Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Only after both men had gone up to the third floor did Zhao Jiu summon a Waiter and order a fresh pot of tea.

Once he finished the pot, it would be time to work!

One could not rush something as important as social harmony. The two sides first had to negotiate among themselves and exercise their own initiative. Only if they failed to achieve the desired result would intervention by a third party be reasonable.

Naturally, they still had to pay!

Mediation, consolation, and enforcement were all complicated tasks. One could not allow a kindhearted person willing to help to suffer for his good deeds!

Alas, Zhao Jiu had truly exhausted himself for the sake of contributing to society. It was not easy. Why did he brave the wind and rain?

Was it not all to bring a little more harmony to human relations?

Holding his teacup, Zhao Jiu took small sips while brainwa—conducting some mental preparation for himself.

If he could not even convince himself, the work would be difficult to perform. Advancing in his profession would be even harder.

Upstairs, the two leaders sat opposite each other.

The sinister-looking man leisurely drank his tea, while the burly man across from him did not take a single sip, allowing the tea to gradually grow cold.

“Chief Huang, I am a few years older than you. You would not mind if I called you my younger brother, would you?” the sinister man asked first.

His tone was mild, giving others the false impression that he was approachable.

The burly man sneered.

“Zhong Ling, say what you came to say. Spare me this talk of brotherhood. My brothers are standing behind me!”

“Hahaha!”

Zhong Ling laughed several times, paying no attention to whether the other man agreed.

“Brother Huang Qi, harmony brings wealth. I believe you have no desire to start a major conflict. Even setting the two of us aside, the yamen would not wish to see us fighting.”

Huang Qi picked up his cup and took a large gulp of tea before leaning back in his broad wooden armchair.

“I heard that Chief Zhong started out as a bookkeeper. You certainly know how to work an Abacus.”

“You run brothels, yet you want to interfere in the gambling business as well. Are you capable of it?”

“You are not.”

Zhong Ling stopped speaking.

The Qingsha Gang’s brothels required little technical expertise, but gambling dens were different. Without the necessary methods, they were impossible to operate successfully.

The Qingsha Gang had previously opened gambling dens within its territory. What had happened?

Business had been dismal, and they had lost money almost from the beginning.

“Zhong Ling, there is nothing to discuss. If the Huangyun Gang wants to run brothels, we can do it ourselves. We have no need to cooperate with you.”

Huang Qi grinned arrogantly.

“As for gambling dens, forget about them. I may not have studied, but I still understand the principle of guarding one’s own little patch of territory.”

“Huang Qi, are you truly determined to remain obstinate until the bitter end?” Zhong Ling demanded, raising his voice indignantly.

“To hell with your obstinacy! Do you think I do not know what you are scheming?”

“You were responsible for what happened at Good Fortune Gambling Den, were you not? Did you truly think I had no temper? Now you even dare push your luck!”

Zhong Ling slapped the table and rose, pointing at Huang Qi.

“Do you dare claim that you did not have Chunxiang House in the northern part of the city smashed? We are equally guilty, so why pretend to be a true gentleman?”

“You only groomed horses for General Liu for a few years. Do you truly think that makes you the General Who Pacifies the Distant? Even if you put on a Dragon Robe, you would still be nothing more than a horse groom!”

Zhong Ling had indeed studied for several years. Even when insulting someone, he did not resort to crude obscenities. More importantly, he knew exactly where to strike.

Each of his words was like a Silver Needle, stabbing relentlessly into Huang Qi’s most painful wounds.

Huang Qi’s face turned scarlet with rage.

“You worthless son of a bitch!”

He sprang to his feet and slammed his fist onto the table. The solid wooden table and both teacups shattered, scattering warm tea across the floor as white steam rose into the air.

“I groomed horses for General Liu. So what? I was not a household slave. My name was on the military register!”

“What about you? Do not think I do not know that you were once a worthless bookkeeper who could not even balance an account of a hundred taels. Your employer threw you out like a drowning dog!”

As soon as he finished, the men behind Huang Qi burst into laughter. Even several of Zhong Ling’s followers struggled to hold back their amusement.

Huang Qi had struck precisely where it hurt.

Before Zhong Ling joined the City Defense Army, the story of how his employer had thrown him out had remained a favorite joke over food and wine for several years.

