Loyalty and Betrayal

"Foster father, oh foster father, do you really think saying these things now serves any purpose?" Su Xin looked at Third Master Hu and shook his head gently.

"In truth, the two of us didn't have to end up like this. You are my foster father, and it was by relying on you that I, Su Xin, managed to gain a firm foothold in the Flying Eagle Gang. If you hadn't moved against me, I would never have shorted you a single cent of the protection money from Happy Forest or Yongle District. Why, then, did you insist on forcing my hand?"

Third Master Hu's face turned ashen; it was impossible to tell if he was feeling regret or seething with resentment.

Without waiting for Third Master Hu to answer, Su Xin continued, "Actually, I can guess most of it even without you saying a word. You were wary of my growing strength and afraid you couldn't control me, so you decided to suppress me and strike first.

You didn't even trust Chen Dao, your foster son of twenty years, let alone me. It would be more accurate to say that you, Third Master Hu, don't trust anyone at all!"

Third Master Hu let out a long breath and said coldly, "Su Xin, what exactly are you trying to do? You're a smart man; you should know that if you kill me, you'll never survive in the Flying Eagle Gang!"

"You worry too much, foster father. I have no intention of killing you." Su Xin shook his head.

"Then what do you want?"

"I only want you to speak before the gang leader and say that Hou Tong was the one who provoked the conflict, that he was killed by me in self-defense, and that you had already given your consent. Furthermore, you will recommend me as a Great Head of the Flying Eagle Gang." Su Xin looked into Third Master Hu's eyes and spoke every word with deliberate clarity.

"Impossible!"

Third Master Hu refused outright: "You want to pin everything on me? Then you might as well kill me right now! If I take the fall for something this big, even if I don't lose my life, my territory will be stripped away by the gang! You might as well just kill me; at worst, we'll both go down together!"

For all his faults, Third Master Hu had been a Great Head who helped Sha Feiying conquer the world back in the day, and he still possessed a shred of that reckless, defiant spirit.

"Go down together? I think not."

Su Xin smiled: "I happen to know a few of your secrets, foster father, thanks to someone. Embezzling public funds, skimming off the protection money—I wonder, what kind of money was used to buy this grand mansion of yours?

And all these years you've spent purging dissenters—you even dared to kill members of the Punishment Hall. Tsk, tsk, that takes a lot of nerve."

Third Master Hu's expression changed drastically: "Nonsense!"

"It's not nonsense. You'll know once you see someone, foster father."

Su Xin clapped his hands, and a middle-aged man in a scholar's robe walked out from the side, bowing respectfully to Su Xin: "Boss Su."

This man was none other than Third Master Hu's strategist, Master Li!

The moment he saw Master Li, Third Master Hu truly felt the sting of despair.

Ji Gang had once said that Third Master Hu didn't trust anyone, and the only person he could possibly rely on was Master Li, who knew absolutely nothing of martial arts.

And the truth was exactly that; only someone like Master Li, who possessed no martial prowess, could make him feel completely at ease.

Yet, he never expected that the one to finally betray him would be the very person he had trusted all along!

Master Li had been with him for nearly twenty years; he knew almost every dark deed Third Master Hu had committed in the shadows.

If any of these were brought to light, Third Master Hu would be sentenced to death by the Punishment Hall without question!

"Li Yuankun! You were nothing but a failed scholar back then. If it weren't for me, you would have been beaten to death by debt collectors long ago! I trusted you so much, and I never thought you would betray me!"

Third Master Hu's eyes were bloodshot, as if he wanted to devour Master Li alive.

As his former master, Master Li was startled by Third Master Hu's appearance, but he quickly steadied himself and sneered: "Third Master, don't speak so definitively. Ask yourself, have you ever truly trusted me?

It's true you saved me back then, but for these twenty years, how much dirty work have I done for you in the shadows? And what have you ever given me in return?

You trusted me only because I knew no martial arts and posed no threat to you. Whenever I asked to learn, you obstructed me at every turn!

Third Master, you are old. As the saying goes, a wise bird chooses its tree to perch on. By throwing my lot in with Boss Su, I can at least guarantee a life of luxury for my later years. Staying with you, however, leaves my future uncertain."

Huang Bingcheng and the others looked at Master Li in surprise, wondering when he had colluded with Boss Su.

In truth, Su Xin had been just as surprised when Master Li approached him. He had originally assumed Master Li was sent by Third Master Hu to play some trick, and it wasn't until Master Li revealed the leverage he held over Third Master Hu—and even handed over the evidence—that Su Xin finally believed him.

"Well, foster father, have you decided? If you help me shoulder the blame, at most you'll just have your territory confiscated. With me around, I can still ensure you live out your days as a wealthy man. But if I hand these things over to the gang leader, things won't be so simple."

Third Master Hu's eyes were blood-red as he rasped, "And if I refuse? You killed Hou Tong; the gang leader will have you executed regardless! We might as well perish together!"

Su Xin shook his head: "That's not necessarily true. Don't forget that the Flying Eagle Gang isn't the only power in Changning Prefecture. With the Three Gangs and Four Associations, as long as I, Su Xin, want to move, my strength guarantees me at least a position as a Great Head.

