Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Park Bucheng stared at the mysterious message on his phone, his brow furrowed. Who the hell is this? Sending strange messages in the middle of the night. The text was ambiguous, only warning him to "be careful of those around you." For some reason, it reminded him of Li Xuanwei's meaningful gaze before leaving. That look seemed to hold unspoken words, like a thorn piercing his heart. He took a deep breath, shoved his phone back into his pocket, and quickly left the warehouse.
The night was deep, and the streets of Seoul were sparsely populated. The dim streetlights elongated his shadow, making him appear like a solitary statue. A cold wind whistled past, stirring up fallen leaves on the ground, creating a rustling sound that seemed to whisper secrets. As Park Bucheng walked, he reflected on what he had just learned about the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms. Although he was still a beginner, the surging momentum had already given him a taste of power. Damn it, now I finally have some means of self-defense. If I run into those punks again, I could slap them down with one hand!
Just as he turned a corner, his phone buzzed again. The vibrating sound pierced through the quiet night like a sharp knife. This time it was a message from Li Zhenghao: "Come to the underground bar immediately; there's something important."
Park Bucheng squinted his eyes and a faint smile crept onto his lips. Summoning people at this hour meant something must have happened. He adjusted his collar and headed toward the underground bar where gangsters often gathered. His footsteps echoed in the empty street, each step pounding against his heart.
Pushing open the heavy iron door, he was hit by a thick cloud of smoke and alcohol that nearly made him cough. The atmosphere inside the bar was eerie; usually raucous and lively, it was now strangely quiet—so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. A tense air hung over the room like a tightly drawn bowstring ready to snap at any moment. A dozen small leaders sat on either side, their eyes flickering as they exchanged glances like a pack of waiting cheetahs. In the dim light, their faces were shrouded in shadow, obscuring their expressions and adding to the mystery.
Li Zhenghao sat in the center on a plush sofa, his face dark and brooding as he held a cigar that emitted swirling smoke, obscuring his eyes. Upon seeing Park Bucheng enter, he waved his hand: "Sit."
Park Bucheng feigned a nervous demeanor as he hunched his shoulders and settled into a corner seat. After observing for days, he had already figured out each person's character and stance in this gathering. Jin Dongdou was greedy and lecherous, with shifty eyes that always seemed to be calculating something; Zhao Qianfan was ambitious with sharp eyes that resembled those of a hungry wolf ready to pounce; Wu Meiling was ruthless, her fingers painted with bright red nail polish tapping rhythmically on the table like a death drum... Each person had their own agenda and hidden motives.
"Wang Hu and Zhang San have been seriously injured," Li Zhenghao stated bluntly, his voice low but laced with suppressed anger. "Does anyone know what happened?"
The room fell silent for a moment. The air felt thick as if it had solidified, making it hard to breathe. Park Bucheng lowered his head while glancing around discreetly. Several small leaders who were close to Wang Hu appeared visibly anxious, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads—clearly they already knew something.
"Boss," Jin Dongdou suddenly spoke up, an obsequious smile plastered across his chubby face. "About the recent profit-sharing..."
"Shut up!" Li Zhenghao slammed the table so hard that the glasses rattled violently. "Is this really the time for that?"
Jin Dongdou shrank back slightly, but dissatisfaction was evident in his eyes. Park Bucheng noticed that other leaders also wore knowing expressions. It seemed that the profit-sharing issue had indeed stirred discontent among many—a ticking time bomb ready to explode at any moment.
"Boss," Zhao Qianfan stood up, his eyes flickering. "I heard that the Southern District has been stirring up trouble lately. Should we...?"
"Southern District?" Wu Meiling scoffed, her lips painted with red lipstick curling into a slight smirk, laced with sarcasm. "Some people must be hoping to take advantage of the situation, right?"
"What do you mean by that?" Zhao Qianfan's expression changed, his eyes widening in anger as if he were about to breathe fire.
Just as it seemed the two were about to clash, Park Bucheng accidentally knocked over a teacup. The sharp sound of shattering glass sliced through the tense atmosphere, redirecting everyone's attention to him.
"I'm... I'm sorry..." he stammered, his face pale and body slightly trembling, while discreetly slipping a note beside Li Zhenghao's seat. The note landed like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples of disturbance.
Li Zhenghao glanced at the note, his gaze shifting. It read: "Jin Dongdou and Zhao Qianfan are secretly colluding to undermine your authority." The words struck Li Zhenghao's heart like a sharp knife.
"Everyone shut up!" Li Zhenghao suddenly stood up, his gaze cutting through the room like a blade, his voice icy and devoid of emotion. "Since everyone has something to say, why not settle this once and for all?"
At his words, the atmosphere in the bar became instantly tense. The air was thick with the scent of gunpowder, as if a single spark could ignite a full-blown conflict. Park Bucheng noticed that several leaders had their hands resting on their waists, knuckles turning white, ready to draw their guns at any moment.
"Boss," he feigned timidity, his voice trembling. "How about... we take a moment to calm down?"
"What are you even worth?" Jin Dongdou sneered, casting him a disdainful glance. "Who gave you the right to speak?"
Park Bucheng shrank back slightly but a glimmer of cunning flashed in his eyes. He knew that the piece he had just played was starting to take effect; this grand play was only just beginning.
"Park Bucheng is right," Li Zhenghao suddenly spoke up, casting a meaningful look at Park Bucheng, his tone carrying an almost imperceptible hint of appreciation. "We'll end it here for today. However..." He paused, his tone turning icy. "In the coming days, everyone better behave themselves."
As everyone hurriedly rose to take their leave, footsteps echoed in a rush, each person eager to escape any potential danger. Park Bucheng pretended to tie his shoelaces, intentionally lagging behind. Sure enough, Li Zhenghao called out to him.
"You little rascal..." Li Zhenghao squinted at him, a hint of amusement in his tone. "You're quite interesting."
Park Bucheng offered a humble smile. "You're too kind, Boss."
"Enough with the act," Li Zhenghao said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Just do your job well during this time; I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Stepping out of the bar, Park Bucheng let out a sigh of relief as the night breeze brushed against his face, bringing a refreshing chill. Half of his plan had succeeded, but he knew the real test was just beginning. At that moment, a familiar figure darted past from the shadows, moving like a ghost.
Park Bucheng's expression sharpened; wasn't that Wu Meiling's personal bodyguard? It seemed that this undercurrent of power struggles was far from over.
Comment 0 Comment Count