Chapter 45

"Hm?"

Hearing this, Haozi immediately perked up.

Although Haozi wasn't a scholar and couldn't read, he was sharp-witted and skilled at gathering all kinds of underworld rumors, always playing the role of strategist beside Zhuo Ya.

If only I hadn't been so stubborn back then, none of those miserable incidents at the Wang Family Gang would've happened.

To be honest, Zhuo Ya still trusted Haozi deeply.

"Go on, what's your plan?"

"Big Brother, no need to rush!"

Seeing Zhuo Ya's agitated state, Haozi smiled and soothed him, then continued.

"The reason you're uneasy is simply because we've just joined Brother Ye and haven't earned a single merit yet. So if that's the case, let's earn some."

"Earn merit?"

Zhuo Ya naturally knew that earning merit would solve the problem and show Ye Tian his worth.

But how exactly was he supposed to earn it?

Ye Tian had just fought the Flying Cloud Gang—how could he possibly clash with another gang so soon?

Seeing Zhuo Ya frown, Haozi chuckled and leaned closer.

"I heard recently that Brother Ye's territory has been probed by other gangs, led especially by the Earth Dragon Gang and the Black Ash Gang."

The Earth Dragon Gang needn't be mentioned—it's on par with the Black Water Gang; if we moved against them, it wouldn't be earning merit, it'd be inviting trouble for Brother Ye.

The Black Ash Gang may not match the Earth Dragon Gang, but it still has five or six hundred men; if we were to fight them, we'd need Ye Tian's order—acting first would be overstepping our bounds.

"Zhuo Ya Brother, the Earth Dragon Gang and Black Ash Gang are indeed powerful, but they're not the only ones provoking Brother Ye."

"Hm?"

What did that mean? Were there other forces?

"I heard there's a gang called the Righteous Valor Gang that's been trailing behind the Earth Dragon Gang and Black Ash Gang, probing Brother Ye's territory—they seem eager to swallow a piece of land from under Brother Ye's nose."

"Righteous Valor Gang? Where the hell did this gang come from?"

After all, Zhuo Ya had been in Linshui City for so many years.

He knew plenty of gangs, big and small—but he'd never heard the name Righteous Valor Gang.

"It's said to be a small gang, a bunch of fresh recruits who, through sheer recklessness, have seized two streets in Linshui City."

Such cases weren't uncommon.

Having territory doesn't automatically make a gang—you've got to be able to hold it.

"Probably figures Brother Ye's tied up with the Earth Dragon Gang and Black Ash Gang, so they want to sneak in and grab a bite."

Many gangs likely think the same way, but only the Righteous Valor Gang has been the most brazen.

A bunch of greenhorn calves who have no clue that the first bird shot is the one that sticks out.

Many forces are probably just watching—if Ye Tian shows even a hint of weakness, they'll pounce without hesitation to carve up his territory.

"Damn it!"

Hearing this was a bunch of small-timers daring to provoke his Big Brother, Zhuo Ya's temper flared instantly.

"Fine, the Earth Dragon Gang and Black Ash Gang I can accept—but this Righteous Valor Gang, what kind of small-timers are these?"

"Daring to provoke my Big Brother? That's an insult to me, Zhuo Ya—take them down!"

Perfect—the Righteous Valor Gang controls two streets; seizing them for Brother Ye counts as earning merit. He'd been desperate for an opportunity, and now the Righteous Valor Gang had jumped right into his face.

Zhuo Ya hadn't lowered his voice.

All the men in the tavern had heard.

"Take them down!"

"Take them down!"

Zhuo Ya wasn't the only one wanting a chance to prove himself.

Ye Tian had said: whoever earned merit, whoever performed well, would never be denied rewards—right now, Zhuo Ya had already been given territory to manage, and no one else could possibly be without envy.

Anyone out in the underworld who got the chance wouldn't want to rise to the top?

"Brothers!"

At that moment,

Zhuo Ya stood up, raised his cup, facing all his brothers.

"Brother Ye has treated me with sincerity—I'll repay him with my life. Now a bunch of fools dare to provoke Brother Ye? That's spitting on all of us. If you brothers are willing, after we've eaten and drunk our fill, follow me and wipe out the Righteous Valor Gang!"

If the enemy were the Earth Dragon Gang or the Black Ash Gang, one might have to think twice.

But this was just a bunch of unknown small-timers—what was there to think about?

,,,

After they'd eaten their fill and drunk their fill,

The group marched en masse toward the Righteous Valor Gang's territory.

Both were in City West; the Righteous Valor Gang had been so bold precisely because it was so close to Brother Ye's territory—Zhuo Ya's men could reach them in under half an hour.

The Righteous Valor Gang's territory.

It could only be described as filthy, chaotic, and run-down—two entire streets filled with gambling dens and brothels, not even a single ordinary tavern.

Any civilian with even a shred of ability had long since moved out.

Too young to know how to manage territory, they only cared about their own pleasure, doing whatever made them happy.

The leaders of the Righteous Valor Gang were three sworn brothers, all in their early twenties, the kind of reckless youths who fear nothing.

Right now they were lounging in a brothel, each holding a girl, indulging freely.

"That Yù Gōngzǐ? He can't even touch us! Once I seize his territory, our Righteous Valor Gang will truly be famous throughout Linshui City—hahaha!"

"That's right! That's right!"

Several people nearby immediately chimed in agreement.

They seemed already to be imagining the scene: their Righteous Valor Gang becoming the strongest gang in Linshui City.

At that time, who would dare show them disrespect?

"Ah!"

As they were exhilarated, their grip slipped—they hadn't held back their strength—and the girl in their arms let out a startled cry.

"Bāngzhǔ... Bāngzhǔ, you're hurting me."

Realizing their mistake, they quickly feigned a coquettish tone.

But the man slapped her across the face.

"I'm fucking with you and you dare scream? Afraid of pain, are you? Take her out, give her to the brothers—I want to see how much she really fears pain."

"Thank you, Bāngzhǔ!"

Several of his subordinates immediately grew excited, grabbing the girl and dragging her away.

The girl panicked instantly—earlier, some of her sisters had vanished just like this.

"Bāngzhǔ, spare my life, spare my life! I'm not afraid of pain, I—"

How could a frail woman match the strength of several men dragging her?

But her words were not yet finished.

The main door of the brothel suddenly burst open, and a figure was flung inside.

The sudden commotion caused everyone in the brothel to instinctively freeze their actions and turn to look.

The girl seized this chance, wrenching free from everyone and scrambling toward a corner, curling up her body.

As for running?

For women sold into brothels like her, the punishment for escape might be worse than being played to death.

"This is the Righteous Valor Gang? What a filthy, chaotic mess!"

Zhuī Yá stretched his limbs as he walked in from outside, followed by Zǎo and the rest of his brothers.

He flicked the blood from his dagger, raised his head, and suddenly smiled—but the blood smeared across his face made the smile chillingly grotesque.

,,,,