While on Mount Hua, my mind is at peace!

Chapter 78 The Feast of Two Heroes

After everyone was seated and exchanged pleasantries, Xiong Tianba said to Deng Jun and Chen Ji, "I've long heard of your illustrious names within the gang, and meeting you today, I can see they truly live up to their reputation. Come, come, let me, old Xiong, toast you both!"

Deng Jun and Chen Ji drank without hesitation. Xiong Tianba then said, "It's a pity your gang leader isn't here, otherwise I really would like to ask him where he found two such heroic and capable subordinates, haha!"

Deng Jun smiled and said, "Chief Xiong, you're too kind. Your gang leaders are all renowned figures in the martial arts world. I apologize for any offenses I may have caused you in the past. This cup of wine is my way of apologizing to you all."

He picked up his wine cup, about to bring it to his lips, when a hall master sitting below Hall Master Liang suddenly said, "Wait! Protector Deng, you are a kind and generous person, and you have always been very measured in your actions against our members. You don't need to drink this cup of wine."

"But sir, I dare to ask your gang's swordsman, why is it that every time you strike, the enemy is either killed or maimed? If you don't explain this clearly, I'm afraid I won't be able to finish my drink tonight."

Master Liang laughed and said, "Old Jin, how come you're already drunk after just starting to drink? We've been dealing with the Dafeng Gang for so long, and this is the first time we've sat down to chat. You can't let everyone down."

Master Jin snorted and ignored him, staring intently at Chen Ji.

Deng Jun laughed and said, "It's alright. We were going to clarify this issue anyway. Master Jin, since you think my brother went too far, could you name someone you feel is more innocent?"

Master Jin said bitterly, "My brother Jiang, upon hearing that the Sword Envoy had arrived, didn't even bother to eat and went to greet him at the door, only to be killed by the Sword Envoy with a single stroke. Isn't that considered innocent?"

Deng Jun nodded and asked Shu Xingyao, "Is Hall Master Jiang innocent?"

Shu Xingyao took out a thin booklet from his pocket, flipped through a few pages, and read aloud from the booklet: "Jiang Chunshui, whose real name is Wang Dadao, was a river pirate who committed countless evils and was wanted by the Six Doors for many years. Later, he retired from his life of crime, changed his name, and joined the Weihe Gang."

Shu Xingyao's words immediately caused an uproar within the Weihe Gang. Not only the hall masters Jin and Liang, but even Xiong Tianba couldn't sit still: "Is this true?"

Shu Xingyao closed the booklet and respectfully presented it to Deng Jun. Deng Jun took it and weighed it in his hand, then said to Xiong Tianba, "The contents of this booklet came from Chief Constable Han of the local Six Doors. Chief Xiong should know him, right?"

Xiong Tianba nodded and said, "Chief Constable Han is a rare good official. The information he gave you must be true."

Deng Jun handed the booklet to Xiong Tianba: "All the members of your gang that Brother Chen killed are recorded in this booklet. When Chief Xiong has some free time, he can take a look and hopefully clear up any misunderstandings between us."

Xiong Tianba accepted the booklet with a wry smile: "Protector Deng, you've given me quite a gift. Hall Master Jin, is there anything else you'd like to say?"

The head of the Jin Hall, his face ashen, said, "I treated that Jiang fellow like a brother, and even his position as hall master was recommended by me. Protector Chen, I'm sorry, I, Jin, was blind!"

Master Jin bowed to Chen Ji. Chen Ji waved his hand, "You can know a person's face but not their heart. You've been deceived, don't make it so serious. From now on, we're all family, what's there to hold a grudge about?"

The members of the Weihe Gang were taken aback by his words, but only Deng Jun understood that Chen Ji was referring to the relationship between Yue Feng and Xiong Zhaozhao. He and Chen Ji were both protectors of the Dafeng Gang, and he was usually the one to handle such matters, precisely because Chen Ji was so loose-lipped. If it weren't for the fact that today's occasion was indeed very important, he wouldn't have wanted to bring Chen Ji to the banquet at all.

Master Jin, being straightforward, asked directly, "One family? What does that mean?"

Deng Jun laughed and said, "Oh, it's like this. You've all probably heard about the Xie family of Huazhou's attempt to take over Huayin County. The Xie family came with great force, offending not only your gang but also us."

"Upon learning of this matter, our gang leader specifically ordered us to cease all conflicts with your gang and focus solely on dealing with the Xie family. To be frank, the reason we've come to this banquet is to inquire about your attitude towards the Xie family: war, peace, or something else?"

Those in the Weihe Gang qualified to attend this banquet were all Xiong Tianba's confidants and elites of the Weihe Gang. The Xie family's frequent actions against the Weihe Gang had long since enraged this group. Therefore, as soon as Deng Jun finished speaking, the group began shouting in a chaotic uproar:

"Of course it's war! We won't rest until we wipe out that Xie family!"

"Boss, please transfer me back to Huazhou so I can teach the Xie family a lesson!"

Deng Jun smiled, simply looking at Xiong Tianba. No matter how loudly Xiong Tianba's men shouted, it was useless; in the end, it all depended on Xiong Tianba.

Xiong Tianba said domineeringly, "Brother Deng Jun—please forgive my impertinence in calling you brother—do you have a daughter?"

Deng Jun paused for a moment, then said, "No."

"I have one, and only one. To me, even if someone spits in my face, as long as they have a plausible reason, I won't do anything to them. But—"

Xiong Tianba lowered his head slightly, his face and tone both darkening.

"However, if anyone dares to lay a finger on my daughter, I will chase them to the ends of the earth and kill them. Brother Deng, do you understand what I mean?"

Deng Jun nodded solemnly: "Understood."

Xiong Tianba looked around and saw that everyone from the Weihe Gang and the Dafeng Gang was staring at him. He then said, "The Xie family of Huazhou is a powerful and deeply rooted family. My Weihe Gang alone is no match for them."

"If your gang is truly willing to cooperate sincerely with us, then I, Xiong Tianba, hereby declare that once the Xie family is destroyed, my Weihe Gang will withdraw from Huayin and never return."

"As for the Xie family's properties in Huazhou and other places, I hope our two gangs can each acquire them according to their own abilities, and we must not damage our relationship. Brother Deng, Protector Chen, what do you two think?"

Seeing that the leaders of the Weihe Gang were not surprised by Xiong Tianba's decision, Deng Jun knew that they must have discussed it beforehand, so he said, "It is indeed my wish, I dare not ask."

Chen Ji also said, "That would be great. I find the Xie family quite displeasing. If we can wipe them out, my trip to SX province will not have been in vain."

Xiong Tianba laughed heartily, stood up, raised his cup, and said, "Good! We are all men of the martial world, and a promise is a promise. Let's skip the blood oath ceremony. After drinking this cup, the Weihe Gang and the Dafeng Gang will be allies forever!"

Everyone stood up, shouting "Good!" and "Forever allies!" as they downed their drinks in one gulp.

Suddenly, Xiong Tianba's expression changed, and he slowly sat back down in his seat. Immediately afterward, Hall Master Liang, Hall Master Jin, and others also sat down. The rest of the Dafeng Gang members quickly followed suit, and for a moment everyone sat motionless, looking at each other with puzzled expressions.