Chapter 255 - 177: Brutal
"That family is new in town, from out of the area. They don’t have any relatives here, nor are they with the Government Office. I heard their second son is a Martial Artist who has achieved Great Success in Marrow Transformation. He once passed the Martial Examination in Shanyang Prefecture and served as a minor official."
The main hall of the Lichun Courtyard was bustling with song and dance.
At that moment, three people were sitting at a table in the corner.
One of them, a slightly older, middle-aged man, spoke.
"A Great Accomplishment Martial Artist of Marrow Transformation... not bad, I suppose. But since he’s an outsider, he has to play by our rules. His family wants to do business here, but they didn’t pay their respects at our Cao Bang’s docks. That’s just plain disrespectful."
The other two, a man and a woman, both nodded in approval upon hearing the middle-aged man’s words.
"Since they don’t know any manners, we’ll have to teach them a lesson on how to behave," the middle-aged man said.
The group immediately put their heads together, whispering about how to deal with the Fang Family, how to extort their money, and how to divide the spoils.
Ultimately, everything they said boiled down to one thing: they had their eyes on the Fang Family’s silver.
All this talk about not paying respects and not knowing the rules was just an excuse.
Meanwhile, not far away, Fang Yue’s brow furrowed. ’So it’s a local gang, not just some common thugs.’
Fang Yue had only just arrived when he overheard their completely undisguised conversation, instantly understanding who they were.
He also figured out why they were targeting his family.
His family had asked a middleman about buying property and starting a small business locally, and these members of the Cao Bang had found out.
As a result, they had carefully investigated the background of Fang Yue’s family.
Upon learning that Fang Yue’s family only had one Martial Artist who had achieved Great Success in Marrow Transformation, they grew greedy.
At least a hundred thousand taels of silver—how could such a massive fortune not be tempting?
’This feeling of being targeted and plotted against... it’s really not pleasant at all.’
Fang Yue’s gaze fell on the few Cao Bang disciples not far away, his eyes dark, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a faint, cold smile.
’It seems that without the protection of a Government Office position, anyone feels they can walk all over you.’
"Eldest Young Master Dong, you’re leaving already? It’s still so early! Are you afraid of the tigress waiting at home? You’re always like this at the crucial moment. How can a real man bow down to a woman?"
Just then, the middle-aged man at the next table teased one of his companions.
"Don’t talk nonsense! I really have something to do. Fine, I’m heading back first today. Tomorrow, we’ll stick to the plan and squeeze the money out of that family," the man called Eldest Young Master Dong retorted, his face flushing red with shame and anger.
The slightly older, middle-aged man was Luo Cheng. He paid it no mind and said with a slight smile:
"Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll go find my contact in the city patrol guard tonight. With us working from the inside and outside, we’re guaranteed to take down this family."
"That’s for the best." Eldest Young Master Dong nodded, then bid the group farewell and left the Lichun Courtyard.
After Eldest Young Master Dong was a good distance away,
Luo Cheng turned to the remaining two and said, "Heh heh, let’s use that Eldest Young Master Dong as bait this time. We’ll plan to get rid of him too."
"Old Luo, you’re really not picky, are you? To go after Eldest Young Master Dong’s wife, you’re even willing to ignore the gang’s rules," the woman beside him giggled.
The remaining three at the adjacent table continued to whisper among themselves.
However, their original goal of squeezing Fang Yue’s Family dry had now expanded to include getting rid of Eldest Young Master Dong, who had just left early.
’These people truly have no sense of basic decency or honor. One moment they’re calling each other brothers, and the next they’re plotting against one of their own. And it seems there’s even some entanglement with the man’s wife. Truly unbelievable.’
~~~~~~
Luo Cheng stumbled home drunk, a smirk playing on his lips. If this went successfully, he’d get his hands on several ten thousand taels of silver at least.
With that, plus his previous savings, he could buy enough Secret Medicine.
Then, his cultivation might advance another step, reaching the mid-stage of Qi Sensing.
"Stop! Are you looking to die? Who told you to lead with your left foot just now!"
Just as Luo Cheng was lost in his pleasant daydream, a harsh shout pierced his ears.
Luo Cheng looked up and saw a burly, scar-faced man standing before him.
Luo Cheng froze. He clearly didn’t recognize the man. Besides, he was a major leader in the Cao Bang. As one of the city’s three great gangs, the Cao Bang was powerful, and his own position was far from low. As a Martial Master at the initial stage of Qi Sensing, he certainly had the capital to be arrogant.
"You bastard!!"
The scar-faced giant snorted coldly and threw a punch straight at Luo Cheng.
"AHHH!!"
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the clouds.
A single punch broke Luo Cheng’s right arm. Then, the scar-faced giant kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying into a nearby wall.
"BANG!" The wall immediately shattered.
Amidst the rubble, Luo Cheng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Then, he fell unconscious.
"Hmph. I’ll just cripple you today. Next, I’ll deliver you to that family’s home," the scar-faced man said.
This time, undisguised, the voice was Fang Yue’s.
He then grabbed Luo Cheng’s body and quickly vanished into the darkness.
~~~~~~
「The moon was high in the sky.」
A drunken Eldest Young Master Dong had just opened his courtyard gate and stepped inside when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of his head and collapsed, unconscious.
An unknown amount of time later, Eldest Young Master Dong, who was lying in the courtyard, shook his head and struggled up from the ground.