Chapter Forty-Six: The Arrogance of Zhang Mingzhi

“Are you Ding Li? Ding Li of the South Sea Society?” Suddenly, Cao Qi instinctively took a step back, scenes of his recent encounters with Cao Hai and Cao You flashing through his mind. Realizing at once that he had lost his composure, and unwilling to embarrass himself in front of his many subordinates, he straightened up a bit, coughed to steady himself, and forced a calm demeanor as he changed the subject. “Brawling in public, in front of everyone! By the rules—”

“Help! Officers ahead, help us!”

“Murder! Help!”

Before Cao Qi could finish, cries for help erupted from the other end of the street. Looking up, he saw a ragtag group of more than a dozen, still clutching clubs, running in panic toward them, their shouts growing louder and more desperate by the second.

“Insolence! Who dares such audacity!” Cao Qi immediately recognized the fleeing men as members of the Chaozhou Society, the local gang under the patronage of the Cao Commerce Guild. Seeing his own men abused, Cao Qi drew the regulation saber at his waist and strode forward, his subordinates following suit, hands gripping their sabers as they hurried after him.

“Who could be so brazen?” Even Zhang Wu and Fan Ying, watching from the side, were baffled. Never mind the strength of the Chaozhou gang in Fuxu Town—the power of the Cao Commerce Guild alone should have been enough to cow anyone. The two exchanged glances, each seeing only confusion in the other’s eyes.

“It’s the young master!” Ding Li, quick-eyed, wasted no time pondering as the others did; instead, he peered ahead, sizing up the situation.

At his words, Zhang Wu and Fan Ying snapped to attention and turned to look. They saw Zhang Mingzhi, bandages still wrapped around his left arm and right calf, riding a fine white horse. Surrounded by his men waving clubs, he urged his steed to pursue his ‘prey’ at a measured pace, cutting a striking figure amid the crowd.

“Zhang Mingzhi! Do you really think Fuxu Port belongs to the Zhang family?” Cao Qi, too, spotted Zhang Mingzhi on horseback and was utterly incensed. To think he would dare incite a public brawl right under his nose! Relying on the squad of soldiers at his back, Cao Qi raised his saber and pointed it at Zhang Mingzhi, barking, “Dismount! Fuxu Town does not tolerate your insolence, Zhang Mingzhi!”

“Cao Qi?” Zhang Mingzhi, bandaged and still injured, paid no heed to Cao Qi’s scolding. He merely glanced at him, smiled coolly, and replied with a hint of mockery, “I was ambushed in broad daylight yesterday while dining in the city, and none of you have given me any explanation! Now my leg is wounded, and I can’t walk, only ride. And now you demand I get down? What, are you going to carry me?”

“Insolence!” Cao Qi was livid, stamping his feet in rage. Yet he could hardly punish Zhang Mingzhi simply for riding a horse in town. Staring at Zhang’s arrogant demeanor, Cao Qi found himself helpless, but soon regained his composure. Glancing at the Chaozhou gang members cowering behind him, his anger flared up again, and he shouted, pointing at Zhang Mingzhi, “Zhang Mingzhi! In broad daylight, before all these witnesses, you dare lead your men in violence and lawlessness! Men, seize him! Take him back to the West Barracks!”

But though he gave the order, none of Cao Qi’s men dared obey. Even his two most loyal aides, who usually followed his every word, nervously sidled up to him and whispered, carefully pointing out the risks and consequences.

“What’s the matter? Come on! Didn’t you say you’d haul me off to your West Barracks?” Sensing the awkward pause, Zhang Mingzhi seemed even more eager than Cao Qi, nudging his horse forward a few steps as he taunted, “I’d like to see who among you dares take me in!”

As he spoke, Zhang Mingzhi’s expression darkened. His gaze swept coldly over Cao Qi and his men, and suddenly he roared, “Cao Qi! Don’t think I haven’t noticed your family’s little schemes! Go back and tell Cao Hai and Cao You: one day, I’ll personally take their damned heads!”

“Zhang Mingzhi! You—you’re too arrogant!” Cao Qi, having only just tamped down his anger, was infuriated anew at these words. Though Cao You and Cao Hai were mere confidants of his clan, the saying goes, ‘You don’t beat a dog without looking at its owner.’ And Cao Qi, even if only distantly related, was still a scion of the family, his fate closely tied to theirs.

“Arrogant, am I? And what will you do about it?” Zhang Mingzhi shot back without hesitation, then, curling his lip in disdain, added, “Cao Qi, you’re nothing but a useless wretch! Get lost—I’ve no time to waste on you! As for those lackeys of Cao Hai, I’ll let them go for now. You go tell Cao Hai and Cao You, if I ever see them again, even if it’s beneath the very nose of the highest authority, I’ll take both their lives!”

