"Fine," Wan Qingping replied calmly. "But you've only got half a stick of incense."
He knew exactly what the twin leader was doing—stalling for time, waiting to summon the rest of his gang. But Wan wasn't worried. Last time, alone, he had only barely lost ground. Tonight, with Zhou Minghu at his side, he was confident they could crush the so-called Divine Serpents.
Besides, if he didn't let them gather their full crew, they'd never admit defeat. In the city, men rarely dared to kill—too much risk of official punishment. Beating them into submission was the only way to truly claim their turf.
"Brother Pi!" A rough voice suddenly bellowed from the alley. "Your old friend's here to lend a hand!"
Wan's eyes narrowed.
Out of the alley came a group—more Serpent thugs, plus a man in his forties at the front, followed by five underlings in matching garb. Clearly, the twins had called in reinforcements. That brought the enemy's numbers to nearly twenty. And the newcomer looked dangerous.
The elder twin grinned and bowed slightly. "Many thanks, Brother Chen! When this business is done, I'll host you at Dingxiang Pavilion—whole donkey feast, all on me!"
Chen didn't answer him. Instead, he halted a few paces away, eyes on Wan.
"You're no local," Chen said. His voice was steady, his words pure street-wise cant. "New in Chishui, and already trying to snatch food off someone else's plate? The waters here run muddy. Best turn back now, boy. This meal isn't as tasty as it looks."
It was a classic gambit—win with words before blades.
Wan's heart tightened. With Zhou beside him, he had strength. But against Chen and his five? The outcome was less certain. Still, better to die than to cower. If he backed down tonight, how would his family eat tomorrow? The porridge lines would dry up soon, and hunger showed no mercy.
He forced a sneer. "Friend, tell me this—why meddle in another man's feud? My brother and I fled the floods with nothing. No food, no coin, not even the clothes on our backs. We've got nothing to lose, and men with nothing to lose will do anything. Are you sure you want to shoulder that kind of trouble?"
Chen froze. He knew exactly what Wan meant. In the underworld, the most dangerous weren't the strongest or the richest—they were the desperate ones, the men with no ties, no future, no fear of death. Such men would burn the world down for a bowl of rice.
Wan saw the hesitation and pressed forward, ready to twist the knife. But before he could speak, the younger twin lost patience. With a roar, he whipped out a pair of nunchaku.
"Enough talk! Brothers, smash them!"
"Fuck it—hit them!" Wan bellowed back, drawing his dagger.
At that signal, Zhou Minghu swung his wooden staff in a wide arc. The heavy willow club blurred in the air, slicing shadows across the courtyard. Even in the heat of summer, it howled like a storm wind.
Three thugs dropped instantly, screaming, clutching broken arms and shattered legs.
"Boss, do we fight or not?" one of Chen's lackeys stammered.
"Fight? Fight your ass!" Chen snarled. He'd already seen enough—Wan was sharp, but it was the big oaf who terrified him. That club turned Zhou into a monster; no ordinary thug could stand a single blow. Quietly, Chen waved his men back, retreating out of harm's way.
Panic spread through the marketplace. Peddlers abandoned their stalls, scattering into the alleys. A few braver souls lingered at a distance, peeking around corners to watch the clash.
Then—blood.
Zhou Minghu, green to street brawls, made a rookie mistake. The younger twin caught him with a slash across the thigh. Bright red spilled down his leg.
"Motherfucker! I'll tear you apart!" Zhou roared. Something snapped in him. Dropping his staff, he lunged barehanded.
The twin slashed again, the blade grazing Zhou's arm, but too late—Zhou's massive hands clamped down on him like iron shackles. With a primal shout, Zhou wrenched outward.
The twin screamed, a raw, piercing howl that froze every man in place.
"Brother!" the elder twin howled, eyes wide, face contorted with rage. He tore away from Wan, charging like a maddened tiger. Wan stabbed him in the arm as he passed, but the man didn't even flinch, barreling on toward his brother.
Something was very wrong.
Wan shoved a thug aside and glanced over—then stopped dead, eyes wide in shock.