Chapter 4: The Logic of Robbery (Part 2)

  The next day, at midnight, the headquarters of the Zhuang Yi Gang, located at the confluence of the Yu Shui and Yangtze rivers, suddenly caught fire. The flames shot up into the sky, casting a bloody red glow over the night sky, visible for tens of miles around.

  The masked, mysterious arsonist, upon being discovered by the guards, suddenly produced a black magic cauldron from which he summoned a nine-headed serpent that injured three of the soap-clan's guardians. Before the many skilled members of the clan could surround him, he used his wind-controlling technique to make a swift escape, moving with a speed that left others unable to catch up to him.

  The fire burned for several hours, until dawn before it was extinguished. The Zhaoyi Gang's headquarters suffered heavy losses, especially the precious elixirs and medicinal herbs worth tens of thousands of taels of silver in the Treasure Pavilion were all swept away.

  Xu Xiaoqian, the leader of the Zhuoyi gang, was so angry that he jumped like thunder and put all the guardians who were responsible for guarding the night into bamboo cages and sank them into the river, along with confiscating all their family property, including their wives.

  He initially thought that this matter was probably a deliberate revenge by Xiao Si and Bu Suanzi, but soon after, news came back saying that the two of them had booked the two most famous courtesans in Jiangzhou City to drink flower wine from yesterday afternoon until they were drunk and unconscious, and were finally sent to bed by the girls with the help of Qi Qi. It is estimated that they have not woken up yet.

  This way, there are dozens of eyes that can prove that Xiao Si and Bu Suanzi have no suspicion of arson and theft, but instead, the origin of the magic cauldron is suspicious. After investigation, it is possible that it is a magic treasure often used by one of the four demons of Jinsha, You Gu Yu.

  But why did Zhuo Yi and Jin Sha's four demons suddenly appear out of nowhere to kill people and set fires?

  Xu Xiaoqian was at a loss for what to do, when Xu Shaobang, the leader of the Zhuangyuan gang, rushed in with over 100 members, looking flustered and defeated, heading straight for Xiang Si and Bu Suanzi's drunken gathering at the Qinglou.

  This brothel, named "Yi Du Chun Feng Ge", is an enterprise under the control of the Chao Tian Gang. It's rumored that the madam has a close relationship with Zhao Bai Chuan, and to this day, their ambiguous relationship continues. Therefore, the members of the Zhuang Yi Gang generally don't cause trouble at Yi Du Chun Feng Ge, but today, Xu Shao Bang Zhu is determined to pull Xiao Si out from the building.

  He stormed into the brothel, bringing people straight to Xiao Si's fragrant chamber. When they arrived outside the room, a hall owner kicked open the door and shouted: "Xiao Si, get out for me!"

  Xu Shaobang looked into the house and saw Xue Xiaosi lying on the bed, fast asleep. A beautiful woman with a fair complexion, wearing only a tight-fitting undershirt, was hiding in the corner of the wall, screaming.

  Xiao Si slowly opened her eyes, glanced at the group of fierce-looking men outside the door, let out a big yawn, turned over and continued sleeping.

  Xu Shaobang, the leader of the gang, was furious and scolded: "You surname Duan, stop pretending to be innocent. Someone set fire to our gang's headquarters last night, was it you who did it?"

  The woman's eyes sparkled with emotion and coquetry as she said, "Young Master Xu, you must have mistaken the person. Fourth Master Xie was in his room playing with me all night. I don't know what tricks he used, but it made me feel so happy and light, even now I'm still feeling airy. If you don't believe me, you can investigate."

  Xu Shaobang stared blankly for a moment, then sneered: "You stinky bitch, how much benefit did you get from Xiang Diao that you dare to speak up for him without any shame? Are you tired of living?"

  The hall master shouted: "Young Master, why bother talking to this woman? Let's take the surname Diao back and give him a good beating. I'm not afraid he won't behave!" After saying that, he rolled up his sleeves and rushed into the house.

  Just then, a loud voice shouted: "Stop!" The stairs creaked and groaned as Zhao Bai Chuan, the leader of the Heavenly Gang, rushed up with a group of people.

  His face turned iron-green, he stared at Xu Shao and shouted: "Xu Zhenjie, you have eaten bear gallbladder and swallowed leopard's heart, how dare you bring people to the Spring Breeze Pavilion to make trouble!"

