Chapter 83 – Brother Dragon Listens to Advice, But Not Fully

Chapter 83 - Brother Dragon Listens to Advice, But Not Fully

The Xu family ancestral land was registered under the second wife's name.

It was her ploy to put it up for auction, aiming to inflate its value, only to have Gu Shaoqian purchase it at an exorbitant price in the end.

The auction company was a subsidiary of the Gu family, so Gu Shaoqian wouldn't even need to pay any auction fees; he could collaborate with the second wife to artificially inflate the price of the land worth a million or two to tens of millions, perhaps even reaching hundreds of millions, all without spending a cent.

This kind of manipulation was common in auctions. Besides land, antiques and calligraphy works could also be hyped up to sky-high prices through such tactics.

Brother Dragon had come today with one purpose only: to ruin the second wife's plans and dash her hopes of manipulating the Xu family ancestral land's price.

With Brother Dragon's direct approach towards the second wife, Shen Qing dared to bet that there was a deep-seated grudge between them. Was it the second wife who had sent the men to chase after Brother Dragon in Temple Street last time?

While Shen Qing pulled Jian Yao to a spot with a good view to enjoy the show, Brother Dragon's men had already whisked the beautiful auctioneer aside and brought an antique chair up for auction before Brother Dragon, inviting him to take a seat.

Brother Dragon nonchalantly lounged on an antique chair on the auction stage, legs crossed, under the stunned gazes of the wealthy attendees. The bright lights on the stage shone on him, the lenses of his golden glasses reflecting a cold sheen. "Either this plot of land rots in the hands of Madam Two, or I'll cut down anyone who dares to bid on it and bury them in the Xu family's ancestral land, so they can keep the hundred-odd vengeful spirits of the Xu family company."

The younger generation might not have heard about the fire that razed the Xu family's ancestral hall, but for the older folks, just thinking about it sent shivers down their spines. A massive blaze had claimed the lives of over a hundred Xu family members, their anguished cries echoing through the night. For years, people dared not pass by the ruins after dark, fearful of encountering the vengeful spirits.

Decades later, Madam Two, seeing that the incident was being forgotten, sought to hype up this plot of land, along with the surrounding areas, to develop real estate and regain favor with Gu Chengfu after her disgrace.

Thus, tonight's auction was crucial to both Madam Two and Gu Shaoqian.

Ever since Madam Two fell out of favor, life in the Gu household had been tough for her and Gu Shaoqian. Gu Shaoqian hadn't seen Gu Chengfu in a week. Lately, Gu Chengfu seemed to be constantly entertained by the third branch, sparking rumors that he intended to groom their children as successors.

Gu Shaoqian, who had always been favored by Gu Chengfu and believed himself to be the heir to the Gu family, certainly felt threatened by this turn of events. As Brother Dragon brazenly disrupted their plans, Gu Shaoqian stepped forward with a cold expression, glaring at the man. "You're Brother Dragon, right?"

Dressed in a tailored suit, Gu Shaoqian exuded the demeanor of a leader: "Brother Dragon, by attending today's auction, you are considered a friend of mine. Whatever your request may be, we can discuss it amicably."

In an auction, any conflict could harm innocent bystanders, and their plan couldn't afford any mishaps.

Thus, Gu Shaoqian wisely chose to reason with Brother Dragon rather than confront him head-on like a street thug.

Observing Brother Dragon seated on the antique chair, he said, "Since Brother Dragon appreciates this chair, I'll take the liberty to gift it to you as a token of friendship between us all."

After giving ample respect to Brother Dragon, Gu Shaoqian signaled to the auction's security guards. The guards prepared to carry Brother Dragon and the chair off the stage.

However, Brother Dragon blew a smoke ring at the guard bending down to lift the chair, casually pressing his cigar against the guard's chest, using him as an ashtray.

Seeing that Brother Dragon was unappreciative of his gesture, Gu Shaoqian's expression darkened. Su Qilan, standing nearby, also gazed at Brother Dragon with astonishment, seemingly captivated by his audacious charm. Her eyes flickered, pondering something unknown.

