Chapter 38

The outcome of the battle between the Flying Eagle Gang and the Green Bamboo Gang was very clear: the Green Bamboo Gang was directly crippled and no longer had the qualifications to challenge the Flying Eagle Gang. Within the gang, some were happy while others were worried.

Those who were happy were, of course, the gang leader Sha Feiying and his people. They had taken over one and a half market districts in one go, which was enough for the Flying Eagle Gang to digest for a while.

Those who were worried were naturally Tiger Third Master.

Regarding Su Xin, this adopted son, Tiger Third Master now had no confidence in being able to suppress him.

In terms of personal strength, Su Xin had the record of assassinating Dai Chong.

Moreover, the strength he displayed in the battle with Green Bamboo Gang's Luo Zhen made old hands like Tiger Third Master from Changning Prefecture secretly alarmed.

They were quite familiar with Luo Zhen's background. This person had learned real martial arts, far surpassing the half-trained martial artists like them.

If it weren't for the fact that Luo Zhen started learning martial arts at a relatively old age, which limited his achievements, the Green Bamboo Gang would not have been able to contain such a powerful figure.

Su Xin's victory in a fair fight against Luo Zhen was enough to prove his strength.

In terms of subordinates, his nearly two hundred followers who had practiced internal skills and martial techniques were almost on par with the War Hall disciples, not to mention that his ordinary gang members now numbered over a thousand.

It was precisely because of his fear of Su Xin's strength that, upon learning that Tang Taihe had been crippled, Tiger Third Master restrained himself, pretending not to know and not taking action.

However, today, he was so angry that he threw a cup.

"What does this kid want to do!? Does he still have any sense of hierarchy and respect? I am his adoptive father! I am his leader! Does he still want to stay in the Flying Eagle Gang!?"

Tiger Third Master roared in anger, his face twisted as if he were about to eat someone.

Li Shiyang, who stood beside him, sighed softly, not knowing what to say.

What Su Xin did yesterday almost drove Tiger Third Master to the brink of rage.

Actually, the matter was quite simple. After Su Xin staged a show of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys for the merchants in Yongle Market, these people promptly cowered and paid the monthly tribute within three days.

When Su Xin counted, it amounted to a staggering 60,000 taels of silver, a truly terrifying number.

According to the rules, these silver should first be given to Tiger Third Master, who would then take two-tenths and hand them over to the gang.

But Su Xin had already torn his face with Tiger Third Master, so why should he still send him the silver?

Thus, he only handed over the portion that the gang should receive, and did not even mention the part that should have gone to Tiger Third Master.

Zhuang Li, the hall master of the Charity Hall, who was in charge of the finances, informed Tiger Third Master after receiving the monthly tribute, which immediately made him throw a cup in anger.

By bypassing him and directly handing over the monthly tribute to the gang, Su Xin was clearly showing that he did not respect him as his adoptive father. How could Tiger Third Master not be angry?

"Damn ingrate, if I had known this would happen, I should have killed him with one slap back then!" Tiger Third Master said viciously.

Now he truly regretted it, regretting that he had been swayed by Su Xin's persuasion, not only failing to punish him but also adopting him as his son, resulting in the current situation where he was a big problem that couldn't be easily dealt with.

Su Xin had said that Chen Dao coveted his position, which Tiger Third Master knew. Even if Su Xin hadn't killed Chen Dao, Tiger Third Master would have found an opportunity to eliminate him for his own position.

By adopting Su Xin as his son, Tiger Third Master had planned to retire after ten years, letting Su Xin take over and then staying in the background as a grand patriarch.

But he had miscalculated one point: Su Xin was not Chen Dao!

Chen Dao took twenty years to make him feel threatened, but Su Xin had only taken less than three months to reach a position where he could rival or even surpass him!

Tiger Third Master did not want to retire now; he still wanted to stay in the position of a major head. Therefore, he had to eliminate Su Xin!

"Third Master, calm down. Su Xin has already handed the money to the gang. No matter how angry you are, it won't change anything," Li Shiyang consoled, but he sighed deeply in his heart.

Tiger Third Master was really getting old.

In the past, Tiger Third Master was a man of deep and complex character, almost to the point of not showing his emotions. He was nothing like now, where a single piece of news from Su Xin could make him lose his composure.

Among the thirteen major heads, although Tiger Third Master was not the strongest, he was the smartest. Only he had specially recruited Li Shiyang, a failed scholar, to serve as a white paper fan, providing him with strategies.

But unfortunately, the wise Tiger Third Master had completely stumbled on the issue of Su Xin.

If he had continued to support Su Xin, even if Su Xin rose to power, he would still have shown respect. Otherwise, Su Xin's once glorious reputation in the Flying Eagle Gang would have turned into a curse.

At the very least, if Tiger Third Master had remained silent, neither supporting nor suppressing Su Xin, Su Xin would have remembered him with gratitude.

After all, at the beginning, Su Xin had relied on Tiger Third Master's name to establish himself in the Flying Eagle Gang.