  Xu Zhenjie saw Zhao Baichuan's heart was empty, and immediately thought: "I brought more than a hundred brothers from the gang today, what is he afraid of? At worst, I'll take Zhao Baichuan down together!"

  He sneered coldly and said: "Zhao Shu, this time I'm here to settle the score with Xiao Si, it has nothing to do with you!"

  "Fart!" Zhao Baichuan saw Xu Zhenjie dare to confront himself, and his anger rose as he shouted loudly: "You get out of here for Laozi right now!"

  Xu Zhenjie's face changed, and he gritted his teeth: "Wait for me to capture Xiao Si, I will naturally leave!"

  Zhao Baiquan swiftly pulled out the mountain stick and poked it at the door frame with a "dang" sound, his voice cold as he said: "Whoever dares to take another step into this house, don't blame me for turning my back on you!"

  Just as the tension between the two sides was escalating, a commotion broke out downstairs, and another group of Ching-yun Society members arrived on orders, facing off against the Tsao-i Society along the street.

  At this time, Xu Xiaoqian also brought several subordinates to rush over. Zhao Baiquan laughed angrily and said: "Brother Xu, this is really a case of 'a tiger father has no dog son'! If I don't get an explanation from you today, our decades-long friendship will end here! By the way, let me tell you that I have given orders to intercept all goods transported to the Chāotiān Gate Wharf starting from today and not allow them to pass. The porters in Jiangzhou City will also no longer carry a single grain of rice or a scallion to Brother Xu's wharf!"

  Xu Xiaoqian was shocked, for decades he and Zhao Baichuan had been in charge of waterways and land respectively, although they often had conflicting interests, but overall they got along peacefully. This time Xu Zhenjie led a group to forcibly enter the Spring Breeze Pavilion, Xu Xiaoqian knew things would go bad, but he never expected Zhao Baichuan to be so ruthless, giving him a fatal blow!

  At this moment, he suddenly realized and said: "Zhao Baiquan and Geng Nan Yi had a life-and-death friendship. The other day, they helped the Huitong Bureau to destroy the Tiger's Nest. He did this not just to vent his anger for today's affairs, but to resolutely support Geng Nan Yi and take revenge on me for blocking the waterway of the Huitong Bureau."

  Just as he was about to speak, a hall master of the Zhuang Yi gang rushed upstairs with a flustered expression and whispered: "Master, something terrible has happened! Since last night, all our cargo ships have been seized by the Twelve Linked Fort. Several brothers who were guarding the ships got into a fight with their men and were taken away, now their lives are uncertain."

  Xu Xiaoqian was shocked and exclaimed: "What did you say?!"

  The hall master stammered: "The Twelve Linked Ring Fort has sealed off our downstream waterway, not a single boat is allowed to enter the Wushan territory!"

  Xu Xiaoqian took a cold breath, on the one hand, the Chao Tian Gang was blocking on land, and on the other hand, the Twelve Linked Ring Fort was sealing off the river, with both sides working together to strangle the life out of the Zhuo Yi Gang. In three to five days, he would have to go and face the northwest wind himself.

  He exclaimed in shock: "If it were just one family, my soap-making skills might be enough to get by. But now that both families are working together like they have a tacit understanding, it's clear they're after the Will of Tongtai Bureau. If Yóu Gǔ Yuè was just acting alone, that would be one thing, but what if he also..."

  Xu Xiaoqian couldn't help but shiver, and then Xu Zhenjie shouted: "Dad, this must be the ghost of Bu Xiangzi, he's in the next room, I'll go catch him and ask for an explanation!"

  Xu Xiaoqian couldn't bear it anymore, and slapped his son in the face, scolding: "You little beast, do you want several thousand brothers of the Shaolin Sect to die without a place to bury their bodies?"

  Xu Zhenjie was immediately stunned and covered his cheeks, not daring to speak.

  Xu Xiao calmed down and thought to himself, "A great man can yield and adapt. Compared to the foundation of the Zhuang Yi gang, the current losses are nothing but a swallow of blood."

  He secretly sighed and bowed to Zhao Baiquan, saying: "Brother Zhao, my family's young master has been improper in his handling of affairs and has offended you many times. I hope you can consider our many years of friendship and let bygones be bygones, so as not to damage the bond between brothers."

