Chapter 215: Fanning the Flames

Chapter 215: Stoking the Wind and Pointing the Fire

Fifty million silver dollars, enough to play a Hongya Mountain Iron Tower Head Card, or buy a life from a Sequence Nine.

Though not insignificant, for a status figure like "Plum Blossom" Li Su, it was still within reach.

What irked him was that He Cang Jia had only recently been a minor "Tiger Head," guarding a few rundown gambling dens in southern Chongqing, yet now he could afford to throw fifty million silver dollars into a showdown.

The root of it all was that he had seized the "He Pai" position that rightfully belonged to him!

At this thought, Li Su's face darkened further, and he suddenly raised his hand.

"Plum Blossom Li Su, fifty million and one silver dollars."

"He Pai He Cang Jia, one hundred million silver dollars."

"Li Su, if you want to save face, be generous. Stop trailing behind me adding a block."

He Cang Jia sneered, "This petty sum, and you're still being so stingy. This is a donation, not an auction. Come on, give me some real effort!"

As he spoke, he deliberately rolled up his sleeve, glancing at his empty wrist, feigning concern, "Ah, a meeting's about to start. Honestly, are you trying to stall?"

Li Su snarled, "He Cang Jia, don't think that just because you're now 'He Pai' and hold more shares, you can act so arrogantly! Do you know that shares in the Pai Xi only recognize status, not people? Lose your status, and you'll get nothing!"

Within the organizational structure of the Sichuan-Chongqing gambling consortium, status was not merely a symbol of rank but represented actual equity shares.

Each of the three "Ba Jiang" held a quarter share, with the remaining quarter divided among other status figures by size.

These dividends came from the profits submitted by the various establishments under the Pai Xi, and even a killer like Li Su, who took jobs killing people, was subject to a cut per contract.

Thus, competition among status figures in the Sichuan-Chongqing gambling world was fierce.

After all, a higher status meant more dividends.

"Stop talking around it—will you donate or not?"

Kindness invites betrayal; a good horse is ridden by others.

He Cang Jia had no intention of sparing Li Su any dignity, continuously provoking him with words.

"Do you think the Ancestor Master holding that ranking list isn't tired? If you won't donate, get lost!"

Li Su's face flushed red, and he turned to look at the list.

At this moment, He Cang Jia's name soared above his, separated by dozens of names.

In terms of distance, it was a full two or three feet apart. This made Li Su feel his cheeks burning.

A lucky fool, daring to rank above him?!

As jealousy and hatred churned, Li Su raised his hand again.

"Plum Blossom Li Su, three hundred million silver dollars!"

On the list, Li Su's name rocketed upward, breaking into the top ten, perched at the very top.

"Three hundred million—how many people would he have to kill to earn that much? Has Li Su lost his mind?"

"Others are 'Plum Blossom,' even without killing, they earn plenty annually. What's this compared to that?"

"Now this is getting interesting. I wonder how much He Cang Jia will throw in next. Where is he?"

"He Cang Jia, your turn!"

Seeing his name far ahead on the list, Li Su finally grinned and turned back, only to be startled to find the person beside him had already squeezed into the crowd.

"Brothers, make way—there's a meeting about to start!"

"Hey, He Cang Jia, where you running off to? Scared?" Li Su's eyebrows shot up, saliva flying from his mouth.

"Ah? I'm not scared. Just now, the Ancestor Master appeared in a dream and said he appreciates you, told me not to argue with you."

He Cang Jia wore a sly smile, "Three hundred million silver dollars—your gun barrel must be melted from all that killing. If I were the Ancestor Master, I'd watch you day and night, even hold you up when you work, afraid you'd tire!"

He pointed a thumb at the stunned Li Su, "By the way, one last reminder—check the names on the list. Wow, Li Su, your guts are truly something!"

Watching He Cang Jia walk up to the second floor without looking back, Li Su nearly bit through his back teeth.

