Chapter 18: The Barred Owl

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Madam Feng felt somewhat nervous seeing so many people in the courtyard. However, as Old Cui had said, being a local figure in the underworld, she was not easily intimidated by the situation before her. Without changing her expression, she raised her hand in a fist salute and said, “Brothers, thank you for your hard work.”

Jiang Chenghai sat upright on the long bench, his hands tucked into his sleeves. Though he did not stand, he smiled warmly and replied, “Thank you, thank you.”

Old Cui and Guan Wei immediately stepped forward and recounted the entire incident.

Jiang Chenghai listened with some confusion.

At that moment, the thin man with a small mustache beside him leaned over and whispered, “This is Shopkeeper Feng from the scoundrels’ guild; she has some connections with the authorities.”

Jiang Chenghai suddenly understood and laughed heartily. “So this is Shopkeeper Feng. I’ve heard much about you.”

Seeing that these people were fairly polite, Madam Feng raised her tone. “Is this boy your relative?”

Jiang Chenghai glanced at Jiang Xiaodao, whose face was covered in blood, smiled, and replied casually, “This is my son.”

Madam Feng didn’t bother to dig deeper and said, “Good! Your son broke the underworld rules. He was living peacefully at my place but tried to steal my seedlings in the dead of night. Luckily, I caught him in time, or else my business would have been ruined by this boy.”

“You’re right; my son was indeed at fault,” Jiang Chenghai nodded. “So, Shopkeeper Feng, what do you intend to do about this?”

Madam Feng saw that these men were not easily intimidated. “Old Cui said you’re willing to pay thirty taels of silver to secure your son’s safety.”

“Oh! That’s easy!” Jiang Chenghai commanded, “Lao Qi, go inside and bring thirty taels of silver.”

In front of others, Gong Baonan dared not joke and obediently went back inside.

Taking the opportunity, Jiang Chenghai beckoned, “Son, come here.”

Jiang Xiaodao tried to leave but was grabbed by a hook.

“Shopkeeper Feng, the money will be brought immediately. We’re all from the same trade, living so close by, there’s no need for a hand-to-hand exchange, right?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Feng gave a signal, and the hook let go.

Jiang Xiaodao came over dejectedly. Without looking at him, Jiang Chenghai ordered Guan Wei to untie him, then said, “Xiaodao, the underworld has its rules. Even if you dislike someone’s business, you can’t just smash it up! Now go, kowtow and apologize to Shopkeeper Feng.”

“What?” Jiang Xiaodao was dumbfounded. “I called you father, and you treat me like this?”

Before Jiang Xiaodao could say more, Guan Wei grabbed him by the neck from behind, pushed him in front of Shopkeeper Feng, kicked him to his knees, and pressed his head down.

Even Old Cui standing nearby was baffled.

At the same time, Gong Baonan returned from the inner room carrying a bag of silver, handing it to Madam Feng. “Shopkeeper Feng, my nephew was thoughtless and caused offense.”

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Madam Feng opened the package, saw the full amount of silver, and smiled proudly. “Alright, for the sake of these brothers, I won’t pursue this further. In the underworld, we help each other! See you around then.”

“Wait!” Jiang Chenghai stood up, smiling. “My son stole your seedlings and broke the rules; I’m paying thirty taels to settle that, which is only fair. However, one thing at a time—my son was beaten by your men. That’s a separate matter.”

As he rose, Li Tianwei and five other brothers slowly spread out in the courtyard, gradually surrounding Madam Feng and the man with the hook.

Sensing trouble, Madam Feng’s companion immediately drew a sickle from behind.

“What are you—what do you want to do? Want to wreck my business? I have connections with the authorities!”

Unexpectedly, Jiang Chenghai ignored the threat and walked over to Jiang Xiaodao, pulling him up from the ground.

The crowd closed in. Seeing the situation worsening, the man with the hook whispered to Madam Feng, “Boss, I’ll clear a path. You run now!”

Without hesitation, the man with the hook swung his sickle and charged at Jiang Chenghai.

Alas, a street thug could not match a former outlaw like Huzi.

Just as he approached, a short man suddenly darted sideways, dodged the blade, grabbed the man’s wrist, and with a strong elbow strike to the chest, knocked him to the ground.

Guan Wei and Gong Baonan immediately pounced, one on each side, lifting the man with the hook up.

Madam Feng tried to flee but was blocked by Li Tianwei at the door. Furious, she cursed, “Old Cui! Bastard! You set me up, didn’t you?”

Old Cui remained silent, knowing he had no grounds to plead.

Jiang Chenghai calmly approached and asked, “Son, who hit you?”

Jiang Xiaodao regained his senses and pointed to the man with the hook. “Him!”

“Oh? What are you waiting for then? Go get revenge.”

The man with the hook glared with clouded eyes, looking as if he might break free and devour Jiang Xiaodao alive.

“Father?”

Jiang Chenghai frowned. “What’s wrong? Scared?”

Jiang Xiaodao shook his head slightly. “I want a whip.”

“Hahaha!” Jiang Chenghai laughed heartily. “Good! Lao San, fetch him a whip.”

A moment later, Jiang Xiaodao took the whip without hesitation and fiercely lashed it across the man’s face.

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Though young, his fierce gaze showed he intended to do serious harm.

Guan Wei and Gong Baonan were alarmed and warned repeatedly, “Hey, Xiaodao, watch out! Don’t hit me!”

After a short while, Jiang Xiaodao was exhausted, panting heavily, the whip dripping with blood in his hand.

The man’s face was already mangled and unrecognizable. He surely never expected this boy to be so fierce and merciless.

Madam Feng sobbed beside them, begging, “Stop, please stop! If you keep hitting, someone will die!”

Jiang Chenghai paid no attention and quietly asked, “Son, are you done?”

“Not done!” Jiang Xiaodao shook his head vigorously. “Just tired. Need a break.”

“Alright, rest for now. Father will take care of this.”

With that, Jiang Chenghai’s expression hardened as he stepped before the man with the hook. “Old Four, give me the sickle.”

The short man who had struck earlier promptly handed over the sickle.

The man with the hook trembled and asked, “W-what are you going to do?”

Without a word, Jiang Chenghai grabbed the man’s ear and sliced it off with the sickle.

“Ah!!!”

The man screamed, not from pain, but from sheer terror.

Another slash, and only two dark holes remained on his head where his ears once were.

“Ah!!!”

Driven to the brink of fear, the man roared in fury, “You better kill me now! Otherwise, I’ll kill you sooner or later! Dare you throw a blade?”

Holding the bloody ears, Jiang Chenghai silently walked to the pigsty and tossed them into the feeding trough.

Two black pigs, strong as oxen, immediately surged forward to devour them.

Madam Feng, having never seen such a scene, went weak at the knees and collapsed, her skirt soaked with urine.

Jiang Chenghai casually wiped his hands and said, “You might not remember this name, but those in the trade know me as ‘Old Owl Hai.’ If you want revenge, come find me in Fengtian.”