Deliberations

Xiang Yang killed Hu Qiang, avenging Xiang Da Niu and completing the Wordless Book's task, obtaining the Hu Family Saber Technique. It was truly a bountiful harvest. Meanwhile, Xiong Da and Xiong Er of the Giant Bear Gang flew into a rage and had the two gang members assigned to guard Hu Qiang whipped fifty times.

Under the cover of night, Xiong Da sat in a grandmaster's chair wearing only a pale yellow robe. Beside him sat Xiong Er and a frail, middle-aged man of around thirty with a goatee. Below them lay two gang members barely clinging to life, as well as a stitched-up corpse—Hu Qiang.

"Big Brother, what are we going to do? Hu Qiang died here. If the people from Blackwind Mountain Stronghold find out, they definitely won't let us off."

Xiong Er scratched his head, fear and anxiety in his eyes. They had originally wanted to curry favor with Hu Qiang and have him help deal with the other two gangs in Anyuan County, but now he had died here. This was a real disaster.

"What are you panicking for? Hu Qiang is dead, so he is dead. What we need to consider now is how to handle what comes next. You should know that Black Wind Mountain Stronghold had no idea Hu Qiang came here. Mr. Wu, you inspected the scene. Can you identify the murderer?"

Xiong Da shot his second brother a displeased look and snorted as he rebuked him. Then he turned to the goateed middle-aged man, his eyes filled with scrutiny and killing intent. Leaving aside everything else, anyone who dared come onto Giant Bear Gang territory and kill their honored guest was clearly treating him with contempt. Once they found that person, he would make him wish he were dead.

Mr. Wu stroked his goatee, his eyes narrowing slightly. "In reply to the Gang Leader, Wu inspected Flower Alley inside and out, as well as the room where the crime occurred. I can only say there are very few clues. From Pei Lao San and several women of Crimson Tower in Flower Alley, I learned that the killer was a youth, no older than fifteen or sixteen, but ruthless in his methods.

"Furthermore, Wu discovered that this person escaped through a dog hole beside the second small residence deeper into Flower Alley. I asked the person in charge, and this dog hole is usually covered by a haystack. Few people know about it. Therefore, either this person is a regular visitor to Flower Alley, or someone sold him the information."

"Hmph. After saying all that, you are still spouting nonsense. What I want is the exact murderer. There are countless youths aged fifteen or sixteen throughout Anyuan. My own son is only fourteen. With so many people, am I supposed to investigate them one by one?

"As for those who knew about the dog hole, women and customers in Flower Alley come and go like flowing water. Who knows which dog bastard leaked the news? After all that talk, we still have nothing."

Xiong Da slammed his palm viciously onto the square table beside him, his face dark with rage. Until he caught the murderer, he could not vent this foul breath in his chest. After roaming the martial world for so many years, he had actually been taught a lesson by some little brat today.

After a long while, the main hall remained deathly silent. Even the two gang members barely hanging onto life gritted their teeth and dared not groan. Surviving this much was already like burning incense to high heaven; if they angered Xiong Da and received another few dozen lashes, they would die even if they did not die.

"Forget it. We can discuss this matter later. Let us talk about Hu Qiang first. Now that he is dead, our plan to borrow Black Wind Mountain Stronghold's strength to wipe out the Little Knife Society and Green Wolf Gang has fallen through.

"Also, Black Wind Mountain Stronghold may not learn of Hu Qiang's death right away, but they certainly will not be kept in the dark forever. Mr. Wu, do you have a way to cover this matter up?"

Mr. Wu nodded. "Gang Leader, you have walked into a dead end. Whether Hu Qiang lives or dies may matter to Black Wind Mountain Stronghold, but it has little impact on us. Our current strength far surpasses that of the Little Knife Society and Green Wolf Gang. Even without Hu Qiang, we can still crush them into submission.

