Chapter 404: Old Grudges
Chapter 404: Old Grudges
The funeral proceeded as planned. Li Hao, serving as son-in-law, requested leave from King Wu to help his wife arrange the burial of her father Zhao San.
That night, an exhausted Li Hao returned to his chamber.
His wife Zhao Qianqian had already fallen asleep. These days had drained her more than Li Hao – both physically and mentally. Having grown up under her father’s care, losing him felt like half her world had crumbled, a grief beyond words.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Urgent knocks came from the door.
“Who’s there?”
Li Hao gestured to his guard. The armored man drew his blade and cautiously opened the door, only for a blood-soaked figure to stumble through, followed by two wounded men.
“Family head… trouble at the riverbank…”
After delivering the message, the man collapsed and passed out.
“Sir?”
The guard looked to Li Hao for instructions.
“Treat their wounds first.”
Li Hao recognized them as longtime Sanhe Gang members. During the riverbank crisis, he’d visited the site with Zhao Qianqian and met these men. The dying man on the floor was the riverbank’s former supervisor, whom Zhao Qianqian called Uncle Hai.
As King Wu’s trusted subordinate, Li Hao commanded capable guards skilled in basic medical treatment.
“Yes!”
The guard hauled the man up while other servants rushed to assist. The Li household kept few servants – only two maids, an old steward, and kitchen staff who now came running.
Not wanting to disturb his wife, Li Hao ordered the bedroom door closed and led everyone to the side courtyard.
Two hours later…
“Sir, only one survived. The leader and younger man didn’t make it,” the guard reported with clasped hands.
“Understood.”
Li Hao nodded, sighing as he glanced at his sleeping wife’s chamber.
Troubled times indeed.
At least their son stayed with Zhao Qianqian’s mother lately, spared from witnessing such grim events.
A thought flickered through Li Hao’s mind before vanishing.
Bound tighter to this world by the ‘Five Elements’ and ‘Six Desires’, his past-life immortal identity had nearly faded.
“Here’s the survivor’s account.” The guard handed Li Hao a written report – routine duty for personal guards.
Scanning the document, Li Hao quickly grasped the situation.
An old Sanhe Gang feud resurfaced. When Zhao San elevated the gang years ago, they’d clashed with inner city’s top force – the Heihu Gang. Outmaneuvering them, Zhao San dethroned Heihu Gang as Qinghe County’s leading faction. The Sanhe Gang then absorbed many Heihu interests, particularly the lucrative riverbank shipping operations.
After King Wu established power in Qinghe County, the Sanhe Gang rode Li Hao’s influence to dominate Wu territory. Their former rivals became insignificant. Yet somehow, this forgotten Heihu Gang revived. Six months ago, their leader Qiao Hei secured Chu Kingdom ties by giving his daughter as concubine to Chu King.
With Wu and Chu kingdoms vying for dominance, and Zhao San’s recent death, the Chu-aligned Heihu Gang seized this chance to prove loyalty.
“Keep this from Qianqian.”
Li Hao held the letter over the oil lamp and watched it slowly burn to ashes.
“But Uncle Hai…”
The steward hesitated. Zhao Qianqian had always managed Sanhe Gang affairs, especially the business side. As the riverbank’s overseer, Uncle Hai’s role couldn’t be hidden.
“I’ll handle gang matters for now. I’ll inform her about Uncle Hai later,” Li Hao said, ending the discussion.
The real problem was Heihu Gang’s resurgence. The feud between the two gangs had escalated into a proxy war between two lords, hinting at Chu King’s growing impatience to conquer all territories.
After years of peace, war loomed again.
Li Hao returned to his desk, wrote a swift letter, sealed it, and handed it to a guard.
“Take this to the Capital.”
Li Hao couldn’t leave home during his mourning period without appearing unfilial. But this didn’t stop him from advising King Wu through frequent letters.
“Understood.”
The guard took the letter and left.
“Now to deal with Qiao Hei, that troublemaker.” Cold determination flashed in Li Hao’s eyes.
Whether for justice or revenge, Qiao Hei had to die.
Having pledged himself to King Wu, Li Hao couldn’t switch sides. He had to defeat both Chu King and the Martial Arts Alliance. As for King Wu’s eventual judgment? Li Hao had prepared countermeasures long ago.
In Heihu Gang’s hall:
“Father! Zhao San’s finally dead! Sanhe Gang’s a toothless tiger now!”
Young Master Qiao slammed the report on the table, laughing.
“Not enough.”
Qiao Hei scanned the documents, satisfaction twisting his features.
Only the complete destruction of Zhao San’s line could soothe their exile’s bitterness.
“That riverside mutt’s dead too! Serves him right!” Young Master Qiao traced the deep scar on his cheek—a souvenir from nearly losing his head to Sanhe Gang years ago.
“This is just the start!”
Qiao Hei’s true hatred burned for Zhao San himself—the man who’d driven them to flee and sacrifice his daughter to Chu King as concubine. With Zhao San dead, proper vengeance was impossible.
“Zhao San left a daughter. The father’s debt becomes the child’s burden! After crushing Sanhe Gang, we’ll sell the girl to brothels—let her suffer what we endured!”
Young Master Qiao’s cruelty outshone his father’s.
“To catch Zhao San’s daughter, we must first remove her husband Li Hao.” Qiao Hei’s eyes narrowed. This wasn’t some thug to stab in an alley—even Chu King tread carefully around Li Hao’s cunning.
“We’re exposed while he’s hidden. Find skilled killers.”
“Let’s try.”
Unbeknownst to the Qiaos, Li Hao already knew their plans. Their underlings had botched Uncle Hai’s assassination but hid the failure after confirming his death, fearing gang punishment. Corpses didn’t lie.