Chapter 137: Disband
Chapter 137: Disband
Seeing Xuan Zao’s confused and puzzled expression, Fang Jing was also extremely surprised inside.
The message “Exchange the person for the lower volume of the ‘Outer Demon Gate’ from the Demonic Division” would probably leave Xuan Zao completely bewildered, with no idea what it meant.
If it were him, he would know exactly what it meant; those words carried a huge amount of information.
The Demonic Division secret technique that Kume Nansho taught him was called “Inner Ghost Gate·Secret Essence Orifices,” but the message left by the Takaha Group demanded the “lower volume of the Outer Demon Gate.”
Could it be that Kume Nansho held back and didn’t teach him all the secrets of the Demonic Division?
“No, that’s not right. Teacher Kume wouldn’t do something like that.”
The impression Kume Nansho gave him was that of a reclusive master, a martial arts expert skilled in ancient techniques, broad-minded and casual, almost playful in his approach to life.
Moreover, he wasn’t the type to hide things selfishly. It was just that when he taught him the Huanzang Style fist techniques, he always seemed to have some hidden concern, which was why they didn’t call each other master and disciple. But in essence, he really did treat him as his “disciple.”
…Teacher Kume also took good care of Teacher Sakaki Tetsuhei. Back then, entrusted by someone, he taught a lesson to Sakaki Tetsuhei, who at the time had the fearless courage of a newborn calf and went around challenging dojos recklessly, and even passed on his own unique skills to him.
The friendship between these two, which was both master-disciple and friend, had lasted for over ten years. Kume Nansho wouldn’t harm his own junior.
“But why? Why did the other party specifically target Teacher Sakaki Tetsuhei to demand the ‘lower volume of the Outer Demon Gate’ from the Demonic Division?”
One point Fang Jing couldn’t figure out was that Sakaki Tetsuhei himself wasn’t a member of the Huanzang Style. He probably didn’t even know that within the “Demonic Division” of the Huanzang Style’s Eight Arts, there was something called the “lower volume of the Outer Demon Gate.”
No, even he, a genuine practitioner of the Huanzang Style, was completely in the dark about the origins of the lower volume of the Outer Demon Gate. How could Sakaki Tetsuhei possibly know?
“Since the Takaha Group said such things… could it be that they are specifically targeting the Huanzang Style?”
No… at this point, it was almost certainly aimed at the Huanzang Style.
“Let’s not talk about that for now. Since you don’t want to go to the hospital, you still need treatment. How about this…”
He took out his phone and made a call.
“I’ll find someone who specializes in these matters to help.”
In less than ten minutes, a cargo transporter who specialized in gray area transport arrived by car.
Fang Jing planned to take Xuan Zao, who refused to go to the hospital, to a “Secret Doctor’s” clinic… No matter what, he couldn’t just leave him injured and unattended.
“Aren’t you planning to come with us?”
The gloomy man acting as the “driver” asked from the driver’s seat.
“No, I have some personal matters to take care of.”
Fang Jing glanced at the group of people behind him. The “driver” probably noticed the scene of devastation here, but being a professional, he didn’t ask any questions.
When he saw the car exhaust fumes and the dust kicked up as it drove away.
Fang Jing knew that he had some issues to deal with next.
…
Fang Jing wasn’t too polite with the Bōsōzoku members. He roughly interrogated them.
He hadn’t been too harsh earlier, only inflicting significant injuries that would land them in the hospital for a few months.
These people were mostly inner members of a fairly active Bōsōzoku group from nearby towns. They often dealt with a thug named “Tsutsuga.”
This time, they took money from “Tsutsuga” to deal with a man named Xuan Zao. Tsutsuga told them to teach this man a good lesson, at least crippling one of his hands to make him shut up obediently.
Fang Jing got some details from the Bōsōzoku members. It turned out Xuan Zao intended to seek help from the Sunao-gumi, but was spotted by the Bōsōzoku members on “watch.”
A conflict naturally broke out. They had the advantage in numbers, and Xuan Zao couldn’t fight off so many by himself, leading to the scene earlier.
“Teacher Sakaki Tetsuhei also has connections in the city. It seems he knows Higashi Yuantai from the Sunao-gumi as well.”
Higashi Yuantai was the leader of the Sunao-gumi. Like the Takaha Group in the city, they were both Yakuza groups, but they had a competitive relationship and had been at odds in the past.
The Sunao-gumi was an organization that split off from the Iwamoto Group and was quite powerful in the city. Like the Iwamoto Group, it was a subordinate group of the Murakami Group.
The Takaha Group was a newer organization. Originally, its influence locally wasn’t great. However, in recent years, it got involved in drug trade and gradually grew stronger.
They had a unique supply channel and were connected to overseas mafia. Recently, it was heard that the Takaha Group was gradually suppressing the local Iwamoto Group and Sunao-gumi, encroaching on their territories.
“The Takaha Group did this to prevent the Xuan Zao group from reporting to Higashi Yuantai of the Sunao-gumi, which is why they had him beaten up.”
Fang Jing walked alone on the night road. He recalled Higashi Yuantai’s phone number and took out his phone to dial it. Unfortunately, to his surprise, the call didn’t go through.
“Forget it, I’ll go to the Takaha Group myself and look for that guy named ‘Tsutsuga.'”
