Lu Chen and the two women traveled on foot toward the Hanshui Gang's main headquarters.
Two quick-witted lackeys under Zhang Yong fled back to the branch hall first to fetch horses. As they galloped out of town, they spotted Lu Chen and the two women heading upstream.
The two lackeys hurriedly made a wide detour around them and raced to the main headquarters to deliver the news.
At the Hanshui Gang's main headquarters, inside the Hall of Righteousness, the First Boss, Cao Song the River-Turning Dragon; the Second Boss, Shen Qingshi the Black-Clothed Scholar; and several skilled men each in charge of a dockside branch hall were hosting a banquet for an "esteemed guest."
The guest was fair and fat, dressed in a splendid wealthy gentleman's robe. Yet several patches had been sewn onto inconspicuous spots, and nine cloth bags hung from his back—the unmistakable mark of a Nine-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect.
Needless to say, this fair, fat gentleman was Elder Peng, one of the leaders of the Beggars' Sect's Clean-Clothed Faction and the uncle of Shen Qingshi, the Hanshui Gang's Second Boss, the Black-Clothed Scholar.
However, Elder Peng was not particularly warm toward his "nephew" Shen Qingshi.
That was because Shen Qingshi was only a very distant cousin through marriage, and they had never been close. Only after the Hanshui Gang rose to prominence, when Shen Qingshi took the initiative to claim kinship and showered him with silver, did Elder Peng reluctantly acknowledge the relationship.
At that moment,
Elder Peng sat in the seat of honor, receiving toasts from Cao Song, Shen Qingshi, and the others with a smile that did not reach his eyes. Each time he raised his cup, he merely touched the wine to his lips.
Not until Shen Qingshi presented him with a small wooden box filled with gold ingots did Elder Peng finally break into a genuine smile and drain a cup of wine.
Seeing Elder Peng empty his cup, Shen Qingshi exchanged a glance with Cao Song. He eagerly poured Elder Peng another cup, then said with a flattering smile:
"Uncle, the Hanshui Gang's business has been growing bigger and bigger lately, but we accidentally came into conflict with the Beggars' Sect."
"A Beggars' Sect hero named Yu Zhaoxing led some Beggars' Sect disciples against us twice. They injured quite a few of our brothers, destroyed one of our cargo ships, and let all the valuable cargo aboard get away. What do you think of this matter?"
Elder Peng snorted coldly, his face full of disdain.
"Yu Zhaoxing? Let me think... He's the martial nephew of Li Sheng, that snake charmer from Jiangdong. A disciple of the Dirty-Clothed Faction. What kind of hero is he? This is easy. I'll notify the Dirty-Clothed Faction and tell them to stop meddling in your affairs."
As a Nine-Bag Elder, his status was second only to Gang Leader Hong Qigong. With a single command, even Li Sheng, the Eight-Bag Disciple known as the Snake King of Jiangdong, had to heed his orders—at least openly. Otherwise, it would be insubordination. Let alone Li Sheng's martial nephew.
Shen Qingshi was overjoyed and repeatedly said:
"Thank you, Uncle! Once this matter is settled, we will reward you handsomely."
Cao Song the River-Turning Dragon also thanked him again and again. Along with the skilled men from the branch halls, he raised large bowls in toast. Whether Elder Peng drank or not, they all emptied their bowls in one gulp to show their respect.
Just as the feast was in full swing, a gang member hurried inside. He was about to whisper in Cao Song's ear when Cao Song impatiently waved a hand.
"We're all brothers here, and Elder Peng is an esteemed guest. Why are you acting so furtively? Speak plainly if you have something to say."
The gang member glanced at everyone, his face miserable.
"Brothers from the Small Stone Town branch hall came galloping back to report that the Third Boss was killed by a single sword strike from a youth in black while conducting business in town."
"That youth in black was ruthless. Besides the Third Boss, he killed eighteen of our brothers."
"What?" Cao Song flew into a rage. "Where did this madman come from, daring to kill the Third Boss of the Hanshui Gang?"
Shen Qingshi frowned and asked, "Was the killer a disciple of the Beggars' Sect?"
The gang member shook his head.
"Probably not. That youth in black was dressed very neatly, without a single patch on his clothes. His two companions were both young women."
"Oh, and the brothers who brought the news said that after killing those men, the youth in black and the two young women not only did not flee—they actually headed straight for our main headquarters!"
At this, everyone in the hall was stunned for a moment, then sneered one after another.
"He must have eaten a bear's heart and leopard's gall! He actually dares to attack the Hanshui Gang with two little girls in tow!"
"Hmph! He got lucky and killed the Third Boss. That brat probably thinks the Hanshui Gang is weak and easy to bully, that he himself is invincible under heaven!"
