Master Hou said, “I’m just an ordinary man and will die too . Mr . Xiao, I need to ask a favor of you . ”
Xiao Bing said, “Master Hou, tell me what it is . ”
“After I’m gone, I hope you can lead my men to continue fighting against Lord Long . He’s not as simple as he might seem . I know I can’t beat him by using violence, so my original plan was to defeat him with plots . But I never imagined that he’d be so cunning . ”
Xiao Bing said, “Since we can’t outwit him, I can just crush him with strength . ”
Master Hou smiled, “It seems that you have more cards in your hands . But I don’t care about that . Whatever it is, I will ask my people to obey you . You are the lord of this mansion from this day on . But don’t worry about their discipline or their loyalty . They may be a group of unruly people, but I believe they won’t disobey me . With Tingchuan around, they won’t be suspicious of the authenticity of my final wishes . ”
Xiao Bing said, “In that case, I will kill Lord Long with your men . ”
“Yes, you must kill him . Tang Xueyan died because of him . If you can avenge her for me, I will die without regrets . ”
Master Hou looked at Mu Tingchuan and said, “Tingchuan, from now on, you will serve Xiao Bing . Help him manage my people . They are very unruly . You are the only one to whom they will listen besides me . ”
Mu Tingchuan sighed, “I have been following you since I was very young . I will feel too tired to carry on once you’re gone . But I promise you that I will have your last wishes fulfilled . I will advise Mr . Xiao until Lord Long is destroyed . After that, I would like to return to my hometown and live my own life . ”
Master Hou nodded . Then he turned and looked at Miyamoto Shinji who said to him, “I share the same thought with Tingchuan . ”
Master Hou sighed, “Each person has his own aspirations . You will be free from your oath after you help Xiao Bing defeat Lord Long . Tingchuan, promise me one thing . After I’m dead, please bury me with Tang Xueyan . Though the time I spent with her was very short, I regarded her as my family . My own family is long gone and I’ve never married . ”
“Master Hou, I promise,” Mu Tingchuan answered emotionally .
“Yes . ” Master Hou nodded and slowly rose to his feet . “I have been in this business for nearly 20 years . At first, I was just nobody in a gang, often mocked by others . But step by step I earned what I have now . Though I’m about to die in my 40s, which is not a very young age for those who live in the underground world, at least I didn’t die young . I have lost, gained and experienced a lot . It’s all worth it . ”
Master Hou walked out of the hall step by step . “I need a moment at the pavilion . I only need Miyamoto’s company . The rest of you stay here,” he said without turning his head .
Xiao Bing looked at Mu Tingchuan after Master Hou left . He asked, “How come he got poisoned? Was it the Long family’s doing?”
“Who else could it be except for Lord Long . We’ve underestimated Lord Long . Master Hou is so careful that even those by his side won’t find it easy to poison him . But Lord Long had predicted that Master Hou would do anything for this girl . Because she resembled the girl he once loved . Master Hou always felt that he owed her a lot . Hence, though he was very suspicious, he would rather die than be suspicious before the girl . ”
Mu Tingchuan continued, “Now that Master Hou will be gone, I’m afraid that the Long family’s next strike will be for us . Even with my presence and you are willing to take over the helm from Master Hou, our men’s morale will still be shaken . The campaign against the gangs is still going strong . But I believe that Lord Long won’t let this chance go to waste, otherwise, his plan to poison won’t mean anything . But I was told that this campaign will be over in a few days . ”
A plan started to form in Xiao Bing’s mind when he heard what Mu Tingchuan just said .
Mu Tingchuan was not in a very good mood because of Master Hou . He didn’t talk much . Xiao Bing’s head was also filled with his thoughts . Gradually they all fell silent .
As the sun was going down, a servant suddenly rushed in shouting, “Master Hou… He’s gone . ”
Though they had prepared for it, Xiao Bing and Mu Tingchuan were still startled . They dashed out of the hall and sprinted towards the pavilion .
Jiang Zihou was sitting on the chair and bending over the desk in the pavilion when he died . Even in death, he still looked benevolent .
Mu Tingchuan’s eyes reddened, so did Miyamoto Shinji’s . Even Xiao Bing felt slightly upset .
