After Su Xin killed Boss Chen with a single sword strike, the Green Bamboo Gang members immediately began to flee.
They weren't soldiers fighting a war. Their boss had just been cut down with a single sword—what was the point of fighting on?
Su Xin didn't send anyone after the fleeing Green Bamboo Gang members. Instead, he arranged for people to take over the territory they had already seized.
Boss Chen's territory in Yongle District wasn't large, but it still covered a third of the entire district.
Su Xin took out a piece of cloth and wiped the blood from his sword, then called Huang Bingcheng over. "How many casualties did we suffer?"
"More than fifty brothers were injured, but they only suffered flesh wounds. Another eight brothers died," Huang Bingcheng replied carefully.
To be honest, he was a little afraid of Su Xin now.
Earlier, to temper his men, Su Xin had steeled himself and refused to step in. If he had acted sooner, they wouldn't have suffered so many casualties.
Su Xin looked at Huang Bingcheng. "Old Huang, are you afraid of me?"
"No, not at all!" Huang Bingcheng hastily shook his head.
Su Xin patted him on the shoulder. "Old Huang, remember this: a kind-hearted general cannot command an army. If I always stand in front of them, they'll never grow. What would be the point of training them?
"But don't worry, Old Huang. You were the first to join me. As long as you don't betray me, I won't treat you unfairly either."
Huang Bingcheng hurriedly swore, "Boss, I'm absolutely loyal to you. Without you, how could I have the prestige I do now?"
"Enough, Old Huang. Don't be so sensitive. Find someone to tally up tonight's contributions, and hand out the reward money first thing tomorrow morning." Su Xin patted him on the shoulder, then turned and left.
If Huang Bingcheng had no misgivings about what Su Xin had done today, that would have been strange. It was a good thing for Huang Bingcheng to be afraid.
People needed to know their place. Otherwise, once desire blinded them, who knew what they might do?
Su Xin was quite satisfied with Huang Bingcheng. He could hand him all kinds of affairs, large and small, and Huang Bingcheng would take care of them properly. He was useless in a fight, but Su Xin couldn't do without him when it came to logistics.
So it was better to be realistic now and avoid a bunch of troublesome nonsense later.
A wave of kingly charisma that made all the underlings bow at once—that was the sort of thing a protagonist like Long Aotian could pull off. Su Xin knew he didn't have that kind of ability.
Maintaining a good relationship with his subordinates took only two things: giving them enough benefits, and making sure they knew to fear him.
Early the next morning, Su Xin personally led men carrying chests and stuffed handfuls of silver into the hands of his gang members.
"When I, Su Xin, give my word, I mean it. This silver is only an appetizer! Once we take Yongle District, there'll be plenty more waiting for you!"
The gang members below were so excited by the gleaming silver that their eyes turned red. Even the grief they felt over the eight brothers who had died began to fade.
With silver in their pockets, only one thought remained in their minds: They would risk their lives to fight their way to wealth and glory!
The gang war between the Green Bamboo Gang and the Flying Eagle Gang wouldn't be over in a single day. The following night, Su Xin continued to lead his men in slowly chewing away at Yongle District.
More than fifty men had been injured. Excluding those who were seriously wounded, Su Xin now had only around a hundred and sixty men fit to fight. After setting aside those needed to guard the territory they had taken, his numbers were starting to look thin.
So Su Xin had Huang Bingcheng keep recruiting men in Joyful District. Meanwhile, he played it safe and continued to advance bit by bit. Gang wars didn't end so easily, and he still had plenty of time.
Because of the gang war, Third Master Hu couldn't complain, no matter how many men Su Xin recruited.
Besides, on the very first day, Su Xin had killed one of the Green Bamboo Gang's senior leaders and taken a third of Yongle District. With that accomplishment under his belt, what was wrong with recruiting a few more men?
Su Xin likewise didn't take part in the battles that followed. As long as the other side didn't send out a master, he wouldn't make a move.
His men had been through life-and-death battles and had all drawn blood. Their fighting ability had practically doubled; they could face three opponents apiece without falling behind.
After two consecutive nights of fighting, Su Xin had directly seized nearly half of Yongle District.
But on the third night, things took a turn.
At the center of the long street, a scar-faced, middle-aged man stood proudly with an iron spear in his hand.
Behind him stood a dense mass of Green Bamboo Gang members. A quick glance showed there were a full seven or eight hundred of them.
Huang Bingcheng's face immediately paled. "That's Luo Zhen, one of the Green Bamboo Gang's senior leaders. But he should be guarding against Third Master Hu over in Shunyi Ward.
"These seven or eight hundred men are all his subordinates. Now he's brought them here instead of guarding against Third Master Hu. Does he not want this half of Yongle District anymore?"
Su Xin let out a long breath. "We've been played. My adoptive father played us.
"In two days, my adoptive father hasn't attacked Yongle District at all. His meaning couldn't be clearer: he wants to force Luo Zhen over here to deal with me!"
