Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Afterward, Shen Lang went down to the gambling hall and, leading several hundred gamblers, took the tables by storm. He proved with his actions that he hadn't been lying. It was as if he possessed some secret gambling technique, for he won every single round! This was truly unbearable. The several hundred gamblers were winning money more easily than picking it up off the street. Betting with Shen Lang was a guaranteed win. The staff, dealers, and manager of the House of Wealth and Honor were practically foaming at the mouth in despair. The manager went upstairs to report to Tian Heng.
"Master, we've already lost three thousand gold coins."
"Master, we've lost five thousand gold coins."
"Master, we've now lost seven thousand. Shen Lang himself only wins one gold coin per round; the rest is being won by those shameless gamblers who've joined him."
Tian Heng's face went from pale to ashen, and his entire body began to tremble. Just then, one of his subordinates, Tian Fourteen, rushed in and shouted.
"Gang Leader, I'll go throw Shen Lang out."
Tian Fourteen took his men downstairs, intending to use force to oust Shen Lang, when Shen Lang touched his forehead and spoke.
"What are you doing? Are you going to hit me? I'm so frail, a single touch from you would make me collapse. And if you lay a hand on the Count's son-in-law, my wife will have your entire family killed."
Upstairs, Tian Heng heard Shen Lang's words clearly. He couldn't even begin to imagine how Shen Lang could utter such shameful words.
‘Truly shameless!’
Enraged, Tian Fourteen pointed a finger at Shen Lang's head and yelled.
"So what if I do? Men, throw Shen Lang out!"
Four warriors from the Count's estate, who were standing around Shen Lang, drew their greatswords with a fierce rasp, shielding him.
In this era of independent administration, the Count's estate couldn't interfere in local affairs or arrest members of the Black Clothes Gang. However, if the other side willingly chose to be disrespectful, they could be killed without repercussion. If a wrongful situation were to arise, the four warriors from the Count's estate would not hesitate to slaughter every member of the Black Clothes Gang present. Even if the Black Clothes Gang's thugs swarmed them, they would be no match for the Count's warriors.
That would only create a bigger headache for them. After that, the Count's cavalry would descend like a tidal wave and trample the House of Wealth and Honor into the ground. The Count of Xuanwu's estate didn't start trouble, but if trouble came to them, they would never back down. We don't bother anyone who doesn't bother us. But if you bother us, we'll crush your entire family. This philosophy of the Count's estate was Shen Lang's protective talisman. Furthermore, the gamblers who had profited immensely from Shen Lang's arrival all rushed to surround and protect him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"You open a casino but won't pay out when you lose?"
"If you want to harm our Master Shen Lang, you'll have to go through me first! *Cough, cough.*"
They were truly masters of latching on. When Tian Heng had paid them in cash, they had shouted, "Long live Gang Leader Tian Heng!" Now that Shen Lang was leading them to victory, they were shouting, "Long live Master Shen Lang!"
‘What now? Drive out the gamblers?’
Tian Heng sat in his chair, motionless. Never in his life had he faced such a humiliating and absurd situation. He wanted nothing more than to tear Shen Lang to shreds right then and there. Regret, endless regret! If he could turn back time, he would have killed Shen Lang the moment he saw him, torn his corpse to pieces, and fed it to the dogs. He wouldn't have listened to a single word out of Shen Lang's mouth. He had let a tiger go, only for it to come back and haunt him. Unfortunately, there was no use for regret now. How should he handle the situation before him? Tian Heng closed his eyes.
"Close the House of Wealth and Honor for now."
Tian Fourteen and the manager answered, enduring their anguish.
"Yes!"
Then, the manager's voice came from downstairs.
"The House of Wealth and Honor is temporarily closing for the day. Everyone, please come back tomorrow to exchange your winnings."
Hearing this, Shen Lang said.
"Gang Leader Tian has four other gambling halls in Xuanwu City. How about we go from house to house and win some money?"
"Excellent!"
The several hundred gamblers were ecstatic. Shen Lang led the hundreds of gamblers in a dark swarm to another gambling hall. Tian Heng closed his eyes in agony. After a long moment, he spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Close all the gambling halls for the time being."
Tian Fourteen replied, grinding his teeth.
"Yes!"
No one could know how much Tian Heng had to give up to make such a decision. The gambling halls were his geese that laid golden eggs, accounting for sixty percent of his income. How great would the losses be now that they were all closed? The amount was so enormous that only the heavens knew. But even if it meant bearing immense losses, he did not want to compromise with Shen Lang. If he publicly broke Thirteen's legs, his reputation would be ruined, and the morale of the Black Clothes Gang would plummet. Who would fear him then?
"Shen Lang, you want me to cripple my own subordinate? That will never happen!"
However, Tian Heng's troubles had only just begun. This was because the gambling halls he operated weren't entirely his own. In reality, they were entangled with the interests of influential figures and various powers, so Tian Heng's decision would inevitably lead to bigger problems. About an hour after closing the gambling halls, someone came looking for him.
"Lord Zhang Jin has summoned you."
Tian Heng's vision went dark. His worst fear had come to pass. Indeed, the most fatal wounds are inflicted by one's own side.
Tian Heng was once again "invited" to Xu Guangyun's residence. Waiting for him was not Zhang Jin, but the head of the Xu Clan. The head of the Xu Clan asked.
"Gang Leader Tian, I hear you've closed all your gambling halls?"
"That is correct."
Just a moment ago, he called me Tian Heng, and now it's Gang Leader Tian. What a cunning man. The head of the Xu Clan wasn't asking for his own sake, but for Zhang Jin's. After becoming enemies with the Count's estate, the first thing Tian Heng had done was to offer nearly half the profits from his gambling halls to pledge his allegiance to Zhang Jin and the Prefect's office. Only then did he have the courage to stand up to the Count. And yet, the result was that Tian Heng himself had closed the doors to the gambling halls.
