them—let them turn on each other!"
"How exactly do we proceed, Brother Cheng? Stop keeping us in suspense and just tell us!" an impatient High-Level urged.
"We can collaborate with another force to jointly confront Kim Byung Won and the Blood Wolf Gang, creating a three-way standoff, and then take them down one by one," Park Bucheng said slowly, his tone firm and powerful.
"Another force? Are you referring to..." Li Zhenghao seemed to have an idea, his eyes lighting up with a glint of shrewdness.
"That's right, it's the June Group," Park Bucheng replied. "Although the June Group is a neutral force, they have also been oppressed by Kim Byung Won, making them our common enemy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend; I believe everyone understands this principle."
"The daughter of the June Group, Li Taizhu, hasn't she always wanted to collaborate with us? Last time she even sent over a letter of intent for cooperation, but you rejected it, Boss," one High-Level remarked.
"Exactly. We can reach out to her and discuss cooperation to seek a consensus against Kim Byung Won," Park Bucheng stated.
"But Li Taizhu is cunning and ruthless. Wouldn't collaborating with her be inviting trouble?" another High-Level expressed concern, his tone laced with caution.
"Don't worry, I have ways to control her and make her obedient," Park Bucheng said confidently, a glimmer of determination in his eyes.
"Alright, let's do it!" Li Zhenghao decisively declared. "Bucheng, this task is yours! Remember, we need to win over Li Taizhu and make her our ally instead of an enemy!"
"Yes! Boss, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Park Bucheng replied eagerly, excitement shining in his eyes.
That evening, Park Bucheng met Li Taizhu at a high-end restaurant.
Li Taizhu appeared in a black evening gown, her makeup exquisite and her demeanor elegant and regal, like a queen descending upon the scene.
"Mr. Park, long time no see," Li Taizhu said with a smile, her eyes glinting with inscrutable intrigue.
"Miss Li, it's good to see you again," Park Bucheng responded with a smile of his own.
"I hear Mr. Park wants to collaborate with me?" Li Taizhu asked directly.
"That's correct," Park Bucheng nodded. "We share common enemies; cooperation would benefit both parties."
"Oh? How does Mr. Park envision this collaboration?" Li Taizhu inquired with keen interest.
"We can join forces to take on Kim Byung Won and the rival gangsters, dividing their territory and profits," Park Bucheng said.
A glint flashed in Li Taizhu's eyes. "Sounds good, but why should I trust you?"
"Because we hold your father's life in our hands," Park Bucheng replied coldly, his gaze sharp.
Li Taizhu's expression changed, but he quickly regained his composure. "Mr. Park, you truly are ruthless."
"Likewise," Park Bucheng sneered.
"Alright, I agree to cooperate with you," Li Taizhu finally conceded.
"To a pleasant partnership," Park Bucheng raised his glass.
"To a pleasant partnership," Li Taizhu also lifted his glass, clinking it with Park Bucheng's.
The two exchanged smiles, both eyes filled with calculation.
A new storm was about to sweep across the Taiji Nation.
At that moment, as the two reached an agreement, a shadow silently appeared outside the restaurant window, listening intently to their conversation. The shadow curled its lips into a chilling smile before turning and disappearing into the night... Who was lurking in the shadows? What impact would they have on the impending storm?
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