Now Cao Qi truly understood what arrogance was! But Zhang Mingzhi was right—Cao Qi never had the guts to actually arrest him. This was nothing but a bluff to save face, only now it had backfired. Having just suffered an ambush, Zhang Mingzhi was in no mood to play along. Even confronted by Cao Qi’s squad of soldiers, he showed no sign of backing down.

Indeed, were it not for his familial ties, Cao Qi’s mere rank as captain would mean nothing to Zhang Mingzhi.

Perhaps fearing Cao Qi might act rashly, Fan Ying called his men over, interposing them between the two sides. Though their stance was neutral, their allegiance was clear—they stood with Zhang Mingzhi. Ding Li and Zhang Wu took up positions by Zhang Mingzhi’s horse, watching Cao Qi and his men with cold, unwavering eyes.

“Fine! Fine! I’ll go! For your sake, since you were ambushed yesterday, I won’t trouble you today. But this isn’t over! Zhang Mingzhi, you remember this!” Hatred and malice flashed in Cao Qi’s eyes as he glared at Zhang Mingzhi, who sat nonchalantly on his horse. Grinding out each word, he tried to justify himself, but to those around, the excuse was nothing short of laughable.

“Trash will always be trash! And you want me to remember you?” Seeing Cao Qi about to leave, Zhang Mingzhi didn’t even bother to spare him the slightest dignity. His voice, just loud enough for Cao Qi to hear, dripped with contempt.

Yet contrary to Zhang Mingzhi’s expectations, Cao Qi’s endurance exceeded all reason; he ignored the insult completely. Though he shuddered visibly, he merely let out a cold snort and stalked away, head held high as he called for his men to follow.

In truth, Cao Qi had at least managed something useful. Thanks to his arrival, the Chaozhou gang members who had been chased all the way down the street by Zhang Mingzhi finally found their reprieve. Their grateful thanks as they parted gave Cao Qi a fleeting sense of comfort, but every time he recalled Zhang Mingzhi’s arrogant face, a fresh wave of hatred surged in his heart, his eyes burning with fury.

“Second Master Zhang, thank you for saving my life last time!” Once Cao Qi had left, Ding Li stepped forward, bowing deeply to Zhang Mingzhi with utmost sincerity.

“It was nothing, just a small favor! A man of your talent shouldn’t have been wasted by Old Liu the Third.” Whether it was Cao Qi’s departure or seeing Ding Li, hale and hearty, alive in front of him, Zhang Mingzhi’s mood lightened considerably. He waved his hand, tossed his long lance to a nearby attendant, and leapt off his horse with no sign of injury, leaving Ding Li and Zhang Wu momentarily dumbfounded.

“Don’t stare! Just a minor wound! I’ve trained since childhood—this is nothing!” Zhang Mingzhi grinned at Ding Li and Zhang Wu, and, to prove his point, gave a few playful kicks into the air. Then, walking over, he clapped Ding Li on the shoulder and laughed. “And another thing—A-Li, don’t pick up A-Wu’s bad habits. You and I are much the same, and now that you’re the leader of the South Sea Society, if you don’t mind, just call me Second Brother. That’s what everyone else does anyway.”

“Sure! No problem, Second Brother Zhang!” Ding Li replied with equal cheer, then laughed to the others, “Honestly, calling you ‘Second Master’ feels odd—look how old Third Master Liu is!”

Laughter erupted from Zhang Mingzhi, who nodded, patted Ding Li again, and then turned to eye Zhang Wu, his brow furrowing as he asked in a low voice, “You’re hurt? Who did it?”

“Cao Hai and Cao You, ambushed me on the road,” Zhang Wu replied, his face falling. He shot a glance at Ding Li before continuing with a wry smile, “If Li hadn’t come with me, I might not have made it. Luckily, nothing serious—no bones broken. I’ll be fine soon.”

“As long as your bones are intact! Good work, A-Wu!” Zhang Mingzhi nodded gravely, his eyes narrowing. When he spoke again, his voice was chilling. “It seems the Cao family can’t hold back any longer—they’re openly declaring war. We can’t just sit by any longer. Prepare yourselves for a storm.”

At his words, both Ding Li and Zhang Wu fell silent. The Zhang and Cao Commerce Guilds were the two great powers not only in Guangzhou Prefecture, but across all eastern Lingnan. If open conflict truly broke out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Enough! Let’s not talk of this now—let’s go home. There’s a distinguished guest waiting!” After a pause, Zhang Mingzhi let out a long sigh, shook his head to dispel his gloom, and shot Ding Li and Zhang Wu a conspiratorial smile.