Chapter 702 - 429: A Dilemma

Chapter 702: Chapter 429: A Dilemma

"Hooo..."

Fang Jingtang’s heart suddenly began to pound after hearing what Liu Qizhi said. He let out a long, slow breath, trying to force his heart rate back to normal.

"Gang Leader?" Liu Qizhi called out from his sickbed, noticing Fang Jingtang’s strange reaction.

Fang Jingtang collected himself, carefully choosing his words before responding to Liu Qizhi.

"Regarding that masked assailant, the initiative on how to deal with him is no longer in our hands."

Liu Qizhi mulled this over and realized it was true.

The man sent by the Red Blood Gang’s great backer had been severely injured by the masked assailant. The bad blood between them had already existed, and now the grudge ran even deeper.

The Wu Family Patriarch had been humiliated yet again. Given his prideful nature, he would surely find another way to deal with the masked assailant.

But having witnessed the masked assailant’s terrifying power, even knowing the Wu Family Patriarch was an incredible figure with numerous methods at his disposal, they felt no confidence as his targets.

"Sigh... Even if the Wu Family Patriarch manages to kill that masked assailant..."

"...given the cultivation level he’s displayed, wiping us out before he’s taken down would be child’s play. What are we supposed to do now?" Liu Qizhi said worriedly.

"Things have come to this. There’s no point in overthinking it. We can only take it one step at a time now," Fang Jingtang said, his face devoid of expression.

After that, the two chatted for a few more moments. Fang Jingtang told Liu Qizhi to rest well and then turned to leave the room.

’Sigh... Back when Hong Jiu died, we all split up to chase the traitor who fled with the money.’

’After I caught and killed the traitor, I should have just pocketed the money I recovered, left Dongwu City, and started over somewhere else!’

Once Liu Qizhi was alone in the room, he stared blankly at the ceiling, his face etched with regret.

’No, I can’t just sit here and wait to die. As soon as I’ve recovered from my injuries, I need to get rid of my valuables at home and leave Dongwu City immediately.’

’As long as I leave Dongwu City, it’s unlikely the masked assailant will come after me. Once I get to a new place, I’ll find a local gang to join and start over.’

Just as Liu Qizhi was mentally plotting to leave the Red Blood Gang and this troubled place once he recovered, Fang Jingtang, who had just left the room, was contemplating a similar plan.

However, unlike Liu Qizhi, who had already made up his mind to leave Dongwu City, Fang Jingtang was in a different position. As the current Gang Leader of the Red Blood Gang, he had met the Wu Family Patriarch personally and made certain promises.

If he were to just up and run now, the consequences he’d face would be far more severe than Liu Qizhi’s.

Thus, Fang Jingtang was torn. Should he betray the Wu Family Patriarch and flee Dongwu City at a time like this?

’I never should have taken the Gang Leader position in the first place. If someone else had become the leader, I could have remained the second-in-command.’

’Being number two was great! I could still rake in money, I had plenty of power, and most importantly, I wouldn’t have to face this terrifying, life-threatening danger.’

As Fang Jingtang walked out of the infirmary, he silently regretted his decision to take over as the Gang Leader of the Red Blood Gang after Hong Jiu’s death.

But there was no medicine for regret. Things had reached a point where he had only two choices: either grit his teeth and follow the Wu Family’s arrangements, or make the firm decision to betray them, pack his valuables, and flee overnight.

Following the Wu Family’s arrangements would most likely mean being used as bait again, forced to face that incredibly terrifying masked assailant. He had been lucky to survive the first two times, but there were no guarantees for the next.

But if he betrayed the Wu Family Patriarch, packed his things, and fled Dongwu City, the betrayed Patriarch would surely fly into a rage and send men to hunt him down.

Even if he went into hiding and lived under a new identity somewhere else, he would eventually be found, and his death would be a grisly one.

The final outcome of either choice was dreadful, and Fang Jingtang’s expression grew incredibly grim.

After leaving the infirmary, he got into his carriage and said to the Red Blood Gang subordinate driving it, "To the brothel..."

The subordinate driving the carriage looked up at the sky. The golden sun was hanging high overhead.

It was still early in the morning! Going to a brothel for some fun in broad daylight... wasn’t that a bit inappropriate?

But Fang Jingtang had spoken, and as a subordinate, he could only obey. He flicked the reins, urging the horse toward the brothel.

Shrouded by the shadow of death, Fang Jingtang closed his eyes to rest inside the carriage.

The psychological pressure on him was immense right now. He needed to go to the brothel, find his favorite companion, and properly relax his mind and body.

News that the masked assailant had attacked the Red Blood Gang again last night was now known to everyone.

There were the gossiping onlookers who loved a good show and hoped the masked assailant would appear again soon.

There were the worried parties involved, living in constant fear and debating whether to flee or stay.

And there were the furious law enforcers from the yamen, who had declared that they would definitely apprehend the lawless masked assailant and bring him to justice.

At this moment, many people believed the terrifying masked assailant who had vanished would soon return with a vengeance, but the truth was not what they expected.

...

「Blue Star.」

After the setback he suffered during last night’s attack on the Red Blood Gang, a chastened Lin Li made a decision.