But now, Tiger Third Master was secretly plotting against him. The last gang meeting was one thing, but this time, when Tang Taihe provoked Su Xin and was crippled, the entire Flying Eagle Gang knew about it. As long as they weren't fools, they could guess what had happened.

Li Shiyang had actually advised Tiger Third Master several times, but the long-time spokesperson of the Flying Eagle Gang had lost the deep and complex mind of his youth, becoming somewhat stubborn and self-willed.

In the past, if there was something to discuss, the two of them could talk it over, but in recent years, Li Shiyang could only offer suggestions, and whether to use them or not was entirely up to Tiger Third Master.

Clearly, on the issue of Su Xin, Li Shiyang's advice had been completely rejected by Tiger Third Master.

After throwing a few more cups, Tiger Third Master's mood finally calmed down.

"Mr. Li, what if I suggest to the gang leader that we take over Su Xin's territory? He now controls Yongle Market and Kuaile Forest, which is more territory than three major heads combined!" Tiger Third Master said with a cold expression.

Li Shiyang quickly shook his head: "Third Master, don't do that. The gang leader won't agree.

The distribution of war merits is a principle of our Flying Eagle Gang. If we change this, the entire gang will be in chaos."

The principle of war merits being paramount is the core of the Flying Eagle Gang.

Whoever conquers the territory, it belongs to them. If this cannot be guaranteed, how would the members of the Flying Eagle Gang feel?

In Changning Prefecture, there are three gangs and four associations. They wouldn't have to stick to the Flying Eagle Gang. Once this precedent is set, most of the disheartened members would likely switch to other gangs the next day.

"Third Master, why don't we just stop fighting with Su Xin? It's not worth it and it just invites ridicule," Li Shiyang suggested cautiously.

Tiger Third Master said coldly: "No! If I don't suppress Su Xin, where will I put my face?

Su Xin bypassed me and handed the monthly tribute to the gang. Zhuang Hall Master told me, and others can certainly know.

I know these people well; they are definitely secretly laughing at me for raising two adopted sons who have become problems!"

Just as Li Shiyang was about to say something, he heard someone report: "Third Master, Major Head Hou Tong is here to visit."

"What does he want?" Both Li Shiyang and Tiger Third Master frowned, their faces not looking good.

Among the thirteen major heads of the Flying Eagle Gang, Tiger Third Master had no close relationship with anyone, but the one he had the worst relationship with was definitely Hou Tong.

It could be said that no one in the Flying Eagle Gang liked Hou Tong.

As a major head of the Flying Eagle Gang, Hou Tong had a high status, but he had a very bad habit: he was a compulsive gambler.

Hou Tong's gambling character was very poor. Once he lost, he would become like a gambler who had lost his mind, determined not to stop until he won back his losses.

The income of the major heads of the Flying Eagle Gang was actually quite good. Su Xin's income from Yongle Market alone reached over 300,000 taels.

Hou Tong only managed a quarter of Changping Market. Although the monthly tribute was not as high as Su Xin's, he still received several tens of thousands of taels of silver each month.

After handing over the money to the gang and distributing it to his subordinates, the remaining money was enough for Hou Tong to live comfortably.

But Hou Tong insisted on using this money to gamble, and with his bad luck, he would lose it all in a few days.

Without money, Hou Tong would start to default on his gambling debts, making the gambling house owners unwilling to do business with him.

When he had no money, he would start borrowing from other major heads like Tiger Third Master, but the result was that he never paid back the loans.

In the end, Hou Tong's reputation became thoroughly tarnished. No one was willing to lend him money, and he could only get some money by pestering others.

Tiger Third Master, of course, did not want to deal with such a person. Just as he was about to tell his subordinates to say he was not there, he heard a robust voice from the courtyard.

"Ha ha ha! Tiger Third, I heard that your newly adopted son has given you a hard time. He handed over the monthly tribute to the gang and completely ignored you. Is that true?"

A middle-aged man who looked younger than Tiger Third Master walked directly into the room, laughing and mocking him.

Seeing Hou Tong enter without permission, Tiger Third Master said coldly: "What do you want?"

Hou Tong played with a teacup on the table and said lazily: "Of course, I'm here to borrow some money. Don't worry, I'll pay you back double once I win."

Tiger Third Master sneered: "You've said that at least ten times. Don't dream. I don't have a single cent."

Thinking about what Hou Tong had just said, Tiger Third Master became even angrier.

You came to borrow money, but you came in and mocked me. It's already a miracle that I didn't kick you out on the spot, and you still want to borrow money?

Hou Tong laughed: "Tiger Third, don't be in a hurry. This time, I'm not here to borrow money for nothing. How about this: I'll help you with something, and you lend me some money. What do you say?"

"What can you help me with?" Tiger Third Master looked at the major head who was almost at the bottom of the ranks with disdain.

Hou Tong's lips curled into a smile: "A big favor, like helping you deal with your disobedient adopted son, Su Xin!"