Before Zhuge Wu could answer, Chuan Liu suddenly felt a force gently patting the back of her head.

Although the opponent did not use much force, Chuanliu could still feel the strength of a martial artist's hand.

Chuanliu rubbed the back of her head where she had been slapped, her features contorted slightly with pain. She looked up at Zhuge Wu with a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Seeing this, Zhuge Wu smiled slightly and said softly, "You're too curious, kid. Why don't you become a gossipmonger? Haven't you heard that the more you know, the faster you die? There are some things you're better off not knowing."

His words carried a hint of warning and concern, and Chuanliu could tell that Zhuge Wu didn't want to continue. If he continued to ask, his intentions would be too obvious, so Chuanliu smiled and didn't ask any further.

Around four or five o'clock in the afternoon, Chuanliu and Zhugetang's group arrived at the outskirts of the Red Peach City red-light district.

Jiulong has sent Zhuang Qiang and his men to wait here for a long time.

Seeing Zhuge Wu in the distance, Zhuang Qiang stood with his hands in his pockets and said casually, "You've finally arrived! Our boss has been waiting for you for so long!"

Zhuge Wu merely gave a polite smile, without responding.

Zhuang Qiang didn't pay any attention, he just urged them to leave quickly and took them to the base.

Jiulong and He Dadong came forward one after the other, settled the people of Zhuge Hall in the courtyard, and then led Zhuge Wu into the house.

Chuanliu followed behind them, secretly observing their interactions.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Zhuge Wu, Jiulong quickly got down to business.

Jiulong smiled and said, "Master Wudang, this time I invited you here not on a per-session basis, but as a package deal. Your brother told you about this, didn't he?"

Zhuge Wu nodded slightly and replied, "Yes, Awen has already told me."

Seeing this, Jiulong quickly added, "I have already paid the first payment. I will pay the remaining half after the matter is completed."

However, Zhuge Wu's expression did not change because of Jiu Long's words. He said calmly, "I know, Awen also said that your requirement is to completely follow your arrangements? We can't do that."

Jiulong's smile froze. "What...what do you mean by this?"

Zhuge Wu glanced at him and said calmly, "If you want us to commit mass suicide, do you expect me to listen to you?"

Jiulong chuckled dryly, "Of course I wouldn't make such a request."

Zhuge Wu remained defiant, asking, "Do you know how to lead troops? Do you understand surprise attack tactics? Are you qualified to command us?"

Jiulong was rendered speechless by Jiulong's three consecutive questions.

Zhuang Qiang was about to retort when He Dadong stopped him.

Jiulong had probably never felt so frustrated as a client. He relented and said, "Okay, you can command your team, but if they don't meet my requirements, I definitely won't pay you the final payment."

Zhuge Wu nodded. "That's natural."

Zhuge Wu was clearly carrying some personal emotions, which could be seen from his conversation with Chuan Liu along the way. Whenever Jiu Long was mentioned, his tone and attitude revealed obvious displeasure. However, since his younger brother Zhuge Wen had already taken on the job, Zhuge Wu could only suppress these emotions for the time being, even though he had a lot of dissatisfaction with Jiu Long, and try to deal with him in a calm manner.

That's interesting. Where does such strong disdain come from?

Chuanliu observed from the side, his curiosity piqued.

As she was pondering this question, suddenly, someone barged in, interrupting her train of thought.

A subordinate rushed into the room, panting, and reported, "Something terrible has happened! Boss, an armed force has suddenly invaded the territory of the City of Hearts!"

Upon hearing this, Jiulong, He Dadong, and Zhuang Qiang's expressions instantly hardened. After exchanging a glance, Jiulong immediately pressed for an answer: "Whose team is that?"

The subordinate replied anxiously, "Judging from their attire, they look like members of a thug gang."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another subordinate rushed in, reporting urgently, "Boss, something bad has happened! Susan's made a move! She's taken the men she hired and headed out of the city!"

Upon hearing this, Jiulong frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart. "That woman isn't satisfied with having so many bodyguards around her, she actually had to openly let so many people from Spade City in?"

He Da Dong whispered in his ear, "Could it be that she knows we've contacted Zhuge Tang? But how could the thugs have acted so quickly?"

Jiulong asked coldly, "Xiao Ni, did you encounter anyone on your way back and forth?"

"Little Ni" was sweating profusely, and as if afraid that the others would suspect him, he hurriedly explained, "Brother Long, I didn't do anything except go to the Wudang family as you instructed! Waaaaaah!"

"I'm asking if you ran into anyone!"

Jiulong rubbed his temples and asked irritably.

However, the boy was sobbing that he couldn't utter a complete sentence.

Zhuge Wu sighed, thinking to himself, "This kid really has a bit of an ostrich mentality." He then quickly added, "When we came here, the young man mentioned that he encountered the thugs, probably that group."

At this moment, Jiulong had no time to correct "Xiao Ni's" oversight. His face was gloomy, and his voice was low and firm: "Susan's sudden reinforcement of military forces is a huge variable for us."

He Dadong immediately understood Jiulong's intention and asked, "What does Big Brother mean...?"

Jiulong remained silent for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes.

He looked up and made a decisive decision: "We must act before Susan! Let's go immediately!"

Strike first and you'll have the upper hand; strike later and you'll suffer the consequences.

Then, he turned to Zhuge Wu, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Master Wu, then I'll have to trouble you."

Although he had some reservations, Zhuge Wu demonstrated a professional attitude when it came to matters of expertise.

He nodded, gave the troops tactical instructions in the courtyard, and then quietly led them off.

Meanwhile, the three Long Dongqiang brothers and Xiao Ni, along with Uncle Hei and the guards, followed behind Zhuge Tang's group.

Zhuge Wu led the team and stopped at the intersection where Susan and the gang of thugs would definitely pass by during their meeting.

Zhuge Wu gestured to the team, and the members quickly dispersed, hiding in the bushes on both sides. Each member simultaneously raised their Zhuge Repeating Crossbow, as if the bullets were already loaded, the iron arrowheads gleaming coldly in the sunlight, ready to fire at any moment.

As the sun gradually slanted westward, the setting sun cast a purple glow, draping the forest in a veil of mystery. Zhuge Wu and his troops, like a pack of wolves in the jungle, quietly awaited the appearance of their prey.