The night was dark as ink, yet the gambling dens, brothels, and taverns of Qingyang City remained as boisterous as ever.

The Raging Waves Gambling Den was one of the Black Tiger Gang’s most important properties. At that moment, it was filled with clamor and foul air.

Qian Biao was bitterly recounting the encounter from two days prior:

“...That little brat, leaning on his family’s stinking wealth and bringing a few watchdogs, dared to flaunt his might before me! Damn it, if not for the old wretch Qin Lu still having some shred of his old name, I’d have hacked off that Fang bastard’s hand right then and there!”

He gulped down a large mouthful of wine and slammed the bowl onto the table, sending wine splashing everywhere.

Zhao Heihu, burly and imposing, had a scar slashing from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth, making him look exceptionally ferocious. Gloom was written all over his face, and he said nothing.

Beside him, Zhao Heibao was different. His frame was even more massive than Zhao Heihu’s, his arms knotted with muscles like blocks of iron, his large hands thick-knuckled and heavily calloused.

Hearing this, Zhao Heibao gave a scornful laugh, his voice like a booming bell:

“Hah! Qin Lu? An old has-been, shrinking in his mansion enjoying a life of ease these last few years. He probably can’t even lift a blade anymore! And you lot still treat him like some big shot!”

Zhao Heibao cracked his knuckles with a crisp popping sound and continued in his rough voice:

“And that so-called Qin family young master, daring to break our rules? He’s courting death! The Fang family won’t obey, their boats will sink for sure! I’d like to see what the Qin family can do about it! If that old man Qin Lu dares show his face, perfect, we’ll send him straight to the underworld! Let him learn what they mean by ‘the young fist fears no age’!”

“Well said!”

Qian Biao pounded the table in approval. “Lord Leopard’s might! The Qin family are nothing! Qin Lu is old, long past his time to be buried!”

Zhao Heihu’s eyes narrowed, a fierce glint flashing through them as he made to speak.

Bang—!

The gambling den’s door was violently smashed open by a tremendous force! Wood splinters flew everywhere!

The clamor halted abruptly. Everyone stared toward the entrance in shock.

There, over thirty men in sturdy attire stood at the doorway, all uniformly masked in black, only their icy cold eyes exposed. They filed in swiftly, sealing off all passageways. An invisible, murderous aura spread through the hall.

The leader, lean and capable with a gaunt face, was none other than Qin Fu. His gaze swept calmly across the entire hall, finally settling on the three men at the main seat: Zhao Heihu, Zhao Heibao, and Qian Biao.

Qian Biao was the first to recognize Qin Fu. He jumped up, pointing and cursing:

“You’re that old dog of the Qin family? Qin Wanlin sent you? Still masking your face, playing tricks! Brothers, grab your weapons! Chop this waste into pieces for me!”

The Black Tiger Gang members drew their blades, axes, and clubs, surging forward with shouts. The atmosphere instantly became a tinderbox.

Qin Fu didn’t even raise an eyelid. His voice low, he said:

“By order of my young master, I have a few words to deliver to the gentlemen of the Black Tiger Gang. The Fang family’s ships are under the Qin family’s protection. From this day forward, the Fang family fleet traveling on the Qingyang River—if they suffer the slightest damage, or if anyone aboard loses a single hair... no matter who lays a hand on them, the Qin family will repay tenfold! Today, I’ve come merely to collect some interest and make you... remember this lesson well.”

“Bullshit!”

Zhao Heibao, already brimming with contempt for the Qin family, could hardly bear such insolence from an old servant. With a furious roar, his body shot forth like a cannonball, his large hand tearing through the air with a foul wind, grabbing straight for Qin Fu’s face! It was his signature Stele-Shattering Hand! He fully intended to crush this old servant’s skull in a single move and awe the entire hall!

“Die for me!”

Facing this grab, a sharp gleam erupted in Qin Fu’s eyes. He shifted his footing, his body sliding half a step sideways, evading the lethal claw. At the same time, his right hand formed a finger-sword, darting like lightning to strike the inner wrist of Zhao Heibao’s missed right hand.

“Urgh—ahh!”

Zhao Heibao felt an ice-cold, piercing force instantly penetrate his wrist. His entire right arm went numb and wracked with agony, its power dissipating. He let out a pained howl, his attack broken.

Qin Fu pressed his advantage without mercy. His body clinging close to Zhao Heibao, his left hand transformed from palm to claw, instantly locking onto Zhao Heibao’s left shoulder. His five fingers like hooks, he unleashed his internal force!

Crack!

The teeth-grinding sound of bone splintering rang out crisply!

“Ahh—!”

A searing pain bored into Zhao Heibao’s left shoulder. Half his body went limp, and his massive frame staggered.

But it wasn’t over. Qin Fu’s right leg swept low and struck heavily against the outer side of Zhao Heibao’s supporting knee.

Crack!

Another crisp snap!

