Chapter 78: Lei Tang Comes Knocking, Watching the Fire from Across the Shore

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

That very evening.

Ye Tian slept soundly, but some people found it hard to settle down.

Take Lei Tang, for instance.

Hearing the news brought back by his servants, the irritable Lei Tang smashed several vases in a row; the entire front courtyard floor was littered with flying shards of porcelain.

"Damned bastard!"

Though he had suspected it.

Lei Yushan had wanted to win Ye Tian over, but Lei Tang hadn't expected that, to do so, Lei Yushan actually wanted to marry his daughter off to Ye Tian.

Moreover, according to the news his men had bought from servants inside Lei Yushan's residence.

Lei Yushan and Ye Tian had discussed the matter quite smoothly; if it really went through, would Lei Yushan still need his, Lei Tang's, help afterward?

In his fury, Lei Tang could not calm his emotions for the moment.

Just as his anger refused to subside.

Another subordinate came to report.

"Boss, Red Tiger has once again led his men into Boss's territory."

Ever since that incident, Red Tiger had often barged into the territory Lei Tang managed without cause, and several times had even done business right on Lei Tang's turf.

He knew clearly in his heart that Red Tiger was not merely testing his attitude—this underling had already slipped completely out of his control.

"Didn't you have someone drive them out?"

"We tried, but it didn't work. Red Tiger's side simply wouldn't listen."

The subordinate said this with a face full of grievance.

If they could have driven them off, would they have come back to report this?

"Damn it!"

Lei Tang's face, twisted by rage, for a moment became almost contorted.

"Ungrateful wretches, a pack of ungrateful wretches—Wang Hu's death must have something to do with them."

This was him thinking back to what Ye Tian had said back then.

"..."

The subordinate didn't know what to say, or rather didn't understand why Lei Tang would connect Wang Hu's death to Red Tiger and his lot.

Having been a Head Boss for so many years.

Lei Tang had believed he had everything under control, but now it seemed everyone was beginning to betray him, something Lei Tang could not accept.

Without him, they would never have what they had today, yet they couldn't even show basic gratitude—truly a pack of ungrateful wretches.

But the most crucial thing was.

For the moment, Lei Tang actually didn't know how to handle it—send people to beat Red Tiger's men out?

But once you do something like that, it happens again; if you can't cut the problem off at the root, it will only keep causing him trouble, time and again.

"M-m-master."

Just as everyone had fallen silent, not daring to further anger Lei Tang.

A household servant in the residence suddenly spoke up cautiously.

"This lowly one has something to say, but I don't know if I should speak it."

"Hmm?"

For a moment, many people cast startled, doubtful glances his way, seemingly unable to understand how a mere servant dared speak at a time like this.

Lei Tang frowned deeply.

Perhaps adopting the attitude of grasping at straws, Lei Tang still waved a hand.

"Speak!"

The servant's face showed immense relief; not daring to hesitate, he hurriedly and carefully offered his thoughts.

"This lowly one merely feels that, whether it's Boss Lei or Fist Master Red Tiger's side, they only dare act this way because they see Master trapped by the current situation; if Master were still at the height of his power, they surely wouldn't dare deceive him."

"What the hell kind of useless point is that—do you think I need you to tell me that?"

He'd thought the man might actually say something useful, but this was all it was.

Did he think he wouldn't know such a simple truth?

Lei Tang even felt rather like a tiger fallen on the plain being bullied by dogs; if not for his current misfortune, how would those people dare treat him this way?

"Master, please forgive me."

The servant hurriedly dropped to his knees, his face full of terror.

"This lowly one thinks that, if Master could truly take the Hall Master's seat, those people would surely not dare act this way anymore."

"Hmm?"

That remark actually made Lei Tang pause; the impatient expression on his face vanished.

He nodded, gesturing for the man to continue.

"After all, Master has spent no small amount of money before; if at this moment there were news that could confirm things, Master would surely take the Hall Master's seat, and then there'd be no problem, right? Why doesn't Master go in person to see the Hall Master?"

"Even though Master has had some trouble recently, the money given out before was all very real."

After that string of words.

Lei Tang was actually swayed.

Right—he'd had a bad reputation lately, but the money he'd handed over before wasn't fake, and Sēn Lǎo had indeed accepted it.

In any case, Lei Tang had no other way to change the current situation; he might as well go find Sēn Lǎo and give it a try.

"Not bad! Not bad!"

Thinking this way, Lei Tang immediately saw the light, and the gloom缠绕 in his heart dispersed considerably.

"If I truly ascend to the position of Hall Master, your merit will be first."

It was habitual to paint a big cake—always avoiding any mention of immediate rewards.

The servant quickly kowtowed in agreement.

"To serve the master is our honor; we dare not ask for rewards."

"Hahaha!"

,,,

"Lei Tang is here?"

Normally, due to his advanced age, Sēn Lǎo had long since gone to sleep.

But today was different.

The events at the tavern still lingered vividly in his mind, impossible to forget; every time he recalled them, Sēn Lǎo felt rage burning in his chest, tossing and turning, unable to sleep at all.

Because of this incident, Sēn Lǎo had nearly become the laughingstock of the entire Black Water Gang.

In the past, when his position was secure, a mere newcomer who had just joined the gang could easily be crushed however he wished.

But today was different.

Who in the Black Water Gang didn't know that Sēn Lǎo was about to step down? Everyone under him now thought only of how to use this opportunity to rise, and no one truly wished to help Sēn Lǎo anymore.

Otherwise,

Sēn Lǎo would not be so fixated on squeezing out as much money as possible at this very moment.

Just as he lay awake, unable to sleep, a servant came to report that Lei Tang was requesting an audience. Upon hearing this, Sēn Lǎo froze for a moment, puzzled—why on earth would Lei Tang come to see him now?

Considering that Lei Tang had recently delivered him a great deal of money,

Sēn Lǎo did not say anything about turning him away.

"Have him wait in the front courtyard; I'll come shortly."

"Yes, Master!"

The servant bowed and immediately hurried off.

After quickly throwing on an outer robe, Sēn Lǎo stepped out directly.

,,,

"Hall Master!"

Like sitting on a bed of nails, Lei Tang fidgeted constantly, unable to settle.

Seeing Sēn Lǎo emerge, he stood up at once and bowed deeply to greet him.

"Hmm!"

Even though he was about to step down, Sēn Lǎo still clung tightly to the tone of a Hall Master.

He nodded without expression.

Then he sat down on the main seat, finally giving Lei Tang his full attention.

"Speak. What do you want?"

He couldn't help but wonder—was Lei Tang coming again to deliver money?

"Hall Master, I wish to know when the next Hall Master will be officially appointed."

As he spoke, Lei Tang smiled awkwardly and pulled from his sleeve a banknote worth ten thousand taels of silver.

,,,,,,