Mortgaging the Deed, Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Alley Branch

Lu Hao tucked the property deed into his clothes and arrived at a shop at the western end of Joyful Street.

A signboard hung above the door, its black lacquered surface bearing four golden characters: "Everjoy Pawnshop."

When the pawnshop clerk saw Lu Hao enter, he asked, "Are you pawning something or redeeming a pawned item?"

Lu Hao walked straight to the counter, took out the property deed, and placed it on the countertop.

"A live pawn. Ten taels of silver."

The clerk picked up the deed and examined it.

"The rules for a live pawn are that it must be redeemed within thirty days, with two taels of silver in interest. Principal and interest together come to twelve taels. If it is not repaid within thirty days, the interest compounds, with another two taels added each month thereafter. If you still cannot repay it within three months, this deed will belong to Everjoy Pawnshop."

Lu Hao showed no change in expression after hearing this, but inwardly he cursed. Two taels of interest in just thirty days—this was practically stripping flesh from bone.

"Fine." He nodded.

The clerk took the deed, pulled out a ten-tael silver ingot from beneath the counter, and set it on the countertop.

Lu Hao pressed down his fingerprint, picked up the pawn ticket for a look, folded it, tucked it into his chest, and turned to leave the pawnshop.

In truth, Lu Hao already had enough silver on hand to repay the protection fees he had embezzled.

But if he took it out directly, it would confirm that he had raided Spring Breeze Pavilion at night, murdered people, and stolen their money.

Even someone as simple-minded as Shi Kang could suspect him. Not to mention the old foxes of the Golden Saber Gang and Black Tiger Gang.

The house Lu Hao lived in now had been left behind by the original owner's parents. As a low-ranking gang member with nowhere else to turn, pawning his home to avoid entering the life-or-death cages of the gambling house was perfectly reasonable.

However, Bluestone County had a rule: anyone without property in the city would be treated as a vagrant by the county yamen's runners and driven out.

In the original owner's memories, quite a few people had been expelled over the past few years.

There were demon beasts and evil spirits outside the city, and no one could travel beyond the walls after dark.

Many of those driven out never returned. Some said they had gone to other prefectures and counties to make a living. Others claimed they had seen their torn clothes and half-devoured limbs deep in the mountains outside the city.

Lu Hao had no intention of letting that happen to him. He planned to wait until the heat died down in two months, then find an opportunity to secretly redeem the deed.

After leaving the pawnshop, he followed Joyful Street for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea before arriving at the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Alley Branch.

Two vermilion-lacquered doors stood wide open, with a pair of stone lions crouching outside.

Above the entrance hung a black lacquered plaque bearing three bold golden characters: "Black Tiger Gang."

A couplet was carved into the pillars on either side, its strokes vigorous and forceful.

"The tiger's roar rules all beasts in Bluestone Town; the gang walks the world with righteousness first."

Lu Hao looked at the couplet and sneered inwardly. It would be far more fitting if it read, "Black tigers squat in alleys, bringing ruin; oppressing the common folk, I come first."

The moment he reached the entrance of the Black Tiger Gang branch, Shi Kang hurried out from the courtyard to greet him.

"Brother Hao, where did you go so early? I went to your house just now and couldn't find you. I thought... I thought you might have done something foolish and taken your own life."

The more Shi Kang spoke, the more anxious he became. He grabbed Lu Hao by the arm and tried to pull him toward the alley.

"I'll pawn my family's property deed and first repay the silver you embezzled from the gang. We can figure out the rest later!"

Lu Hao stopped, his expression grave as he looked at Shi Kang. He gently reached out and patted him on the shoulder.

"Kang, I'll remember this kindness! But there's no need. I've already pawned my property deed. The silver is in my clothes."

As he spoke, he patted his chest.

Shi Kang froze for a moment, his eyes widening. Then he let out a long sigh. "This is the only thing we can do. Come on, I'll go in with you."

With that, Shi Kang accompanied Lu Hao as the two of them stepped into the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Alley Branch together.

In the rear courtyard's council hall of the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Alley Branch, Branch Master Han Zheng sat in the seat of honor. He was around forty-five or forty-six, with a slanted scar across his left cheek running from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth.

Han Zheng's face was dark, his brows tightly furrowed as his fingers tapped against the armrest.

Seated below him was Chen Xuan, deputy branch master of the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Hall.

Chen Xuan had a fair, clean-shaven face and held a folding fan in his hand.

Chen Xuan looked at Han Zheng and said softly, "Branch Master, the Gang Master has given orders. Our Everjoy Hall is closest to the Water Serpent Gang, so he wants us to send people to the south of the city to discuss a truce with them."

Han Zheng snorted.

"What is there to discuss? Yesterday, we fought the Water Serpent Gang and lost two brothers, while another seven or eight were injured. And now we're supposed to discuss a truce? I, Han, cannot afford that humiliation! Anyone who doesn't know better will think I'm afraid of the Water Serpent Gang!"

With a swish, Chen Xuan opened his folding fan and waved it twice.

"Branch Master, times have changed. We were indeed fighting the Water Serpent Gang to the death over the territory in the south of the city. But three days ago, several Golden Saber Gang members died at Spring Breeze Pavilion. The Golden Saber Gang is now constantly clashing with our Black Tiger Gang. The gang is fighting on both northern and southern fronts at once, and we are already struggling to keep up. That is why the Gang Master ordered us to stabilize the situation in the south."

Han Zheng glared at Chen Xuan, making the scar on his face appear even more savage.

"The Water Serpent Gang has fought us for so long and gained little advantage. They have lost plenty of people too. Do you think they will agree to a truce? They probably wish they could join forces with the Golden Saber Gang and swallow up our Black Tiger Gang's territory."

Chen Xuan snapped his folding fan shut and lightly tapped it against his palm.

"The Gang Master said we must reach a truce with the Water Serpent Gang. The gang has already sent them five hundred taels of silver."

Chen Xuan paused.

"The Gang Master sent word that the Water Serpent Gang accepted the silver and has agreed to a five-day truce for now.

So the Gang Master requires us to negotiate with the Water Serpent Gang in five days. We must keep them steady.

Only once the south of the city is stabilized can we free our hands and focus on settling things with the Golden Saber Gang!"

At that point, Chen Xuan lowered his voice. "Branch Master, I have a plan."

"Speak!"

"We can have Qian Hao take two low-ranking gang members who have yet to break through the barrier and go to the Water Serpent Gang.

Qian Hao has always been arrogant. He has never respected you at the branch, and he has repeatedly disobeyed your orders.

This is the perfect chance to use the Water Serpent Gang to get rid of Qian Hao.

And if the Water Serpent Gang kills our men, it will vent some of the resentment in their hearts.

We can borrow the Water Serpent Gang's knife to kill someone—killing two birds with one stone."

Han Zheng's eyes shifted, and he suddenly slapped the armrest.

"Good! I've found Qian Hao unpleasant for a long time. We'll do as you say!"

Just then, a gang member hurried to the entrance of the council hall.

"Branch Master, Lu Hao is here. He previously embezzled ten taels of the gang's protection fees. Today is the deadline, and he says he has come to return the silver."

After saying that, the gang member withdrew.

Chen Xuan put away his folding fan and tapped it in his hand.

"Branch Master, hasn't the candidate for negotiating with the Water Serpent Gang just arrived?"