Unrivaled Soldier in the City

Upon hearing this, Elder Gao smiled slightly. "Brother Zheng, you jest. The honor is all mine to have you greet me in person."

"Haha, Brother Gao, you are too kind! Please, come in. Let’s talk inside," Elder Zheng replied with a smile.

Elder Gao didn’t stand on ceremony, as they both knew what the other was thinking.

The two elders went into the study, while Zheng Kang waited outside. In their presence, Zheng Kang did not have the right to enter.

"Brother Gao, please, have a seat," Elder Zheng said with a smile, personally pouring a cup of tea for his guest.

Elder Gao accepted it without formality, taking a sip before speaking. "Brother Zheng, I believe you are well aware of what has been happening outside. Now, with the Shen Family blocking my way, I have no choice but to seek an alliance with you." He got straight to the point.

Elder Zheng nodded. "I’ve heard. That boy, Lin Kuang, also stopped by here. Brother Gao, I won’t lie to you, when that young man came to see me, he was extremely confident. I’m worried he still has some aces up his sleeve."

Elder Gao chuckled lightly. He understood what Elder Zheng meant: the risks were high, so he wanted a greater reward.

"Brother Zheng, rest assured," Elder Gao said earnestly. "Once we take down the Lin Family—and this time, the Shen Family as well—everything will be ours. I will absolutely not treat the Zheng Family unfairly. You can be assured of that."

Elder Zheng gave a bitter smile. "Brother Gao, let’s discuss the alliance in a moment. When I mentioned Lin Kuang’s confidence, I wasn’t trying to leverage you for more benefits. I’m being serious, and I wanted to give you a heads-up." As he spoke, his expression grew somber.

Elder Gao was slightly startled. He had assumed Elder Zheng was just negotiating for a better deal, but it seemed he was genuinely concerned.

"Really? What other cards could they possibly have? Could it be the Wang family? That’s impossible. Old Man Lin had few dealings with them when he was alive, and Lin Kuang would have even less. Without the Wang family’s help, our two families can easily handle them, even if a few other minor powers join in," Elder Gao said with a frown.

Elder Zheng nodded, as this was the very thing that puzzled him. But where is Lin Kuang’s confidence coming from? Is he just bluffing? And yet, those few words he spoke conveyed absolute self-assurance! Thinking of this, he hesitated, unsure of what to choose.

Seeing his hesitation, Elder Gao spoke again, adding fuel to the fire and tempting him with the potential gains. Gradually, Elder Zheng took the bait. The allure of what Elder Gao offered was simply too great to refuse.

The two elders negotiated in the study for a long time. They finally reached an agreement, with a distribution of benefits that satisfied them both.

The study door opened, and Elder Gao walked out, followed by Elder Zheng.

Seeing Elder Gao emerge, Zheng Kang quickly bowed. "Uncle Gao."

"Well, Brother Zheng," Elder Gao said, then nodded to Zheng Kang. "I’ll take my leave. We make our move tomorrow."

Elder Zheng nodded and, along with Zheng Kang, saw Elder Gao off to his car. After watching the car drive away, they returned to the study.

"Father, have we allied with the Gao Family?" Zheng Kang asked.

"Yes, we have," Elder Zheng nodded. "The price that old fox offered was very tempting. Besides, after thinking it over, it seems Lin Kuang really has no more cards to play. So, let’s move forward."

Zheng Kang’s face lit up with excitement. He had always advocated for taking action, but his father had restrained him. Now that his father had finally given the green light, how could he not be thrilled?

"Father, I’ll go make the preparations then. We move tomorrow?" Zheng Kang asked again, his heart pounding with impatience.

Elder Zheng nodded. "Yes, tomorrow morning. Go and prepare. This time, we will absorb the Lin and Shen Families completely."

Nodding excitedly, Zheng Kang turned and left.

Watching his son leave, Elder Zheng calmed down. A faint sense of unease lingered, but he quickly dismissed it. It’s probably just my imagination.

By then, news of the alliance between the Gao and Zheng Families had reached the Wang and Shen Families. Lin Kuang and Lin Guodong were also aware.

Lin Kuang went to the Wang family again, this time bringing Elder Shen with him. They needed to strategize. After all, their adversaries were the Gao and Zheng Families—no one dared to underestimate them.

The group deliberated until nightfall, at which point Lin Kuang left with Elder Shen. After seeing Elder Shen off, Lin Kuang went directly to the military district to find his father and relay the results of their discussion.

Lin Guodong nodded. "I understand. It seems success or failure hinges on this one move."

"Yes, but I believe we can withstand them. I refuse to believe the Zheng and Gao Families have the courage for a mutually destructive fight!" Lin Kuang said coldly. "Moreover, the combined strength of the Wang and Shen Families is not much weaker than theirs. Our Lin Family still has considerable power as well. With our three families united, we are likely stronger than their two. I don’t believe for a second they are a match for us! No one will touch the Lin Family!"

Lin Guodong nodded repeatedly. "Indeed. Swallowing us will not be so easy." A cold smirk appeared on his face as well.

The father and son sat quietly in the office, waiting for the arrival of dawn, which would bring the final battle.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the next day arrived. As people began their workday, a massive storm officially began to unfold.

The Gao Family, allied with the Zheng Family, began a full-scale offensive against the Lin Family’s assets and personnel, either by poaching them with bribes or suppressing them, initiating the takeover. At the same time, the Shen and Chu Family made their own moves to counter them. However, their efforts were largely ineffective, only managing to slightly delay the Lin Family’s decline.

But this was all a deception to mislead the Gao and Zheng Families, because the Wang family was the real trump card.

Just as the Gao and Zheng Families were celebrating their progress, the Wang family suddenly struck from behind, beginning to dismantle their organizations from within.

In an instant, the Gao and Zheng Families found themselves with raging fires in their own backyards.