Small Favors Aren't Worth Helping With, Big Ones Can't Be Helped With

The lead Yamen Runner was a young man with a face like polished jade and a tall, elegant frame. His belt was inlaid with gold and hung with jade, making it clear at a glance that he was no ordinary man.

His name was Yang Zheng. The Yang Family was one of Pingjiang County's great wealthy clans, and he now served in the yamen.

"Ha ha ha, I told you! Among all the Black Whale Gang's hall fighters, you, Fang Xuan, are the most sensible!"

The young Yamen Runner Yang Zheng laughed, patted Fang Xuan on the shoulder, and walked to one side.

"A Xuan, come with me."

Fang Xuan nodded and quickly followed, a smile rising on his face as he said:

"Brother Zheng, if you wanted to collect money, you only had to send word to us. Why come personally to this filthy place full of sewage and dirty your feet?"

Yang Zheng did not answer. He merely smiled. "Even when we collect money, we do so on orders. Most of it gets handed over above us. You should know that."

Fang Xuan gave an "Mm," pulled a handful of broken silver from his sleeve, and slipped it into Yang Zheng's sleeve. "Brother Zheng, I understand. Everyone is doing their job; none of us has it easy. New Year's is coming, so please accept this small token. It isn't much, but consider it my treat for the brothers to have a drink."

Seeing this, Yang Zheng's smile deepened. He patted Fang Xuan's shoulder and said:

"A Xuan, among all these riffraff, you're the sharpest! I appreciate you. Sooner or later, you'll accomplish great things!"

Fang Xuan repeatedly demurred aloud, but inwardly he curled his lip.

Yang Zheng was greedy for money and women. Relying on the Yang Family behind him and his status as a Yamen Runner, he skinned every tree he passed and plucked every goose that flew by. When it came to squeezing money from common folk, he was even harsher than the Black Whale Gang!

He had no real ability, but he had truly mastered the art of drawing grand cakes for others.

If Fang Xuan had not feared the Yang Family behind Yang Zheng, and still needed him to pass along certain information, he would have flayed him with a single slash long ago!

"A Xuan, since you're so sensible, I'll sell you a piece of news as well!"

Yang Zheng glanced around, then lowered his voice.

"Your East Hall Master, Old Man Yu, was attacked last night. One of his legs was broken. I'm afraid he won't be able to hold onto the hall much longer. You understand what kind of opportunity this is."

Fang Xuan's heart tightened.

The Black Whale Gang had four halls in total, occupying East of the City, South of the City, West of the City, and North of the City in Pingjiang County.

Fang Xuan was Old Man Yu's number-one hall fighter in East Hall. In terms of standing, he was rather like the top enforcer or Double-Flowered Red Staff of Hong Kong triads in his previous life.

No one had known Old Man Yu's original name for a long time. In his early years, he had fought others to prove his courage and crippled one leg. He needed a cane to walk, and thus gained the underworld nickname Old Man Yu.

And the reason Old Man Yu had become East Hall Master was naturally not because he was senior or highly ranked in this world where fists were reason!

Old Man Yu was a true Entry Realm Martial Artist who had stepped onto the path of martial arts!

His Whale Sand Palm could easily batter hundred-forged refined iron into dents and cracks. He was absolutely no weakling!

"Who did it?" Fang Xuan raised a brow.

"Don't know. I heard a prodigy from the Hidden Dragon Rankings happened to be passing through. Old Man Yu was simply unlucky enough to run right into her."

Yang Zheng shook his head, then held out one hand and said in a low voice:

"A Xuan, this news hasn't been released yet. I had a hard time finding it out myself, so you see..."

Damn it, this bastard's greed knows no bounds! Fang Xuan cursed inwardly, but could only take out another string of coins from his sleeve. With a pained expression, he said, "Brother Zheng, this is all I have."

"Now that's knowing the ropes!"

Yang Zheng accepted the money, a smile appearing on his face. "A Xuan, if you need anything, call on the brothers whenever you like. The yamen brothers and I will always be here. We definitely won't let you suffer a loss!"

