Chương 186: Establishing Authority

Qinghe City, South Gate. Given the short distance between the South Docks and Qinghe City, the news of Song Que beating up Su Wu naturally didn't take long to reach the people of the Lingjiang Gang. Boss Song dragging this group of idiots around for a long walk was precisely to deter those who still harbored ill intentions. When Lightning spotted a group of Lingjiang Gang members rushing over from the docks, he finally felt satisfied and slowly led his people out the South Gate. The timing was perfect.

The Fierce Tiger Gang members hadn't even made it a few hundred zhang out of the city before Chu Tianqiu arrived with his men and confronted them. Seeing his subordinate being carried like a dead dog, Chu Tianqiu's anger boiled over. His eyes pierced forward like sharp swords, and he shouted coldly:"You must be Song Que?"

"It is I. Greetings, Hall Master Chu!" Boss Song ignored his murderous gaze, calmly smiling and nodding. Seeing his casual and relaxed demeanor, Chu Tianqiu couldn't help but turn solemn, asking in a deep voice:"Do you intend to make an enemy of the Lingjiang Gang?"

"Hall Master Chu exaggerates. Our Gang and the Lingjiang Gang have always minded our own business. I don't recall ever doing anything to offend your esteemed Gang. I don't know why this Brother Su Wu would lead people to my territory to cause a scene today. I must trouble Hall Master Chu for an explanation."

"An explanation?! Hahahaha! You beat up my man, and you demand an explanation from me?!" Chu Tianqiu, furious out of humiliation, laughed menacingly.

"Let me give you an explanation!" He suddenly shouted, stomped on his horse, and abruptly flew forward! While in mid-air, he had already drawn his sword and launched a fierce thrust towards Song Que!

"Clang!" Boss Song's expression remained unchanged, sitting firmly on Dark Cloud without even twitching a hand. Beside him, Xiong Ba had already lunged forward, using his Heavenly King Hammer to block the sword strike. Seeing his sneak attack fail, and that his opponent was unharmed and merely forced back a few steps, Chu Tianqiu was slightly surprised, but it was fleeting. He spoke disdainfully:"To have such strength at this age—not bad! But it's still not enough!"

Before he finished speaking, his entire body surged forward like a gust of wind again! Xiong Ba, seeing this, not only wasn't afraid but grew even more excited, swinging his twin hammers ferociously! Clang clang... clang... clang! Sparks flew everywhere! Given the massive size of the Heavenly King Hammers, even with Chu Tianqiu's exquisite sword techniques, it was difficult for him to break through Xiong Ba's hammer defense in a short time. He was forced to exchange dozens of moves with him.

Even so, Xiong Ba didn't have an easy time. Facing an opponent whose strength far exceeded his and whose combat experience was vastly superior, he found himself struggling immensely after just a short while! He was only relying on a burst of desperate energy to fight to this point!

Seeing his beloved general being pressured like this, Boss Song didn't dare be careless, straightforwardly shouting:"Since Hall Master Chu feels it's not enough, then Nie Feng, Shen Ziming—both of you go up and play with Hall Master Chu for a while!"

"Yes!" Nie Feng and Shen Ziming had already gathered their qi and were waiting. Hearing the order, they didn't hesitate in the slightest, leaping forward to encircle and attack Chu Tianqiu!

"Shameless!"...

"Hall Master, be careful!" Behind them, the Lingjiang Gang members saw that they intended to use numbers to their advantage! All of them glared angrily, wanting to draw their weapons and charge forward.

"Fierce Tiger Gang members, hear my command! If anyone dares approach, kill them without mercy!" Boss Song shouted authoritatively.

"Obey your command!" The Fierce Tiger Gang members didn't show any weakness, matching their drawn weapons and glaring fiercely at the other side. Chu Tianqiu had brought less than ten people this time, naturally at a disadvantage compared to the hundred-plus members of the Fierce Tiger Gang. Surrounded by the crowd, they felt fear and hesitated to advance, only able to step back and shout curses in anger. Boss Song didn't care about any of this.

Looking at Old Chu, he had to be at least over fifty, almost equal to the combined age of Xiong Ba's trio! Having cultivated for who knew how many years prior, what was he shouting about now facing a three-on-one?! Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Fighting one-on-one would be his side taking a loss! And even if it weren't a loss, Boss Song would still gang up on him if he could! Are you stupid? Not utilizing a numerical advantage and demanding 'fairness'? You want fairness?

Who's giving me fairness?! Song Que was confident he could win against Chu Tianqiu one-on-one, but what was his status now?! His opponent was Du Ruhui! Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals! A subordinate like Old Chu naturally required his own subordinates to suppress him! This also served to let the surrounding crowd know that the Fierce Tiger Gang was not lacking capable people!... Two fists are hard to match four hands, let alone Old Chu single-handedly fending off three fierce tigers!

With the assistance of Nie Feng and Shen Ziming, Xiong Ba quickly turned the tide! Using him as the main tank, the other two circled around looking for opportunities for sneak attacks! Chu Tianqiu gradually fell into dire straits, dodging left and right, looking incredibly miserable! Suddenly, the old man let out a loud shout, channeling all his inner force into a horizontal sword sweep! Waiting for the trio to dodge, he seized the opportunity to leap backward, retreating to join the Lingjiang Gang members.