Only after he made his fortune did people gradually stop mentioning it.

Now Huang Qi had mocked him directly to his face, nearly making him cough up blood from sheer fury.

Even the finger he pointed at Huang Qi trembled uncontrollably. He gasped heavily, almost failing to catch his breath.

No longer caring about a scholar’s dignity, he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Huang Qi, fuck your mother!”

Only after cursing him did Zhong Ling feel considerably better.

Sitting downstairs, Zhao Jiu could not help laughing when he heard the outburst.

Good! He had not disgraced himself. That was spirited.

Now let us see how Huang Qi responds!

It was almost time for him to make his entrance.

Zhao Jiu rose and began walking toward the third floor.

His expression had to be arrogant, and his appearance had to be dashing!

Upon hearing the insult, Huang Qi’s eyes widened until they resembled chicken eggs. Internal Qi surged through him, causing his hair to rise as he prepared to attack.

Zhong Ling stood ready across from him, circulating Internal Qi throughout his body, yet his mouth remained merciless.

“What is it? Do you want to try me? Are you capable of it? You were useless back when you served in the City Defense Army. I doubt you can get it up now!”

“You fucking—”

Before Huang Qi could finish, he had already thrown a punch.

Zhong Ling was equally swift. His palms moved rapidly, blocking Huang Qi’s assault.

They exchanged more than a dozen moves, but neither could gain the upper hand. After one final exchange, they each retreated a step and steadied themselves.

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

Leaning against the doorway, Zhao Jiu applauded repeatedly.

The duel between these two men already destined for the grave had indeed been exciting. Unfortunately, it had ended too quickly to satisfy him, which was rather regrettable.

Huang Qi and Zhong Ling glanced at each other before turning toward Zhao Jiu with solemn frowns.

Surely such a minor scuffle had not attracted someone from the authorities?

“Continue. Do not mind me. I am merely an unremarkable spectator.”

Zhao Jiu leaned against the doorframe and raised an eyebrow at them.

“Who are you, brat? You dare interfere in the affairs of the Huangyun Gang?”

“I am Zhong Ling, Gang Chief of the Qingsha Gang. May I ask who you are?”

Seeing Zhao Jiu’s mocking expression and the two saber scars twitching across his vicious face, both men spoke almost simultaneously.

Zhao Jiu’s smile faded. He straightened and said solemnly, “Ghost Market. I came to kill Huang Qi, the Gang Chief of the Huangyun Gang, and Zhong Ling, the Gang Chief of the Qingsha Gang.”

“You two are Huang Qi and Zhong Ling, correct?”

“You fucking hired an Assassin?” Huang Qi roared.

The veins on his neck bulged with rage.

Zhong Ling appeared entirely unconcerned.

“How noble of you. How impressive. Do not tell me you did not hire one as well, you whore pretending to be chaste!”

The entire third floor suddenly fell silent.

Everyone looked from one man to another, while Zhao Jiu leisurely whistled and waited for the two Gang Chiefs to offer him an explanation.

“Great Hero, you may keep my three-hundred-tael Deposit. I will add another seven hundred taels if you kill Huang Qi for me. What do you say?”

Zhong Ling reacted quickly and made the first offer. His proposal suited his sinister appearance perfectly.

Zhao Jiu shrugged indifferently. Booming business was never a bad thing.

“Hand over the money, and I will act immediately!”

When Huang Qi saw Zhong Ling reaching into his robes for his Banknotes, he cursed, “You son of a bitch!”

His own hands did not slow. He also pulled out several Banknotes.

“Great Hero, I will add eight hundred taels. Kill Zhong Ling for me!”

Good fortune truly came in pairs!

Zhao Jiu was delighted. His professional competence was simply extraordinary.

“One thousand taels!” Zhong Ling suddenly shouted.

“You think I am afraid of you? I offer eleven hundred!” Huang Qi roared.

Zhong Ling was helpless.

Brothels did not earn money as quickly as gambling dens. Everyone in his group combined had only brought one thousand taels. They could not produce a single tael more.

Seeing this, Zhao Jiu ignored Zhong Ling and merely extended a hand toward Huang Qi.

Huang Qi understood perfectly and obediently placed the Banknotes in Zhao Jiu’s palm.

Zhao Jiu nodded, then smiled at Zhong Ling.

