Chapter 223: Feiyingshan

Xiao Zhenggong pushed away the two women beside him and stepped out of the pool.

He was excited; the weather was cold, but he didn't even want to wrap a towel around himself: "Old Luo, I knew you were reliable. Take your men to Tiemenbao and bring back the item."

Old Luo rubbed his antenna and paused before saying: "Boss, you just said to take my men where? My signal's bad, I didn't catch it."

Xiao Zhenggong repeated: "I told you to go to Tiemenbao and bring back the item!"

"Boss, I can't hear you, Boss…" Luo Zhengnan pulled the antenna out of his skull.

I thought you had some brilliant idea.

Send me and my men to Tiemenbao to fetch it for you?

You think it's that easy to get it back?

If it were that easy, He Jiaqing would've taken it long ago—why wait for you?

Luo Zhengnan wiped the antenna, put it back in the box, and let out a bitter laugh.

Do you even know where Tiemenbao is?

If I send my men there, will they even come back?

"Old Luo, Old Luo!" The phone went silent. Xiao Zhenggong redialed—the reply was: The number you dialed is disconnected.

"This useless waste! I gave him a chance to earn merit, and he can't even seize it!" Xiao Zhenggong threw the phone down, fumed for a moment, then called the boss of Huangtuqiao.

To contact Puluozhou from Waizhou, there are normally only two channels: sending letters, or using Kuixiu to hook into the network. Any other communication method involving electricity is unreliable.

This matter is too urgent for letters—only the hook can work.

Every Tangkou of Jiangxiangbang has a Kuixiu, but Xiao Zhenggong didn't want to reveal this. Luckily, the Huangtu boss was in Waizhou on business—contacting him was the best option.

The call connected. Xiao Zhenggong told the Huangtu boss to come to Yuezhou immediately.

The boss arrived that same night.

Xiao Zhenggong dismissed everyone else and told him alone: "Forget your Waizhou business. Take your Tangkou men, plus those from Heishipō, go to Tiemenbao and retrieve something for me."

The Huangtuqiao boss replied: "Boss, what's the item?"

"A long spear."

"What model?"

"Not a firearm. A cold weapon."

"Is it a magic treasure?"

Xiao Zhenggong paused, stunned.

He didn't know exactly what the item was.

He knew He Jiaqing had been searching for Zhao Xiao's soul, and that Zhao Xiao's soul had attached itself to a long spear.

But whether the spear was a magic treasure, a spiritual object, or a solidified wandering ghost, Xiao Zhenggong didn't know.

"Just treat it as a magic treasure. This spear carries the might to terrify a thousand armies. Whoever holds it can instantly tell true from false."

"It's in the hands of Tiemenbao's boss, Zhou Anju. Tell him if he's willing to hand it over, we'll pay him—let him name his price.

If he refuses, use force. This item must be retrieved. If you succeed, I'll promote you to Elder."

Han Jinwei, Huangtuqiao's boss, had just taken office this year. He was in his early thirties, brimming with energy.

Hearing the boss's reward, Han Jinwei replied loudly: "Boss, leave this to me. No need to bring Heishipō's men."

Xiao Zhenggong frowned: "Jinwei, Tiemenbao isn't ordinary. One Tangkou may not be enough."

Han Jinwei was confident: "I know Tiemenbao is easy to defend, but we have our own methods. I guarantee I'll bring it back."

"Good!" Xiao Zhenggong praised. "Use men, spend money—just tell me. But one thing: this must stay secret. When your men go to Tiemenbao, spread out. Don't draw attention."

"Boss, you don't need to worry about any of this. Just wait for my news." Han Jinwei departed that night, returning to Puluozhou.

Xiao Zhenggong felt even more certain he hadn't misjudged—he was the kind who could accomplish great things!

…

On Feiyingshan, Zhaizhu He Zhenlei was still waiting for Ma Dingfu's news.

Zhou Anju was dead, and all his men on the mountain were dead—only Little Ma remained.

Ma Dingfu wanted to become boss. He Zhenlei had agreed.

He had no choice. Tiemenbao had already accepted him as boss. Sending someone else now was too late.

But Ma Dingfu promised to send He Zhenlei ten thousand silver dollars once he became boss. Could he really plan to renege?

Send someone to warn him?

No—don't rush.

Little Ma has endured for years. Now that he's boss, he's probably feeling cocky. If I pressure him for money now, he might turn on me outright.

Wait a while. Send a few men to stay close to him. Observe his actions first, then give him a hint.

He's from Feiyingshan. If this secret leaks, he'll never hold his position in Tiemenbao.

As long as I hold this leverage, I won't worry about him reneging later.

Of course, this leverage should stay hidden. If the truth comes out, I'll lose all future power to extort Tiemenbao.

Knowing the stakes, He Zhenlei wasn't in a hurry about Tiemenbao—but something urgent arrived instantly.

More than a dozen of his men sent to collect grain below the mountain were ambushed. Only one survived and fled back.

His name was Chen Zhuyu, a minor leader on the mountain. His right ear had been cut off. He knelt on the ground, wailing:

"Lei Ye, the bastards of Tiemenbao ambushed our men!"

He Zhenlei froze: "Who ambushed you?"

