Chapter 331

Jiang Sen asked concernfully, “Then Brother Wei really should recuperate properly.” Wei Ming’s expression was awkward as he forced smiles. Seeing that things were almost settled, Xie Wendong gently patted Jiang Sen’s shoulder. Jiang Sen wisely stepped aside. Xie Wendong said with a smile, “Brother Wei was eager to see me. Now that I’m here.” The implication was clear—Wei Ming should speak up quickly if he had anything to say. Wei Ming suddenly snapped out of his daze, remembering his purpose. His face lit up with a smile as he said, “Actually, it’s nothing much. I’ve long admired Mr. Xie but never had the chance to meet him. Besides, I’d like to discuss matters related to the Loyalty Gang with Mr. Xie. It’s not convenient to talk outside. Please come in; let’s sit down and have a detailed conversation over dinner.”

Brothers? Xie Wendong sneered inwardly. What audacity! How dare you think you qualify! But since this was Wei Ming’s territory, he decided to give him some face. He smiled at Wei Ming without reacting angrily and said calmly, “Alright, Brother Wei, please lead the way.” After exchanging a few more polite words, Wei Ming led Xie Wendong and the others inside the dilapidated villa. From the outside, the villa already looked in poor condition, and inside, it was even more ruined. The dark concrete walls were unpainted, emitting a damp smell. The floor was messy, with old newspapers piled up haphazardly. The living room was relatively clean, with an Eight Immortals table in the center, filled only with liquor, no dishes. There were many burly men standing around, dressed uniformly, with fierce eyes, exuding a menacing aura. Wei Ming acted as the host, warmly inviting everyone to sit down. Xie Wendong wasn’t polite either; he waved at his followers and sat down confidently. Jiang Sen and the others stood behind and to the sides of him, while Li Shuang and Ren Changfeng stood by the walls, ready to spot any movement from the surrounding men immediately. The five members positioned themselves at the doors and windows—key exits and entrances in case of an attack.

At the large Eight Immortals table, only Xie Wendong and Wei Ming sat on opposite sides. Wei Ming glanced at the positioning of Xie Wendong’s men and nodded in approval. Xie Wendong’s success wasn’t due solely to himself; his group of formidable and tricky assistants were also incredible. Though alarmed, Wei Ming remained confident. He knew exactly how many top assassins from the Soul Group were hidden nearby. Even ten Xie Wendongs might not be able to escape. His expression remained unchanged as he said politely with a smile, “The conditions are limited. Please forgive me, Mr. Xie.”

Xie Wendong narrowed his eyes and smiled, saying, “The conditions aren’t that important. What matters most is whether you’re sincere.” Wei Ming’s smile froze—he hadn’t expected Xie Wendong to get straight to the point right away. He quickly thought of a response and said, “If I weren’t sincere, I wouldn’t have gone to such a remote place just to invite Mr. Xie here.” Xie Wendong looked around, laughed heartily, and fixed his piercing gaze on Wei Ming, saying, “It’s indeed a remote place, but it’s also perfect for killing someone.” “Oh… haha, Mr. Xie really knows how to joke.” Wei Ming tried to cover his embarrassment with a smile, but his changing expression couldn’t be concealed. He picked up the liquor and poured two glasses, placing one in front of Xie Wendong. “Since this is our first meeting, let’s toast.” Xie Wendong looked at him smilingly, picked up the glass, and sniffed it. The aroma was strong, and the liquor was thick and viscous. Though he wasn’t an expert in wine, he could tell it was high-quality liquor aged for many years. He examined it for a while before setting the glass down.

Wei Ming’s expression changed slightly. “Is Mr. Xie dissatisfied with the liquor?” After all, in the underworld, face is of utmost importance. Having one’s toast rejected is a huge humiliation.

Xie Wendong replied leisurely, “The liquor is good, but sadly, I only drink with friends and only their liquor.” “Could it be…” Wei Ming’s face turned grim as he asked, “Could it be that Mr. Xie doesn’t consider me a friend?” “Hehe,” Xie Wendong said with a smile, swirling his glass, “Whether we’re friends depends on what you do.”

