{Chapter: 217 The desperate situation of Qingshan Gang!}
The Tang family and the Mei family had both decided to completely sever all trade relations and alliances with the Qingshan Gang—and they could do so easily and unilaterally.
With Lin Yuan at the helm, taking a decisive and strategic approach, all of the Qingshan Gang's commercial operations in the Xiling District were methodically dismantled.
This wasn't limited to legal ventures. Even their gray-area operations—clubs, underground casinos, illicit bars, brothels and entertainment venues—were swiftly shut down one by one.
Lin Yuan had instructed Long Wu to directly reach out to high-ranking officials within the city administration and law enforcement, using legal and political leverage to bring about the closures. These establishments, shady as they were, couldn't withstand even a single targeted investigation.
In a world of power and influence, it wasn't about whether these businesses were clean or dirty. It was about who had the authority to crack down. And clearly, the Qingshan Gang did not have the power to defend itself at this level.
True, the Qingshan Gang held a certain degree of influence in Xiling. For years, they had maneuvered through the shadows, maintaining dominance in the underworld.
But now? Three of the most powerful families in Jiangbei had joined forces to suppress them.
That level of pressure was like a mountain falling on an anthill. The Qingshan Gang simply couldn't fight back.
If the Chen family weren't quietly backing the gang, even one of these three families would have been more than enough to obliterate them. But even with that faint support, the Qingshan Gang had already been pushed to the brink of collapse.
Their operations were hemorrhaging money. Their credibility was destroyed. Their grip on the district had been broken.
One after another, their revenue streams dried up, and with each blow, the once-feared gang began to unravel from within.
The truth was simple: most of the gang members were never loyal in the first place.
They were mercenaries in all but name—men who followed the scent of money and power. Whoever paid more, whoever looked stronger, they followed. Ideals like loyalty and brotherhood were just smoke screens.
In this modern era, blind loyalty rarely lasted. Those who were loyal either rose to success quickly… or were buried quietly.
News of the Qingshan Gang being targeted by several of Jiangbei's elite families spread like wildfire.
And so, Gu Qingshan's empire, built over years of manipulation and networking, began to crumble like a sandcastle caught in the tide.
---
Meanwhile, inside a private villa, Gu Qingshan and Ye Feng sat across from each other in the dimly lit living room. Both wore expressions of deep frustration and gloom.
"I really didn't expect that Lin family brat to be so ruthless. He's not just out to ruin me—he's trying to kill me!" Gu Qingshan growled, his eyes cold and voice heavy with bitterness.
"Yeah..." Ye Feng muttered, nodding. His brows furrowed tightly.
"Right after the banquet ended, everything fell apart," Gu Qingshan continued, his tone full of anger and disbelief. "All my businesses were shut down overnight. The Tang and Mei families turned against me without hesitation. Even the smaller families have cut all ties with the Qingshan Gang."
He gritted his teeth. "These people… they have no conscience. I helped them make money, ran their dirty errands, and I didn't even ask for much in return. I kept things quiet for them. Now that I'm in trouble, they act like they never knew me!"
Ye Feng looked troubled. He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Brother Qingshan, what do we do now? Should I try reaching out to the Patriarch of the Chen family? Maybe he can help us weather this storm?"
Gu Qingshan shook his head without a second thought.
"It's pointless," he said firmly. "That young master of the Lin family—he's already laid the groundwork. He's been heating the pot slowly, cooking us like frogs in warm water. By the time we realized the water was boiling, it was already too late."
"I'm afraid... we've lost any chance to resist."
He leaned forward, voice low but resolute. "My instincts have never failed me, Ye Feng. We need to leave Jiangbei—right now. Let's go to the Demon City or Yanjing and rebuild from scratch. Didn't you say you knew people there? I'll bring whatever funds I have left. Let's get off the battlefield and grow stronger quietly. Once our wings are fully spread, we'll return—and we'll settle this debt."
Gu Qingshan was not a man who had risen from nothing by being reckless. He had once been just another low-ranking gangster, but through wit and ruthless cunning, he had clawed his way to the top.
His intuition had saved his life many times before—and it was screaming at him now: Run.
Stay in Jiangbei, and it wouldn't just be the gang that would die—it would be them, personally.
Ye Feng, however, looked unconvinced. His eyes were dark, conflicted, and unwilling to accept defeat.
"Brother… are we really just going to leave like this?" he asked quietly, clenching his fists. "We haven't even gone head-to-head with that arrogant dog yet. We're just going to walk away?"
He narrowed his eyes. "No! I can reach out to some of my contacts. And we can ask for help from the Chen family too. Maybe together, we can survive this."
Before Ye Feng could finish, Gu Qingshan raised a hand and cut him off.
"Enough!" he said firmly. "Listen to me, Brother Ye Feng. Trust my judgment."
"Do you know why I changed my name from Gu Tiezhu to Gu Qingshan?"
Ye Feng blinked in confusion, unsure how that was relevant.
Gu Qingshan smirked bitterly and explained, "Because if you still have a green mountain, you don't have to worry about running out of firewood."
(T/N: Qingshan means 'green mountain,' a metaphor for survival and hope. Tiezhu means 'iron pillar,' symbolizing rigidity and stubbornness.)
"Only by living to fight another day can we plan our revenge. There's no point in being brave now, only to end up dead before we've even had our chance."
"Don't think that Lin Yuan hasn't confronted us directly," Gu Qingshan said with a bitter laugh, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "It's not because he lacks courage or strength—it's because he doesn't need to. He doesn't plan to fight us head-on at all. Why would he dirty his own hands when he can manipulate everything from the shadows?"
*****
You can support me by joining my Patreon and get upto 60 chapters in advance.
patreon.com/Eden_Translation