Meeting

When Lei Jue asked, Zhang Yunhao smiled and said, "Your fatal weakness is that you haven't fought in twenty years!"

Lei Jue hadn't expected that answer. He looked puzzled. "I haven't fought in twenty years?"

"Exactly. You haven't fought in twenty years, and you've long since lost your sharp reactions. That's why, when I suddenly struck earlier, you couldn't think of a way to escape your predicament right away. You've also lost your awareness of your surroundings."

Zhang Yunhao nodded. "If you'd been the man you were twenty years ago, I think you would have spotted my finishing move in time—and might even have seized the chance to counterattack."

"That's true. I really have gone too long without fighting. I'm rusty."

Lei Jue gave a self-deprecating laugh, then continued, "Since I lost to you, I'll take your money and do one thing for you. But before that, I need to rediscover the feeling I had back then."

"Good. Stay with my Good Men Gang, and you'll get everything you want."

Zhang Yunhao nodded in satisfaction. He didn't ask what Lei Jue wanted the money for; there was no need. As long as Lei Jue kept his promise and did the job, that was enough. As for money, Zhang Yunhao had plenty, so it hardly mattered.

The Eighteen Heroes Zhang Yunhao had trained were quite capable. With the other true qi experts joining the assault, it didn't take long for all the bandit leaders to die amid a series of screams.

At the same time, the bandits who had put up a desperate resistance were wiped out, while the rest surrendered. Zhang Yunhao was very pleased. He clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention, then looked over the nearly ten thousand bandits and declared with immense authority, "From this moment on, I call the shots in Nanyang Prefecture!"

"Long live the Gang Leader!"

The bandits were stunned for a moment, then erupted in cheers like a mountain roaring and a sea surging. They were all filled with excitement and pride. From now on, Nanyang Prefecture belonged to their Gang Leader—and to them!

The Jianghu figures who had watched from the hilltop sighed as they witnessed the scene. A new ruler of Nanyang Prefecture had risen. Even the authorities couldn't do anything to him; all they could do was offer him amnesty. After all, the government had been weak for many years.

"Divine Fist Blood Hand—another Southern Heavenly King."

Many decided to hurry home and prepare congratulatory gifts. Otherwise, if they offended this new ruler, they might not have a place to stand in the region!

The Righteousness Twin Swords couple were also thrilled. Li Mei whispered to Huang Lei, "Madam, your senior brother has become a ruler, and Raging Fire Mad Saber is going to work for him. If we can persuade him, we'll be able to take a group of experts to complete the mission. Eunuch Cao is as good as dead."

"Keep your voice down. You can't say his name."

Huang Lei was more composed. She quietly scolded Li Mei, who realized her mistake and hurriedly fell silent. The assassination of Eunuch Cao was of the utmost importance. They always referred to it as "the plan" or something similar. Li Mei had only blurted it out because she was too excited.

"I'll go see my senior brother tonight. I believe he'll help me."

Huang Lei thought it over before speaking, but a strange look passed through her eyes. Her senior brother was too powerful. That could hardly be good for the Great Jin State!

That night, after requesting permission, Huang Lei met her senior brother in the study: Divine Fist Blood Hand Tian Ming, also known as Zhang Yunhao!

So she's finally come. Good. I've built up enough strength. It's time to complete the mission.

Seeing his junior sister, Zhang Yunhao sneered inwardly. In the original history, Tian Ming had gone to assassinate Eunuch Cao because Huang Lei had asked him to.

Tian Ming had secretly been in love with this junior sister for a long time, which was why he'd agreed. But in the end, Huang Lei's husband, Great Hero of Southern Mountain, betrayed him, and Tian Ming died amid the chaos of battle. It was a tragedy.

What made Tian Ming die with his eyes open was that Huang Lei had known the truth all along. When the army surrounded him, she had been standing beside Great Hero of Southern Mountain, completely unharmed!

In other words, from beginning to end, Huang Lei had deliberately lured Tian Ming to his death. She hadn't been betrayed by Great Hero of Southern Mountain herself!

Let me put on a good show for you.

Zhang Yunhao gazed at Huang Lei with keen interest, smiling as he said, "Junior sister, it's been a long time."

"Senior brother, it really has been a long time. I never imagined you'd become the ruler of Nanyang. I haven't even had a chance to congratulate you."

Huang Lei smiled with restraint, though she was quite surprised. Whenever Tian Ming had been around her, he'd always been excited, nervous, and happy. Now he was so composed. At least the warmth in his eyes was still the same.

"What's there to congratulate me for? No matter what I do, I still can't compare with Great Hero of Southern Mountain."

Zhang Yunhao smiled mockingly and gestured for them to sit. "Junior sister, you two in the back, sit down as well. You and I belong to opposing sides of the righteous and wicked, so you must have come to see me for a reason, right?"

"I do have something to discuss."

After sitting down with the Righteousness Twin Swords couple, Huang Lei cautiously asked, "Senior brother, what do you think of the current situation in the Great Jin State?"

To the surprise of Huang Lei and the other two, Zhang Yunhao answered with great satisfaction, "Good. Very good. Excellent."

Shi Chao of the Righteousness Twin Swords couldn't help saying, "What's good about it? Eunuchs hold all the power, and the people are suffering. If this goes on, our Great Jin State will be finished."

"How easy do you think it is to bring it down?"

Zhang Yunhao scoffed. "This situation is perfect for me to make my mark!"

The three of them were stunned. Huang Lei couldn't help asking, "Make your mark? Senior brother, what are you planning to do?"

"Junior sister, I command more than ten thousand bandits now. All I have to do is bribe Grand Eunuch Cao Dan, and the court will grant us amnesty."

Zhang Yunhao looked at Huang Lei, sounding somewhat boastful. "Then I'll be appointed a commander at the very least. If I work hard, I'll bring honor to my ancestors and enjoy wealth and glory. That's how I'll make my mark!"

Shi Chao said angrily, "You're actually going to help the wicked?"

Zhang Yunhao replied as if it were obvious, "Isn't that only natural? I'm from the wicked side to begin with. Do you expect me to be like Great Hero of Southern Mountain and storm an execution ground to save the loyal and good?"

The Righteousness Twin Swords couple were speechless. The man had never pretended to be a good person. Helping the wicked was only natural for him, wasn't it? Did they really expect him to risk his life for his country?

Seeing the conversation at an impasse, Huang Lei said, "Brother Shi, could you and Li Mei step outside for a moment? I'd like to have a proper talk with my senior brother."

Shi Chao and Li Mei could only pin their hopes on Huang Lei, so they took their leave. Huang Lei gazed at Zhang Yunhao, her eyes distant. "Senior brother, you've changed so much. Even the martial art you use isn't Master's Thunderous Blood Hand Technique anymore."

Leaning back in his chair, Zhang Yunhao spoke with confident authority. "People have to change. I used to think the world owed me a great deal. Recently, I've come to understand that fate is in our own hands. If the world really does owe me, then instead of complaining, I should punch my way to what I'm owed."

"Senior brother really has changed."

Huang Lei sighed, more convinced than ever that she had to get her senior brother to help assassinate Eunuch Cao!