Chapter 48: At Odds with a Single Word

“Big Mouth, how dare you shout at Grandpa!” Langtou immediately retorted.

“Did you hear me shout at Grandpa? I was reminding him—being the boss is all about supporting your brothers. Today, I’m negotiating with outsiders. Shouldn’t Grandpa have my back?” Big Mouth replied with a sneer.

He had already brought up the matter of switching allegiance; this was his leverage. He could leave Lianhong Society at any time and join a more powerful gang. Of course, whether he actually would was another matter—he just wanted Seventh Master to know that he was no longer just a lowly member of Lianhong Society, but a leader of a branch, and the strongest branch at that.

The rise and fall of a gang is like a person’s life. When first emerging, they’re young calves—if they fight their way through, they gain notoriety in the underworld; if not, they fade into obscurity. As the bosses grow older, their youthful vigor fades. There’s either a full-scale shakeup or the gang becomes a sunset organization, clinging to whatever territory remains, barely surviving.

Lianhong Society was just such a sunset gang. The boss was old and wanted a peaceful life, hoping to hold on to Su Daoan, the big cash cow. But he didn’t have much leverage left, and his subordinates were increasingly defiant.

Even Shanwei didn’t respect him. Outwardly, Shanwei was still deferential to Seventh Master, but the conflict between Big Mouth and Lu Feng was, at its core, instigated by Shanwei.

Big Mouth’s branch was strong, so he had to stand up for his men—this was the kind of backbone a gang leader needed. Otherwise, who would respect him?

At first, Big Mouth’s plan was perfect: capture Chen Lan, force Lu Feng into underground boxing. That way, he could avenge his men and make some extra cash.

Unfortunately, Crazy Xi couldn’t beat Lu Feng.

That, Big Mouth had anticipated. But then even Black Ghost lost to Lu Feng in the prison fight, which he hadn’t expected at all.

Finally, the dog fight was just a spur-of-the-moment idea—he wanted to toy with Lu Feng.

He never expected Lu Feng to burst out of the iron cage and throw him inside, letting the dog maul him.

While Big Mouth was howling in the hospital, he swore revenge; reconciliation was out of the question.

...

Seventh Master pondered for a while and finally spoke, “What do you want? I invited Boss Su over today to make peace, as I told you before.”

“Peace? I’ve never wanted that. Look at the injuries on me—peace? Sure, let me beat him until he’s as battered as I am!” Big Mouth shouted, pointing at Lu Feng.

Lu Feng sat with a half-smile, and said, “Do you want to fight me yourself, or call someone else to do it? Or maybe—call your dog?”

At the mention of the dog, the flesh on Big Mouth’s face twitched painfully.

“Kid, it’s not enough to be good with your fists. No matter how hard you punch, can you beat a blade?” Big Mouth said with a sinister tone.

“At least my fists are harder than yours,” Lu Feng shot back.

“Fine, you want to fight? I’ll find someone to fight you. I just hope you dare accept,” Big Mouth said provocatively.

“Why should I accept?” Lu Feng wasn’t afraid of fighting, but he didn’t see any point in meaningless brawls.

“Hmph! You trashed my place and think you can just walk away? If you dare to accept a fight today, I’ll bring someone to fight you. If you don’t dare, it’s even simpler—sooner or later, you’ll get into a car crash or get hacked to death in the street, and it won’t be my problem.” Big Mouth’s threat was blatant.

“Big Mouth, do you take me for dead? If you touch anyone close to me, I have ten thousand ways to finish you off!” Su Daoan slammed the table.

“Afraid of you? If you’ve got the guts, show it! Believe me, I could have hundreds of men chop your entire family to pieces in minutes!” Big Mouth yelled.

“I’m a businessman, not in your gang. I don’t do the tough guy act, but buying your life? Plenty of people would take that deal!” Su Daoan retorted.

“Right, I forgot Boss Su is a big money man. Paying to have me killed is nothing to you. But you should worry whether you can walk out of here today!” Big Mouth grinned maliciously.

“Enough, Big Mouth. I said we’re here to make peace. Lay everything out on the table, why spoil the harmony?” Seventh Master still hoped for reconciliation.

Su Daoan nodded, “Harmony brings wealth. I’m a businessman. If you want peace, I agree. If you want a fight, I’m not afraid of anyone!”

“If you want peace, tally up the damages to my boxing arena first, then talk to me!” Big Mouth demanded.

“There’s nothing much to tally. You threatened me to fight, I went. You said fight Crazy Xi, I did. Then you wanted me to fight Black Ghost, and I did that too. Finally, you tried to sic a dog on me, and it bit you instead—serves you right!” Lu Feng sneered.

On the table, Big Mouth had no ground to stand on.

“What about calling the cops to raid my place?”

“I’m not an underworld guy, and neither is Chen Lan. When someone’s arrested, shouldn’t they call the police? The TV says it every day—if you’re in trouble, call the cops,” Lu Feng said with a smirk.

...

“Since Big Mouth is injured, I’ll pay his medical bills—two hundred thousand right here. If you agree, take it,” Su Daoan offered.

Big Mouth stood up and slapped Su Daoan’s bank card away, cursing, “You think I’m a beggar?”

“Two hundred thousand is enough to treat your wounds—and even get some cosmetic surgery,” Su Daoan replied, unfazed. He’d run Yun’an for years and seen plenty of tough scenes.

Lu Feng hadn’t expected Su Daoan to be so sharp-tongued. Big Mouth’s face had indeed been mauled by the dog, and the bandages made him look especially menacing.

“You bastard! Are you looking to die here?” Big Mouth slammed the table and roared.

“Nope!” Lu Feng and Su Daoan both shook their heads leisurely, utterly unconcerned.

Big Mouth bellowed, “If you don’t want to die, stop acting so arrogant! All of you, get out here—cripple them!”

Qingtang Street was rich territory, and Big Mouth had plenty of henchmen. Hearing the boss’s shout, a cacophony erupted outside as a swarm of thugs, wielding machetes, blocked the entrance to the café.

“Big Mouth, you’re attacking the boss’s meeting! Are you insane?” Langtou shouted angrily.

Seventh Master, however, sat calmly—he knew that no matter how crazy Big Mouth got, he’d never dare touch him.

Once branded a traitor, the label would stick for life. So Big Mouth wouldn’t dare move against him; at most, he just wanted to hack up Lu Feng.

“I wouldn’t dare. But if Grandpa won’t back me, I have to back myself. Otherwise, how can I survive in Yangcheng?” Big Mouth said with a mocking tone.

“Looks like you really want to defect from Lianhong Society!” Langtou yelled.

Seventh Master remained calm, though who knew what he was thinking. His men no longer respected him, and whatever he was thinking, it couldn’t be anything pleasant.

“Enough, Big Mouth. Do you still recognize me as your Grandpa?” Seventh Master looked at the Qingtang branch’s men surrounding the door, suppressing his anger as he asked.