Chapter 206: Grudge Reunion, Seeing Cripple Again

Long Cheng left, walking away with nonchalance. He stirred chaos among the alien race upon arrival, and left the Empire and Church a mess when he departed. He simply left without looking back or settling things. Yet, he planted the seed of ‘ambition’ deep within Lin Qi’s heart.

Lin Qi lingered in a foggy state, but his heart was incredibly fertile soil. That vast land was drenched in a potent fertilizer named ‘gold coin’. All it needed was a single opportunity – a nudge for that ‘ambition’ seed to sprout, push up a stalk, and grow vigorously. Who could know what it would become? Perhaps it would mature into a colossal tree whose shadow would envelop the entire Continent?

Who could tell? Not even the Gods! Surely not Long Cheng! And certainly not Lin Qi now!

No one knew how terrifying Lin Qi would become with desire, pursuit, and ambition taking root; what kind of monster that seed within him would ultimately grow into. The soil was there, fertilizer was never in short supply, and the land had ample space. What Lin Qi lacked was only an East Wind, a springtime drizzle, and the driving force to crack open the seed’s husk.

Watching Long Cheng’s retreating figure in the distance, Lin Qi raised his right hand and roared: “Don’t die on the road! Remember, once you get back, you promised to send us good stuff! Everything else is beside the point, but send lots of Gold, Silver, and Jewelry! You’re rich, I know you are!”

Long Cheng stumbled slightly, then quickly disappeared into the swirling snow and the thick darkness of the night.

Sighing deeply, Lin Qi felt a strange hollowness inside. How great would it be if Long Cheng had stayed? If he had, the position of Black Tiger Family’s chief enforcer might have been his. But was he the Soaring Eagle General of that huge empire? What kind of rank was that? Could it match a Gaul Empire general?

Long Cheng’s family, friends, and enemies were all in The East. He could never have stayed here.

Just as Lin Qi’s family, friends, and enemies were all in the Western lands, he couldn’t leave either. Sighing again, Lin Qi patted Enzo, who looked grim, and forcefully pulled him into a hug, thumping his shoulder firmly.

“Alright, I know you feel bad.”

Enzo looked at Lin Qi in surprise: “Boss?”

Lin Qi gripped Enzo’s shoulders, looking him dead in the eye seriously: “You accidentally killed an Earth Dragon Knight. But it wasn’t your fault. Your heart was in the right place; you were trying to save him, I know! It was just an accident, nothing more.”

Enzo’s eyelids drooped, and he sighed weakly: “But… as an Empire soldier, I still…”

Lin Qi shook Enzo hard, his voice sharp: “No ‘buts’. You were acting out of kindness. It was an accident. Got it? If you feel guilt, then work hard to become a Warrior stronger than an Earth Dragon Knight, and kill more of the Alien Race. Understand? They attacked our friends first! We were just retaliating!”

‘Retaliating’? Enzo blinked.

Working harder to become a stronger Empire soldier than an Earth Dragon Knight, killing more of the Alien Race? That seemed like a good way to go about it.

Enzo straightened his back. Even if it was just deceiving himself, he accepted Lin Qi’s reasoning. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he stared intently at Lin Qi and nodded firmly: “Boss, I get it. I’ll try my best. I heard Black Horse Haus challenged me? He challenged me to a Combat Drill?”

Patting Enzo’s shoulder, Lin Qi turned to leave: “I’ll bring people along. Ten outside helpers, right? Crush them all… Is there gonna be an outside betting ring for this? Ha! I wish I could bet a few million Gold Coins. Heh heh, with two Celestial Knights as our helpers, I really want to see Black Horse Haus’s pathetic little face! I’ll turn him into Dead Horse Haus.”

Clapping his hands, Lin Qi shouted: “Burn the bodies! Uncle Bar, Aunt Lili, take people into the Imperial Capital early tomorrow morning, in batches. The whole family of the Hunchback, the big boss of the Southern City underworld, got whacked. It’s chaos now, so grab some shops, set up businesses, and settle the brothers down.”

Bar and Lili acknowledged, called out to Leo, and the three hundred family thugs quickly assembled. A fire roared into life. The pile of mangled corpses gave off a foul charred smell. Among them was Jie. Jie, who had just been valiant and beautiful beyond measure, now became a corpse like all the other ‘lowly, foul’ sinners, burning in the fierce flames.

With a sharp whistle, Lin Qi’s group swiftly vanished towards the Imperial Capital. The capital must be in utter chaos now. Lin Qi, Enzo, and the others needed to sneak back into the school under cover of night. Uncle Bar and his people had it easier; they had safe houses outside the city. At dawn, they could enter posing as a merchant caravan.

