Shen Chongshan was in an excellent mood, for he was currently seated in a private room at the Xiao Xiang Brothel, a particularly alluring woman cradled in his arms, his rough hands roaming freely over her soft curves.
Perhaps his eagerness was a touch too forward, for it drew a ceaseless, delicate giggle from the bewitching woman in his embrace.
"Miss Jin, I think you should just yield to our Boss! This is the first time our Boss has been so infatuated with a woman. He left all the gang's affairs unfinished and hurried straight here." The speaker was a stout, black-skinned man dressed in an oversized gray robe. His waist was as thick as a barrel, nearly twice the size of an ordinary man's. As soon as he finished speaking, he began to pant slightly.
"Exactly, Miss Jinzhi! Our Boss has patronized your place every afternoon for five days straight, spending a fair sum of silver! Yet here you are, letting our Boss only hold and embrace you a little, never once allowing him to stay the night. That hardly seems reasonable!" This time, the speaker was a middle-aged scholar with a dark mole on his cheek. His eyes held a sinister gleam, marking him as a man of cunning schemes.
Aside from Shen Chongshan, three other men were present in the room—none other than the Four-Flat Gang's three protectors.
The stout black man was Mad Fist Qian Jin. Despite his prodigious girth, his "Eighteen Crazed Strikes" were practiced to perfection, having felled many a famous martial artist.
The scholar was the Poison Scholar Fan Ju. Though he wielded the formidable "Snow-Wind Sword Style," it was his ruthless, venomous nature that had earned him his fearsome reputation.
The silent figure in black who had not yet uttered a word was the most skilled of the three protectors—Flying Blade Shen San. His specialty of launching eighteen flying blades in rapid succession had eliminated numerous vengeful experts and renowned masters for Shen Chongshan. Being a distant relative of Shen Chongshan himself, he enjoyed the boss's greatest favor within the gang.
These three men, like their leader, each had a beautiful woman sitting in their arms. However, none of these women could match the one in Shen Chongshan's lap for allure, for fullness of form, or for captivating charm.
At this moment, the giggling Little Jinzhi, upon hearing the words of Mad Fist and the Poison Scholar, immediately misted her eyes with tears, as if a drop might fall at any moment.
"Master Fan and Master Qian say such things about Jinzhi, but that's truly unfair! The moment I first laid eyes on Master Shen, I knew he was a hero and a man of valor. To share his bed would be something Jinzhi could only dream of!"
"But you both know that my body belongs to this Xiao Xiang Brothel. Without the permission of Mother Wang, if I were to keep a guest overnight without authorization, I'd be beaten to death. Why doesn't Master Shen go ask Mother Wang? If she agrees to let Jinzhi receive guests, then tonight I will surely serve you well, Master." The top courtesan of the Xiao Xiang Brothel spoke with a honeyed voice, her words tender and heartfelt, as if she bore a deep affection for Shen Chongshan.
These words, half-truth and half-false, left Qian Jin and Fan Ju exchanging glances, momentarily at a loss for a reply.
They had, of course, inquired about the fee for keeping Little Jinzhi for the night before. But Mother Wang had driven a hard bargain, using the excuse that Little Jinzhi had no precedent for overnight guests to demand a sum that even a gang leader like Shen Chongshan found staggering. Thus, no agreement had been reached.
Of course, force was even less of an option. This was a Xiao Xiang Brothel, an establishment belonging to one of Jiayuan City's three great gangs, the Five-Color Gate. Causing trouble here would be courting death.
Snubbed so firmly, the two men could only vent their frustrations on the courtesans in their own arms, giving them a few rough pinches before letting go.
"Heh heh! Thank you, brothers, for concerning yourselves with Shen's affairs! But it's fine—Shen just closed a big deal a couple of days ago, so a bit of silver is nothing. But you, my beauty, don't go back on your word! When the time comes, you must serve me well!" As he spoke, Shen Chongshan, still holding Little Jinzhi and enjoying himself thoroughly, planted a rough kiss on the woman's fragrant cheek. He spoke with a note of smugness.
Shen Chongshan was a hulking brute, his arms and chest thick with coarse black hair. His arms were noticeably longer than an ordinary man's, giving him the appearance of a clothed beast—ugly and intimidating.
Yet it was this crude, hideous man who, several years ago, had used his consummately practiced "Extend-Arm Fist" to slay the Four-Flat Gang's former leader, "Golden Pen" Gou Tianpo, and his four trusted lieutenants, seizing the position of gang leader. In the martial world of Jiayuan City, he was unquestionably a top-tier expert whose name commanded respect.
"Master Shen!" Little Jinzhi feigned great shyness at Shen Chongshan's sudden advance, nestling into his arms with a coquettish air that drew a triumphant laugh from the gang leader.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
"Who is it?" The disgruntled Mad Fist Qian Jin, already in a foul mood, called out gruffly.
"Some wine for you gentlemen." A young man's voice came from outside the door.
