Chapter 279: Name Your Price

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

The sudden jerk made Salimu confused.

“What happened?”

Tang Yuanchu kept his vision on the road ahead as he replied. “I think I just hit a rock!”

“Oh!” Salimu replied as he soothed the spot that was hit.

Nobody noticed that except Bai Muchuan.

And he scrutinized Tang Yuanchu’s side profile indifferently.

Tang Yuanchu caught that scrutinizing gaze when he looked at the rear mirror. He cleared his throat, adjusted himself, and focused on driving. He daren’t create to do anything to worsen the nervous atmosphere.

Time seemed to pass a little faster as they chatted.

About an hour later, they finally reached their destination. It was almost noon.

…

There was a small villa made of timber within this desolate mountainous region. From the looks of it, it must have cost a bomb to construct it.

Nevertheless, money was definitely not an issue to Brother Steel since he was in the drugs business. He could probably build a palace if he wanted to.

Bai Muchuan looked at the GPS of the location.

The location of this villa was indeed interesting.

It was right in the middle of where the three provinces connect to each other.

A remote place with hardly anyone around. If he didn’t come here personally, he wouldn’t have believed that there were such a beautiful place like a paradise in the mountains.

“It seems that Brother Steel is sincere in inviting us,” remarked Salimu.

Indeed, the place certainly was not some casual place for drug dealing.

At the very least, they wouldn’t want the police to know of such a place.

However…

Tu Liang gave Salimu a stare and expressed his views. “He might probably have more than one place that looked like this.”

“… Doesn’t he need to get approval for the use of land?”

What a question he asked.

Everybody frowned at him as “praises” for asking such a question.

For a person like Brother Steel, would he bother with something called “approval for the use of land”?

“Aiyo, Brother Crown Prince is here!”

Liang came out of the villa to receive them from afar when he heard the sound of the vehicle approaching.

Among all of the people of Dark Clan, he was considered the one who was most familiar with Bai Muchuan and his team. From the looks of it, he was probably the representative sent by Brother Steel.

Bai Muchuan nodded his head at Tu Liang before walking toward Liang with a smile.

“It was Brother Steel’s kind invitation, we dare not reject…”

“Brother Steel is inside waiting for all of you!” Liang took a look at Bai Muchuan and then looked at the briefcase that Ding Yifan was carrying. His eyes flickered slightly. “Everyone, follow me!”

That look made Bai Muchuan’s eyebrows furrow slightly.

He quickly followed behind. “Liang!”

Hearing his name being called, Liang turned around. “Mm?”

Bai Muchuan caught up and walked together with him. “I’ve something to tell you…”

The two of them lowered their heads as they talked. As the volume was too low, those behind could make nothing out of it.

Ding Yifan followed closer to Bai Muchuan, carrying the briefcase with Tu Liang and Salimu behind.

…

“We’re here!”

The spot that they parked their car was around a hundred meters from the main gate.

At the center was a big water fountain. The main door was right at the end of the fountain. There were huge banana trees to provide shade for the villa. At one look, the place seemed like a very good spot for avoiding the hot summer days.

Liang nodded his head at Bai Muchuan and went up to knock on the door.

“Brother Steel’s guests are here.”

The people inside the villa heard him and the metal gate slowly opened.

From the way they acted, it was apparent that these people also had strict rules and regulations to follow within their triad.

Bai Muchuan walked and looked straight ahead. They walked past a group of well-built men lined up on both sides of the path, following Liang to the main living room of the villa.

Although the decoration of the living room did not look luxurious, it had a clean and imposing appearance.

At the door, there was a huge marble partition.

From the partition, they could vaguely hear the voice of a man and a woman.

“Harder! Did you not eat your food!”

“Yes!”

“D*mn, my mood is dampened by you!”

The voice of the man was rough and stern as he scolded the woman. The woman, on the other hand, remained quiet.

Bai Muchuan was expressionless as usual whereas Liang showed a frown. He stood outside the partition and cleared his throat before speaking in a low, respectful tone.

“Brother Steel, Brother Crown Prince is here!”

“Crown Prince…” Brother Steel mumbled the name and seemed to have recalled something funny. He grunted a laugh before he replied slowly, “Invite him in…”

Although he used the word “invite”, his tone did not sound welcoming at all.

Bai Muchuan’s eyes turned cold at that tone. “Brother Steel, thanks for your hospitality!”

With that said, he walked in cheerfully.

Besides Brother Steel, there were a group of people in black in the house, too.

Brother Steel was lying indolently on a big rosewood fauteuil chair, he was smoking with a big, long smoking pipe. The way he smokes resembled a drug addict during the era before the Qing Dynasty ended.

This group of men in black stood behind the rosewood chair.

There was a woman kneeling down in front of Brother Steel. She had a slim figure, her long hair hanging loose behind her back with tiny braids of hair mixed within. She was donned in a bright ethnic minority costume, yet she gave off a depressing feeling at the same time…

The back view of the woman seemed familiar.

She was massaging Brother Steel’s legs with her head lowered.

Bai Muchuan couldn’t make out how she looked like from behind.

Brother Steel looked at the four of them lazily and tapped on his smoking pipe.

“Brother Crown Prince, my place must have been a laughingstock to you—” As he said so, he suddenly kicked the woman on the floor as he spoke to Bai Muchuan, “I told you to use more strength or do you want to die?”

