At the same time…
The second-in-command of the Imperial Bull Gang, Hong Yun, stepped out of the gang's headquarters.
His mission: to take control of the newly conquered territory.
And he had to move fast.
It wasn't enough to win ground — they had to break the enemy's spirit.
Soon after, Hong Yun and his men launched attacks on the nightclubs previously controlled by the Wang family.
Some of the Wang family's lower-tier operatives had already caught wind of the attacks, but the news hadn't spread widely.
The result: they were caught off guard and hit hard.
After a series of fierce battles and bloody skirmishes, all the establishments formerly under the Green Gang's control fell into the hands of the Imperial Bull Gang.
But Hong Yun wasn't focused on those victories.
His mind was fixed on one place —
Redrose Nightclub.
The place where Gu Jun was.
Redrose Nightclub
Ning Zhe and Zhou Hao were still fighting.
Though they were going all out, their movements were precise — a controlled brawl between two skilled fighters.
Nearly every decoration in the club had been destroyed.
Parts of the ceiling had collapsed, and much of the floor was cracked or shattered.
Both men were covered in blood.
Ning Zhe's left leg was twitching unnaturally, clearly damaged. Zhou Hao's right arm was bent at an unnatural angle, broken.
They had fought barehanded the entire time. If weapons had been involved, the damage would have been far worse.
Suddenly, Ning Zhe stepped forward and threw a punch with his right fist.
Zhou Hao countered with an open palm.
Fist and palm collided.
A thunderous sound echoed through the club.
Both men were blasted backward, skidding across the floor at terrifying speed.
Blood trickled from Zhou Hao's mouth —
Yet he wore a strange smile.
Everyone in the club watched in stunned silence.
Even Bai Xue and Rong Xi, both from prestigious noble families, were visibly shaken.
But the most helpless expressions belonged to Luo Yuxin and Zhao Ming.
They glanced at each other, completely lost.
The situation had escalated too quickly.
They were like rudderless ships in a violent storm, unable to decide what to do.
The only one who remained calm… was Gu Jun.
In fact, he looked like he was enjoying himself.
After some time, both Zhou Hao and Ning Zhe slowly stood up.
They were badly injured now, their bodies covered in bruises and blood.
They stared at each other, tension still crackling in the air.
Zhou Hao looked ready for another round, while Ning Zhe's priority had shifted — he wanted to end the fight.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from outside the nightclub.
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Shouts and fighting noises could be heard coming from outside.
Moments later, Hong Yun entered the club, followed by a group of men — all members of the Imperial Bull Gang.
At first, Hong Yun glanced around the chaotic scene with mild surprise.
Then his gaze slowly swept over the people present…
And finally landed on Gu Jun, where it paused for a few seconds.
Most people didn't notice this subtle moment —
But those with sharp instincts, like Ning Zhe and Zhou Hao, caught it.
Then, Wang Hai stepped forward and glared at Hong Yun, demanding angrily,
"Hong Yun, what the hell are you doing here?"
Hong Yun smirked.
"Oh? I see… you haven't heard the news. You might want to call your family. From now on, this nightclub belongs to the Imperial Bull Gang."
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Call your family."
Wang Hai quickly pulled out his phone.
To his shock, there were several missed calls from his family.
He immediately called back.
After a brief conversation, he lowered the phone slowly.
His face was pale, stunned by what he had just heard.
How could this happen so quickly? So suddenly?
It took him a long moment to regain composure.
Then he looked up and said angrily,
"Fine, I understand the situation. But if it was a peaceful transfer, there wouldn't be a problem. Why the hell did you attack the Green Gang's people?"
Hong Yun shrugged casually.
"Oh, there's a reason. It's simple… I felt like it."
"Fuck you! I'll kill you!"
Hong Yun chuckled darkly.
"Heh. Do you really want to fight me now?"
"You should know — the entire Tianhai Royal University district is now under our control. Your people already left, and since the government issued no interference, even the police didn't stop us from taking over."
"If you fight now, you'll get crushed — and no one will speak up for you. Honestly, I'd love to fight you in your current condition. Want proof?"
Then, without warning, he spat — right in Wang Hai's face.
The saliva landed directly on target.
Wang Hai's eyes blazed with fury.
He roared like a wild beast… but did nothing.
He truly didn't know what to do.
If he didn't fight back, he'd lose face, especially in front of Xiao Hao and Ning Zhe.
But if he did fight, the odds were against him.
And if he lost a leg or an arm… no one would step in to help him. His people had already retreated. He was alone.
He was caught in a painful dilemma.
At that moment, Xiao Hao looked over and asked,
"What's going on?"
Wang Hai replied quietly,
"Something bad has happened. We're being forced to leave this place."
"But why?"
At that moment, Hong Yun stepped forward and spoke with a smirk.
"Because this is now our territory. And we don't like your kind hanging around here."
"Really?"
The voice that answered was cold.