Su Xin had also been careless. He'd been so focused on fighting his own battles that he hadn't asked Huang Bingcheng to find out what Third Master Hu was doing.
By now, the Flying Eagle Gang had practically mobilized everyone for the gang war. It was too strange for Third Master Hu, one of its senior leaders, not to move a single soldier.
If Su Xin had known sooner, he would certainly have been prepared.
During these two days, Luo Zhen had probably figured out what Third Master Hu was planning too.
If he did nothing, he could only watch as Su Xin slowly took over Yongle District. In the end, Third Master Hu would attack from both sides with Su Xin and swallow the district whole.
So Luo Zhen had no choice but to try to swallow Su Xin first. That way, even if he lost half of Yongle District, he could still retake the other half that Su Xin had occupied.
"Boss, why don't we retreat? They say Luo Zhen used to work as a caravan guard. He's no slouch, and his reputation in the Green Bamboo Gang is even greater than Dai Chong's!" Huang Bingcheng urged.
Su Xin said nothing, but Luo Zhen shouted across the street, "You little brats from the Flying Eagle Gang! Have you got the guts to come out and fight? I've got more men, but your little brats aren't weak either. If we really go at it, neither side will come out ahead. Why don't the two of us settle this one-on-one? Do you dare?"
Su Xin smiled and walked out, dragging his heavy sword behind him.
Luo Zhen laughed heartily. "You're not bad, kid. Much better than your adoptive father, that coward who hides in his shell. Third Brother Hu was a tough bastard back in the day, but he got old and turned into a damn coward!"
"How are we fighting? To the death, or just until one of us wins?" Su Xin asked.
Luo Zhen waved a hand. "Of course we're fighting until one of us wins. I'm not a slave to the Green Bamboo Gang. Why should I fight and die for them?
"The brothers behind me follow me because they trust me. I'm not about to make them risk their lives over that damn mess with Wei Feng."
A trace of a smile appeared at the corner of Su Xin's mouth. Luo Zhen was an interesting man.
On the first day, Su Xin had deliberately stayed out of the fight so his men could learn to fight, even if it meant they got injured or killed.
This man, on the other hand, was willing to fight a clearly weaker opponent himself for the sake of his brothers. They were complete opposites.
If Luo Zhen ordered an attack now, Su Xin's hundred or so men wouldn't be able to hold them back. His men were much stronger than they had been on the first day, but Luo Zhen had more people—and he was a formidable master himself.
"Fine. Let's fight."
Su Xin gripped his heavy sword in front of him and rushed forward, swinging it at Luo Zhen!
Luo Zhen lifted the Refined Iron Spear in his hand. His aura surged in an instant, and a fierce presence crashed over them.
The Refined Iron Spear, taller than a man, shot forward like a flood dragon emerging from the sea, its speed astonishing.
Su Xin dodged to the side, but the spear changed from a thrust to a sweep, slamming toward him!
Su Xin raised his sword and retreated, blocking three strikes in the blink of an eye before finally dispersing the force of the spear. Even so, the impact sent him staggering three steps backward!
"Post-Natal Initial Realm!"
Su Xin narrowed his eyes. His opponent was also a Post-Natal Initial Realm martial artist, one who had surely opened at least thirty-six acupoints.
Su Xin had opened forty-seven acupoints, but his strength was still inferior to his opponent's.
Luo Zhen had certainly opened more acupoints than he had.
"Aren't you in the Post-Natal Initial Realm too? Tsk, young people these days are something else. When I was your age, I was still holding a big spear and practicing my stance."
Luo Zhen spoke with a sigh, but the Refined Iron Spear in his hands never stopped moving. Thrust, stab, chop, sweep—his attacks were unstoppable, forcing Su Xin to retreat again and again.
In the crowd behind them, Huang Bingcheng asked Li Huai, "Am I imagining it, or does it look like Boss is at a disadvantage?"
"You're not imagining it. Boss is at a disadvantage right now," Li Huai replied flatly.
"Damn! That old bastard Luo Zhen is nearly fifty, isn't he? How's he still so strong?"
"It's not that Luo Zhen is too strong. It's that his weapon gives him too much of an advantage. An inch longer, an inch stronger!"
Just as Li Huai had said, Luo Zhen's weapon was the perfect counter to Su Xin.
There were two kinds of long spears. One was made from white waxwood; the other was the heavy Refined Iron Spear.
Luo Zhen used the latter. His Refined Iron Spear weighed no less than the Drum-Beating Gold Hammer Dai Chong used to wield.
And Luo Zhen's inner strength was far greater than Dai Chong's. Su Xin would be in serious trouble if that spear came crashing down on him.
Besides, as the saying went, an inch longer meant an inch stronger, while an inch shorter meant an inch more dangerous.
Luo Zhen made the most of his reach. He wielded the heavy Refined Iron Spear so skillfully that not even a drop of water could slip through. Su Xin couldn't get within three steps of him.
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