Ambition

Han Zheng stood at the street corner, watching the two factions tear into each other.

He had to admit, the Three Harmonies Gang members were solid in both strength and quality.

Many of them had reached the Early Acquired Stage, and their combat experience was rich—nothing like the sheltered disciples in the training halls who'd never seen real bloodshed.

Still, these men knew where to draw the line. No one drew weapons, and no one struck to kill.

After all, this was an internal gang dispute. Drawing blood was fine, but killing someone was pointless.

Han Zheng furrowed his brow slightly.

This wasn't the outcome he wanted. He needed to stoke the fire.

He casually scraped some dirt off the wall and smeared it across his face, then slipped unnoticed into the fray.

Dozens of men were locked in chaos. Neither side had gone berserk, but the fight was fierce. No one noticed an extra man join the melee.

Right now, Deng Bao and his men were on the losing end.

Cao Bin doted on his son, so the men under Cao Rui were the cream of the crop—far stronger than Deng Bao's crew.

Deng Bao's men were being pushed back step by step, some already wounded.

Wang Tie Zhu was one of Deng Bao's toughest fighters. Relying on his brute strength, he charged to the front—only to get ganged up on by several opponents.

"Damn it, you bastards have no honor! Fight me one-on-one if you've got the balls!"

The other side sneered, kicked him flat to the ground, and then stomped hard toward his leg.

So what if they were all from the Three Harmonies Gang? They were the First Gang Leader's men, not Gao Kaiyuan's.

Just as his leg was about to be crippled, a figure suddenly appeared and kicked the attacker flying.

Wang Tie Zhu wiped the cold sweat from his brow, relieved, and said gratefully, "Thanks, brother."

But at the same time, a flicker of confusion crossed his mind. Which brother was this? He couldn't quite place him.

The man who saved him didn't even turn around. He just muttered, "That Cao bastard doesn't give a damn about brotherhood—he's going for the kill. Why the hell are we still holding back? Let's fuck him up!"

Wang Tie Zhu had nearly been crippled moments ago. Hearing that, his eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

The Three Harmonies Gang was a brutal outfit at the bottom of the ladder.

If you could fight and kill, you rose. If you got crippled and became useless, you got kicked to the curb.

If he ended up a cripple, his whole life would be ruined!

At that thought, Wang Tie Zhu let out a roar and charged forward.

The man beside him stayed close, not making any moves of his own.

But whenever someone attacked Wang Tie Zhu, he blocked them, letting Wang Tie Zhu land the heavy blows.

From the outside, it looked like Wang Tie Zhu was unstoppable, leading his men straight to Cao Rui.

"Brother Zhu is a beast!"

"Brother Zhu is a legend!"

Deng Bao's men saw Wang Tie Zhu's rampage and cheered him on.

"Stop them!"

Cao Rui saw the situation turning bad and quickly ordered his two personal bodyguards to charge in.

But Han Zheng reached out, crushed one man's fist with a squeeze, and Wang Tie Zhu knocked both of them flat with a punch each.

"Hell yeah!"

He was in a bloodlust now. He didn't care if the man in front of him was the First Gang Leader's son—he charged anyway.

"Looking for death!"

A cold glint flashed in Cao Rui's eyes.

Gao Kaiyuan's men really had no respect for him, daring to lay a hand on his person.

A gem-studded green dagger slid into Cao Rui's hand.

His body swayed like a serpent, weaving left and right, and in an instant, he was in front of Wang Tie Zhu. Like a snake striking, the blade shot straight for his heart.

Cao Rui's Eight Snake Strikes were personally taught by Cao Bin, far more refined than Song Tianqing's version.

And the Eight Snake Strikes were meant for daggers—every move a vicious, lethal blow.

Other gang members might fear killing someone, but Cao Rui didn't give a damn.

Even if he killed a mere gang member—hell, even if he killed Deng Bao—would Gao Kaiyuan make him pay with his life?

The moment the dagger thrust forward, Wang Tie Zhu's cultivation was far too slow to react.

He didn't even see the blade. He just wondered why Cao Rui was so fast, appearing right in front of him in an instant.

Han Zheng's arm shot out like a White Ape Through-Arm Fist, extending an impossible distance and clamping down on Cao Rui's wrist.

The crushing force stopped the dagger cold, as if a snake had been pinned by its throat.

"Xiantian..."

Cao Rui's expression shifted instantly.

That hand clamped down on him like an iron hoop, squeezing so tight he couldn't struggle free at all—this was definitely someone at the Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm!

Before Cao Rui could even cry out, Han Zheng twisted his hand and snapped his wrist clean.

The dagger was snatched away in a flash, shoved into Wang Tie Zhu's hand, and with a yank, Han Zheng sent Cao Rui's body crashing into Wang Tie Zhu.

A single shriek rang out, and Cao Rui's body crumpled limply to the ground.

The dagger pierced his chest, blood splattering all over Wang Tie Zhu.

Wang Tie Zhu looked around in a daze; everyone was staring at him with terror in their eyes.

At that moment, only one thought filled Wang Tie Zhu's mind.