Wei Ming was shocked. After pondering for a moment, he set down his glass, leaned back in his seat, and let out a long sigh. “Originally, I wanted to leave the Loyalty Gang. But Mr. Xie should know that if I just left quietly, it would make others in the underworld look down on me. Those who know will think I’m tired of the constant fighting in the underworld, while those who don’t will assume I was forced to leave by some external forces.” Xie Wendong narrowed his eyes at him, sneering inwardly, smiling but staying silent, waiting for him to continue. Wei Ming added, “Also, ever since Boss Bo was killed by a traitor, the Loyalty Gang has been in turmoil. It’s already chaotic enough, and now Mr. Xie steps in—what’s your intention?”

Xie Wendong said leisurely, “Your gang is next to mine. If you cause chaos, it’s natural that the Northern Hongmen will also be in turmoil. Besides, I’m friends with Brother Bo. Out of loyalty and reason, I should help bring an end to the internal strife in the Zhongyi Gang. Does Brother Wei think I’ve done something wrong?” “Of course!” Since the matter had been brought to light, Wei Ming was determined to confront Xie Wendong head-on. He clenched his fists secretly, suppressing his anger, and said, “No matter how much chaos there is in the Zhongyi Gang, it’s still an internal matter of our gang. You, Mr. Xie, are just an outsider. By interfering, aren’t you overreaching?” Xie Wendong chuckled and said, “In the martial world and the underworld, it’s a society of the strong preying on the weak. It’s only natural for the big fish to eat the small ones.” Wei Ming sneered, then burst into laughter. Though he was seething with hatred, he showed none of it on his face. After a while, he regained his composure and said, “If that’s what Mr. Xie thinks, then I understand. You want to take over our Zhongyi Gang. Just say so. With your current strength, with just one word of yours, who in the Zhongyi Gang would dare not obey?!” At that moment, Jiang Sen suddenly interjected, “So, if Brother Wei is sensible, he should leave as soon as possible.” “Yes!” Wei Ming drained the wine in his cup and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, I should go.” He stood up, leaning on the table, and said with a smile, “Sorry, I need to use the restroom. I’ll be back right away.” Xie Wendong didn’t stop him but just laughed and said, “Brother Wei, are you already drunk after just one drink?” Wei Ming was stunned and shook his head. “I’m not drunk. I’m very clear-headed, even clearer than ever.” “No!” Xie Wendong said smilingly, “You’re drunk.” He turned to Jiang Sen and waved his hand. “Lao Sen, Brother Wei is drunk. Go with him. Be careful and make sure he doesn’t go to the wrong place.” Jiang Sen understood what he meant and nodded. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Wei Ming’s arm without hesitation, and said, “Brother Wei, let me help you.” Wei Ming was furious but didn’t move for a long time. The burly men on either side also changed expressions and reached for the hidden weapons on their bodies. At Wei Ming’s command, they would undoubtedly charge at Xie Wendong and tear him to pieces. Unfortunately, Wei Ming remained silent for a long time. He didn’t dare speak because standing beside him was the infamous and ruthless leader of the Blood Killers, Jiang Sen. Even if his men could kill Xie Wendong, he himself would likely have no chance of leaving that place.

Wei Ming secretly sighed, nodded, and said with a smile, “With Mr. Xie’s generosity, how could I refuse his kindness?” With that, he turned and walked away. Along the way, Jiang Sen followed him like a shadow, never straying far. Wei Ming tried several times to escape, but at the sight of Jiang Sen’s green, eerie eyes in the darkness, his urge to run vanished instantly. Finding no chance, Wei Ming went to the bathroom symbolically before returning to the hall with Jiang Sen’s enthusiastic “assistance.”

“Brother Wei is really fast!” Xie Wendong looked him up and down and said cheerfully. Wei Ming replied politely on the surface, but inwardly he was already cursing Xie Wendong’s ancestors. Since everything that needed to be said had been said, there was nothing left to talk about. The two chatted casually as time passed. Around ten o’clock, the Soul Group waiting outside grew impatient. From time to time, bird calls could be heard in the woods. Hearing this, Wei Ming became uneasy, sweating profusely as if sitting on needles.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Wendong sneered secretly and asked, “Does Brother Wei want to use the bathroom again?” “No… no, no,” Wei Ming forced himself to stay calm. “It’s getting late, and Mr. Xie is busy with important matters. I won’t keep you any longer.” He finally couldn’t bear to ask them to leave. But Xie Wendong showed no sign of leaving, saying with a smile, “I had a great conversation with Brother Wei today. Even more important matters can wait. Let’s talk all night long.”

