Chapter 155 The Money Issue Is Solved

Not only Duan Jinhuan, but everyone present stared at Zhang Pu in sheer astonishment. Across the entire room, only Zhang Pu maintained an expression as calm as still water.

Ye Hui, Gao Yun, and the others had initially expected Zhang Pu at most to force Hu Biao into a difficult retreat, never imagining that Hu Biao would be sent flying as if cast into the air.

Furthermore, once the mighty powerhouse hit the ground, he lay there motionless and completely silent, just like a corpse.

Recovering from his initial shock, Duan Jinhuan rushed immediately to Hu Biao's side.

Truth be told, Hu Biao had been with him for many years, and Duan Jinhuan practically regarded him as his own younger brother. Hu Biao wielded immense power within the Triad Alliance, even surpassing that of the local branch leaders. On certain matters, even the branch leaders had to curry favor with him. As for Ye Hui, his current status fell far short of comparing to Hu Biao.

"Did you kill him?" Duan Jinhuan suddenly whirled around, glaring at Zhang Pu with fury in his eyes.

Zhang Pu replied, "You must be joking! I have no idea why he suddenly ended up like this—I was just about to ask you! I suspect he has some sort of hidden illness!"

Looking genuinely enraged, Duan Jinhuan suddenly let out a sharp whistle.

Instantly, countless hidden arrows and projectile weapons emerged from the shadows, hurtling toward Zhang Pu.

"Stop! Do not attack—" came Ye Hui's voice.

Yet in the next instant, Duan Jinhuan surged forward violently, pressing a dagger directly against Ye Hui's throat.

As it turned out, not a single one of those hidden arrows and projectiles had managed to strike Zhang Pu.

At some unknown moment, a strange and eerie glow had suddenly emanated from Zhang Pu's body. This radiance was imbued with a formidable power that acted like an impenetrable shield, blocking all the cold weapons unleashed by Duan Jinhuan's subordinates.

"Quickly, kill this demon—" Completely terrified, Duan Jinhuan barked the order to Gao Yun in a desperate panic.

Though gripped by fear, Gao Yun had no choice but to take the lead and charge at Zhang Pu with his men.

"Incorrigible fools!" Zhang Pu's words were directed at Duan Jinhuan.

Could they not see that someone of a martial grandmaster's caliber was terrifying beyond measure? Did they truly believe such clumsy, amateur tricks could succeed? How foolish of a mere firefly to dare compete with the sun and moon in brilliance!

A single glance was all it took for Zhang Pu to notice that Duan Jinhuan was holding Ye Hui hostage.

Earlier, Zhang Pu had heard Ye Hui seemingly speaking up on his behalf.

Yet Zhang Pu failed to see what possible leverage Duan Jinhuan hoped to gain by controlling Ye Hui.

With a swift flick, a ball of light shot forward.

Amidst a bizarre shriek from Duan Jinhuan, the dagger in his hand dropped to the floor with a clatter.

With a blur of movement, Zhang Pu, shrouded in radiance, instantly appeared right in front of Duan Jinhuan.

"You... are you a martial grandmaster? We surrender! We surrender!"

Duan Jinhuan looked as though he was about to drop to his knees; his current posture was utterly comical and deeply pathetic.

No one else in the room dared to make a hostile move.

As Zhang Pu cast his gaze around the gathered crowd, an idea suddenly seemed to strike him—

He immediately declared, "I have two announcements to make! As for whether I will spare your lives, that is entirely negotiable."

"Fine, speak your mind!" Duan Jinhuan said, utterly resigned.

"First, I need a sum of money within the next few days—around six hundred thousand." Zhang Pu paused for a moment.

Originally, he had intended to have Liu Yingde prepare it, but encountering this sudden incident today—coupled with Duan Jinhuan's odious behavior—made it inevitable that he should bleed the Triad Alliance, an organization he had long wished to whip into shape. Using their money would just happen to fill the financial hole left by his father's mountain forest contracting venture.

When Zhang Pu stated this sum, a wave of murmurs rippled through the Triad Alliance members: they were used to acting as bandits themselves, yet today they had run into someone robbing the robbers!

