Chapter 216: A Room Full of Hungry Wolves

Chapter 216: A House Full of Hungry Wolves

A single stone dropped into the well, yet it stirred up monstrous waves.

Li Zu's words drew a chorus of agreement, and for a moment the hall buzzed with all manner of sarcastic, double-edged remarks.

"Speaking plainly, it's not that we're unwilling to share in adversity, but this matter of Luohan Temple truly has nothing to do with us!"

"Well said. And the key point is, we can't afford to provoke Shaolin's Walkers either—isn't this just sending us to our deaths?"

"Who dares? Count me out anyway."

Among them, the most grating voice belonged to Zuo Pu, sitting below Li Zu, wearing the 'Long Robe' rank badge.

"Just as 'Plum Blossom' Brother Li said—whoever pokes the hole patches it, whoever stirs the trouble bears it. Have the decency not to drag the innocent into it."

"Good, very good. Worthy of being Gambling Assembly brothers—every word spoken is so righteous and reasonable. I, He Zangjia, have nothing to say. But I do have a doubt I'd like to ask everyone: that nightclub built on the old site of Luohan Temple—have you all been splitting the money?"

He Zangjia stared at the badge on his chest for a long time, the longer he looked the more it stabbed his eyes. Finally he slammed his palm against his chest and lifted his gaze to the crowd.

"Did you get a cut? I remember when we first stepped into Zhongyu District, you were the one jumping for joy the loudest. If I recall correctly, you even boasted about striking while the iron was hot, about snatching a few more territories from the 'Sparrow Faction.'"

The man pinned by his gaze, 'Bench,' went rigid, stammering, unable to speak.

He Zangjia's eyes shifted, landing on another.

"'Red Head,' what about you? How much of that newly implanted mechanical heart of yours was bought with dividends from that club?"

Finally, he turned his gaze to Zuo Pu.

"'Long Robe,' I found your words just now particularly grating. What do you mean, 'don't drag the innocent into it'? When you were taking the money, why didn't you worry about Shaolin coming knocking? Now you're fucking scared?"

Zuo Pu stiffened his neck and shouted: "'Harmony Card,' watch your mouth! I'm not scared—I just refuse to die for an outsider!"

"Outsider?" He Zangjia let out a cold laugh. "The outsider in your mouth is now one of our 'Card Faction' people!"

"Does a wildcard count as one of us?"

Bang!

He Zangjia's fist crashed onto the table. He leaned forward, murderous intent gleaming in his eyes like a fierce tiger escaping its cage.

"Good—'a wildcard doesn't count as one of us.' The Patriarch is right downstairs. You have the guts to say that again in front of him. If you dare, I'll log out right now, take my men, and kill you!"

"I... I..."

Zuo Pu was stunned by He Zangjia's aura, his voice weak and timid.

He Zangjia was like a brutal, starving tiger, crouched in his seat, claws extended, fangs bared, his gaze plowing across the entire hall again and again, slicing over every face.

Only when no one else dared open their mouth did he turn his head toward the head seat.

"Lord, this isn't what we agreed on back then."

He Zangjia's tone carried suppressed rage, yet Jin Shenghuo's smile remained gentle.

"That's right. I did promise you—Shaolin sends people, the 'Card Faction' bears it. So now I've summoned all brothers to face this together. That hasn't violated my original promise."

Jin Shenghuo soothed: "Zangjia, don't be impatient. Shaolin is powerful; it's normal for brothers to feel fear at first. We can discuss this slowly."

This dog of a Siamese fat bastard—today he's clearly planning to burn the bridge after crossing!

He Zangjia stopped looking at Jin Shenghuo, turning his gaze to the other two Generals.

'General Tuo' Zhao Tong observed his nose, his nose observing his heart, not even bothering to lift an eyelid.

Only 'Fire General' Zhang Ren had his thick, dark brows knotted tight, his square face etched with confusion and incomprehension—it seemed he, too, had only just learned today's agenda.

Under He Zangjia's hopeful gaze, Zhang Ren spoke slowly: "Back then, we 'Three Generals' promised 'Harmony Card'—Shaolin's Walker indeed should—"

Unfortunately, he hadn't finished before a thick, fleshy palm pressed onto his shoulder, cutting him off.

Jin Shenghuo slowly rose from his seat, paced to Zhang Ren's back, and pressed both hands onto his shoulders.

"The 'Card Faction' doesn't belong to the three of us—it belongs to all brothers present. So how to answer for Shaolin's reproach this time requires everyone to jointly produce a charter."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid someone will be cursing us Three Generals as the second Qi Huai behind our backs."

Zhang Ren's face showed displeasure, but he still closed his mouth in hesitation.

"Various brothers, what do you think?"

As he spoke, Jin Shenghuo's eyes flicked to Li Zu without a trace, a hint of obscure meaning in their depths.

"Ha."

In the silent hall, Li Zu's sneer was especially harsh.

He Zangjia's gaze turned icy, fixed on the mockery curling at Li Zu's lips.

"Just now, 'Harmony Card,' you questioned everyone—willing to share wealth but not adversity. Then this wealth, I, Li Zu, don't want it."

Li Zu pointed a finger at He Zangjia. "I'll put my words right here: I'm giving up all dividends from the nightclub on the old Luohan Temple site, and I won't participate in this Shaolin Walker business."

He leaned back in his chair, laughing coldly: "No shared wealth—surely you can't still demand shared adversity?"

"'Plum Blossom' is right. Count me in—I'm giving up all dividends too."

"I'm in on this hand."

"I'm in as well."

Followers gathered like clouds; the dagger appears when the map is exhausted.

At this point, how could He Zangjia not understand the purpose of Jin Shenghuo's meeting today?

This Siamese fat bastard not only wanted to burn the bridge—he wanted to shove He Zangjia to the front, to face Shaolin's fury alone.

"Seems the brothers' opinions aren't unified! Since that's the case, let's follow the old rules—joint deliberation."

Bang!

The stone gates before the high tower shut tight without warning; the doors and windows on the second floor slammed shut one after another.

Within the Yellow Millet Dream, this meant the active logout permission had been forcibly locked by someone.

An accessor wanting to leave could only rely on external force to pull out the neural bundle plugged into the spiritual aperture at the back of the skull.

But right now, He Zangjia couldn't send out any message at all—in reality, who could help him pull the line?

A house full of hungry wolves; a turtle in a jar.

The result of the deliberation went without saying—except for 'Fire General' Zhang Ren choosing to abstain, hands raised in support of Li Zu stood dense as a forest.

"The deliberation result is out. Since all brothers have chosen to give up the old site nightclub dividends, this matter falls to you, Zangjia."

Jin Shenghuo smiled: "But don't worry—we won't let you work for nothing. As long as you properly resolve Shaolin's reproach, the old site nightclub will be transferred to your name."

He Zangjia gritted his teeth, not a word spoken, face livid and ugly.

Things had come to this—if he still forcibly refused, he'd likely never leave this Yellow Millet Dream today.

"Since Zangjia doesn't object, it's settled. Brothers, you may disperse!"

Jin Shenghuo waved a hand. All tightly shut doors and windows of the Black Stone High Tower flew open simultaneously.

He Zangjia's figure flickered, vanishing from his seat first.

The rest followed, bowing to the Three Generals at the head seat before filing out one after another.

A moment later.

Within the vast Blackstone Tower, only the Three Generals of the 'Card Faction' remained.