Chapter 099: The Roast Gathering

Yao Kun had not originally planned to attend this meeting in Haidong. He had only left a few informants in the Night Banquet nightclub to probe for the truth.

But an hour earlier, Yao Kun had suddenly received word from one of his men that the young gentleman who had killed Wu Sanxing a month ago seemed to have also been invited by Guan Tianxiong.

Upon hearing the news, Yao Kun immediately ordered a car and raced over at top speed.

Besides wanting to see the gentleman again, Yao Kun had another thought in his mind: he feared that the gentleman might be won over by Guan Tianxiong from the southern city.

Yao Kun knew full well Lin Le’s abilities and powers. If he were truly lured away by Guan Tianxiong, then the good days for their northern city, for their Black Victory Society, would truly be over.

At this moment, seeing Yao Kun and the others bow so respectfully to Lin Le, the shock among the crowd was beyond words.

Wu Sanxing and the others from Haizhou’s northern city had always been known for their ruthlessness and unscrupulous methods. Especially Yao Kun, who had been Wu Sanxing’s foremost expert and the second-in-command of the Black Victory Society, was even more ferocious in action. His flying blades could take a life from a hundred paces away, and that was the very foundation on which Wu Sanxing had stood in the northern city for so many years. Now that Wu Sanxing was dead, Yao Kun had naturally taken over the Black Victory Society and become the new boss.

No one could understand why someone like Yao Kun would be so respectful toward Lin Le, addressing him with the honorific "sir."

One had to know that he was only a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old high school student. No matter how skilled he was, that fact could not be changed.

Everyone was utterly bewildered. What in the world was wrong with Haizhou? Had it all turned into some kind of child’s play?

Especially the one-eyed Mao, who had just been reprimanded by Lin Le. Seeing this scene now, he felt as though he had seen a ghost.

If it had only been Guan Tianxiong by himself, that would have been one thing. But now even Boss Yao treated this youth with such deference. Then hadn’t his earlier provocation amounted to opposing all of Haizhou?

Thinking back to how arrogant he had been just now, One-Eyed Mao felt a chill of fear. Damn it, just who had he offended...

Lin Le had already been about to sit down and have a cup of tea when he suddenly saw Yao Kun enter with his men and bow to him. He was not particularly surprised. After all, at his level of cultivation, having reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, he no longer paid much mind to such trivial matters.

"Oh, you’re here."

Lin Le replied indifferently.

Just those few simple words, without much feeling in them, had already astonished everyone.

Those present were all prominent figures in the Haidong circles, and yet probably none of them would dare treat Yao Kun so casually. More than that, this youth did not even rise to his feet before such a bigshot, remaining seated as if chatting about ordinary household matters. It was even more inconceivable.

Yet there was not a trace of displeasure on Yao Kun’s face. On the contrary, he looked quite delighted.

After being saved by Lin Le at the Hou Family estate last time, Yao Kun had wondered whether he might ever get another chance to see the gentleman. Yao Kun had a very sharp eye for people; he was not constrained by age or appearance. From the way Lin Le had killed Wu Sanxing that day, he could tell at a glance that this youth was no ordinary person.

Yao Kun had wandered the underworld for many years, and for many years before that had drunk blood on the dark list. His mind had long since grown somewhat lost and dim, and it was not until the night Lin Le saved him that he felt a sort of awakening. Thus Yao Kun believed that if he could receive the gentleman’s guidance, he would be able to live differently from now on.

"Yes, I’m here. I was late," Yao Kun said honestly.

Lin Le smiled faintly. "Sit."

"Ah Xiong, you can begin now," Lin Le said casually to Guan Tianxiong behind him.

"Ah Xiong..."

When the others heard that form of address, they felt as though ten thousand wild horses had thundered across their hearts.

The dignified boss of the Heaven-piercing Alliance, a figure revered in the circles by all, a man whom even the highest-ranking bigshots would address respectfully as Brother Xiong, was being called "Ah Xiong" by this youth.

Ah Xiong... Xiong... Xiong...

