Scheming

When The Cripple appeared, Lin Qi was standing by the wine cabinet, staring intently at the young men. He watched with near madness as the leader of the youths meticulously wiped his palms with a white silk scarf. The youth's fingers moved, and the rings on his hands cast mesmerizing halos under the light.

Lin Qi's blood almost entirely rushed to his brain and heart. His body grew hot, and sweat streamed down his face.

"This guy is seriously rich!" Lin Qi, his vision darkening from high blood pressure, swallowed with difficulty. His nostrils flared violently. Lin Qi took deep breaths, barely managing to suppress the raging fire in his heart. His hands hidden in his sleeves, Lin Qi's fingers repeatedly caressed the triggers of the two small crossbows hidden within. Several times, he almost lost control and nearly raised his hands to attack the youth.

Gold, gleaming gold; jewels, sparkling jewels. Lin Qi let out a low groan and clutched his heart forcefully. He breathed deeply, finally controlling his breathing and allowing the boiling blood to flow back through his body, avoiding the risk of sudden death from a ruptured heart or exploded blood vessels in his brain.

"What a good fat sheep, but why did they have to come to The Cripple's Shop?"

Lin Qi cursed all the gods he knew in his heart. No matter what god had sent these fat sheep to The Cripple's Shop, from this day forward, that god had become Lin Qi's mortal enemy. The youth's bejeweled right hand—Lin Qi had never seen such a valuable right hand in his life.

Lin Qi possessed the world's most innocent, pure, and simple worldview. In his eyes, there were only two kinds of currency in the world: his money and other people's money. Only two types of humans: the rich and the poor. Only two kinds of items: valuable treasures and worthless trash.

Turning some rich people into poor people, snatching their valuable treasures, and making others' money his own—this was Lin Qi's ideal, his pursuit, his life goal. His life was built on money; without money, his life was dim and colorless.

This youth's right hand was like a beacon on a lighthouse, illuminating a long stretch of Lin Qi's arduous life journey.

"What a shame, this is The Cripple's territory!" Swallowing hard, Lin Qi lowered his hands, released the crossbow strings, and carefully hid the two poison-tipped bolts in a leather pouch within his belt. He emerged from the shadows of the wine cabinet, smiled, and leaned on the long bar, making a throat-slitting gesture at the youth.

"Easterners, for the sake of sharing the same blood as my ancestors, I solemnly warn you! This is The Cripple's Shop, this is Uncle The Cripple's territory. You dare to beat his most beautiful and beloved maid? You're finished!"

Lin Qi's words were filled with malice. He desperately wanted to instigate a conflict between The Cripple's Shop and these fat sheep draped in black cloaks. In that instant, he had formulated a plan: only by causing a conflict between these fat sheep and The Cripple's Shop could he have a chance to fish in troubled waters and profit from them.

For gold coins, Lin Qi could cooperate with The Cripple. Similarly, for more gold coins, Lin Qi could sell out The Cripple without hesitation.

The pale-faced youth curled his lips into a proud, condescending sneer. He placed his left hand behind his back, slightly hunched his waist, and slowly walked to the long bar. He narrowed his eyes and sized up The Cripple for a moment, then glanced at Lin Qi. He retracted his right hand into his cloak, and when it reappeared, he held a gold bar half a foot long and as thick as a thumb.

Gently placing the gold bar on the greasy bar counter, the pale-faced youth spoke in fluent Western Continent Common Tongue: "I am Jiang Yong. According to your customs, you can call me 'Jiang,' or General Manager Jiang."

With a strange, scalp-tingling smile, Jiang Yong said softly, "Regarding that lady, I offer my deepest apologies. But please understand, I am not accustomed to people getting too close to me."

Sighing lightly, Jiang Yong casually pointed a finger at the gold bar on the bar counter. His fair, slender finger silently pierced through the gold bar and deeply embedded itself into the bar counter made of hundred-year-old oak, creating a transparent hole in the inch-thick surface.

The tough guys who had been arrogantly trying to extort benefits from the fat sheep simultaneously returned to their seats. They raised their wine glasses and began to clamor loudly again. Three dancers enthusiastically kicked their long, white legs, drawing passionate laughter and cheers from the tough guys. The tavern instantly returned to its normal state, with the smell of sweat and alcohol filling the air once more.

Two servants of The Cripple's Shop carried out the unconscious Lisa and quickly disappeared from the bustling tavern.

Lin Qi, standing right beside The Cripple, gasped. He stared in astonishment at the gold bar and bar counter pierced by Jiang Yong's finger, then let out a heavy sigh.

Terrible strength. This guy named Jiang Yong must have the strength of a high-level knight? Besides those legendary high-level knights who could split giant rocks with their bare hands, Lin Qi didn't know what other monsters could do what Jiang Yong did. Flesh and blood penetrating a gold bar? What were his fingers made of?

This was not a fat sheep, but a ferocious beast with mottled fur. Although the beast's fur was also valuable, risking his life for gold coins was clearly unwise. Unless he could confirm that Jiang Yong possessed wealth great enough to tempt Lin Qi, the rings on his hands alone were not enough for Lin Qi to make a move.

Of course, if Lin Qi had known that Jiang Yong truly possessed immense wealth, he would have made Jiang Yong understand that even with his formidable strength, he should never carry too much wealth onto the territory of the Iron Fist Brotherhood.

Casting a deep glance at Jiang Yong, Lin Qi walked out from behind the wine cabinet and sat at a table with Enzo and Vik. He loudly ordered fine wine and roasted meat, laughing and enjoying the dancers' bold and unrestrained performances.

In the blink of an eye, The Cripple had left the bar counter with Jiang Yong and his entourage.

Only Lin Qi, who had been watching them with the corner of his eye, noticed how they left. Especially when the cloaks of several of Jiang Yong's attendants were lifted by table legs as they walked, revealing their deep green robes underneath.

The robes had a strange style, embroidered with a peculiar creature that looked like a python, but with sharp teeth in its mouth and four clawed feet, resembling a rooster's claws. The creature was ferocious and menacing, yet also magnificent and beautiful, exuding a disturbing, evil allure.

"Easterners!"

Raising his wine cup and taking a deep gulp, Lin Qi mumbled, "This is Berely City. This is the territory of my Iron Fist Brotherhood, Lin Qi's domain!"

Squinting his eyes, Lin Qi said in a low voice, "Vik, send people to keep an eye on them. I want to know how much money they've brought!"

The slender Vik stuffed a large piece of fatty meat into his mouth and nodded busily, casually patting the backside of a passing maid.