Chapter 9: Chapter 9
What?
A single sentence sent shockwaves through the room.
By now, a good number of overnight guests at the Yichun House had been roused from sleep. They crowded along the upper-floor railings with the courtesans and attendants, peering down at the scene below.
None of them had expected to wake up to news like this.
Boss Song was a man of standing in Nanyang Prefecture — and the Canal Gang had just killed him?
Weren’t they afraid the authorities would come knocking?
“Li Suifeng, you owe me an explanation for this!” Cold fury edged Madam Liu’s voice.
She’d heard about Li Suifeng seizing control of the Linshui Docks and the surrounding street.
Just yesterday, Song Tianhai had been sneering at the very mention of Li Suifeng’s name. She hadn’t expected the man to be dead by the following morning.
Still, with the Divine Fist Gate behind her, she wasn’t about to cower before the Canal Gang’s Nanyang Branch.
“An explanation?”
“What kind of explanation do you want?”
Li Suifeng’s voice was frigid.
“The Linshui Docks and the surrounding district were granted to the Canal Gang by the imperial court. The court collects no taxes from you here — naturally, the Canal Gang’s dues apply instead.”
“Song Tianhai refused to pay for two years. I personally sent him on his way.”
“Why — you want to go keep him company?”
One-fifth of Nanyang Prefecture’s city streets had been officially allocated to the Canal Gang by the court. In exchange, the Canal Gang paid annual tribute to the throne and shouldered the responsibility of transporting government supplies by waterway. The gang was even obligated to assist the court in suppressing bandits and apprehending criminals. Without these duties, the court would never have ceded such a large slice of tax revenue.
And it wasn’t only the Canal Gang. Every major faction across the realm maintained some form of relationship with the imperial court. Without it, they could never have controlled the vast tracts of farmland needed to sustain their disciples.
“You…”
Madam Liu’s face went rigid.
TAP TAP TAP!
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor.
A young man in Yichun House servant’s livery came rolling and stumbling into the room, shouting at the top of his lungs:
“It’s bad!”
“That Li Suifeng killed Boss Song and Master Chen at the Riverside Pavilion—”
But before the words were fully out, his eyes fell on the very killing god he’d just been talking about, standing right there in front of him.
“Madam Liu — the dues. Paying, or not?”
Li Suifeng ignored the servant, his half-lidded gaze fixed on Madam Liu.
The Yichun House was a critical revenue stream for the Divine Fist Gate. If he demolished the place outright, the Divine Fist Gate might not let it go.
He wasn’t looking to tear the last shred of pretense away just yet.
But if Madam Liu refused to see reason — if she wouldn’t give him the chance to claim the Life-Death Talisman reward—
Then he’d simply have to be a bit cruder about it. Seize the two years’ worth of dues by force, collect his reward, and deal with the fallout later.
The atmosphere in the room wound tight as a bowstring.
Several overnight guests quietly dressed and began slipping toward the exits.
Most of them had no martial training whatsoever.
If the Canal Gang and the Yichun House’s people came to blows, getting caught in the crossfire would not end well for them.
…
Canal Gang — Nanyang Branch headquarters.
Liu Zhenhe, Qi Hu, and Qin Wuyang sat together in the main hall.
“He’s… already collected the past two years’ worth of dues… Retainer Jiang is dead… Li Suifeng has gone to the Yichun House, apparently to collect their overdue share as well…”
A Canal Gang disciple, voice trembling faintly, was delivering his report on the events at the Riverside Pavilion.
Qin Wuyang’s face was black as iron.
Liu Zhenhe’s expression betrayed nothing.
Qi Hu watched the reporting disciple with a serene, untroubled smile.
“Helmsman — last time, Li Suifeng killed Chen Heizi. Now he’s attacked Jiang Cheng!” Qin Wuyang’s voice was ice. “Jiang Cheng served under me for years. Even if he overstepped on this matter, it didn’t warrant death!”
“Li Suifeng has flouted our rules and killed Jiang Cheng. He needs to be severely punished!”
Liu Zhenhe didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to Qi Hu and asked mildly:
“Elder Qi — Li Suifeng is your man. What are your thoughts?”
Qin Wuyang’s displeasure deepened visibly.
Li Suifeng was Qi Hu’s protege. By asking Qi Hu first, Liu Zhenhe was making it perfectly clear he had no intention of punishing the man.
Qi Hu’s face was all smiles.
“Li Suifeng’s methods are perhaps a touch reckless. But our Nanyang Branch is surrounded by wolves on all sides — it’s time we showed a bit of steel.”
“Otherwise every faction out there will keep trying to tear a piece off our carcass… But of course, the final decision rests with you, Helmsman.”
He lobbed the ball right back.
Handing Li Suifeng the docks had been the extent of his obligation — he’d taken the silver and done the job.
Now that Li Suifeng had stirred up this hornet’s nest, Liu Zhenhe wanted to use him as a counterweight against Qin Wuyang? Qi Hu had no interest in playing that game.
After all, Li Suifeng hadn’t just crossed Qin Wuyang.