  His words were soft but with a hard tone, Zhao Baiquan naturally understood, his face sank like water and said: "I was originally nothing, but Lord Gong forced me to be aggressive, if I, Zhao, don't investigate, those who know think we brothers are on good terms, those who don't know still think that the Heavenly Help Society is afraid of the Constable Society, being bullied to the door and not daring to make a sound."

  Xu Xiaoqian was furious and had nowhere to vent his anger, so he kicked Xu Zhenjie's knee and shouted: "Kneel down!"

  Xu Zhenjie thudded to the ground, shouting: "Dad, why are we afraid of this Zhao guy? The Heavenly Gang has been looking for trouble with us for days, it's just...".

  Xu Xiaoqian was furious, thinking to himself: "Little ancestor, can't you just keep your mouth shut for once?! With the Zhāo Tiān Bang, Huì Tōng Biāo Jú, Twelve Linked Ring Fort, and adding the Jinsha Four Devils along with their master, Bān Bān Lǎo Yāo... if they all get together, will I still have a way to survive?!"

  He decisively raised his palm and slapped him twice, this time it was a real hit. Xu Zhenjie's face immediately turned red and swollen, with a split lip, covering his face in pain, gritting his teeth.

  Xu Xiaoqian glanced at Zhao Baichuan, who was wooden-faced and expressionless, and thought to himself: "Forget it, the one who tied the bell is the one who can untie it. I'll have to go ask that little scoundrel Wang again!"

  He suppressed his anger and bowed, saying: "Fourth Master Xiang, I am Xu Xiaoqian, the leader of the Zhuang Yi Bang. I will immediately order someone to open the dock and prioritize sending the silver ingots to the Tong Hui Security Bureau. I hope you, sir, will not hold it against me for being a lowly person and won't treat me like a dog."

  Xiao Si lay in bed pretending to sleep, while inwardly cursing Yi Bo. Last night he had a great time with that prostitute, but if those words reached Wan Er's ears, would he still be okay?

  It's fine if I did it myself, but last night I worked hard for half the night and didn't even get any benefits, yet I still have to take the blame for someone else.

  He grumbled reluctantly: "What's all the noise about? Can't you let people sleep?"

  Xu Xiaoqian's face sank, and he said: "I am Xu Xiaoqian, the leader of the Zhuang Yi gang. Please get up, Fourth Master Xie."

  "Zao Yi Bang, Xue Xiao Qian?" Xiaoxiao Si rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked towards the door.

  Xu Zhenjie sneered: "You stinky brat, if you have the guts, say that again in front of my dad!"

  Unexpectedly, the little fourth ignored him and shouted "Ah yo" as he jumped up from his seat, not even having time to put on his shoes. With a face full of smiles, he welcomed him at the door, saying: "I didn't expect it to be Master Xu's visit, I'm sorry for not welcoming you properly, forgive me, forgive me!"

  Xu Xiaoqian did not expect Xiao Si to change his face so quickly, and it's no wonder that his son would fall into this kid's hands.

  He stiffened his face and said: "I dare not, Xu certain is bringing a dog son to apologize to Lord Si."

  Xiao Si looked puzzled and said, "Apologize? I've never met your husband before, let alone offended him. I don't know what Xu Bangzhu is talking about?"

  Xu Xiaoqian was so angry that he wanted to punch Xiao Si's nose flat, and bitterly said: "A few days ago, Quan'er was robbed near the ceramics mouth, mistakenly thinking that this matter was related to Xiao Siquan, and in a fit of anger, without consulting me, sealed off the dock and did not allow the silver ingots from the escort agency to be loaded onto the ship."

  He glanced at Xiao Si, seeing that the young man was still in shock with his mouth agape, looking even more wronged than Dou E. He continued, "Last night, someone intentionally set fire to our gang's headquarters and stole some things. My son suspected it was you, Xiao Si... In a moment of impulsiveness, he brought people to storm into the Once Spring Breeze Pavilion and almost got into a conflict with Master Zhao."

  Xiao Si's face turned red with rage, and he cursed loudly: "Which turtle grandson dared to use my name to rob the young master of the Xu family and set fire to the Zhuo Yi gang? Master Xu, I will definitely help you with this matter. Once we investigate clearly, we must put that bastard in a cage and drown him in the river!"

  Xu Zhenjie suddenly pointed at Xiao Si and shouted: "It's you! Your voice is exactly the same as the person who robbed me!"

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