Chapter 72: You Call Me Hall Master Out of Respect—Without Respect, What the Hell Are You?

"Don't speak nonsense."

How come I never knew Ye Tian was so good at framing others?

In just a few words, he slapped the label of a spy from another gang onto himself.

For a moment, Sēn Lǎo felt utterly unable to defend himself.

"The fist fight is over. I've seen what Yù Gōngzǐ is capable of."

Looking at his twisted arms, Wú Luó said grimly—he had truly lost. Ye Tian's strength had surpassed Wú Luó's expectations.

Fuck.

If I'd known Ye Tian had this kind of power, I'd have been an idiot to come here and cause trouble.

"Let's let this matter drop."

The outcome of the fist fight is decided. No more words will change it.

Wú Luó now only wanted to leave with his men and quickly find a doctor to see if his son's arms could still be saved.

But.

Just as he was about to move.

Tiě Quán and the others moved in unison, blocking Wú Luó's escape route.

"What are you trying to do!"

No matter what, I'm the Bāngzhǔ of Zhòng Hé Bāng. Wú Luó didn't believe Ye Tian would truly dare kill him.

"Don't misunderstand, Bāngzhǔ Wú."

Meeting Wú Luó's gaze, Ye Tian suddenly smiled, speaking casually.

"I just want to remind you—not to forget what you said before the wager. You can leave, but at least drink up these wines!"

He pointed at the several jars of strong liquor on the table.

"..."

He said nothing.

But Wú Luó's lips twitched involuntarily twice.

I'd forgotten about this. Why did I ever agree to it?

"Dad... Dad!"

Glancing at Ye Tian, Xiǎo Bàwáng instinctively shrank behind Wú Luó and whispered.

"Maybe we should just drink it!"

"..."

How come I never noticed my own son, besides drinking and chasing women, was also such a coward—just seeing someone show off their skill and you're already cowering?

"What are you babbling about!"

Feeling his authority repeatedly challenged, Sēn Lǎo was the first to fly into rage.

"Bāngzhǔ Wú is the head of Zhòng Hé Bāng. What was said earlier was just empty words. You've already won the fist fight—why persist in bullying? I'm in charge here today, and I say we let it go!"

"You're in charge? What the hell are you in charge of!"

This old bastard had genuinely disgusted Ye Tian.

Endure? Endure a fucking what.

He grabbed the man's collar and lifted him to his face.

"I call you Hall Master out of respect. Without respect, what the hell are you? Don't forget you're about to step down—do you think I won't kill you before you even get to that point?"

"Y-you..."

With Black Water Gang's rules in place, Sēn Lǎo didn't believe Ye Tian would dare act.

But those eyes, brimming with murderous intent, filled him with icy terror—he couldn't finish his sentence, trembling in place.

Ignoring the conflict between Ye Tian and Sēn Lǎo, Wú Luó spoke softly.

"Don't forget, there are also men from Zhòng Hé Bāng outside this tavern."

I brought plenty of men with me this time.

"Hah!"

Ye Tian let out a light laugh and casually shoved Sēn Lǎo aside.

Already old, Sēn Lǎo felt his waist nearly break as he landed on the ground. He wanted to scold—but then he remembered Ye Tian's murderous gaze.

He dared not speak.

"Bāngzhǔ Wú, have you forgotten? This is Black Water Gang territory."

"Hm?"

Ye Tian's words made Wú Luó frown—he suddenly realized something, and his face turned pale.

He rushed to the window and flung it open.

Sure enough, outside the tavern, nearly a thousand people had gathered in a dense circle. The Zhòng Hé Bāng men were now trapped inside, surrounded and backed into a corner.

With such a massive disparity in numbers.

They trembled, too terrified to resist—even daring not to raise their voices.

Ye Tian, smiling, walked over to the window too.

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

"..."

The moment they saw Ye Tian, someone immediately shouted out.

Besides Wei Wu and the other diehards, Shuāng Dāo Jiàng, Pīlì Huǒ, and Zhuī Yá had all come.

Ye Tian was indeed confident, but not arrogant.

Before coming here, he had secretly arranged for people on his territory to be alerted—if he didn't return within a set time, they were to come.

Calculating the time, it was exactly now.

"Tonight at Jin Feng Tower, everyone drinks until they're drunk."

Hearing Ye Tian say this, the cheers erupted deafeningly.

"You… you truly intend to defy your superior?"

This scene could not possibly escape Sēn Lǎo's notice—this crowd of over a thousand people was enough to strike fear into anyone.

Even if this was Sēn Lǎo's territory, by the time his men arrived, they'd be trampled to death by these thousand.

"Defy my superior?"

Ye Tian smiled casually.

"Hall Master, you're joking. Zhòng Hé Bāng intruded into my Black Water Gang's territory without cause, their intentions unclear—I'm merely protecting you, Hall Master."

"They…"

Sēn Lǎo was about to say that the Zhòng Hé Bāng men had been invited by him.

But upon seeing the sly smile on Ye Tian's face, he immediately fell silent.

After decades in the Jianghu, how could he not understand? If they were gone, wouldn't Ye Tian say whatever he pleased?

"What do you say?"

He ignored Sēn Lǎo's shifting expression.

Ye Tian withdrew his gaze and turned back to Wu Luo.

"Have you decided? If you don't want to drink, that's fine—I'll pour wine on your graves during the seventh day."

"…"

Wu Luo cared about face, but he cared more about his life.

Having lived this long, he naturally understood the meaning of knowing when to yield and when to advance.

"Father, let's drink."

Especially beside him, Xiǎo Bàwáng kept urging him on, his eyes darting away, not daring to look at Ye Tian—clearly terrified.

"This time, old man has been defeated."

Closing his eyes, then reopening them, Wu Luo spoke in a low voice.

Then he walked silently to the wine table.

At his age, drinking this much wine at once might kill him before nightfall.

But fortunately, Ye Tian had said Wu Luo and Xiǎo Bàwáng were to drink together—and Xiǎo Bàwáng, who normally only drank and amused himself, proved unexpectedly useful now.

By the time one jar was finished, Wu Luo hadn't even drained half.

"See, Father, I can drink well."

"…"

You're actually proud of yourself?

Wu Luo closed his eyes, unwilling to look at this dim-witted fool of a son.

,,,

When they left, Wu Luo staggered, while Xiǎo Bàwáng passed out cold—he'd drunk the most.

He ordered a few subordinates to carry them up.

Wu Luo walked away without a word.

This time, Ye Tian didn't stop him. Interesting—though his son was foolish, this Bāngzhǔ of Zhòng Hé Bāng seemed like a man of substance; he might prove useful someday.

"Let's go!"

,,,,,,