"And if I decide to stay? Are you prepared to go against the Xiao family and the Ning family?"
Gu Jun clicked his tongue.
Smart move.
Bringing up the Ning family added weight — a clever way to shift the balance.
Then, Xiao Wei stepped in.
"Do you really think you can speak for the Xiao family?"
Xiao Hao responded with a sneer.
"Cousin, are you seriously standing against me — and the Xiao family — for some outsider?"
Xiao Wei replied calmly,
"I'm not standing against the Xiao family. I'm standing against you."
Hong Yun lost patience.
"Alright, enough with the talk. Now—get the hell out."
Suddenly, a new voice echoed through the club:
"Interesting… Someone in Tianhai actually dares to tell the heirs of both the Xiao and Ning families to 'get the hell out.' How bold."
Everyone turned as a figure stepped inside.
It was none other than Xiao Rui.
The moment he heard about the situation, he left his father's study and came directly.
Hong Yun opened his mouth to speak, but the moment he saw who it was, he choked on his words.
However, a heartbeat later, he forced himself to stay calm.
After all, Gu Jun was here.
He didn't know Gu Jun's full identity, but he did know that Gu Jun was someone even more dangerous than Xiao Rui.
Hong Yun bowed slightly and said,
"Apologies, Young Master Xiao. You understand that we have responsibilities. We respectfully request that your people leave this place."
Xiao Rui chuckled coldly.
"Oh, we'll leave—but when we leave is entirely up to us.
We have unfinished business here. Or are you planning to use force against us?"
The moment Xiao Rui finished speaking, a figure in a black robe stepped into the room.
Immediately afterward, a crushing pressure descended from above, filling the air.
It was a Peak Dark Level aura, which almost reached the semi-HuaJin, oppressive and suffocating.
Hong Yun, standing closest, took the brunt of it.
He nearly collapsed to his knees, his body trembling under the weight.
But he gritted his teeth and held firm.
With Gu Jun present, kneeling was not an option.
Xiao Rui narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly:
"You should never forget your place. Who gave you the courage to speak so rudely to the Xiao and Ning families?"
"Your backer? Then call him. I'd love to see if he's strong enough to save you."
Just when the situation was becoming more and more complicated, a new voice rang out.
It was sweet, yet carried a slightly cold undertone.
"What's happening here?"
Suddenly, all the worry vanished from Bai Xue's face. She cried out in relief,
"Sister! At last, you're here!"
It was Bai Yue.
The expressions of both Xiao Rui and Ning Zhe lit up with excitement.
If anyone were to ask, "Who is the most desirable companion among noble families in Tianhai?" —
The answer would likely be either Bai Yue or Xia Qingyue.
And now, Bai Yue had arrived.
All the stern authority Xiao Rui had shown against Hong Yun vanished in an instant.
He now stood as the picture of elegance — the classic, refined young master from a noble family.
Ning Zhe, on the other hand, didn't rely on elegance. His charm came from raw manliness.
His body and face were already bloodied, which strangely added to his appeal.
He looked at Bai Yue coolly and said,
"Oh. Hello, Yue."
Xiao Rui turned to Ning Zhe with raw hostility.
Ning Zhe returned the same look — a silent battle of pride and presence. It was a battle of taking the dominant position in front of Bai Yue
Meanwhile, Gu Jun watched the unfolding scene with amusement.
He had just learned of Bai Yue's identity — and it was indeed impressive.
She was the daughter of the second-in-command of the Shenfeng Sect.
In truth, Bai Yue's mother was naw a very influential figure — with rumors swirling that she might become the next sect master once the current one advanced to the Innate Realm.
That would make her the leader of one of the Thirty-Three Great Influences.
And Bai Yue? She was her only daughter.
Bai Xue was her half-sister.
Gu Jun watched it all quietly, deep in thought. Then he muttered,
"So, Li Ming… Xiao Rui is the son of the rebel leader. The Ning family might be linked to my assassination. My mother has already arranged a fiancé for me. And we also need more influence in the Shenfeng Sect. How about we complicate things a little… and solve all four problems at once?"
Li Ming's voice responded quietly,
"Your Highness… what exactly do you intend to do?"
Gu Jun smiled.
"Hmm. Just stand here and watch."
At that moment, Xiao Rui and Ning Zhe were locked in a silent stare-down.
Bai Yue was thinking hard about how to mediate and resolve the situation peacefully.
Everyone around was hopeful, expecting diplomacy and calm.
Then, a new voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Wife, you're finally here? I've been waiting forever! I called you so many times. I was so scared! You'll have to compensate me… with a long and wet kiss."
A hand reached out and wrapped gently around Bai Yue's slender waist.
The entire room froze.
Mouths opened. Eyes widened.
And then—
Rong Xi broke the silence first.
"…Fuck."
Followed by Bai Xue.
"Fuck. Fuck."
And finally, Xiao Wei, raising the stakes—
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."