“Do you have any final words? As long as you have money, I can handle many things for you. I can preserve your corpse, purchase a coffin, and arrange your burial.”

Zhong Ling said nothing. His breathing merely grew heavier.

Even now, he could not discern Zhao Jiu’s Cultivation Rank. That meant the man had to be above the Fourth Rank.

After all, when they hired the Assassin, they had already stated that both he and Huang Qi were at the Fourth Rank. Surely the Ghost Market would not send a Fifth-Rank martial artist to his death?

When Zhong Ling remained silent, Zhao Jiu moved first.

He activated Chasing the Stars and Pursuing the Moon and vanished instantly. An afterimage shot straight toward Zhong Ling.

Naturally, Zhong Ling would not sit still and await death. He circulated his Internal Qi to its utmost limit, but he could not follow Zhao Jiu’s movements. He could only strike out with his palm based on instinct.

The strike disappeared without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea. There was no response whatsoever.

His palm simply stopped inexplicably in midair.

A hand descended from an unnatural angle and seized the top of Zhong Ling’s head.

The virulent poison of Thousand Flowers, Myriad Blooms immediately forced its way into his body.

Zhong Ling’s eyes widened. His arms fell limply to his sides.

He had already become a corpse.

Third Rank!

He had to be at the Third Rank!

Huang Qi screamed inwardly. Only someone at the Third Rank could have killed Zhong Ling in a single move.

A powerful sense of relief washed over him.

Fortunately, he had offered more money. Otherwise, he would have been the one lying dead.

Zhao Jiu caught Zhong Ling as he collapsed, pulled five Banknotes from the dead man’s robes, and tucked them into his own before tossing the corpse aside.

He then turned toward Huang Qi with a smile.

“Prepare yourself. You do not have much time left.”

“G-Great Hero… I gave you the Banknotes. I already paid you…”

Huang Qi trembled, his voice filled with fear.

This man had killed Zhong Ling more easily than one might slaughter a chicken. Huang Qi was not even as strong as Zhong Ling. How could he possibly remain unafraid?

But what did the man mean?

Why did he say that Huang Qi had little time left?

Zhao Jiu chuckled.

“What nonsense are you talking about? I accepted two jobs, and I have only completed one. Now it is time for the second.”

“But… but you took my money…”

“Damn it, are you a candle? Did someone surgically move your brain into your ass?”

Zhao Jiu stared at him as though he were an idiot.

“I am a professional. If I accept two jobs, I must complete two jobs. Taking the money was only proper.”

“Besides, did I not kill Zhong Ling?”

The question left Huang Qi speechless.

That was right.

Zhao Jiu had never said that he would spare him.

Killing one man was killing. Killing two men was still killing. Zhao Jiu clearly did not care.

This was bad.

He had become the fool who paid extra to die!

Before Huang Qi could recover, Zhao Jiu had already moved.

Countless overlapping afterimages instantly filled the room, making it impossible to distinguish truth from illusion.

Huang Qi snapped back to his senses and circulated his Internal Qi before throwing a punch.

By sheer luck, it struck Zhao Jiu directly.

An opportunity!

Huang Qi rejoiced inwardly. He clenched his other fist and roared, “Crushing Fist!”

He gathered all his strength and drove the fist forward.

However, Zhao Jiu’s True Qi kept the blow at bay. It could not advance even an inch.

Huang Qi’s face changed dramatically.

Before he could react, Zhao Jiu’s True Qi surged. Zhao Jiu swept both fists aside, brought his palms together like a blooming flower, and struck Huang Qi squarely in the chest.

True Qi poured into Huang Qi like a flood, accompanied by the ferocious poison of Thousand Flowers, Myriad Blooms.

It shredded his internal organs, while the poison seeped into his Meridians and blood.

No medicine could save him.

Zhao Jiu’s True Qi roared like thunder.

BOOM!

Huang Qi flew backward, smashed through the wall, and plummeted from the third floor.

Zhao Jiu’s True Qi surged like a boundless sea. He stepped through the air and shot after Huang Qi’s corpse.

Before the body struck the ground, Zhao Jiu had already vanished.

The members of both gangs hurried downstairs.

Under the light of the lanterns, they found only a solitary corpse and a Silver Ingot nailed to the door.