Near the large shopping mall in the city’s south district, there was a leisure and entertainment venue called “X—Baseball.” It mainly offered various comprehensive sports and leisure facilities, basically including billiards, pool, table tennis, bowling, and a baseball batting cage.
The backer of “X—Baseball” was none other than the Takaha Group. The Takaha Group was involved in multiple investment projects locally. This leisure club had always been very popular, with many customers every day. However, no one knew the true nature of this leisure club; it was considered a stronghold of the Takaha Group.
“Cough! Cough!”
Higashi Yuantai’s sunglasses had been taken off by someone. His face was bruised and swollen, the corner of his mouth split and bleeding, and he kept coughing incessantly.
“Hahaha! Isn’t this brother Yuantai?”
A fat man in a white suit, followed by a group of people, walked into the billiards room.
Seeing Higashi Yuantai tied to a chair in such a miserable state, the smile on his face grew wider.
“Goodness! Look at your face, how did it end up like this…”
This billiards room was located in the activity center on the second floor of “X—Baseball.” Below was a baseball field with artificial turf covering the outfield. On the field, a group of young people in various outfits were practicing baseball—some playing catch, others practicing batting.
The baseball field’s lights were very bright, making it as clear as day even at night.
“Shiota, what your Takaha Group is doing completely ignores the code of honor.”
Naturally, Higashi Yuantai glared angrily. He spat out a mouthful of blood and stared at the big-headed, large-eared fat man, saying in a low voice:
“You know the rules of the underworld very well. It’s one thing for you to secretly collude with those from the Black Devourer Syndicate, but to reach into the Murakami Group’s territory—you should know what that means!”
“As expected of the son of the ‘Sunao-gumi Tiger,’ still talking tough even at death’s door. But sorry, in this day and age, who still follows underworld rules? Anyone who blocks the Takaha Group’s path to making money deserves to die!”
The fat man found a chair and sat facing Higashi Yuantai.
“I’ll give you a chance. Tell me where old man Wakabayashi is, and I promise you and your men can leave here safely. Otherwise…”
His gaze shifted slightly, and only then did Higashi Yuantai notice that several of his Sunao-gumi subordinates were tied up, their mouths sealed with tape, kneeling in a row.
Just then, a beautiful woman dressed as a waitress walked over. Holding a tray, she handed a glass of iced whiskey to the fat man Shiota.
“Don’t blame me, brother Yuantai. I don’t want to do this either, but my partners told me not to let anyone from the Iwamoto Group go… That old bastard Wakabayashi has lived long enough. I think he’s tired of living too…”
The fat man took out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his head, and downed the whiskey in one gulp.
“There’s no air conditioning here; it’s really uncomfortable… As for you, just tell me his whereabouts, and everyone can relax. No need to keep things so tense.”
At the same time, the waitress put down the tray and walked over to Higashi Yuantai’s kneeling subordinates. However, in that instant, a dinner knife appeared in her right hand. With a “swish,” it precisely stabbed a Sunao-gumi member in the neck.
Mmph! Mmph!
Hit in a vital spot, the member painfully collapsed to the ground. Blood continuously gushed from his neck as he lay there, his body convulsing. He struggled for half a minute before slowly dying.
“This is the first one. There are five more to go.”
The fat man Shiota held up one finger.
“I know they’ve been your loyal subordinates for many years. You don’t want me to kill them all, do you? Look, the carpet is all stained with blood. It’ll be hard to wash; we’ll have to throw it away…”
After his hypocritical sighing, the fat man noticed that Higashi Yuantai’s brows were tightly furrowed, but he still wasn’t planning to talk.
(Just taking over the Iwamoto Group’s territory isn’t enough. Those old stubborn folks will definitely be unhappy with me controlling this area. I need to capture old man Wakabayashi. That way, I can suppress the others and also bargain with the Murakami Group.)
This Higashi Yuantai also needs to be dealt with properly. I don’t believe there’s anyone in this world who can be this stubborn.
Just at that moment, a commotion arose from below the second floor, specifically from the baseball field.
“What’s going on?”
The fat man Shiota asked his subordinate.
“Not sure. Something seems to have happened down below…”
Shiota’s subordinate also looked puzzled.
“Seems like someone is causing trouble on the field.”
“Causing trouble? You mean someone dares to cause trouble on the Takaha Group’s turf?”
Shiota frowned, suspicion arising in his heart.
A tall man wearing a baseball cap looked at his companions lying on the ground, anger flashing in his eyes. He glared hatefully at Fang Jing and said, “Kid, who are you? How dare you come here and cause trouble? Do you even know what place this is?”
“I know.”
He lifted one foot and stepped down again on the head of a man trying to get up.
“This is the so-called ‘Takaha Group’s’ turf, right? I’m here to find someone…”
Fang Jing scanned the baseball field. He noticed that the people playing catch, those swinging metal bats, and even those playing with skateboards in the distant spectator stands had all stopped.
They all turned their gazes toward his position and slowly gathered in his direction. There were quite a few of them—at least a hundred or so.
“The person I’m looking for is named Tsutsuga. Don’t tell me you don’t know him.”
Fang Jing narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the inside and outside of the baseball field, speaking unhurriedly.
“Tonight, that ‘Tsutsuga’ must come to see me. Otherwise, the Takaha Group should prepare to disband.”