Water Serpent Gang, Killing with a Borrowed Blade

Han Zheng and Chen Xuan exchanged a smile, rose to their feet, and left the council hall, heading for the front hall.

In the front hall, Lu Hao and Shi Kang were standing below the dais.

Han Zheng entered the front hall and took the seat of honor. Chen Xuan sat in the deputy hall master's seat below him, while Qian Hao sat opposite them.

The gang members on both sides rose one after another, clasping their fists in salute. "Greetings, Hall Master. Greetings, Deputy Hall Master."

After sitting down, Han Zheng swept his gaze over Lu Hao and Shi Kang below the dais.

Chen Xuan tapped his folding fan twice against his palm. "Lu Hao."

Lu Hao took ten taels of silver from his robes, stepped forward two paces, and held them out.

He lowered his head, putting on the appearance of someone sincerely repentant.

"A few days ago, I was muddleheaded for a moment and misappropriated the gang's protection fees. This morning, I mortgaged my family's deed to Everjoy Pawnshop and scraped together ten taels of silver. I am returning the money now, and ask Hall Master and Deputy Hall Master for forgiveness."

A gang member at the side stepped forward, accepted the silver, and delivered it to the treasury.

Chen Xuan looked at Lu Hao and smiled.

"Lu Hao, since you have returned the silver, we'll turn the page on your previous misappropriation of the gang's protection fees."

Lu Hao answered, "Thank you, Hall Master Chen!"

He and Shi Kang then retreated to one side and joined the ranks of the gang members.

Chen Xuan glanced at Han Zheng again and winked at him.

Han Zheng understood. His gaze swept across the hall.

"Brothers, you all know that our Black Tiger Gang has recently gone to war with both the Water Serpent Gang and the Golden Saber Gang. Over the past few days, quite a few brothers from this hall have been killed or wounded."

After hearing Han Zheng out, Qian Hao slapped the armrest of his chair in anger.

"Who knows which bastard framed our Black Tiger Gang!"

"To silently kill one Second-Layer Gate-Breaking Realm Martial Apprentice and four First Gate-Breaking Realm Martial Apprentices..."

"At the very least, it had to be a Third Gate-Knocking Realm Martial Apprentice. Perhaps even a Martial Artist."

"I really can't figure out why he would kill a whore like Lin Qiniang."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Hao turned to look at Lu Hao.

"Kid, was it you? How could it be such a coincidence? Lin Qiniang swindled your silver, and the moment she died, you suddenly had money?"

Chen Xuan opened his fan and waved it twice.

"Hall Master Qian, you think far too highly of Lu Hao. He isn't even a Martial Apprentice yet."

"I think it was done by an enemy of Diao Xiada from the Mighty Escort Bureau!"

"That Diao Xiada is a Bright Force Martial Artist. The murderer's strength should not be any weaker than Diao Xiada's."

Lu Hao found Qian Hao's words amusing. Rumors really did grow wings. If I were a Bright Force Martial Artist, would you dare make me repay ten taels of silver in gang protection fees? The Black Tiger Gang's leader is only one level above a Bright Force Martial Artist—an Dark Force Martial Artist. In the Black Tiger Gang, only a few elders and deputy gang leaders have reached the Bright Force Martial Artist realm.

Han Zheng fixed his gaze on Qian Hao.

"Hall Master Qian, the person who committed murder at Spring Breeze Pavilion is certainly hateful, but I have an important task for you now."

"What orders does Hall Master have?" Qian Hao looked at Han Zheng with confusion, thinking that nothing good could come from Han Zheng seeking him out.

"The gang leader wants our hall to negotiate with the Water Serpent Gang. But I must remain here to hold down the fort, and Hall Master Chen must stay in the hall as well to assist me in making decisions. Therefore, I'll have to trouble Hall Master Qian to make the trip and negotiate with the Water Serpent Gang."

Qian Hao's expression darkened slightly. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Fine! Hall Master."

Han Zheng nodded at him, then looked toward Lu Hao and Shi Kang among the gang members.

"Lu Hao, although Hall Master Chen has said we'll turn the page on your misappropriation of the gang's protection fees, I still hope you will accompany Hall Master Qian to the Water Serpent Gang. Consider it a chance to redeem yourself through meritorious service. Shi Kang, you will go as well."

With that, Lu Hao had no grounds to refuse.

