Chapter Twenty-Two: Second Brother Zhang and His Horse Lance

"Chirp, chirp... chirp, chirp..."
The silence of the night was suddenly shattered by the shrill neighing of a warhorse, jolting everyone present. All heads turned toward the source of the sound—a pure white steed strikingly visible in the darkness. Upon its back sat a young man clad in pale blue robes, and none could ignore his presence, not even the burly man standing before the mansion gates, though before them stood only one man and his mount.

"Stop! Release him!"
The rider urged his horse forward at a measured pace; his tone was not loud, yet it commanded the entire crowd into submission. Even the members of the Chaozhou Gang who had surrounded Ding Li found themselves unconsciously stepping back.

"Second Master Zhang?!"
The burly man at the gate of the Liu residence tensed as he recognized the newcomer, especially noting the gleaming, finely crafted spear held in the young man's hand—a signature mark of the visitor. He quickly turned and instructed his subordinates in a low voice, "Quick, inform Third Master! Second Brother Zhang with the horse spear has come! I can't hold him off!"

Everything at the gate was taken in at a glance. Zhang Mingzhi, astride his horse, wore a faintly contemptuous smile, his gaze merely sweeping over the burly man before returning to the bloodied and barely conscious Ding Li lying on the ground.

"Out of my way!"
Though the Chaozhou Gang's thugs dared not approach, Zhang Mingzhi frowned as if beset by a swarm of flies, deftly twirled his spear and swept it backward with a sharp command, forcing the crowd back several steps despite the distance.

He paid no mind to their reactions; it was all within his expectations. Indeed, from beginning to end, Zhang Mingzhi had never regarded these men as worthy opponents.

He extended his spear and gently prodded the bloodied Ding Li, frowning as he spoke in a low voice, "Boy! How are you? Dead yet? Don’t waste Second Master’s time!"

Ding Li had already given up resisting; sometimes, even a strong will is useless when one’s limbs are covered in wounds. Yet now, his resolve served its purpose. Upon hearing the voice, he struggled to open his eyes—his vision awash with blood—but still managed to part his lips, blood streaming forth, and responded weakly, "Still... still breathing... Who are you?"

"The one here to take you away. Since you still draw breath, hold on to your life. If you waste your strength any further, I can’t guarantee you’ll survive," Zhang Mingzhi suddenly let out a sigh of relief, his serious expression returning to its usual arrogant disregard for those around him. He spoke as if to himself, but then noticed Ding Li struggling to rise. In his confusion, he instantly understood from Ding Li’s barely lifted arm and turned his gaze toward the mansion gates.

"All this fuss over a trivial matter, resorting to hostage threats?"
Zhang Mingzhi immediately recognized Saiyijade’s presence and let out a cold laugh, then turned his horse to face the gaze of the burly man beside Saiyijade. He curled his lip disdainfully and mocked, "Meteor Hammer Seven? Have you sunk so low as to use such tactics? Dozens against one, and using hostages? Release him, and we’ll pretend tonight never happened!"

---

"Second Master Zhang, this matter is not for Seven to decide..."
Seven’s face clearly changed after Zhang Mingzhi’s taunt, his grip tightening on the meteor hammer, but he still clasped his fists respectfully toward the rider, explaining in a level tone, "This boy was named by Third Master Liu himself, and he attacked Lame Five. I truly cannot make this decision! Besides, what Second Master said just now doesn’t accord with our code..."

"The code? What code? And who made it?"
Zhang Mingzhi's eyes lowered as he coldly retorted, then raised the tip of his spear, its shimmering light flashing across Seven’s face. Zhang Mingzhi grinned and looked askance, "Seven, shall I let my spear explain the code?"

"Seven dares not! Please, Second Master Zhang, show mercy!"
Seven’s body shuddered at the words, instinctively stepping back and clasping his fists again. Deep in his eyes, however, a fierce light flashed, though he could only lament his own inferiority. Zhang Mingzhi had trained in martial arts since childhood; his mastery of the spear—slash, block, lift, thrust—was unmatched, and the scar on Seven’s side was left by Zhang Mingzhi three years ago.

Moreover, Seven was painfully aware of the vast difference in status between himself and Zhang Mingzhi. As the renowned young master of the Zhang Commerce Association, whose name echoed through Guangzhou and the whole Lingnan region, Zhang Mingzhi’s sudden appearance outside the Liu residence could not possibly mean he was alone.

"Zhang Erlang! Don’t you think you’re overstepping? Even if your father were here in person, he wouldn’t speak so boldly!"
Just as Seven hesitated, Third Master Liu appeared, leaning on a jade tiger-headed cane, his face angry. In his eyes, Zhang Mingzhi was nothing more than a spoiled heir thriving on the power behind him. Unlike Seven, Third Master Liu exuded a commanding presence that instantly stiffened the atmosphere.

