Volume One, Chapter Five: I Call the Shots Here

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In the Glazed Hall, five paces of blood-red stained the floor, with four corpses lying about, a scene of desolation. Su Ming slowly wiped the blood off his blade and sat down in the main seat originally occupied by Bakun and another, idly twirling a pair of iron balls in his hands. With a composed expression, he said, “Bakun is dead. From now on, the Flower-Soaked Street falls under my jurisdiction. Any objections?”

Those present trembled, unwilling to meet each other’s eyes. Though his words seemed utterly mundane, to them they were colder than ice.

The Hehai Gang, one of the Seven Great Gangs among the thirty-six sects of the Four Domains, maintained ironclad rules that none dared to break.

And Su Ming’s actions were utterly perverse. As the godson of the Tiger Third Lord, one of the thirteen major leaders in the gang, he killed at will. The minor leaders appointed by the gang were wiped out in the blink of an eye. This was not mere ruthlessness.

He was a madman who cared nothing for consequences!

When Su Ming asked his question, nobody dared to speak, but inwardly they were discontent. The jurisdiction of Flower-Soaked Street had been set by the higher-ups of the Hehai Gang. Even if they were forced to submit now, what meaning did it have? Sooner or later, the gang would settle the scores.

“Daring and ambitious!” A man in his thirties suddenly stepped forward, pointing at Su Ming and scolding him angrily. Though his body trembled, his eyes revealed an undeniable yearning.

He was gambling—betting that Su Ming wouldn’t continue killing. If the gang investigated later, his so-called ‘righteous words’ and over ten years’ experience in the Hehai Gang might earn him a chance to fill Bakun’s vacancy.

“Oh?” Su Ming turned his head with a light “hmm.”

“Lord Bakun was appointed personally by the gang. What you are doing is blatant disrespect to the Hehai Gang. Do you still recognize the gang leader? What about the three hall leaders?”

“You dare kill the godson of Tiger Third Lord? That’s lawlessness. I will report this to Tiger Third Lord truthfully.”

The man finished, clasping his fists and placing them on his left shoulder, his face full of righteous indignation.

Su Ming inexplicably smiled and beckoned the man over. “Come, come here.”

“Huh? What’s this? Have you realized your mistake?” The man was puzzled but obediently stepped forward.

—Ssshh.

A dagger plunged into his abdomen, the blade protruding from his back.

The man’s eyes widened in disbelief, but Su Ming tightly covered his mouth and made a shushing gesture.

“Shh!”

“Don’t make a sound.”

Three minutes later, another corpse lay in the hall.

“Now, any more objections?” Su Ming sat lazily in the main seat, legs crossed, asking. Everyone bowed their heads, the hall so silent one could hear their heartbeats.

Seeing no response, Su Ming nodded with satisfaction. A system voice echoed in his mind.

“Novice task ‘Blood Debt Paid in Blood’ progress: 50%.”

“Why only 50%?”

“Note: Tasks issued by this system require gang approval. The host has only seized the position but has not yet been certified by the Hehai Gang, so the task is incomplete.”

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As he pondered how to proceed, a thin, sharp-featured man stepped out from the crowd, wearing a sycophantic smile. “Boss Su, my name is Liu Lecheng.”

Interest flickered in Su Ming’s eyes. While everyone else treated him like a ghost or god, shying away, this man dared to approach and curry favor.

Interesting.

“To be honest, I’ve long despised Bakun’s ways—rising by betraying brothers. What skill is that? Unlike you, with real talent under your command. Such a man, pfft.” Liu Lecheng spat disdainfully.

“Get to the point,” Su Ming said.

“Hehe, if you don’t mind, I’m willing to serve you loyally, Boss.” Liu Lecheng’s oily smile deepened. Seeing Su Ming hesitate, he snapped at the others, “Why are you all standing there dumbly? Clear these corpses away! Don’t you know you’re blocking the boss’s view?”

Immediately, some began tidying up.

“Wait,” Su Ming said, pointing to the Stone Forest’s body on the ground, then turning to Liu Lecheng, “Alright, when I’m not around, they’re under your command.”

“Thank you, Boss,” Liu Lecheng beamed, knowing his gamble had paid off.

Anyone selling their loyalty wants to fetch a good price; an opportunity to climb must be seized tightly.

“Everyone else, leave. Liu Lecheng, stay.” Su Ming waved, and the brothel emptied instantly.