“Cough, cough!” Wei Ming almost spat out the drink he had just swallowed, waving his hands repeatedly. “It’s late, and I want to rest too. Let’s talk in detail another time if we get the chance. What does Mr. Xie think?” At that moment, the bird calls in the woods grew louder. Wei Ming knew this was the secret signal agreed upon with the Soul Group, telling him to come out quickly—they were about to launch an attack. Panicked, Wei Ming realized that if he didn’t leave now, and the Soul Group did attack, even if Xie Wendong didn’t kill him, he might still die from stray bullets. He would have no way to complain then.

Hearing this, Xie Wendong finally stood up and said, “Since Brother Wei is tired, I shouldn’t disturb him. I hope we’ll have the chance to meet again next time.”

Damn it, I hope that day never comes! Hearing that Xie Wendong was finally leaving, Wei Ming let out a long sigh of relief. He cursed in his heart, but said aloud, “Of course, of course. I’m waiting for that day too.” As soon as he finished speaking, there was a soft “pop” sound, and a thumb-sized hole appeared on the wall behind Wei Ming—a bloody hole, surrounded by bloodstains. A man standing against the wall collapsed silently, his left eye completely black and blurred, with blood flowing from the back of his head.

“Brother Dong, be careful!” Gao Qiang shouted and rushed forward to push Xie Wendong down under him. The others immediately understood what was happening. Jiang Sen, without hesitation, grabbed Wei Ming by the neck and swung his fist hard at his stomach. Wei Ming let out a cry of pain and collapsed, curling up on the ground. Then, Jiang Sen quickly lay down and pressed his head down with a slap. “It seems you won’t need to rest today.” At that moment, there were continuous “pop” sounds—not loud, but to everyone’s ears, they sounded like the calls from hell. Many of Wei Ming’s men still hadn’t figured out what was going on when they were instantly turned into bloody messes, with no part of their bodies untouched. As they fell, blood sprayed high into the air. Before Wei Ming could escape, the Soul Group launched an attack, something even Xie Wendong hadn’t expected. He raised his head slightly, looking at the bloodied corpses and those still struggling to survive, and shook his head in dismay—what brutal tactics! He then turned to look at Jiang Sen holding Wei Ming down and said coldly, “This is the ally you’re willing to die for?” Wei Ming was already terrified, his eyes wide as he looked around—everywhere he saw were his own brothers killed by gunfire. “Ah…!” Wei Ming punched the ground in pain and cried, tears streaming down his face. He never expected the Soul Group to be so ruthless, launching an attack before he even showed up. In fact, the Soul Group had no choice but to launch a strong attack. First, Wei Ming was clearly tied up by Xie Wendong, and no one knew when he would be free. The longer they delayed, the more likely things would go wrong. Second, informants from the Soul Group reported that a large convoy from the Nan Hongmen was heading this way. Although their intentions were unknown, better to be safe than sorry. Sacrificing Wei Ming, though regrettable, was insignificant compared to the lives of Xie Wendong and the others.

Seeing Wei Ming covered in snot and tears, Jiang Sen lost his temper. He turned sideways and kicked him hard, shouting, “If you want to wail, go do it far away from me! Stop crying like a baby in front of me!” Xie Wendong slowly crawled to the window sill and sat against the wall, trying to look outside to see how many people were in the Soul Group. As soon as his hair poked out, a barrage of bullets hit the window sill without windows, turning it into a mess of mud. “Hah! What strong firepower!” Xie Wendong said with a shrug and a smile. Jiang Sen stared at the window sill and calmly said, “Judging from the bullet trajectories, the enemy has at least twenty guns.” Then he noticed Wei Ming crouched down like a turtle. He grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him over, asking harshly, “How many people are in the Soul Group in total?” “I… I really don’t know.” Bullets were flying all around his head. Wei Ming had never seen such a fierce attack before and was terrified, shrinking into a ball. “What a useless guy!” Jiang Sen slapped him and snapped, “If you still don’t tell the truth now, it won’t be long before none of us can get out alive.” Wei Ming trembled and said, “I really… really don’t know. The Soul Group only told me that the assassins they sent are enough to kill Mr. Xie… no, ten times over.” Hearing this, Xie Wendong laughed heartily and said proudly, “I’m right here, with only one head. If you want it, come and take it.” Seeing his spirited demeanor, Wei Ming was stunned. With no idea how many enemies there were and surrounded as he was, he could still laugh. Wei Ming couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. He glanced back at his own miserable state and shook his head in silence. Perhaps this was why Xie Wendong was Xie Wendong and Wei Ming was Wei Ming.