"Third Master Liu, I’m only taking two people away. Is it really as bad as you say?"
Zhang Mingzhi was keenly aware of Liu’s contempt, yet he remained unimpressed and took no heed of the threat. He grinned broadly and spoke as if the matter were trivial.

"This boy torched Lame Five’s warehouse at the docks and nearly burned all the Xunzhou Gang’s men alive. For that alone, you cannot take him today!"
Third Master Liu wasted no time in argument, cutting straight to the point and glaring at Seven beside him, adding coldly, "Everyone knows Lame Five is my man. If I don’t stand up for him today, how can I hold my head high before my brothers?"

"Hah! Third Master Liu, I think you’re losing your wits,"
Zhang Mingzhi laughed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He glanced at Liu with pity and shook his head, sighing, "Lame Five brought misfortune upon himself, losing both his assets and men. Yet here you are, airing his shame before all these brothers! I wonder, are you helping Lame Five, or making his troubles worse?"

"Unreasonable brute!"
Third Master Liu struck his cane against the ground twice, furious. When it came to argument, he was no match for Zhang Mingzhi, known throughout Guangzhou for his brazen ways. He resolved not to engage further, casting a cold glance and warning, "Zhang Erlang, for your father’s sake, I advise you to leave. If we truly tear off all pretense, neither of our families will come out unscathed."

"Tear off pretense?"
Zhang Mingzhi’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly, secretly sneering. He raised his head with contempt, looking utterly unconcerned, "Third Master Liu, aren’t you afraid the wind tonight will loosen your tongue? Do you really think your Chaozhou Gang can match the Zhang Commerce Association in reputation? You seem to think the Cao Commerce Association is yours to command. You’re right, though—if my father were here, he might give you some face. But as for me, everyone in Guangzhou knows exactly what kind of man I am!"

"So, you mean to force my hand and break with us?"
Third Master Liu narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing within. Zhang Mingzhi’s words struck a nerve. After decades of struggle, his own power, compared to the Zhang Commerce Association, was indeed, as Zhang Mingzhi said, just a pawn for the Cao Commerce Association. Important, yes, but still a pawn—not his own master.

---

"Suit yourself! I’ll see this through to the end!"
Zhang Mingzhi snorted coldly, tugged the reins, and brandished his spear, staring down Third Master Liu with fearless intensity, his aura even surpassing Liu’s. Then, with deliberate emphasis, he added, "Third Master Liu, there’s news I thought I should tell you in advance. Two days ago, a man named Liu Fu came to see me, asking for help."

"Hmm?"
Third Master Liu was shocked, never expecting that the elusive Liu Fu was already in Zhang Mingzhi’s hands. He quickly regained composure, though, unwilling to believe it based on one sentence. He feigned calm, nodded, and smiled as he asked, "Now that is curious. What kind of man has the clout to ask a favor from Zhang Erlang? It’s certainly interesting news!"

Old fox! Stubborn as a mule!
Watching Liu’s performance, Zhang Mingzhi cursed inwardly, then deliberately glanced at the unconscious Ding Li before speaking confidently, "Liu Fu isn’t anyone special. He merely brought his whole family to me, saying he had difficulties and needed my help. According to him, his two sea vessels were involved in smuggling. I haven’t had time to look into it, but I heard your men have been asking after Liu Fu’s whereabouts, and even the Cao Commerce Association is involved..."

"Careful with your words! One man’s statement is hardly credible!"
Third Master Liu still couldn’t confirm Liu Fu’s status, but he believed it mostly. He quickly spoke up to defend his patron, "Even if Liu Fu says so, it doesn’t prove the Cao Commerce Association instructed him. Besides, who’s to say someone isn’t manipulating Liu Fu to frame us?"

"Oh? That’s true..."
A night breeze swept by, and Zhang Mingzhi’s ears twitched. He smiled and nodded, then looked at Ding Li and Saiyijade, and addressed Seven beside Liu, "Seven! I’m afraid I must trouble you. Gather a few sharp brothers and come with me! Causing trouble in Guangzhou—shouldn’t we pay a visit to the authorities?"

"Hmm?"
Seven was stunned, casting a puzzled glance at Third Master Liu, who met his gaze with equal confusion. Liu then looked at Zhang Mingzhi, his brow furrowed as he asked, "Second Master Zhang, what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing in particular!"
Zhang Mingzhi shrugged carelessly, gesturing at Ding Li behind him and Saiyijade before him, wearing a harmless, genial smile. He winked slyly at Third Master Liu.

"Outrageous! You think you can just take them as you please?"
Having been led by the nose, Third Master Liu still couldn’t grasp Zhang Mingzhi’s intentions, but he would not tolerate someone single-handedly snatching away his prize. He roared in fury, smashing his jade tiger-headed cane against the ground. The Chaozhou Gang members snapped to attention, watching Zhang Mingzhi, who remained smiling on horseback, with predatory vigilance.