Negotiation

On the morning of the fifth day, the sky had not yet fully brightened.

Bluestone County, Clear Water Ferry in the south of the city.

The Water Serpent Gang's Clear Water Hall was located beside the ferry.

Inside a room in the hall, a man sat at a table, reading a note by candlelight.

This man was named Cai Kun, a steward of the Water Serpent Gang at Clear Water Ferry. He managed the ferry's fish stalls and fishing boats in his daily work.

He was a spy the Golden Saber Gang had planted within the Water Serpent Gang two years ago. Over those two years, Cai Kun had passed much important information about the Water Serpent Gang to the Golden Saber Gang through intelligence channels.

The note in his hand had just been delivered by someone from the Golden Saber Gang.

It said that the Black Tiger Gang would be coming to negotiate with the Water Serpent Gang today, and that he was to do everything possible to sabotage it.

Cai Kun read the note once more, then held it over the candle flame. Before long, the note caught fire. Once it had burned completely, he lifted the lid of the teacup on the table, tossed the ashes into the half cup of tea left over from last night, and gently swirled it. Then he tipped back his head and gulped down the tea mixed with the note's ashes.

At the same time, Shi Kang arrived outside Lu Hao's home and knocked on the door, calling for him.

After Lu Hao came out, the two were about to head for the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Hall.

Shi Kang glanced at Lu Hao and turned away. Then, all of a sudden, he turned back to look at him again. He felt that Lu Hao's frame had become noticeably sturdier than it had been a few days ago. Even the short outfit he wore seemed tighter.

Shi Kang circled Lu Hao once, looking him up and down again.

"Brother Hao, why do I feel like you've gotten stronger again?"

"An illusion," Lu Hao replied with a smile.

"Brother Hao, I have good news for you! My Qi-Blood has awakened, and I succeeded in Gate Breaking. I'm a Martial Apprentice now too! From now on, I'll protect you!" Shi Kang was as excited as a child.

Lu Hao looked at him with a smile and patted his shoulder. "Kang, well done! Then when we go to the Water Serpent Gang today, I'll be following your lead."

The two exchanged smiles.

Then Shi Kang scratched his thick, curly beard. "That's not right! My Qi-Blood has awakened, but I haven't gotten any bigger."

Lu Hao glanced at Shi Kang, smiled, and said nothing more.

Before long, the two arrived before the gates of the Black Tiger Gang's Everjoy Hall. After waiting for about the time it took to drink two cups of tea, Qian Hao arrived.

Qian Hao's expression was gloomy and his face deathly pale. It was the lingering internal injury left behind from his failed attempt to forcibly break through the Gate a few days ago.

He looked at Lu Hao and Shi Kang.

"When we negotiate, keep your wits about you. Those Water Serpent Gang people are no good. If we really start fighting, I won't have time to look after you. If you want to live, be smart! I really don't understand why the Hall Master sent two people whose Qi-Blood hasn't awakened to come along and die!"

"Yes, Deputy Hall Master Qian," Lu Hao and Shi Kang answered in unison. Shi Kang felt quite resentful, but did not dare say it aloud.

Qian Hao said nothing further and led the two toward the south of the city.

After walking for nearly half an hour, they heard the clamor of Clear Water Ferry. Damp air rushed toward them, carrying a fishy stench.

The three arrived at Clear Water Ferry, where a Water Serpent Gang member was already waiting.

When he saw the three arrive, the gang member stepped forward and stared at them with unfriendly eyes.

"You three are from the Black Tiger Gang, right? Hall Master Liu is waiting in the hall. Follow me!"

The three followed the gang member to the Water Serpent Gang's Clear Water Hall.

Qian Hao and the other two entered the discussion hall of Clear Water Hall. A woman sat upright in the center of the room.

This woman was Liu Zimu, Hall Master of the Water Serpent Gang's Clear Water Hall.

She was about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with a well-proportioned figure.

