Chapter 48

On the way back to Centipede Stronghold, Black Centipede did not say a word, and his brothers didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

When they set out, they were full of confidence, concluding that Poison Spider would not fall out with him over a few subordinates. When they returned, they were dejected, like stray dogs.

For some reason, even though his subordinates didn't speak, Black Centipede could still feel the resentment permeating the team.

This made him, who had always cared about his reputation, unable to hold his head up, and the resentment toward Poison Spider in his heart had reached its peak.

In a flash, he thought of Adder's proposal, and now he had to take this matter to heart.

Since Viper Stronghold could come to him for cooperation, it could also go to cooperate with Spider Stronghold. As for Toad Stronghold and Scorpion Stronghold, they were completely out of Black Centipede's consideration.

The Five Poisons strongholds were divided internally into the Upper Two Strongholds and the Lower Three Strongholds. The Lower Three Strongholds were Viper Stronghold, Centipede Stronghold, and Spider Stronghold, while the Upper Two Strongholds were Scorpion Stronghold and Toad Stronghold.

From the perspective of comprehensive strength, any two of the Lower Three Strongholds joining forces could only tie with one of the Upper Two Strongholds. Seeking their cooperation was no different from skinning a tiger for its hide.

Thinking of this, Black Centipede hurriedly summoned a subordinate. After whispering instructions, the subordinate hurriedly turned and ran toward Viper Stronghold.

The battle between the two strongholds had just ended, and in just the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the other three strongholds knew the whole story.

Evil Scorpion had been standing on the mountaintop until the entire battle ended, and then he said softly: "It seems there will be more fun to have in the time to come!"

Toad was eating while listening to his subordinates report the situation, but he did not express any opinion. After eating, he indicated that he was sleepy and wanted to go to sleep. His subordinates did not offer any suggestions, as if they had guessed this scene long ago.

Adder laughed heartily in the main hall: "This Black Centipede, he wouldn't cooperate when I asked him to, and behind my back, he wanted to go to Spider Stronghold to demand people. Now his centipede legs have been broken, right!"

Viper responded jokingly: "Centipedes have many legs, I guess he'll have to break them again!"

Just then, someone reported from outside that Black Centipede had invited Adder to go to Centipede Stronghold for a chat.

Adder snorted coldly: "He thinks of me only when he can't win? Go back and tell him, if he has something to say, let him come to my Viper Stronghold himself."

Viper actually wanted to persuade Adder to go and discuss it, after all, he was eager to promote the fermentation of this matter!

So, after thinking for a moment, Viper pretended to be casual and said: "Big Brother, I actually think we can go. Let's settle this matter early to avoid Toad Stronghold and Scorpion Stronghold from interfering."

"No matter! Toad Stronghold and Scorpion Stronghold are watching each other! Besides, he is begging me to do things, so I must maintain my posture."

Hearing Adder's answer, Viper could only agree, and by the way, he called someone to ask about the situation of Jiang Jinshi and the others.

The person who came replied truthfully that they were all still sleeping!

Viper was initially worried that Jiang Jinshi and the others were hiding some bad intentions, but now it seemed he had overthought it.

Finding an excuse to go out, Viper walked down the mountain along the small path. The things he was about to do could not be known by anyone.

In fact, Jiang Jinshi and his group only fell asleep this morning. At first, they were playing by themselves, and later, no matter who came, Jiang Jinshi taught them how to play.

He taught for an entire night, and there were more than twenty bandits watching. Now, the mahjong and playing cards had been borrowed and no one knew where they had gone.

Black Centipede, who received the reply from Viper Stronghold, was naturally dissatisfied, but now the situation was pressing, and he had to lower his head.

After simple bandaging, he didn't even rest, picked thirty-odd people, and headed toward Viper Stronghold in a grand manner again.

Spider Stronghold did not know all this. Having just experienced a fierce battle, they were currently cleaning up the battlefield.

According to statistics, there were thirty-two corpses left in Spider Stronghold, including thirteen from Spider Stronghold and nineteen from Centipede Stronghold.

There were more than twenty injured brothers in Spider Stronghold. As for Centipede Stronghold, it was not clear, but it should be more than Spider Stronghold.

The first thing Poison Spider did was to appease everyone, hurriedly sending people down the mountain to buy wine and meat, determined to win over people's hearts and unite against the outside.

When Black Centipede arrived at Viper Stronghold, Adder discovered that Viper was nowhere to be found.

Both sides sat together and launched a fierce discussion, mainly involving issues of interest distribution and the scale of effort.

Black Centipede proposed a fifty-fifty split, which was rejected by Adder without hesitation. Relying on the fact that Black Centipede was weak now, Adder insisted on at least sixty percent.

Black Centipede was worried that Adder would provide men but not effort, leaving himself to be roasted on the fire, so the negotiation reached a stalemate for a time.

The first negotiation ended unhappily, but Adder was certain that the other party would definitely arrange another talk.

When Viper returned to the mountain, he was followed by a person who looked like a farmhand with no special features. Under Viper's arrangement, he silently joined Viper Stronghold.

Everyone thought they would reap the fruits of victory, only Spider Stronghold had suffered an unprovoked disaster, and at this moment, they were still drinking wine from big bowls and eating meat in big mouthfuls.

By the time Jiang Jinshi woke up, it was already dusk. Although Jiang Jinshi had not spent much time with these low-level bandits, with playing cards and mahjong as a medium, most of the bandits were still very friendly to him.

Therefore, Jiang Jinshi deliberately brought up topics while playing cards, and learned about what happened this morning from the bandits' scattered remarks.

Even the two bandits responsible for monitoring Jiang Jinshi and the others were persuaded to sit at the mahjong table.

At the same time, in the Tang family of Lin City, Tang Rui was pulling her father Tang Yunhe's hand and shaking it constantly.

"Daddy, didn't you say you would send that hateful bandit, Sunshine Old Ghost, to me?"

The look in Tang Yunhe's eyes when he looked at his daughter was full of doting, without any of the dignity of a Tang family head.

"Soon, soon, I have already told Centipede Stronghold."

Tang Rui pouted in dissatisfaction: "You said the same thing yesterday."

"Tomorrow, tomorrow I will definitely catch that so-called Old Ghost and make him kneel in front of you." Tang Yunhe apologized with a smile and promised repeatedly, which finally put the matter aside for the time being.

After Tang Rui left, Tang Yunhe took a deep breath and summoned Fifteen: "Go up the mountain immediately and tell that dead centipede, I want to see the person tomorrow. If he can't do it, I will find people from other strongholds to do it."

Black Centipede had just gone to bed and was preparing to sleep when suddenly it was reported that the Tang family had sent someone. He had to put on his clothes and go out to greet them.

Fifteen did not give Black Centipede any good looks at all. After relaying the Tang family head's original words, he went down the mountain and left.

Only Black Centipede was left standing in place with a livid face. He didn't know why he, a mountain king, was living so miserably.

The more Black Centipede thought about it, the angrier he became. He picked up the things beside him and started smashing them randomly. After a burst of venting, he gradually calmed down to think of a countermeasure.

Just a moment ago, he even thought about simply defying the Tang family. Without your Tang family's support, could my Centipede Stronghold not survive in this Lianhuan Shan?

It really couldn't survive...

The brothers under him had to eat!

I don't know how that stronghold back then managed to survive, not even giving the government any face. Whoever came, they robbed without exception, and the various major families often bowed and bent their waists to send money up the mountain to redeem people and goods.