The Favored Heiress
Chapter 590: Broke a Rib

Chapter 590: Chapter 590: Broke a Rib

South Border Underground Market.

The area was vast, with dilapidated low and tall buildings standing closely together.

The items for sale were of an extensive variety.

The most attractive were undoubtedly the jade antiques and various underground establishments.

Myanmar was rich in mineral resources and teemed with jade.

The South Border region just happened to have two mines straddling the border, making the underground market the sanctuary of choice for many jade enthusiasts looking to strike it rich overnight.

At half-past seven in the evening, a group slowly walked into the marketplace from the central entrance.

In front of the numerous jade betting stalls, the clamor and chatter of the crowd filled the air.

This place was like Sleepless City; no matter when, it was exceptionally lively.

At this moment, Li Cheng was walking beside Shang Yu, his sharp gaze sweeping alertly over the surroundings.

Li Qiao, however, seemed somewhat indifferent, casually looking at the stalls they passed as if lacking interest.

Shortly after, the group reached the center of the marketplace, where outdoor stalls were noticeably fewer, and multistory buildings stood haphazardly.

"Who’s in control of the underground market now?" Li Qiao tugged at the brim of her fisherman’s hat and turned her head to ask.

Li San followed behind Nan Xin and paused briefly before replying in a low voice, "It’s in Dan Ying’s hands, took it over two years ago."

Li Qiao’s hand on the brim of her hat stopped abruptly, a playful look appearing in her eyes, "Oh, him..."

Shang Yu and Li San could clearly read the subtle mockery in her tone, both turning their heads simultaneously, Li San narrowing his eyes thoughtfully, "You have a grudge against Dan Ying?"

Back then, Qiaoqiao was unmatched at the border, and the Border Seven Sons acted ostentatiously.

Although they dominated their territory, they made countless enemies as well.

Hearing this, Li Qiao looked forward, adjusted the angle of her hat’s brim, let her hand naturally hook onto Shang Yu’s fingertip, and replied, "No, just had a fight with his daughter Dan Min."

Li San had an ’I thought as much’ expression, "When was that? I remember Dan Min has been crowned the Female Fist King of the Underground Boxing Gym three times. You didn’t suffer in the fight, did you?"

He was not doubting Li Qiao’s skills, but Dan Min had been fighting black market boxing year-round, brawling like it was a matter of life or death, with plenty of dishonorable tactics that caught people off guard.

Li Qiao didn’t think too much, responding vaguely, "Seems like I did suffer a bit; broke a rib at the time."

No sooner had she spoken, Shang Yu frowned deeply, scrutinizing Li Qiao’s half-hidden face under the brim, his voice extremely low, "And her?"

Li Qiao turned her head to look at him, pondering for a moment with an innocent face, "I forgot."

She truly didn’t remember. At that time, they had arranged to fight in the Underground Boxing Gym, seemingly because Dan Min had bullied Xia Lao Wu.

Just then, Ah Chang, who was following behind them, reminded softly, "Miss Qi, Dan Min broke a rib, and her nasal bone was also shattered."

He remembered it clearly; that boxing match was unattended, with just Dan Min and Miss Qi locking the door and beating each other.

When they entered, they found both lying on the ring floor, utterly exhausted, seemingly without a clear winner.

Li Qiao uttered an ’Oh,’ her tone very calm.

Wei Lang, following her with a look of surprise on his face, quickly accepted the fact.

Miss Li was so good with a gun, how could her martial abilities be any less.

...

By eight o’clock in the evening, the sky had completely darkened.

Li San looked at the row of connected buildings not far away, tilting his chin up, "The underground sale has started, shall we take a look?"

In the market, the real treasures were all in the underground sale—antiques, firearms, curiosities, jade, anything you could imagine.

Li Qiao sized up the row houses, glanced at the indifferent Shang Yu, "Shall we take a look?"

"Let’s go." The man responded, leading the way forward with her hand in his.

Li San signaled to Wei Lang behind him, explaining the rules of the underground market as they walked.

Upon entering, the lobby was suddenly bright and splendid.

The ground floor halls of the multi-row buildings were connected internally; they looked shabby on the outside but were luxurious inside.

Soon, the manager of the market came over.

The people before him exuded an exceptional aura, every move radiating the scent of money, prompting the manager to smile obsequiously, "Dear bosses, do you have a reservation for tonight?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Li San came over from behind.

Seeing him, the manager’s expression immediately turned serious, "Ah, Third Master Li, what a rare visitor you are!"

In South Border, Third Master Li was known to all.

Li San nodded at the manager, "Which hall is less crowded right now?"

The manager checked his phone, "The Diamond Hall and the Antique Hall have just started to warm up; there aren’t many people. Third Master Li, we’ve just received a batch of D-grade diamonds, perhaps you’d like to take a look first?"

The underground market had thirteen different sales halls, with the jewelry, gambling stone, and raw gemstone halls being the most popular.

Li San pondered for a moment and then turned to Shang Yu, "What do you think?"

The underground market was crowded and chaotic; Shang Shaoyan’s identity was too unique, and for safety reasons, it was not suitable to go to the busier halls.

"Either is fine." The man’s tone was casual.

Seeing this, Li San gave the market manager a look, and they were led towards the Diamond Hall.

...

Meanwhile, at the underground boxing gym in the market, the ring fight had not yet started, and the audience was placing their bets in an orderly manner.

In the backstage resting room, a woman nearly one meter eighty tall was wrapping her hands with tape, her back facing the door.

Suddenly, the wooden door to the resting room was pushed open, and someone walked over to the woman with a phone in hand, saying in a panic, "Miss, have a look at this, someone took it near the market’s stalls."

The woman referred to as Miss was Dan Min, the daughter of Dan Ying, the current master of the underground market.

She was tall and her bodily lines filled with a tension rarely seen in a woman.

Dan Min glanced at the phone screen casually; upon seeing that clear photo, she paused for a moment, then snatched the phone away, dropping the tape.

Even though the girl in the photo was hidden under the brim of a fisherman’s hat, Dan Min could recognize her identity from her contours and aura.

With a sly smile, she uttered a name, "Li Qiao, she dares to come back?"

"Miss, they’ve gone to the underground market, should I send someone to..."

Dan Min raised her hand to interrupt, gripping the phone and taking several more looks, "Is this man Li San?"

Her subordinate leaned in and quickly nodded, "Yes, that’s Third Master Li."

"And him?" Dan Min tapped the screen with her fingertip, then zoomed in on the photo, her gaze locking onto the man in the black shirt, looking very intently.

The subordinate shook his head, looking somewhat puzzled, "I’ve never seen him, he must not be from South Border."

Dan Min licked her lips, her eyes full of interest, "You said... they just went to the underground market?"

"Yes, Miss. There are about seven or eight of them."

Dan Min stared unblinkingly, it took her a while before she commanded, "Go, cancel tonight’s female boxing match, and tell the underground market that before I arrive, they are not allowed to leave."

The subordinate obeyed and left the room, privately thinking that trouble might be brewing