Chapter 391: Chapter 389: Threat
Zheng Tiancheng’s tone carried a sense of threat. After he finished speaking, he looked around at everyone and immediately continued:
"Mr. Xiao gathered you all here to form an alliance against Qin Hao. I don’t think I need to stress that point."
"However, how we build this alliance, how many people you can contribute, how much money, how much effort—these are the specific issues we need to discuss today."
As he spoke, he took a gentle sip from his teacup, then stood up and said, "The strength of our Wolf Fang Gang is right here. Naturally, I should lead this alliance. No objections, right?"
Everyone remained silent, which naturally indicated agreement. Seeing the silence, Zheng Tiancheng frowned with displeasure and then said:
"Alright, next, each of you should express your position. How will we establish an alliance charter? How will it operate? How much money and how many people will be contributed? There needs to be a consensus. Don’t just shout slogans louder than the others and then go mute when it’s time to actually contribute."
Qin Hao listened to Zheng Tiancheng’s words and began to ponder rapidly. This meeting called by Xiao Jintian was intended to use these insignificant underground forces from the provincial government as cannon fodder, continually harassing him and draining his strength, while also achieving the goal of unifying and integrating all underground forces—a clever strategy indeed.
Sure enough, after Zheng Tiancheng spoke, these independent small forces fell silent.
Zheng Tiancheng was not surprised by this. He looked at the six big bosses sitting together. They were all forces supported by the Xiao Family, and supported secretly. As long as these six agreed together, and contributed money and people, the remaining small forces would naturally fall into line.
This tactic is summarized in one sentence: after getting money, the wealth of the gentry is returned in full, while that of the commoners is split seventy-thirty.
Now, Zheng Tiancheng was waiting for these six big bosses to speak first.
However, to his disappointment, the atmosphere of silence in the reception room lasted a full five to six minutes, until his teacup was empty, and still, no one stood up to speak.
He glanced coldly at the six big bosses, but they all kept their eyes downwards, silent and calm, clearly more composed than he was.
But without anyone speaking, Zheng Tiancheng couldn’t remain calm.
He immediately slammed his teacup onto the table with a bang, startling everyone!
"What are you all doing, pulling some kind of nonsense? What, unwilling? Are you treating my words like farts?"
"Fine, you’re treating my words as farts, but do you dare not listen to Xiao Jintian, Mr. Xiao’s words?"
Everyone kept their heads down, remaining silent, while the six big bosses were even more composed. Zheng Tiancheng couldn’t understand why.
What was going on? Yesterday, everyone was passionate, yelling about serving the Xiao Family, but now they’ve all turned silent? What’s more perplexing is why the six forces personally cultivated by Xiao Jintian collectively turned silent?
These questions weighed heavily on Zheng Tiancheng’s mind, but due to the circumstances, he couldn’t confront the six big bosses directly, or the fact that they were secretly supported by the Xiao Family would be exposed.
Immediately, he resolved in his mind that after today’s meeting ends, he would definitely summon the six to question them thoroughly.
However, as Zheng Tiancheng pondered these things, Ren Tiangao suddenly stood up in the silent crowd, looking calmly at Zheng Tiancheng, and said:
"Gang Leader Zheng, I deeply regret Mr. Xiao Jintian’s predicament. But my family is small with weak strength, even if we wanted to avenge Mr. Xiao, our capability is too modest to help."
"Therefore, I withdraw from this meeting."
As soon as he spoke, the room fell silent.
Upon hearing Ren Tiangao’s words, Zheng Tiancheng immediately swept the teacup on the table to the ground with his hand.
Bang!
With the teacup shattered, anger burned to its peak on Zheng Tiancheng’s face as he pointed at Ren Tiangao, furiously shouting, "What did you say? Withdraw?!"
"Ha! Laughable! Do you think this meeting is where you can come and go as you please? Where do you place my Wolf Fang Gang and me, Zheng Tiancheng?"
His tone was icy, and immediately, a few other small forces who were ready to follow Ren Tiangao and stand up to withdraw shrank back in fear and sat down quietly.
Ren Tiangao’s demeanor remained calm. He looked at Zheng Tiancheng and said, "Gang Leader Zheng, as I said, my family is insignificant and can’t contribute much. This meeting was voluntarily called, so withdrawing isn’t excessive."
Zheng Tiancheng’s expression was so dark it could drip water as he coldly looked at Ren Tiangao and said, "Fine, fine! I see, you’re trying to go against the Xiao Family?"
Ren Tiangao remained calm, took a deep breath, then looked through the crowd at Qin Hao. Qin Hao smiled lightly and looked at him appreciatively.
In that moment, Ren Tiangao immediately made his final decision, surveying everyone present, then spoke deliberately, "That’s right, I am going against the Xiao Family, so what?"
Swish!
Everyone gasped collectively in shock.
No one expected Ren Tiangao to have such courage, daring to openly declare rebellion against the Xiao Family at a meeting called by them!
Zheng Tiancheng’s face initially showed surprise, then he sneered in fury.
"Hahaha, Ren Tiangao? This is the first time I’ve heard your name!"
He laughed maniacally, his gaze toward Ren Tiangao gradually turning icy.
"Who are you, a little nobody not even recognized at the provincial level, to say you’re going against Mr. Xiao Jintian? You’re either foolhardy or mad!"
"In that case, let me show you what it means to know your place today!"
As he spoke, he quickly charged toward Ren Tiangao like a whirlwind, landing a heavy palm strike on Ren Tiangao’s chest.
Pfft!
Ren Tiangao spat out a mouthful of blood and flew back four or five meters, clutching his chest while lying on the ground, struggling to prop himself up, badly injuring him with one blow.
Zheng Tiancheng continued advancing step by step toward Ren Tiangao on the ground, already resolved to make an example by killing him today, or else the meeting would be impossible to continue!