Zhao Heibao could no longer stand. With a thunderous crash, his body collapsed to its knees, a muffled boom echoing. He let out a beast-like shriek of agony, his forehead instantly beaded with bean-sized cold sweat. The arrogance and ferocity from moments before were gone, replaced only by disbelief, pain, and horror! His hard-trained body, which he prided himself on, was so utterly fragile before this opponent!

All of this happened in a flash! From Zhao Heibao’s explosive attack to him kneeling and howling, no more than three breaths had passed!

“Lord Leopard!”

“Kill him!”

The Black Tiger Gang members finally reacted, shocked and enraged. With a unified shout, they brandished their weapons and madly charged at Qin Fu.

“Engage!” Qin Fu ordered coldly, his voice full of deadly finality.

“Aye!”

The thirty black-clad guards answered in a low roar, like tigers loosed from their cages, bravely meeting the charge! The gambling den instantly turned into a field of carnage!

The Qin family guards were clearly well-trained and coordinated. They did not aim to kill, but their strikes were exceptionally precise and vicious. The backs of blades and clubs targeted joints, tendons, and bones!

Crack!

“Ahh—!”

“My arm!”

“My leg! My leg’s broken!”

The crisp sounds of snapping bones and agonized wails rose one after another, instantly overwhelming the clash of weapons.

Seeing the tide turn, Qian Biao tried to slip away in the chaos. Just as he turned, a gray shadow flickered before him; Qin Fu had already appeared in his path.

“You... what do you want?!”

Qian Biao was scared out of his wits. Facing this terrifying old servant, he couldn’t even muster the thought of resistance.

“Your mouth stinks too much, disturbing those it shouldn’t.”

Qin Fu’s expression was blank. Before the words had fully landed, his right hand moved quick as lightning, sweeping across Qian Biao’s face.

Pap pap pap pap!

Four crisp slaps rang out almost as one. Qian Biao saw stars, his cheeks instantly swelling like balls, a mouthful of shattered teeth spraying out with blood. Like a pile of mud, he collapsed and overturned a gambling table.

Witnessing this, Zhao Heihu’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets! He had watched helplessly as the brother he relied upon was crippled in a few moves, as the gang’s elite were broken like chickens and dogs, as Qian Biao was slapped into pulp!

With a furious roar, he drew a thick-backed chopping blade and charged Qin Fu recklessly, seeking to avenge his brother and salvage the last shred of face.

Facing the blade, Qin Fu sidestepped slightly to evade it. Two fingers darted forth like a viper’s tongue, precisely striking Zhao Heihu’s blade-wielding wrist.

“Ugh!”

Zhao Heihu felt his wrist go numb, his entire arm instantly losing all sensation. The chopping blade clattered to the ground. Qin Fu followed through with a kick to Zhao Heihu’s abdomen.

“Puh!”

As if struck by a heavy hammer, Zhao Heihu doubled over, spewing blood as he flew backward. He crashed against the wall and slumped, struggling in vain to rise.

The battle ended swiftly. In less than half the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the floor was littered with gang members clutching broken limbs and wailing—a miserable scene.

Standing amid it all, his breathing steady, Qin Fu swept a cold glance over them:

“Remember my young master’s words. Not a single hair of the Fang family’s ships may be lost! If you dare extend your claws again, what breaks next won’t be mere bones.”

With that, he turned and left. The thirty black-clad guards rapidly regrouped and receded like the tide, vanishing into the night outside in the blink of an eye, leaving only havoc in their wake.

Zhao Heibao clutched his shattered shoulder and knee, convulsing in pain, the venom in his eyes now replaced by profound terror. He finally understood that the Qin family’s foundations were absolutely not something they could shake. Without Qin Lu himself even needing to lift a finger, a single old servant was an expert who could crush him like an ant! The boast that “Qin Lu is old” now sounded so bitterly ironic.

Zhao Heihu struggled to rise but aggravated his internal injuries, spitting another mouthful of blood. Looking at his brother and the gang’s miserable state, only despair and regret remained in his eyes. He knew the Black Tiger Gang was finished. At least in Qingyang City, utterly finished.

* * *

Qin Residence Study

The candlelight flickered. Qin Wanlin was leafing through account books beneath the lamp, his expression serene.

The study door was pushed open silently, and Qin Fu appeared without a sound, bowing in salute.

“Young Master, this old servant reports back.”

Qin Wanlin set down the accounts and raised his eyes to him, his gaze deep:

“How did it go?”

“Everyone in the Black Tiger Gang, including Zhao Heibao, Zhao Heihu, and Qian Biao, has been taught a lasting lesson. This should keep them clear-headed for some time. The Fang family’s fleet should be safe from worry.”

Qin Wanlin nodded slightly, as if he had long anticipated this outcome: “Uncle Fu has worked hard. Go and rest now; there are great matters in the residence tomorrow.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Qin Fu bowed again and withdrew silently.

The study returned to silence. Qin Wanlin’s gaze dropped back to the account books, as if he had just dealt with an utterly trivial household chore. The lamplight fell on his gentle, jade-like face, yet deep within his eyes lay a bottomless, frigid pool.

He raised the teacup in his hand and took a light sip.

Tomorrow, the grand wedding.