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墨書 Inktalez
Many problems in the world are not as people imagine. For instance, a bar that was thought to be safe has turned into a hell on earth, while the front lines, which should be filled with the sounds of battle and bloodshed, are now peaceful and clear, with no disturbances.
As Chen Huoxiong led the brothers of Purple Jade Hall halfway through their journey, they happened to encounter Shi Yushu, who was making a grand show of preparing for battle. This encounter highlighted just how slowly the members of Purple Jade Hall were moving. Contrary to expectations, there was no animosity between them; instead, it was remarkably calm, so much so that hundreds of onlookers watched in silence as the two spoke.
When Shi Yushu and Chen Huoxiong met, the latter took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and offered one to Shi Yushu. As a junior member of the Underworld, this gesture from Chen Huoxiong caught Shi Yushu's attention.
In just a few months, Hurricane had risen to become a top gang in Huaguo, and Shi Yushu couldn't help but marvel at this.
Shi Yushu took the cigarette and placed it between his lips. Chen Huoxiong then produced a lighter to ignite it before finally lighting his own cigarette that had been swaying in the wind for quite some time.
The two glowing embers flickered alternately in the darkness of night.
Shi Yushu slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke and praised, "It's impressive that you can hold such a position at such a young age in Hurricane. Your future is limitless!"
Chen Huoxiong showed no sign of arrogance in front of Shi Yushu. With a chuckle, he humbly replied, "Not at all; I'm just a greenhorn who still needs to learn from my seniors."
"Indeed," Shi Yushu said contentedly after taking another drag. He then asked seriously, "Does Feng Shao have any messages for me?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Huoxiong moved the cigarette aside and leaned closer to Shi Yushu's ear. "Brother Jufeng will probably need Boss Shi to rest for some time after returning. That way, our performance won't be in vain."
Shi Yushu was momentarily taken aback but soon understood what was meant. The two then burst into laughter together.
"Tell Feng Shao that I, Shi, will remember this favor. If there's an opportunity in the future, I will definitely repay him."
Chen Huoxiong clasped his hands together and said earnestly, "Absolutely."
After their conversation ended, Shi Yushu and Chen Huoxiong bid farewell and returned to their respective groups. They set off in grand fashion and returned just as grandly; many gang members had already begun yawning.
Leading the brothers of Purple Jade Hall back, Chen Huoxiong picked up the pace significantly this time. Once they were out of sight of the United Heart Association, he tossed aside the cigarette that had only been lit for two puffs—a poor thing that never got to enjoy much warmth before its end.
He took out another cigarette and placed it between his lips, muttering, "Whoever smokes must inhale!"
...
Recently, the Underworld has been unsettled. This has been the most common phrase in Huaguo's Underworld this year. With the hurricane, a massive stone, crashing into the waters of Shandong Province, a long-anticipated wave finally emerged last night.
The hurricane clashed with Shi Yushu and the United Heart Association in a fierce battle that lasted nearly all night, only determining a victor by dawn. Ultimately, it ended with a complete victory for the hurricane. Early this morning, Shi Yushu returned to his hometown in the Yellow River Basin with his defeated troops, gravely injured and bedridden, with several reports of him being critically ill. He narrowly survived but could no longer engage in conflicts within the martial world and chose to fortify his territory, refusing all visitors.
When Jufeng returned to Washing City and was having breakfast with Lu Qijia at Azure Waterside while listening to Lezheng recount the latest rumors from the road, he nearly choked on his food and quickly turned his head away, coughing violently.
Lu Qijia hurriedly stood up, grabbed a glass of water from the table, and handed it to Jufeng, gently patting his back until he recovered somewhat, and the flush on his face eased.
After Jufeng finished drinking, Lu Qijia reproached him with concern, "You need to eat properly during meals. Look at you; you're already grown up but still don't know how to take care of yourself. You can choke even while eating; it really worries me."
Lu Qijia's soft reprimands were filled with deep concern that Jufeng could easily discern. He patted Jia'er’s delicate hand reassuringly and promised, "Don't worry; I can take care of myself. It’s just that A-Zheng's news was too funny; I couldn't help it. I promise there won't be a next time."
