Everything Was Ready

"Dad, you have no idea. That Teng Qinghu went way too far!"

At the White Horse Gang’s headquarters, Hong Zhenjie stood in the main hall with an indignant look on his face, viciously recounting everything that had happened at noon, including how Gu Sheng had crushed Li Yanshan with a single move and openly threatened the White Horse Gang.

"We’ll never stand for this!"

"They’re trying to rebel!"

"Boss, what are you still waiting for?"

"Take him down!"

"How dare he lay a hand on our brothers!"

The White Horse Gang had long been the local tyrant of Yicheng. Most of its members acted as though they were the greatest people under heaven, and their sense of the bigger picture was even worse than Hong Zhenjie’s. The moment they heard Gu Sheng’s proposal to suppress the bandits, the hall exploded.

These fools with no sense of the bigger picture cared only about their immediate interests. As soon as they heard that someone wanted to stop them from collecting annual fees and abducting girls, making their lives uncomfortable, they all began shouting hysterically that Teng Qinghu and Gu Sheng had to pay the price. They even declared that they would lead people to wipe out the Li family of Yicheng and Teng Village.

"Everyone, quiet down. Listen to Fourth Master!"

Liu San found the scene utterly speechless. Did this group have no brains? The White Horse Gang had already become the target of everyone’s hostility. They should have been keeping their tails between their legs, yet here they were shouting about wiping people out. They would probably be destroyed by the city guards the moment they reached the other side’s gate!

"Liu San, what do you think?"

After pondering for a moment, Fourth Master Hong did not speak first. Instead, he asked Liu San for his opinion.

"Fourth Master!"

Liu San’s eyes shifted as he cautiously began, "Now that Teng Qinghu has offered the benefits of forming militia units, most of the prominent figures in the city are interested. Even Baldy Liu Shui and the others stayed behind. It can be said that, apart from our White Horse Gang, everyone else has chosen to support it.

"By now, forming the militia is inevitable. If we forcefully oppose it, we’ll only be a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Continuing to stubbornly resist isn’t a solution!"

"Third Master, what do you mean by that?"

Before Fourth Master Hong could speak, a burly man rose and retorted, "Our White Horse Gang’s eight thousand core members aren’t pushovers. If they dare leave the city to suppress the bandits, we’ll destroy them. We’ll show them who truly rules Yicheng!"

Liu San knew at a glance that Hong Zhenjie had arranged for this man to speak. He shot back without the slightest courtesy, "And then what? This time, our opponent isn’t one or two factions. It’s all of Yicheng. You might be able to wipe them out once or twice, but if you truly anger the city governor and he sends troops to surround White Horse Lake, no one will escape!"

"Enough!"

Seeing another quarrel about to erupt, Fourth Master Hong spoke in a deep voice. "We can’t stop the militia, but our White Horse Gang’s possessions aren’t so easy to touch either.

"Pass down my order. All our White Horse Gang members are to gather at headquarters. Isn’t that Teng Qinghu coming tomorrow? We’ll teach him a lesson then and let him know what should and shouldn’t be done.

"The militia will be formed, and the bandits will be suppressed, but how it’s done and how the bandits are suppressed—that will be decided by our White Horse Gang."

"Yes~"

Everyone, including Hong Zhenjie and Liu San, bowed in unison. However, when Liu San lowered his head, a trace of resentment flashed through his eyes. Once again. Once again, you humiliated me in front of everyone. Fourth Master Hong, you really have gone to great lengths to pave the way for your son!

Late at night, with the bright moon hanging overhead, a small courtyard stood by White Horse Lake. It was far from the White Horse Gang’s headquarters and extremely secluded, but its surroundings were beautiful. The courtyard was brightly lit and heavily guarded, with fully armed warriors patrolling back and forth from time to time as though facing a powerful enemy.

Inside the study, a portly middle-aged man stood beneath the candles in the main hall, his hands clasped behind his back as he paced left and right. A deep scar ran across his face, adding a sinister air to his appearance and making him seem extremely vicious. Shadows fell across him beneath the lamplight, giving people the impression that he was selfish and heartless.

