Chapter 126: Shadow
Chapter 126: Shadow
“Dragon Head!”
Seven or eight tough men in their forties or fifties immediately knelt down with a thud. Tears streamed down their faces as they wailed loudly, just like a group of children!
However, the crying now was completely different from the crying earlier in mood.
Leng Ping had not yet come back to his senses. Anger gradually appeared in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, “Marquis Qin clearly promised me he wouldn’t make things difficult for you. How… how did you all end up joining me down here! Even as a ghost now, I won’t let him off!”
Qin Li looked at the still somewhat delirious Leng Ping, feeling both amused and exasperated. He simply tapped Leng Ping’s sleep acupoint and said, “You should sleep first…”
…
“Really? I’m really not dead?”
Two hours later, Leng Ping lay on the bed, looking at these brothers who had fought their way up with him, his face full of suspicion. Then he shook his head vigorously. “How can it be? I clearly felt I had died. How did I come back to life? Tell me quickly, how… how did Marquis Qin do it?”
The portly old man’s expression now was like a well-behaved child who had gotten candy, smiling so happily.
Leng Ping glared at him. “Chang Laosan, can’t you have a little more dignity? I remember you’re several years older than me. Can you not laugh so idiotically?”
Then he pointed at the tall, thin middle-aged man. “Li Laosi, and you too. Didn’t you usually act all deep and reserved? Why are you acting like a fool too? Damn it, answer me quickly! What the hell is going on?”
“Hehe, Dragon Head, my boss, you didn’t die. Anyway, you’re alive. As for how you came back to life, go ask Marquis Qin. Damn it, if it weren’t for Sun Liu dying by his hand, I’d even want to kiss his feet. In all my years, this is the first time I’ve seen a miracle! Dragon Head, it really is a miracle!” The tall, thin man gesticulated wildly, his words tumbling out incoherently.
Leng Ping had a face full of black lines. Looking at the others, their behavior wasn’t much better. He couldn’t help but sigh, thinking to himself: Damn it, I really didn’t die, but all my brothers have gone crazy…
At that moment, someone outside gently knocked on the door and reported softly, “Deputy Gang Leader Chang, the Crown Prince has sent someone…”
The several men in the room suddenly snapped alert. They looked at each other, and their eyes all fell on Leng Ping.
“Damn it, you bunch of blockheads, you’ve finally all returned to normal!”
Leng Ping cursed. Although his life was saved, his body was still very weak. He needed to rest and recover for a while before truly getting better. The plan for now was to immediately… hold his own funeral… Thinking this, Leng Ping couldn’t help but spit on the ground, thinking how unlucky this really was. Holding his own funeral – where’s the logic in such a thing in this world?
“Crown Prince? Hmph, my body isn’t even cold yet, and he can’t wait? Is he really that afraid the gang will fall into Marquis Qin’s hands?” Leng Ping sneered. “Chase them away! Just say, if they have anything to say, go talk to Marquis Qin! The Dragon Head of the Great Green Gang is now Marquis Qin!”
The portly old man called Chang Laosan then brought back a mask and a bottle of elixirs that Qin Li had left for Leng Ping. He said, “Dragon Head, Marquis Qin left these for you before he departed!”
After Leng Ping put on that mask, everyone in the room was stunned. Was this still the brother they had known for twenty or thirty years? The leader of the Great Green Gang? The influential underground force leader of Azure Dragon City?
The person before them was clearly a refined, scholarly middle-aged man in his forties with a fair complexion and no beard! Even the look in his eyes was vastly different from before. If not for Leng Ping’s voice remaining unchanged, they would have thought they’d seen a ghost!
Even Leng Ping himself was speechless when he looked in the mirror. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: He recalled that when the Crown Prince ordered him to send people to kill Qin Li, he had said that this down-and-out noble from the Great Qi Kingdom must be that Qin Li from Huangsha City. The very same Qin Li who, by some unknown method, brutally murdered the Crown Prince’s tutor, the Heavenly Rank martial artist Murong Tian, and hung him on the highest flagpole in Azure Dragon City, leaving a message warning the Crown Prince!
Leng Ping’s heart suddenly gained some clarity. He shivered all over. If this was true, then this Marquis Qin’s cunning and methods were truly terrifying! Just think, even a Heavenly Rank martial artist could be slaughtered by him. And he, a mere Earth Rank martial artist, actually sent people to cause trouble for him. Wasn’t that just asking for death?
Thinking of this, Leng Ping’s hatred for Crown Prince Zhao Xinghe deepened further. He sneered inwardly: Crown Prince, oh Crown Prince, you must think I’m already dead and want to seize my gang. That’s impossible!
I’ve worked like an ox or a horse for you for several years, providing you with intelligence, giving you large amounts of money to train various talents. And in the end, when you heard I died, you immediately came to scheme for my assets. Truly a wolf’s heart! Compared to you, Marquis Qin is a real man!
Unconsciously, Leng Ping’s heart had already begun to lean heavily toward Qin Li. Although Qin Li spared his life mainly for the sake of the Great Green Gang, he acted openly and aboveboard!