Where was that brother who'd been right behind him, cutting through enemies together just moments ago?

How was he the only one left?

Han Zheng slipped out of the fray without a sound, pulling a crude wooden mask from his bosom.

The mask was painted with oil colors in the shape of a monkey, baring its teeth in a grin that looked a bit ridiculous and comical.

Since it was the Year of the Monkey, many vendors in Black Stone County had been selling these Monkey Face Masks during the New Year—they were quite common.

Putting on the mask, Han Zheng glanced at the time and slipped into the residence of Third Gang Leader Jiang Tai.

Jiang Tai loved his comforts, so he often wasn't at the Hall.

With no real power in the Hall anyway, he'd rather return to his own mansion and enjoy himself.

Today was no different. Jiang Tai, reeking of alcohol, was just heading back to his study for some tea to sober up. The moment he pushed open the door, his expression changed.

Someone was sitting in his study, a strange man wearing a Monkey Face Mask, studying him with that seemingly ridiculous face.

"Daring to sneak into my residence—you've got some nerve!"

Jiang Tai's blood and qi surged, his palms boiling with power, a scorching aura already radiating from him.

"Gang Leader Jiang, calm down. I mean you no harm, or I wouldn't be waiting here openly in plain sight.

I've come to offer you a fortune, to help you."

Han Zheng deliberately lowered his voice, which, paired with the Monkey Face Mask, made him seem even more eerie.

Jiang Tai frowned slightly but closed the study door, saying coldly, "Skulking around, vague and unclear, and you say you're here to help me? Ridiculous! Who are you?"

He could sense that this man was definitely at the Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm too.

But there weren't many martial artists in Black Stone County who'd reached that level, and he'd met almost all of them—none matched this man's build.

Han Zheng shook his head. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that my news can bring you benefits, Gang Leader Jiang.

Today, outside Shenghe Hall, Cao Rui, son of your Three Harmonies Gang's First Gang Leader Cao Bin, and Deng Bao, the trusted right-hand man of Second Gang Leader Gao Kaiyuan, clashed. Cao Rui died at the hands of Deng Bao's men."

"Impossible! How dare Second Brother's men kill Big Brother's son? That's suicide!"

Han Zheng smiled. "Nothing's impossible in this world. When both sides are fighting blind with bloodshot eyes, anyone can die.

Of course, that's not the key point. The key is that Cao Bin's only son is dead.

What has he been fighting Gao Kaiyuan over all these years, openly and covertly? For his son, wasn't it?

Now that his son's gone, how could he not fly into a rage?

So Cao Bin and Gao Kaiyuan are bound to clash—and that's your opportunity, Gang Leader Jiang.

When two tigers fight, one is sure to be wounded. The Three Harmonies Gang doesn't need so many gang leaders. One is enough."

Jiang Tai's heart jolted, and he said coldly, "You're trying to stir up discord between me and my big brothers!

A Three Harmonies Gang with only one gang leader—would that still be the Three Harmonies Gang?"

Han Zheng laughed loudly. "A Three Harmonies Gang with only one gang leader certainly wouldn't be the Three Harmonies Gang—but it would be your gang, Gang Leader Jiang, and yours alone.

All these years, Cao Bin and Gao Kaiyuan have been fighting for power and profit. One wants to rise himself, the other wants to push his son up. Have they ever thought of you?

Gang Leader Jiang, you were once a promising young talent in Black Stone County, yet now you've been suppressed for so many years, spending your days eating, drinking, and idling away. Are you content with that?

Anyway, the opportunity is right in front of you. It's up to you whether you seize it.

Cao Bin is old, his blood and qi failing. He's no match for Gao Kaiyuan in a direct fight.

So all you have to do is stand on Cao Bin's side, and Gao Kaiyuan will surely lose. Once Gao Kaiyuan is dealt with, then take out Cao Bin, and the Three Harmonies Gang will be yours alone, Jiang Tai!

The path is laid out before you. How you walk it, Gang Leader Jiang, is your decision."

Silence hung for a moment. Jiang Tai stared at Han Zheng. "Who are you really? Stirring me up to strike at my big brothers—what's in it for you?"

Han Zheng shook his head. "Nothing in it for me. I just have a grudge against Gao Kaiyuan, but I can't act openly, or I'd be making an enemy of the entire Three Harmonies Gang.

Gang Leader Jiang, don't doubt it. Our goals may differ, but the outcome we want is the same.

I only want Gao Kaiyuan dead. What happens to the Three Harmonies Gang after that, I don't care.

By now, Cao Bin should have gotten the news too. Time waits for no one, Gang Leader Jiang."

With that, Han Zheng leaped up and vaulted straight out the study window.

He believed Jiang Tai would definitely make a move.

On the surface, Jiang Tai had always shown no aggression, never getting involved in the struggles between Gao Kaiyuan and Cao Bin.

But that was only because he had no opportunity, no strength.

The three of them in the Three Harmonies Gang thrived together and failed apart.

From the day they began to harbor selfish desires, wanting to claim the Three Harmonies Gang for themselves, internal strife and a bloody clash were inevitable.

Han Zheng had merely accelerated that process.