Looking at the pair of gleaming Heavenly King Hammers in the distance, Old Chu felt a chill in his heart! They're solid! I verified it myself! Just a momentary lapse and taking one hammer blow would be enough to send me to see my ancestors! What a f cking freak! No wonder his build is so terrifying! * Although he wasn't injured, recalling the situation just now, Chu Tianqiu couldn't help but wipe a streak of cold sweat! Simultaneously, a deep wariness toward the Fierce Tiger Gang rose within him.

"Song Que, what is the meaning of your Fierce Tiger Gang doing this?" Chu Tianqiu's tone unconsciously softened by several notches. Boss Song also didn't want things to get too tense; tearing off all face was the worst-case scenario. If they could avoid crossing swords, that was naturally best. Therefore, he replied with appropriate measure:"Hall Master Chu, we do not wish to make an enemy of the Lingjiang Gang. How our two gangs interacted in the past, this one hopes it will remain the same in the future!

Today's matter must have been Brother Su Wu's personal action. I hope it won't affect the friendship between our two sides because of this. What do you think?" The martial world compared fists! Being outmatched today, what else could Chu Tianqiu do? Uttering a few harsh threats would only make others look down on him! Therefore, after a moment of silence, he cupped his hands and spoke:"The Fierce Tiger Gang under Gang Leader Song truly makes people look at it in a new light! This old man admires it!

As Gang Leader Song said, everything today was merely Su Wu acting willfully on his own; it is well-deserved that he receives punishment! This matter ends here! But the fact that you injured a Vice Hall Master of the Lingjiang Gang is an indisputable truth! This old man will report this truthfully to Gang Leader Du. How he chooses to deal with the Fierce Tiger Gang afterward will depend entirely on his perspective! Farewell!"

The meaning behind these words was clear: I can't do anything to you today, so it ends here. But the Lingjiang Gang won't let this go so easily. Boss Song, you'd best pray for good fortune! Saying this, Chu Tianqiu mounted his horse, turned around, and headed back, not even sparing Su Wu a second glance! He left it to the gang members following him to laboriously run up, lift this 'dead dog' onto a horse, and carry him back.

Song Que originally didn't expect to turn hostility into friendship with the Lingjiang Gang; as long as he could delay Old Du's steps a bit longer to give himself time to grow, that was enough! Waiting for the Lingjiang Gang people to leave, Boss Song, his prestige currently at its peak, enthusiastically turned his horse around, swept his gaze over the crowd, and shouted loudly:"Friends! I know that you have all traveled far and wide to come here to investigate the news of the Demonic practitioners!

You are all righteous and chivalrous individuals, and this one admires you! As a member of Qinghe County, as the head of the leading faction here, I am incredibly grateful for your noble and righteous actions! Here, please allow me, on behalf of all the commoners of Qinghe City, to bow and thank you all!" Grandee Song bowed deeply with emotion, pausing for a long time before standing straight and continuing:"But what isn't perfect is that among you, there are quite a few black sheep!

They use the guise of upholding justice to act tyrannically and overbearingly in this local area, deceiving and coercing the people! Towards this, I harbor a hatred that pierces to the bone! What I did today is only to tell you all one thing! This is Qinghe City! It is merely a small, inconspicuous county city! The martial path here is in decline, and there are no top-tier experts! But we have a heart full of hot blood!

I don't care what your background is; as long as I discover someone here bullying the weak or oppressing the commoners, I, Song Que, will absolutely not stand idly by! My Fierce Tiger Gang is ready to risk our lives to step forward and seek justice for the people!" His resonant voice boomed like thunder in the night, filling people with awe!

"Qinghe has weak people, but it has no cowards! Anyone who thinks they can stand high above us, acting arrogantly and unreasonably here, and that we will submit like puppies wagging their tails, is wrong! What Qinghe people lack the least is courage—the courage to risk our lives to fight against tyranny! Anyone who thinks they can rely on their status to do whatever they want here, look at these people as an example!"

Having sprinkled his 'chicken soup for the soul' all over Qinghe City, Boss Song, his fighting spirit boiling, finally turned to look at Jiang Wuxia and the others, who were pale with fear. Fortunately for them, Boss Song still had some scruples, and their crimes weren't worthy of death. A small punishment was enough.

"Throw them out!" The Fierce Tiger Gang members' blood was already boiling with excitement! Hearing Boss Song's words, they gathered their strength and tossed those guys like torn sacks, sending them flying dozens of zhang to land outside the city, covered in dust!

"Good!"...

"Excellent!" The many Qinghe County residents following behind shouted excitedly! But that wasn't enough! Boss Song, very adept at seizing the moment, added some fuel to the fire, thumping his chest and shouting loudly:"Remember this for me! The blood of Qinghe people is hot! We can die, but we will never fear death, and we will never submit!" His voice, like a great bell, echoed into the blue sky! Boss Song was risking it all here, channeling all his inner force to shout so the entire city could hear!

Sure enough, the effect was perfect!

"Long live!"

"Long live the Gang Leader!"

"We swear to follow the Gang Leader to the death!"

"Long live the Fierce Tiger Gang!" At this moment, the entire city boiled over! The hearts of everyone in Qinghe County were ignited! Unbearably excited, many people began to shout. As more and more people followed suit, the shouts of 'long live' shook the heavens! In a split second, the reputation of the Fierce Tiger Gang and Song Que had been pushed to its absolute peak!