She wore a light green short blouse, the fabric stretched by her full curves into a lush outline. Below, she wore a dark green long skirt whose hem fell to her calves, revealing black gauze short trousers beneath. The black gauze was thin and translucent, clinging tightly to her long legs, much like the black stockings Lu Hao had seen before crossing over. Her jade-like legs, wrapped in gauze, were like streams of inky light flowing down smooth lotus roots.

All three stared at Liu Zimu for a moment, but they knew they had come to the Water Serpent Gang to negotiate, so they entertained no other thoughts.

When Liu Zimu saw Qian Hao bringing two Black Tiger Gang members with him, a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"Deputy Hall Master Qian, I never expected you to have the nerve to come to our Clear Water Ferry. How many of our brothers have died by your hand? Have you lost count?"

She did not truly intend to make things difficult for Qian Hao. She merely wanted to give the three of them a show of force first, so that she could fight for more benefits during the negotiation.

Qian Hao looked at Liu Zimu expressionlessly and let out a cold snort.

"The feeling is mutual, Hall Master Liu. Quite a few of our Black Tiger Gang brothers have also died at the hands of your Water Serpent Gang."

Without waiting for Liu Zimu to offer him a seat, he stepped forward and sat down in a guest seat below her.

Qian Hao looked at Liu Zimu and said in a low voice, "Hall Master Liu, shall we discuss a ceasefire between our two gangs?"

Liu Zimu smiled lightly, an alluring charm flowing from her brows and eyes. A wisp of softness hid seductive bones; three parts of her graceful turns surpassed peach blossoms.

Before she could speak, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the discussion hall. After a burst of hurried footsteps, more than a dozen burly men filed inside. The man at the front was none other than Cai Kun.

"Hall Master Liu!" Cai Kun's powerful shout made everyone's ears buzz.

"What is there to negotiate with the Water Serpent Gang about?" Cai Kun looked at Liu Zimu, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He had long harbored improper thoughts toward Liu Zimu, but he had never had a suitable chance. He wondered what reward he would receive for completing the Golden Saber Gang's task this time. When the time came, perhaps he could find a way to savor Liu Zimu's fragrance for himself.

Casting aside the lewd thoughts in his mind, Cai Kun raised a hand and pointed at Qian Hao's group of three, his face filled with righteous indignation. "Hall Master Liu, this Qian Hao has so much of our brothers' blood on his hands! If we let them leave our Water Serpent Gang unharmed today, how can we face those brothers who died? Anyone who didn't know better would think our Water Serpent Gang fears their Black Tiger Gang!"

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became. The dozen or so gang members behind him also flushed red and shouted furiously, "There's nothing to discuss! Avenge our fallen brothers!"

Liu Zimu looked at Cai Kun and the group of Water Serpent Gang members behind him, and the smile vanished from her face.

She thought to herself that Cai Kun usually only handled the fish stalls and matters at the ferry. Though there had been occasional friction with the Black Tiger Gang, Cai Kun had generally not participated in conflicts between the two factions. She found his behavior strange.

Two days ago, Liu Zimu had received a secret order from the Water Serpent Gang's leader, telling them to steady the Black Tiger Gang and let the Black Tiger Gang and Golden Saber Gang fight like a snipe and clam locked in battle, so the Water Serpent Gang could reap the fisherman's profit.

But if Cai Kun was allowed to make such a scene today, the negotiation might well be ruined.

With that in mind, Liu Zimu decided to test Cai Kun.

She looked at Cai Kun, the seductive charm gone from her voice.

"Steward Cai, what you say is not without reason. Then in your view, how should today's matter be handled?"

As soon as the words fell, Cai Kun turned to look at the Water Serpent Gang members behind him, waved his hand, and raised his voice several notches.

"I want to avenge our fallen brothers!"

The dozen or so gang members behind him raised their voices once more and shouted together, "Avenge our fallen brothers!"