Chapter 40: The Head Boss Position Can

"Alright, Sēn Lǎo, don't take it personally—he's only just taken over as Hall Master."

"What, can't even say a couple words? You think you're the Bāngzhǔ?"

Some stood up to speak for Dāo Guǐ, others spoke up for Sēn Lǎo.

From this alone, you can see.

These eight Hall Masters of the Black Water Gang each show signs of forming cliques.

"Enough, enough—if he carved out his own territory, let him keep it."

Finally, someone stepped forward to mediate.

But no one spoke of coveting the former Flying Cloud Gang's territory anymore—they'd all been paid.

Never mind whether this sum was large or small for them; at least it was given, which showed they understood the rules. Once they took the money, they wouldn't necessarily speak well of you, but at least they wouldn't kick you while you were down.

Otherwise, no one would've stepped in to mediate.

Dāo Guǐ and Sēn Lǎo both fell silent.

Soon after.

"The Bāngzhǔ arrives!"

A middle-aged man, around forty, walked in with steady, composed steps.

"Bāngzhǔ! Fù Bāngzhǔ!"

Even Sēn Lǎo, though elderly, stood up and echoed the respectful address.

"All sit down!"

The Black Water Gang's Bāngzhǔ, though not tall, carried an extraordinary aura—merely sitting there, he radiated an invisible pressure.

"I'm sure everyone has heard about the recent events in the gang. Sēn Lǎo, you've done well to cultivate such a fierce subordinate."

Though Sēn Lǎo had done nothing himself, since Léi Táng was his man, and Yè Tiān was brought up by Léi Táng, Yè Tiān was therefore Sēn Lǎo's man—that was Sēn Lǎo's achievement.

"It's all thanks to the Bāngzhǔ's boundless fortune."

Sēn Lǎo smiled humbly.

Completely different from his confrontational stance toward Dāo Guǐ.

The Bāngzhǔ waved his hand dismissively—he'd been Bāngzhǔ for years; a few flatteries wouldn't make him lose his bearings.

"In our Black Water Gang, we always punish mistakes and reward merit. Tell me—how should we reward this Yù Gōngzǐ?"

After speaking, the gang leader leaned back slightly, clearly having already made arrangements in his mind, though he still wanted to hear the opinions of the eight hall masters.

Since the Bāngzhǔ had asked, no one could remain silent.

Dāo Guǐ was the first to speak with a smile.

"Sēn Lǎo's about to retire anyway, right? Why not let this Yù Gōngzǐ take over Sēn Lǎo's Hall Master position?"

"What do you think?"

He ended with a cheerful glance toward Sēn Lǎo.

"Hmph!"

Sēn Lǎo gave only a cold snort and said nothing.

To say no would make him seem oppressive, jealous of talent; to say yes would be painful—he truly didn't want to step down.

Nor did he want to retire.

So this was a question for others to raise.

"Too soon."

Indeed, someone frowned—though they'd taken the money, the Hall Master position was too hasty; that involved another price entirely.

"He's only been in the Black Water Gang a short while—how can he become Hall Master?"

"What's the problem? If he's capable, why not?"

Dāo Guǐ looked utterly unconcerned—it wasn't his own Hall Master seat being inherited.

Listening to the Hall Masters' bickering, the Bāngzhǔ sat calmly, unruffled.

In fact, only last night had he learned of Yè Tiān's existence, after someone delivered fifty thousand taels of silver to him.

For the Black Water Gang's Bāngzhǔ, fifty thousand taels wasn't much—but neither was it trivial. More importantly, this act of paying revealed Yè Tiān's attitude.

Knowing when to bow, knowing when to advance or retreat—that was what the Bāngzhǔ most admired.

"Enough!"

After waiting a while,

the Bāngzhǔ raised his hand to cut off the argument.

"You all have valid points. According to gang rules, the capable shall rise, regardless of age."

Gang rules were gang rules—but they were meant for the underlings to see.

Neither the Bāngzhǔ nor the Hall Masters cared about such things, but quoting them to sound noble invited no public opposition.

"Still, Hall Master is too soon. I see Sēn Lǎo's energy and spirit are still strong—he could easily hold the position for a few more years."

"Then I thank the Bāngzhǔ's auspicious words!"

Hearing this, Sēn Lǎo chuckled in agreement.

"Since Hall Master is too soon, let's add a Head Boss beneath Sēn Lǎo!"

Sēn Lǎo already had four Head Bosses under him; one more wouldn't matter.

Head Bosses differ from Hall Masters—the eight Hall Master slots were fixed since the gang's founding, never more, never less. But Head Bosses were different.

As long as territory was sufficient, adding or removing one made no difference.

Everyone wasn't foolish.

Seeing the Bāngzhǔ speak this way, it was clear he'd already decided—so who would be foolish enough to challenge him?

Instead, they all smiled and said things like, "The Bāngzhǔ is wise."

It looked, indeed, like a scene of harmony.

,,,

"Head Boss?"

That afternoon, the news from within the gang reached Ye Tian.

He hadn't expected at all that he'd been promoted to Head Boss; even in the letter sent by the Bāngzhǔ, there were many praises for him, essentially saying: work hard, and you'll be rewarded in the future.

Too bad.

Ye Tian had long passed the naive youth stage; such obvious empty promises had zero effect on him.

If you've got the guts, lower my quota share instead—no money, just empty promises? Believe that, and you're a fool.

"Regardless, the money I spent before doesn't seem to have been wasted."

If not for nearly two hundred thousand taels of silver, this Head Boss position would've taken much longer to land in my hands—indeed, in any era, without money, nothing is possible.

"Boss has always had the right to sit as Head Boss; even the Hall Master position is merely a matter of time for you."

Mei Yongning smiled naturally beside him.

Who would've thought that the once penniless Fist Master, in the blink of an eye, had reached the same lofty rank as Lei Tang—both now Head Bosses of the Black Water Gang.

My choice back then was indeed correct.

"I've gathered some rumors: our Hall Master, Sēn Lǎo, is growing weaker by the day; his retirement is inevitable. When that time comes, Boss may very well have a chance at the Hall Master position."

Since Ye Tian's territory had grown larger, Mei Yongning had begun, intentionally or not, gathering intelligence from the martial world, especially within the gang.

Though he wasn't very skilled at fighting.

But matters requiring brains suited Mei Yongning perfectly.

Even Ye Tian had considered that, if conditions allowed in the future, he might establish a separate intelligence agency solely to gather all kinds of martial world intelligence for himself.

Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you win every battle.

At all times, intelligence is the most important.

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