Chapter 5: If You Don't Despise Me, I'd Swear Brotherhood to You

Said he had no strength left, yet his face wasn't flushed and he wasn't even short of breath.

"You let me win!"

Wang Hu was no fool—he knew the other man was giving him a way out. If they kept fighting, he was the one who'd lose.

A Fist Master might look glorious, but one defeat and his reputation would nosedive.

"Hahahaha! Good, very good!"

Seeing Ye Tian and Wang Hu stop, Lei Tang burst out laughing.

Striding over with great steps, he clapped Ye Tian on the shoulder.

"Not bad, not bad. A man's word is his bond—that Fist Master seat is yours."

"Many thanks, Boss Lei."

What's the point of being an Official Member?

If you're going to be someone's underling anyway, why not be a higher-ranked underling?

The thugs who had originally followed Gao Fei shut their mouths completely after seeing this. Now that Lei Tang had spoken, they wouldn't offend a newly risen Fist Master over a dead man.

In his elation, Lei Tang didn't forget the day's real business.

"Investigate. Investigate thoroughly. Anyone who dares touch a brother of Black Water Gang—I'll twist his head off and use it as a chamber pot."

As for who to assign the investigation to, that wasn't Ye Tian's concern.

Seeing it was getting late.

Lei Tang told Ye Tian to go rest first; he'd hold a banquet for him at the tavern tomorrow.

Night.

Ye Tian found an inn to stay at on the spur of the moment.

"Boss!"

By moonlight, Wei Wu and the others came to Ye Tian's room and produced several bundles from their persons.

"Sure enough, joining a gang is the fastest way to make money. Just one Strongman rank, and we can rake in this much."

These were the valuables Wei Wu and his men had searched out of Gao Fei's house.

All told, it came to several hundred taels.

Among them was Ye Tian's money pouch with fifty taels of silver—after going round and round, it had returned to his hand.

After packing the things away, Ye Tian looked at Wei Wu and the others.

"Well done. You've worked hard this time."

"Working for Boss isn't hard."

The men laughed honestly, not a trace of complaint on their faces.

Ye Tian clapped one of them on the shoulder and said in a solemn tone.

"Bear with staying at the inn for a few days. Once I get the chance, I'll arrange for you to join Black Water Gang too, working under me."

With the identity of a Fist Master, arranging a few Official Members was the easiest thing in the world.

Besides, he'd only just arrived and had no one under him at all—having Wei Wu and the other two follow him was all the better.

"Boss, this inn is already plenty good. The three of us used to sleep rough on the streets all the time."

They'd slept on the main road before; being able to sleep in an inn now was already very good.

"I promise I'll never let you sleep on the street again. I'll make sure you have meat with every meal."

"Boss!"

Expecting gang disciples to wake early—that's nothing but a dream.

The banquet Lei Tang had spoken of wasn't held until the second evening, when someone finally came to notify Ye Tian.

The tavern wasn't large, but only gang disciples came there.

"Fist Master Ye's here! Come, come, let me introduce you."

Seeing Ye Tian arrive, Lei Tang, seated in the host's chair, was the first to beckon and began introducing him to the men around him.

"This is the Fist Master I just recruited lately. Get to know each other. His fists are quite something—he could trade blows evenly with Wang Hu."

And that was only said out of regard for Wang Hu having followed him so many years; otherwise he would have said outright that Wang Hu was no match.

Everyone who could come here was a capable man under Lei Tang.

Learning Ye Tian's identity, they all smiled, cupped their fists, and greeted him—but not one of them rose. Ye Tian knew they weren't smiling for his sake, but for Lei Tang's.

He didn't mind.

He simply picked up a small jar of wine and said with a smile.

"I've only just arrived and still have much I don't understand. In future, should anything come up, I hope you Big Brothers will look after me."

With that, he tipped his head back and drained the wine in his hand.

His manners were thoroughly proper.

"Good!"

Men of the Jianghu love a bold, open nature the most. Seeing Ye Tian like this, several of them clapped admiringly.

"Since Brother Ye has put it that way, let me drink one with Brother Ye."

"I think you don't want to drink with Brother Ye—you're just craving that mouthful of wine yourself."

"Hahaha!"

The atmosphere instantly became much more harmonious.

Seeing this, Lei Tang in the host's chair curved his lips, seeming quite pleased.

Ye Tian's path to becoming a Fist Master went very smoothly; Lei Tang's standing among these men seemed extremely high, and not a single person spoke up to object.

After three rounds of drinks.

Lei Tang, his face slightly flushed, finally spoke.

"Brother Ye, from now on, working under me, I won't let you suffer any losses."

"If Boss Lei doesn't look down on me, then from now on you are my own sworn elder brother."

Ye Tian spoke with equal sincerity—his previous "elder brother" was, let's see, oh right, Gao Fei.

"Good!"

Lei Tang gave a satisfied slap to Ye Tian's shoulder, then said directly.

"Since you're already my brother, naturally I can't treat you poorly. From now on, that street in City West will be handed over to you to manage."

City West?

Hearing these words, the lively atmosphere at the banquet faded considerably, and quite a few people cast glances over with unreadable looks in their eyes.

Taking in every one of their reactions, Ye Tian kept his face impassive.

Although he didn't know the situation over in City West, Ye Tian had done his homework beforehand—the Black Water Gang's forces were mainly distributed in the Cheng Nan area of Linshui City.

【Detected host triggering choice】

【Choice One: Refuse to accept, do not agree to go to City West. Reward: Primary Loyalty +10】

【Choice Two: Agree to accept, take over one street in City West. Reward: Primary Loyalty +10】

A choice was triggered?

Perfect—right now, what Ye Tian lacked most was subordinates.

Thoughts spun rapidly in his mind, but soon, Ye Tian had his answer.

"Many thanks, Boss, for valuing me. From this day forth, I shall surely pledge my life in service to you."

Ye Tian stood up directly, wine cup in hand, his face full of gratitude.

He agreed just like that?

Sure enough—a hot-headed young man probably really thinks this is some good thing. The men around the banquet each wore different expressions, but amusement flickered in every eye, and not one of them felt inclined to offer a warning.

They simply watched in silence.

"Hahaha! Good, excellent!"

Seeing Ye Tian agree, Lei Tang was also beaming with delight.

"As long as I have a mouthful to eat, I will certainly never shortchange Brother Ye."

With Lei Tang taking the lead, the atmosphere at the banquet livened up once more. Everyone drank and ate meat together—could anything be more carefree?

It wasn't until very late that Ye Tian finally left, thoroughly drunk.

After everyone had dispersed, Lei Tang kept only Wang Hu behind. The drunken look on his face also returned to normal at that moment.

"Don't understand?"

Seeing the hesitation on Wang Hu's face, Lei Tang was well aware what the other man was puzzled about.

"Boss." Wang Hu didn't hold anything back.

"That street in City West is indeed our Black Water Gang's territory, but it's too close to the Earth Dragon Gang. The previous few Fist Masters all couldn't hold it—I'm afraid this Ye Tian alone will have a very hard time holding it either."

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