“Yes!” The woman did not put up a resistance. She crawled back and continued to massage his legs.

Brother Steel laughed as he raised his head and looked at Bai Muchuan with a laugh.

His mouth full of yellow teeth looked especially disturbing when he laughed.

“Take a seat! Quick! Liang, fetch the stools. Don’t stand there and look like a fool.”

He still knew how to greet them.

Just that the greeting sounded too insincere.

Liang lowered his head to take a glance at Bai Muchuan.

“Brother Crown Prince, please take a seat!”

Bai Muchuan slowly took his seat and looked at Brother Steel, not saying a word.

Xiang Wan’s earlier profiling on Brother Steel hit the mark. He was indeed tall and burly. His muscular body was well-toned and shiny. Somehow, no matter the material of the clothes that he was wearing, there was a dirty and unclean feeling.

Yes, an overnight upstart.

Bai Muchuan moved his lips. “Brother Steel, are you inviting this younger brother here to discuss a business deal?”

He went straight to the point.

Though Bai Muchuan addressed Brother Steel as the elder brother and he as the younger one, the arrogant look on his face still remained the same.

Brother Steel continued to smoke through his smoking pipe as he squinted his eyes to observe Bai Muchuan.

“I heard from Old Six that you are very capable?”

Old Six… Zhou Dequan.

The corners of Bai Muchuan’s lips turned upward as he recalled that fat man who was already dead.

“Brother Six had flattered me!”

“Young man, being capable is a good thing. Don’t be too modest.” Brother Steel tapped his smoking pipe again.

The ashes could be seen floating and fell onto the head of the woman who was squatting before him.

Yet the woman did not move, as though she did not feel anything.

Brother Steel took a glance at the woman before turning to Bai Muchuan. “Well, I don’t like your nickname—too arrogant! You should know, the moment we entered this line of business, we should keep a low profile. If you don’t, you don’t fit in.”

Hur! He really did keep a low profile indeed.

Bai Muchuan looked at him, not showing any emotion on his face.

“Brother Steel called me over just to point out my nickname?”

Bai Muchuan was an expert when it comes to negotiation. How would he allow him to divert from the main topic?

“No, no, I don’t dare to do that. Brother Crown Prince is someone who does big business!” Brother Steel gazed at the briefcase that Ding Yifan was carrying. “Hurhur! Recently, things are getting tense here. All my men are starving to death. That’s why I invited you over here for a business deal, so we can earn some money to buy porridge.”

Bai Muchuan kept quiet as he looked at Brother Steel laugh.

“Just take it that you’re doing some charity work. I run a big business, and the expenditure is very high as well!”

So did he lack money or was purely showing off?

Brother Steel was showing his teeth as he laughed when suddenly, he stopped laughing.

“Turn your head around and let Brother Crown Prince take a look at you.”

“…”

The living room suddenly became silent.

The woman who was massaging Brother Steel’s legs froze upon hearing that.

Under the threatening looks of Brother Steel and his men, the woman slowly turned around.

Her big round eyes stared at Bai Muchuan without uttering a word.

Lima?

The daughter of the owner of the hotpot restaurant—Abdul’s daughter, Lima?

No wonder her back looked so familiar.

That caught Bai Muchuan and team by surprise.

It was fortunate that they were all well-trained as they were still able to conceal that split second of surprise.

Bai Muchuan was still cool as a cucumber. His finger tapped on his knee lazily.

“Brother Steel, what do you mean by this?”

Brother Steel’s smile grew wider. Each of his words sounded chilly and ruthless as he spoke.

“This woman’s a present from my brothers. Brother Crown Prince can see for yourself… She looks radiant and vivacious. Over here at Nanmu, it’s hard to find another one like her…”

Next, he pointed and tapped on Lima’s butt with his long smoking pipe, as though promoting a product.

“Come on, quickly turn around to let Brother Crown Prince have a good look at you.”

Lima lowered her head and did what she was told obediently without saying anything. She was like a product in the showcase.

“How is it? Look at her waist, her shoulders, these pair of legs, and here…” Brother Steel let out a wicked laugh and looked at Bai Muchuan as he laid on his rosewood chair. “Come, name your price!”

“I don’t want to.” Bai Muchuan didn’t even give it a consideration. “I’m not interested.”

Lima swept a glance at him immediately when she heard Bai Muchuan’s words.

It felt cold to the feel, as though it was a natural reflex when a woman got rejected by a man.

Bai Muchuan did not look at her but focused on Brother Steel’s sudden gloomy face with a corner of his lips lifted upward.

“Brother Steel shouldn’t be forcing us on such matters, right?”

“Brother Crown Prince… you’re not interested?” Brother Steel paused for a while and seemed surprised as though he just knew of it with a laugh. “Looks like I got the wrong information! It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”

Then, he turned to face his men at the back.

“Since Brother Crown Prince is not interested, then she’s considered worthless. I let you guys have some fun with her!”

In his eyes, women were obviously goods. He did not treat them as human beings at all.

A few of his men were delighted to hear that. They were so excited that they crunched their fist in agitation and thanked Brother Steel in unison. They walked to the front of the chair to pull Lima.

“No! No! Help!”

Lima struggled and shouted something in her native language when she suddenly went weak in the knees, and in the midst of struggling, she abruptly turned her head to look at Bai Muchuan and begged:

“Please save me… I know you… can save me…”

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