He’d crossed the Divine Fist Gate.
Even if Li Suifeng had demonstrated considerable value in recent days, it wasn’t enough for Qi Hu to offend this many parties on his behalf.
Qin Wuyang’s voice was cold. “Helmsman — without punishment, you’ll never quell the anger of the branch’s senior members.”
“If everyone ran wild like Li Suifeng, where would the rules be?”
Liu Zhenhe raised a hand, cutting them both off. He looked between the two elders.
“Are you aware that headquarters has been growing dissatisfied with our Nanyang Branch?”
“These are special times. Even if Li Suifeng hadn’t acted, I was already planning to reassert the Nanyang Branch’s authority.”
“Elder Qi — go tell Li Suifeng he has free rein. Nanyang Prefecture is still Canal Gang territory. The Divine Fist Gate can’t make waves here.”
Liu Zhenhe’s eyes narrowed.
He was developing a genuine appreciation for Li Suifeng.
When he’d originally placed Chen Qi at the Linshui Docks, the plan had been for his loyalist to butt heads with the local factions. But after taking the post, Chen Qi’s performance had been nothing but disappointing.
Even if Chen Qi hadn’t been killed, Liu Zhenhe had been planning to reclaim the docks.
Then, a few days ago, Qi Hu had spoken up. Not wanting to lose face by refusing, Liu Zhenhe had reluctantly handed the position to Li Suifeng.
If the man didn’t deliver, Liu Zhenhe would take it back in a heartbeat.
But as things stood — Li Suifeng was performing admirably. At the very least, he hadn’t embarrassed the Nanyang Branch.
Better still, Li Suifeng wasn’t one of his people. If things spiraled out of control, he could simply throw the man to the wolves. No skin off his back.
If, on the other hand, Li Suifeng managed to lock down the Linshui Docks and deliver the monthly dues on time — that benefited the entire branch.
“Hmph!”
Seeing Liu Zhenhe throw his full weight behind Li Suifeng, Qin Wuyang let out a cold snort.
“If the Helmsman insists on letting Li Suifeng run wild and the consequences come calling — don’t expect me to clean up the mess.”
…
The Yichun House.
Just as the standoff between Li Suifeng and Madam Liu’s people reached its breaking point—
A young woman in green emerged from the rear courtyard. Her voice rang clear:
“Pay the two years’ worth of outstanding dues.”
“Boss Li, the Yichun House will submit its fees on time going forward.”
Madam Liu glanced at the green-clad woman and said:
“I’ll go fetch the banknotes.”
Li Suifeng spared the young woman a brief look but thought nothing of it.
She was probably connected to someone high up in the Divine Fist Gate. As long as the Yichun House was willing to settle its debts and let him claim the Life-Death Talisman, the details didn’t matter.
As for the Divine Fist Gate seeking revenge down the line — even if he couldn’t win that fight, he was confident enough in his ability to escape.
And once he had the Life-Death Talisman, his hand would be considerably stronger.
Back in the day, the Tianshan Child Elder had used the Life-Death Talisman to dominate the masters of the Seventy-Two Caverns. He didn’t need to control that many — just a few key figures in the Nanyang Branch would suffice.
Before long, Madam Liu returned with a thick stack of banknotes and a smile.
“Boss Li, here are the notes. Would you like to count them?”
Li Suifeng accepted the banknotes and tucked them into his robe.
“No need. I trust Madam Liu.”
【Ding!】
【All outstanding protection fees successfully collected. Reward: Life-Death Talisman. Extract now?】
Hm?
Li Suifeng was mildly surprised.
Retainer Jiang had been grievously wounded but the Cuihong Pavilion’s money still hadn’t been collected. How had the task been completed?
“Now that the money’s settled, I won’t impose any further.”
“Let’s go!”
Li Suifeng gave a wave.
The Canal Gang disciples fell in behind him as he strode out of the Yichun House.
He hadn’t gone far before he spotted Liu Yuan hurrying toward him.
Liu Yuan jogged to his side, excitement splashed across his face.
“Boss Li — the Cuihong Pavilion paid up!”
“Their people came and handed over the two years’ worth of back dues on their own initiative. According to our brothers there, it was the Helmsman who gave the order.”
“Mm.” Li Suifeng nodded.
No wonder the task had completed the moment the Yichun House paid — the Helmsman had spoken.
With Liu Zhenhe’s word given, the Cuihong Pavilion would cough up even if Elder Qin was its backer. No one in the branch would openly defy the Helmsman.
“Any idea what the Helmsman’s thinking?” Li Suifeng asked casually.
Liu Yuan was a branch veteran — low-ranking, but he might have contacts who could shed some light.
Liu Yuan shook his head.
“Boss Li, my connections at headquarters aren’t ranked high enough to get near the Helmsman. You might want to ask Master Hu directly.”
Li Suifeng nodded and tossed several banknotes to Liu Yuan.
“Everyone worked hard today.”
“Arrange a night out for the brothers — let them blow off some steam. Split whatever’s left.”