"See that? Tonight's going to be quite the spectacle," Shen Qing said, suddenly producing a handful of sunflower seeds and handing them to Jian Yao. As she munched away, she whispered, "This incident tonight will definitely lead to a major revelation."

It seemed her unfortunate disciple had been thoroughly disciplined by Brother Dragon.

Once a lively chatterbox, now clad in a black suit alongside Brother Dragon's dozen or so minions, the young man stood silently, his cold demeanor resembling that of an emotionless assassin.

Shen Qing glanced at the conspicuous apprentice before shifting her focus back to Brother Dragon. "Brother Dragon, you came straight for the Xu Family Ancestral Hall. Are you perhaps a member of the Xu family?" Shen Qing whispered, pondering.

Jian Yao casually replied, "No."

Shen Qing was taken aback. "How can you be so sure?"

Noticing Shen Qing's gaze on him, Jian Yao gently cupped her face, redirecting her attention to Brother Dragon. "Just watch the show calmly."

At that moment, tensions between Brother Dragon and Gu Shaoqian had escalated to a boiling point, with conflict imminent.

Beneath Brother Dragon's provocative gaze, Gu Shaoqian took a few deep breaths and continued, "Brother Dragon, everyone present here today is a prominent figure in Hong Kong. We've all come to this auction out of respect for the Gu family. If there's anything that has displeased you, I invite you to a private dinner where we can resolve our differences without spoiling the atmosphere for everyone else."

Shen Qing perceived the subtle blend of coercion and temptation in Gu Shaoqian's words, which also served as a veiled warning to Brother Dragon that causing trouble at the auction would not only offend the Gu family but also incur the wrath of other prominent Hong Kong families.

If it were an ordinary hoodlum, they would undoubtedly be intimidated by Gu Shaoqian's presence.

Yet, Brother Dragon was someone who wouldn't yield to either persuasion or coercion. As long as he was in a good mood, he wouldn't hesitate to give even the King of Heaven a sound beating, just to have them address him as Brother Dragon.

Thus, Brother Dragon swiftly kicked towards Gu Shaoqian's chest. If not for the bodyguard's prompt protection, Gu Shaoqian would have been sent flying by Brother Dragon's kick.

"Shaoqian," Su Qilan supported the slightly disheveled Gu Shaoqian, concern evident in her eyes. "Brother Dragon, let's talk things out properly. Resorting to violence isn't how a man should behave."

Su Qilan glared at Brother Dragon with fury, who sneered in response, "I have every right to teach him a lesson. Who asked you, a stinking b*tch, to meddle?"

The thought of ever having feelings for Su Qilan and ultimately jumping off a building for her filled Brother Dragon with disgust.

When he saw Gu Shaoqian shielding Su Qilan, he scoffed mockingly. His disdainful gaze was humiliating to both Gu Shaoqian and Su Qilan.

As Gu Shaoqian prepared to release his grip on Su Qilan, she stepped forward, mustering all her courage to defend him. "Brother Dragon, you can insult me, but not Shaoqian."

"He is the second young master of the Gu family, a bright moon in the sky." Gu Shaoqian froze, reminded of Shen Qing's bold defense and favoritism towards Jian Yao.

Unconsciously, Gu Shaoqian glanced at Shen Qing, who was watching the scene unfold with Jian Yao. For some reason, being defended by Su Qilan didn't stir any gratitude within him; only irritation.

"Brother Dragon, Shaoqian is glad you came to the auction today. But if there's an issue, let's discuss it privately," Su Qilan proposed. "We could say we got to know each other through conflict. Another day, I'll invite Sister Xianzhen, and I'll apologize and express my gratitude to both of you."

"Drag her away," Brother Dragon dismissed Su Qilan with utter disregard, instructing his subordinates to remove her from the scene. "Really, anyone dares to negotiate terms with me now."