Trapping Jiang Yong and Jie’s crew like this was entirely Lin Qi’s scheme. It was only after getting the news that Bar and Aunt Lili were back that Lin Qi hatched the plan to ambush Jiang Yong in that depression. Three Celestial Knights against him alone – he was bound to die. The only variable was Jie the Divine Descendant. But against Aunt Lili’s terrifying, un-Human Divine Power, Jie had to suffer defeat.

The night passed without incident. Led by Vic, Lin Qi and his three companions safely returned to University City via the Imperial Capital’s winding sewers.

Early the next morning, Bar and Aunt Lili, dressed simply and properly, led groups split into over a dozen teams into the Imperial Capital. They headed straight for the South City Commercial District. Gold Coins flowed like water as they bought over a dozen shops spread across both the busiest and quietest streets, settling in smoothly.

With the Underworld boss of the South City Commercial District, the Hunchback, and his entire family wiped out, the monsters lurking in the Commercial District panicked. Businesses under the Hunchback’s name started going up for sale, and their managers sold them off in fear, donated the money, and fled. That was why Bar and Aunt Lili managed to snag so many shops so easily.

But within just a day or two, before the Black Tiger Family people could even get familiar with the Commercial District’s alleys, its Underworld elements were suddenly reorganized by a strong force. All the monsters bowed to a new ruling power. Shop owners received notices: Order was restored! Rules would revert exactly to how they were under the Hunchback. Monthly protection fees must be paid in full.

All the villains and spies in the Business District became organized, keeping a tight watch on everything happening on the streets. Even if Uncle Bar wanted to step outside, three or five tails would follow him, making it impossible to do anything.

So, on the third day after the family’s people entered the city, Lin Qi called out Cripple. They met at a luxurious hotel in the South City Commercial District.

This hotel, called the ‘April Flower’, was originally one of the Hunchback’s properties, and the most luxurious in the Commercial District. The Hunchback died, and all his heirs died too. With unbelievable speed, the hotel passed into Cripple’s ownership. Cripple finally left his rickety old Cripple’s Tavern and officially moved into this extravagant money pit.

When Lin Qi saw Cripple in the hotel’s biggest, most opulent reception hall, he almost didn’t recognize him.

He wore a garish Silk robe, brightly colored like a parrot’s feathers, carrying an obvious whiff of palace style, mimicking the designs favored by court Nobles. His previously messy, greasy hair was combed meticulously. Greying locks were carefully braided into a small tail, tightly fastened at the back of his head with a hair clip studded with ash-grey pearls.

Even the ancient, wrinkled hands usually stained black under the nails were scrubbed clean. His nails were immaculate, just like those of pampered old Nobles born into privilege.

What almost made Lin Qi burst out laughing was the faint layer of powdered rouge on Cripple’s aged face. It gave his skin a rosy glow. Topped with a thin layer of skincare oil, Cripple’s old, flowered face positively shone, looking absurdly healthy and radiant.

Six enormous gem rings adorned the now-clean fingers of his hands. Sitting bolt upright on the sofa in the center of the hall, hands resting calmly on his lap, Cripple held his head high, looking pointedly at Lin Qi as he entered.

There was none of the old warmth as Cripple looked at Lin Qi. Instead, there was obvious haughtiness and arrogance, a clear barrier.

“Ah, Little Lin Qi, you’re here. Ohoho, Uncle Cripple doesn’t deal in the old business anymore. See? Uncle Cripple is doing proper trade now!”

Lin Qi couldn’t help but laugh quietly. He walked over to stand in front of Cripple and bowed gracefully.

“So that’s it! I see you’ve become a respectable man now!”

Cripple slowly rubbed the gem on his ring, nearly thumb-sized, and nodded with that same arrogance. “I’m most likely about to receive the honor of becoming a Baron. Granted, it’s not hereditary, but at least it’s a Noble title. So yes, I am now a respectable man!”

Lin Qi plopped sideways onto the sofa, crossing his legs, tilting his head to study Cripple.

“Now that you’re becoming a Noble, how about lending a hand? Let those associates in the Commercial District merge with my Iron Fist Brotherhood? Honorable Baron Uncle Cripple, you’ll be a Noble soon. You… what do you need them for?”

Cripple’s gaze sharpened momentarily as he gave Lin Qi a thoughtful look.

After a moment’s consideration, he shook his head. “Little Lin Qi, you’re not in a position to talk to me like this. To speak words like these, your father would need to come here himself.”

He gave a restrained laugh and shook his head repeatedly. “These past few days, the important person backing Uncle Cripple has been in a foul mood. He’s angry. So, don’t do anything to upset me. If I get angry, the important person behind me gets angry. When that happens, both you and your father will be in trouble.”

Lin Qi looked deeply into Cripple’s eyes for a long moment. Silently, he stood up and turned to leave.