"Are you done with your call?"
Tiger Lord looked at Li Se with disdain, beckoning him. "If you're done, return the golden pen. My patience is limited."
"Eighth Master is coming over, why don't you wait?" Li Se said in a negotiating tone.
"I'll wait?" Tiger Lord chuckled. With a wave, he said, "Brothers, he's asking us to wait for Eighth Master. Alright, let's beat him up first, and then we'll wait. What do you say?"
"Good!" The dozen or so subordinates responded, slowly approaching Li Se with fierce expressions.
However, just then, Tiger Lord's phone rang. Upon seeing the caller ID, his face immediately lit up with a smile. He answered, "Brother Dao, what are your orders?"
"Did you f**king offend someone?" The voice on the other end was furious, spewing insults. "Are your wings clipped? Do you want to die?"
"Brother Dao, has something happened?" Tiger Lord looked shocked.
"Just tell me, did you offend anyone?"
"I... no." Tiger Lord looked innocent. Suddenly, he glanced sharply at Li Se. Could it be this kid?
"Not yet? Eighth Master has already been alerted, and he's coming over now. Little Tiger, you'd better beg this distinguished gentleman to let you off, or else I'll kill your whole family!"
With a final roar, the call was hung up.
Tiger Lord was dumbfounded. Eighth Master was actually coming? My heavens, that means this kid really did call Eighth Master just now.
"Everyone, stop!"
Seeing his subordinates about to make a move, Tiger Lord roared.
The subordinates were somewhat puzzled. What was going on?
"Tiger Lord, aren't we supposed to teach him a lesson?" The shop owner, unhappy seeing Li Se, asked.
*Slap!*
Tiger Lord fiercely slapped the shop owner across the face. "What the hell are you? Do your business properly. You sold something and now you want to snatch it back?"
"Tiger Lord, I..." Before the shop owner could say anything.
"Beat him, beat him hard!" Tiger Lord roared.
"Beat who?" one of the subordinates asked uncertainly.
"Beat this profiteering boss!" Tiger Lord pointed at the shop owner.
The dozen or so subordinates immediately swarmed forward and gave the shop owner a thorough beating.
The shop owner didn't even know what was happening as he was being beaten.
Tiger Lord quickly approached Li Se, his face full of smiles. "Uh, distinguished sir, may I know your name?"
"Li!"
"Lord Li, it was my fault just now. Little Tiger apologizes to you on his knees!"
Tiger Lord immediately knelt before Li Se, begging for mercy.
The onlookers were stunned. What was going on? Just moments ago, Tiger Lord was shouting threats and making Li Se regret, but now he was kneeling and apologizing?
"You've done a lot of strong-arm tactics, haven't you?" Li Se sneered.
"I wouldn't dare anymore, truly wouldn't dare." Tiger Lord trembled.
Li Se didn't say anything more and waited for Zhao Ba's arrival.
Tiger Lord remained kneeling before Li Se. If Li Se didn't tell him to get up, he wouldn't dare.
About ten minutes later, Zhao Ba arrived with a considerable entourage.
When Zhao Ba saw Tiger Lord and the others, his expression turned grim. He walked up to Li Se and said, "Little Li, it's my failure to discipline them properly. Alas, you've seen something amusing."
"Eighth Master, I dare not accept such a title." Li Se's tone was somewhat cold.
Zhao Ba gave a wry smile, knowing what Li Se was thinking. He probably felt that the entire Martial Alliance was like this. He glanced at Tiger Lord and the others and said lightly, "Take them away and break their limbs!"
"Eighth Master, Brother Dao, no... I know I was wrong..." Tiger Lord begged, but it was useless. He was quickly dragged away.
"Little Li, the Martial Alliance isn't what you think. It's just that some scoundrels are taking advantage of the Martial Alliance's influence and acting recklessly," Zhao Ba sighed.
Li Se's expression softened slightly. He knew this too. When an organization grows large, it's inevitable that some arrogant individuals will appear. He didn't dwell on the topic and said, "Brother Zhao, your complexion has improved a lot recently."
The first time he saw Zhao Ba, he was very pale, but now he was completely different, as if he had been reborn.
Zhao Ba laughed heartily. "That's all thanks to you. Come, let me treat you to a meal as thanks."
Li Se didn't refuse.
Soon, they arrived at a very upscale restaurant.
Although Zhao Ba came from a triad background, his demeanor was remarkably different, possessing an aura of authority that gave one a sense of being first-rate.
"Little Li, were you looking for something on the antique street?" Zhao Ba felt that Li Se wasn't the type to go treasure hunting. It was a joke; such a divine doctor wouldn't lack money.
Li Se didn't hide anything and explained that he was looking for a set of good silver needles.
Zhao Ba pondered for a moment before saying, "Many antiques, although expensive, can be bought with money. However, these silver needles are indeed a bit difficult to find. Good antique silver needles are not plentiful, and some have fallen into the hands of old TCM practitioners or are collected by certain wealthy individuals. It's not something money can buy easily, but..."
He paused here and continued, "I know someone who has a set of silver needles called the Thirteen Needles of Gui Men!"
When Li Se heard the Thirteen Needles of Gui Men, his breathing quickened. He urgently asked, "In whose hands?"
The so-called Thirteen Needles of Gui Men were also a set of acupuncture techniques, and simultaneously a set of silver needles, specially crafted for these techniques.
The Thirteen Needles of Gui Men were selected from thirteen 'ghost' acupoints in the "Chapter on Acupuncture and Moxibustion of Traditional Chinese Medicine" - such as Gui Feng, Gui Gong, Gui Ku, Gui Lei, Gui Lu, Gui Shi, Gui Tang, Gui Zhen, Gui Xin, Gui Tui, Gui Xin, Gui Ying, Gui Cang, and Gui Chen. These points demonstrated unique therapeutic effects on epilepsy, mania, and convulsions. Through more than ten generations of accumulated experience and the addition of several more points, they have been passed down to the present day.
In his family inheritance, Li Se possessed the Thirteen Needles of Gui Men, which was on par with the Nine Needles of Tian Yi.
If he could obtain the silver needles for the Thirteen Needles of Gui Men, it would truly be like adding wings to a tiger for him.
Zhao Ba said, "The Thirteen Needles of Gui Men are in the hands of the leader of the Soul Gang. He cherishes them dearly. Many old TCM practitioners have approached him over the years to purchase the Thirteen Needles, but he refused them all. Getting them won't be easy."
There were four major gangs in Jiangnan Province: the Martial Alliance, the Soul Gang, the Green Robe Sect, and the Flying Motorcycle Gang.
Li Se didn't know much about these gangs, but he was determined to get the Thirteen Needles. He asked, "Are there no other ways?"
If they couldn't be bought with money, then it would be quite difficult.
Zhao Ba thought for a moment and said, "It's not entirely impossible. In a while, there will be inter-gang conflicts. If we propose that the leader of the Soul Gang use these Thirteen Needles of Gui Men as a stake in the bet, it's not impossible. Of course, we'll have to offer a corresponding stake of equal value!"
Li Se said with utmost determination, "No matter the cost, I must obtain these Thirteen Needles!"