Dong Chengwu was a man who cared deeply about rules. In less than thirty years, the Flying Eagle Gang had risen from nothing to become one of the Three Gangs and Four Associations of Changning Prefecture. The gang owed that achievement not only to Sha Feiying's strength, but also to the rules Dong Chengwu had established.
Everyone in the Flying Eagle Gang, even Sha Feiying, came from an unorthodox background. Dong Chengwu alone had come from the Xiangxi Divine Blade Sect, a genuine martial arts sect.
That was why Dong Chengwu valued rules more than Sha Feiying and the others.
Ranks and respect, laws and regulations—those were the rules!
And now Su Xin had broken his rules more than once!
The last time Su Xin had defied the gang's orders and taken it upon himself to assassinate Dai Chong, it had already enraged Dong Chengwu.
And what Su Xin had done now was an outright challenge to his authority as Hall Master of the Punishment Hall!
The Big Ring Saber on Dong Chengwu's back came crashing down. The half-man-high blade tore through the air like a gale sweeping away clouds, its momentum unmatched and its force ferocious!
Su Xin hurriedly retreated. His heavy sword wasn't with him, and with only his thin sword, even using the Great Sumeru Sword Style, he couldn't block such a brutal, domineering strike.
Li Huai moved like a ghost and unleashed the Evil-Warding Sword Technique, sending fierce sword gleams slashing down. But Dong Chengwu swept his Big Ring Saber sideways, and his domineering blow sent Li Huai flying!
Li Huai hadn't yet reached the Post-Natal Initial Realm, while Dong Chengwu had already opened more than seventy-two acupoints and reached the Post-Heaven Mid-Stage. The difference in strength behind that strike was enormous. No matter how vicious and uncanny the Evil-Warding Sword Technique was, it couldn't withstand absolute power.
Taking advantage of the opening, Su Xin finally drew the sword in his left hand and thrust its vicious, uncanny point straight at Dong Chengwu's ribs. Dong Chengwu's hair stood on end as he felt a killing intent descend upon him.
"Wind Sweeps Away the Clouds!"
Dong Chengwu swung the heavy Big Ring Saber like a whirlwind, shattering all the tables and chairs around him. Su Xin was forced to retreat.
Dong Chengwu had come from a martial arts sect, and his fighting style was much like Luo Zhen's of the Green Bamboo Gang: methodical, with no flaws to be found.
At the same level, such a style was rigid. But when his strength was great enough to overwhelm his opponent, it left Su Xin no way in, without a single opening to exploit.
And even when Dong Chengwu occasionally did reveal a flaw, Su Xin wasn't strong enough to seize it.
After just a few exchanges, Su Xin was driven into a corner, and his sword hadn't even touched Dong Chengwu.
"Dong Chengwu, you're getting more and more impressive. You're having quite the time fighting a green kid! Why don't you show me what you've got?"
A mocking voice came from outside. Dong Chengwu put away his Big Ring Saber and turned around. His expression immediately darkened.
"Lin Fuhu, what are you doing here?" Dong Chengwu asked coldly.
"If you can come, why can't I?" Lin Fuhu shot back, as if deliberately picking a fight.
He and Dong Chengwu had been at odds for more than ten years. Just seeing Dong Chengwu in a foul mood made him happy.
"Su Xin dared to assassinate a senior member of the gang. That's an act of flagrant defiance, and he must be killed to uphold the gang's rules! Lin Fuhu, if you want to make trouble, pick another time. Once I've killed him, I'll fight you as long as you like!"
"Funny, because today I won't let you kill the kid."
Lin Fuhu spat on the ground. "What kind of man is Hou Tong? All he does is gamble, then live off his past achievements. Has he lifted a finger in any of the gang wars over the past few years? Even if Su Xin hadn't killed him, I'd have cut him down myself the next time he pissed me off!"
"Lin Fuhu! This isn't a minor offense! Defying one's superiors is a grave taboo in the gang! He must be punished according to the rules!" Dong Chengwu shouted.
Lin Fuhu let out a mocking laugh. "The rules, the rules—why are you shouting? Besides, you're not the only one who makes them. If this is such a serious matter, tell the gang leader and call all the senior members together to decide."
With Lin Fuhu here, Dong Chengwu knew he couldn't do anything to Su Xin for now.
So he merely gave Su Xin a long, hard look, then had his men take away the subordinate whose hand Su Xin had crippled.
Once they had left, Su Xin clasped his hands toward Lin Fuhu. "Thank you for coming to my aid, Hall Master Lin."
Lin Fuhu waved him off generously. "No need to thank me. I just can't stand that old bastard. I happened to see him leaving the main hall with his men today, so I followed to see what he was up to. I didn't expect to catch such a good show. Don't worry, kid. I'll speak up for you when we get before the gang leader."
"I'll never forget your great kindness, Hall Master Lin." Su Xin put on an excited expression, which pleased Lin Fuhu.
It wasn't that Su Xin had flattered him. Lin Fuhu was simply delighted to see Dong Chengwu take a fall.
What had happened more than ten years ago had offended Lin Fuhu deeply, and he'd held a grudge ever since.
To put it plainly, Lin Fuhu was simple-minded and strong-bodied, the sort of man who got stuck on one thing.
Back then, Dong Chengwu had punished the disciples of his War Hall severely without giving him the slightest consideration. Lin Fuhu had felt humiliated for a long time, and for a while he was even too embarrassed to show his face in front of his men.