"As for Hu Qiang's death, there is no need to conceal it at all. As long as Black Wind Mountain Stronghold does not know that Hu Qiang came here, we can simply act as though he never came. Destroy the corpse and erase the traces.

"Also, seal the mouths of everyone who knows about this. After some time, even if those bandits learn that Hu Qiang has vanished or even met with misfortune, they will not be able to trace it back to us."

Upon hearing Mr. Wu's words, Xiong Er nodded repeatedly, a cold gleam and killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"Exactly, exactly. Hu Qiang's connection to us was extremely secret. Zhao Shan and Li Qian, who previously went up the mountain to deliver messages, have also disappeared. Now that Hu Qiang is dead, I fear no one knows he came here. Big Brother, why not put Pei Lao San and those two pieces of trash below to death as well, lest word leak out?"

At Xiong Er's words, the two gang members below turned ashen. Mr. Wu had not expected Xiong Er to be so vicious. He wanted to offer some words of caution, but after hesitating, he ultimately said nothing and merely looked at Xiong Da.

"Shut your mouth. Pei Lao San is one of our own brothers. He has managed Flower Alley diligently for years and is a great contributor to the gang. How can you utter such unjust words? If there is a next time, I will break your legs."

After pondering briefly, Xiong Da snapped in anger. Then, glancing at the relieved Mr. Wu and the two gang members, whose gratitude nearly brought them to tears, he said flatly,

"However, those four women from Crimson Tower cannot be spared. They had close contact with Hu Qiang and saw him being killed. To prevent them from reporting to the authorities or accidentally leaking the news, go send them on their way shortly.

"Also, withdraw one thousand taels from the gang and deliver them to Mama Hua at Crimson Tower. Tell her to bear with it a little. After all, they were five popular girls."

To be honest, one thousand taels for five popular girls was somewhat too little. But Xiong Da was neither a philanthropist nor an honest merchant. He was a martial-world underworld figure, an evil force. Where was there any reason to be had with such people? His willingness to pay one thousand taels was already a concession.

"Fine. I will go over shortly and have them serve me one last time before they die, putting waste to use. Then I will have them tell me whether Hu Qiang or I was stronger. Heh heh."

Xiong Er was also a distinguished talent among lechers. He wore a lecherous grin as he spoke. Comparing who was more capable with a dead man was truly something else.

As for Mr. Wu, he did not feel there was anything inappropriate about Xiong Da's decision. The girls of Crimson Tower were different from Pei Lao San. They were not their own people and could not be trusted at all.

Xiong Da could not send people to follow and monitor them every day, so sending them on their way was the best choice.

"Lastly, send people to keep a close watch on the movements of the Little Knife Society and Green Wolf Gang. I have always suspected that they sent someone to do this. Zhao Shan and Li Qian's disappearance was also their doing. We absolutely cannot let down our guard."

Zhao Shan, Li Qian, and Hu Qiang had all met with trouble only after Giant Bear Gang swept through the Little Knife Society and Green Wolf Gang's establishments. Xiong Da could not help but think more deeply about it.

Especially since Hu Qiang's connection with them was extremely secret. Like the two gang members lying below, they were old hands who had followed the two brothers for years, and only then were they trustworthy.

"So, if someone knew that Hu Qiang had come here, Zhao Shan and Li Qian must have leaked the news. That is to say, the people who killed Hu Qiang and those who killed Zhao Shan and Li Qian should be the same group.

"Furthermore, we spread word that we have invited a great expert to sit in the gang. The two other gangs would be most affected by this in Anyuan. Even if they did not know Hu Qiang's identity, they would still want to get rid of this mysterious expert as quickly as possible."

Listening to Xiong Da's analysis, even Mr. Wu nodded in agreement. In the end, it was still a question of motive. Was this aimed at Hu Qiang, or at the Giant Bear Gang? If it was aimed at the Giant Bear Gang, then Hu Qiang's death might only be the beginning. Xiong Da's deliberations were not without reason.