“Boss, do you have private matters to discuss with me?” Liu Lecheng asked cautiously, bowing slightly.

“No, just want to show you something good.” Su Ming slowly crouched and placed his right hand on Stone Forest’s chest. Suddenly, a roaring furnace ignited within him. The once warm skin of Stone Forest visibly withered until he became a desiccated corpse.

Stone Forest had trained for years; though not top-tier, his body still contained spiritual energy, half a step into the realm, making him digestible—unlike ordinary people who cannot be refined.

“Um…” Liu Lecheng’s eyes widened, speechless for a long time.

Having survived years in the underworld, he immediately recognized that Su Ming’s cultivation method was demonic. In mere moments, a living being had turned into a dried corpse—far more terrifying than common demonic cultivators.

Though many demonic sects existed, they mostly hid in the shadows and dared not show themselves.

Moreover, demonic practitioners were notorious for bloodshed and chaos wherever they appeared.

Hence, both righteous factions and the imperial court despised them. The largest righteous forces, led by the Great Brightness Temple and Dragon-Tiger Mountain, fought demonic cultivators to the death.

The Hehai Gang was not strictly righteous but was certainly not a demonic force. If exposed, Su Ming would have nowhere to hide.

For him to reveal such powers before Liu Lecheng was shocking. At that moment, Liu Lecheng wished he had never clung to this particular patron, fearing he might be implicated someday.

After fully absorbing Stone Forest, Su Ming felt the agonizing pain inside him ease. His cultivation improved noticeably. He then looked at Liu Lecheng with a faint, ambiguous smile.

“Scared now?”

“N-no, Boss Su, what are you saying? Since I chose to follow you, I trust you. It’s just that your method is a bit strange—it’s not related to demonic cultivation, right?” Liu Lecheng forced a stiff smile, more painful than tears.

He desperately hoped Su Ming would confirm it was not demonic.

Alas, the next words plunged him into an icy abyss.

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“It is demonic cultivation. If you’re scared, you can leave now—I won’t hold it against you.” Su Ming’s lips curled into a smile, but it was utterly devoid of warmth.

Conflicted, Liu Lecheng clenched his hidden fists, trembling from the depths of his heart as he met Su Ming’s enigmatic gaze.

Having spent over ten years in the Hehai Gang and now in his thirties, he had never been this nervous, whether in life-or-death fights or facing top leaders.

The hall grew quieter, suffused with a suffocating stillness.

“Boss, I’ll help you dispose of the bodies,” Liu Lecheng said through gritted teeth, his conflicted expression vanishing, replaced with resolve.

“Good.” Su Ming stepped forward, patting his shoulder and slowly releasing the dagger from his sleeve.

“Afterward, bring me all the information on Stone Forest and Tiger Third Lord. Everything—from when they dined out to visits to brothels—I want it all investigated, understood?”

“Yes, Boss Su.” Liu Lecheng nodded repeatedly, alone loading the corpses into sacks and carrying them out.

Watching him leave, Su Ming returned to the main seat, a deep glint flashing in his eyes. He spun the iron balls in his hands, their clinking sounds echoing.

If Liu Lecheng had fled, there would have been one more corpse in the hall.

Those who seek to climb by clinging to powerful patrons without paying any price—it’s impossible. If you want benefits, you must leave a token of loyalty.

With Liu Lecheng handling the bodies, if Su Ming were later hunted by righteous forces, Liu Lecheng wouldn’t escape either.

Only then would they be truly bound together like grasshoppers on a single stalk.

Half an hour later, Liu Lecheng returned.

No wonder he’d survived so long outside; his work was swift and clean. He burned the bodies in a secluded spot, then handed over a thick dossier.

Su Ming took it and read carefully. It contained meticulous records of Stone Forest’s deeds and his dealings with Tiger Third Lord.

Moments later, the dossier was consumed by fire. Su Ming stood and said to Liu Lecheng, “Let’s go see Tiger Third Lord.”

Liu Lecheng was shocked, stammering, “Boss Su, you just killed the Third Lord’s godson and want to visit him? That’s not wise…”

He was terrified. Tiger Third Lord was notoriously volatile, and he feared they might never return.

“If we don’t go, he won’t come after us?” Su Ming asked.

“Uh… he will.”

“Then why waste words? Take all the money from Bakun and come with me.”