Chapter Twenty-Two: The Feng Family and the Fan Family

Listening to the approaching footsteps, Yang Ze could tell that a sizeable group was on its way. Glancing at his own men, he realized their numbers had dwindled from over thirty to just twenty, many of whom were nursing wounds. This, he thought, was inevitable—life in the martial world was fraught with danger, and everyone risked their lives for survival.

As the footsteps drew nearer, Yang Ze immediately ordered everyone to take the bodies of their fallen brothers and retreat, while he and Old Xie stayed behind to scavenge whatever valuables they could. There was no other choice; from the moment they decided to strike against the Furious Stone Gang, they had anticipated this outcome. Any fierce battle would surely attract outside attention, and all they could do was seize as much as possible before others arrived.

He and Old Xie were the most skilled among them, so it was only natural for them to handle this task. As for who the newcomers might be, Yang Ze didn’t need to guess—surely, it was the two great families of North City, along with the authorities.

After swiftly gathering everything of importance, Yang Ze and Old Xie slipped away just before the others arrived. From the moment they resolved to wipe out both gangs, they knew a confrontation with those three parties was inevitable—they had long been prepared, though not for this precise moment.

Once Yang Ze and Old Xie had left, a crowd poured into the area. When they saw the corpses scattered everywhere, their faces changed drastically, and a group was immediately dispatched to report the news.

As word of the Furious Stone Gang’s annihilation spread, the same fate of the Broken Mountain Gang was discovered as well, plunging the entire Xiangyun Street into chaos at dawn. Shops along the street dared not open, doors tightly shut, while the heads of several factions clustered together, fearful of sharing the fate of the two destroyed gangs.

Meanwhile, Yang Ze and Old Xie arrived at the Tongyang Bank. Along the way, they noticed many more people in the vicinity, but none dared approach or block their path. Ignoring the crowds, they strode directly inside, where the remaining twenty brothers waited anxiously. Many wore expressions of fear and uncertainty.

When they saw Yang Ze return, everyone gathered around him. After such a momentous act, none dared leave his side now.

Seeing their panic, Yang Ze waved his hand and said, “There’s no need to worry. Now that we’ve taken down both gangs, all their businesses are ours. Here on Xiangyun Street, we are no longer dispensable nobodies. Besides, I’m preparing to write a letter to my father. If we can persuade him to step forward, our situation will not be so dire.”

As he spoke, Yang Ze began drafting the letter. In no time, it was finished, and he instructed one of the more agile men to deliver it to South City.

Seeing Yang Ze’s calm confidence, the men in the room felt somewhat reassured. If their leader had not fled, what reason had they for fear?

Elsewhere, news of the destruction of the Furious Stone and Broken Mountain Gangs—and the grisly discovery of over a hundred corpses—spread throughout North City and even reached the other three cities. The two great families of North City were especially shaken, all the more so when they learned that the incident had taken place on Xiangyun Street and was connected to the Yang family.

At the Feng family mansion in North City, a young man in his twenties paced the main hall, cursing. “How brazen! The Yang family dares extend its reach so far. Are they not afraid of having their arm broken? This cannot be allowed to stand. Wiping out the Furious Stone and Broken Mountain Gangs—clearly, they mean to seize Xiangyun Street for themselves. Father, let’s take our men to the Yang family right now and demand an explanation!”

“You’re too rash, Rui. I will handle this myself—there’s no need for you to interfere.” The speaker was Feng Lixuan, the head of the Feng family, seated at the head of the hall.

At his father’s words, Feng Rui fell silent, though his pride and impatience were plain to see.

“Enough. Pass my orders: have the elders gather their men and accompany me to Xiangyun Street. You’ll come along as well,” Feng Lixuan said, taking a sip of tea from the table.

Revived by his father’s decision, Feng Rui hurried out to call the men. Once he had gone, Feng Lixuan drained the remaining tea, replaced the lid, and set the cup down with such force that cracks appeared on the tabletop.

…

An hour later, shouts erupted outside the Tongyang Bank. The guards on duty, hearing the commotion, dared not open the doors and only peered out through the cracks. What they saw was a dense crowd, enough to terrify them into hurrying inside to report.

As soon as the news reached him, Yang Ze emerged from within. He had long expected someone would come. Leading his men, he opened the main doors and stepped outside.

At the moment the bank’s doors opened, the crowd outside saw Yang Ze stride out in his fitted martial attire, Old Xie close at his side, with the rest of their men following close behind.

Yang Ze stood outside and saw that two groups had surrounded the bank, each numbering nearly two hundred—far more than his own men. Half of them were accomplished martial artists at the Energy-Gathering level. In North City, only the Feng and Fan families could muster such forces.

Unfazed, Yang Ze cupped his fists and asked, “Do I have the honor of addressing the Feng and Fan families?”

“I am Fan Yongnian, head of the Fan family. I’ve heard much of the second son of the Yang family’s capabilities. I must admit, now that I’ve seen them firsthand, your reputation is well-deserved,” said an elderly man with white hair at the head of the Fan family’s group.

“And you must be Feng Lixuan, head of the Feng family,” Yang Ze replied, ignoring Fan Yongnian and bowing to Feng Lixuan.

Feng Lixuan’s face was expressionless. He replied coolly, “There’s no need for pleasantries, Second Young Master Yang. I trust you know why we’re here.”

“I truly do not know why you two family heads would come with so many men. Are you here to intimidate a junior like myself?” Yang Ze replied, feigning innocence.

“A junior? You certainly have nerve for one so young. I don’t care whether you’re pretending or truly ignorant. You destroyed the Furious Stone and Broken Mountain Gangs, did you not? Since you eliminated them, you owe our two families an explanation!” Fan Yongnian said impatiently.

“What sort of explanation does Master Fan require?” Yang Ze asked in return.

“You dare