“We are the Mad Saber Gang! You’ll regret what you’ve done. Do you even know who backs us?” Bigmouth Wang threatened after coming to, his voice hoarse. “They’ll skin you alive.”

  “Mm. Go on. Tell me who’s backing you,” Zhang Ming replied calmly.

  “Hah, even if I die, you’ll never learn…”, he was kneeling before his own chair, the very seat now occupied by the brazen usurper.

  “Hm.”

  Zhang Ming rose and walked over to the former leader of the Mad Saber. Grabbing him by the collar, he delivered a slap. The crack rang out so loudly that the other kneeling bandits flinched. Zhang Ming did not stop. Another slap echoed through the hall, then another. The fat man passed out, his face swelling into a grotesque lump of bruised flesh.

  “Wake him,” Zhang Ming ordered and returned to the chair.

  “Ah!” Doused with icy water, Bigmouth Wang jolted awake. “Wh-What?”

  “So. Who did you say stands behind you?”

  “Uh…”, the subdued gang leader no longer dared glare at the arrogant invader, yet he remained silent.

  “I don’t feel like getting up again. Let’s tear the nails off one of his hands,” Zhang Ming suggested lazily.

  “With what?” Lu Piao scratched his head.

  “With anything. Just make it hurt.”

  “W-wait…!” Bigmouth Wang paled.

  “And stuff something in his mouth so he doesn’t scream,” Zhang Ming added.

  “If his mouth’s stuffed, how’s he supposed to talk?”

  “Hm. Then do it this way. Pull them out one by one. After each nail, check if he’s ready to talk.”

  “I-I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!” The gang leader trembled. “Ask whatever you want.”

  “Mm, you didn’t last long,” Zhang Ming smiled faintly. “So you’re a coward?”

  “No! But how can I live without my nails?”

  “Stick to the point.”

  “Er… We’re on our own. No one backs us.”

  “I see. Do you trade in slaves?” Zhang Ming asked.

  “Are you joking, sir? Who would hand such a profitable business to a small gang? The Hengyang Clan handles the slave trade. Ask them.” He forced a laugh.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “You find that amusing?” Zhang Ming raised a brow. “Come here.”

  “No, sir… I’m very sad…”

  Knocking his knees against the floor, Bigmouth Wang obediently crawled over.

  “From now on, you’re my assistant. You’ll stay by my side at all times.” Leaning back in the chair, Zhang Ming patted him on the head. “Your men work for me now. Any questions?”

  “None, sir.”

  “Who objects?”

  His gaze swept across the kneeling bandits.

  There was nothing remarkable about them, mere ragged thugs from the slums, thieves and drunkards. Zhang Ming’s squad had dealt with them swiftly. Most of Bigmouth Wang’s men had surrendered without a fight; only a few of the sturdier ones offered token resistance. Bound and beaten, they looked pitiful. Their faces were swollen with bruises, blood stained their damp clothes. Not one dared speak against the conquerors.

  “I’ll warn you now,” Zhang Ming said coldly. “Try to run or betray me, and I’ll kill you in the most painful way possible. For any violation of my orders, your former leader will answer. Clear?”

  “Commander, what about those two?” Lu Piao asked, pointing toward the couple by the wall.

  At his words, two dozen brigands and roughly as many kneeling bandits turned toward the unfortunate husband and wife. The man hiccupped in fright; the woman’s eyes rolled back again.

  Their entire lives flashed before them, good and bad, joy and sorrow. Even in their hardest days they had found reasons to smile. It pained them to leave their children alone, but the time had come to say farewell. A lone tear slid down the man’s cheek.

  “Let them go,” Zhang Ming waved indifferently. “They can leave.”

  “Eh?” The man blinked, and the woman abruptly came to. “Thank you, sir!”

  They knocked their foreheads against the floor several times, then rose and shuffled toward the exit, trembling like newborn fawns. Supporting each other, they crossed the fenced courtyard, passed through the gates, and walked two blocks in a daze without once looking back. There, their legs finally gave out. Weeping, husband and wife collapsed to the ground. It felt as though they had visited hell and returned.

  “Is it fine to let them go?” Lu Piao asked. “They’ll spread rumors.”

  “We’ve left plenty of loose tongues alive.” Zhang Ming gestured at the bandits. “One more or less won’t matter. Untie them all, by the way. I have work for them.”

  Rising from the chair, Zhang Ming walked down the center of the hall with his hands clasped behind his back, studying the surroundings with interest as he passed the newly unbound bandits.

  Hezi, the former deputy leader, had lost consciousness too quickly during the earlier assault and had only just come to. He had not yet witnessed the commander’s strength. Picking up a dagger from the floor, Hezi lunged at Zhang Ming with firm intent to kill. He moved swiftly and silently, but one step from his target, a fist smashed down onto his head like a hammer.

  With a grunt, the former deputy crumpled to the ground. His neck twisted at an unnatural angle, blood streaming from both nostrils.

  “Why? Hezi!” Bigmouth Wang groaned, but fell silent the moment Zhang Ming’s gaze settled on him.

  “This is what awaits anyone who chooses to oppose me,” Zhang Ming warned.

  Silence fell. Only the sniffling of broken noses disturbed it, yet none of the bandits dared lift their heads. Letting his words sink in, Zhang Ming surveyed the kneeling men in silence. Then he reached into his robe and took out the pouch he had received from the Hengyang Clan.

  Silver clinked, a most pleasant melody to the ears of slum bandits. They immediately raised their heads, eyes gleaming with greed as they stared at the handful of coins in Zhang Ming’s palm, shimmering with a bright sheen.

  “I pay generously for work,” he continued. “Those who diligently carry out my orders will receive proper rewards. You’ll always be fed and drunk to your fill. Do you want money?”

  “Yes!”

  The answer burst out involuntarily. Even the most battered among them nodded.

  “Good. Then we’ll start by testing your abilities. By tomorrow evening, find one person for me. His name is Shi Quan…”

  Searching for the boy is just a warm-up. Now I have plenty of hands to work with, Zhang Ming thought as he assigned tasks to his new subordinates. It’s time to begin the main plan.