Miyamoto Shinji said, “After Master Hou seated himself on this chair, we talked about how we first met and the weather lately . Then he fell asleep on the desk . When I went to take a look, he was no longer breathing . ”
Xiao Bing sighed, “Master Hou had been ambitious and ruthless all his life, yet he hadn’t yet attained fame and glory . However, few men can face death with such ease as Master Hou . ”
Mu Tingchuan said, “Master Hou had always attached great importance to you . He took you for a hero . He would’ve been happy if he knew you spoke so highly of him . ”
Afterward that, both Mu Tingchuan and Miyamoto Shinji sighed . They all fell silent .
Later Xiao Bing spoke first . “I’m sorry for your loss . ”
“Thanks . ” Mu Tingchuan said, “Master Hou never married . We are his only family . We must give him a proper burial . And we need to introduce Mr . Xiao to all of the attendants of the funeral . I will announce that Mr . Xiao will be the lord of his mansion . ”
Xiao Bing wanted to refuse . But then, he thought of how well-guarded this mansion was . It was surrounded by high walls, studded with secret posts and there were cameras all over the place . This heavily guarded mansion and Miyamoto Shinji were the main reasons why Master Hou could live this long after him offending so many people .
The situation was becoming more and more perilous to Xiao Bing and the people close to him . But what if he got Ye Zi and the Su family to live here?
The more he thought of it, the more feasible it became . So he agreed, “But don’t call me Master . Just call me by my name . The servants can just call me Mr . Xiao . ”
Mu Tingchuan suggested, “Then this mansion can be called the Xiao Mansion . ”
“That’s unnecessary . Just let his name remain . Don’t change the sign . ”
Mu Tingchuan looked at Xiao Bing gratefully . Miyamoto Shinji too began to regard Xiao Bing more highly . Mu Tingchuan said, “Xiao Bing, thank you for still considering Master Hou . But it doesn’t matter what this mansion is called now that its owner is no more . Besides, how can Master Hou’s men obey your orders when they don’t even how to address you?”
Frowning, Xiao Bing found it had a ring of truth . To commemorate Master Hou, the characters on the signboard will remain . Xiao Bing was okay with that . His purpose was to gain favor from the men .
However, if the name wasn’t changed, Xiao Bing would surely find it difficult to command Master Hou’s men, as they would only regard Master Hou as their leader . They might even consider Xiao Bing as a usurper who was harvesting the fruits of Master Hou’s labor .
Thinking of that, Xiao Bing could only say, “In that case, let’s make it Xiao’s Mansion . And we should spread the news of Master Hou’s death . After all, sooner or later the people will find out . Even if we tried to deny it, the Long family will find out one way or another and they will spread the news as widely as possible . So why don’t we just announce it directly and give him a proper burial? We should send out invitations to all important figures who might attend . ”
Mu Tingchuan said, “I will send out invitations in your name, and I will make sure that our men who don’t have missions currently will attend the funeral . Then I will announce the decision Master Hou has made . ”
“No . We can’t wait that long,” Xiao Bing said, “I will give you 24 hours to summon all of his men to gather at the mansion tomorrow evening . I shall declare it myself . ”
Mu Tingchuan didn’t expect Xiao Bing to be this resolute . But he also felt greatly assured . So he agreed .
“Alright, I’ll leave the other affairs to Mr . Tingchuan . Mr . Miyamoto, you can just stay in this mansion . I need to sleep in my own home . As for Master Hou, you should ask someone to take care of his body . And Mr . Tingchuan, you can start planning the funeral now . Choose the best coffin and whatever else needed . Remember, Master Hou died an honorable man . He must be buried reverently!”
Xiao Bing got nearly everything arranged before he left the mansion . Miyamoto Shinji was used to having to follow Master Hou around . But Xiao Bing didn’t need this man trailing behind him . Hence, now Miyamoto Shinji felt a little lost . Xiao Bing felt extremely muddled on his way back . Everything was too sudden and he wasn’t ready for all this .
But Xiao Bing was greatly impressed by Master Hou’s attitude towards death .
Suddenly his phone rang . Xiao Bing pulled over and put the phone through . He heard a voice filled with fierceness and dominance . Normal people would have been kneeling on the ground already . But Xiao Bing just remained calm .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login