As soon as Han Zheng finished speaking, Qian Hao abruptly rose from his chair.

"I object!"

He glared at Han Zheng.

"Hall Master, negotiating at the Water Serpent Gang is fraught with danger."

"Do you not know how deep the grudge between the Water Serpent Gang and our Black Tiger Gang runs?"

"More than a dozen of their men have died by my hand alone."

"This time, negotiating on the Water Serpent Gang's turf could easily turn into a bloody fight."

"Yet you want me to take along two pieces of trash who haven't even awakened their Qi-Blood!"

"How is that any different from sending me to my death?"

Chen Xuan opened his folding fan and waved it twice.

"Please calm your anger, Hall Master Qian. The other brothers in the hall need to remain ready to go to war with the Golden Saber Gang at any time. We truly cannot spare any Gate-Breaking Realm manpower. Besides, we're not asking you to go today. The Water Serpent Gang has already accepted the silver for the gang's mediation and agreed to a five-day truce. You can go five days from now, which will give you time to make preparations."

Qian Hao looked at Han Zheng, then at Chen Xuan, his expression heavy.

How could he fail to see it? These two clearly wanted to send him to the Water Serpent Gang to die.

He had refused to obey Han Zheng in the hall, and Han Zheng had long wanted him dead.

Today, Han Zheng had found the perfect opportunity—to kill him with the Water Serpent Gang's borrowed blade.

He said nothing more, merely snorted coldly and sat back down.

Seeing that everything had been arranged, Han Zheng waved toward the people below the dais.

"That will be all for today. Dismissed."

The members of the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Hall left the hall one after another.

As Qian Hao passed Lu Hao and Shi Kang, he halted and turned his head to glance at them. His eyes were like those of a man looking at two corpses.

"Five days from now, at the Hour of the Snake in the morning. We meet at Everjoy Hall's entrance."

After Qian Hao turned and left, he calculated as he walked.

Once they reached the Water Serpent Gang, if a fight truly broke out, he definitely would not bother with those two burdens.

But when the time came, should he fight the Water Serpent Gang to the death, or look for an opportunity to escape?

After several days of martial training, Qian Hao had already faintly touched the threshold of the Third Gate-Breaking Realm. He planned to spend the coming days training behind closed doors at home, to see whether he could break through to the Third Gate-Knocking Realm. If he succeeded, his chances of surviving this negotiation would be greater.

Watching Qian Hao leave, Lu Hao calculated that the Hour of the Snake meant nine in the morning. They would gather at the entrance of the hall then.

Shi Kang's face was brimming with excitement as he said to Lu Hao, "Brother Hao, the gang is sending us to negotiate with the Water Serpent Gang. That means they think highly of us! Our day to rise is coming!"

Lu Hao felt a wave of helplessness when he saw Shi Kang acting like this.

He pulled Shi Kang forward a few steps. Once he saw that no one was around, he raised a hand and sharply smacked Shi Kang on the head.

"Kang, is there nothing but water inside that head of yours?"

Lu Hao let out a long sigh.

If Shi Kang had not visited him at home every day since he had transmigrated here a few days ago, and if he had not planned to mortgage his own family's deed this morning to scrape together silver and help him repay his debt to the gang, Lu Hao truly could not be bothered to care about him.

Shi Kang had truly been loyal to him. Since it was within his ability to help Shi Kang, then he still had to lend him a hand.

With that thought, Lu Hao looked at Shi Kang.

"Kang, this is no cushy assignment. Going to negotiate on the Water Serpent Gang's territory is like venturing deep into a tiger's den. If things go wrong, neither of us may come back alive."

Shi Kang's face was full of astonishment. "Is that so? I thought they were sending us to the Water Serpent Gang to cause trouble and earn merit." He stroked his thick, curly beard.

"Han Zheng and Chen Xuan want to send the three of us there for the Water Serpent Gang to kill and vent their anger. They want to use the Water Serpent Gang's hand to get rid of us. On the day of the negotiation, you listen to all my arrangements. Do not try to show off!"

After parting with Shi Kang, Lu Hao thought to himself that there were still five days left.

If I hurry, I should be able to train the Black Tiger Stance Art to the Mahayana Realm. Then I'll enter the Third Gate-Breaking Realm. If that happens, I'll have one more thread of hope when I go negotiate with the Water Serpent Gang.