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The implication was that Wan Chai could be conceded, but not at the expense of Causeway Bay. The two territories seamlessly connected, and his intention was to retain them both entirely.

"Brother Qiu, please don't joke around," Long San's expression shifted, his smile forced. "You guys must have some territory to trade in return."

Qiu Hao glanced at the dishes on the plate and pushed a plate of blanched Chinese mustard greens back. "I'll take the Wan Chai. Kowloon Tong can let that one go."

In Kowloon Tong, Long San was well aware of the territory dynamics. His anger rising, he no longer held back his voice. "You think you can trade fish for my bear's paw? Is this how the Fourteen Gang conducts business with others?"

"We're willing to negotiate with you; we've shown ample sincerity." Feiyu stood aside with his arms crossed, mocking them. "Its territory is barely anything—Kowloon Bay is twice its size. It doesn't appreciate the offer; might as well just clap and call it quits!"

With gritted teeth, Long San slammed the sashimi plate onto the ground, toppling the table in a fit of rage. Dishes scattered everywhere, creating a mess.

Long San sneered coldly, "You mainlanders! Once you're on this boat, you don't get to call the shots!"

"I'm making it clear today: I'm claiming Causeway Bay for myself. Otherwise, the Fourteen Gang can forget about leaving here alive!"

The Fourteen Gang wasn't a group to be trifled with.

Fei Yu shoved Long San away with a slap, "If you've got the guts, come at us and see what happens!"

Amidst the chaos, both sides were like fireworks ignited in a second. Some grabbed chairs, others beer bottles. Outside, more men in submarine uniforms climbed aboard, wielding axes and attacking anyone from the Fourteen Gang they encountered. The scene instantly descended into pandemonium, so much so that the frightened owner, accompanied by his wife, jumped into the sea to swim ashore.

"Feiyu!" Qiu Hao remained calm, clutching the protective amulet close to his chest. As an ax-wielding member of the Axe Gang approached, Qiu Hao seized the weapon, kicked the man away, and then swung the axe at another incoming opponent.

Feiyu knocked down a man with a punch and leaped out through a window. Within two minutes, a large force from the Fourteen Gang arrived at the pier, their cries of battle echoing through the sky.

Long San's face was grim, his teeth bared in anger. "I thought all people in the underworld valued their word! Yet the Fourteen Gang goes back on its deal!"

Qiu Hao sneered. "The one who first broke trust was you!"

Upon receiving news of the negotiation, he had instructed Feiyu to keep watch at the pier for any sign of Long San's ambush. Though no one was found on the surface, they hadn't anticipated the ambush lurking beneath the water!

If not for fate.

He had grown suspicious and brought his men along, knowing the Fourteen Gang's reputation for keeping their promises. Otherwise, they would indeed have fallen here!

Kicking aside a subordinate who tried to attack him, Qiu Hao prepared to confront Long San when suddenly, someone grabbed him from behind by the neck.

It was the bartender, his eyes bloodshot as he clung tightly to Qiu Hao's neck, seething, "Qiu Hao! The Fourteen Gang took my elder brother's life! Today, I'll kill you in his name, avenging his death!"

Long San seized the opportunity, brandishing the axe at Qiu Hao's legs. Fei Yu kept a watchful eye on Qiu Hao, fearing any mishap. By the time the unexpected occurred, it was already too late to intervene.

Just as the axe was about to descend.

A wooden chair suddenly flew from an unknown direction, crashing right into Qiu Hao. The axe struck the chair in mid-air, splitting it in half with a resounding crack. Only half of the chair remained embedded in Qiu Hao's body.

Long San sneered, "You'll be crippled even if you survive today!"

With that, Long San swung the axe viciously once more. Qiu Hao gritted his teeth, expecting the remaining half of the chair to be cleaved. To everyone's astonishment, the wooden plank didn't budge under the axe's blow.

"What the hell!" Long San was stunned, unable to believe that the axe failed to split the wooden chair. He had expected Qiu Hao's legs to follow suit after the chair broke apart.

It couldn't be.

The chair should have been cut through just now!

Fei Yu pulled his subordinate away just in time. Freed, Qiu Hao rose to his feet and kicked Long San out the window, sending him plunging into the sea.

Fei Yu rushed over, his tone filled with concern, "Brother Qiu, are you alright?"

A salty sea breeze swept by, but Qiu Hao found his pocket empty when he reached for his protective charm.

Rubbing the ashes of the charm, beads of sweat trickled down his back, now chilled to the core. "It's alright."

If not for that talisman, his legs would have been severed just now, followed swiftly by his hands. Wouldn't that mean his fate predicted in the initial reading had come true?

"Fei Yu, let's go find Master Chu."

Zeng Fangxin, a reporter from the Dahsi News Agency, had been lurking on Temple Street since early morning, holding a bowl of curry fish balls and occasionally glancing at the dessert stall in the distance.

It was still early, and the stall was deserted.

Deciding to make use of her idle time, Zeng Fangxin decided to gather some intelligence. She skewered a fish ball with a stick and struck up a conversation with the fish ball vendor behind her.

"Boss, I've heard there's a fortune-teller on this street who's really accurate. Is that true?"

The fish ball vendor, busy boiling his fish balls, pointed to the dessert stall upon hearing about the fortune-teller. "Yes, it's the dessert stall right there."

"As for whether it's genuine or accurate, I'm not sure. With the busy business, there's no time to verify it. But she does have many customers, and she's even been in the newspapers. The visitors she attracts also boost the economy of Temple Street. In my opinion, having such a fortune teller around is beneficial either way."

Before the fish ball vendor could finish, a fruit stall owner interrupted. They were both in the same trade, and on Temple Street's limited space, they often competed for customers. Shanpo was on good terms with Chu Yuening, so naturally, he disliked her as well.

"All smoke and mirrors," the fruit vendor scoffed. "Appearing in newspapers doesn't mean anything! Anyone with half a brain can hire two people to create hype and pay for a newspaper feature!"

"Predicting the future? That's sheer fraud!"

Zeng Fangxin strongly agreed. She had long suspected that Li Huiwen resorted to these tactics for a promotion. A fortune teller would resort to deception, while a journalist sought sensational news for career advancement.