Chapter 173: Two Parties, No Mutual Aid

After returning from Thirteen Sister, two days passed in a row.

Chen Mo never received Chen Hao Nan's request for troops.

Chen Mo understood that it was because he was too close to Jingkun; they had already tacitly assumed he was on Jingkun's side.

What a pity, he couldn't take advantage of Jiang Tiansheng for a favor.

But it's fine that the plan to play both sides fell through; as long as one side yields enough, that's sufficient.

Two more days passed, and Shanji returned with his men from Wan Island.

Chen Hao Nan was constantly being trailed and monitored by Chen Mo's people.

The moment Shanji approached Chen Hao Nan, his underlings immediately relayed the news to Chen Mo.

Upon learning that Shanji had returned with dozens of Three-Union Gang gunmen, Chen Mo promptly called Thirteen Sister.

"Sis, good news."

"What good news? What money‑making scheme are you up to now?"

"No, it's that someone wants to give you a favor."

"Damn, don't joke with me—what kind of person would give me a favor!" Thirteen Sister thought Chen Mo was joking.

Doesn't she already know how capable she is?

"Chen Hao Nan now has outside support; I guess he'll contact you in the next few days.

Last time was to test your attitude; this time he'll probably pour real gold and silver outwards."

"What? Where did he get the outside support?" Thirteen Sister was somewhat surprised.

Chen Hao Nan is after the Dragon Head of Great Prosperity; which Triad Society on Gangdao would dare intervene!

"You don't need to worry about that; you'll know soon enough. Just give Han Bin a heads‑up and wait to receive the favor."

"You mean we're helping Chen Hao Nan take on Jingkun this time?"

"Of course not. I'm letting you take the favor, but I'm not saying you have to do any work.

When the time comes, act according to the situation."

"What are you planning? Should we cut ties with Jingkun in advance?"

Thirteen Sister also knows Chen Hao Nan never asked Chen Mo for troops, so she understands what that implies.

She worries whether Chen Hao Nan might also go after Chen Mo.

"Now it's not possible yet; Jingkun is still useful to me. But rest assured, I already have plans."

"Alright, as long as you have the numbers, that's fine."

Hearing Chen Mo say that, Thirteen Sister felt relieved. She trusts Chen Mo's ability.

After they ended the call, Thirteen Sister called Han Bin and discussed the matter.

Chen Mo, meanwhile, slowly plotted the next steps.

If I recall correctly, Chen Hao Nan's group made their move on the day Jingkun's mother celebrated her birthday.

Shanji's gunmen led the charge, some underlings supplied by big bosses swept the place, and the police cooperated to raid the drug warehouse.

With a three‑pronged attack, they cleared Jingkun's territory in Wang Jiao in one fell swoop.

However, the fools like Sha Qiang around Jingkun have already been eliminated by Jingkun, so Jiang Tiansheng may not be able to give the police Jingkun's drug‑warehouse location.

As long as they finish off the gunmen Shanji brought back, with fewer spear‑heading fighters, the big bosses willing to cooperate in the raid will likely back off.

Two days later, a private room in a restaurant in Sai Kung.

Great Prosperity's twelve big bosses, nine of them sat in the private room.

Except for Chen Mo, Konglong, and newly promoted Da Fei, everyone else had arrived.

Since Konglong is Han Bin's blood brother, one is enough. Chen Mo and Da Fei were probably regarded by Chen Hao Nan's side as Jingkun's men.

Who made both of them big bosses that Jingkun brought up!

Besides those nine big bosses, there were two more people in the room: Chen Hao Nan and Shanji.

Thirteen Sister and Han Bin stared at Shanji, brows furrowed.

They had previously learned from Chen Mo that Chen Hao Nan had outside support.

Before entering the restaurant, they also saw the suited underlings outside.

Only after entering the private room did they realize those were all Shanji's people.

"Shanji, didn't you run away? Why are you back?"

Shanji grinned, "Hehe, I made a name for myself out there, now I'm returning in glory!"

Thirteen Sister turned to Chen Hao Nan, "Ah Nan, you invited us here today—what's the matter?"

Chen Hao Nan's gaze swept over everyone's faces, and in a deep voice he said, "Thirteen Sister, all the bosses, let's be frank—I'm here to ask you for help."

Han Bin spoke, "Chen Hao Nan, everyone knows you want to avenge Da B.

But Jingkun is Great Prosperity's Dragon Head, and we are Great Prosperity's big bosses. We can't provide men for you; that's against the rules."

Chui Shui Ji added, "Yeah, Ah Nan, if you still intend to borrow troops from us, don't ask—don't make things difficult for us."

Chen Hao Nan and Shanji exchanged a glance, and said, "I understand the difficulties you bosses face. You are all Great Prosperity's big bosses, so having you act against Jingkun is indeed inappropriate."

However, Shanji and I are no longer part of Great Prosperity; we'll act on our own.

I only hope, considering Da B is also a Great Prosperity big boss, that we can simply not interfere with each other.

The big bosses glanced at each other, but none spoke first.

After a while, Han Bin said, "Chen Hao Nan, although Great Prosperity's twelve halls each manage their own affairs, we are still one family.

We know you intend to go after the Dragon Head without regard; that's against the rules!"

Seeing Han Bin take the lead, the others also began to speak up.

"Indeed, if we didn't know, that's fine. But if we knowingly stand by while the Dragon Head is in trouble, how can we survive in the jianghu later?"

"We are the big bosses of Great Prosperity; could it be that Jingkun orders us to do things and we pretend not to hear?"

Chen Hao Nan's expression turned somewhat unsightly, but Shan Ji remained completely calm.

After becoming the hall master of the Poison Snake Hall of the Tripartite Society, his status changed, and so did his perspective.

At this point, Shan Ji had already guessed what everyone was thinking—nothing more than profit.

Shan Ji lightly tapped his fingers on the tabletop, interrupting everyone's discussion.

"Gentlemen bosses, as long as you stand by and watch when we deal with Jingkun, I am willing to give each of you five million."

Shan Ji didn't know how to match wits with these old-timers of the martial world, nor did he want to beat around the bush with them; he simply laid out his chips.

"Five million? Do you really have that much money?" Fei Lao Lai said with a sneer.

Not only Fei Lao Lai, but the others also looked at Shan Ji with skepticism.

In their impression, Chen Hao Nan was a penniless wretch, and Shan Ji was even worse than Chen Hao Nan!

Although Shan Ji now appears to have made it big, five million each for the nine big bosses on site totals forty-five million.

They simply didn't believe Shan Ji could come up with that sum.

They themselves might not be able to come up with that much money, let alone Shan Ji!

Shan Ji let out a cold laugh and said arrogantly: "It's just money; since I dared to say it, I can definitely produce it."

Having said that, Shan Ji clapped his hands.

Immediately outside the door, two lackeys carried in several boxes.

The boxes were placed on the table, opened, revealing stacks of cash inside—several tens of millions.

Amid the astonished expressions of the several big bosses, Shan Ji wore a look of arrogance: "What do you all have to say now?"

Five million is not a small amount.

In the past, this five million would not only have kept them from intervening, but might even have prompted them to act against Jingkun.

But now things are different.

Among these nine big bosses, aside from Thirteen Sister and Han Bin, even the ones with the smallest territories—Chui Shui Ji and Ma Wang Jian—have seen their money‑making abilities greatly increase thanks to Chen Mo's counterfeit goods business and karaoke.

Although five million is still very tempting for them, it is not enough to make them completely defect.