Of course, Zhang Jin would not appear in person. The money he was to receive would first be laundered through the hands of the Xu Clan's head, before ending up in Zhang Jin's pockets under the guise of a dowry.
"Why did you close the doors of your thriving gambling halls?"
"Because if I didn't, I would lose all my money."
The expression of the Xu Clan's head darkened as he asked.
"Is Shen Lang's gambling skill... that formidable?"
"Yes. I don't know how he does it, but it is extremely formidable."
The head of the Xu Clan also fell silent. If Shen Lang weren't the Count's son-in-law, he would have sent men to kill him long ago.
"This is all your own doing."
If Tian Heng hadn't let Shen Lang go, he would have been buried alive long ago... For a moment, Tian Heng's gaze turned cold.
"Or what if we secretly have him killed?"
"Is it worth taking such a risk? No, do you even dare?"
Was it worth the risk to kill Shen Lang? Shen Lang was protected by warriors from the Count's estate, so one would need to send a master to kill him. Moreover, killing Shen Lang would incur the wrath of the Count's estate. No matter how Shen Lang died or who killed him, the Count would vent his fury on Tian Heng and the Xu Clan. If his son-in-law were assassinated for unknown reasons, the Count's estate would have every right to go on a rampage, and once they did, they would slaughter them all.
"What is it that bastard Shen Lang wants?"
"He wants me to break Thirteen's legs in public."
The face of the Xu Clan's head twitched a few times before he spoke in a low voice.
"Then agree to his terms and break them. You have plenty of subordinates, after all."
Although the head of the Xu Clan said this, he didn't think Tian Heng would actually break his subordinate's legs.
"Thirteen is one of my most outstanding men. If I break his legs, my subordinates will lose faith in me, and my reputation will be ruined."
Tian Heng was a man of principle. He would rather lose money than his reputation. That was the very foundation of his standing as an underworld boss. But then, a voice came from the other side.
"Agree to his terms."
It was Zhang Jin. He was Tian Heng's true backer, the one with the real power to control the situation.
"Don't waste time. Every day you waste, you lose money. It's better to agree sooner rather than later."
Tian Heng's entire body trembled. He clenched his jaw so hard that his gums bled, staining the corners of his mouth.
"I promise you this. One day, I will certainly kill Shen Lang, and when that time comes, I will give you the chance to strike him as well."
Tian Heng remained silent, and Zhang Jin spoke again.
"Our target is the Count's estate. Shen Lang is just an insignificant pawn. If we succeed in taking down the Count's estate and seizing their lands and military authority, you will have performed a great service. When that day comes, the position of deputy city lord will be yours."
Tian Heng rose to his feet and said.
"Understood. I will obey!"
* * *
Tian Heng once again stood before Shen Lang. He said calmly.
"I... promise you. I will break both of Thirteen's legs in public. Now disperse and cause no more trouble."
But Shen Lang shook his head and said.
"No. That was the old price. The price has changed. Your other subordinate, Tian Fourteen, yelled at me earlier and even tried to hit me. Worst of all, he pointed his finger at my head. You will break both his hands and both his feet as well."
Tian Heng felt hot blood rush to his brain. He repeated one phrase over and over in his mind.
‘I'll kill you. I'll kill you, you bastard.’
But these were words he could only say to himself.
Shen Lang sneered.
"You can't agree? Then my terms will change again. Not only will you break Thirteen's legs and Tian Fourteen's hands and feet, but you will also break the legs of every Black Clothes Gang subordinate you sent to my home that day..."
Blood rushed to Tian Heng's eyes, making his head spin, and he closed them. He wanted to tear the man before him to pieces, but if he did, not only he, but the entire enterprise he had built over decades would be finished.
He truly did not want to compromise. Especially not with a scoundrel like Shen Lang. But he had no choice. If he didn't compromise, Shen Lang would bring hundreds of gamblers to win his money every single day. He couldn't keep losing money indefinitely, which meant he would be unable to open his gambling halls. And if they remained closed, the revenue stream would dry up, he wouldn't be able to make his payments to the Prefect's office, and he alone would have to bear the Prefect's wrath.
Opening his eyes, Tian Heng enunciated each word clearly.
"Fine. I will break not only Thirteen's two legs but also Tian Fourteen's two hands and two feet."
"And that's not all. You will completely expel them from the Black Clothes Gang. You are absolutely forbidden from caring for them or treating their injuries. You are not permitted to send them money for comfort, either. If I don't feel that those two are sufficiently miserable, I will return to your gambling halls and clean you out again."
"I promise it all. I will grant everything..."
* * *
At the entrance of the House of Wealth and Honor. Thirteen and Tian Fourteen knelt on the ground, their faces a mixture of tragic resolve and fury. A huge crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle, and amidst it all, Tian Heng could only let out a silent sigh.
No matter what anyone said, Thirteen and Tian Fourteen were capable men who had helped lead the Black Clothes Gang, and to Tian Heng, they were his finest and most loyal subordinates. They were usually renowned for their martial prowess and imposing presence; no one dared to cross them. For two such men to be kneeling here so properly—who on earth could they have offended?
Seeing the main street packed with people, Tian Heng wished the earth would open up and swallow him whole. But he couldn't. He had to go through with this. Otherwise, that scoundrel Shen Lang would not let it rest.
Tian Heng spoke in a solemn tone.
"Thirteen, Tian Fourteen. You are my right-hand men, and I trusted you as such. However, you harbored a personal grudge against Young Master Shen Lang and sought private revenge using my name and power, nearly bringing great disaster upon our entire Black Clothes Gang."