If not for being in the headquarters' Huangliang dream realm, he wouldn't have let him go.

His anger surged like a storm, leaving him unsettled for a long time.

The onlookers finally realized Li Su had been outmaneuvered, and one by one, they left suppressing their laughter.

When only the incense before the shrine remained, Li Su finally turned slowly to gaze at the donation list shot forth from the gossip, examining it closely.

Only to see the two characters "Li Su" hanging at the top of the list, followed by names equally familiar to him.

"Fire General" Jin Sheng Huo, two hundred seventy million silver dollars.

"Escaped General" Zhang Ren, two hundred forty million silver dollars.

"Escaped General" Zhao Tong, two hundred million silver dollars.

The current Pai Xi's three generals all ranked below Li Su.

Above him were the deceased former "Ba Jiang."

Suddenly, Li Su felt a nauseating sensation, as if he had swallowed a fly.

"He Cang Jia! You bastard!"

Pai Xi Headquarters, Second Floor, Conference Room.

Around a long table, various status figures took their seats in order of rank.

Li Su sat at the leftmost seat, eyes wide, his gaze as sharp as knives fixed on He Cang Jia across from him.

The latter wore a faint smile, fiddling with the "He Pai" patch on his chest.

At the head of the table, three chairs stood side by side.

The imposing "Fire General" Zhang Ren, the plain-faced "Escaped General" Zhao Tong, seated to the left and right.

In the center, without doubt, sat "Wind General" Jin Sheng Huo.

"Brothers, I trust you are well."

Jin Sheng Huo smiled warmly, surveying the room, "Seeing all familiar faces today, I am pleased. It means our Pai Xi has safely weathered this gambling storm."

"Thanks to the three of you—otherwise, who knows how many of us would have joined Qie Huai in burial."

A sycophantic voice followed immediately.

He Cang Jia turned to glance at the speaker's chest patch.

Six black dots—"Longshan" Left Pu.

Jin Sheng Huo nodded with a smile, continuing, "Qie Huai brought his fate upon himself. The Que Xi forces have scattered, so I suppose everyone has been reaping abundant rewards lately?"

Laughter erupted throughout the hall, even Li Su's sullen expression softened slightly.

Clearly, he too had tasted much sweetness in this "feast of division."

"Now that the Que Xi decline is certain, in the future, this central Chongqing area will be our Pai Xi's domain. Your dividends will rise with the tide—this is indeed a joyous occasion, a shared prosperity."

"However," Jin Sheng Huo suddenly shifted tone, "there is a troublesome matter ahead that requires our united efforts to overcome."

At these words, the previously chattering room fell silent, the drop of a needle audible.

Everyone stared fixedly at Jin Shouhuo, waiting for his next words.

"We are all men of keen observation and far-reaching hearing; naturally, we know that Shaolin Temple's movements have now reached Chongqing, coming to investigate the matter of Luohan Temple back then."

"Although the downfall of Luohan Temple has little to do with most of the brothers present. But when we took over the territory, seizing the opportunity to enter the central and Chongqing areas, no one objected."

"The old site of Luohan Temple has been converted into a nightclub by us, and the Buddha has been moved to the entrance to welcome guests. Now, the debt collectors have come knocking—since we shared in the prosperity, shouldn't we also share in the hardships?"

As Jin Shouhuo spoke out the main purpose of today's meeting, the eyes that had been fixed on him all fell onto He Cangjia.

Like a thorn in the back, like sitting on needles.

"These bastards indeed had ill intentions!"

He Cangjia let out a bitter smile in his heart, irritably tugging at the patch on his chest.

Opposite him, Li Zu's face no longer showed any trace of suppressed frustration, replaced instead by mocking sneers and cold laughter that added insult to injury.

"Master Feng, if you ask me, this matter should be handled by one person for their own deeds! Why should some people who caused the trouble have all the brothers share the burden?"