Chapter 47: Chi Hu

Lei Tang:???

Is that true? I didn't know about it.

Seeing Lei Tang also looking at him, Lei Yun felt a pang of unease but forced a calm expression and spoke with righteous confidence.

"I just got here—I didn't know that territory belonged to you."

"..."

This explanation was clearly an attempt to deceive.

If you didn't know whose territory it was, didn't the people who built your tavern know?

Chi Hu laughed—angrily.

"Let's not talk about this for now."

Lei Tang's aura had lost its initial intensity.

"Why cut off all alcohol supplies to Lei Yun's territory? Are you dissatisfied with me giving that territory to Lei Yun?"

Many in the Black Water Gang were in the alcohol business—after all, alcohol was a hot commodity these days.

Chi Hu's alcohol business had always been strong: he had his own distillery, with excellent quality and fair prices—even the alcohol on Lei Tang's territory came from Chi Hu.

"So it seems Big Brother really knows nothing."

Chi Hu suddenly found it ridiculous.

He came to confront me based entirely on Lei Yun's one-sided story.

After following Lei Tang for so many years, he was now outweighed by a single word from Lei Yun—thinking of it, Chi Hu found himself equally ridiculous.

"What do you mean?"

Lei Tang felt a growing sense of dread and frowned deeply.

"Did Lei Yun tell you he planned to buy my alcohol at one-tenth the price?"

"?"

One-tenth?

That wouldn't even cover the cost.

Lei Tang stared at Lei Yun in disbelief, unable to fathom how he dared propose such a price.

"Can't there be some discount for business within the gang?"

Lei Yun spoke as if it were obvious—he truly didn't think he'd done anything wrong.

"..."

Lei Tang fell silent.

Discounts within the gang were normal—I bought alcohol from Chi Hu at a lower price than from outsiders, but not one-tenth.

What's the difference between this and robbery? Chi Hu merely refused to sell alcohol to Lei Yun—he didn't even beat him up. If it were me, Lei Tang thought, I'd have already struck him.

"This..."

Lei Tang had never faced such a situation—he didn't know what to do.

The most urgent issue now was how to end this—the crowd around them was too large; suppressing the news was impossible.

Lei Tang already regretted not seeking Chi Hu privately—if there had been a misunderstanding, without outsiders present, rumors wouldn't spread. But now, the tavern was silent, and many eyes stared at them.

Rumors spread fast in the martial world.

Lei Tang didn't need to think.

Before sunset tonight, news of me striking Chi Hu would spread throughout the entire Black Water Gang—and even Linshui City.

"If Big Brother has nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Watching Lei Tang's conflicted, troubled expression, Chi Hu's expression remained unchanged—he merely brushed off the spot where he'd been struck, spoke one line, and walked away.

Lei Tang realized it was his own fault.

But he was Big Brother—he couldn't apologize to Chi Hu, his subordinate—that would destroy his face.

As for Chi Hu's men, after witnessing this, they silently stepped back two paces—they hadn't expected such a dramatic turn.

Chi Hu and his men left without a word.

He lowered his head to hide the murderous gleam in his eyes.

"How dare you..."

Seeing Chi Hu leave so easily, Lei Yun immediately grew angry and opened his mouth to protest.

But before he finished speaking, Lei Tang slapped him.

"Slap!"

Lei Tang struck with full force—Lei Yun was flung to the ground, blood seeping from his lip.

"Dad..."

He instinctively started to cry out for his father, but when he saw the murderous glare in Lei Tang's eyes, the word died in his throat.

"Come home with me!"

Having lost so much face, Lei Tang grabbed Lei Yun by the collar and dragged him back to his mansion.

Once there, he threw Lei Yun onto the ground.

"If I'd known you were this useless, I never would've brought you back from the martial arts academy."

Though he knew his son had no experience in the martial world,

he never imagined he'd be this useless—if not for me, Lei Yun wouldn't survive a month in the martial world.

"Dad, I... I just didn't know."

Lei Yun knew he'd truly angered Lei Tang and quickly tried to appease him.

"But Dad, even if I made a mistake, Chi Hu's attitude was wrong too—look at how he acted today—he clearly holds a grudge against you! Even if you hit him, you're his Big Brother—how dare he hold a grudge against you!"

Over these past few years at the martial arts school.

Besides his martial skills, Lei Yun's verbal skills are just as strong.

In just a few words, he made Lei Tang recall Chi Hu's reaction when he left.

I did make a mistake, but I'm still your Big Brother—did you walk out on me like that to humiliate me?

"Hmph!"

He's been Big Brother for too long—his thinking has become rigid.

Seeing his words had an effect, Lei Yun's eyes darted, and he quickly continued.

"Father, do you think Chi Hu will retaliate against you?"

"He dares!"

Lei Tang shot back without a moment's thought.

"I'm the Big Brother of this territory—he Chi Hu, no matter how strong, is still just a subordinate. He doesn't have the guts."

In Lei Tang's view,

Chi Hu might be angry, but to dare strike back at him? Lei Tang simply didn't believe it—he lacked the courage.

After a few days, if I say a few soft words, this matter will be over.

Lei Tang thought this was only natural.

"Truly, you're my father!"

Beside him, Lei Yun smirked in flattery, his mind racing with thoughts.

Actually,

Lei Yun had deliberately provoked Chi Hu—what could he do? Chi Hu's alcohol business had always been profitable, and Lei Yun was envious.

Wang Hu's territory was indeed good, but people never learn to be satisfied.

Once you have something good, you want something better.

He had set his sights on Chi Hu's alcohol business.

He thought that by doing this, Lei Tang would deal with Chi Hu—but clearly his plan was too naive. He'd have to think again.

As for Lei Tang's scolding,

Lei Yun let it go in one ear and out the other—he was his own son, after all. Lei Tang might scold him a couple more times, but he'd never truly beat him to death.

,,,

Lei Tang believed that as Head Boss, he still controlled everything.

But over at Chi Hu's side, just after he left,

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

Seeing Chi Hu's grim face and silence all the way, his brothers looked worried.

"If Yù Gōngzǐ can hold the Head Boss position, why not me, Chi Hu?"

,,,,,,