As the lamps lit up, people gradually began to fill the bar street.
While other places were crowded during the day and empty at night,
the bar street was the complete opposite.
As night fell, the neon lights of the bars on the street would illuminate, and men and women with restless hearts, or those meeting friends for drinks and talks, would flock into these establishments.
Night Wind Bar was just one of many on the street.
However, at this very moment, a "Closed for Business" sign hung at its entrance.
Inside the main hall of Night Wind Bar, several men sat with grim expressions on their faces.
"Boss, did you call us here because of Jacques' injury?"
A man to Shen Xiong's right spoke up.
The man wore black-rimmed glasses and had a refined appearance, looking like a teacher.
Yet, this gentle-looking man was the core of Shen Xiong's team.
His name was Sun Cheng, a man with a sharp mind and many ideas, Shen Xiong's most trusted strategist.
Shen Xiong sighed, his face darkening. "Yes, I'm afraid we're in trouble this time."
As soon as he finished speaking, the man to his left jumped up. "Damn it, who dares to cause trouble for us? I'll lead my men to chop them to death!"
This fellow had a booming voice and exaggerated movements, his face a picture of ferocity.
He was Shen Xiong's top enforcer, Zhao Tao.
Zhao Tao was one of the earliest to follow Shen Xiong. He was known for his fearlessness and recklessness.
Many years ago, on one occasion when he was out with Shen Xiong, they were ambushed by enemies.
He immediately grabbed a fruit knife from a roadside stall and fought desperately.
Despite being outnumbered, Zhao Tao, though severely wounded and bleeding profusely, refused to retreat. In the end, he so thoroughly intimidated the attackers that they fled.
After that, Zhao Tao was hospitalized for two months, but his fearsome reputation spread far and wide.
Hearing Shen Xiong say someone was looking for trouble, Zhao Tao immediately leaped to his feet.
"Chop chop chop, all you know is chopping. Jacques was severely injured and is now in the hospital. Are you even more capable than Jacques?"
Sun Cheng frowned, looking at Zhao Tao.
Though both were Shen Xiong's right-hand men, Sun Cheng always relied on his intellect and looked down on Zhao Tao's impulsive, violent nature.
Zhao Tao's eyebrows shot up as he glared at Sun Cheng. "Jacques is indeed better at leading than I am, but what's the use of one person being skilled? With me and my knife, leading my brothers, we can still chop them to death!"
When it came to a fight, Zhao Tao never backed down from anyone.
"Alright, you two, stop arguing."
Shen Xiong, seeing his two right-hand men clash, couldn't help but intervene.
Hearing their boss speak, Zhao Tao shot Sun Cheng another glare, then picked up his beer and gulped it down.
As for Sun Cheng, he simply ignored Zhao Tao.
"Boss, no matter what the matter is, we can all discuss it together. Why don't you tell us what happened first?"
Sun Cheng was always the strategist. Shen Xiong had gone to the hospital to see the injured Jacques and then immediately summoned him and Zhao Tao, so it must be something important.
Shen Xiong said, "A Cheng, A Tao, do you two remember that guy Crow?"
Shen Xiong did not answer Sun Cheng's question directly.
"Crow? I remember him. We beat him badly seven or eight years ago, and you, Boss, even severed his Achilles tendons. Why are you bringing him up now?"
Hearing the name Crow, Zhao Tao put down his beer bottle, a look of confusion on his face.
"Jacques' injury was caused by that Crow guy?"
Sun Cheng immediately reacted.
Shen Xiong nodded. "Yes, Jacques' injury was Crow's doing. And while I was visiting Jacques in the hospital, I received a call from Crow."
When he received Crow's call at the hospital, Shen Xiong was taken aback.
After all, Crow had been gone from Rongcheng for seven or eight years. If he hadn't identified himself, Shen Xiong wouldn't have even thought of him.
Crow, on the phone, told Shen Xiong that Jacques' injury and the smashing of his hidden venue were merely to inform him that he had returned.
In three days, he would personally come to pay a visit, and Shen Xiong should prepare to have his neck cut.
Then, without waiting for Shen Xiong to reply, he hung up.
Since there were no outsiders present, Shen Xiong recounted what Crow had told him on the phone.
"Damn it! A defeated opponent is getting arrogant? We beat him back then, and we can do it again today. Boss, don't worry, I'll call some people right now. This time, I'll chop him into a dead crow!"
Upon hearing that Crow had returned to Rongcheng and even threatened his boss, Zhao Tao gritted his teeth and took out his phone.
He was a man of action; if he thought of something, he did it immediately.
Shen Xiong placed a hand on him.
"A Tao, calling more people won't help this time. Crow dared to return, and he even found our hidden venue. He must be prepared. This time, we're likely in big trouble."
Shen Xiong had held his position as a boss for so many years, prospering and even beginning to go legitimate, so he was naturally a very intelligent man.
Firstly, Shen Xiong's hidden venues were extremely well-concealed. Apart from the person in charge, only Shen Xiong and Sun Cheng knew their exact locations.
Secondly, Jacques' combat skills were well-known throughout Rongcheng.
Yet, now that Crow had returned, he had directly smashed their hidden venue and easily inflicted severe injuries on Jacques.
This clearly indicated that Crow had come prepared this time, and very thoroughly so.
Moreover, from Crow's tone on the phone earlier, Shen Xiong could sense his confidence and arrogance, as if he didn't even consider Shen Xiong a threat.
"Boss, although I know Crow is well-prepared, we shouldn't lose our morale. Rongcheng is our territory, after all. Besides, what Zhao Tao just said makes sense: one fist cannot fight four hands. If all else fails, I can find some guns on the black market."
Sun Cheng's eyes darted around as he quickly devised a plan.
He was not like the brainless Zhao Tao, who only knew how to fight head-on.
In his opinion, as long as they could win, the method didn't matter.
He cared nothing for terms like despicable or underhanded.
In his eyes, those who lost had nothing more to say.
"Alright, we'll do as you say," Shen Xiong nodded, then looked at Zhao Tao. "A Tao, I know you have a good relationship with Hou San. Call him later and tell him I want to have a chat."
"Yes, right away, Boss."
Hearing Shen Xiong's words, Zhao Tao nodded excitedly.
In recent years, Shen Xiong had often spoken of transitioning to a legitimate life, keeping a low profile, and reducing fighting and violent incidents.
This meant that Zhao Tao often couldn't engage in fights when his subordinates had conflicts.
But there was nothing he could do. Shen Xiong was the boss, and Zhao Tao, despite his dissatisfaction, had to comply.
Now that Crow had returned to Rongcheng to seek revenge on their boss, Zhao Tao saw it as an opportunity to regain his notoriety.
He was already getting impatient.