Fixing Su Qilan with a disdainful glare, Brother Dragon's tone was laced with icy malice. "I came here today to settle scores with Gu Shaoqian and Second Madam."

Shen Qing couldn't help but applaud Brother Dragon for his straightforwardness.

Gu Shaoqian, on the other hand, stared at him intently, his gaze darkening. "What do you mean by that?"

Brother Dragon lifted his chin slightly, his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses brimming with hatred. "I've never forgotten how that old hag, Mo Cuiyun, publicized in the newspapers that I was Gu Chengfu's illegitimate son, leading to attempts on my life."

"Oh wow, Brother Dragon is indeed Gu Chengfu's illegitimate child," Shen Qing exclaimed, turning to Jian Yao in awe. "When he was being chased that night, I even threw a newspaper with 'illegitimate son' written on it right at his face. The papers were practically revealing the truth to me."

Shen Qing spoke animatedly, but Jian Yao remained calm. "You were there when he was being chased?"

"Oh, I had a little mishap that evening too," Shen Qing mentioned casually.

Jian Yao's gaze was sharp and carried an emotion she couldn't decipher. Feeling a bit guilty, Shen Qing reached out to cradle Jian Yao's head, directing his attention back to Brother Dragon. "Focus on the show."

Jian Yao was almost amused by her antics. Was she trying to use his own tactics against him?

Shen Qing, you really know how to surprise.

Gu Shaoqian was equally astonished. He knew that Gu Chengfu had an illegitimate son, but Second Madam hadn't disclosed the details to him.

This was because Second Madam didn't want Gu Shaoqian involved. An illegitimate son was still a son. If Gu Chengfu found out that his son had died, he wouldn't be pleased.

Thus, she wanted Gu Shaoqian to remain in Gu Chengfu's heart as the upright and filial son.

Hence, when Brother Dragon revealed the truth, Gu Shaoqian was utterly dumbfounded. His father's illegitimate son was even older than him? This was quite a blow to Gu Shaoqian's self-image.

The other Hong Kong tycoons at the auction were also stunned.

Gu Chengfu's illegitimate son turned out to be a gangster? How would the Gu family face society with such news?

Everyone loved a good show.

Seeing Shen Qing and Jian Yao calmly enjoying their popcorn while watching the drama, the others also settled into their seats, ready for the spectacle.

Unfortunately, they didn't have popcorn, which made their experience less enjoyable compared to Shen Qing and company.

The resilient Gu Shaoqian quickly regained his composure, gazing intently at Brother Dragon before declaring, "If that's the case, I'll take you to meet my father tonight."

Gu Shaoqian continued, "Whether or not you're from the Gu family, it's Father's decision to make." He was quite clever, knowing he couldn't resolve the issue and thus deferring it to Gu Chengfu.

"If you truly are my elder brother, I will respect you regardless of the outcome. Today is the Gu family's auction, and as a member of the Gu family, I believe you should help me ensure its security."

Gu Shaoqian's words were well-considered, expressing his openness to accept Brother Dragon while also shifting responsibility to Gu Chengfu. Moreover, if Brother Dragon wished to return to the Gu family, he couldn't afford to cause any more trouble, for the Gu family would surely reject him otherwise.

Brother Dragon scoffed, "Do you think I care about the Gu family?" He derided, "Only those without power seek favor with that old fool, Gu Chengfu."

With his feet resting on the auction table, the polished tip of his shoe aimed directly at Gu Shaoqian, Brother Dragon declared, "Blood feuds cannot be reconciled. Tonight, either I break your legs or I sabotage the auction."

His sharp-featured face brimmed with arrogance. "Giving you a choice between two options, I'm being quite merciful, wouldn't you say?"

As Brother Dragon spoke of his mercy, he counted the beads on his wrist, glancing at Shen Qing. His ambiguous gaze seemed to imply, 'Considering my actions, I'm still showing devotion to Buddha.'

How did Shen Qing feel about Brother Dragon's transformation? A mix of relief and speechlessness, to be sure.