"Who’s there?"

Liu San had been deep in thought when he suddenly gave a low shout and opened his eyes. At some point, a dark figure had taken a seat in the main hall of the inner residence and was watching him with an amused expression. Liu San disliked that gaze immensely. It was as though an old cat were teasingly staring at a mouse.

The warning bells in Liu San’s heart rang wildly. Just as he opened his mouth to shout, he felt a tightening at his waist. He barely managed to keep his expression unchanged, then slowly closed his mouth to show that he had no intention of making a commotion.

"Third Master Liu, there’s no need to be nervous!"

Gu Sheng stepped out of the shadows cast by the lamplight. Only then did Liu San get a clear look at him. But once he recognized the visitor, he could no longer maintain his composure.

"You…"

Liu San stared at Gu Sheng, who was half a head taller than him, his heart churning like a stormy sea. He forced his dry throat to move, raised the corners of his mouth, and squeezed out a smile. "Young Master Teng, didn’t you say you were coming to visit our White Horse Gang tomorrow?

"You came early without saying a word. You should have at least told me so I could notify the boss!"

Gu Sheng smiled. "Third Master Liu, you’re a clever man. Do you really not understand what I mean? Tomorrow, I’m coming to see Fourth Master Hong. Today, I came to see you, Third Master Liu!

"To pave the way for that good-for-nothing Hong Zhenjie, Fourth Master Hong has wantonly suppressed even you, Third Master Liu, despite the fact that you’ve always kept to yourself. Are you really willing to accept that?"

Liu San’s expression shifted repeatedly. As a clever man, he naturally understood why Gu Sheng had come in the middle of the night. He truly was unwilling to accept it, but he also knew that even if he agreed to Gu Sheng, he would merely be changing masters and still would not be able to rise.

He had known Fourth Master Hong for many years and considered himself quite familiar with him. Although being suppressed was frustrating, he was confident that Fourth Master Hong could protect his interests. But if he changed sides and followed Gu Sheng, whom he had barely met a few times, who knew when he might offend him and become an abandoned pawn?

"Do you think that if I went to see Fourth Master Hong tonight, he’d still be able to get up tomorrow?"

Gu Sheng suddenly added a seemingly unrelated question, yet it stirred up waves in Liu San’s heart. Liu San knew very well that the defenses around his residence were no weaker than those around Fourth Master Hong’s home in the center of White Horse Lake.

Third Master Liu had always concealed his abilities, but his actual skill was not poor. In a fight to the death, he could at the very least severely injure Fourth Master Hong. Yet someone had seized him without making a sound. If the target had been Fourth Master Hong, the situation would not have been much better. In other words…

"Heh heh~"

Liu San instantly changed his attitude. With a broad smile plastered across his face, he said to Gu Sheng, "Young Master Teng, just tell me what you need. I’ll do it…"

By the shore of White Horse Lake, two figures darted out from Liu San’s residence. One was tall and powerfully built, while the other was short and agile. They were none other than Gu Sheng and Teng Qingshan.

"Qingshan, what do you think of Liu San?"

As Gu Sheng ran, he suddenly slowed to a walk along the sandy lakeshore. As he walked, he asked Teng Qingshan for his opinion.

"This man is no simple character. He’s good at understanding human nature and knows how to exploit people’s weaknesses."

Teng Qingshan recalled Liu San’s performance just now and gave his assessment.

"Exactly!"

Gu Sheng nodded. "People like him are very patient and know how to lie low. But once they bare their fangs, they’ll be striking with all their strength. So he can be used, but he must be kept under pressure. We can’t give him a chance to bite back.

"By the way, Liu Shui is one of Liu San’s people. Be careful when you use them in the future."

"Mm~"

Teng Qingshan looked up in surprise. He felt that his cousin had changed a great deal after going out this time. Moreover, the things he had arranged recently seemed almost like he was settling his affairs before death. But Teng Qingshan said nothing. He believed that his cousin could handle his own affairs.