To Lin Fuhu, that had been a deep disgrace—one he could hold against someone for the rest of his life.
Even though Dong Chengwu had been sent packing, the matter wasn't over. The gang leader still had to decide whether Su Xin was in the right or wrong. Even Lin Fuhu didn't dare make that decision on his own.
So Lin Fuhu took Su Xin, his men, and Third Master Hu straight to the main hall. Dong Chengwu, who had returned earlier, had already summoned Sha Feiying and the other senior members.
When they saw Su Xin and the others enter the main hall, the senior members exchanged strange looks.
Su Xin really was a troublemaker. It had only been a few months, and here they were again, all summoned to a meeting because of him.
"Su Xin defied his superiors and violated the gang's rules. His crime is punishable by death! I ask the gang leader to reclaim all the territory under Su Xin's control and execute him on the spot!" Dong Chengwu declared sharply.
Lin Fuhu sneered. "There must be a reason for defying one's superiors. I heard Hou Tong was the one who went to Happy Forest to cause trouble first."
"Whatever the reason, defying one's superiors warrants execution!"
"Who do you think you are? You say kill him, so he gets killed?"
Seeing the two of them about to start arguing again, Sha Feiying cleared his throat twice. The pair immediately fell silent.
"What does everyone think of this?" Sha Feiying asked, looking toward the senior members below.
They glanced left and right, but every one of them remained silent.
After all, they'd taken ten thousand taels of silver from Su Xin. They wouldn't speak in his favor, but they could at least keep quiet.
Besides, they were all sick and tired of Hou Tong, especially the senior members whose territories lay closest to his. They'd been harassed by him the most.
Now that Su Xin had finally dealt with that nuisance, some of them even wanted to thank him.
Dong Chengwu's expression darkened. What had gotten into these people all of a sudden?
Whenever something like this happened before, they'd been the first to sneer and kick someone when they were down. Why weren't they saying a word now?
Su Xin's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes turned toward Third Master Hu.
Feeling Su Xin's gaze, Third Master Hu gritted his teeth. "Gang leader, I have something to say."
Everyone else looked at Third Master Hu. Some even gave Su Xin a helpless look.
Your adoptive father wants to screw you over, and there's nothing we can do about it. Ten thousand taels of silver only bought our silence. There's no way we're going to speak up for you.
Dong Chengwu also breathed a sigh of relief.
Third Master Hu was Su Xin's adoptive father. If he called for Su Xin's punishment, it would carry more weight than anything three of the other senior members could say.
"Gang leader, Su Xin isn't to blame for killing Hou Tong. I was the one who told him to do it. Hou Tong had gone too far!
"Su Xin won Happy Forest with his own strength, and someone got jealous and wanted a piece of the pie.
"Hou Tong came to me in person and demanded a million taels of silver. I refused outright, so he tried to bully the weak with his seniority and demand it from Su Xin.
"In a fit of anger, I told Su Xin not to hold back and to kill that bastard Hou Tong!
"I gave the order. My adopted son Su Xin had nothing to do with it.
"He won Happy Forest, so he should be a senior member of the gang, not punished under the gang's rules like this."
Everyone stared in bewilderment. They looked at Third Master Hu as if he were insane.
What was he doing? He was putting Su Xin forward for a position among the senior members and taking the blame for killing Hou Tong himself. Was this really the same cunning, ruthless Third Master Hu they knew?
Dong Chengwu looked utterly incredulous, while Sha Feiying gave Su Xin a long look.
He'd known Third Master Hu for decades. He wouldn't believe for a second that Hu was the self-sacrificing sort.
Dong Chengwu slammed a hand on the table. "Third Master Hu! Do you know what you're saying? Even as a senior member, you can't shoulder this punishment!
"Under the gang's rules, killing a fellow member means all the territory under your control must be handed over to the gang, and all your men must be handed over to other senior members!"
Third Master Hu showed a bitter smile inside. "I know. But I'm the one who did it."
Dong Chengwu stared at Third Master Hu in confusion. What leverage did Su Xin have over him that made him willing to risk losing all his territory just to protect him?
The other senior members looked at Third Master Hu with even greater suspicion.
The story of the trouble between Third Master Hu and his adopted son Su Xin had reached their ears back when Tang Taihe was crippled.
At the time, they'd mocked Third Master Hu for raising a tiger only to be eaten by it: he'd taken in two adopted sons, and both had turned into trouble.
Later, Su Xin had gone straight past Third Master Hu and paid his monthly dues directly to the gang. It had practically been a public slap in the face, making their conflict plain for all to see.
The two had been at each other's throats, so if there wasn't something fishy going on, they'd be damned.
Sha Feiying spoke up. "You killed a senior member. No matter what, you owe the gang an explanation. I'll give you a chance to speak. Go ahead."
Su Xin looked up at Sha Feiying, his expression calm. "I'm young, I'm strong, and I've rendered great service to the gang."
The author's note: thanks to the reader Meng Qianban, who Doesn't Want to Wake Up, for the tip.
Another author's note: there'll be another chapter in half an hour, posted in response to reader Zhuge Moshen's update ticket. Honestly, I hadn't planned to accept it.
Since this is a new book, updating too often can affect the recommendation period and bring no benefits. But this is the first time anyone has sent an update ticket for this book, and it's so meaningful that I couldn't bring myself to turn it down. ~_~
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