"First Boss, give the word! Let's gather the brothers and chop that brat to pieces to feed the fish!"
"Brothers, calm down."
Shen Qingshi was known as the Black-Clothed Scholar. He usually liked to dress as a learned man and flaunt his bookishness, considering himself the Hanshui Gang's strategist. His mind truly was sharper than the others'. After frowning in thought for a while, he said:
"He killed the Third Boss, yet still dares to take the initiative and attack our main headquarters. That youth is probably not so simple."
Cao Song disagreed.
"So what? We have more than two hundred brothers. Are we supposed to fear a mere three people?"
One of the skilled men from a branch hall added:
"Two of those three are just young women!"
The gang member who had come to report hurriedly said:
"The two brothers who came back with the news also said those two young women were as beautiful as immortals. They were the finest goods they had ever seen in their lives!"
Hearing this, Shen Qingshi immediately understood why the Third Boss had died.
He must have set his sights on those so-called "immortal-like" beauties and wanted to take them for himself. He had not expected their companion to be a highly skilled, vicious killer, and so he had thrown away his life for nothing.
With that thought, Shen Qingshi hurriedly bowed to Elder Peng and said:
"Uncle, what do you think of this matter?"
For Elder Peng to become a Nine-Bag Elder of the Clean-Clothed Faction, he naturally had both brains and cunning. He knew that the youth who had killed the Third Boss, Zhang Yong, along with eighteen Hanshui Gang members, probably did possess some real skill.
But he did not take it to heart—no matter how skilled that youth was, could he be stronger than a Nine-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect?
Would the Hanshui Gang's Third Boss have lasted three moves against him?
As for eighteen lackeys and gang members, they were mere rabble. A few punches and kicks would have disposed of them.
Elder Peng took a sip of wine and said leisurely:
"No matter. Open the gates and welcome them in."
"I want to see exactly which family's junior dares slaughter people so wantonly. Nineteen lives! He truly had the heart to do it!"
He did not think much of the Hanshui Gang, and he did not care how many of them died.
However, the Hanshui Gang was exceedingly diligent with its holiday tributes, and Elder Peng did not wish to cut off this source of wealth. If necessary, he intended to intervene and let the Hanshui Gang see Elder Peng's methods, so that they would be even more diligent in the future.
Seeing Elder Peng take full responsibility, the Hanshui Gang members immediately felt reassured. They thought that the youth in black would surely have no return this time.
Although Shen Qingshi was likewise reassured by Elder Peng's promise, he did not lower his guard. After excusing himself to Elder Peng, he left the Hall of Righteousness, summoned several trusted subordinates, and gave them quiet orders:
"Gather the brothers. Prepare fishing nets, bamboo poles, and lime powder."
Fishing nets could be used to entangle skilled fighters. The bamboo poles had iron tips at the front; once sharpened, they became an alternative kind of spear, and they did not violate any prohibitions. As a boat gang that operated on the water, it was perfectly reasonable for the Hanshui Gang to keep plenty of bamboo poles.
As for lime powder, what underworld gang did not throw lime powder?
Only those lofty figures of the Martial Arts World, with all their ridiculous scruples, disdained to use such underhanded methods.
After issuing his orders, Shen Qingshi returned to the Hall of Righteousness and continued attentively entertaining Elder Peng.
While the Hanshui Gang members waited confidently for Lu Chen and the two women to come knocking,
Lu Chen, Huang Rong, and Li Mochou had already drawn close to the Hanshui Gang's main headquarters.
Along the way, Huang Rong taught Li Mochou quite a few bits of common knowledge about the Jianghu.
For example, many gangs that operated on the water were especially skilled at using fishing nets against martial arts experts.
Dozens of men would surround their target, cast more than ten nets through the air, shower them with lime powder and hidden projectiles, then stab and slash at them with spears and sabers. Ordinary experts would have no path left but death.
Li Mochou listened in stunned disbelief.
"Can people of the Jianghu really use such despicable methods?"
Huang Rong carried her sword in one hand and clasped the other behind her back. She said leisurely:
"What do you think the Jianghu is, Sister Mochou? Martial arts masters with light swords and swift horses, carrying wine as they sing wildly, avenging grievances to their hearts' content? White-robed heroes with their sleeves fluttering in the wind, coming and going with effortless grace, untouched by a speck of dust? No, it isn't!
"As long as there are people, there are grudges. Where there are grudges, there is the Jianghu. People are the Jianghu. Among people are noble gentlemen and vile scoundrels alike. Why would it be strange for the people who make up the Jianghu to use some despicable methods?"
Well, the line, "As long as there are people, there are grudges..." had come from something a villain had said in a story Lu Chen had told her. Huang Rong deeply agreed with it.
Before you continue