Xiong Yaolin's enthusiasm was partly out of politeness, and partly out of genuine appreciation for Lin Dong, this young man.
At less than 25 years old, he single-handedly built such a vast empire.
Terrifying individual combat power, superhumans, superhumans...
Intelligent, resourceful, and ruthless...
From any perspective, he is a once-in-a-century prodigy.
"Thank you for your kind words, Sect Leader Xiong. Do you also enjoy Southern cuisine?"
After saying this, Lin Dong picked up the radish cake from the bowl, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly:
"Mmm, authentic hometown flavor, tastes great!"
Seeing that Lin Dong liked it, Xiong Yaolin chuckled and said:
"I'm glad you enjoy the food, Boss Lin. Speaking of Southern Province, I spent some time there more than 20 years ago. The local customs and food are still unforgettable, hehe..."
"Oh? Sect Leader Xiong stayed in the Southern Province?"
"Ah, those are all old stories from long ago. Speaking of which, it's been many years since I've been back to China to visit."
"If Sect Leader Xiong has time, he can go back and visit more often. After all, a person's bloodline cannot be changed. When a leaf falls, it naturally chooses to return to its roots."
"That's right, Boss Lin's words resonated with me. Leaves fall back to their roots, leaves fall back to their roots, alas..."
Xiong Yaolin sighed with emotion, unaware that he had already fallen into Lin Dong's top-notch hypnosis.
With Lin Dong's current mental strength, he only needs a simple sentence or even a glance to hypnotize someone.
Xiong Yaolin's thoughts drifted back to a period of time more than twenty years ago.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I couldn't help but raise my glass and sigh.
"Brother Lin, let me toast you again." Seeing that things were not going well, Zhou Hanyu quickly changed the subject.
Today's banquet serves two purposes: first, to ascertain Lin Dong's attitude towards the Hongmen; and second, to try and regain some face through drinking.
"What's so special about this cup, Master Zhou?" Lin Dong asked, his head buried in his food, his fingers not touching the cup.
"We are all of the same origin, why are we so eager to fight each other? We, the Hongmen and the Dragon Gang, are both descendants of the dragon. Boss Lin, do you think you should drink this cup?"
Zhou Hanyu answered neither arrogantly nor humbly, his first sentence seemingly carrying a hidden meaning.
Lin Dong put down his chopsticks and touched the rim of his cup: "What a fine line, 'We are all of the same root, why are we fighting each other so fiercely?' Master Zhou, are you holding a grudge?"
"I dare not harbor resentment, but I do have some ideas." Zhou Hanyu did not put down the wine in his hand, but held it up in the air.
Tell me about it.
"Firstly, conflicts in the martial arts world have existed since ancient times, so why should Boss Lin be so fixated on the obsession with unification?"
"Hmm, is there anything else?"
"Secondly, those who achieve great things must be able to combine firmness and flexibility. Being too rigid will easily lead to breakage, and being too forceful will eventually result in great losses."
"Indeed, Master Zhou is quite eloquent when it comes to grand principles. It's a pity he's not teaching at a university."
Zhou Hanyu blushed and said embarrassedly, "Thirdly, since the Hongmen and the Dragon Gang are from the same root, how can they fight each other like this? You see..."
Under Lin Dong's nonchalant mental pressure, his last sentence clearly lacked confidence.
"Are you done talking?"
Lin Dong glanced at everyone at the banquet, and his aura instantly changed, as if he were suddenly enveloped in a faint halo.
The bigwigs around him, including Xiong Yaolin who was still immersed in his memories, were immediately filled with astonishment.
Fatty Jin, in particular, subconsciously rubbed his eyes before realizing it wasn't a hallucination.
How can a person's aura possibly emit light?
Holy crap, that's absolutely amazing.
Seeing the utterly shocked expressions on these people's faces, Lin Dong smiled with satisfaction.
This is exactly the effect he wanted.
All that drinking and socializing beforehand was just to lead into this moment.
"Sect Leader Xiong yearns to return to his roots, Sect Leader Zhou's heart is filled with the legacy and righteousness of the martial world, and so are you, Sect Leader Chen, Sect Leader Lu..."
"Ask yourselves honestly, in the 340 years of the Hong Gang's history, what major event has it done that could change the world order?"
"No? What's the reason?"
"Everyone knows perfectly well that it's because the Hongmen appears powerful on the surface, but inside it's just a disorganized mess!"
A few words were enough to send the expressions of the Hong Gang leaders into a state of flux, their hearts churning with turbulent emotions.
Every word Lin Dong uttered carried a hypnotic power.
Even if their will is the strongest, at this moment they can only be led by his words.
"If things don't change, in a few decades, the Hung Gang will just be a historical term."
"Everyone, the Dragon Gang's strength is not because we don't understand the principles of strength and flexibility, but because we are truly strong."
"Since God has given me a chance, why should I follow that bullshit of hypocrisy and mediocrity?!"
"Just do it! Anyone who disagrees? Destroy them!!!"
Lin Dong's last sentence was filled with murderous intent.
Zhou Hanyu's hand, which was suspended in mid-air, trembled, and a few drops of liquor spilled onto the dishes.
“Master Zhou, you’d better hold on tight. I haven’t even drunk the cup of wine you offered me yet.”
Lin Dong finally picked up the wine glass on the table:
"This cup should be drunk in honor of the Dragon Gang, because the Dragon Gang is doing something earth-shattering that your Hongmen dare not and cannot do!"
"Sect Leader Xiong, Incense Master Zhou, Incense Master Chen... do you all think that in the Chinese tradition, which came first, the dragon or the flood?"
Xiong Yaolin's body trembled, and a glint of light flashed in his bewildered eyes.
The others weren't much better off; they were all led into the mental trap that Lin Dong had set.
The most advanced hypnosis technique on Earth, when used even slightly, produced such remarkable results.
"Master Zhou, shall we drink this cup of wine together?"
"Mmm...done!"
Without realizing it, Zhou Hanyu poured the liquor he had been holding for so long into his stomach.
....................................
May 16th.
A piece of news that shook the entire martial arts world spread around the globe at lightning speed.
The Hongmen, the most influential underground force in the Chinese community for three hundred years, has publicly announced its merger into the Dragon Gang.
From that moment on, all those who identified themselves as members of the Hongmen, regardless of who they were or where they were, experienced a strange feeling on the same day.
Deep within their souls, they seemed to suddenly and inexplicably develop a sense of worship and willingness to go through fire and water for a certain person.
Needless to say, that person was none other than Lin Dong, the leader of the Dragon Gang!
The influence of the Hongmen in the underworld is self-evident.
Its followers number in the millions, including many prominent tycoons and bigwigs.
Previously, it existed in a loose form because no one could twist it into a cohesive whole.
But things are different now, with the emergence of Lin Dong, an anomaly.
Possessing a system and an extremely abnormal "heart of loyalty," he managed to turn most of the martial arts world into a one-man show.
....................................
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
