As night fell, all of Sifang Street was plunged into darkness, with only the faint glow of lanterns illuminating the mottled ground.
Many people were still coming and going from the teahouse entrance.
Almost all of them left with grim faces.
After all, those who were winning couldn’t bear to leave, determined to gamble until they couldn’t squeeze out another copper coin.
The chubby Boss Wang saw off a few more gamblers. Wiping the smile from his face, he had just turned to go back into the teahouse when he saw two figures.
"Well now, if it isn’t Mas—oh, my mistake. It’s Master Lin now."
He squinted, making a show of slapping his forehead. "Look at this memory of mine. It’s just that you lot change so often, I can’t keep you all straight."
"If you don’t know how to fucking talk, then shut your mouth!" Although Dong Cheng was terrified, it was Liu Zhen he feared, not his dog.
"My fault, my fault."
Shopkeeper Wang forced another smile. "Heh, a guest is a guest. If Master Lin wants to play a few hands, I’d be more than happy to welcome you. I just wonder if you’ve brought enough to bet with. I heard you just came from Cyan Willow Lane. Not much to squeeze out of that flock of whores."
"If you’re short on cash, I do offer some loans."
Anyone else, even with backing from the Government Office, wouldn’t go out of their way to offend the Black Water Gang.
But this Shopkeeper Wang was different.
He was a flag planted on the street by Chief Liu, and he had to show his allegiance at every opportunity.
Besides, the Black Water Gang’s performance on Sifang Street was hardly anything to be afraid of.
"Just lead the way."
Not only did Lin Shu show no anger, but a smile still played on his lips.
This made Dong Cheng feel a bit stifled, but he also relaxed considerably. It seemed Master Lin didn’t plan on making a big scene. ’He isn’t a total fool, then.’
Seeing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Shopkeeper Wang’s eyes.
’This wolf is different from the last ones. I just don’t know what he’s here for.’
’Ah, whatever. No point worrying about it. Chief Liu is sitting right downstairs. What’s this vicious dog going to do, start a riot?’
"Right this way, you two!"
The teahouse was two stories high with simple furnishings. A few jars of tea leaves were placed perfunctorily on the counter.
But down the stairs to the lower level, a completely different scene unfolded.
The air was thick with smoke, and the roar of voices was deafening.
Shrill cries of shock or wails of despair rang out from time to time.
Crooked wooden tables and benches were crammed so tightly it was hard to walk, yet a space in the middle had been inexplicably cleared, holding only a single long table.
It was as if an invisible line had been drawn on the floor, one that even the most frenzied gamblers knew to carefully avoid.
"Wait another hour or so, then take some men and get it done."
A middle-aged man in a loose-fitting black shirt leaned back in a lounge chair, a teacup in his hands. He looked like a gambler tired from play, taking a short break.
The notable, wealthy figures of the street could only stop their games and sit obediently at the table, waiting.
He said this to the two constables in black shirts standing behind him.
"Captain Liu, aren’t you going to lock them up first?" one of the constables asked, a little surprised and timid. "Isn’t this going a bit too far? The one surnamed Zhao may have resisted arrest, but his family hasn’t done anything..."
"Too far? I work my fingers to the bone watching over this street, driving off rabid dogs and keeping the peace. It’s only under my protection that they can live and work in peace."
Liu Zhen spat out some tea leaves and lifted his gaze. "Now, I’m a little short on Treasure Medicine. Shouldn’t they help their Chief Constable out?"
"They should!" the two young constables hurriedly nodded in agreement, their hesitation gone. "We didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that we heard Chang Yi went to the Zhao Family’s place too. That fool will definitely report this to the Government Office. If we act now, we’re worried the higher-ups will have a problem with you."
"That’s exactly why we have to move faster," Liu Zhen said, setting down his teacup with a hint of impatience. "After it’s done, we’ll pin it all on that new stray dog. If he wants to scavenge for scraps on this street, he’s got to pay the price."
"Tsk."
Just then, a voice from the other side of the long table sighed, "No wonder my back has been aching lately."
Through the swirling smoke, a young man sauntered over.
He had a handsome face and a slender frame, carrying the listless air of someone chronically ill.
As he neared the table, he casually grabbed the wealthy merchant in the seat and, to the man’s astonishment, tossed him two or three meters away before smoothly taking his place.
"AIIEE!"
The merchant’s pig-like squeal, along with the clatter of overturned tables and benches, instantly jolted the surrounding gamblers.
Fatty Wang’s face changed drastically. He rushed to help the man up and blurted out, "You, surnamed Lin! Are you here to gamble or to cause trouble!"
CRACK!
Before the words were out of his mouth, a porcelain cup full of scalding tea had already shattered against his furious face.
As Shopkeeper Wang cried out and clutched his face, the gamblers in the hall simultaneously put down their dice cups, scooped up their silver, and surged toward the stairs like a tide.
The new Fierce Wolf was defiant, daring to provoke Chief Liu.
’Someone’s going to die tonight!’
The once-boisterous gambling den was instantly cleared, leaving only a few people behind.
Dong Cheng stood frozen behind the young man, his heart, which had just begun to relax, leaping back into his throat.
Liu Zhen’s eyelid twitched. Though his expression remained unchanged, a chill had already crept into his eyes. "May I ask what the meaning of this is?"
He knew the young man had overheard his earlier words.
But his face showed no trace of embarrassment or any other emotion—only ferocity.
’If you want to make a living on Sifang Street, you have to take what’s coming to you!’
The two constables’ expressions turned frigid as they drew their blades almost in unison. Shopkeeper Wang staggered to his feet and waved his hand, and two Martial Artists blocked the way upstairs.
"Play a few hands?" Lin Shu asked, seemingly oblivious to the murderous aura filling the room.
"What are you hoping to win from me? Territory? A monthly stipend?"
Liu Zhen sneered. This was hardly the attitude of a beggar.
He planned to teach this new stray dog how to survive on Sifang Street.
"Uh!"
At these words, Dong Cheng suddenly snapped back to his senses and tremblingly reached into his robes.
’So that’s what Master Lin meant.’
’If they were going to gamble, they needed a stake.’
’Although he didn’t think the ledger was worth much, it seemed to be the only thing they had to bargain with.’
However, before Dong Cheng could pull out the ledger, he froze again.
"Haven’t you already prepared it?"
Lin Shu raised his hand and made a playful slicing motion in the air.
Just that afternoon, this Deputy Chief Constable had stood at the teahouse entrance and made a throat-slitting gesture at the two of them.
It had been a casual warning.
He never thought someone would come calling before the night was even over.
Faced with such a provocation, the muscles in Liu Zhen’s face twitched visibly. His eyes narrowed, the fine lines at their corners deepening like gullies.
He was silent for a moment, then slowly rose to his feet. Picking up the blade from the table, he looked down at Lin Shu and sneered, "You want my life? Have you thought about what you’ll pay with when you lose?"
"Haven’t thought about it."
Lin Shu answered crisply. He interlaced his fingers, gently cracking his knuckles, and said seriously, "So I’ll just have to make sure I win."
The moment the words left his mouth, Dong Cheng was overcome with the urge to turn and flee for his life.
He finally understood where Master Lin’s "wolf" reputation came from.
It was a greed far beyond his imagination!
The man wanted more than just territory and silver—he wanted Liu Zhen’s life...

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