The figure of six hundred thousand naturally felt burdensome to ordinary members of the Triad Alliance, but Duan Jinhuan could afford it, and he could produce it immediately—after all, this was a branch headquarters of the Triad Alliance!

"Very well, I agree to this!" Duan Jinhuan immediately accepted Zhang Pu's demand.

Zhang Pu pulled a medicinal pill from his pocket and tossed it to Duan Jinhuan, instructing him to have Hu Biao swallow it, after which the man would recover completely.

At the same time, Zhang Pu demanded that Duan Jinhuan gather the funds immediately, stating that he would be leaving shortly.

Duan Jinhuan hurriedly dispatched men to rescue Hu Biao while simultaneously ordering Gao Yun to pool the money together.

There was naturally not that much cash on hand, but Zhang Pu told him that physical assets such as goldware would also suffice, as long as the total value reached six hundred thousand.

The second thing Zhang Pu announced was that from this day forward, Ye Hui would serve as the intermediary between him and the Triad Alliance. In a sense, Ye Hui's status would now be on par with Duan Jinhuan's. As it turned out, Zhang Pu had suddenly decided to incorporate the Triad Alliance under his own command, much like he had done with the Sorcerer Ghost Sect.

The ordinary Triad Alliance subordinates did not quite grasp the full implication of Zhang Pu's words, but Duan Jinhuan was able to read between the lines, and he found the prospect difficult to accept for a moment. Gao Yun was similarly filled with discontent.

Both of them could foresee that if Zhang Pu intended to control the Triad Alliance, Ye Hui's status and authority would undoubtedly surpass theirs in the near future.

However, Zhang Pu perceived their inner thoughts instantly—

He immediately stated, "This is my decision!"

If they had been capable of hanging out their tongues in shock, Duan Jinhuan and Gao Yun would have done so instantly.

Yet they dared not offer any retort. Earlier, Zhang Pu's methods had been truly terrifying.

Liu Yingde had been utterly frightened out of his wits back then, but possessing great foresight, he had decisively chosen submission; otherwise, the entire Sorcerer Ghost Sect would have been annihilated.

If Liu Yingde was clever enough to make that judgment, Duan Jinhuan was no fool either. Men like them would never choose self-destruction.

Once the six hundred thousand was gathered, Zhang Pu had Ye Hui lead his men to accompany him first.

Duan Jinhuan did not dare to utter a single word of objection.

Ye Hui looked at Zhang Pu with a deeply complex expression in his eyes.

Yet Zhang Pu merely offered him a meaningful smile without saying a word.

It was obvious that Zhang Pu was elevating Ye Hui's position, and he believed the latter would understand.

Still, Ye Hui could voice no objections; everyone present had already been completely cowed by Zhang Pu.

Duan Jinhuan's administrative efficiency remained high—Zhang Pu and Ye Hui soon set off on their journey, accompanied by two of Ye Hui's subordinates.

Zhang Pu had no fear that Duan Jinhuan would dare to plot anything underhanded afterwards. If the man behaved obediently and committed no further misdeeds, he might spare him; but should he remain obstinate and fail to see reason... Zhang Pu resolved in his heart to execute without mercy!

When Zhang Pu brought the masked muscle-bound man back, Old Fu naturally wore a look of utter bewilderment.

Old Fu possessed a discerning eye; although Zhang Pu announced that Ye Hui and his men no longer needed to wear masks, Old Fu immediately recognized Ye Hui as an "old acquaintance" from his silhouette and voice.

Zhang Pu merely provided a casual introduction of names to Old Fu and Ye Hui, omitting the fact that Old Fu was his parents' former employee and failing to mention that he was now essentially the boss of Ye Hui and his men.

Even though Zhang Pu had not explicitly made such a declaration at the Triad Alliance headquarters, from Duan Jinhuan down to the lowest-ranking thug, who among them failed to understand the reality of the situation?

Henceforth, should Zhang Pu demand anything of them, none of them would dare to refuse.