Chapter 170 - 168: Going Too Far (Part 2)
He activated the Thunder Heart Spring Wood, and specks of green light covered the little girl Qiao’Er’s arm. The wound on her right arm was slowly healing at a rate visible to the naked eye. He believed it would be fully healed in three to five shichen at the soonest, or within half a day to a night at the latest.
The Thunder Heart Spring Wood truly lived up to its name as a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasure that even Innate Realm experts would fight to the death for. Its Recovery Power was astonishing. As Ye Xing was treating the little girl’s injuries, a sudden burst of footsteps came from the path behind him.
Ye Xing turned his head and saw the burly Xue Yong rushing toward him.
"Gang Leader, the Sea Shark Gang..." Xue Yong began, but suddenly froze. His gaze fixed on the shattered and completely ruined stone pavilion ahead. He then looked at the blood-covered Ye Xing and the injured Qiao’Er on the ground, and his expression changed drastically. "Gang Leader, this... What happened? Was there an assassin?"
"I’m fine. There was an earthquake, and the collapsing stone pavilion injured Qiao’Er," Ye Xing said nonchalantly. "Now, what did you come to find me for?"
"An... earthquake? N—" Xue Yong was stunned for a moment, but he quickly caught on and shut his mouth. He might have been a bit dense, but he wasn’t an idiot. Even a fool could see that Ye Xing was in a terrible mood, and Xue Yong didn’t dare to press his luck.
After a pause, Xue Yong hurriedly explained, "Yu Longxing, the Gang Leader of the Sea Shark Gang, is here with his men. He came to our Great River Gang claiming to be looking for a culprit. Apparently, that scoundrel son of his had the tendons in his right hand severed. Son of a bitch! They followed the trail to our gang, claim the culprit entered our territory, and are demanding we let them search the place!"
"Did Guardian Ma agree?" Ye Xing asked coolly.
"Of course, he refused. But the Sea Shark Gang is the second-largest gang in Green River Town. They have a Fifth-level Demon Beast, the Golden Frenzied Lion, and their Gang Leader, Yu Longxing, has reached the Peak of the Fourth Realm, nearing the Martial Arts Fifth Realm. Their overall strength isn’t much weaker than our Great River Gang. Guardian Ma is negotiating with Yu Longxing now, and he sent me to ask if you, the Gang Leader, wanted to go over," Xue Yong said hurriedly.
"Of course I’m going. They’ve already come knocking. How could I refuse to show my face?" A cruel smile touched the corners of Ye Xing’s lips.
Xue Yong’s heart skipped a beat. ’Could the Gang Leader be the one who injured Yu Dazhi?’
"Qiao’Er is injured. Watch over her for me. I won’t be long," Ye Xing said before leaving the rear courtyard and heading for the mansion’s front hall.
At that moment, a large group had gathered in the mansion’s front hall. On the left side sat the Great River Gang’s Left Guardian Ma Feng, Right Guardian Niu Dequan, and several Squad Leaders.
On the right sat the contingent from the Sea Shark Gang—their Gang Leader, Guardians, and Squad Leaders. Among them were the Sea Shark Gang Leader, Yu Longxing, and his son, Yu Dazhi, whose right wrist was wrapped in bandages, his eyes burning with resentment.
"Guardian Ma, are you truly refusing to hand over the culprit?" Yu Longxing, the Sea Shark Gang Leader, demanded, his voice cold and his brow furrowed.
"Master Yu, you are asking for the impossible," Ma Feng said, shaking his head. "Putting aside whether the culprit is even in our gang, your demand to conduct a wide-scale search of our territory is entirely inappropriate. If I were to agree to such a thing, what would become of the Great River Gang’s reputation?"
"What do you mean, ’whether or not he’s here’? The culprit is definitely in your gang! My men followed him the whole way and saw him enter your territory with their own eyes," Yu Dazhi shouted angrily. "That fiend is ruthless! He was harassing three lovely young ladies in the middle of the street. I couldn’t just stand by and watch, so I stepped in to stop him. I never expected his Martial Arts to be so strong. He wounded me and then abducted all three of them!"
"He abducted three young ladies?" Ma Feng frowned and asked in a heavy tone, "Was the culprit a very young man dressed in green robes, with a Treasure Sword at his waist?"
"That’s right, that’s right! The culprit was dressed exactly like that!" Yu Dazhi exclaimed.
Seeing Yu Dazhi’s excited expression, the gazes from Left Guardian Ma Feng and the other members of the Great River Gang turned peculiar.
"So the culprit really is in your gang! Guardian Ma, did you hear that? The man has no regard for the law! My son’s tendons were severed; his hand is crippled for life! This is a debt that must be repaid. If you don’t hand him over, you’re showing contempt for my Sea Shark Gang!" Sea Shark Gang Leader Yu Longxing’s eyes narrowed as he spoke, his voice dripping with ice. "I suggest you hand him over, Guardian Ma. Why ruin the relationship between our two gangs over a single criminal? If this comes to a fight, both sides will suffer. Neither the Sea Shark Gang nor the Great River Gang stands to gain anything!"
"Yu Longxing, what’s the meaning of this? Is that a threat?" Right Guardian Niu Dequan roared.
"So what if I am threatening you? That’s what happens when the Great River Gang won’t hand over the culprit!" Yu Longxing snarled.
Instantly, the tension in the hall became so thick you could cut it with a knife. The very air seemed to freeze as both sides stared at each other with wary expressions. The atmosphere was oppressive, and it felt as though a battle could erupt at any second.
Suddenly, just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the doors.
The footsteps drew nearer, and everyone in the hall instinctively turned to look. A young man had appeared in the doorway.
"It’s him! That’s the guy! Dad, he’s the bastard who crippled my hand! Let’s kill him!" Yu Dazhi shrieked, his eyes fixated on Ye Xing with pure venom.
The Sea Shark Gang Leader, Yu Longxing, frowned as killing intent flashed in his eyes. ’His Cultivation is at the Martial Arts Third Realm, so he must be a Squad Leader in the Great River Gang! I’ll offer something... hopefully, Ma Feng will agree to hand him over. If not, we’ll just have to assassinate him!’
"Heh, what a lively gathering. Were you all waiting for me?" A slight smile touched Ye Xing’s lips as he strode forward. He walked past everyone in the hall and sat down, bold as brass, in the Gang Leader’s exclusive throne at the head of the room.