Chapter 41

Hot-tempered this person is very simple, nothing goes to his heart; to say it nicely he's optimistic, to say it not nicely he's heartless and gutless.

Having food, having drink, having fun—that's the immortal life; the only thing worth praising is filial piety.

Following Li Xin for over a year, he's always mooching food and drink; when he gets money, he takes it home to subsidize the household.

People without genuine feelings, Li Xin dares not keep them close; he lacks the ability to check others' loyalty, so he can only ask those around him to, as much as possible, have some concern.

Except for special talents!

Lei Yaoyang is the exception; one could say his whole life has been lived to fulfill that promise to the camel!

He is harsh to others, even harsher to himself, but very good to his subordinates.

Yaoyang is truly 'radiant'!

Time flew amid laughter and cheer; even the model worker Jimi came back.

He grabbed a small stool, sat beside Li Xin, and asked: 'Boss, why are you in such high spirits today?.'

Li Xin put his arm around Jimi's shoulders, laughing loudly: 'I'm happy today as your boss; having an employee like you who's diligent and uncomplaining makes any boss happy.'

He glanced around, then continued: 'Our little temple in Xi Gong started with just two or three kittens and has grown to its present size—no easy feat!.'

It started with Huobao, Huashe, then Dasha, later Tianhong—you're all my close aides; making it to today, Big Brother, I'm truly happy!.

Come, pick up the bottle, bottoms up!.

Unlike these people drinking happily, Lei Yaoyang hasn't moved from the start; his expression alternates between dazed, pained, and fierce, with not a trace of joy.

Huo bao, being simple-minded, picked up the bottle and said to the dazed Lei Yaoyang beside him: 'Come, brother, eat what you should, drink what you should, don't let anything weigh on your heart—getting roaring drunk solves everything; look at me, I spend the day happy.'

He also gave Lei Yaoyang a hearty, foolish laugh.

Lei Yaoyang glanced at the fire-blowing Huo bao who was handing him wine—ordinary features, sturdy build, at least 1.8 meters tall—but he could see sincerity in his eyes.

Lei Yaoyang didn't refuse, picked up the bottle and drained it, wiped his mouth, and continued to stare blankly.

But in his heart, a hint of warmth arose, coming from Huo bao.

……

Li Xin brought Lei Yaoyang to the administrative warehouse.

He looked up at the luohan hanging midair, glanced back at Lei Yaoyang, and asked: 'Is this the good-for-nothing?.'

Lei Yaoyang nodded slightly, said nothing, and fixed his gaze on the luohan hanging in midair.

Li Xin took out a tool kit from the corner, tossed it at Lei Yaoyang's feet, and said: 'Here! Don't say Big Brother doesn't look after you—these are my treasures, all good stuff; have fun with them.'

The luohan hanging midair shouted loudly: 'Immortal Trust, you don't observe the jianghu rules; this is an internal matter of the Harmony and Righteousness Hall, you have no right to interfere.'

Exactly, that's a gangster—even on his deathbed he wants others to follow the rules!

Tianhong won't tolerate the luohan! How dare you speak loudly to Big Brother? Who do you think you are?

Just a good-for-nothing!

He picked up a baseball stick and gave him a beating; after spitting, he said: 'Pah! Good-for-nothing brat, daring to speak loudly to my Big Brother—I'll beat you to death!.'

Li Xin's face showed a disdainful cold smile, his voice low: 'Rules? You move against a disciple's woman and call that following the rules? You even got the person killed—are you even human?'

Don't talk to me about rules—you're not worthy!.

The luohan still wanted to grasp the last shred of hope; he didn't want to die!

He pleaded: 'Brother Xin, Father Xin, are you really going to go to war with the entire Harmony and Righteousness Hall over a little weakling?'

I can give you all my money, yield a street in Kowloon, let me go—I beg you!!!.

Li Xin laughed, laughing unrestrainedly, and amusingly said to Tianhong: 'Tianhong, he's using the Harmony and Righteousness Hall to threaten me!.'

Tianhong thought, then said: 'Big Brother, it's getting late today; tomorrow, I'll go and take down the Harmony and Righteousness Hall.'

What Tianhong said was taken for granted—without even thinking, he just wanted to take down the Harmony and Righteousness Hall!

Confident, very confident, extremely confident!

He felt that the Harmony and Righteousness Hall was no different to him than a kitten or puppy.

Li Xin looked at the luohan and asked: 'Did you hear what my younger brother said? Harmony and Righteousness Hall? Do you lot, the hall's chief "Fat Buddha," dare to say you'll go to war with me?'

He asked and answered himself: 'He wouldn't dare! I, Immortal Trust, dare to go to war with you Harmony and Righteousness Hall for the newly accepted disciple.'

Hall chief Fat Buddha, would you dare to go to war with me, Immortal Trust, for you?

Good-for-nothing!

Others act as big brothers, spending money to find women for their disciples; you, acting as a big brother, bring disaster to the disciples' women—how can you be a big brother others look up to?

Even if you don't die, it's useless—you might as well go die!.

He turned, patted Lei Yaoyang's shoulder, and said: 'I'm leaving him with you—have fun! Tomorrow, Big Brother I'll take you to discuss accounts with the Harmony and Righteousness Hall, settle the protection fee; you yourself say quitting the Harmony and Righteousness Hall doesn't count—have a good time.'

Li Xin had just stepped outside with Tianhong when the luohan's miserable howls came from inside.

Tianhong closed the door, came to Li Xin's side, furrowed his brow and asked: 'What accounts is Big Brother talking about? I've taken down the Harmony and Righteousness Hall—you wouldn't need to discuss accounts, and you'd still have to make a trip, how troublesome!.'

Li Xin put his arm around Tianhong's shoulders, walked toward the roadside vehicle, and said as they went: 'The accounts still need to be settled, the protection fee must be paid in full, but… within their society, everyone at the rank of big bottom and above must disappear—this also needs to be done.'

Tianhong, Big Brother is teaching you some principles: force is the last resort to settle matters, only used when things truly can't be resolved through talk.

If one day you understand holding force in one hand and righteousness in the other, whatever you do will be smooth sailing.

After thinking, he added: 'These are conclusions drawn from practice.'

Tianhong asked a deep question: 'Big Brother, what exactly is righteousness?.'

Li Xin had his own understanding in mind and explained: 'Righteousness! It's what the vast majority of people can obtain—benefits they never had before; as long as you control those benefits, what you say is righteousness.'

'Then why must the Harmony and Righteousness Hall's big bottom disappear? Isn't force supposed to be the last resort? Why not talk first?'

Tianhong asked, puzzled.

Li Xin replied impatiently: 'Does the Harmony and Righteousness Hall even have the qualifications to talk with me?.'

Having just finished lecturing Tianhong, he hastily slapped his forehead and urgently ordered: 'Go back to the warehouse, empty out the luohan— that good-for-nothing luohan just pissed me off! You forgot something this important!'

Can't work for nothing; tomorrow I still have to give that good-for-nothing Fat Buddha a big red envelope—this money can't come out of my pocket.

The matter that the arhat caused, he should be the one to pay this money, he can't avoid responsibility, right?

Tianhong nodded, indicating he knew what to do.

He again put on a serious face and said: "Big Brother, I understand what you mean by righteousness."

His voice paused a moment, then he continued: "Righteousness means that everything is up to me; those who dare not listen will be beaten until they listen, and once they are obedient, righteousness exists."

Having said that, he strode toward the warehouse.

Li Xin stood there, stunned.

Is… is that what it means?