If nothing else, take the Green Bamboo Gang. If I were to join them now, bringing my men and the territory of Yongle District with me, do you think they would welcome me with open arms?"

"Don't forget that the territory of Yongle District was stolen from the Green Bamboo Gang! And you killed two of their Great Heads!"

Su Xin smiled coldly: "Foster father, oh foster father, do you really think I know nothing of the situation within the Green Bamboo Gang?

The two Great Heads I killed were both men of their leader, Wei Feng. He is currently nothing more than a puppet for his two deputy leaders.

By killing them, I've only done the two deputies a favor. If I join the Green Bamboo Gang, I might even become the third deputy leader immediately!"

Third Master Hu slumped into his chair, defeated. In this confrontation, he had once again lost to his foster son.

Su Xin hadn't even left him the option of going down together.

Just as Su Xin said, if he handed the evidence to the gang leader, he could simply take his men and defect to another faction. Given Su Xin's strength and influence, even the Three Heroes Association, the strongest of the Three Gangs and Four Associations, would welcome him with open arms.

"I agree." Third Master Hu squeezed out the words, his voice devoid of strength.

"Then many thanks, foster father. Since we're at it, there's a little pest here; I'll trouble you to take care of him as well."

Su Xin tossed Ji Gang—whose tendons had been severed and mouth gagged—toward Third Master Hu. Ji Gang began to wail muffled cries, his eyes filled with desperate pleading.

Third Master Hu looked at Su Xin with a complex expression. His foster son's heart was ruthless to the extreme; he truly didn't leave a single path for retreat!

"Bang!"

Third Master Hu struck with his palm, the formidable power of his Iron Sand Palm shattering Ji Gang's heart instantly. Blood began to flow from the man's mouth and nose.

"Are you satisfied now?" Third Master Hu's tone was icy, yet it betrayed a sense of weakness.

"Quite satisfied. Now, we can go see the Gang Leader," Su Xin said, clapping his hands.

But just then, a chorus of shouts erupted from outside. Several men dressed in black and red martial attire shoved Su Xin's subordinates aside and strode brazenly into the living room.

One of them bellowed, "Su Xin! You dare to commit insubordination and murder a Chief, Hou Tong? You clearly hold the gang rules in total contempt! Surrender at once and come back to the main hall with us to await judgment!"

Su Xin frowned and looked at Huang Bingcheng beside him. "What are these things?"

Before Huang Bingcheng could answer, Master Li chimed in first, "They are from the Punishment Hall. They answer only to the Hall Master, Dong Chengwu. Below the three Hall Masters, they have the authority to arrest anyone."

Huang Bingcheng glared at Master Li. This guy was truly shameless; he had only just joined the boss's ranks and was already trying to steal the spotlight?

Seeing that Su Xin and his men didn't hold them in any regard, the Punishment Hall disciples felt their anger flare.

In truth, within the Flying Eagle Gang, the ones with the highest status were not the War Hall disciples, but the disciples of the Punishment Hall.

While they were the fewest in number and their strength couldn't compare to the elites of the War Hall who had emerged from countless gang wars, their authority was the greatest.

Whenever they discovered someone violating gang rules, they could deal with anyone below the rank of Chief directly without reporting to the Hall Master.

Even if a Chief committed an offense, they had the authority to arrest them first and ask questions later.

Dong Chengwu's Punishment Hall had only thirty-some members, but even when facing a Chief, these thirty-some people had the confidence to stand tall.

Now that they were being so blatantly ignored by Su Xin, the leader of the Punishment Hall disciples let out a cold snort, drew his blade, and slashed toward Su Xin.

"Insubordination and the murder of a Chief! Disregard for the law and resisting Punishment Hall enforcement! Su Xin, your crimes are punishable by death!"

"You're courting death!"

A cold glint flashed in Su Xin's eyes as he kicked out, sending the Punishment Hall disciple flying.

Taking a step forward, Su Xin planted his foot directly onto the man's face and said coldly, "My crimes are punishable by death? Tell me, what kind of thing are you to dare judge me? Do you even have the qualifications?"

The other Punishment Hall disciples trembled in fear upon seeing Su Xin strike, not even daring to draw the long blades at their waists.

They were used to acting arrogantly, but only after Su Xin struck did they realize that this man was not someone to be trifled with.

Two Chiefs from the Green Bamboo Gang had already died by his hand, and now he had even dared to kill a Chief from their own gang. They were nothing but small fry borrowing the tiger's might; drawing their blades in front of Su Xin was no different than seeking their own deaths.

"He doesn't have the qualifications, but do I?"

Dong Chengwu, the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, walked in with a large ring-pommel saber strapped to his back, his expression so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

"Let him go. It is not your place, Su Xin, to discipline the disciples of my Punishment Hall!"

Su Xin shook his head. "He drew his blade on me first. If not for the sake of our brotherhood in the Flying Eagle Gang, he would already be dead.

In the world of the jianghu, drawing a blade means a fight to the death. This isn't a game of house, and no one is going to coddle you. However, out of respect for you, Hall Master Dong, I will leave it at just a lesson."

Su Xin moved his foot from the man's head, but suddenly brought it down onto the man's right hand—the one that had held the blade—and crushed it into pieces!