Chapter 43: Sister Gardenia

"No, you've misunderstood, Mr. Ling."
Yet...

Just as everyone was waiting to see Ling Qiu’s head burst open, this Brother Zhou actually gave a slight nod, adopting a rather courteous manner as he said, “I was out of line earlier. My apologies. Now, I’ll see you and your friends out.”

As he spoke, Brother Zhou turned to glance at Wang Bao. “Have someone open the door.”

What???

No one could believe their ears!

Wang Bao and his battered men stared in shock and disbelief.

What did this mean?

They were going to let them go?!

“Bro... Brother Zhou?... Maybe you don’t know what happened... This is—”

Before Wang Bao could explain, Brother Zhou turned his head coldly. “Do you have questions about Sister Gardenia’s arrangements?”

What?!!

Sister Gardenia’s arrangements?!

At these words, Wang Bao felt his heart skip a beat.

My god...

Sister Gardenia?!

This was truly a person of immense influence!

If the so-called Four Kings of Night Market Street were each overlords of their own domains, then Sister Gardenia was a mythical figure who had never appeared in person. With a mere flick of her hand in the darkness, she held the entire order of Night Market Street in her grasp!

And now... it was Sister Gardenia herself who had arranged for Ling Qiu and his companions to be released?!!

Wang Bao looked at Ling Qiu in utter disbelief, his eyes flashing with shock.

Who on earth was this guy?! How could he have alarmed someone as powerful as Sister Gardenia?!

Meanwhile, Zhang Junfeng and the others, who were previously petrified with fear, now stared at Ling Qiu as if they had seen a ghost.

Their minds were completely blank!

Why was even the man whom Wang Bao treated with such respect, showing this same deference to Ling Qiu?

Who exactly was Ling Qiu?!

“Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

Seeing everyone still frozen, Brother Zhou’s expression turned icy as he spoke in a low, stern voice.

Wang Bao snapped back to his senses and shouted, “Open the door! Hurry!”

With a clatter, the tightly shut doors of the club swung open.

“Mr. Ling, everyone, this way please.”

---

Brother Zhou gestured for them to leave. As he raised his hand, the cuff of his sleeve slipped back, revealing a dark, spiral mark on his wrist—like a tattoo, but the design was far from simple.

Ling Qiu’s eyes narrowed, a glimmer of astonishment flickering within them.

This was a Binding Mark of Malevolent Spirits!

In simple terms, this man called Brother Zhou... likely had a ghost spirit sealed within him!

Such a sealing technique could bind a spirit inside one’s body, drawing upon its energy to enhance the practitioner’s own strength.

Who exactly was this Brother Zhou, to know such forbidden arts?

And... the “Sister Gardenia” he mentioned—who was she?

Of course, it was also possible that Brother Zhou had simply happened upon a similar tattoo by chance.

But the design of the Malevolent Spirit Seal was not something ordinary people could recognize. Regardless, Ling Qiu knew he needed to find out more.

With this thought, Ling Qiu put on a calm front and left with the others.

Within minutes, everyone had piled into cars and made their escape from Night Market Street.

Song Ningxue got into a taxi.

“Ling Qiu, get in, let’s ride back together!”

She opened the car door from inside.

Ling Qiu replied casually, “No need. I’ll head back myself later.”

“No way!” Song Ningxue insisted. “After everything that happened tonight, I have so much I want to ask you, and—”

Ling Qiu smiled. “You want to ask me why they let us go, right?”

Song Ningxue hesitated, then nodded earnestly.

Ling Qiu said, “Don’t forget, I was once a member of the Ling family.”

“But weren’t you already—”

“Just because I was cast out doesn’t mean I can’t have old connections, does it?”

“…”

Song Ningxue looked at him, half convinced, searching his eyes for any sign of deceit. But no matter how she tried, Ling Qiu’s gaze remained calm and unperturbed.

“Alright, I need to properly thank someone. After all, this old friend helped me out. It wouldn’t be right if I just left.”

With that, Ling Qiu closed the taxi door, and told the driver, “Sir, you’d better go now. There was a fight here just now. If you don’t leave, don’t blame me if you get caught up in it.”

Hearing this, the driver jolted, stomped on the gas, and the taxi sped away.

“Ling Qiu! Wait, I’m not finished talking—”

Song Ningxue’s voice faded into the distance as the car window rolled down...

...

Sky Garden Club.

A private lounge.

Brother Zhou sat, while Wang Bao stood.

---

“Brother Zhou... I really don’t understand... Why... why would Sister Gardenia have me let that bunch of punks go... My brother was beaten so badly...” Wang Bao’s face was ashen, and he struggled to contain his anger and humiliation.

“I’ve told you—Sister Gardenia’s instructions are law. Are you questioning her methods?”

“No, no! I wouldn’t dare!” Wang Bao quickly waved his hand and gritted his teeth. “I just... can’t figure it out!”

Brother Zhou took a deep breath, glanced at Wang Bao, and after a pause, spoke slowly, “Wang Bao, you joined Sister Gardenia’s side later on, but I’ve seen your loyalty over the years. There are things I can tell you.”

“Thank you, Brother Zhou!” Wang Bao hurried to light him a cigarette.

Brother Zhou exhaled a plume of smoke. “Sister Gardenia received a call today. The name ‘Old Master Qin’ came up. After that, she told me to let Ling Qiu go.”

“Old Master Qin?” Wang Bao was puzzled. “Which Old Master Qin?”

“How many Old Master Qins are there in all of Jiangnan Province?”

At this, Wang Bao thought for a moment, then his expression changed. “Brother Zhou, you mean... Old Master Qin from the provincial capital’s Qin family?!”

Brother Zhou gave a faint smile, which was answer enough.

At last, Wang Bao gave up any hope. “So that Ling Qiu kid... he’s connected to the Qin family in the provincial capital? No wonder... Sister Gardenia would... give in on this matter...”

“What did you say?” Brother Zhou’s eyes sharpened. “You said Sister Gardenia gave in?”

“No, no... Brother Zhou, that’s not what I meant.”

“Listen well—Sister Gardenia’s background is far more powerful than you or I can imagine! The Qin family is indeed a giant in Jiangnan Province. But if Sister Gardenia truly cared, she wouldn’t fear them! At most, in my view, this is a matter of courtesy—a favor extended to Old Master Qin.”

Wang Bao’s face was grim, his fists clenched tightly. “I’ll follow Sister Gardenia’s orders, of course... But with my brother beaten half to death, this is a hard pill to swallow!”

Brother Zhou glanced at him and sneered, “That’s why you’re so inflexible. Since Ling Qiu got into trouble in our club, Sister Gardenia had to give the Qin family face. So, today, since she’s made the arrangements, we must ensure Ling Qiu walks out with his head held high. But... once he leaves Sky Garden Club, whether he lives or dies—does it really matter to us?”

Wang Bao’s eyes lit up with grim understanding. He gritted his teeth, “Thank you for the reminder, Brother Zhou. I understand now!”

“Oh? And what is it that you understand?”
Suddenly, a voice rang out.

Hmm?!!

Wang Bao and Brother Zhou froze in shock!

They turned—and there, by the window, a figure had appeared without their notice.

It was Ling Qiu!