Like Fang Baiyan, Liang Zhongying’s ancestors also had a martial arts lineage, or more accurately, a martial arts tradition.
However, his ancestors were far less illustrious than the Fang family, and Liang Zhongying lacked martial talent. Despite practicing for most of his life, he only reached the level of a seasoned martial arts enthusiast.
Liang Zhongying was loyal and thorough in his dealings, but lacked decisiveness and courage.
Fang Baiyan was different. Although he was no longer young, he was driven and mature with his own opinions, not easily controlled by others.
At that time, Fang Baiyan was already considered a martial arts master. Although he didn’t open a martial arts school, he had taken on some disciples and had a considerable reputation in the underworld.
For this reason, although the Brotherhood recognized Fang Baiyan’s capabilities and potential, they feared he would reject their cooperation.
Thus, they used Liang Zhongying as an intermediary to persuade Fang Baiyan.
At the time, Fang Baiyan believed the Brotherhood had ulterior motives and did not wish to establish a large-scale martial arts academy or be controlled by anyone.
However, he could not resist Liang Zhongying’s persistent pleas and thus accepted various forms of funding and opportunities. He embarked on the path of opening a martial arts school, recruiting disciples and students.
As it turned out, he and Liang Zhongying were indeed an excellent partnership. With the funding, their careers began to flourish and reach new heights.
In the initial years, the Brotherhood made no excessive demands, merely taking a share of the profits annually.
This was rightfully theirs, and the two had no objections.
However, as their martial arts schools and academies gained more disciples and their connections with students and parents deepened, the Brotherhood began to impose mandatory requirements.
These mostly involved Fang Baiyan selecting disciples with good talent to serve the Brotherhood.
In addition, they began to engage in less legal activities through Fang Baiyan’s connections.
After all, students of martial arts were different from ordinary students; their relationships were far more solid and stable than those in regular schools.
Consequently, Fang Baiyan grew dissatisfied with the Brotherhood’s demands and refused to cooperate.
But at this point, the gentle and unassertive Liang Zhongying, lacking boldness and spirit, began to yield and repeatedly tried to persuade Fang Baiyan.
Compromising again and again, year after year, as the Brotherhood’s demands became greater and more excessive, Fang Baiyan became more deeply entangled and increasingly unable to tolerate it.
Especially when he learned that some of his disciples, after learning his martial arts, were sacrificed as pawns by the Brotherhood.
For instance, some disciples were arranged by the Brotherhood to join criminal gangs, meeting grim fates.
Others were instigated by the Brotherhood to commit crimes and were subsequently abandoned.
All these incidents caused Fang Baiyan immense guilt and torment.
The conflict between him and Liang Zhongying grew, and they frequently argued!
He believed Liang Zhongying had become part of the Brotherhood, completely corrupted and devoid of conscience.
At the time, he did not understand Liang Zhongying’s predicament, only harboring resentment.
He did not realize that Liang Zhongying was also caught in a difficult position, torn between his childhood friend and the organization’s oppression, with the lives of his wife and children threatened, and also tormented by his conscience.
Finally, during their last argument, they fought fiercely, severing their ties completely.
Liang Zhongying was no match for Fang Baiyan, but he fought ruthlessly, each blow carrying a killing intent.
Enraged, Fang Baiyan injured his former brother and declared their friendship over.
Liang Zhongying understood Fang Baiyan’s pain and knew his own value to the Brotherhood was limited. Without his influence over Fang Baiyan, he would face severe punishment, and his family would not be safe.
Thus, Liang Zhongying, with a death wish, revealed the Brotherhood’s cruelty and sinister methods, detailing terrifying atrocities.
The injured Liang Zhongying, on one hand, did not want his brother to be controlled any longer, acting against his conscience like a puppet, and sinking deeper into darkness.
On the other hand, knowing he could not escape and wanting to protect his wife and children, he begged Fang Baiyan to kill him.
Fang Baiyan was shocked and horrified and could not bring himself to do it.
Liang Zhongying then produced a gun, his demeanor changing. He declared that since Fang Baiyan would not be controlled, he had no choice but to kill him and replace him to create value.
He fired directly, threatening Fang Baiyan’s life. Fang Baiyan retaliated and severely wounded Liang Zhongying.
Liang Zhongying pleaded with Fang Baiyan to kill him.
"He said that if he didn't die by my hand, his entire family would perish!" Fang Baiyan said hoarsely. "I struck too hard, he was already severely wounded, in great pain!"
"He only sought release!"
"In the end, I acted. After all these years, I know how terrifying the Brotherhood is, how formidable their power and influence are!"
"He only asked for death!"
Looking up at the sky, tears rolled down Fang Baiyan’s old face.
Hearing this, Luo Bin’s expression grew more uneasy, and anxiety appeared in his eyes.
Chen Fan felt a sense of melancholy.
From Fang Baiyan's experience, the Northern Brotherhood was far more terrifying than he had anticipated.
It was only because he, with his special status as a military god of war, that the Northern Brotherhood seemed helpless.
Just then, a squad of soldiers, led by a Fang family disciple, entered from outside.
"Sir!"
They were few in number, only a dozen or so, but fully armed. Upon reaching them, they snapped to attention and saluted.
Chen Fan nodded, signaling the soldiers to wait aside, and turned his gaze back to Fang Baiyan.
Both Fang Baiyan and Luo Bin were visibly shaken.
Chen Fan had indeed summoned a company of soldiers, and their fierce, stern aura indicated they were highly capable.
"Regarding the Brotherhood, my understanding is not as deep as Brother Zhongying's. But Brother Zhongying told me some things, and I myself have done some work for them!"
After the shock, Fang Baiyan’s expression steadied considerably. "They seem capable of accomplishing anything. In their eyes, I was probably just a tool."
"Zhongying said that even many top aristocratic families were under their control."
"Their people seem to be everywhere – in noble families, affluent households, the martial arts world, and even in all walks of life, they have operatives."
"About ten years ago, in the Beijing-Tianjin region, the underworld was dominated by the Sihai Gang."
"At that time, I had a few promising disciples who began to dabble in the underworld. Within a year, the Sihai Gang vanished. It was said that the Sihai Gang leader refused to be controlled by them, so he was eliminated."
This incident was a bit distant, and Chen Fan hadn’t paid much attention to it.
"And the Yan family in Jinmen, who were once in charge of the Tianjin Port shipping terminals, are now in utter decline, with their descendants living in poverty!"
"Most terrifyingly, I once had a student whose father held a high-ranking position. They asked me to find an opportunity to arrange a meeting for them."
"I don’t know what was discussed specifically. I only remember that the student’s father left in anger afterward."
"A month later, that student’s parent was removed from office and imprisoned!"
"There have been other similar incidents!"
Chen Fan fell silent upon hearing this.
"In the beginning, their demands were not many. Around that time, their energy and influence were not as great as they are now!" Fang Baiyan said. "Now, they have grown powerful. A year ago, Zhongying died. I stalled them by making excuses, and now, they have come to claim my life!"
As he spoke, Fang Baiyan’s body seemed to tremble.
The kneeling Luo Bin also broke out in a cold sweat, his expression turning fearful.
He was not unintelligent. Seeing that Chen Fan and Fang Baiyan were speaking openly in front of him, he suddenly realized that Chen Fan had deliberately done so!
He had been kneeling there for so long, and had now been drawn into Chen Fan’s scheme, putting himself in a very dangerous situation!