That night.
In a private room at the Eight Immortals Restaurant in Yangzhou City.
Zhang Fengyuan had hosted a grand feast for everyone that evening. The table was packed with familiar stewards and subordinates, and the private room buzzed with laughter and clinking cups.
"Hahaha, Hall Master Zhang, come, let me toast you."
"Steward Duan, you're too kind. I have you to thank for helping me out today."
"Oh, Hall Master Zhang, you're too modest. It's my honor to serve you."
Zhang Fengyuan smiled smugly. "Did that fellow surnamed Li say anything today?"
Duan Sanping downed his wine in one gulp, his face flushed. "What could he say? When he heard Hall Master Zhang's name, he didn't dare let out a peep. He just walked off with a black face, tail between his legs."
"Hahahaha..."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Zhang Fengyuan was in high spirits. "That Li Xian really doesn't know what's good for him. It's his good fortune that I took a liking to him and wanted him working under me, yet he actually turned me down. Hmph, let's see how he comes crawling back to me after today!"
Duan Sanping, Lu Wu'an, and the other subordinates chimed in.
"Exactly! That brat doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. He thinks a little talent is enough to make a name for himself in the Cao Gang. Today, we'll show him what he really is."
"Right. He killed Bai Shaofei and thinks he's something special. A couple of compliments went to his head, and now he looks down on everyone. Someone needs to teach him a lesson!"
"Hall Master Zhang is just making him suffer a little so he understands how complicated the world is. It's not a place some wet-behind-the-ears kid can handle."
"So Hall Master Zhang had his best interests at heart all along!"
"Hall Master Zhang, your noble generosity deserves a toast!"
"Indeed, let's toast him!"
"Come on, everyone, raise your cups to Hall Master Zhang!"
Throughout the meal, the conversation never strayed far from mocking Li Xian and singing Zhang Fengyuan's praises.
The banquet at Eight Immortals Tower finally ended deep into the night.
Zhang Fengyuan still hadn't had his fill, so he invited everyone to spend the night on a flower boat.
"Come on! I'm in a good mood tonight, so this Hall Master is treating!"
Naturally, no one objected.
The group hired a carriage and set off.
It was the dead of night. Not a soul could be seen on the streets, and the clatter of hooves only made the place feel more desolate.
Inside the carriage, everyone was still laughing and joking.
Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt.
"What's going on? Why did we stop?"
As the most loyal lackey, Lu Wu'an was the first to poke his head outside.
The coachman beside the carriage had already vanished.
Across the street, a figure stood in the deserted road, giving Lu Wu'an a meaningful smile.
At the sight of that familiar face, Lu Wu'an shuddered, sobering up halfway.
"It's you... Li—"
Before he could finish, the man flashed forward like lightning. He thrust out a palm, seized Lu Wu'an by the head, and slammed him into the carriage.
Lu Wu'an's head split open, half his skull caved in. There was no way he could survive.
The carriage was smashed to pieces as well.
"Who's there?!"
"How dare you!"
Two figures burst out of the wrecked carriage: Zhang Fengyuan and Duan Sanping.
The moment Zhang Fengyuan recognized the newcomer, he roared in fury.
"Li Xian, you've got some nerve!"
Of course, the newcomer was Li Xian.
Back in his previous life, when he played jungler in games, if an enemy support stole one of his jungle monsters, he'd chase them all the way to the second tower. And now someone had stolen several hundred points' worth of credit from him.
He absolutely couldn't let this go.
Li Xian said nothing. He only split his lips in a savage, brutal grin.
Tonight, he would kill to his heart's content!
In the very next instant, several of Zhang Fengyuan's trusted followers were dead.
Looking at the corpses on the ground, Zhang Fengyuan and Duan Sanping felt a chill rise in their hearts.
"Li Xian, if you kill me, aren't you afraid the Cao Gang will hunt you down?"
"That's right! Hall Master Li's father is the Deputy Gang Leader. If he finds out what you've done, you'll die without a burial place!"
They shouted with bluster, but even they didn't notice their voices trembling.
"A mere Deputy Gang Leader—what can he do to me?" Li Xian lifted his chin and gave a cold laugh.
Zhang Fengyuan was at a loss. His father, the Deputy Gang Leader, had been his greatest backing, but Li Xian clearly didn't care.
He'd thought his opponent was a lamb he could squeeze at will. Who would've guessed he was a mountain tiger, ready to devour anyone who crossed his path?
They couldn't beat him, and they couldn't scare him. Their only option was to run.
Panic-stricken, Zhang Fengyuan and Duan Sanping ran off down the street.
They'd barely taken two steps when Li Xian caught up and landed a seemingly effortless punch on Duan Sanping.
Duan Sanping spat out a mouthful of blood. His internal organs had all been shattered.
Duan Sanping was dead!
Li Xian took two more steps and caught up with Zhang Fengyuan. He grabbed him by the head and slammed him down onto the cold stone street.
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me, Li Xian! I'll agree to anything you want!"
Zhang Fengyuan struggled, sobbing and begging for mercy. The swagger he'd shown at the Eight Immortals Restaurant was nowhere to be seen.
"What I want is beyond your power to give!"
"No, no, I can! You can have whatever you want—just tell me! I don't want to be Hall Master, or the youngest Hall Master in the Cao Gang. I'll give it all to you!"
Li Xian couldn't help laughing.
He leaned down and whispered in Zhang Fengyuan's ear.
"Tonight, you have to die."
"Only your death will teach everyone what happens to those who dare steal my kills, Li Xian!"
With that, he pressed Zhang Fengyuan hard against the ground.
"No!"
There was a sharp crack. Zhang Fengyuan's head burst apart on the street like a smashed watermelon.
Zhang Fengyuan was dead!
Li Xian stood up and let out a long breath.
He felt light-hearted, his thoughts clear.
This was true power, true authority.
Only those with absolute power had the right to decide whether others lived or died.
"Hahahahaha..."
Li Xian laughed with unrestrained delight. His figure flashed, then vanished from the deserted street.
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