Hearing Jufeng's solemn assurance, Lu Qijia finally let him off the hook but insisted that Lezheng should not continue talking until they finished their meal.
After finishing breakfast, Lezheng detailed the situation in the south.
After Shi Yushu's defeat, the United Heart Association's influence in Shandong Province was reduced to just one faction opposing Zhu Mao's Underworld. They were essentially holding on by a thread. If Purple Jade Hall advanced southeastward, they would be caught in a pincer movement by the United Heart Association, making escape impossible.
The leader of the United Heart Association in Qingcheng was somewhat pragmatic; that night he decisively ordered a retreat. However, during their withdrawal, they were ambushed by Zhu Mao's pre-positioned forces, resulting in only half of their original number successfully escaping Shandong Province.
By this morning, the United Heart Association's influence in Shandong Province had been completely eradicated by the hurricane. The province was now entirely under its control.
Having summarized last night's events, Lezheng noticed Jufeng was in good spirits and hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Brother Jufeng, Shandong Province is now under our control. I still need to lead two factions to confront the Unification Alliance. Shouldn't we send some people from Northeast to take over Shandong Province?"
Lezheng's words were not wrong. The Purple Jade Hall and Underworld were currently mobile units and could not be stationed in Shandong Province. However, it was also unwise to leave the province unguarded. If the United Heart Association took advantage of that, it would be a disaster. It seemed that only Dragon Hall was the most suitable choice, but hearing this from Lezheng might raise suspicions of selfishness, as he was the leader of Dragon Hall and ultimately seeking to strengthen his own power.
This was also the reason for Lezheng's hesitation earlier; he feared that speaking up might bring trouble upon himself. Yet, it was his duty, and if he didn't act, he would feel ungrateful towards Brother Feng for his kindness. After weighing his options, he finally spoke up.
As expected, once he finished speaking, Jufeng's previously pleasant expression darkened with a hint of gloom.
Seeing this, Lezheng felt a surge of panic and quickly bowed his head in apology.
"Brother Jufeng, I..."
The words following "I" never came out because Jufeng raised his hand to stop his defense.
"A-Zheng, sit down." Jufeng's expression remained unchanged as he spoke calmly.
Lezheng lowered his head even further, his voice trembling slightly.
"Brother Jufeng, I dare not."
"What is there to fear? If I tell you to sit, then you sit. Do you not listen to my words?!"
Jufeng's voice rose several decibels. After hesitating repeatedly, Lezheng complied and sat beside Jufeng.
Jufeng placed a hand on Lezheng's shoulder and said reassuringly, "A-Zheng, your willingness to take this risk proves that neither I nor anyone else has misjudged you. We have built everything from scratch together. If you don't even have this little faith in me, then I truly would be a failure as a leader."
Lezheng looked up, suddenly filled with a sense of relief after surviving a crisis. He gazed at Jufeng and asked, "Brother Jufeng, you don't blame me for taking credit?"
The hand resting on Lezheng's shoulder suddenly lifted, unexpectedly delivering a sharp slap to Lezheng's face. Jufeng questioned, "Am I really that foolish?"
Confirming that Jufeng bore no ill will, Lezheng felt a wave of relief wash over him and replied, "Brother Jufeng, your wisdom is vast; it is I who was confused."
Jufeng retracted his hand and spoke solemnly, "My concerns are not meant to blame you; it's just that the situation in Shandong Province is indeed quite tricky. Don't forget, the area around Shandong was originally Hua Gang's territory. We started in the Northeast and claimed it for ourselves, leaving Hua Gang with little to say. However, if we send people from the Northeast to Shandong now, we might face criticism from those with ulterior motives. So for now, this is the best course of action."
Upon hearing Jufeng's explanation, Lezheng finally understood that his perspective had been too narrow and he had underestimated the complexity of the issue.
Ultimately, it was a matter of public sentiment. The hearts of Hua Gang's people were one thing, but the hearts of Hurricane's people were also influenced by their own sentiments. Brother Jufeng truly had a difficult path ahead.
Lezheng gazed at Jufeng's contemplative expression, his resolve to follow him unwavering and even more determined!
(To be continued)
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