Chapter 142: Waiting for You to Get Fresh

Chapter 142: Waiting for You to Act Tough

"Didn't we agree earlier to try not to go out?"

"You digest, I forage. Food is the paramount necessity of the people; I'm hungry, you can't expect me to just endure it, can you?"

"Fine, you make a fair point. But how do you still have money on you to buy things? Boss, that's not very loyal of you."

"Who said eating has to cost money?"

"Hey, nobody living here has it easy. Where did you swipe it from? I'll front the money for you first."

"If you want to front the money for him, I'm afraid you'll only be able to burn it for him."

"."

"A bully who oppresses men and dominates women, bleeding the common folk dry—he's no good person."

"Handled cleanly?"

"Rest assured."

"Then give me a taste."

"Are your five viscera and six bowels still intact? Don't waste it."

"My taste buds are still working. You're no fun being this stingy."

The man handed the half-eaten pig trotter to the youth beside him; the latter didn't mind in the least, taking it and sinking his teeth in with a vengeance.

"These natural foods still taste the best, shame they're a bit pricey."

Li Jun fell silent for a moment at those words. The boy's poverty and distress were of a kind he had never witnessed.

Though he, too, had "originated" in the Chicken and Goose District, the poorest quarter of Chengdu Prefecture, he had never once worried about food.

In Li Jun's memory, even those foreign barbarians scraping by the worst on Sinner Street didn't seem pressed to this extent.

Li Jun narrowed his eyes, gazing at the magnificent temple before him. The root of the problem likely lay right here.

Zhou You buried his head gnawing the trotter, yet the corner of his eye never left Li Jun.

"I still have a year of 'fulfilling vows.' As long as I pay the 'karmic rewards' on time every month, these monks won't come knocking."

The youth seemed to feel a twinge of guilt. After a hesitation, he added: "There's a slight blemish on the reputation—that's on me. Fee-wise, I can charge you a little less."

Li Jun grinned. "Deal."

Zhou You stared, stunned by his easy agreement. "Aren't you worried that this tiny flaw might expose your whereabouts?"

"Where in this world is there an absolutely safe hiding place? If you had zero flaws, I'd actually sleep less soundly."

Li Jun turned his head to look at the boy. "Besides, a man who pays his debts is at least no villain."

Zhou You's heart stirred. "You've owed loan sharks before, too?"

"More or less."

"Didn't pay it back?"

"If I had, I wouldn't be standing here."

The boy recalled the wretched state he'd been in upon arrival and couldn't suppress a shudder. "Your creditor was ruthless enough."

"No matter. He's homeless now, same as me."

Li Jun jerked his chin toward Luohan Temple. "Talk?"

The youth's tone was flat. "Nothing to tell. A few years back, funds were tight, couldn't beg from people, so I had to beg the gods. Borrowed some incense money from the Bodhisattva."

Seeing the other man unwilling to elaborate, Li Jun had no intention of pressing further.

As long as it didn't drag him in, he had zero interest in meddling.

Li Jun wiped the grease from his newly changed coarse hemp jacket, rising lazily to his feet.

Zhou You frowned instinctively at the sight. "Going out again?"

"Not full yet. Gotta keep foraging."

"Boss, you doing this runs my risk sky-high."

The boy gritted his teeth. "Gotta pay extra!"

"Fair enough. What's owed is owed."

Li Jun handed over the few banknotes he'd just lifted, asking with a smile: "Right, ever heard of a place called the Peace Hotel?"

Beneath the night sky, the palace projection cradled the bright full moon, resembling a celestial palace towering over all beings.

Countless lanterns draped over Hongya Mountain, not particularly lofty, even somewhat squat.

Innumerable buildings stood shoulder to shoulder, yet distinctly stratified.

Five tiers of structures, each richer than the last.

From top to bottom, they were known as "Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Tile."

Right now, in the "Iron Tower," slightly above the mountain's base, inside a lavishly appointed office.

He Zangjia toyed with a glazed wine cup, wearing a half-smile as he watched the solemn Dai Xitu across from him.

"Brother, I heard all about what went down at the 'Tile Tower' just now. That turtle son Hu Bao actually dared play the two-faced game with me—if you hadn't stepped in, I'd still be in the dark!"

Dai Xitu's features were unremarkable: broad nose, wide eyes, high topknot revealing a gleaming forehead.

"Truly, many thanks this time."

He Zangjia smiled faintly. "We're all men of the Gambling Guild. Though not the same faction, we eat from the same bowl. No need for formalities."

"Worthy of the 'Tiger Head' of Pai Gow—generous with words. Servants!"

Dai Xitu snapped his fingers. His attendant immediately brought a case, setting it on the table between them.

Judging by the case's dimensions, if packed with banknotes, it ought to hold roughly two hundred thousand.

A sum neither large nor small, precisely matching what Hu Bao had extorted from the dock slaves.

"Brother, you cleaned house for me. Please don't disdain this small token."

He Zangjia didn't even glance at the case, downing his wine in one gulp, laughing:

"Strictly speaking, this is a mere trifle. For men of our standing to haggle over such change is an embarrassment. However."

Dai Xitu's smile didn't waver. "However what? Brother, speak freely."

"The Southwest Canal Transport Group is one of the backers on my turf. We've kept decent relations. This time they took a hit, the Group Master's fury is no small thing—even the dock steward's head has rolled."

He Zangjia drawled, "If Boss Dai only puts up this much, I'm afraid it won't quench the other side's fire."

"Then how much does Brother think I should put up?" Dai Xitu countered.

He Zangjia smiled without speaking, extending a single finger from the hand holding the cup.

"One million?"

"You want me to cough up five times that?"

"Fair and reasonable."

Dai Xitu seemed to have heard something utterly ridiculous, and at once burst into uproarious laughter.

"‘Fair and reasonable,’ what a good one. Ever since I became ‘The One,’ it’s been a long time since anyone spoke those four words to me. Those in the know call it the Southwest Grain Transport; those who don’t would think it’s one of those oligarchic giants atop the silver houses."

"Make me cough up five times the stake, hahahahaha!"

He Zangjia didn't make a sound, just watched him quietly like this.

"Tiger Head."

Dai Xitu’s laughter subsided slightly. He didn't call He Zangjia by his name, but by his table name from the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Convention.

"Today, on account of us all being brothers of the Convention, I’m giving you these two hundred thousand, so you can properly answer to the Southwest Grain Transport. I advise you not to make things unpleasant with your own brothers for the sake of an outsider."

"Doing it like this... I lose a lot of face."

"Face only needs to cover one's shame."

Dai Xitu sneered coldly, "I don't see your face is all that big; what do you need so much of it for?"

He Zangjia fell silent for a moment, then suddenly stood up, flinging the glazed wine cup in his hand behind him. "You should’ve been like this from the start, damn it, made me waste half the day putting on an act with you."

The words came out of nowhere; Dai Xitu didn't react for a moment.

"What do you mean?"

Hearing this, He Zangjia grinned, revealing a mouthful of ghastly white teeth, leaning in to stare at the other man with mockery in his eyes.

"If you weren't this arrogant, how could I kill you without any future troubles?"

Boom!