Chapter 18

As Ye Tian's words fell silent.

Wei Wu's knife halted precisely at the back of Huang Zhen's neck, the icy blade making Huang Zhen's heart shiver.

This was real—he would really cut him down, not a joke, not a threat; if Ye Tian had spoken a moment later, he'd be dead already.

Compared to others.

Huang Zhen was more terrified by the man's execution, as if he cared nothing at all for anything except Ye Tian's orders.

Ye Tian waved his hand, signaling Wei Wu to step aside, then turned back to Huang Zhen.

"You said you own several taverns?"

"Y-yes!"

He was still shaken, his speech halting.

"How many taverns total? Are they all in City West?"

"Four! I have four taverns, all right here in City West."

Looks like a rich man—four taverns, no wonder the Poison Fangs targeted him.

"I want fifty percent."

Ye Tian didn't waste words; since they were all in City West, the matter was simple—besides, this was Linshui City's rule; even if he didn't take it, another gang would swallow that profit anyway.

Huang Zhen had now recovered.

Hearing Ye Tian's demand, his expression twisted in hesitation.

"But the Poison Fangs only asked for thirty percent."

"That's why he's dead."

Ye Tian answered sharply, his tone unmistakable, watching the man with a faint, mocking smile.

"Of course, you can choose to die instead."

With those words, the Black Water Gang members around Huang Zhen turned their gazes on him—hostile, dangerous.

"..."

Shouldn't we haggle? Isn't it always sky-high demands and ground-level counteroffers? Come on, negotiate!

"N-no problem!"

Forcing a grin under Ye Tian's gaze, Huang Zhen nodded awkwardly.

He dared not negotiate further, terrified Ye Tian would slit his throat right then—this wasn't like the Poison Fangs; this man would actually kill him.

"Hmm."

Seeing the man agree, Ye Tian wasn't surprised.

He gestured to Mei Yongning.

"Handle the tavern handover—you'll have to manage it. I don't have many people under me; you'll need to work hard for me soon."

"Boss, you're joking—I'm only doing what's due."

Mei Yongning shook his head, showing no objection.

He wasn't afraid of work—he feared having nothing to do at all. He'd been right from the start: this man was no ordinary gang member.

"Gui Tou! Wei Wu!"

Ye Tian called Gui Tou and Wei Wu back over.

"Boss!"

"Ye Boss!"

Unlike Wei Wu, Gui Tou wasn't his loyalist—but after this, Gui Tou wouldn't dare betray him lightly.

"Before sunrise tomorrow, I want every inch of the Poison Fangs' territory under my control. Remember: only the Poison Fangs' territory. Understood?"

He could use Lei Lu's death to frame and eliminate one Poison Fangs faction, but seizing more territory would likely spark outrage from most of the Earth Dragon Gang—something Ye Tian didn't want right now.

"Understood!"

Gui Tou wasn't green—he understood Ye Tian's meaning perfectly.

As for Wei Wu, no concern was needed—he'd do exactly what Ye Tian ordered, and never touch anything forbidden.

,,,

After Gui Tou and Wei Wu left, Ye Tian turned back to Xiao Cao.

Compared to the rough men around him, Xiao Cao's thin, small frame stood out oddly; perhaps the excitement had faded, for now he stared at the crowd.

Xiao Cao trembled, clearly terrified.

"Work for me from now on."

"Me?"

Xiao Cao pointed uncertainly at himself; if Ye Tian hadn't been staring at him, he'd have thought the words weren't meant for him.

"I don't know how to do anything."

No, you're underestimating yourself.

"This hundred taels is just the start—more hundreds await you if you prove yourself. How about it?"

In truth, this was also a quiet declaration to all: Xiao Cao was his man now.

Otherwise, how could someone with no background hold onto a hundred taels?

"Really?"

Hearing there was more money to be made, Xiao Cao's eyes brightened instantly.

"Then I'll follow you."

As long as there was money to be made, everything else didn't matter—but then Xiao Cao remembered something and hesitated again.

"But my indenture contract is still here."

"Hm?"

Ye Tian turned his head, glancing at the group from Yùxuě Lóu.

"Ye... Ye Big Brother."

At that moment, the man in charge of Yùxuě Lóu stumbled out, trembling.

"Since Ye Big Brother has spoken, Xiao Cao is now yours—here's her indenture contract."

She was just a lowly laborer; he didn't want to anger Ye Tian over something so trivial—he wasn't a fool, anyone with eyes could see Yùxuě Lóu would soon be under his control.

In one fell swoop, he gained not only territory but also such a talent—Ye Tian's mood was excellent.

,,,

"Boss! Boss!"

In the dead of night, Lei Tang was sound asleep when Wang Hu's frantic shouts suddenly rang out, jolting him awake.

"Fucking—"

His temper flared instantly, but—

"Boss, it's bad news—Ye Tian killed Du Ya."

"???"

What the hell?

The curse died in his throat, stuck halfway, leaving Lei Tang agonizingly frustrated.

But right now, he couldn't care less.

"You just said Ye Tian killed who?"

"Du Ya—the underling of Chi Lian She from the Earth Dragon Gang. Ye Tian killed him, and word is he's already taken full control of the territory."

"Fuck! Where the hell did he get the guts?!"

Upon hearing the confirmation, Lei Tang flew into a rage—this incident, if mishandled, would mean open war with the Earth Dragon Gang.

"How dare he? What reason did he have to go after Du Ya?"

"Boss!"

Wang Hu had just heard the news and rushed straight to Lei Tang.

"Rumor says Ye Tian claimed Du Ya was the one who killed Lei Lu—he killed Du Ya under the banner of avenging Lei Lu."

"..."

The anger he'd just ignited choked off again.

After all, the excuse was actually valid—avenging a brother. The Earth Dragon Gang couldn't complain; their man lost, so they just weren't good enough. No one else to blame.

Did they really think gangs were some childish game?

"Fuck!"

Even so, Lei Tang's fury still wouldn't subside.

He'd repeatedly ordered everyone to suppress the news of Lei Lu's death—yet Ye Tian had blasted it out into the open.

At the same time, Lei Tang had doubts.

"Was Lei Lu really killed by Du Ya?"

"I... I'm not sure, but the rumor says Du Ya admitted it before he died."

Wang Hu looked uncertain, but that was the rumor spreading.

Clearly, this was a message Ye Tian deliberately leaked—after all, Du Ya was dead; no one could go down to the underworld to confront him.

,,,,,,