Green Mountain
Chapter 398 - 320, I’m 9, you’re 1

Chapter 398: 320, I’m 9, you’re 1

In the alley, there was the clash of knives and axes and cries of battle; beside the alley, there were soft whispers and red lanterns.

In the narrow Li Shamao Alley, a sea of Heji ruffians surrounded Brother Pao and Er Dao. The ruffians of the fighting profession were indeed adhering to rules, not in a rush to strike.

Brother Pao looked ahead, then behind him.

There were a lot of people.

But the more people there were, the calmer Brother Pao became.

Er Dao asked, "Brother, what do we do?"

Brother Pao said nothing.

Er Dao asked again, "Brother, what’s on your mind?"

Brother Pao looked at the red lanterns above him and grinned, "It’d be great to have a smoke right now."

At this moment, the music from the brothels on both sides of Li Shamao Alley had ceased. Patrons and Dancing Girls upstairs quietly pushed open half a window, looking into the alley.

In the crowd, Er Dao lowered his head and pulled out a copper pipe from his pouch, calmly packing it with tobacco.

He handed the pipe to Brother Pao, then took a fire inch from his pouch, leaning in to light it for Brother Pao. Brother Pao took a deep drag, the tobacco in the copper pipe instantly glowing red and curling, producing a sizzling sound.

Under the watchful eyes of dozens, Brother Pao leaned against the gray tiles and blue bricks, leisurely took two puffs, and the blue smoke enveloped his face, making it hard for others to see his expression.

A ruffian shouted, "Since the stake has been set, don’t delay further. If you drag it on, don’t blame us for not following the rules."

Brother Pao casually replied, "What’s the hurry? There’re so many of you; are you afraid I’ll run away?"

He smoked for thirty minutes, and indeed, the Heji ruffians waited for him for thirty minutes.

Brother Pao tapped the pipe against the wall, sending sparks flying in the night, "The fighting profession here in the Imperial Capital is quite something. Unlike us back then, we’d slash without delay, not willing to wait even for a minute."

A middle-aged man stepped out from among the ruffians, bowing with fists clasped, "The fighting profession has its rules. Brother Pao is a guest from afar; naturally, we must show some deference. But blades and swords have no eyes, so please don’t hold it against us later."

Brother Pao curiously asked, "Tell me all your rules for the fighting profession. So I can pay attention if I come again in my next life, and won’t be caught off guard."

A young ruffian pointed an axe at Brother Pao, angrily saying, "Are you trying to buy time?"

The middle-aged man pressed down the young man’s arm, calmly saying, "Brother Pao’s wrestling skills are impressive, commanding our respect. Smoking calmly amidst the clash of knives and axes proves you are a true hero, so it’s no harm in telling you... first, the four refrains: we don’t take on government assassinations, don’t intercept escorts, don’t engage in vengeance seeking, and don’t involve in lewd deeds."

"Then, the four concessions: concede in giving way, allowing a fellow being pursued by the government a chance to escape, and those who see him shall not report to the authorities; concede in territory, no second establishment of the fighting profession on the same street; concede in profit, if one makes a good name, still leave some earnings for others; concede in life, do not disturb a fellow who has ’washed hands in the golden basin,’ past debts written off."

Brother Pao felt his chin stubble, "Is it too late for me to wash my hands in the golden basin now?"

The middle-aged man smiled, "I’m afraid it’s too late."

Brother Pao asked, "So if I beat you all down, does that mean I can collect Peace Money here in Li Shamao Alley from now on?"

The middle-aged man shook his head, "Even if you beat us all down today, others will come tomorrow. Brother Pao, you must beat everyone into submission so they dare not come anymore."

Brother Pao said helplessly, "Isn’t this being unreasonable?"

The middle-aged man laughed, "Unless you are an over-river dragon, it’s impossible to establish the stake in the Imperial Capital. But if Brother Pao truly has that skill, then Li Shamao Alley’s Peace Money need not be shared with Zhu Guan anymore; even if you gave it to him, he wouldn’t dare take it, too hot to handle."

Brother Pao handed the pipe to Er Dao, turned to the middle-aged man, and said, "Come on, let me show you what real kung fu is."

Upon hearing this, the ruffians retreated like a tide, leaving one in front of Brother Pao, "If we say we let you have three moves, then we’ll let you have three moves. That’s the demeanor of our fighting profession in the Imperial Capital."

Brother Pao sneered, "Hypocritical benevolence."

As he finished speaking, Brother Pao dashed forward, throwing a left punch at the other’s right cheek.

The ruffian tilted his body to dodge, but was caught off guard when Brother Pao abruptly changed his footing, his right fist pounding like a cannon onto the man’s chin. The ruffian’s body stiffened instantly, toppling over backward.

The feigned move forced the opponent to dodge, yet it seemed like he willingly brought his head to Brother Pao’s fist. The ruffians had never seen such exquisite and novel skills, different from wrestling, crisp and agile.

Brother Pao picked up the opponent’s axe from the ground, weighed it in his hand, "On the boxing ring, no one dared to say they’d give me three moves. I’m not used to an axe, throw a dagger to me!"

The ruffians exchanged glances, remaining silent.

Brother Pao glanced askew, "So, does your fighting profession in the Imperial Capital lack this decorum? So many of you blocking me, yet not letting me use a handy weapon?"

A ruffian drew a dagger from his waist, tossing it to Brother Pao, "Brother, you are quite a character. To see your real skills today is our honor, but the Jianghu of this Imperial Capital cannot accommodate you anymore."

Brother Pao first held the dagger in a normal grip, then switched to a reverse grip, "Remember, my real name is Chen Chong, but friends like to call me Brother Pao."

His words were compelling.

The ruffians dragged away their unconscious companion from the ground, and another burly man stepped forward.

Brother Pao walked forward with steps curiously slightly hunched, his hand holding the dagger in reverse swinging in front, his gaze like an arrow, undisturbed.

He moved close to the man, slicing the dagger in a reverse grip. The opposing man raised his axe to block, but the dagger casually flipped in Brother Pao’s hand, bypassing the axe handle and slicing across his tendons.

With a clang, the axe fell to the ground.