At the entrance of the Heavenly Nightclub.

A luxurious stretch Lincoln pulled up, and out stepped Ma Wendong. With a confident stride, he waved the car away as it drove off, and entered the nightclub with an air of authority. Inside, familiar faces greeted him warmly.

"Yo, Brother Ma! What brings you here tonight? Let me treat you to a drink, don't hold back!"

"Brother Ma, it's been too long! Let's catch up over some drinks, my treat!"

"Brother Ma, I've got a bottle of '82 Lafite ready at my table. Come and have a taste later!"

As Ma Wendong made his way through the crowd, smiling and nodding, he finally arrived at a private room. He paused briefly at the door before pushing it open.

"Well, if it isn't Wendong! Haven't seen you in a while; I thought you had gone straight!" The man in the center, with a small mustache, looked up and greeted him.

Ma Wendong smiled, nodding. "Brother Wang, I'm a wild horse; no one can tame me. How could I go straight? I'm here to treat you to a drink!"

He approached Wang Shuai, who was surrounded by two heavily made-up women. As Ma Wendong neared, they wisely made space for him. He sat down next to Wang Shuai, raised his glass, and clinked it with Wang Shuai's.

"Brother Wang, let's have a good time tonight. All the expenses are on me." As he spoke, he discreetly slipped something under Wang Shuai's seat. Leaning in, he whispered, "I really appreciate your help last time. This is to repay you, and tonight's drinks are my thanks."

Wang Shuai understood immediately—Ma Wendong was referring to the incident where his car was scratched, and he ended up paying a million yuan. Back then, Ma Wendong had borrowed money from all his friends, and Wang Shuai had been the most generous, lending him ten thousand yuan. Ma Wendong had always been grateful and had come to repay the favor personally.

Wang Shuai didn’t glance at the money under his seat. Instead, he subtly shifted his weight to feel the thickness, and a smile spread across his face.

"Why talk about thanks between brothers? Let’s drink!" He raised his glass to Ma Wendong, who smiled back, raising his own.

But before their glasses could meet, a voice interrupted.

"Brother Ma, I heard that you had to pay a million after your Mercedes got into a fender bender with a motorcycle. Is that true?"

Ma Wendong froze, his smile faltering. He turned to see who had spoken, frowning at the unfamiliar face. But the man seemed oblivious to Ma Wendong's displeasure and continued.

"Yeah, I heard you had to ask around for help with the money. But hey, these rich city boys always talk big about how much money they have, spending like it’s nothing. Yet, when push comes to shove, it seems not many were willing to lend a hand. Makes you wonder, were they not seeing you as a brother, or could they just not come up with the cash?"

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Ma Wendong's face darkened. Was this guy deliberately provoking him, or was he just clueless? Wang Shuai, meanwhile, kept smiling as if the remark hadn’t hit too close to home. He smiled at the man who had spoken, who smiled right back, completely ignoring the rising fury in Ma Wendong’s eyes.

*Smash!*

The sound of a glass shattering echoed in the room. Ma Wendong had slammed his glass onto the table, picking up the broken pieces and pointing them at the man who had spoken.

"Say that again, and let's see if you make it out of here alive!"

The man feigned fear, clutching his chest. "Oh, I’m so scared! But what if Brother Ma hits me and can’t afford the compensation? What then?" He threw his head back and laughed.

Ma Wendong felt more humiliated than ever and was about to lunge at the man when a stern voice cut through the tension.

"Enough!"

It was Wang Shuai, his tone firm as he downed the contents of his glass in one gulp. Without looking at Ma Wendong, he made a subtle gesture with his hand, and a few burly men, understanding the signal, grabbed Ma Wendong and tossed him out of the room.

Still processing what had just happened, Ma Wendong stood outside the door, listening to the conversation inside.

"Brother Wang, you really gave him ten grand? Does he deserve that kind of favor?"

It was the voice of the man who had insulted Ma Wendong earlier.

Wang Shuai's voice followed. "At the time, I thought his family still had some connections worth using. But now that we’ve got better ties, who needs him? And besides, he’s crossed the Old Master Tang's benefactor. I don’t want to mess with the Tang family."

"If he had just played along like a good dog, maybe. But he had the nerve to get rough with my people? He must have a death wish."

Wang Shuai’s words echoed in Ma Wendong's mind. "Old Master Tang’s benefactor?" When did he offend such a person? He couldn’t recall, but one thing was clear—these so-called friends would turn on him the moment he was no longer useful.

Clenching his fists, Ma Wendong spat on the door and stormed into the main hall. At the bar, he ordered a drink, staring at his glass with a stormy expression, ignoring the bartender’s attempts at conversation.

Just then, someone sat down beside him. "This drink’s on me," the newcomer said.

Ma Wendong turned to see a burly man in a black vest, his muscular build clearly visible. He didn’t recognize the man.

Raising his glass, the stranger introduced himself. "Name’s Lei Zhan. You’ve probably heard of me."

Lei Zhan? The name rang a bell. Ma Wendong racked his brain until his eyes lit up in recognition. "You’re Lei Zhan, the top fighter in Dragon City?"

Lei Zhan smiled and nodded. "That’s right."

Ma Wendong, still puzzled, asked, "Why are you here talking to me?"

Lei Zhan drained his glass and replied with a grin, "Heard you’ve had a rough time. Wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for that Huang Quan, right? How about I help you teach him a lesson?"

The mention of Huang Quan made Ma Wendong’s blood boil. He gripped his glass so tightly it creaked. After a moment, he asked, "Why would you help me?"

He knew better than to believe in favors without strings attached. Lei Zhan must have something to gain.

Lei Zhan didn’t beat around the bush. "I want to work with the Ma family. If you agree to a partnership, I’ll handle Huang Quan for you."

Ma Wendong appraised Lei Zhan. He seemed straightforward, more trustworthy than his so-called friends. But the Ma family’s code was clear—never resort to violence unless absolutely necessary, and never provoke trouble.

Yet, the thought of Huang Quan made Ma Wendong’s blood boil. Had it not been for him, would he be the laughingstock of his peers? Would he have suffered such humiliation?

Grinding his teeth, Ma Wendong’s resolve hardened. "Alright, Lei Zhan, it’s a deal."

Lei Zhan laughed heartily, raising his glass to Ma Wendong. "To our partnership!"

"To our partnership!" Ma Wendong echoed, finally smiling. "So, how do you plan to deal with Huang Quan?"

Lei Zhan smirked, refilling his glass. "That fool took your million and checked into a luxury hotel, acting like some nouveau riche. But don’t worry, I’ll be watching. When the time comes, we’ll make sure he pays dearly."

A cold glint flashed in Lei Zhan’s eyes as his muscles tensed.