"Then bring it in quickly! Master Qian's feeling thirsty!" The fat man said without a moment's hesitation.
At Qian Jin's words, a young man dressed as a servant entered. The unremarkable-looking youth held a tray with both hands, upon which sat several dishes of food and two bottles of wine.
"Bring the wine over quickly! Let me taste how it is!" Qian Jin was a typical drunkard, and the sight of the two wine bottles immediately made his eyes light up. He clamored ceaselessly.
"Yes, sir! I'll bring it right over!" The servant strode forward and placed the wine bottles on the table.
The moment the fat man saw the bottles, he grabbed one, ready to pour it into his mouth to savor the taste.
"Hold on, Fatty!" Shen San, the man in black who had been silent all along, suddenly stopped Qian Jin's motion of pouring wine into his mouth.
"What is it?" Qian Jin asked, puzzled. But out of his usual trust in Shen San, he instinctively halted.
"The person who served us before wasn't you. Where's the original man?" Shen San ignored the fat man's confusion. Instead, he placed his hand on the blade pouch at his waist and slowly rose to his feet, fixing his cold gaze on the servant who had brought the wine.
"There were too many guests, so Li Er was sent to another room. I'm filling in for him, sir. Is something wrong?" The servant's face turned deathly pale under Shen San's stare, and he answered in a panic.
Seeing this reaction, Shen San's expression softened somewhat. But he seemed still unconvinced, and turned to ask Little Jinzhi in Shen Chongshan's arms:
"Miss Jin, do you know this man? Is he truly from your Xiao Xiang Brothel?"
"Um..." The top courtesan looked troubled, but she eventually said, somewhat awkwardly:
"To tell you the truth, Master Shen, this person does look unfamiliar. But with hundreds of servants in our Xiao Xiang Brothel, it wouldn't be strange for me not to have seen him before."
"Ha ha! Little San, aren't you making things difficult for Miss Jin? How could such a delicate beauty possibly know a menial servant? Do you think this man is some assassin who snuck in from outside?" Shen Chongshan buried his face in the woman's neck, sniffing deeply, and spoke with indifference.
"Brother, we make our living on the edge of a blade. It's better to be cautious!" Shen San remained expressionless, his eyes still fixed unwaveringly on the young servant.
"Heh heh! This man's steps are light and unsteady, his eyes lack spirit—he's clearly no martial artist. If you're still worried, I have a way to immediately discern his true identity and put everyone's mind at ease," the Poison Scholar Fan Ju suddenly sneered coldly.
He had long been dissatisfied with Shen San, who had joined the Four-Flat Gang after him yet had won even greater trust from Shen Chongshan. Considering himself the gang's strategist, he decided to give Shen San a lesson in humility.
"Oh? What method do you have? Feel free to try, Brother Fan," Shen Chongshan said. Though he outwardly projected bold confidence, he actually cherished his own life dearly. Thus, he readily changed his tune, endorsing Fan Ju's proposal.
"If this man knows no martial arts and truly meant us harm, the only place he could have tampered with things is in our food and wine. So, have him taste a bit of everything himself, and the truth will be revealed!" the Poison Scholar said, brimming with confidence.
"Brother Fan, brilliant idea! You there—drink a mouthful of this wine for us, then try the dishes as well. If you hesitate, I'll twist your head off right away!" The fat man clapped his hands in delight, then immediately barked at the servant who had entered.
Upon hearing Fan Ju's words, Shen San felt the method was indeed sound and made no further objection, watching the proceedings with cold detachment.
As for Shen Chongshan and Little Jinzhi in his arms, they had no objections either.
Thus, under the watchful eyes of the group, the servant who had brought the wine and food wore a dismal expression as he drank a cup of wine and took several bites of the dishes.
Seeing that the man showed no ill effects after consuming the food and wine, Fan Ju smiled triumphantly. He turned to Shen San with meaningful words: "It seems Young Brother Shen was overly cautious. This is nothing more than a lowly servant. In the future, do try not to dampen everyone's spirits again!" With that, he picked up some of the freshly served dishes and placed them in his mouth, chewing with leisurely ease.
"Hmph!" Shen San snorted but did not engage with Fan Ju's veiled rebuke. However, he did relax visibly, settling back into his seat.
"Ha ha! Nothing to worry about! Just a misunderstanding." Shen Chongshan was well aware of the friction between his two subordinates, but he was actually pleased to see it. Thus, he deliberately laughed with exaggerated heartiness.
"Since it's just a misunderstanding, you—servant—may leave. This silver is your reward!" Shen Chongshan produced a tael-and-a-half ingot of silver and tossed it to the servant.
"Thank you, sir! Then I'll take my leave!" The young man in servant's attire was overjoyed at the sight of the silver. Beaming, he withdrew, closing the door behind him.