In terms of schemes, there are covert plots and overt strategies. Covert plots can never be openly acknowledged, while overt strategies, advancing with integrity, are the true way!
At this time, the tall, thin man Li Laosi said softly, “Dragon Head, if we’re handling the funeral affairs, your coffin shouldn’t be empty…”
The several Deputy Gang Leaders and Elders present thought this made sense. If they were going to fake it, they had to do the complete set.
Leng Ping pondered for a moment after hearing this, then said, “Find a substitute who looks similar to me. Treat his family well!”
“The Crown Prince’s people said they want to see Deputy Gang Leader Chang!”
Outside, another trusted subordinate reported softly.
“Damn it, they just don’t give up! I’ll go kill them!” Chang Laosan was over fifty, with a portly figure, but his temper was still as fiery as ever. This Deputy Gang Leader of the Great Green Gang, who was only at the Ninth Stage of Mystic Rank, had fought his way up alongside Leng Ping from being street punks, cutting and killing their way through!
That fierce spirit hadn’t diminished at all with age; he was still just as combative.
“Enough, just chase them away. Say we’re too overwhelmed with grief right now. If they have any matters, they can wait until after I’m buried!” Leng Ping curled his lip, speaking with considerable awkwardness.
After thinking for a moment, he continued giving orders, “Laosi, go bring my family here. Especially my unruly son. Don’t let him be instigated by others into doing something foolish.”
The tall, thin man Li Laosi acknowledged the order and left, pushing the door open.
The others also went out one after another, their faces once again showing sorrowful expressions. Although they were all in their forties or fifties now, immensely wealthy and holding high status, the blood flowing in their bones was still that of street thugs and ruffians. Acting and such were simply child’s play for them!
…
Qin Li had already left the main hall of the Great Green Gang. After all, staying here too long could easily arouse suspicion. On the road, Qin Li felt someone following him. They followed him all the way to the end of that commercial street. The night was slightly cool, with a gentle evening breeze. The street was deserted, with almost no one around.
Qin Li stopped and turned around, saying lightly, “You’ve been following me all this way, and you don’t have any killing intent. If you want to say something, say it quickly. Do you want me to invite you to my house for tea?”
The air behind Qin Li twisted strangely. A faint human figure abruptly appeared there. Those icy, emotionless eyes fixed on Qin Li, devoid of any feeling. An ordinary person would likely be scared sick by such a gaze.
But Qin Li’s face showed no expression. He slightly frowned and said, “Are you sick? If you have something to say, say it quickly! If you have to fart, let it out quickly! Don’t stand here like a stump. Those who know might think you’re human; those who don’t would think you’re a ghost… Why are you glaring at me? Do I have flowers growing on my face? Stop using your eyes to scare people. I don’t fall for that trick!”
Shadow was so angry he nearly fainted. Now he somewhat understood the Crown Prince’s feelings. Why did the Crown Prince fly into a rage and become unable to sleep upon hearing the name “Qin Li”? No amount of calming elixirs worked. Not to mention anything else, just this guy’s sharp tongue was more than most people could bear!
“I wanted to see which is sharper: your tongue or my sword!” Shadow’s voice was as icy as his person, and his way of speaking was also very strange. It felt as if he hadn’t spoken for years.
“Then try it! I’m not scared of you just because you’re Heavenly Rank! Come on!” Qin Li pointed arrogantly at Shadow and cursed, “You think you’re something, threatening me!”
“Seeking death!”
Shadow’s figure suddenly vanished, not even leaving an afterimage in the air, showing just how fast his speed was!
Bang!
A loud noise erupted completely on the empty street.
Qin Li’s body was forced back five or six steps, and his face also turned somewhat pale. Of course, he only showed the strength of Earth Rank Seventh Tier. The pale face was also feigned.
However, similarly, Shadow wasn’t feeling great either!
The air twisted slightly. His figure appeared about three or four meters away. On that wooden, icy face, a trace of astonishment faintly appeared.
Although he only wanted to teach this ignorant kid a lesson and didn’t use his full strength, the other party was just an Earth Rank Seventh Tier martial artist! Even if his combat technique was a Five Elements combat technique, so what? Shadow himself was a Heavenly Rank martial artist!
Although his rank wasn’t high, what Shadow truly excelled at was assassination! His hiding skills were top-class in the world!
But just now, this kid accurately detected him in the air and even exchanged a move with him. Although Shadow didn’t lose out, he didn’t gain any advantage either.
First, when he, a Heavenly Rank, was following this Earth Rank kid, he was discovered. Now, when he hid to attack him, he was discovered again. This made Shadow have to reevaluate this young man. His mind raced, judging whether the kid had just gotten lucky or could genuinely detect him. If it was the latter… This youth must not be allowed to live!
Thinking this, Shadow’s eyes flickered as he stared into Qin Li’s eyes. A person’s eyes usually don’t lie. Shadow asked coldly, “Can you see me?”