Here your mother! Small favors you don't want to help with, big ones you can't help with! As if I don't know what kind of man you are!

Fang Xuan sneered inwardly, but smiled as he said, "Brother Zheng, I understand!"

"Mm."

Yang Zheng nodded appreciatively, then turned to leave. "Oh, right. Did you go to South of the City and beat up Instructor Xun last night? Keep things quiet lately. Less fighting and killing. Don't make things too difficult for me."

Fang Xuan put on a harmless smile. "What are you talking about? Those are all rumors. I'm a man of refined manners and an easy temperament. I dislike fighting and killing most of all. I only want harmony to bring wealth."

Yang Zheng said nothing. He merely shook his head and muttered inwardly, That Instructor Xun is strange too. Such a huge slap mark on his face, yet he insisted he fell down. Otherwise, I could at least have squeezed another payment out of him.

Watching Yang Zheng's departing back, a flash of coldness passed through Fang Xuan's eyes. Then he took a deep breath, turned, and strode toward the Black Whale Gang.

The Black Whale Gang's headquarters stood on the city's main road.

After walking for roughly half an hour, a manor named Black Whale Courtyard appeared before Fang Xuan.

Outside the manor, riffraff from the Black Whale Gang's various halls had gathered. They laughed and roughhoused before the gates, waiting for their respective leaders to finish the meeting.

Naturally, these lowest-ranking riffraff had no qualifications to attend the meeting.

Those qualified to attend were, at minimum, minor leaders of the Black Whale Gang.

"Master Fang!"

Upon seeing Fang Xuan arrive, some East Hall riffraff hurriedly greeted him.

Fang Xuan nodded and was about to step into the manor.

Just then.

"I was wondering why there was such a stench of rotten fish and shrimp so early in the morning. So it was Master Fang, the fish seller, who had arrived? I heard Master Fang was quite impressive last night. Without even giving notice, you brought men into our South of the City, stormed into Old Ghoul Xun's home, and beat him up?"

A loud, mocking laugh rang out.

Fang Xuan turned his gaze toward the speaker. He was a man with a braid, an iron-plated skirt around his lower body, and a build even taller and more massive than Fang Xuan's.

This man was Xie Han, the South Hall Master's number-one hall fighter. His strength was not weak.

Before Fang Xuan could speak, a group of East Hall riffraff in blue clothes had already cursed on his behalf.

"Xie, what do you mean by that? Why are you talking in such a sneering, roundabout way?"

"What fish seller? Did you eat shit first thing this morning? Why is your mouth spraying filth everywhere?"

"We sell fish, sure, but that's still better than your South Hall horse drivers, relying on brothels and flesh-peddling business to make money!"

"Xie, if we weren't from the same gang, Master Fang would have chopped you down long ago!"

Xie Han clicked his tongue several times, then burst into laughter with the South Hall riffraff beside him.

"You make your scattered bits of silver by selling fish and shrimp in the first place. We call you fish sellers, and you're unhappy about it?"

Fang Xuan shook his head. A pack of riffraff naturally spoke crudely and bluntly, with no refinement to speak of.

"Xie Han, I can't be bothered to bicker with you like some shrill old woman. If you're fierce enough and have the guts, come up on the platform and fight me. The loser takes Three Knives Six Holes and gets the hell out of his hall."

"If you don't have the guts, then keep your head down when you're in front of me!"

After saying this calmly, Fang Xuan stepped into the manor.

In the Black Whale Gang, being cautious and lying low or playing the pig to eat the tiger was useless. If you wanted others not to look down on you, you had to be fierce enough and bold enough!

You could be weak, but you could not be cowardly!

If you were weak but had enough guts, others would still show you some respect.

Otherwise, no matter how strong you were, if you had lost your courage, no one would treat you as worth a damn!

He had learned that principle long ago.

Xie Han narrowed his eyes at Fang Xuan's retreating back. His gaze flickered for a while before he snorted coldly and likewise stepped into the manor.