"Brother Fan, what's the rush?" Yang Jian asked as soon as he entered.
Yang Fan pointed to the sofa opposite. "Little Yang, please sit. I'm asking you here rather abruptly today because I need a favor. Of course, you can refuse, as there's some risk involved."
"Brother Fan, you're being too formal. You've always treated me like a brother. Just tell me what you need. If I can do it, I'll do it without hesitation."
"Good, you truly are a good brother. Here's the situation: our boss is meeting with an opponent for negotiations today. After coordination by a middleman, both sides are allowed to bring only five people. I plan to bring three of my disciples and you to accompany the boss for the negotiation. There's a high chance of conflict during the talks. You can still refuse now, and I won't blame you."
So it's a gang boss negotiation. This is like a scene from a Hong Kong movie. Things could kick off if they disagree. It's definitely risky. Why are they pulling me into this?
Yang Jian scratched his head. "Brother Fan, are you sure the other side also only has five people?"
"Confirmed. The middleman is a well-known figure in Hancheng's underworld. That can be guaranteed."
"Then no problem, I'll go with you."
If both sides only have five people, what's there to be afraid of? Yang Fan is very strong. Yang Jian considers himself no match for him, and his three disciples are also quite formidable. One of them can handle ten or eight street thugs with ease. Such a team's overall combat capability is already terrifying. No matter how strong the opponent is, they'll at best be evenly matched. There shouldn't be any danger.
Yang Fan glanced at his watch. "Alright, let's head out now and meet the boss."
The five of them left the gym and got into Yang Fan's Land Cruiser.
Fifteen minutes later, the SUV drove into a private villa compound.
Without time to admire the villa's landscaped gardens, Yang Jian followed Yang Fan and the others into the living room.
A man in his mid-thirties, with fair skin and a refined appearance, was sitting on the sofa reading documents. He nodded at Yang Fan, gesturing for him to sit opposite.
Yang Fan said nothing, waving for Yang Jian and the others to sit down as well.
The man finished reading after five minutes, put down the documents, and scanned the people opposite him. His gaze suddenly stopped on Yang Jian. "Yang Fan, this brother looks a bit unfamiliar. I don't think I've met him?"
Yang Fan quickly introduced him. "Brother Tong, this is my brother, Yang Jian. He's been training with me recently and is very well-rounded. He's stronger than all my disciples, especially with his extensive combat experience. The situation is special this time, so I brought him along."
"Yang Jian? He's not your biological brother, is he? You don't look alike at all."
"Not biological brothers. He happens to have the same surname, Yang, and is from Xinhe District."
"You say he has extensive combat experience?"
"Yes, he's quite famous in Xinhe District. Liu Ming was crippled by him personally, and Old Xiong from Xunsi River also suffered losses at his hands. In terms of combat, I might not even be his match. That's why I specifically invited him here to protect you today."
Yang Jian was surprised by Yang Fan's statement. The other party had clearly investigated him thoroughly, and the boss opposite was likely Luo Tong.
Luo Tong seemed a bit surprised. "Is that so? Brother Yang Jian, welcome to our team. After today's business is concluded, we'll have a good chat."
Yang Jian was a bit bewildered. He was only here to help; he hadn't agreed to join their team.
Yang Fan knew his boss had misunderstood. "Brother Tong, Yang Jian is a member of the Emperor Company that operates the casino on Hongqi Street. I pulled him over temporarily to help. But rest assured, his character is absolutely reliable."
"I see. No matter. We can't miss out on talent like Brother Yang Jian. We'll discuss this later. Let's depart now."
Luo Tong was clearly very interested in Yang Jian, but today's matter was important, and it wasn't the time to recruit him.
They left the villa, and Yang Jian was assigned to the co-pilot seat of a Mercedes-Benz 600. Yang Fan and Luo Tong sat in the back, and the driver was also a capable young man.
Yang Fan's three disciples continued to follow behind in the Land Cruiser.
After fifteen minutes, the two cars drove out of the city and finally arrived at a riverbank of the Han River. The area was open, with sandy beaches and pebbles, and no obstructions.
A car was already waiting there. Seeing Luo Tong's car arrive, a middle-aged man in his forties got out.
"Yang Fan, the five of you follow me to the riverbank. Xiao Zhou, you stay here, observe the surroundings, and if you notice anything unusual, notify Yang Fan immediately and drive directly to the riverbank for backup."
After giving his instructions, Luo Tong got out of the car and walked over to greet the middle-aged man.
Yang Fan followed with Yang Jian and the other three, about ten meters behind them.
Yang Jian didn't hear what Luo Tong and the man were saying. After about a minute of conversation, the two of them walked towards the riverbank, with Yang Fan and the others still following at a distance of ten meters.
After walking for nearly a hundred meters, they reached the bank of the Han River. The gentle flow of the Han River brought a hint of coolness. Luo Tong and the middle-aged man stood by the bank, saying nothing, just quietly watching the river flow eastward.
About five minutes later, two more sedans drove over, stopping about fifty meters away from Luo Tong's car.
The middle-aged man made a phone call, and six people got out of those two cars, also walking towards the riverbank.
As these people approached, Yang Jian realized that the leader was a young man in his late twenties, dressed in a suit and looking very handsome.
Is this a triad boss? Like Luo Tong's appearance, both of them defied Yang Jian's perception. Gang bosses in movies always looked fierce, and the bosses he had met in reality—Boss Xiong, Liu Ming, Wu Laizi, Bao Guo—were all burly and full of aggression.
Yet, these two were too refined and scholarly. They could easily be mistaken for white-collar professionals on the street, but both were powerful triad bosses.
After all, the cars they drove were worth millions.
The five people following the young man were even more intimidating. They were all over 1.9 meters tall, weighing at least 100 kilograms, with broad shoulders and powerful builds, exuding an imposing aura.
These men were physically superior to Yang Fan's group of five. Yang Jian, at 1.8 meters, was the tallest among his group.
However, fighting wasn't just about height. Facing these giants, Yang Fan's group showed no fear. Being shorter meant a more stable base and greater agility, giving them an advantage in life-or-death combat.
The middleman called Luo Tong and the young man together for a discussion, then instructed the bodyguards of both sides to retreat twenty meters. The three of them then stood by the riverbank to negotiate.
Yang Jian looked around. This location was chosen quite well. The entire riverbank was flat, with only low-lying reeds and distant cattle and sheep. There wasn't a soul in sight, and no place to hide.
This way, there was no need to worry about the other side setting up an ambush. From this, it seemed Luo Tong had deep-seated grievances with the other party. Both sides were on guard, but due to the distribution of significant interests, negotiations had to take place.
Given the current situation, it seemed unlikely they would fight. Both sides were evenly matched, and neither would gain an advantage if a fight broke out. The real contest wouldn't be a direct confrontation.