“Chen Xiao, you should leave quickly,” Brother Hua said suddenly, his expression serious.
This was the most serious Chen Xiao had ever seen him.
“I appreciate your kindness. I, Ah Hua, haven't been capable of much in my life. Everyone says the thing I’m best at is running away. I know they’re just laughing at me for being a coward, but I’m still happy about it. Because since I was young, I wasn’t good at studying, or chasing girls, or fighting. At least in this one thing, I’m good!”
“Brother Chen Xiao, meeting you is the greatest honor of my life. And you recommending me to be the leader is an honor among honors. This is the peak moment for me, Ah Hua! Even if I go to the underworld, I can brag about it to my old friends!”
“So brother, don’t worry about me. Go back to Jiangbei and continue being Boss Chen. As for today’s matter, I, Ah Hua, will take responsibility alone!” Brother Hua said, patting his chest with great spirit.
Chen Xiao smiled slightly, “Brother Hua, I say you’re capable, who dares say you’re not? Today isn’t your peak moment, it’s just the beginning of your peak!”
“Alright brother, stop talking. You’re just wasting time. I know you’re strong and young and spirited, but you can’t imagine how powerful the Hongmen Ancestor is.” Brother Hua kept urging Chen Xiao to leave quickly.
Chen Xiao retorted, “If I don’t know, then you know?”
“I don’t know either. I haven’t even met the old ancestor. But I’ve heard people say he’s an old immortal, with vast divine powers. And he’s over a hundred years old, yet he can still entertain ten women a night…” Brother Hua said with a serious face.
Chen Xiao was speechless. As expected of Brother Hua, his focus was always different from everyone else’s.
Huo Shui reprimanded, “Ah Hua, stop talking nonsense!”
Ah Le sneered, “How dare you disrespect the Ancestor? The Ancestor will surely scatter your soul!”
“I have no disrespect for the Ancestor at all. I am clearly showing him respect and praise!” Brother Hua quickly explained nervously. For him, being able to entertain ten women a night was definitely the greatest compliment!
“Hahahaha, entertain ten women a night? I really don’t know who spread such a rumor about me…” A hearty laugh suddenly echoed.
Before the person arrived, the laughter preceded him. Then, an old man in a blue shirt strode in with powerful steps.
“Welcome, Ancestor!”
As the old man in the blue shirt entered, everyone stood up in unison and shouted respectfully. The Hongmen Ancestor had white hair and beard, but his complexion was ruddy, and his voice was like a thunderclap. He looked nowhere near his age of over a hundred.
The Hongmen Ancestor’s gaze swept over everyone. When it landed on Chen Xiao, he paused slightly, but he remained composed and did not show it.
Brother Hua was so scared that he knelt on the ground, trembling, “An, Ancestor… I, I didn’t mean any disrespect to you, and I, I only heard it from others…”
As Brother Hua spoke, Huo Shui was on tenterhooks, because this rumor had originated from him. Fortunately, Brother Hua was tight-lipped and did not betray him.
The Ancestor laughed heartily, “Hahahaha, it’s nothing. When did I ever say I would blame you? However, entertaining ten women a night is a bit of an understatement. My peak night had as many as seventy-three beauties!”
Seventy-three? Hearing this number, Brother Hua immediately started calculating… The conclusion he reached was that indeed, he was the Hongmen Ancestor; his power was truly remarkable. But was the speed a bit too fast?
The people present were all stunned. They thought that Ah Hua was being ridiculous, but how could the Ancestor join in the absurdity?
“Ancestor, why are you fooling around with this kind of person? He dared to disrespect you, you should have slapped him to death!” Ah Le’s eyes blazed with anger and indignation.
“Fooling around?” The Hongmen Ancestor’s face darkened. “Ah Le, are you telling me how to do things?”
“No, no… I was just too anxious. I hope the Ancestor will forgive me…” Ah Le realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly apologized.
The Ancestor snorted, “You said that a Hongmen disciple colluded with outsiders, betrayed his master, and even threatened to destroy Hongmen. What is going on?”
Ah Le’s spirits lifted immediately. He hurried forward and recounted what had happened before to the Hongmen Ancestor, adding embellishments.
After hearing this, the Hongmen Ancestor’s face became grim. He looked at Chen Xiao and pointed at Brother Hua, asking, “Young man, is it you who wants these two gangs to merge and recommended him to be the leader?”
“That’s right, it was me,” Chen Xiao replied calmly, nodding.
Brother Hua’s heart sank. He thought, “It’s over, it’s over, it’s over. Why is Chen Xiao so straightforward?” The matter was as it was, but he could have been more tactful, perhaps saying it was just a joke. Maybe the Ancestor would be pleased and wouldn’t hold it against him.
Ah Le, hearing Chen Xiao admit it, became excited. He had been worried Chen Xiao would deny it. “Ancestor, do you believe me now? This kid has personally admitted it…” He originally wanted to say, “Why don’t you kill him quickly?” But he was afraid the Ancestor would blame him for being talkative, so the words he was about to say were swallowed back.
The Hongmen Ancestor pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “Since he recommended it, then I agree to this matter.”
“Yes, Ancestor, you shouldn’t have wasted your breath on him, just kill him… Wait, agree?” Ah Le stopped mid-sentence, only then realizing what the Ancestor had said. Then, his face was filled with disbelief. He even thought he had misheard. It was only when he saw the expressions on everyone else’s faces, which were the same as his, that he realized the Ancestor had indeed said, “I agree.”
Brother Hua was completely stunned. The Hongmen Ancestor… agreed? He had never thought this matter could actually happen, yet the Hongmen Ancestor had agreed. This meant he would truly become the leader of both Laok and Laohe. He would be able to walk sideways…
The mood of everyone present was like experiencing a major earthquake, difficult to describe in words. What kind of feeling was that? They were utterly perplexed. How did the Hongmen Ancestor start fooling around like this? How did a serious negotiation turn into a farce step by step? Ah Le even thought the Hongmen Ancestor had senile dementia.
“Ancestor, how could you agree? This Ah Hua is just a nobody. What qualifications does he have to be the leader? And that brat Chen Xiao, he even threatened to destroy Hongmen. Why did you agree?” Ah Le’s question was also everyone’s question.
Facing everyone’s confusion, the Hongmen Ancestor said lightly, “Because if I didn’t agree, that kid might really destroy Hongmen.” Then, he let out a hearty laugh and said to Chen Xiao, “Hahaha, young man, long time no see! I haven’t properly thanked you for saving my life last time!”