Chapter 220: Vipers and Scorpions Gather

Chapter220: Vipers and Scorpions Converge

In a single night, the "Card Faction" of the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Assembly was thrown into utter chaos.

Wind General Jin Shenghuo met a miserable end within the Listening Wind Pavilion on Hongya Mountain; the faction's elite, "Plum Blossom" Li Zu and "Long Robe" Zuo Pu, were assassinated one after another.

Strangely, the streets held precious little news of the affair—scarcely even a whisper of rumor.

It was generally known only that the three had died horribly; as for who struck the blow, or why, not a soul could say.

Many powers maintained a studied silence, merely warning their subordinates to watch their words and deeds during this interval, to keep their heads down and tails tucked—lest a careless step drag them into these muddied waters, where they might perish without ever knowing how.

Such an abnormal wind direction cowed the hyenas who had hoped to tear a bloody mouthful from the "Card Faction's" turmoil; none dared move rashly.

For a time, all of Chongqing Prefecture seethed with hidden currents; amid the panic, only the "Gongnu" world, clocking in for the morning shift, remained an island of calm.

The ignorant, naturally, know no fear.

At this moment, Yuan Mingfei wished, for the first time, that she could be one of the ignorant.

Then she could hide safely in her small tower, listening to wind and rain batter the window.

Alas, she not only knew the hand that struck was Li Jun—she also knew who stood behind Jin Shenghuo!

"All I did was warn him that fat man Jin Shenghuo might harbor ill intent—who knew this brute would turn around and kill him outright?"

"And on Hongya Mountain, of all places!"

"Couldn't you just sit down and talk it out? Even if talks failed, pick another venue to draw blood!"

"Now look: Jin Shenghuo dead in the Listening Wind Pavilion—that lord in the Silver Mansion will undoubtedly be struck by thunderous rage."

"Though why the Embroidered Uniform Guard of Chongqing Prefecture would inexplicably stick their oar in is anyone's guess, that lord is no soft target either; he will never let the matter rest."

"As for me, a mere 'Eight General' used day in, day out as cover—I'll be forced to declare my hand. Refuse, and there's only a dead end."

"The wall's been kicked down; what's left to straddle?!"

The more she thought, the angrier she grew, until she clenched her fist and slammed it hard against the powdered bed.

Then, as if deflated, she collapsed into the fragrant softness.

"All I wanted was a life of wealth, leisure, and freedom—why can't I ever escape this dogshit mess?"

After a long bout of sighing, Yuan Mingfei hauled herself up, propped her chin on delicate fingers, and sank back into thought.

"The master of Hongya Mountain has long been an open secret; the Embroidered Uniform Guard cannot possibly be unaware. Their intervention this time looks for all the world like sheltering Li Jun. What exactly is the relationship between them?"

"Could Li Jun be one of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

An incredulous notion leapt out, startling Yuan Mingfei.

But on the next breath, she dismissed it.

If Li Jun truly were Embroidered Uniform Guard, he would never have dared kill Jin Shenghuo.

Yet the fact stared her in the face: if Li Jun had nothing to do with the Guard, why would they go to such lengths for no reason?

Yuan Mingfei stroked her own surging waves, feeling the water run deeper than she had ever imagined.

Whatever the truth, one thing was crystal clear.

Her good days were thoroughly over.

The thought brought a fresh wave of vexation; she rose, pushed open the door, and stepped into the courtyard for air.

This was not the Feiliu Pavilion, but an ordinary mansion in the Zhongyu District.

Because Chief General Qi Huai had colluded with the Honghu, the entire "Sparrow Faction" had suffered a crushing blow—not only had Qi Huai's territories been divided up to the last inch.

Even the enterprises under her and "Counter General" Gong Qing now tottered on the brink.

On top of that, Cao Cang was badly damaged; with no other choice, Yuan Mingfei had to take to the field herself, inspecting the venues and steadying nerves.

"Whatever you're plotting, as long as you don't come for me, you can poke a hole in the sky for all I care!"

The beauty faced the moon, each word ringing like hammer on nail.

Alas, the world rarely bends to desire.

No sooner had Yuan Mingfei's voice fallen than a knock sounded at the gate.

"Speak of the devil—damn it all."

Cursing under her breath, Yuan Mingfei beckoned; the tightly shut gate slid open of its own accord.

The visitor seemed frantic; before the gate fully opened, a black high-heeled shoe, imported from the West, had already crossed the threshold.

The woman wore a glossy green bob, a black silk blouse above, and a modified gold-embroidered dark mamian skirt that barely reached her knees.

Two slender, firm calves emerged from the hem, pale skin showing not a trace of modification.

"Sister Yuan, hiding in a dump like this? Not a man in sight—how lonely."

Before she even entered the yard, perfume and a bewitching voice arrived first.

Yuan Mingfei's smile was radiant; her stomach churned.

Before Qi Huai fell, this woman would never have addressed her so familiarly.

"Now that you're here, I won't be lonely."

"Sister, you swing that way too?"

Gong Qing pursed her lips, eyes flooding with allure. "But then, you were once the Mingfei of Dazhao Temple—swinging both ways is only natural."

Yuan Mingfei's phoenix brows arched; she rolled up her sleeve, revealing the Buddhist tattoo sleeve. "So, little sister—strip yourself, or shall I help?"

"Right here in the courtyard?"

"Heaven for a quilt, earth for a bed—the bigger the space, the better the play."

Gong Qing's eyes brightened further, veiled with a sheen of moisture, arms spread wide toward Yuan Mingfei.

"Then come, Sister—I prefer to lie back and take it."

Eyes locked, yet Yuan Mingfei was the first to look away.

Not that she lacked the nerve; the so-called "Counter General" before her, her original flesh long since ruined beyond recognition.

Not just the "Eight Generals" of the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Assembly—how many bosses of Chongqing's major conglomerates hadn't sampled her?

After all, sleeping the enemy is just another way to turn them.

Yuan Mingfei's expression turned icy. "Enough. Business. What do you want today?"

"Sister, you're still so heartless."

Gong Qing wore a wounded look, reluctantly licking her lips. "Zhao Tong sent me."

That Zhao Tong had sent her—the subtext needed no spelling out.

Gong Qing watched the silent Yuan Mingfei, a flicker of glee sliding across her eyes, voice soft: "Original flesh or modified chassis, whatever our origins, we're women at the core—and a woman needs a backer to live in peace."

"Like you, a caged bird?"

Yuan Mingfei's mood was foul, her tone sharp.

"The Honghu offers freedom—dare you take it?"

Gong Qing treated Yuan Mingfei’s iron-gray face as if it were invisible, merely chuckling lightly, "In truth, a situation like today’s... Elder Sister, you should have anticipated it long ago, no?"

"Besides, your subordinate Cao Cang has had dealings with that martial brute; the higher-ups are perfectly clear on the matter."

Yuan Mingfei seethed, "The root of all this is that traitor Gong Qinghong. You know this as well as I do. I was merely cleaning house. How does that count as collusion?"

"Explaining it to me is useless. This entire Chongqing Prefecture is someone else’s roof; we are merely guests beneath it. Whether we trust each other doesn't matter. What matters is that the master of the house believes it."

Gong Qing said, "Now, the Smiling Tiger Jin Shenghuo is dead, and the one calling the shots has become Zhao Tong, the Heart-Eating Wolf. He brooks not a grain of sand in his eyes."

"Moreover, the Silver Tower has issued an order for him to consolidate all factions within the Gambling Assembly. Major moves are inevitable. If Elder Sister still hesitates at a time like this, I fear the next one knocking on your door won't be your younger sister."