"We're all reasonable people," Old Yuan said with a smile, looking at Liao Qiang. "Since we're being reasonable, shouldn't we settle this properly?"
Liao Qiang’s brows were tightly knitted, and I noticed a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead.
He squinted, and after a long moment, exhaled, "How do you want to settle it?"
Old Yuan said, "The trouble started because your son provoked someone he shouldn't have, which is why my brother took action against your son..."
As he spoke, he walked over to Liao Qiang barefoot and, looking at his feet, asked, "What size shoe do you wear?"
Liao Qiang paused for a moment, then replied, "Forty-three..."
"Take off your shoes," Old Yuan said.
Liao Qiang hesitated, but complied.
After he took off his shoes, Old Yuan slipped his own feet into them, wearing them himself. "They fit perfectly. I won't be polite about this pair."
A flicker of anger flashed in Liao Qiang’s eyes, but it was gone in an instant. He then smiled, "It's just a pair of shoes. If you want them, I'll send a pair for each of you later."
Old Yuan raised his eyebrows. "That would be great... Crab, aren't you going to release him? Do you really intend to kill him?"
Upon hearing this, Crab released the person he was pinning to the ground, stood up, and wiped his dagger on himself.
By this time, the ground was covered in blood. Anyone with a weak stomach would have fainted on the spot.
Old Yuan and his crew lived a life on the edge of a blade, constantly drifting at sea.
Their style of operation was always ruthless and decisive, something I had experienced firsthand when I was on their ship.
It was just that I hadn't witnessed such a bloody scene back then. Today, I saw it clearly.
"Boss Liao, you set the terms. How do you want to handle this matter?" Old Yuan asked.
Liao Qiang glanced at me, a hint of unwillingness still in his eyes, and began, "Your brother crippled my son..."
Before he could finish, Old Yuan slapped him directly. "Speak properly!"
A palm print instantly appeared on Liao Qiang's face. Old Yuan's slap was not light; it drew blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Who exactly are you people?" Liao Qiang gritted out, his eyes filled with defiance.
"What? You don't want to discuss this anymore?" Old Yuan asked impatiently. "I'm asking you now, not the other way around! You want to know who we are?"
He licked his lips and continued, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I fear you wouldn't understand even if I did."
"Please enlighten me!" Liao Qiang forced out the four words through gritted teeth.
Old Yuan chuckled, "Beside Golden Sands Beach, the Outer Gang, have you heard of it?"
At these words, I clearly saw a flicker of fear flash in Liao Qiang's eyes. It wasn't feigned fear; it was a subconscious reaction.
"It seems you do know of the Outer Gang?" Old Yuan grinned.
Liao Qiang regained his composure, took a deep breath, and clasped his hands in a martial arts gesture. "A wild chicken pecks at the ground, how can it reach Mount Tianwang?"
Hearing this, I was slightly taken aback.
This was an old martial world slang phrase, and my father had taught me some of it before.
The meaning behind it was to ask Old Yuan if they were legitimate members of the Outer Gang.
Old Yuan laughed, "There's plenty of rice on the ground for feeding. Yes, you have a background!"
His phrase essentially meant: I'm not just any Outer Gang member; if I'm not legitimate, then no one is.
"Have you paid respects to the 'Ama'?" Liao Qiang asked again.
"In the main hall, seven incense sticks are lit. A legitimate 'Ama'," Old Yuan replied.
These two phrases, translated, essentially meant: Which faction of the Outer Gang do you belong to?
As for Old Yuan's response, it was meant to indicate which hall he was affiliated with.
Liao Qiang followed up with a few more slang phrases, and Old Yuan responded in kind.
They were essentially revealing their identities to each other, and finally, Liao Qiang stood up and bowed deeply to Old Yuan.
"Alright, this matter is settled today," Old Yuan said. "Keep your eyes peeled from now on. You're of the 'Huang' generation, which means you should call me uncle. Brother Xiang is my peer, and it was your son's fortune to be disciplined by him."
"Yes, yes, yes," Liao Qiang said, nodding and bowing subserviently, as if he were a completely different person.
Though he had been dealt with quite miserably by Old Yuan earlier, he had retained a semblance of his imposing demeanor as a boss. Now, he was like a subordinate.
The drastic change caught me off guard.
Old Yuan smiled and patted Liao Qiang's shoulder. "Your son's matter is settled. What about your business?"
Liao Qiang blinked, a look of embarrassment on his face, and was momentarily speechless.
"I heard you've already put out a bounty on Brother Xiang?" Old Yuan said coldly.
Liao Qiang swallowed, his face turning pale. He then looked at me and said, "It was my fault for not knowing Brother Xiang's identity before. I hope Brother Xiang can forgive me..."
"A simple apology is enough?" Old Yuan asked. "You know the rules, don't you?"
I didn't understand what "rules" Old Yuan was referring to, but seeing Liao Qiang's current expression, I realized that these "rules" were likely no small matter.
Liao Qiang nodded. "I... I know..."
"Then do as the rules dictate."
"Okay..."
The word "okay" was slightly trembling. Liao Qiang placed his hand on the table.
Crab then tossed the dagger he was holding over.
Liao Qiang stared at the dagger for a good while before picking it up.
Seeing this, I quickly interjected, "Brother Yuan, let's just let it go."
Old Yuan looked at me and smiled, "Brother Xiang, these are the rules of the street. Mistakes must be punished. Don't worry. If he ever dares to bother you again, I'll make sure he understands the meaning of 'three cuts, six holes'!"
I knew the way people in the martial world operated; no matter what, rules were paramount.
This was the same reason why, when I went to find Liu Hui before, he was willing to let Wang Yang and me go after I "stated my case."
Seeing this, I couldn't say anything more.
Liao Qiang picked up the dagger, placed it on his pinky finger, and with a fierce exertion, blood splattered everywhere!
From that moment on, the Jiangdong area gained a "Fourth Brother."
Years later, no one knew how Liao Qiang lost his pinky, nor did anyone dare to ask.
There were many rumors, and I never imagined that from that day forward, I would have so much interaction with Liao Qiang.
Thinking about it now, it truly was a twist of fate.
...
As we left the Xi Hai Yuan Jing, Fatty and Hong Yunpeng were still very worried about me. As soon as we got into the car, Fatty started bombarding me with questions.
I didn't say much, just told him to shut up for a moment.
Old Yuan and his group left that night after finishing their business.
Around one in the morning, Fatty, Hong Yunpeng, and I were at a barbecue stall, grilling skewers. I recounted the entire incident.
After listening, both of them gasped simultaneously.
"Brother Xiang, are you sure Liao Qiang won't bother us again?" Fatty asked.
I replied, "I don't think so."
"Your friends are really ruthless!" Fatty said, still shaken. "I've met quite a few ruthless people before, but I've never seen anyone like them. Brother Xiang, how did you meet these people?"
I smiled and looked at Fatty. "Do you remember your Youxian Pillow back in Yanjing?"
"Of course, I remember."
"The person who wanted to buy your Youxian Pillow back then was their leader."
"Ah?!"
The meat skewer in Fatty's hand instantly dropped onto the table...