Fortunately, Brother Dragon heeds advice; alas, he does so only partially, leaving one speechless.

With a cold gaze, Jian Yao observed the silent communication between Shen Qing and Brother Dragon. He seized Shen Qing's hand with a tense and ashen expression, forcing a handful of shelled melon seeds into her palm with an unamused scowl.

Shen Qing's eyes curved into a delighted smile as she happily popped the sunflower seed kernels into her mouth.

Observing her savoring the food, Jian Yao harrumphed and turned his head aside, though his hand continued deftly shelling the melon seeds.

Observing this, Brother Dragon let out a cold snort, his eyes flashing with arrogance as he fixed them on Gu Shaoqian. "If you refuse to choose between the two, then I'll just make sure both options are off the table for you."

As Brother Dragon's words faded, over a dozen of his underlings rushed toward Gu Shaoqian in unison. Zhong Ziguang, standing nearby, panicked and sought shelter behind Brother Dragon upon witnessing the scene.

Brother Dragon scoffed, "Ambition."

"I'm a fortune-teller, what use is ambition to me?" Zhong Ziguang instinctively shot back, only to realize he had dared to talk back to Brother Dragon. His face paled as he retreated in fear.

Amidst the fierce battle between Brother Dragon's men and Gu Shaoqian's bodyguards, Zhong Ziguang accidentally found himself on the verge of being caught up in the fray.

It was Shen Qing who finally couldn't bear to watch and intervened. She dashed forward, grabbed Zhong Ziguang, and pulled him out of harm's way.

"Thank you." Zhong Ziguang thanked reflexively, his eyes shining when he saw Shen Qing. "Apprentice, you're here too?"

Ever since he had calculated their master-disciple fate at the Temple Street footbridge, Zhong Ziguang had been eager to take Shen Qing as his disciple.

It was quite comical that Zhong Ziguang still didn't know that Shen Qing was actually the master he recognized in Thailand. In Thailand, Shen Qing had disguised herself as a man and kept her voice low.

Zhong Ziguang only knew that his master's name was Shen Qing and she was a young lady. He knew nothing else. Besides, he had never met Brother Yao, only Sister Jie and Brother Biao.

If Shen Qing were standing with Sister Jie and Brother Biao, Zhong Ziguang would have surely guessed her identity. Or if someone called out Shen Qing's name on the spot, he would have realized that the apprentice he had been longing to take under his wing was actually his mighty master.

However, no one called Shen Qing by her name, and every time they met in Hong Kong, Shen Qing was either alone or with Brother Yao, so Zhong Ziguang truly failed to recognize her.

Seeing how innocent his disciple still was, Shen Qing shot Brother Dragon an odd glance, wondering, Didn't you agree to help me train my disciple? Why is my apprentice still so naive?

Brother Dragon met Shen Qing's questioning gaze with a cold smile. Then, Shen Qing watched as her naive disciple turned into a shrinking turtle, not daring to say another word.

Got it, Zhong Ziguang's nature was hard to change, and his fear was directed solely at Brother Dragon, not others.

"Apprentice, let's stay further away. Brother Dragon is someone you don't want to provoke," Zhong Ziguang tugged Shen Qing back while, during the chaos, one of Gu Shaoqian's bodyguards was kicked over by Brother Dragon's men, nearly hitting Shen Qing. Zhong Ziguang promptly kicked the bodyguard away again.

The move was swift and precise, leaving Shen Qing astonished.

"Hey hey, I've been with Brother Dragon for quite some time. Every day, his minions trained me, and now my skills have improved significantly," Zhong Ziguang rolled up his suit sleeve to show Shen Qing his toned arm muscles. "Now when my master goes to Thailand again, I'll be able to protect him."

"Apprentice, you can protect my master with me," Zhong Ziguang said to Shen Qing.

Shen Qing... felt rather touched.

After all, although the apprentice didn't know what she looked like, he had her in his heart.

The auction soon fell under Brother Dragon's control, thanks to his seasoned gangsters who had seen their fair share of blood and lives. Gu Shaoqian's bodyguards stood no chance against them.