"My, Master Shen is truly generous! You mustn't be stingy with me in the future, Jinzhi!" From inside the room came Little Jinzhi's honeyed voice, full of coquettish sweetness.
"Of course, my beauty! You are the apple of my eye! As long as you serve me well, I'll never treat you poorly! Come, brothers! Let's have a drink! We won't go home tonight until we're drunk!" Shen Chongshan's gravelly voice boomed in response, clearly audible through the closed door to the young man standing outside.
The young man outside let out a cold, silent laugh. Instead of leaving immediately, he slipped quietly under a nearby eave, standing still like a specter, as if waiting for something.
About the time it would take to finish a cup of tea, a terrified shriek suddenly erupted from within the room: "Poison! There's poison in the wine and food! I've been poisoned!" The words had barely been spoken when the person let out two eerie bursts of laughter, then fell silent forever. The voice belonged to the fat man, Qian Jin.
"You treacherous wench! You dare murder this Gang Leader! I'll take your life!" Shen Chongshan roared in fury and terror. But it seemed he was too late. After two involuntary bursts of dry, mirthless laughter, he too collapsed and drew his last breath.
The Poison Scholar Fan Ju and Shen San exchanged a terrified glance and spoke in unison:
"That servant—it was he who poisoned us."
"That servant—he must have the antidote!"
The two men immediately shoved the women from their laps as if burned, rushing toward the door.
But alas, no sooner had they reached it than they both let out a "ha ha" and slowly slid to the floor.
"So, the fat man drank the most, which is why the poison struck him first. Shen Chongshan also drank a fair amount, so he was second. As for the man in black and the scholar, though they drank less, my Laughing-Soul Powder is so potent that a single drop in the mouth is certain death." The young man mused to himself, then waited a while longer before pushing open the door and stepping inside.
The room was devoid of life. Even Little Jinzhi and the three other courtesans had long since drawn their final breaths.
Han Li conducted a careful search, confirming there were no survivors, then vanished from the room as silently as a whisper.
"Once news of Shen Chongshan's poisoning spreads, it will surely be regarded as nothing more than a vendetta within the martial world. It shouldn't bring me any serious trouble," Han Li reflected as he made his way back, his steps light.
"This Clear Spirit Powder really is useful. Taking one beforehand not only wards off all poisons but also proves remarkably effective against hallucinogenic substances and the like. It served me well when I outwitted Yan Shi and the others last time." He allowed himself a faint, slightly wry smile and could not help patting the pouch at his chest that held the Clear Spirit Powder.
Han Li returned to the inn without attracting a single glance. The moment he entered his room, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep, sweet slumber.
This was a habit Han Li had developed without realizing it—whenever he completed something significant, he found himself overwhelmingly drowsy. In sleep, he could properly relax the weariness of body and mind.
While Han Li slept soundly, the discovery of Shen Chongshan and his three protectors' deaths at the Xiao Xiang Brothel set off a storm of activity among those with ambition. News reached the Four-Flat Gang, and it immediately stirred the ambitions of many within its ranks.
No one cared to investigate the cause of Shen Chongshan's death. In Jiayuan City, the law of the jungle was taken for granted. After all, Shen Chongshan himself had risen to power by killing his predecessor. Thus, the surviving leaders of the Four-Flat Gang were solely concerned with who would fill the now-vacant position of Gang Leader.
In the absence of a strong candidate and with no one willing to yield to another, a bloody power struggle erupted within the Four-Flat Gang that very night.
By the next morning, when the rank-and-file members who had not participated in the fighting rose from their beds, they were stunned to find that the entire Four-Flat Gang had fallen into the hands of an unremarkable minor leader named Sun Ergou.
Sun Ergou had, in a single night, slaughtered all who opposed him among the higher ranks. With no one daring to challenge him further, he ascended to the position of Gang Leader of the Four-Flat Gang without opposition. By the following day, he had already sent formal notices to the other gangs of the western district, confirming his succession.
And the mastermind behind the entire affair, Han Li, after enjoying a long and restful sleep, appeared at the Mo Residence. It was once again the elegant small villa, and standing before him were Yan Shi and the other beautiful wives. The only difference was that behind them stood three renowned beauties of Jiayuan City—the three Mo daughters.
Han Li had already met Mo Yuzhu and Mo Caihuan, so his gaze lingered more on Doctor Mo's adopted daughter—Mo Fengwu.
Mo Fengwu was an oval-faced beauty dressed in a yellow gown. She appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years of age, with a refined, delicate air about her that gave Han Li the impression of a petite and spirited gem.
At this moment, being stared at so intently by Han Li, Mo Fengwu lowered her head shyly, revealing the smooth, fair skin of her slender neck, causing Han Li to swallow hard more than once.
"Young Master Han, stop looking at our Fengwu with such lecherous eyes! Our Fengwu is terribly shy! Should we not continue yesterday's conversation?" Third Madam Liu smiled with her characteristic sly charm and spoke to Han Li in a honeyed tone.