Chapter 34: Four for You, Six for Me

Half an hour later, Chen Xuewen and his group arrived outside a detached villa in the southern district of Pingcheng.

This residence was the most opulent estate for miles around. Covering at least an acre of land, it featured front and back gardens and luxurious decorations that made it stand out prominently. The owner, Zhou Jinghui, was famously wealthy throughout the surrounding villages.

Zhou Jinghui had been a street-level operator in his younger days. Once he struck it rich, he laundered his money and stepped away from the life to run legitimate businesses. However, having grown accustomed to the easy money of the underworld, he found honest business too slow. Consequently, he began opening various entertainment venues. He owned seven video game parlors, five internet cafes, two bars, two bathhouses, and a dance hall.

With so many venues, he naturally needed muscle to guard them. He had plenty of subordinates, including five men like Old Hei, each of whom was capable of running operations on their own. Thus, Zhou Jinghui was considered a major player in Pingcheng. While he didn't quite reach the level of someone like Master Hou, he was far beyond the reach of someone like Li Eryong.

Standing outside Zhou Jinghui’s home, Li Eryong was visibly trembling; after all, this was his boss’s boss.

"Wenzi, shouldn't we just call it a day?" Li Eryong whispered. "Old Hei was a brother who followed Zhou Jinghui for years. We crippled him, and now we’re coming to demand his territory—isn't that just adding fuel to the fire? My advice is we turn back and look for another way to make money."

Chen Xuewen cast him a glance. "Eryong, in this life, wealth is found in danger. Without guts, how can one ever succeed?"

Li Eryong sighed helplessly. "I know that, but we've already made an enemy of him. Do you really expect him to help us succeed? I’m worried that once we walk in there, we might not walk back out. Who knows how many bodyguards Zhou Jinghui has inside? Besides, he keeps two vicious dogs—they're incredibly savage and have even mauled people to death before!"

Chen Xuewen smiled faintly. "Don't worry. Zhou Jinghui won't lay a hand on us—at least, not in his own home."

Without waiting for Li Eryong to respond, Chen Xuewen stepped forward and pressed the doorbell. Before long, someone came out. After asking who they were, the man went inside to relay the message.

A short while later, several men rushed out, opened the gate, and ushered Chen Xuewen inside.

Chen Xuewen walked into the living room, where seven or eight men were already standing. Sitting on the sofa was a burly man—Zhou Jinghui himself. In one hand, he was rotating two steel balls; in the other, he gripped two heavy iron chains. Attached to the chains were two incredibly fierce-looking dogs, presumably the same beasts that had killed people in the past.

Seeing Chen Xuewen and Li Eryong enter, the dogs immediately lunged at them with guttural snarls. Li Eryong jumped in fright, instinctively raising his crutch to defend himself.

Chen Xuewen, however, remained calm. He stood with his hands behind his back, watching Zhou Jinghui with a steady gaze, as if he hadn't even noticed the lunging dogs. Just as the beasts were about to reach him, Zhou Jinghui let out a cold huff. "Back!"

The two dogs immediately obeyed, retreating to sit by Zhou Jinghui’s side.