Gu Shaoqian's leg was indeed broken by Brother Dragon, but he remained resilient. Despite his injury, he didn't utter a sound, only staring intently at Brother Dragon with dark, brooding eyes.

Brother Dragon was indifferent to Gu Shaoqian's hatred. He continued sitting on his antique chair and declared, "Alright, I'm in charge of tonight's auction."

He then addressed the beauty, who was being held by his minions, "Continue with the auction."

The beautiful auctioneer looked at Brother Dragon with a hint of fear, but he chuckled. "As long as you don't provoke me, I won't hit you."

When Brother Dragon smiled, there was a touch of madness in his sharp, delicate features, revealing an unhealthy glee.

Shen Qing felt like sending him another copy of the Great Compassion Mantra to cleanse the disturbed killing intent within him.

"N-Now... Now..." The trembling auctioneer asked Brother Dragon, "Brother Dragon... Are we still going to auction this plot of land?"

"Auction it," Brother Dragon replied with a grin. "I'm just curious if anyone dares to buy it."

No one present dared to make a bid because Brother Dragon had even broken Gu Shaoqian's leg. What wouldn't he do? Besides, Brother Dragon was Gu Chengfu's illegitimate son. This matter was an internal affair of the Gu family, and everyone preferred to be mere spectators rather than get involved.

Thus, when the auctioneer actually put the land up for bidding with a starting price of one million, no one dared to raise their paddle.

Everyone still remembered Brother Dragon's threat that whoever dared to bid would end up buried alongside the spirits haunting the Xu family's ancestral land.

Observing Brother Dragon's nonchalant attitude, Shen Qing turned to Zong Ziguang and asked, "Has Brother Dragon been doing business lately? What kind of business?"

Brother Dragon, who even entertained her suggestion of devoting herself to Buddhism, surely wouldn't disregard a business matter. Moreover, since he had instructed the auctioneer to proceed with the land sale, it was evident that Brother Dragon was genuinely intent on selling.

As expected, Zhong Ziguang informed Shen Qing that Brother Dragon was involved in real estate.

Shen Qing nodded, then, amidst everyone's fear, raised her bidding paddle. "One million and ten thousand."

Snap, snap, snap.

The moment Shen Qing raised her paddle, all eyes were drawn to her. When Gu Shaoqian saw her, his gaze was filled with a mixture of emotions, as if asking, Have you lost your mind?

Brother Dragon fixated on Shen Qing. "Are you sure? You're really going to bid?"

His gaze and tone exuded danger. Everyone else feared for Shen Qing's life, imagining her being torn apart by Brother Dragon and buried beneath the Xu family ancestral shrine.

After all, Brother Dragon didn't appear to be the type to spare a lady's feelings. Shen Qing looked back at him and nodded confidently. "I'm sure."

Upon hearing Shen Qing dare to respond to Brother Dragon, everyone collectively gasped, convinced that she was doomed and Brother Dragon would surely deal with her.

Jian Yao, however, sat calmly beside them, cracking open sunflower seeds. The crisp 'crack-crack' sounds echoed prominently in the unusually quiet auction hall.

Everyone watched as Jian Yao's slender fingers effortlessly cracked open sunflower seeds, placing the beautiful kernels on the napkin on the table.

He peeled them without eating them, continuing the task persistently. The rhythmic sound of cracking seeds made everyone crave them once again.

Shen Qing noticed Brother Dragon also watching Jian Yao peel the seeds. She grabbed a handful of unshelled seeds and handed them to him, whispering, "Brother Dragon, if you let me bid for the Xu family's ancestral land, I'll split the shares with you. Of course, you'll have to contribute to the cost of purchasing the land..."

In business, one must be bold.

To not take advantage when it presents itself would make one a fool. Anyway, Second Aunt was always causing her trouble and even wanted her gone from Hong Kong.

She wasn't afraid to offend Second Aunt; she would seize the opportunity first and deal with the consequences later.

...