What the hell was going on? They felt as though they had missed something, overlooked something. Otherwise, why was the situation in Haizhou’s underworld becoming harder and harder to read?

Even Yao Kun, standing nearby, could not help but freeze at Lin Le’s form of address.

Yao Kun had thought that Lin Le had only been invited here because of his high level of martial cultivation, and that was why Guan Tianxiong had sought to win him over. But now it seemed that Lin Le’s status was actually far above Guan Tianxiong’s. Otherwise, how could a man who controlled the entire southern city of Haizhou possibly treat Lin Le with such reverence, like some underling or junior brother?

At this moment, Yao Kun became even more certain of his earlier hunch: this youth who looked to be seventeen or eighteen was absolutely no ordinary person.

"So Brother Xiong is here as well," Yao Kun said proactively.

Guan Tianxiong’s face twitched, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Damn it, what do you mean I’m here as well? This is my territory to begin with, and you’re the one I invited! I even tried to shake your hand just now, and you treated me like air. Now you ask why I’m here too?

Though displeased in his heart, he did not dare show it in front of so many bigshots, or in front of Lin Le. He could only force out a smile and say, "Boss Yao’s presence is truly a surprise."

After exchanging a few more polite words, they finally took their seats.

Since this meeting had been initiated by Guan Tianxiong, he was the one presiding over the proceedings.

However, what should have been a proper Haidong conference went off track right from the start and became a full-blown complaint session.

As soon as they began, everyone started denouncing Miao Shouren’s abuses over the past month, how the Crimson Yings Society had bullied them and seized their venues.

Each of them was filled with righteous indignation, pounding the table as they spoke. The one-eyed Mao was even more exaggerated, standing on the table and pointing at the ceiling while cursing loudly, as though the light bulb overhead itself were Miao Shouren in person.

The entire scene looked exactly like the old days of a village card game gone sour.

As they spoke, all these people poured out grievance after grievance without end, until Lin Le was nearly lulled to sleep.

"Uh..."

He could no longer stand it and finally spoke up.

With those two simple syllables, the crowd that had been debating heatedly immediately fell silent. Even mouths that had been half-open froze there, and every gaze landed on Lin Le, clearly waiting for him to continue.

"Does anyone know where the headquarters of the Crimson Yings Society actually is?" Lin Le asked calmly.

Lin Le’s thinking was nowhere near so complicated. Crimson Yings Society, Miao Shouren—find the headquarters and strike straight at the snake’s head. Why waste so much breath? It was utterly useless.

"Uh... this..." The crowd looked at one another, but none had any answer.

Lin Le sighed inwardly. Damn it, you don’t even know where they are, and yet you’re sitting here chatting so heatedly? What use is that?!

"Then does anyone know what purpose the Crimson Yings Society had in entering Haidong this time?" That was what Lin Le most wanted to know.

The Crimson Yings Society’s sudden upheaval clearly had some definite purpose. Lin Le was very interested in what that purpose might be.

"Uh... this..." The crowd once again exchanged glances.

Lin Le pinched the bridge of his nose, practically exasperated.

Damn it, and these are supposed to be a group of bigshots, the notable figures of Haidong? Usually they shout louder than anyone else, but when it matters, can they really only say those two words, "uh, this"?

Just as Lin Le was growing increasingly frustrated, Yao Kun beside him suddenly seemed to think of something and said, "Mr. Lin, I do recall that when someone from the Four Vajras was clearing out our venues, he once mentioned that it would not be long before people from the overseas Hung Gate would also come over. He also said that as long as they could find the person that man wanted, they would be able to obtain even more support from overseas."

"Are you certain?" Lin Le asked coldly.

"Yes, I’m certain." Yao Kun nodded firmly.

Lin Le fell into thought.

In other words, the Crimson Yings Society had now entered Haidong not only for the interests of Haidong itself, but also to pave the way for someone in the Hung Gate.

Were they really just helping him find someone?

But what kind of person were they trying to find that it would require such a grand mobilization and stir the entire city?