Chapter 36: After Today, No More Flying Cloud Gang

"How about it?"

In the end, Hua Gui directly looked at Ye Tian.

He had already prepared himself to be extorted.

The air around fell silent for an instant; Gui Tou, Shuang Dao Jiang, and others all turned to Ye Tian, waiting for his answer.

"No matter how good the offer, it can't bring back my brother's life!"

Ye Tian's tone was calm, yet filled with resolve.

The confident smile on Hua Gui's face froze, replaced instead by smiles that appeared simultaneously on the faces of Shuang Dao Jiang and Pi Li Huo and the others.

This was their Boss—loyal, righteous, peerless in benevolence.

"Are you fucking insane?"

Hua Gui couldn't understand.

He even doubted whether he had overthought it—was this not a frame-up, but truly one of his own men who had harmed Ye Tian's brother?

Otherwise, how could he possibly refuse?

He had already agreed to compromise.

Isn't getting benefits without lifting a single soldier the best choice? Everyone wins, why fight at all?

Do you really want to fight to the death, even if you win in the end—aren't you afraid the Earth Dragon Gang and other forces will take advantage of your weakness?

"How could someone like you understand the bond between me and my brothers?"

Ye Tian made no effort to hide his contempt for Hua Gui.

"I said I would give my brothers justice. Since you touched my men, today, only one of us—me or the Flying Cloud Gang—will remain!"

With that said.

Ye Tian, no longer wasting words, slowly raised one hand—and the next moment.

"Attack!"

As Ye Tian swung his hand.

Shuang Dao Jiang and the others, long eager, surged forward like a gust of wind, their faces alight with excitement.

"Hahaha! I'm coming!"

"Boss said, after today, no more Flying Cloud Gang!"

"..."

Noises, shouts, rose and fell in succession.

The faces of Ye Tian's men all bore expressions of pride in having such a Boss—men die for those who understand them; and in this era, how many people treat their subordinates as human beings?

In contrast,

the men of the Earth Dragon Gang showed clear traces of fear, especially Hua Gui.

"Insane! Insane! Everyone's fucking insane!"

Am I really going to die here today?

Looking at those grotesque faces, expressions hungry to devour him, Hua Gui forced down his icy dread.

"Attack! All of you, move!"

"This is the Flying Cloud Gang's territory—what the hell are you afraid of!"

After all, this was their home ground—how could they possibly be driven back on their own turf!

Hearing Hua Gui say this, many still gathered courage and chose to counterattack.

As for Hua Gui, though he kept ordering his men to fight, he himself kept retreating.

Come on—he'd survived this long not because he was a great fighter, but because he was smart enough to know when to read the situation.

Only the living have a chance; the dead have nothing.

Fighting was out of the question.

Run! He had to run!

The Flying Cloud Gang had its own dock—once he reached it, he could board a boat and escape immediately.

After all these years, he'd saved enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life. Clearly, Hua Gui had not realized that the Flying Cloud Gang's dock was about to change hands.

Before fleeing, Hua Gui planned to return to the gambling den first, retrieve the money he'd saved over the years, then escape.

But just as he turned around—

"Pssst!"

Hua Gui's body suddenly stiffened. He looked down, staring at the dagger in his chest.

And at the small, thin figure before him—Xiao Cao, smiling with innocent, unassuming purity.

When did she arrive?

"Uh, sorry... Ye Tian Brother said you're worth a hundred taels."

Seeing Hua Gui staring at her, Xiao Cao grew a little shy again.

"???"

A hundred taels? I could give you a thousand! I'm a Hall Master of the Flying Cloud Gang—when did I become worth only a hundred taels?

Too bad, Hua Gui could say no more. He had never imagined his decades in the martial world would end this way.

"Plop!"

With eyes full of resentment, he finally collapsed to the ground.

Xiao Cao withdrew her dagger, saw the chaotic scene around her, and reverted to her timid demeanor.

She stumbled toward Ye Tian's position—her clumsy, disheveled movements somehow always perfectly avoided danger.

No one knew whether this was innate agility or sheer, unbelievable luck.

"One hundred taels."

When she reached Ye Tian, Xiao Cao raised both hands, her face full of anticipation.

After spending more time with him, Xiao Cao no longer trembled as she had at first, needing to muster courage just to speak a single word—in her mind.

Ye Tian was a good man who paid her for doing only the simplest tasks.

Yes, and an exceptionally good one.

Perhaps because her meals had improved lately, though still small in stature, she was no longer as thin as a bamboo pole—she had at least some flesh on her bones. That hopeful look in her eyes made Ye Tian chuckle softly.

He reached out and rubbed her small head, then cast a glance toward Mei Yongning beside him.

Mei Yongning, understanding at once, handed Xiao Cao a money pouch he had prepared in advance.

"That's wonderful, thank you!"

With the money in hand, Xiao Cao's smile widened even more.

Perhaps because she had feared poverty so much, Xiao Cao loved earning money, yet Ye Tian had never seen her spend a single coin—she simply saved everything, while her food, clothing, and daily needs were all covered by Ye Tian's account.

Purely income, no outgo.

"Alright, hide behind me, so you don't get caught in the crossfire."

Looking at Xiao Cao like this.

Ye Tian merely smiled and pulled her small frame behind him—she was good at assassinations, but group battles like this were not for her.

He didn't want such a talent to be lost so easily.

"Oh oh!"

She nodded dully and shuffled behind Ye Tian.

Gazing at Ye Tian's broad back, Xiao Cao's vacant eyes slowly grew distant, lost in thoughts she couldn't voice.

The Flower Ghost was gone.

The rest of them, suddenly without a leader, lost their cohesion and became easy to break.

Even though their numbers were still large, defeating them was no longer a challenge.

"Wait! I surrender! I surrender!"

"Please, I beg you!"

With the first surrender, more and more began laying down their weapons and giving up.

Ye Tian was no murderer—he might finish things thoroughly, but these low-ranking members never represented the entire Flying Cloud Gang.

Except for a few stubborn holdouts, the battlefield was gradually calming.

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

The twin-bladed warrior, streaked with blood, returned to Ye Tian's side.