"Tiemenbao's men. We hadn't gone far down the mountain when they hit us. Fifteen of our men died. I barely escaped with my life."

In truth, he wouldn't have escaped even if he'd risked his life.

He was captured alive—and Li Banfeng let him go to deliver the message.

He Zhenlei still didn't believe it: "You're sure? Really Tiemenbao's men? Those Zhaixiu never leave the big iron gate!"

"Lei Ye, I'm sure. I've been to Tiemenbao. I know Wu Yongchao. I've seen Tang Yanning too!"

What is Little Ma planning?

Is he really going to turn on me?

He Zhenlei's hands trembled with rage.

"Take a few men to Tiemenbao. Don't fight them. Don't talk much. Just meet their boss. Tell Ma Dingfu: 'I, He Mou, miss him.'"

This brat forgot his own origins!

If he doesn't come face-to-face to apologize, I'll give up all of Tiemenbao's profits—I'll expose him anyway!

Chen Zhuyu took five tough men and headed for Tiemenbao at noon. He returned alone that night.

This time, his left ear was cut off too. He knelt, sobbing uncontrollably: "Boss, I took the men there. They told me to wait in a room to meet their boss. But I never saw him—they ambushed us again.

All five men were killed. They cut off my other ear! Boss, you have to avenge me!"

He Zhenlei's veins bulged with fury!

Little Ma, I was blind to see you as anything but trash. Don't you dare forget who gave you your bread in Tiemenbao—you dare play this game with me!

"Take this letter to Tiemenbao. Stand at their gate and read it aloud word for word. If anyone asks where it came from, say it was written by Ma Dingfu himself. If he denies it, tell them to come face me for a confrontation!"

He Zhenlei handed Chen Zhuyu a letter. It was indeed written in Ma Dingfu's own hand, detailing Zhou Anju's death, Tiemenbao's current state, and Ma Dingfu's request to become boss—with a plea for He Zhenlei's support.

Every word was clear. He Zhenlei was drawing the line today.

But Chen Zhuyu didn't want to go. Both ears were gone. What would they cut off next?

He Zhenlei cursed him and sent someone else to deliver the letter.

The man left at dawn. By midnight, there was still no reply.

He Zhenlei lay awake, his mind churning.

Did Ma Dingfu strike again?

What if Ma Dingfu never admits it?

What if he claims the letter isn't his?

Will I really be powerless against him?

Turning over and over, He Zhenlei found no solution. He stayed awake until late, parched, wanting water.

Li Banfeng poured him a bowl of water.

He Zhenlei took the bowl, about to drink—then froze. He shouted sharply: "Who are you?"

Li Banfeng replied briefly: "Boss."

"What boss?"

"The boss of Tiemenbao."

He Zhenlei stared at Li Banfeng. The man wore a hat and a beard—his face was unrecognizable.

He was the boss of Tiemenbao?

Little Ma never became boss?

He Zhenlei asked: "What's your name?"

Li Banfeng grew impatient: "Didn't I just say? I'm Boss. My surname is Boss, my given name is Boss."

What kind of name is that?

Is this man really the boss of Tiemenbao?

Li Banfeng wanted to ask the same question: "Your men sent to steal grain below the mountain—I killed them. Your men sent to Tiemenbao—I killed them. The group you just sent to deliver the letter—I killed them too.

I've been wondering: you've taken this mountain as your domain. You're at least a man of some courage. I've killed your men, and you haven't dared lift a hand? Are you really the Zhaizhu of Feiyingshan?"

He Zhenlei roared: "How did you get into my Shanmen?"

Li Banfeng advised him, "You don't need to make such a commotion—your few guards at the door are already dead, and all the men you sent to Tiemenbao talked too freely; they told me everything about your deployments on Feiyingshan."

He Zhenlei gritted his teeth, leapt off the bed, and snarled, "I'll take your life!"

Li Banfeng stepped forward, kicked out, and shattered He Zhenlei's front teeth; then he swung his leg again, sending He Zhenlei crashing back onto the bed. "I told you—your men talked too freely. They told me your cultivation base."

"As a mountain lord, you've got quite a reputation. I figured you must be at least fourth-layer cultivation. But after hearing what they said, I learned you're nothing but a third-layer Wu Xiu. Someone like you ruling a territory? I never imagined it. Looks like you've picked up some cheat-cultivation technique."

He Zhenlei gritted his teeth again, about to speak—when Li Banfeng kicked him again, snapping his molars.

"Don't grind your teeth. I can't stand the sound."

He Zhenlei clutched his mouth, his voice muffled: "What do you want from me?"

Li Banfeng said, "Judging by your condition, I don't want to make things hard for you. Tomorrow, take your men and attack Tiemenbao. Bring everyone you can fight."

"If you show up, I'll spare your life. But if I don't see you by dawn tomorrow, prepare for someone to collect your corpse."

He Zhenlei stared in shock. "You want me to attack Tiemenbao?"

Li Banfeng backhanded him across the face. "Your cultivation's weak, and your ears are deaf? I won't repeat myself. I'll be waiting for you at the fortress tomorrow."

PS: Combat prowess is honed through real battle!

(End of Chapter)